Carbs

There’s a lot of confusion about carbs.  Are they good?  Are they bad?  Are we supposed to avoid them like the plague?!  Well the truth is, our body needs carbs to function properly.  And there are different types of carbs.  Some carbs (like fruits, veggies and whole grains) are great for you!  But other carbs (donuts, candy and refined or processed breads and pastas) are lower in fiber and nutrients and don’t have the same effect as the good carbs!  Check it out!!!  

So don’t think about carbs as being “bad.”  Just remember to eat the right kind of carb!  Your body will thank you!  Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

No Excuses

Just in case you were thinking up a reason NOT to exercise this weekend……..

here are 101 reasons to do it!!! 

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

 

Salads

Summer is a GREAT time to make the most of all the fresh produce out there!  If you don’t have a garden or go to the Farmer’s Market, there are still lots of options to purchase fresh fruits and veggies.  Most stores have TONS of varieties and options for a delicious salad!  And I’m not talking about your boring ole salad with iceberg lettuce and carrots.  There are so many different types of salads!  You can change the taste and flavor of your salad just by changing up a few ingredients.  So get crazy!  Try some new options!  Experiment!  Think outside the box.  You can change up the whole style and flavor of your meal.  Add a sprinkle of cumin to make a “taco” salad.  Add some low sodium soy sauce and salmon for a salad that mimics sushi.  Add strawberries and walnuts and you’ve got a dessert salad!  The possibilities are endless!  Here’s a list of all kinds of salad ingredients that you can throw together!

Greens

Spring Mix

Kale

Spinach

Bok Choy

Iceberg Lettuce

Leaf Lettuce

 

Vegetables

Broccoli

Carrots

Cauliflower

Tomatoes

Onions

Cucumbers

Peppers

 

Fruits

Strawberries

Watermelon

Peaches

Dried Cranberries

Blueberries

Avocadoes

 

Protein/Meats

Hard Boiled Eggs

Ground Turkey/Beef

Chicken

Smoked Salmon

Walnuts

Pecans

Almonds

Quinoa

Edamame

Black Beans

 

Toppings/Extras

Feta Cheese

Mushrooms

Low Sodium Soy Sauce

Cumin

Olive Oil

Corn

Olives

Fresh Parmesan

Fresh Mozzarella

Chickpeas

Garlic

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Skin Cancer

It’s summertime and that means lots of FUN IN THE SUN!!!  But with that fun comes danger!  Skin cancer effects about one out of every five people.  So it helps so know some simple information!  

So know your risk and do your best to protect yourself from the harmful rays of the sun!  Have a GREAT weekend! 

Egg Substitutes

How many of you have gone to cook something and realized:  “We don’t have any eggs!!!”  I know I have!  A recipe I used recently called for a flax egg.  I’d never heard of using flax to “create” an egg so I did some research.  Apparently there are all kinds of ways to substitute eggs!  And although most of them are for people who eat strictly vegan, they are also handy to have around when you’re out of eggs!   J 

I hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Myths

With so much information bombarding us these days…it’s hard to tell what is fact and was is the truth.  Should we eat fat?  Go fat free?  Is sugar bad?  What about gluten?  So many questions!!!  That’s why it’s always good to do a little research of your own when it comes to diet and exercise.  And maybe I’m a bit of a geek when it comes to research.  But I love to look stuff up.  Give me a topic…..especially about health and wellness…..and I’m going to read all about it.  I want to know the truth! 

I came across this infographic awhile back on Pinterest.  And it shows some of the myths or misconceptions people have when it comes to diet.  And remember….when I use the word diet, it literally means what we eat.  Not some fad to lose weight.  

I think these are just great!  It’s just so easy to get confused!  But choosing a healthy diet is easy!  Eat as many minimally processed, chemical free foods as possible.  Eat real foods that fuel your body.  All the fast fix, shortcuts can do more harm than good. 

 

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Memorial Day weekend! 

Smile

Did you know that it is actually healthy to smile?!  Well it is!  Smiling has all kinds of health benefits!  It helps relieve stress and change our mood.  Smiling can trick the body into thinking you’re in a better mood than you are.  “Fake it til you make it!”  Smiling also helps boost your immune system.  Experts believe it may have something to do with your immune function working better when you are more relaxed.  Smiling also helps lower your blood pressure.  And it also releases endorphins, natural pain killers and serotonin.  Talk about a pick me up!  These are all natural “feel good” hormones.  Smiling also helps keep us positive.  Try thinking about something negative while you are smiling.  It’s hard to do!  You’re body naturally wants to go back to good thoughts!

So SMILE!!!  But be warned!!!  Smiling is contagious!  So don’t be surprised if you smile and others around you do the same thing!  J

 Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!