My mom is a vegetarian and while she had no issues preparing meals with meat for our family, she certainly made sure we also knew how important eating fruits and vegetables were. We had salad with dinner on a daily basis along with at least three different kinds of vegetables to choose from as sides. I also grew up knowing what wheat germ was (yes, I did like it!) and how to make homemade, healthier pizza. So before I became a mom myself, living a healthy lifestyle was certainly part of my DNA and I knew my way around a food nutritional label. But since having my kids, not only do I still read the food labels of anything I buy for my family and try to keep us all active, I also try to stay on top of the latest health and wellness news. I know it’s important, but, as you’d imagine, it isn’t easy for this busy mom who’s got a gazillion other things to remember on any given day.
The fact is, trying to navigate the health and wellness space IS overwhelming. Is a gluten-free diet beneficial to everyone even if you don’t have a wheat allergy? What exactly is the Paleo diet anyway? Are those protein powders safe for my teen? I know food dyes in my child’s multi-vitamin aren’t good, but what alternatives are really out there, anyway? And my personal favorite: I want to lose the baby belly, but no time for a gym membership let alone plan a special meal plan/diet for myself on top of what I’m doing for everyone else in the family. Sound familiar?
I had the opportunity to stop in at Complete Wellness and Nutrition (180 Old Hawleyville Road, across from Big Y) not long ago and found it to be a great local resource if you are in the market for health-related products. The store, which opened this past February, carries only USA-sourced and all natural brands within a wide selection of vitamins, sports nutrition products, healthy snacks and drinks. They also carry cleaning supplies, organic skin and body care products as well as fitness accessories such as yoga mats. Because Complete Wellness and Nutrition carries only independent brands, they will not push or try to sell any one particular brand to you. You’ll find their non-pressure, personal approach to customer service a welcomed change to what you might typically experience in other retail health store outlets. And they are well suited and knowledgeable to help customize a personal wellness plan that will work for you. 
The pricing of the supplements is discounted below retail and the sports nutrition products are available at wholesale prices. Snap Fitness members get an extra 10% discount, as do regular customers. College students also get discounts with their student ID. Special ordering is available for items they do not carry. 
So the next time you are in the Stony Hill area in Bethel, stop in to Complete Wellness and Nutrition to have a look around. Be sure to tell Marisa that you read about the store in Macaroni Kid and you will receive a 10% discount! 
Complete Wellness and Nutrition is run by Doug Sedlmair and Marisa Jacobson who live in Danbury along with two healthy dogs who enjoy the couple’s homemade, organic dog food and supplements from their store. Doug has been a personal trainer almost 15 years who found it difficult to find affordable health products in stores and online. When he opened the first store in Bedford Hills, New York back in 2009, his goal was to create a destination that would provide customers with an exceptional experience, where personally designed health and supplement plans would be offered to complement a wide variety of needs at a competitive cost. Marisa also lives a healthy lifestyle and is passionate about educating her customers and helping them find exactly what they need. Complete Wellness and Nutrition has two locations: 180 Old Hawleyville Road in Bethel and 9 Depot Plaza, Bedford Hills, NY. More information is online at http://www.completewellnessandnutrition.com and on Facebook.
Macaroni Kid Danbury-Bethel-Ridgefield was compensated by Complete Wellness and Nutrition for writing and publishing this article.
