Oats

Did you know that oats are SUPER good for you?!!  Well they are!  Oats are a low calorie food.  A cup is only 130 calories!  They also stay in your stomach longer so they make you feel full for longer.  They also provide a high level of fiber and a low level of fat.  Oats are also on the list for some of the highest protein of any grain.  Oats also help to stabilize blood sugar and reduce the risk of diabetes.  The high fiber and complex carbs help to slow down the conversion into simple sugars.  Oats have also been shown to lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease and cancer and enhance the body’s immune system response to disease!  That’s a lot of work for a food!  

There are TONS of ways to eat oats.  Oatmeal is an easy choice.  I eat oatmeal almost every morning for breakfast.  I throw in some ripe berries and some honey and it is DELISH!  Oats can also be ground up and used to make pancakes!  One cup of ground oats, ½ a cup of almond milk and one egg!  That’s it!  Another one of my favorites is No Bake Energy Bites.  (We call them Amazeballs!!!)

1 cup oatmeal
½ cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)
⅓ cup honey
1 cup coconut flakes
½ cup ground flaxseed
½ cup mini chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl.  Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  I personally don’t put the coconut in there.  And I quit rolling them into balls and just started making a smaller version in a cup.  They are SOOO good!  

I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Pick Tennessee App

Now buying fresh, local produce is easier than ever!!!  Check out the new Pick Tennessee App !  You can find farms and farmers markets in your area as well as look for certain produce!  It will also map your way to these places!  CHECK IT OUT!!!   

Pick Tennessee App

Hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Fed Up

There is a movie coming out next weekend and it is called Fed Up.   It is being called the film that the food industry doesn’t want you to see.  

The film reveals why people are more sick than ever before and what’s really causing it.  This movie intends to open people’s eyes to what they are really eating and how it is affecting their bodies.  I personally can’t wait to see it!  Lots of the advertisements for this say it will change the way we view food forever!  One of the best ways to take care of yourself and your health is to be informed!  So take a second to watch the trailer and see if it stirs up some emotion!  The film points out that for the first time in history, our children will have a shorter lifespan than us.  Did you read that?!  I can tell you one thing…..after watching the trailer…..It makes me FED UP!!! 

 

Fed Up Movie website
 

Let me know what you think about it! 

Hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Drink

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…………..DRINK MORE WATER!!!  It is SOOO very important for your body!!!  We lose fluid continuously in the form of sweat, breathing, urine and stool.  And when the weather gets warmer or during strenuous exercise, fluid loss happens even faster!  When your water intake does not equal your output, you can become dehydrated.  Some early signs of dehydration are thirst, fatigue, headache, increased heart rate, dry mouth, dry eyes and decreased urine output.  Here are some easy ways to increase your water consumption throughout the day! 

1. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up in the morning. You’ve been without any fluid all night.  Your body needs it!
2. Carry a water bottle with you at all times and/or keep one at your desk at work.  By constantly having it available you will drink more!
3. Substitute ice water for soda at a meal. Kill two birds with one stone – eliminate that unhealthy soda from your diet and get more water into your system.
4. When the afternoon snack attack strikes, drink a glass of water instead. You might even find that the water stops your craving.
5. Drink a glass of water 30 minutes before every meal.  Not only are you getting the water that you need, but it also keeps you from eating too much!
6. Drink water with lemon. There are many benefits of adding lemon to your water!

So here’s your challenge………..Get up and walk to the kitchen, water fountain, fridge, drink machine, etc. and get some water!  Drink it!  And there you go!  SUCCESS!!! 

Have a WONDERFUL week!

Carrots

Those Easter Bunnies sure do know what they’re doing!!!  Carrots are AWESOME for you!!! 

 

Have a wonderful LONG weekend!

Trail Mix

Does anyone else start to crash around 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon?  I start to get sleepy and/or hungry!  Lunch has worn off but it’s still a long time until dinner so I need a little pick me up!  Trail mix is the perfect treat to provide good energy that your body needs!  Trail mix is easy to eat, easy to carry and easy to make!  Avoid store bought varieties which add preservatives and too much extra sugar and make your own!  Here are some ideas for your very own creations!

1. Nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans)
2. Legumes (peanuts, baked/dried soybeans)
3. Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin)
4. Dried Fruit (raisins, blueberries, cranberries, bananas, apples, apricots)
5. Granola
6. Dark Chocolate (try to find bits with the highest percentage of cacao)

Some helpful hints………  Try to buy raw nuts when available.  I don’t particularly like raw almonds, but in a trail mix they are great!  Be aware that nuts are great for you but are very caloric.  It’s a good idea to pre-portion your servings so that you don’t eat too much of a good thing!  Experiment!  Try different combinations to see what you like best!

Hope you have a great week!!!

Dogs

Tomorrow is Dogapalooza at Dogwood Park!  And just like last year, I feel like it’s a great opportunity to tell you the benefits of having good ole Fido around!  Not only are they cute and make great companions, but dogs do many things for our well-being!  Take a look at the chart below.  It gives you 38 benefits of owning a dog!  (You may need to zoom in to read all of the words.  I couldn’t get it any larger!)  

So if you are a dog owner, go home tonight and give your dog a big ole sloppy kiss and say THANKS!!!  They do a lot for us!!!  J

 

Have a GREAT weekend and hope to see you tomorrow!