Five Easy Tips to Pre

doubled by matching partners, and the full amount is distributed directly to eligible local food banks and pantries. This means 200 percent of what a farmer gives goes back to the local food back of that town, and the people who need it most.

Food Bank for the Heartland - just one of many organizations working with Invest An Acre to fight rural hunger - has received more than $50,000 through the program. “At Food Bank for the Heartland, we have found the best support is locally sourced,” says Sause. “Thank you to the generous farmers who have donated through Invest An Acre and who have encouraged fellow farmers to participate too. You are making a difference in the lives of hungry children, families and seniors.”—BPT

GetRuralLeaderMag.com | MARCH 2017 9 Daylight saving time brings brighter evenings and a reminder that spring and warmer weather are within reach. However, it comes with the potential to wreak havoc on a family’s sleep routine. Time changes can make morning schedules just a little bit harder for parents everywhere.

“A time change shifts our body’s normal schedule and losing an hour of sleep during daylight saving time can be a tough transition for moms and their families,” says Shannon Wright, a registered dietitian and wellness expert for Natrol, a market leader of vitamins and supplements.

Despite this, daylight saving time may be just the right time to reset sleep routines and get family schedules back on track.

“Use this time change as a reason to start implementing a better night time routine for the entire family,” Wright says. “If adults do not get the seven to nine hours of sleep the body needs, it can have significant consequences such as decreased mood, poor performance at work and an increase in accidents can occur.”

To help families get through this time change adjustment, Wright recommends these tips and tricks to help ease into the transition and get the best night’s sleep possible: 1. Stay consistent. Develop a nightly routine to help regulate your body’s sleep and wake schedule. Aim to go to bed and wake up around the same time every day, even on weekends. This can help support your body’s natural sleep cycle and also support the body’s release of melatonin, which helps put you to sleep and promotes more restful sleep.

2. Limit nighttime screen time. Continued on page 18 Five Easy Tips to Prepare Your Family For The Daylight Saving Time Change