08/23/10
Tips for a Healthy Lunch Box
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08/11/10
The Pros of Eating In
The Pros of eating in….
Our nation is facing an obesity epidemic that has sadly affected our children the most. Research has shown that for the first time in history our children are not expected to outlive their parents. With all of the resources we have to improve our health, I often ask myself, “Where are we going wrong as a country with our food?”
My personal food journal always gives me the answers I am looking for. We as a country are eating out way too much; we are too busy for our own good! My calories, fat, sugar, and sodium are ridiculously high on the days I eat out, even if I try to make healthy choices. The bottom line is that restaurants and fast food establishments are businesses and they ultimately want you as a regular customer and the way they keep you coming back is by making the food taste great with extra fat, sugar, sodium, etc. Take your body on as a personal project and only eat out 1-2 times per week. I can guarantee that you will see major results in your health, your energy level and your waistline.
The pros to eating in:
• You will save unwanted calories, fat, sodium, and sugar and see the body fat melt off.
• You will have the option to eat all natural food products without all of the preservatives and chemicals that are typically found eating out.
• You will save money; a meal cooked at home for the entire family can cost the same as one meal for you eating out.
• You brush up on your cooking skills and pull out the recipe box. Put all of the Food Network tips from your favorite shows to great use, cooking can even develop into a great hobby!
• More rest and relaxation, sometimes it feels like we never spend quality time at home by avoiding restaurants you can eat in your pajamas and enjoy the company of your family.
The common complaint that I often hear when I ask clients to cook meals at home is, “I don’t have time.” Sure I know you don’t have time to make a gourmet meal with 20 different ingredients every night of the week but it does not have to be that labor intensive. With a little planning cooking at home can be easy. Take an extra 10 minutes before you go to the grocery store to plan out your week of meals. Here are some simple ideas for quick week night dinners:
• Turkey breast in the crock pot with vegetables and potatoes
• Whole wheat spaghetti with lean ground beef meat sauce and side salad with oil/vinegar based dressing
• Chicken fajitas (chicken and veggies of your choice seasoned with cumin and paprika topped on small whole wheat tortillas)
• Lean Flat iron steak with sweet potatoes and baked asparagus with olive oil and minced garlic
• Baked Salmon with herbs and olive oil, brown rice and steamed greens beans
Our nation is facing an obesity epidemic that has sadly affected our children the most. Research has shown that for the first time in history our children are not expected to outlive their parents. With all of the resources we have to improve our health, I often ask myself, “Where are we going wrong as a country with our food?”
My personal food journal always gives me the answers I am looking for. We as a country are eating out way too much; we are too busy for our own good! My calories, fat, sugar, and sodium are ridiculously high on the days I eat out, even if I try to make healthy choices. The bottom line is that restaurants and fast food establishments are businesses and they ultimately want you as a regular customer and the way they keep you coming back is by making the food taste great with extra fat, sugar, sodium, etc. Take your body on as a personal project and only eat out 1-2 times per week. I can guarantee that you will see major results in your health, your energy level and your waistline.
The pros to eating in:
• You will save unwanted calories, fat, sodium, and sugar and see the body fat melt off.
• You will have the option to eat all natural food products without all of the preservatives and chemicals that are typically found eating out.
• You will save money; a meal cooked at home for the entire family can cost the same as one meal for you eating out.
• You brush up on your cooking skills and pull out the recipe box. Put all of the Food Network tips from your favorite shows to great use, cooking can even develop into a great hobby!
• More rest and relaxation, sometimes it feels like we never spend quality time at home by avoiding restaurants you can eat in your pajamas and enjoy the company of your family.
The common complaint that I often hear when I ask clients to cook meals at home is, “I don’t have time.” Sure I know you don’t have time to make a gourmet meal with 20 different ingredients every night of the week but it does not have to be that labor intensive. With a little planning cooking at home can be easy. Take an extra 10 minutes before you go to the grocery store to plan out your week of meals. Here are some simple ideas for quick week night dinners:
• Turkey breast in the crock pot with vegetables and potatoes
• Whole wheat spaghetti with lean ground beef meat sauce and side salad with oil/vinegar based dressing
• Chicken fajitas (chicken and veggies of your choice seasoned with cumin and paprika topped on small whole wheat tortillas)
• Lean Flat iron steak with sweet potatoes and baked asparagus with olive oil and minced garlic
• Baked Salmon with herbs and olive oil, brown rice and steamed greens beans
08/10/10
Lose Weight with Sundaes!
Now don't get all excited I'm not talking about your favorite ice cream topped with your favorite candy and chocolate sauce! I am talking about ending your day with something sweet like a fruit sundae, also known as a fruit salad, but that is not as fun as a “sundae”. Since my daughter Lily was born a couple of weeks ago my mom has been staying with us to help with the baby and keep the house up and running, (she is such a blessing!), her and I have been have fruit sundaes every afternoon or evening. It has curbed my sweet tooth to the point where I am no longer craving the ice cream I craved with Lily in my belly. Sometimes when I get my chocolate cravings I pull out the big guns and top off the fruit with some melted dark chocolate, yes the calories shoot up a little but it still beats the total calories that you would consume if you had a regular bowl of ice cream.
The moral of the fruit sundae is to get out to the grocery store stock up on your favorite fruits, make sure you cut them up right away so it will be ready to grab and trick your brain into having a healthy sundae. Ditch the high calorie processed desserts and do your body a favor by consuming colorful antioxidants and it will thank you for saving an extra 200-400 calories per sitting.
The moral of the fruit sundae is to get out to the grocery store stock up on your favorite fruits, make sure you cut them up right away so it will be ready to grab and trick your brain into having a healthy sundae. Ditch the high calorie processed desserts and do your body a favor by consuming colorful antioxidants and it will thank you for saving an extra 200-400 calories per sitting.
