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In this day and age, most people are guilty of overindulging on social media. From Facebook and Instagram to Snapchat and Twitter, social media allows us to share your best self with the world. Whether by phone, laptop, or tablet, you have access to these platforms nearly 24/7, and that means you have nearly unlimited access to updates from your friends, family, and even informal acquaintances. You know what restaurant the neighbor from across the street ate at last night, and you see your coworker’s vacation pictures from a stunning tropical location. Add in announcements of job promotions, births, weddings, and it quickly becomes an information overload. In fact, it’s a little too easy to spend your time scrolling through your feed, trying to see what our peers are up to.
Social media is a wonderful tool that allows you to stay connected in ways that you’ve never been able to before. However, the rise in popularity of social media leaves you with a few unanswered questions. For starters, is it possible that overusing social media can have harmful consequences? And more importantly, can social media actually be sabotaging your health goals? This month, I’ll be exploring both of these questions, and helping you assess whether your social media habits could use an overhaul.
- Stephanie
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How Facebook Could Be Sabotaging Your Health Goals?
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 Here’s some ways Facebook might be negatively impacting your health
FOMO
FOMO - the fear of missing out. While we all occasionally experience this in our day-to-day lives, Facebook only further feeds into your fear of being left out of the loop. Your need to stay connected is one of the reasons social media is so pervasive in the first place. You want to know what your peers are up to. An incredibly common phenomenon, FOMO can leave you feeling inferior to your peers and dissatisfied with your own life. FOMO means that you are spending more time than we realize scrolling through your Facebook feed instead of putting forth the effort to enjoy and improve our own life.
This leads us into the next reason why Facebook is more harmful than most people realize:
Envy
Facebook gives you a glimpse into the lives of your peers - the restaurants they eat at, the cars they drive, and the clothes they wear. It can be easy to fall into the trap of comparing your life to the image that people present on social media. However, it’s important to remember that most people strive to present their best selves on social media. It’s easy to post the good things and leave out the bad. So next time you find yourself envying one of your Facebook friends, here’s a good tip: take a step back from the screen, take a deep breath, and write yourself a quick list of things you’re thankful for. There’s probably more things on there than you realize.
Addictive Screens
Let’s face it, spending too much time staring at a screen is just plain bad for your health. Spending a lot time on Facebook or on the computer in general can cause serious health issues. From eye strain to bad posture to simply encouraging a sedentary lifestyle, these are all serious risks from spending too much time online. Of course, like anything, moderation is key so if you can’t quite go cold turkey with social media, try to limit your time browsing social media. |
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| Strawberry Ricotta Crostini with Fresh Herbs |
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Take a break from social media and make this delicious snack from the California Strawberry Board
Recipe by California Strawberry Board
Author: Jennifer Farley
Prep time: 60 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 1 hour 10 mins
Serves: 20 crostini
Ingredients:
- 1 baguette, sliced thin on a bias
- 15 ounces ricotta, either part skim or whole
- ½ cup packed fresh herbs, finely chopped (an even mix of mint, basil and sage)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced thin
- 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
- thinly sliced fresh mint or basil for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet and toast until crisp, 7-10 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, mint, basil, sage, salt and pepper. In a separate medium bowl, combines the strawberries and citrus juices. Cover each bowl and place them in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes. Stir the berries occasionally.
- Spread a generous layer of the herbed ricotta onto each slice of bread. Top with 3-4 strawberries. Top with the fresh herbs. Optional: drizzle with a small amount of the macerated strawberry juice (not too much or the bread might get soggy).
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| A fixation with connecting with |
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“A fixation with connecting with 'friends' online comes with the risk of disconnection with friends waiting for you to be present in the offline world.”
― Craig Hodges |
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| 5 Ways to Step Away From the Screen |
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- Go Outside. Put down your phone, slip on a pair of tennis shoes, and head outside for a breath of fresh air. Whether taking a walk around the block or sitting in your backyard and taking in the views, being outdoors is great for your mental health (and the research agrees).
- Clean. Although cleaning might be a task you dread, research has shown it’s great for your mental health. Instead of browsing Facebook, take some time each day to declutter your space. Put in a pair of headphones, turn on some music, and get cleaning!
- Journal. Taking the time to sit down and reflect on your thoughts and emotions is a great way to improve your mental health, especially in today’s hectic world. Writing down your feelings is a great way to find gratitude in what you have rather than what you don’t.
- Call up a Friend. Instead of using Facebook to stay connected, call up a friend to hang out instead. Meeting face-to-face over a cup of coffee is a far better way to stay in touch than liking each other’s statuses every now and then.
- Exercise. Trade in 30 minutes of Facebook time for a physical activity: Take a trip to the gym, go for a swim, or ride your bike. Staying active is a fantastic way to keep your mind off social media.
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| ABOUT SO Nutrition |  | Stephanie Leipprandt Ouellette, MBA, RDN, LD Stephanie has been working in the field of nutrition and dietetics since 1995. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Michigan State University, completed an Approved Pre-Professional Practice Program at Western Michigan University and earned a Master of Business Administration from Baker College. She’s been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist since 1996 and licensed in Texas since 2007. In 2008, Stephanie earned her certification in Childhood and Adolescent Weight Management. Stephanie has extensive clinical & managerial experience, both in corporate settings and in the community. Now she wants to share her knowledge with you, because most (if not all) nutritional habits begin at home.
Stephanie and her family reside in Katy, Texas
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