Wellness Wednesday: Snacking

Does your work have a vending machine filled with buffalo chicken flavored Dorritos, double stuffed Oreos, mini frosted apple pies or "healthy" candy filled trail mix?  It may be time you give yourself a snack rehabilitation.  Healthy snacking throughout your day can make a huge difference in your energy level, metabolism and weight management.

They key is preparing snacks is to choose items with very few ingredients, think the less steps it takes to get to your mouth the better.   Also, plan ahead and prepare your snacks in advance so that you can just grab and go.  Turn your briefcase or backpack into a mobile healthy vending machine.  But keep in mind that too much of anything is not good, so mind serving sizes and create some variety.  Here are some healthy and tasty snack ideas:

• Baby carrots
• Hard boiled egg
• Cucumber salad-1 cup of chopped cucumbers, 1/2 tsp of rice vinegar, sprinkle with red pepper
• Roasted seaweed
• Apple slices
• Raw almonds
• Serving of pistachios
• Low fat string cheese
• Can of Sardines
• 1 low sodium brown rice cake and 1 tbs of almond butter

There are so many options!  Share your favorite healthy snack.


 

Foodie Friday: DIY Turkey Chili

I love to prepare meals that last me a few days.  Chili is one of those easy prepare and walk away meals that taste better and better each day.  This white turkey chili is very easy to make in a slow cooker.  

Chop fresh garlic and two celery stocks

Chop one jalapeno, one green bell pepper and one serrano pepper

Chop one yellow onion

Chop about half a cup of cilantro

1/4 cup of salt, 1/2 tsp of chili powder, 1 tsp of cumin,  1/4 tsp of black pepper,  2 bay leaves,  add oregano and basil to taste

Mix in spices, onion, garlic, cilantro, and peppers 

Sautee celery, 1/4 cup of onions.  Then add 1 pound of ground turkey.  Brown turkey.

Add chicken broth and four cans of beans of choice to slow cooker

Add turkey

Cook on LOW for 5 hours.

Yum

Workout Wednesday: Mountain Climbers

This exercise targets the shoulders, hips, butt and the core.  To do on your own, place your hands on a stability ball, roughly 18 to 24 inches apart, and extend your legs behind you in a pushup position, with your body forming a straight line from your head to your heals. Begin by drawing your right knee up toward your chest without letting the rest of your body shift.  Return your right foot back to the floor and repeat with the same movement with the left leg, alternating until you've done 10 to 12 reps with each leg. The goal is to challenge your body to maintain stability while changing its base of support.

Let me know how it goes! 

Leather Bomber

Foodie Friday: Cafe Gratitude

I am grateful for Cafe Gratitude, a delicious 100% vegan and organic restaurant in Venice.  In the past vegan meant tasteless and eating things that resembled wood chips.  Not so at Cafe Gratitude!  The menu has a delicious selection of tasty, flavorful creations that make your mouth scream "VEGAN is the new black."   

I am vivacious

I am Powerful

I am humble

I am fabulous