Have you only ever thought about pineapple cut up and cold? Well here’s a new idea.
Cut up some pineapple and put 1 inch chunks on a skewer. You are creating a pineapple kabob. Then lightly sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. Bake in the oven (or try on a BBQ) for about 5 minutes, on low. You will be absolutely amazed. So delicious.
These are PERFECT for a healthy dessert on a hot sunny day.
Posted in Healthy Eating, Recipes, Uncategorized
Tagged healthy eating, pineapple, wellness
If you are like me, there are some days you just crave the bad food. And it can be hard to not give in! But last night I read an article online (Canadian Living) and it gave 4 simple tips to fight cravings.
1. Eat a piece of fruit. Grab an apple or an orange and when you are done, you probably won’t even remember the craving you just had! Plus you just consumed one of your 5-7 servings of fruit and veggies a day!
2. Drink a glass of water. Sometimes your cravings aren’t really about food, but instead about hydration. Drink a glass of water before you give in and reach for that cupcake. To make that glass of water more appealing, throw in lemon slices or cucumber slices.
3. Try a cup of tea. Try a fancy cup of tea to fill that sweet craving of yours. You may be surprised how well this works to eliminate your craving.
4. Wean yourself off the source of your craving. For some this sounds like it is impossible to do, but it works! Put in the effort to restrict yourself when the craving strikes and you will find yourself craving it less and less.
Carolyn
Posted in Healthy Eating, Wellness
Tagged cravings, health, healthy eating, wellness
Try this simple and delicious recipe for your next dinner party! It is a healthy meal that is low glycemic.
Bring 2 1/4 cups of water to a boil in a large, tightly covered saucepan. Stir in the rice and quickly replace the lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, still covered for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut the bok choy in half to separate the leaves from the stems. Cut the leaves into wide shreds and finely slice the stems.
Heat the oil in a wok and add the onion. Stir-fry over medium-high heat for 2 minutes, until just tender. Add the pepper and bok choy and stir-fry for 3 minutes.
Add the mushrooms, garlic, ginger, and chili, and stir-fry for 3 minutes, until the mushrooms are just soft. Drizzle with soy sauce and toss to combine. Serve immediately with the rice. Serves 4.
Enjoy!
Carolyn
Posted in Healthy Eating, Recipes
Tagged healthy eating, low glycemic, recipes, stir-fry, wellness
There are many reasons why everyone should keep hydrated, especially during these hot humid days. Acording to familydoctor.org you should be staying hydrated because “every cell, tissue and organ in your body needs water to function correctly.” Water is needed in order to maintain a proper body temperature, lubricate and help joint function as well as for waste removal.
If you are dehydrated, that is low on fluids in the body, you will encounter several different symptoms. These include a headaches, little or dark urine, confusion, sleepiness and dry mouth. If you have any of these symptoms – try refueling your body.
Remember: everyone should consume at least 6-8 glasses of water per day. Some people require more than this, espeically if you have had extensive workouts during the day or have certain medical conditions.
Don’t like drinking water? There are other ways to compensate for a lack of desire to have plain water. Try real fruit and real vegetable juices, as well as teas. Some foods you can eat to supplement healthy hydration are watermelon, soup broth and vegetables, especially tomotoes and lettuce (familydoctor.org).
Some additional tips to stay hydrated during the day are:
*always have a refillable water bottle with you *have a glass of water as the first thing you do in the morning and the last thing you do before bed *when you eat out, ALWAYS order a glass of water; its great for you and its free!
Happy H2O. Katie
Posted in Healthy Eating, Lifestyle
Tagged health, hydration, staying hydrated, wellness
Here is an awesome homemade granola recipe! You will absolutely love it! Plus it is quick and easy to make!
Ingredients
1/2 cup of honey 1/3 vegetable oil 2 tsp vanilla 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp cinnamon 3 cups large flake oats 100g pkg pecan halves (about 1 cup) 1 cup pepita seeds (I have used sunflowers in replace of pepita seeds) 1 cup dried cranberriesWhisk honey with oil, vanilla, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add oats, pecans, and seeds. Stir to coat.
Heat 2 large non-stick frying pans over medium-high heat (using two pans cuts cooking time in half). When hot, divide oat mixture between 2 pans. Cook, stirring frequently, about 1 minute, than reduce heat to medium. Continue stirring, adjusting heat as needed, until golden and toasted, about 6 minutes. Stir in cranberries.
Transfer to baking sheet to cool completely. Granola will keep well, stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Enjoy!!!
Carolyn
It is extremely important that you eat something after a run, especially a very long one. Because running takes a lot out of you, you must replenish your energy post-run. According to Christine Luff, author at About.com, a good reason to hit the kitchen or cupboard after running is that “you can minimize muscle stiffness and soreness,” if you eat within 30 minutes of the run.
Think of post-run (or post-exercising for that fact) snacking as a way to ‘fuel your fitness.’ You need to energize the body so it can work to it’s maximum potential to create results.
You will want to make sure that your snacks are full of carbs and some protein. If you have ever signed up for a race, you will notice almost always they have a huge selection of foods after you cross the finish line. Often bagels, bananas, other fruits and sometimes a bbq.
Some good post-run snack ideas are: Cliff bars, bagels with peanut butter, hummus on pita bread, fruit and yogurt and smoothies made with fruit and skimmed milk.
Katie
Posted in Fitness, Healthy Eating
Tagged health, post-run snack, running foods, welness
Here is a great chart that illustrates which foods provide you with your daily dose of antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential for us because they provide protection against damage the our body incounters everyday.
Carolyn
Posted in Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Wellness
Tagged antioxidants, health, wellness
We all know that staying fit includes eating healthy. Not only is what we eat important, but eating at the appropriate times throughout the day will help to maximize fat burning and keep us from feeling hungry throughout the day. Here are some key points from Women’s Health Magazine to keep in mind!
Aim to eat every 3 to 4 hours. Most people eat three meals and one snack, while others may prefer four smaller meals throughout the day. Timing your meals in this way will improve your fat loss and control appetite and metabolism and as well balance the stress hormone cortisol.
Eat within 1 hour of rising. Your mom was also right when she told you breakfast was the most important meal of the day. When you skip breakfast, you lose its stimulating benefits on your metabolic rate. You also become more likely to eat unbalanced meals, more calories, and larger amounts of saturated fat throughout the day. Plenty of research shows that those of us who skip breakfast are actually heavier. Missing out on a healthy morning meal also increases stress hormones.
Never eat within 3 hours of bedtime. Eating too close to bedtime raises your body temperature, increases blood sugar and insulin, prevents the release of melatonin, and cuts down on growth hormone release. All these factors interfere with the quality of your sleep and the natural fat-burning benefits of a good night’s rest. Furthermore, sleep deprivation leads to more cravings and a greater likelihood of overeating the next day.If you must eat before bed, opt for a light meal or snack that’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates and fat.
Start the day with protein. For better appetite control throughout the day, try combining your starchy carbs at lunch, dinner, or after your workouts rather than at breakfast. Stick to eggs or whey protein smoothies for breakfast and you’ll eat less throughout the day.
Always eat within 45 minutes of finishing your workout. This meal or snack is the only one of the day that should not contain much fat and should be higher in carbohydrates.
Never do your weight training on an empty stomach. You will need energy from your foods to perform optimally. You may, however, complete your cardio before eating if your session will be less than 30 minutes.
Focus on your food. Do not eat while you are doing anything else (i.e., watching TV, working, surfing on the computer, etc.). Focus on chewing your food and relaxing while you eat.
Eat protein first. Eat the protein on your plate first to help speed the signal to your brain that you are full.
Drink alcohol last. If you have alcohol or wine, do so after your meal to enhance the hormones involved in appetite control and digestion.
Posted in Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Wellness
Tagged healthy eating, lifestyle, metabolism, wellness
This is a great recipe to make as an appetizer or even as your main meal! Make it for your next party and it will be a hit!
Ingredients:
4 tbsp. olive oil, divided
6 (1/3-1/2-inch thick) slices eggplant, about 4 inches in diameter
Thick slices artisan bread, such as ciabatta, Italian, etc. (about 9 x 12 inches surface area)
Marinara sauce (about 1 cup)
1 oz. soft fresh goat cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish
1 cup coarsely grated mozzarella cheese
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400˚ F. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season the eggplant slices with salt and pepper. Lay the eggplant in the heated skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, turning, until the eggplant is lightly browned on both sides, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Brush the cut side of the bread slices with the remaining oil and cook in the warm skillet on medium-high heat until golden brown, 1-2 minutes.
Lay the bread, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Spread a thin layer of the marinara sauce on each slice. Crumble the goat cheese over the marinara and sprinkle with chopped basil. Lay the egg plant slices on top of the marinara. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the eggplant slices and dot lightly with remaining marinara sauce.
Bake until the topping is hot and slightly browned, about 12 minutes. Slice into small pieces. Garnish with additional basil leaves as desired.
Enjoy!
Carolyn
Here are some great tips to follow to lead a healthier life!
Carolyn
Posted in Fitness, Healthy Eating, Lifestyle, Wellness
Tagged fitness, healthy eating, lifestyle, wellness
