Extracurriculars Are Key
What extracurricular activities is your child participating in this school year? I’ll go a step further and ask, what extracurricular activities are YOU participating in this year? We lose the importance of incorporating fun activities in our own lives as we start...
What’s for Lunch?
As the first day of school gets closer, you probably have started thinking about the age-old question: what’s for lunch today? Research shows that lunch is an important meal for both adults and children. What we eat for lunch provides our brains and bodies with the...
Press Pause
With the days of summer winding down and the busyness of fall just ahead of us, it is a great time to participate in Lazy Day! On this August 10th celebration, the key is to press pause on all of life’s demands and do things that recharge you! Trust me, your to-do...
“Friends, How Many of Us Have Them?”
Although our masks are down, social distancing requirements have lifted, and businesses are back open, the lasting effects of the pandemic are still present in many areas of our lives — like our friendships. Studies have shown that friendships took the hardest hit...
July is National Blueberry Month!
Did you know that July is National Blueberry Month? Blueberries are available year-round, but the spring and summer months are peak season, so it’s a great time to consider the benefits of this tiny but mighty super fruit! Check out some of the proven health benefits...
The Power of Mentorship
Think about your childhood. Now, think about your middle and high school experiences. Now, think about college. In addition to the myriad of other thoughts that probably flooded your mind about that time in your life, was there also a person or...
Eat Well and Live Well with Keys All Summer Long
Keys’ was launched with a mission to empower individuals to live healthier and happier lives by teaching healthy cooking classes and practical lifestyle skills. Our programs have grown since the organization started 18 years ago, so we are breaking down our offerings...
May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
Your mental health impacts every area of your life – how you work, how you live and how you play. When your mental health starts to suffer, it becomes harder to complete everyday tasks with the same vigor and energy. If you find yourself in a slump this month, take a...
A Special Blog for The Keys’ Team
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to dedicate this blog to my amazing team of chefs, facilitators, and instructors who help make Keys to Abundant Life the incredible organization that it is. Every week, I brag about y’all – how much you pay attention...
Gardeners – Let’s Start Composting!
The average American generates roughly four and a half pounds of waste – that’s about 1,600 pounds per year per person. Can you guess what the largest component of waste is? Food scraps. That’s right! The food from our dinner tables make up about 22% of solid waste at...
Feeling stressed? Eat these foods!
Did you know that April is stress awareness month? We’re breaking down the correlation between the foods we eat and our ability to manage stress effectively. The reality is that everyone experiences stress at some point in time and how we deal with it makes all the...
The Power of Women
Women’s History Month is a time where the world recognizes the strength, fortitude and perseverance of women. It’s also important that during this month we take time to remind women that there is also power in them just – being. Not having to perform, not having to...
Celebrate Women’s History Month with Keys’
Women’s History Month is celebrated globally by recognizing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Women’s Day (March 8) also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. This year’s theme is #embracequity...
Black Pioneers Who Forever Changed Food
Did you know that Black people have made contributions to the food industry dating back to the 1800s? As we celebrate Black History Month, Keys’ wants to recognize the accomplishments of Black scientists, chefs, and innovators whose work in various disciplines has had...
Join Keys’ in Celebrating Black History Month
“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” ― Carter G. Woodson Did you know Black History Month started as “Negro History Week”? Carter G. Woodson, also known as the...
When was the last time you learned something new?
The pandemic had a major impact on all of our lives but one thing I am grateful for was the time I had to sit, reflect and learn new things. I perfected my favorite recipes and taught myself a few new ones, too. I learned how to make jewelry and key chains, and read...
Are you well rested?
With the hustle and bustle of each day, sleep is one of the primary things we tend to compromise. I’m sure you’ve heard about how important sleep is to your body and immune system, many of us have; but the reality is very few of us prioritize resting enough to reap...Try This, Instead of That
Eating healthy can be a challenge when you add on other responsibilities that take our time and attention. Between parenting, working, finding time to exercise, and socializing, figuring out what to eat everyday can become a chore. Here are a few tips we’re sharing to...
4 Tips to Help You Find Balance on Your Plate This Holiday Season
Between the piles of candy on Halloween and the potlucks afterwards to celebrate New Year’s and everything in between, sticking to your health and wellness goals can be a challenge. If you’re like me, you give it your best effort to resist the temptation to eat all...
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Becoming An Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurship is one of the hardest yet rewarding experiences. I launched my company, Keys to Abundant Life Inc. seventeen years ago and have learned so much in the process! If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or have just launched your own business, here are 5 tips...
Battling The Holiday Blues
The holidays are hallmarked by warm sweaters, festive drinks, and fellowship with family and friends. While this can be a wonderful time of year, it is also the hardest time of the year for others. It’s common to have feelings of sadness that last throughout the...
Ease Into the Holiday Season
It’s officially Fall and while I am excited to embrace the cooler months, I know there are many of you who have mixed feelings about this time of year. So, consider this a check-in. I want to remind you that it’s okay to slow things down, to take more time for...
When is the last time you focused on your emotional wellness?
Emotional wellness: Our ability to process feelings in a healthy, positive way and manage the stress of everyday life. Our hectic schedules and buzzing devices have made it more crucial than ever to maintain a sense of calm and balance. The more we have going on in...
The Best Ways to Cleanse Your System
What you need to know about detoxing It’s that time of the year! Pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween candy, holiday desserts and comfort meals are about to be in full effect. If you’re like me though, you’re marking this time of year as an opportunity to flush the system...‘Fall’ Into Fun
With summer (and the summer heat) making way for Fall, it’s the perfect time for you to start planning your autumn activities so you can ‘Summer’ all year long! While fall does not officially kick-off until September 21, early bird tickets and reservations for many...
Black Farmers are Business Owners, Too
When is the last time you supported a Black farmer? Despite the agriculture industry steadily growing, Black farmers in the United States have declined over the last century with just 1.4% of farmers identifying as Black or mixed compared to 14 percent 100 years ago....
Celebrate National Black Business Month
Did you know that August is National Black Business Month? That’s right! August is a time to acknowledge, celebrate and support Black-owned businesses in the United States. The history of Black-owned businesses in the United States stems back to the 1700s, when free...
Detox Your Mind
We’ve all seen the headlines – the shootings, the supreme court rulings, gas prices, discrimination against farmers, supply chain demand issues – and the chaos of it all can feel all-consuming. I want to encourage you to mentally step away from all the things in life...
Let’s Get Moving!
So many things in life are replaceable. You can buy a new car, a new house, new clothes; you can buy almost anything – except a new body. Well, I guess you can do that too! Lol. However, I’d rather work with the body I was gifted at birth. This motivates me to...
What Does Juneteenth Meant to You?
Juneteenth (June-Nineteenth), also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, commemorates the freedom of enslaved Black people in 1865 when Union soldiers reached Galveston, Texas, declaring the Civil War to be over and the end of slavery in the U.S....
Lean Into What Makes You Special
A special blog from Keys’ CEO, Kyira Harris Since its inception, my company has grown exponentially over the last 5 years addressing the whole body with enrichment activities, physical fitness activities, professional development and academics for more than 5,000...
3 Tips on How to Help Your Children Take Charge of Their Mental Health
In our last blog, we discussed the importance of prioritizing our mental health. This week, we’re dropping gems on how to pass that empowerment down to your children. If you’re like most parents, you’re on top of your children’s wellness visits to the doctor and...
Are You Prioritizing Your Mental Health?
It’s no secret how important your mental health is but do you know why? We’re going back to the basics to educate you on the power of your beautiful mind. Your mental health impacts your physical and emotional health There’s a reason your mood, eating, and sleeping...
How to Sell Your Company on Corporate Wellness
Here’s Keys’ quick guide to convincing your boss your health is worth the investment You’ve heard it before: people are an organization’s biggest asset. Every company’s success, from the quality of its products to its office culture depends on whether its employees...
Join Keys’ Active April Work Week Wellness Challenge
Wellness is one thing that can’t wait until after work. That’s why we’ve made it our business to make healthy habits easy with our Work Week Wellness Challenge. Get up and actively engage with your health this month by completing at least one wellness activity...
You Are What You Eat: How what you eat affects your sleep
We’re all juggling many things throughout the day and having enough energy to manage it all is important. Getting a good night’s rest is dependent on a lot more than what time we go to bed at night and get up in the morning. Our quality of sleep is impacted by how...
Celebrating Women’s History Month: Black Trailblazers in Medicine
Happy Women’s History Month! This month, we’re proud to highlight revolutionary Black women who made strides in the medical field and ultimately, unlocked doors that led to advancements in medicine. Black women have been practicing medicine for centuries, starting...
Claim Your Health by Reclaiming Your Heritage
Try these African heritage foods for Black history month. The standard American diet includes large quantities of meat, refined sugar, and processed junk food. No matter where your ancestors are from, I’m confident their diets were much healthier. Our current cooking...
14 Valentine’s Day Ideas for Any Kind of Love
Who says the only type of love worth celebrating on Valentine’s Day is romantic? Here are 14 platonic date ideas to help you spread love no matter what your relationship status is. Undress your stress at the spa with a day of rest and relaxation.Fall in love with your...
Nourishing Timeless Skin from Within
As we anticipate colder temperatures, don’t forget to renew, refresh, and wrap up your body’s first line of defense – your skin. The cold air and low humidity during this season can be brutal on our skin. Harsh winter weather ...
7 Diet Myths to Leave in 2021
As much as there is to gain in 2022, consider our first blog of the year a liquidation sale. Everything must go including your poor relationship with food and nutrition! Ditch these dieting myths and transform your food choices, preparation, and your outlook on health...
10 Fitness Resolutions Worth More Than Weight
Every year on New Year’s, millions of people commit to transforming their lives through weight loss. More than half of them abandon those hopes before achieving their goal. So, toss the scale in 2022 and commit to weight-free goals instead. 54% of Diet Resolutions...
Unlock the Secret to Holiday Portion Control
Don’t let a wild ride on the holiday gravy train derail your 2021 health journey as you reach the finish line. This holiday season purge the urge to splurge at any winter holiday celebration with Keys to Abundant Life’s tips on portion control. The key to successful...
Push Past the Potluck with a Culture of Gratitude
This year alone, full-time employees on average will work 261 days and 2,088 hours. Throughout our lives, this adds up to nearly 90,000 hours. With so much time spent working instead of resting or practicing wellness, I challenge you to consider the following...
Hold Fast to Dreams with Accountability
Whipping up a dream is easy. Mix a dash of confidence, passion, and imagination to taste — and Voilá! You have a dream! Now, how will you use it? Sometimes, we treat our goals like forgotten leftovers. After making them, we have a helping and store the rest in... Getting Your Health in Harmony: How Vitamin D Can Help Combat Seasonal Depression
While our versions of healthy may come in different textures, shapes, and sizes, the definition of what it means to be healthy remains the same from one person to the next: to be in a state of complete harmony of the body, mind, and spirit. But what really is...
Fall in Love with Gardening
When people think of fall foliage, they seldom imagine fields of green. They think of brittle grass and close-to-being-bare brown trees being hugged tightly at the feet by mountains of dying leaves. They think of grey overcast skies, full moons, and brisk air. They...
Engage, Empower, Enrich: Enhancing Your Remote Work Community
COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, and have fun. Over the past year alone, we’ve touched on topics like virtual learning, virtual celebrations, and adjusting to social life indoors. We’ve been challenged to find new ways to connect, recognize inequities, and...
Preparing Your Young Ones to Return to In-Person Learning
I know what you’re thinking. Change? Again? A little more than a year ago, each of us made life-altering adjustments to our families’ everyday lives. Many began working from home while simultaneously overseeing their students’ virtual learning. Work and home dynamics...
Rise & Shine: Waking Up with Intention
Let’s talk about intention. Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines intention as: in·ten·tion | in-ˈten(t)-shən a determination to act in a certain way: RESOLVE We often hear the word used in the context of wellness in phrases like “intentional...
Mindfulness, More Than Meditation
If you, like me, have experimented with different types of meditation, you may have heard the term mindfulness to describe the act of breathing deeply and focusing on your thoughts, feelings, and sensations in the current moment. This form of meditation helps you...
Have a Healthy Homemade Summer Part II
We are only a few weeks into Summer 2021, and with more than two months of high temperatures and extended daylight left, there are still endless opportunities to get active, explore, and whip up some fun healthy homemade recipes with Keys to Abundant Life. ICYMI, Part...
Have a Healthy Homemade Summer
Summertime is finally here bringing with it an abundance of sunshine and vacation time, family barbecues, beach trips, festivals, day camps, and outdoor sports to name a few. Needless to say, for Summer 2021, we are heading outside! It’s going to be a summer full of...
19 Historically Relevant Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth
Image by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Juneteenth, a holiday recognized by African Americans and their allies in 47 US states, has been called many names throughout its 155-year history. To some, it is known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and...
Practice What You Plant: Lessons Learned From 7 Easy Houseplants
Practice What You Plant: Lessons Learned From 7 Easy Houseplants For an aspiring or new plant parent – even old ones, a nursery full of colorful foliage can leave you awe-struck pondering where all these beautiful shades of green have been hiding all of your life. You...
No Diet? No Sweat!
No Diet? No Sweat! ICYMI, May 6th is the annual International No Diet Day. Yes, you read that correctly! It is No Diet Day, and though it has already passed, it is never too late to set aside just one day to forget about your body goals and show appreciation for the...
