Isabella Cannon

Isabella Cannon is a 2024 Corporate Communications intern for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. She currently attends Eastern Michigan University as a public relations and marketing student.
Food

How to Cook Barley

Barley is a cereal grain high in fiber and protein. Often, it’s added to soups or used to make bread. Barley primarily comes in two different forms: hulled and pearl. The easiest way to cook barely is on the stovetop.

Recipes

How to Cook Black-Eyed Peas

Did you know black-eyed peas aren’t actually peas? Contrary to popular belief, black-eyed peas are neither a grain nor a vegetable but are actually beans. Cooking black-eyed peas is the same as cooking any other dried bean: You'll need to sort, soak and cook them.

Food and Nutrition

Are Seed Oils Unhealthy?

You may have seen viral social media posts on TikTok that claim, “seed oils are toxic,” or “seed oils are the root problem to your health issues,” but is it true?

Education

Sustainable Cleaning Supplies and Eco-Friendly Alternatives

Did you know that many cleaning supplies can not only be bad for the environment, but also for your health? While cleaning is a necessary part of our everyday lives, many cleaning supplies can irritate the eyes or throat, cause headaches or other health problems.

Recipes

How to Cook Jasmine Rice

Cooking jasmine rice is simple and requires only a couple of steps. Two of the most popular cooking methods are on the stovetop or in a rice cooker.

Health and Wellness

How to Start Your Winter Arc

TikTok is buzzing with a trend called “the winter arc” that encourages you to start your health and fitness goals in the fall to create a healthy winter. Let’s explore the viral winter arc challenge and whether it has potential to improve your self-improvement journey.

Health and Wellness

What are Lifetime Sports?

Lifetime sports are those you can play for your whole life at any age. Regular exercise is important for people of all ages and has been shown to reduce and prevent many health conditions.

Things To Do

5 Fall Nature Activities and Crafts for Kids

As the seasons start to change, make it a goal to keep your kids active and outside. Michigan fall is a beautiful time to get your kids involved in nature while letting them be creative and hands-on.

Things To Do

5 Dinner Party Ideas For College Students

Now that I’m in my 20s, I’ve learned to appreciate the simplicity of getting together with my friends and family and enjoying each other’s company over a good meal. But when it comes down to it, I’m still a kid at heart. Why stop having themed parties when you’re an adult?

Michigan Outdoors

Michigan Bucket List: Porcupine Mountains State Park

Porcupine Mountains State Park is Michigan’s largest state park and a popular fall-weather destination for camping, hiking and fishing. Covering more than 60,000 acres along the Lake Superior shoreline, this vast wilderness area is a haven for nature lovers.

Health and Wellness

Workouts That Work for Me as a College Student

I’ve found that college is a great time to create healthy habits through regular practice of physical activity. While every person is different, here are some workouts that work for me as a college student.

Community

Michigan Bucket List: Paddle Antrim Festival

Paddlers are welcome to join an epic adventure in September. The Paddle Antrim Festival celebrates the waterways and local communities of Northern Michigan Sept. 13-14. The festival includes community events and a non-competitive two-day paddling event from Ellsworth to Elk Rapids on the Chain of Lakes Water Trail.

Health and Wellness

How to Train Like an Olympic Athlete

If you watched the Paris Olympic or Paralympic Games this summer, you might have gotten swept away seeing your favorite athlete compete. While they seem to perform with such ease, you know there are hours of work put into their physical training. Let the inspiring efforts of these athletes motivate you to achieve your workout goals this year.

Health and Wellness

Women’s Health: Workouts to do on your period

It can be easy to ignore your workout goals when on your period, but the physical and mental benefits of exercise can help. Although it feels counterintuitive, avoiding exercise isn’t going to save energy or make you feel better.

Health and Wellness

What is Mental Decluttering?

Mental decluttering is a process of clearing one's mind of excessive and unnecessary thoughts and worries to focus on the thoughts that matter. Individuals can use simple practices to declutter their minds. It just takes a few minutes a day to create healthy, sustainable habits.

Community

Michigan Bucket List: 5 Family-Friendly Fall Festivals

Fall is a wonderful time of year, filled with crisp air, beautiful foliage and plenty of festivals across the state of Michigan. Here are five unique fall festivals that are perfect for the whole family to enjoy:

Health and Wellness

What I Do to Combat Loneliness in College

When I imagined what life would be like in college, I never once considered I would be lonely. I had pictured an ideal movie montage in my head of staying up late, surrounded by friends and going to fun social events whenever I felt like it.

Health and Wellness

Your Phone Screen Is Dirty: Here’s How to Clean It

People with weaker immune systems may find themselves getting sick from common bacteria found on their cell phones. To avoid contracting those germs, get in the habit of cleaning your device on a regular basis.

Health and Wellness

The Pros and Cons of Running on Different Surfaces

Running is one of the only sports that can be done nearly anywhere, on any surface. The key is finding a route and a terrain that best suits your physical needs. While running is a great form of exercise, there are advantages and disadvantages to running on different surfaces.

Health and Wellness

Tips to Prevent Tick Bites this Summer – 2024 Season

Lyme disease is an emerging disease transmitted by the blacklegged tick in Michigan. In 2024, It has been reported in nearly every county in the state, according to the State of Michigan. Taking prevention measures is one of the smartest ways to avoid tick bites and tick-borne diseases.

Michigan Outdoors

Michigan Bucket List: Turnip Rock

Turnip Rock is in Port Austin at the tip of a small, private peninsula called Pointe aux Barques. It’s located just offshore the shallow waters of Lake Huron. This gravity defying rock formation got its turnip-like shape from gradual erosion caused by waves breaking down its soft, limestone stack.

Community

Michigan Bucket List: African World Festival

The Charles H. Wright Museum of African History is putting on its 41st annual African World Festival, July 12 to 14. Come celebrate African beauty, strength, and culture at Hart Plaza, Detroit. This three-day festival features more than 100 vendors, local and international performers, and countless opportunities for family fun.

Community

Michigan Bucket List: Art In The Park

Art In The Park will host more than 400 artists from around the United States for its 44th summer. The fair includes art in a wide variety of mediums such as paintings, sculptures, ceramics, jewelry, fiber, glass, woodwork, photography, folk art and more. From practical to surreal, whimsical to extravagant, there is bound to be something for everyone.

Community

Michigan Bucket List: Must Visit Lavender Festivals in Michigan

Lavender begins to bloom in Michigan early-to-mid June and continues through mid-August. Visiting these vibrant, purple-lined fields are sure to create magical memories for the whole family.

Health and Wellness

5 Healthy Summer Fruit and Veggie Snacks for Kids

It can be a hassle finding healthy snacks your kids will eat and enjoy. These quick, easy, and nutritious snack options are perfect for your active kids this summer.

A Healthier Michigan is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit, independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
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