Share Your Ideas

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We’re inviting patients to join small group conversations (online or in person) to share their thoughts about NOAH. These meetings, also called focus groups, are a chance for patients and the NOAH team to talk honestly and openly about different topics.

Some things we may talk about include:

  • Clinic hours and locations
  • How appointments are scheduled
  • How we communicate with patients
  • How NOAH is advertised
  • Our doctors and staff
  • Services we offer
  • Events in the community

What we learn from these meetings will help us make better decisions for the future.

Each group will have no more than 15 people, so everyone gets a chance to speak. We will record the meetings so we can review what was said later, but no names will be used. Any feedback shared will just be listed as coming from “an anonymous focus group participant.”

Focus groups are scheduled for the following dates:

  • October 7 at 12 p.m. | Virtual – English | This meeting will be held online. You can sign-in from your computer or mobile device wherever you have access to the internet. A link will be sent to participants prior to the meeting. All discussion will be in English.
  • October 8 at 9 a.m. | Virtual – Spanish | This meeting will be held online. You can sign-in from your computer or mobile device wherever you have access to the internet. A link will be sent to participants prior to the meeting. All discussion will be in Spanish.
  • October 15 at 8 a.m. | In-Person | This meeting will be held in person at NOAH’s Palomino Health Center located at 16251 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85032. Breakfast will be provided. Discussion will primarily be in English, however, Spanish translation will be available if needed.

If you would like to help shape the future of NOAH by participating in one of our upcoming focus groups, please complete the form below.



Lunchbox Win for Picky Eaters

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From casual at home snacking to formal black-tie events and every kind of restaurant in between, you’ll find charcuterie boards on the menu. These carefully curated assortments of food allow you to enjoy little bits of a lot of things rather than meal-sized portions of one specific thing. Even better, we don’t have to eat what we don’t like. Bingo! This type of eating is perfect for picky eaters – especially kids.

Packing the perfect lunch at 6 a.m. while trying to get your kids (and maybe even yourself) out the door can be challenging. What’s worse is finding the same perfectly packed lunch untouched at the end of the day because “effective immediately, your child no longer likes _________” (insert item here).

With picky eaters and food allergies, the traditional peanut butter and jelly might not make the grade anymore. Next time you’re packing school lunch, mix it up with charcuterie-inspired options. Even if two or three items come home, you can rest assured that your child had at least some nourishment during the day.

Choose one from each column for a well-balanced lunch:

FruitsVegetablesProteinDairyGrains
GrapesCarrot SticksBeef JerkyString CheeseWhole Grain Crackers
Apple SlicesSnap PeasCubed Chicken BreastYogurtPretzels
Cubed MelonBroccoli FloretsEdamameCheese Slices or CubesPopcorn
Raisins or Dried CranberriesJicama SticksAlmondsYogurt or Sour Cream Based Ranch DipDry Cereal (low sugar)
BerriesEdamameTofuCottage CheeseWhole Grain Toaster Waffle
Sliced BananasSliced Bell PeppersHard Boiled Egg SlicesLow-Fat Cream CheesePita Chips

How to Pack

For a simple, disposable option – fill sandwich or snack size bags with dry ingredients and disposable two-ounce sauce cups with sauces and other ingredients that might leak or spill. Pack it all in a paper lunch bag and skip the dirty dishes.

Reusable lunch containers are the perfect size – just fill with disposable or reusable cupcake liners to create individual cups for each food. Or try two-ounce little containers that come with lids. Reusable containers are easy to find and won’t break the bank – especially if you want to trash any that have been lurking in the bottom of a backpack for two weeks.

For items that need to stay cold, a frozen bottle of water is a perfect option and makes for an icy cold drink at lunchtime.

Looking for more ideas to enhance your child’s lunch options? NOAH’s team of registered dietitians are available for creative suggestions. Schedule an appointment today!

Seasonal Affective Disorder in the Sunshine? You Bet!

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that happens or changes with the season, with symptoms lasting 4-5 months every year. And while many people associate SAD with dark, cold, winter months, people living in sunny Central Arizona can and do suffer from SAD just like everyone else, but ours usually happens when temperatures heat up.

Desert dwellers, like residents in the Valley of the Sun, tend to thrive in the winter months engaging in time outdoors. However, when summer months come, the extreme heat and sun can take a toll on our bodies and our mood. Millions of Americans suffer from SAD but may not recognize the have the condition.

Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms

Symptoms may differ based on season and for summer Seasonal Affective Disorder, symptoms may include:

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Poor appetite
  • Restlessness
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety

To read more about symptoms, visit the National Institutes of Mental Health on Seasonal Affective Disorder. Additionally, if you already have depression or anxiety, this seasonal change could worsen your symptoms.  

Since the timing of SAD is predictable with the seasons, you may be able to get ahead of it by doing preventative care to help with symptoms. Ways to reduce or help symptoms can include talking with your NOAH primary care provider, a counselor, a nutritionist, or a psychiatric provider. One of the best things your counselor or other provider can help you with is developing coping skills and understanding the signs and symptoms that may be helpful to jump start your seasonal self-care routine.

For most people, staying cool, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and socialization can reduce symptoms.