health

After months of push from Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both Democrats, the U.S. Senate has finally passed the Water Resources Development Act, which is good news for residents of Flint. The bill for nationwide water-related projects includes a whopping $100 million to lead pipes and infrastructure in any area where a state of emergency has been declared because of lead levels in the water. As it stands, this only applies to Flint, MI, where the water pipes were riddled with lead and put the city in a state of emergency earlier this year. But high levels of lead in the water were detected over a year ago, with reports of high blood-lead levels found in children not long after. Many residents are still resorting to bottled and filtered water for their daily needs, as the need for cleaner water remains. The Water Resources Development Act also includes a $300 million grant program through which communities can apply to receive funding for services including lead testing, corrosion control and education. Although the passage of this legislation in the Senate is great news, it might be an uphill battle to get the bill passed in the U.S. House in order to finally get to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law. Not only are legislative days running out, they have yet to pass legislation to fund the government itself. We can only hope, for the citizens of Flint, that this bill makes it through. Loving Blavity's content? Sign up for our daily...

Confession: I am a recovered beauty product junkie. Like most women, I’ve plucked, arched, waxed, bleached, painted, lightened, cut, shaved and whitened all in the name of beauty. Sounds normal, right? Stop me if you’ve heard this story before. Hidden in my apartment was a department store display’s worth of hair, makeup and bath products that I bought and accumulated over the years. I had beauty products on the counter, makeup in boxes, makeup on my desk, makeup on my dresser, makeup in my closet, makeup and perfumes hidden under my bed, bath products in special pretty boxes both big and small, makeup in drawers, makeup in my purse and even a small bag of makeup hidden under my car seat for those days when I thought I need that little extra "umph." Working at a high-end department store only served to fuel my addiction. Before long, I was the official makeup artist for all my friends, family members and co-workers. Occasionally, I’d get a paid gig doing makeup too. To my surprise, I learned that my husband and I were expecting a baby. Life couldn't get any better, or so I thought at the time. I was blissfully in love, living a life filled with makeup, yoga, girlfriends and on the verge of starting my own family. One evening after dinner, I was stricken by a jolting pain in my lower abdomen. I passed it off as cramps and slept it off.  As the days went on, the pain became more and more unbearable. I scheduled an appointment to see my obstetrician. After my ultrasound appointment, my physician sent me across town to see a specialist. That’s when I was informed that I had an ovarian tumor four times the size of my ovary. I left the appointment numb, sat in my car and cried. The ovarian tumor kept growing and it was absorbing the nutrients from my growing fetus. With the huge probability of the tumor rupturing at any given time, I was put on bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy and I was barely showing. In fact, my doctor said that if I didn’t stop my 7 days-a-week workout regimen, the tumor could rupture and kill me in the process. Monthly appointments turned into weekly appointments. Nothing seemed important anymore, not even makeup. I hid in my apartment, avoiding calls from the outside world. I was not sure how to process what was going on, let alone how to explain to my friends or family what I was going through. I didn’t want to hear any negative comments or have a pity party. I just wanted to get back to my normal life as soon as possible. My mom passed away when I was 15 years old from a car accident. If there was a time when I needed her the most, it was then. Just to hear her voice or give me that look of assurance that everything was going to be okay. Oddly enough, as I sat in our apartment alone, I could hear her voice tell me, like many times before, not to give up. I realized I was allowing this tumor to suck the life out of me and my unborn child. I made a decision to stay positive, to fight, and more importantly, to learn as much as I could about what was going on with my body. I became obsessed with ensuring my survival. I asked questions at every doctor’s appointment. I asked so many questions, my physicians became annoyed. When someone wasn’t able to answer my questions, I found a physician that could. The more I learned about my health and my pregnancy, the more my hunger for knowledge increased. One afternoon, I stumbled upon a research study explaining the impact ingredients have on our overall health. I discovered the link between food, beauty products, toxic preservatives and the affects certain chemicals have on the endocrine system, the reproductive system and on unborn fetuses. I began to change how I ate and what I used on my skin and in my hair. Years earlier while in college, I would craft and experiment with natural butters, oils and conditioners in my apartment. I made my own hair care products and thought since I couldn’t find what I was looking for, then I would just make my own natural, luxurious, chemical-free bath and skincare products to use. Years later, I found solace and peace in learning about formulations, plant oils, local sourcing and creating healthy options that were safe enough for me to use while I was pregnant and later on, on my baby. In retrospect, becoming pregnant actually saved my life. While bearing my child, life began to have a new meaning. While my pregnancy was difficult and trying, I learned about self-love and the true meaning of self-care. I also learned about the willpower I had to overcome obstacles and to truly love all of me, both good and bad. Balancing life and death at my fingertips, I made the choice to enjoy life each day, because tomorrow, after all, isn’t guaranteed. During my c-section, the tumor was removed and I gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Four years later, I own and run an amazing skincare business where I get to make natural and organic products that don't contain the toxic stuff that harms us all. I can truly say that I am no longer a beauty product junkie, but instead I use makeup and skincare to educate individuals about the effect ingredients in skincare have on our overall health. I have a huge passion for helping others learn about wellness, self-acceptance and staying informed when it comes to their health. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire and encourage individuals to stay strong when faced with challenges. For more personal essays like this, sign up for our daily newsletter! A self proclaimed recovered beauty product junkie, Barbara Jacques is the Founder, Creative Director and Chief Formulator at Jacq's Organics, an all-natural plant-based skin and body product line based in South Florida. She speaks and writes about natural skincare. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and check...

Frank Ocean is a musical genius, therefore you know his mom is probably equally as dope. Katonya Breaux recently released a sunscreen for people of color. After becoming fed up with the white film left behind from traditional sunscreen, Breaux created UnSun. The mineral tinted facial sunscreen is SPF30 and includes natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax. "UnSun was made specifically for people of color representing the beige to dark chocolate tones of the spectrum. The desire to protect our skin from the sun should not mean having to wear foundation in order to cover the white and gray film that's present after the application," Breaux wrote on the site. "UnSun was specifically formulated with a mineral tint to address this concern. Tested on tones that range from olive to the darkest of chocolate, Unsun meets the challenge." Ya'll hear that? She's protecting your ash. Back in 2013, Breaux aired out her frustrations on Twitter. Can someone make brown sunscreen? Please! Must I look like a clown to protect my skin? #blackfolkburntoo — katonya breaux (@katonya) May 16, 2013 "Shortly after that, I called a friend of mine in the hair-care business and asked if I could meet the folks at their lab. That’s how the whole process started," she told The Cut. So excited!! It's here! Coming to you very soon!!!🌞🌞#sunprotectionforall #protectyourskin A photo posted by Katonya Breaux (@katonya1) on Apr 15, 2016 at 10:14am PDT UnSun is available for purchase online. Breaux says the line will expand with body and lip products currently in development. As women of color continue calling on beauty manufacturers to become more inclusive with products catering to darker skin tones, Breaux says companies should be put forth greater efforts in addressing the inadequacies. "There’s still a great need. There are multiple other brands that really need to get onboard. It will happen. The voices are getting louder, but of course there’s a need." Yaaas Mother Ocean, yaaas! Loving Blavity's articles? Sign up for our daily...

Many of us wake up early, get the kids ready for school, then head to work where we spend eight hours being the lesser paid (but equally intelligent) wing woman to a coworker (who is likely white, male or both). During lunch, the bestie calls to catch up on life and vent. After work, we come home to wait hand and foot on bae while making sure the kids are finishing their homework. While preparing dinner, we throw in that last load of laundry. By the time dinner is ready, it’s too late to go to the gym, so we feed ourselves with a laxative tea and sleep with a waist-cincher. After all, we’ve got to keep it right and tight for the viewing pleasure of others. As black women, we do it all. We are loving daughters, nurturing mothers, supportive partners, successful businesswomen, determined students and innovative entrepreneurs. But once we get home and the cape comes off, what happens to the burdens that are left for us to bear? Who is there to pick up our pieces when the madness of the world leaves us depleted of energy and hope? Finally, why are we afraid to admit when something just doesn’t feel right? The stigma of a black woman being typecast as a certain character doesn’t have to be accurate. The truth is, many of the circumstances that cause us to neglect our mental health are because of systems put in place that never intended to assist us in the first place. Although addressing the stereotypes alone certainly will not cure any conditions, it's a necessary first step in figuring out the "why." The stereotypes behind the stigma Dating back to U.S. slavery, each plantation had Mammy: The black woman convinced that everyone else’s well-being mattered more than hers. The matriarch who suppresses her dreams to assist in fulfilling those of others around her, Mammy thrives on being the most obedient yet solid rock of a servant as possible. When it comes down to it, she’s clutch and people praise her for it. Behind closed doors however, her spirit is as equally worn out as her hands and feet. A tired life of failing to practice self-care causes her to become numb to her own desires. Another popular stereotype within the black community is the Jezebel: Someone with an unhealthy appetite for lust and sex. As a child, perhaps, she was badly mistreated and abandoned by the paternal figure in her life. Because of this, she builds a mental wall as protection from any future chance of heartbreak. This complex leads her down an exhausting life path of finding love in all the wrong places. She has adapted to enduring mental — and sometimes physical — abuse from her partners. Over time, her sense of self-worth and purpose completely exit her soul. Then there’s the modern day Sapphire: A black woman who wears a chip on her shoulder. She has a tendency of spewing hatred and bitterness, especially in relationships. She enjoys using aggression to bully and emasculate. She is deemed the ‘angry black woman’ to society. At home, she hates the person she has become, although she feels she has no control of her emotions. While Hollywood chooses to tell one side of the story of the black woman, it rarely considers the state of her mental health. Anxiety, mood, psychotic, eating, impulse control, personality, obsessive-compulsive and post-traumatic stress disorders impact millions of women in the black community. Scientific data wants us to believe that the mental health conversation is an all-encompassing umbrella that shouldn’t be race-specific due to a lack in evidence, when in fact, race might actually be the biggest factor. According to Mental Health America, 6.8 million African Americans have been diagnosed with a mental illness, and the number among black women in the U.S. is probably much greater than reported. The social stigma surrounding our community might turn some away from seeking the proper help. We are so used to displaying unwavering strength to the public that we only further separate ourselves from the idea of wholeness we strive to maintain. Since childhood, we learn to consistently internalize certain feelings for the sake of those around us. We grew up watching the maternal figures in our family braving any and every potentially meltdown-worthy situation, from finances to illnesses. The cycle has continued and needs to stop. We don’t have to be defined by the stereotypes; it's possible to break through to the other side and achieve total peace of mind. By first acknowledging the stereotypes behind the stigma, we can begin an open dialogue. And from that point, we can choose to overcome our fears of weakness or vulnerability. Yes, we are black women and we can do it all. But we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when we need it. Want more content like this? Sign up for Blavity's...

You might know her as the star of the VH1’s series Hit the Floor or remember her from some of her big screen appearances in films such as For Colored Girls and John Q, but outside of being a four-time NAACP Image Award winner, Kimberly Elise is natural lifestyle advocate. Elise invites naturalistas to unearth the beauty within in a week-long digital summit that began September 1 and continues until September 7.  The digital summit aims to encourage women to move past conventional beliefs about beauty and cultivate an inner peace and inner beauty. Elise consults her favorite cosmetologists, bloggers, celebrity stylists and makers across the natural beauty realm to discuss natural hair, beauty tips and more. The free digital summit kicked off with a discussion between wardrobe stylist and natural hair enthusiast Vic Styles and Elise about self-love, purpose and radiating natural beauty from the inside out. Those who reserve their digital seats can catch up on this discussion and look forward to inspiring words and commentary from celebrity hairstylist Aingeel-Z, cosmetic scientist Erica Douglas and artist Debra Cartwright, to name a few. For more details about the speakers or to register, click here. Loving Blavity's content? Sign up for our...

Nicolette “Nic” Graves is a food technologist, nutrition consultant and health education specialist with a background in micronutrient deficiency, agricultural development and food security. Her mission is to help fill the disparity gap by helping communities overcome the obstacles of a healthy diet by refining habits and revamping plates, one indulgence at a time. Through her health and wellness platform, niktrition.com, which is dedicated to empowering women through their pursuit of health by defying the status quo, you can get nutrition coaching and several on-demand programs created to help you nourish yourself, get FLEEKy and snatched while thriving on delicious eats and self-love. Read our interview with Blavity Creative Society member Nicolette below: Blavity: Tell us more about why you started Niktrition.  Nicolette Graves: Well, Niktrition is really just the brain child of my personal evolution. I came pre-packaged with an infatuation with food. In fact, my nickname growing up was Gutsy Gloria (thanks, Dad) and obviously, the connotation of “gutsy" wasn’t something that sits well even at the age of 8 — even if I was good for putting away seconds and thirds. For the subsequent 12 years, I dieted. (Yes, at 8 I had my own form of diet food i.e.. butter pasta = gotta lay off that tomato sauce). I was “healthy” and read all the seminal works on being skinny at all costs and how to lose your enthusiasm for food in three days… it was le struggle. The craziest part was I was pre-med, I knew the science behind proper nutrition, but per usual I tried to outsmart the system by using trends instead. When it worked I was obsessed and when it didn’t... I was obsessed. Damned either way. It left me tired and in need for something more sustainable. So instead of trying to beat the system, I opted to work with it and haven’t looked back since. As time progressed, I began to realize the only way I could have ever allowed such treatment to my body despite knowing better was my mental state: The perception I had of what my body represents, my relationship with food and my own sense of self worth. Essentially, Niktrition came out of this compilation of experiences, knowledge gained, questions asked, and a desire to optimize it all for better distribution. It’s really gone through several forms. From just learning the scientific foundation of proper nutrition, to understanding the implications of socioeconomic, geographic, cultural, ethnic and historical factors that play a role in our state of health. Once I got to graduate school and started doing my research on food access and development, everything became amassed and began to spiral into all these thoughts I was having, mixed with me always wanting to help, mixed with me feeling a type of way about the unequal focus on “fixing” foreign developing countries but nothing done for the developing communities right here at home. Plus, I was learning and learning a lot and wanted to keep learning, but knew I had a responsibility to the community. So I had all this knowledge, all these facts, but facts are facts are facts — how do you apply them? How can you really help yourself if people are just throwing out facts and not showing you skills, tips and tricks that can aid you and your situation? More explicitly, how do we get underserved communities to apply the necessary health practices? When it comes to health, we each have a unique experience/struggle/circumstance which either supports or impedes our status. B: Why, for you, is self-love intertwined with a healthy lifestyle/nutrition? NG: Self-love is the foundation to living a fulfilled life overall. When you love yourself, you have accepted who you are for who you are. You are making a conscious effort to make your perception of yourself the definitive guide. This then molds self-esteem and body image, which then in a cyclic nature sets the tone for how you feel about yourself. When you have ownership over you, it’s a feeling that can’t be matched. Right now, the trends on the market aren’t embedded in self-love… it’s this "fix yourself because there is something inherently wrong with who you are right now" mentality. It’s "you cool and all, but you could be better if you did this." It’s "bash people for their preferences or side-eye her cause of her eating habits." It’s "make others feel self-conscious in order to lift ourselves up." In all honesty, I think it takes self-love for you to truly achieve, benefit and feel fulfilled by anything. What you feed your mind determines your appetite. #StayWoke #ReadingIsFundamental A photo posted by Nic, Nutritionist/MS 🍍🌿 (@niktrition) on Jun 30, 2016 at 3:27pm PDT B: Talk about your passion for empowering women through your site and through one-on-one coaching.  NG: Despite having had the right to vote for some-odd 96 years, “equal rights” for women are still pending and women are still pining at the door to sit at the table. We are still seen and treated as objects, and the worst part is we internalize that sh-t. We internalize it and then shape our reality based on standards, rules, and other BS not even set by us. Empowering women, especially young black professionals who have their sh-t together from an achievement standpoint but struggle to tie together the other ends of their lives (such as their state of wellness) is the least I could do. That incessant grind to the top is ambitious, applause-worthy and poppin'. But as I said, it’s incessant, and in order to shine your brightest, the vessel carrying you needs to have its machinery intact. Black women have been told for forever they can’t have it all. I think our generation is changing that and health shouldn’t be sacrificed or left to the wayside. Your well-being should be just as high a priority as your success, because it ultimately affects it. There are so many barriers standing in our way as far as external factors — health shouldn’t be one of them. Feed your focus. A photo posted by Nic, Nutritionist/MS 🍍🌿 (@niktrition) on May 3, 2016 at 4:31pm PDT B: What are your thoughts on the relationship between mental wellness and nutrition?  NG: They go hand in hand. Literally, nutrition provides the building blocks your body needs to carry out basic functions, such as existing, while your mental determines everything else. In fact, recently there has been a surge in evidence illuminating the importance of nutrition as a factor in mental wellness from a physiological standpoint… literally nutrients and chemicals in our bodies interact to keep us running. Those same interactions can also determine how we feel, our behavior and our capacity to use our brain. Which is major if you think about the impact your mood, behavior and ability to analyze affect your ability to be a productive member of society. B: There has been a recent wave of black women empowering themselves via healthy living, what are your thoughts on spreading the importance of wellness throughout our communities?  NG: Wellness has been a topic often forced to hang in the balance in the black community and that can be seen by simply flipping through the CDC’s statistics. The health disparity gap is disrespectful at the least. For a very long time, we didn’t have the resources — time, money, knowledge — to care. That landscape is changing. I could say my background in public health made me aware of the importance of community, but really, that’s common sense for us. What my educational background did allow was for me to have full on access to systematic reviews covering the disparity gap and its causes; the systemic issues that impale our ability to truly live well; the power of community education, especially for minority demographics; and the importance of cultural relativism. That last one is a huge one. Cultural relativism. It’s something I struggled with on my own health journey, and it’s a complaint I hear time and time again… often in the form of “How can I eat better without eating grass” or “I like my food seasoned” and “do I have to drink green juice?” Let’s be real, nobody cares what Becky has to say about nutrition, she’s just not relatable. But when we found out Bey did the 22-day vegan, it started to look interesting. That’s just the way it is. Having people who can identify with our experiences enlightening us can only make us better as individuals and a community. It’s what has been missing. Working, getting my life, and breathing the freshest air this concrete jungle has to offer. My new favorite space = The Oasis, an on-demand botanical sanctuary. @wohaneillay back at it again 📸. A photo posted by Nic, Nutritionist/MS 🍍🌿 (@niktrition) on Apr 3, 2016 at 12:36pm PDT B: What is your favorite part about the work you do?  NG: Seeing other women blow themselves away by being built up. Loving Blavity's content? Sign up for our daily newsletter...

An eerie scene reminiscent of the Flint crisis is currently playing itself out in East Chicago, Indiana. With their soil being 6 times higher than safe lead levels, residents of the West Calumet Housing Complex are currently being tested for lead poisoning. The complex was built next to old factories that left dangerous levels of lead in the soil. The roughly 1,110 residents, including 670 children, are all at risk of having lead poisoning. Some of those tested already have alarmingly high levels of lead in their blood. From children to adults, this community is currently living in their own version of a nightmare. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sought superfund status for the site in 2008. "Superfund status" is for any land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the EPA as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment. These sites are placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). The EPA found hot spots in the complex soil in 2008 and removed some. They tested the soil again and removed more from hot spots in 2011. In depth testing to determine what soil needed to be removed started later in 2014. The EPA has suggested that they just remove the soil without disturbing the residents since 2012, but it's too late for that. After telling children that they could no longer play in the soil or spend much time on it, the Mayor made an executive decision. In a letter to residents Mayor Anthony Copeland stated: "Now that we know the levels of lead in the ground in the West Calumet Housing Complex, we feel it is in your best interest to temporarily relocate your household to safer conditions. Even though this may be a great inconvenience to you, it’s necessary to protect you and your children from possible harm." HUD has allocated $1.9 million to pay for new rentals for the residents and the state has allocated $100,000 for moving expenses. Not all of the vouchers provided for moving are recognized and provide an extra burden for residents. As families try to gain access to this money and figure out how to uproot their entire lives, mothers try to keep their children safe inside their homes. Some play with their babies on couches, afraid that even touching the ground in their apartment would result in damage to their children. If you are looking for Governor Mike Pence to visit the site of this "humanitarian crisis," please check his schedule as he campaigns as Vice President with Donald Trump. He was available for cameras and press in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but residents are asking why he hasn't found time for them. He promised through email to send staff out to East Chicago. Stay connected by signing up for Blavity's...

Are you getting the Vitamin D you need? If you spend a lot of time inside or walking downtown where tall buildings block the sun, you might not be. Vitamin D is important for optimal health because it promotes immune system function and the development of strong bones and teeth by regulating calcium and phosphorous absorption. It's nicknamed the sunshine vitamin because it's naturally produced by our skin from exposure to sunlight. Unfortunately, many people don't get adequate amounts of this vital vitamin, often because of environmental and lifestyle factors like those mentioned earlier. Sound like you? No worries. Today I'm sharing easy ways to get the Vitamin D your body needs: Tip #1: Get some sun Vitamin D, aka the sunshine vitamin, is naturally made by your skin from exposure to sunlight. That's great news! So get out and let the sun shine on you – literally. Sunlight is an awesome natural way to boost your vitamin D levels. Tip #2: Fill up on fatty fish Fatty fish like wild caught salmon, macrel and cod are bursting with vitamin D. The cool thing about fish is that it’s super simple to prepare.  A sprig of fresh herbs, a squeeze of lemon juice, some olive oil and VOILA! — a healthy and delicious dose of Vitamin D. Tip #3: Crack open the eggs Score another point for eggs! Just remember that the vitamin D is found in the yolk so eat the WHOLE EGG. How do you want it — scrambled, sunny-side up, poached or hard boiled? Either way, egg yolks are a yummy source of Vitamin D. Tip #4: Eat Shitake mushrooms Shitake mushrooms can be purchased fresh or dried. The key to cooking the dried variety is to soak them in a bowl of boiling water for 20 minutes. After that, they can be sliced and diced to go in a stir-fry, casserole, sauce, etc. Fresh or dried? Take your pick. Tip #5: Take a quality supplement A nutritional supplement is another easy source of vitamin D. The key to safe supplementation is selecting a quality product made by a reputable company. It's recommended that adults up to age 70 get a minimum of 600 IU of Vitamin D each day. For those over 70 years old, the recommendation is 800 IU of Vitamin D daily. Getting the Vitamin D your body needs is easier than you might have thought. Get out, enjoy the sun, have a nice meal and pay attention to your body. You'll thank yourself later!   Want more content like this? Sign up for our daily...

If you told us four years ago that we would become Under Armour-sponsored athletes, find fulfilling romantic relationships, best friends, and a far-reaching fitness family all through the internet and social media, we would never have believed you. But that’s exactly what happened. It all started in November 2013 when, after years of suffering with depression, Alison started a running club to meet other people who might be looking to find meaning on the run. Fast-forward a few years to today, Harlem Run has grown to become a movement of trendsetters, fitness experts and community organizers that create an authentic experience around a healthy lifestyle. Our mission is to empower communities to get fit, and we regularly host 150-250 people on a given Monday or Thursday night who are looking for inspiration, family and connection. Now, we didn't get here alone — it took like-minded, passionate people leading the movement. Amir (co-leader), Kai (co-leader) and Alison sat down recently to uncover the madness behind the movement. 1 . Commitment & persistence When Harlem Run, aka #TheMVMT, started in November 2013, the group was comprised of a party of one: Alison. Had it not been for her persistence -- showing up every week at the same time and publicizing broadly -- we might not be where we are today. Once members started to join, they adopted the same culture. Alison, Kai and Amir committed to being present no matter the weather or occasion, and we have been rewarded for it with a supportive, loving community that pushes us all to be our best! 2. Authenticity Real recognizes real so being unapologetically who we are has been an essential component of making #TheMVMT such a loving and supportive atmosphere. The more open and vulnerable we are with our stories and struggles, the more members are as well. Regulars refer to #TheMVMT as a family. 3. Inclusivity Harlem Run welcomes people of all abilities, ages, sizes and fitness levels — and it’s free! From a walker to 6-minute-per-mile runner, there is a pace group for you. And no one gets left behind. The inclusive nature of #TheMVMT means that there are absolutely no excuses for why anyone should not join us. Inclusivity means social change. 4. Creativity Harlem Run is fearless when it comes to taking risks. We don’t compete with others, we just create. Host a themed run in costumes? CHECK. Host a holiday run in celebration of Thanksgiving, New Year’s and Christmas? CHECK. Create routes that take members to new parts of town they never knew existed? CHECK. Our boldness has been rewarded with excitement and energy week in and week out.   5. Passion If we were leading #TheMVMT for fame and fortune, we would have been sorely disappointed. What we do is instead fueled by a passion and commitment to make people better.    Passion is the fuel. Your commitment to creativity will push your vision. No matter what, remain persistent. When you remain true to who you are, it will inspire others to join in. Moments come and go, but movements are eternal. For more content like this, sign up for our daily...

As you get into the swing of things this semester, you'll probably realize that you don't have as much time in the morning as you hoped, and you might not always have time to run to the cafeteria before class. Sausage McMuffins and pancakes on a stick aren't the only way to make sure you get an early serving of protein. And Pop Tarts and Toaster Strudels don't have to be on your grocery shopping list because you're a college student. Prepping is the name of the game. Get smoothie ingredients into a ziplock the night before, or make fresh granola on Sunday evening to last you throughout the week. Don't just pre-pack your lunch (honestly, you'll probably eat out anyway), but get a healthy serving of fruits, vegetables and more with these recipes. Fruits and vegetables Coconut Matcha Smoothie Green Smoothie Bowl Fruits and grains Blueberry and Chocolate Chip Parfait Granola Nectarine Yogurt Parfait Blackberry Cashew Bars Cinnamon Apple Granola Avocado Toast Protein Sweet Potato And Mozzarella Egg Skillet Spinach, Egg, And Cheese Breakfast Bites Baked Goods Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake Want more roundups like this? Sign up for...