Kick Cravings To The Curb With Healthy Snack Options

Cravings happen...PERIOD...even to the healthiest of us!! When your hunger, energy and cravings are out of wack, a whirlwind of out of control taste buds are sure to follow.  So be sure to keep yourself in check with these delicious and nutrient packed snack options to FUEL your body, instead of crash it!

Often, when a craving hits in the afternoon or in the evening after dinner, we get the urge to snack. Snacking can be a bad habit to get into, because the snacks we choose are often junky, un-nutritious, and high in calories, sugar, or fat.

The trick to snacking without piling on the pounds is to find healthy alternatives to the regular snacks you might normally reach for.

Usually, when we get a craving it is for either something sweet (chocolate!), savory (potato chips!), creamy (ice cream!), or crunchy (crisps!). Obviously, my examples are foods you shouldn’t eat all the time if you are trying to loose fat and be healthy. But that doesn’t mean you have to fight your cravings for the rest of your life. Instead, you just need to substitute.

Next time you get a craving for something sweet, why not try:

• fresh, whole fruit
• apples and almond butter
• dried fruit
• green smoothies
• banana “ice cream” (peel a banana, freeze, blend in a food processor with nuts, berries or  raisins ,and serve)
• dates stuffed with almond butter or other nut butter
• organic dark chocolate chips or carob chips

For your savory cravings, try these healthy alternatives:

• olives
• pickles and pickled vegetables, such as carrot, daikon, beets, and lotus root
• hummus
• steamed vegetables with tamari
• freshly made salsa or guacamole
• salted edamame

Your creamy cravings can be met by eating:

• smoothies
• avocados
• rice pudding
• dips and spreads, like hummus
• puréed soups
• mashed sweet potatoes (also a great sweet craving snack!)
• coconut milk

Finally, don‘t cave and reach for the Pringles, when you can eat these crunchy (but still healthy) snacks:

• apples
• frozen grapes
• rice cakes
• light popcorn or plain popcorn
• carrots (particularly the sweet, organic baby carrots)
• celery and nut butter
• raw, unsalted nuts like cashews, almonds, and walnuts

Don’t fight your craving. Instead, listen to what it is your body wants specifically and choose the healthier option that will be good to your waistline and will keep your hungery and cravings in check!!

3 Things You Can Do To Improve Your Health Today

Can I tell you something, and let's be honest...

There’s something that I didn’t realize when I first started working with people who want to make their health and wellness a priority.  People are sick of feeling less than amazing, and people are confused about who to listen to for advice...

BUT

Most of us already know a thing or two we need to be doing to improve our health and are not doing them!!

There is a lot of information (and mis-information) when it comes to the foods we eat. Just look at the variety of books in the ‘diet’ or ‘health’ section of your local bookstore. But when it comes down to it, we still know the basic things we should be doing to improve our health.

If I were to ask you, “What are three things you think you could be doing, to improve your health?” I'm almost positive I would get responses similar to these below:

1.    Be more active.

2.    Stop eating junk, stop drinking soda or stop smoking!

3.    Eat more vegetables.

We intuitively know how to make ourselves well, but when it comes to following through, that’s where we fall apart. I know!! I have done it, too. I still do it, we are all human! I eat chips, I drink wine, and sometimes I don’t eat as well as I know I can. The most important thing to remember is that it is ok to let yourself induldge some, just know how to get yourself back on track! Follow the 80% : 20% rule! 

For the next week, I’d like you to think about the obstacles that are stopping you from living your healthiest life. Think about it, journal about it, reflect on it.

What obstacles are standing in your way? Maybe you work long hours and cooking a healthy meal seems too time-consuming, or maybe you feel that the price of healthy food is too high. Perhaps you're too tired to get in a workout when you get home in the evening.

Your job for the next week is to simply think, reflect, and journal on these obstacles and come up with some ideas to knock these walls down. Knowing your obstacles, habits, and patterns will help you figure out how to work around them!!

I would love to hear your comments below. Tell me what is stopping you! Let’s work it out together!  You've got this!!

Eating Healthy When You Are Crazy Busy

Let’s face it; SUMMER SEASON IS HERE!!  We are all “crazy busy” with vacations, holidays, weddings, keeping the kids entertained this summer and can’t possibly fit another thing into our schedule.  I wanted to share some tips with you for when you are really busy, out and about and always on the go but still want to eat healthy, take care of your body and make this “crazy busy” schedule work for you.  Because, come on, it makes you feel GREAT to keep eating healthy, right?!

And we aren’t going to let “being busy” stop us from feeling great!!

Well, I have some tips for ya on what you can eat to stay healthy when you are busy!

Smoothies and Protein Shakes.
So fast, and perfect for on the go!  Just pour some coconut water, rice milk, hemp milk or almond milk into the blender, then throw in your fruits AND some veggies (spinach, cucumber, romaine lettuce, just to name a few).

Add some protein if you would like (hemp seed or chia seed, or maybe a scoop of hemp/vegan protein powder).

For extra flavor, add some vanilla extract or dash of cinnamon.

Salads.
Chop up a bunch of lettuce – romaine or red leaf – and add some spinach. Pile on some other veggies – tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, sliced beets, bell peppers, onions…whatever you like.

Add some protein. Choose pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, cooked organic chicken breast, kidney beans, sprouts, a hard-boiled egg, or salmon or tuna.

Make a quick dressing with olive oil, vinegar, a juiced lemon, or a couple sprays of Bragg’s Amino Acids (or just a bit of sea salt if you don’t have Bragg’s); find a combination you like!  Watch out for dressings already bottled, check the lables!! Toss it all together and eat.

If you chop the veggies in bulk you can make a couple salads at a time, don’t add the dressing to them yet, and they usually last a couple days.

Know where you can get healthy take-out.
This could be from a nearby restaurant or you could find a place where you know you can get some healthier options.  Have a few places in mind where you can get a great quick salad, cold pressed juices, who use raw whole foods and have fresh options to chose from. When traveling, do some research before hand and set yourself up to succeed. 

Some of my favorite go-to places: Frutive, Virginia Beach, VA; SaladWorks, Virginia Beach, VA; Village Juice Co., Winston-Salem; any Panera; any McAlisters Deli; any Jason's Deli, just to name a few!

It’s always the small habits that add up. Don’t let yourself fall back into old habits that cause you to not feel so great! I’d love to hear from you, too:  what and where do you like to eat when you are really busy? 

How Food Affects Your Mood And Energy

Did you know that food has vibrations that allow it to create change in our bodies on a cellular level?  So what does this mean and how does food affect your mood and energy. Food that is alive, raw and from the earth will energize and invigorate you, creating a positive change in mood and energy, while processed, pre-packaged, “dead food” will leave you feeling lethargic and uninspired, like a light that has fizzled out.  Makes sense doesn’t it?

Dark green leafy vegetables are full of chlorophyll, which is basically liquid sunshine. Now, that’s what I’m talking about!!  It is the substance in plants that allows them to absorb light from the sun and convert it into usable energy.  When we consume raw dark green vegetables such as kale, broccoli, and Swiss chard, we fill our body with the equivalent of the plant’s life blood – the very thing that allows a seed to flourish and take form.

Chemically, the blood of the plant, chlorophyll, is very similar to our blood and, when consumed, it helps us to oxygenate and breathe life into every cell.  Pretty cool, huh? Chlorophyll is also extremely cleansing and detoxifying.

Here are some other high vibrational foods for you to try:

1.    Tree Fruits – try apples, pears, bananas, coconuts, avocados, nectarines, peaches, plums, apricots, oranges, lemons, limes, mangos, pomegranates, blueberries, cherries, and olives.

2.    Non-green veggies

3.    Raw Cacao – chocolate in its pure form has over 1,200 phytonutrients. It contains nutrients like magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, copper, and manganese.  It also contains phenylethylamine, which are the feel good characteristics, and theobromine which dilates the cardiovascular system to allow all the benefits to come in.

4.    Goji Berries – packed with antioxidants, which can help minimize free radical damage to our cells.

5.    Cultured and Fermented Foods –a great source of probiotics, which will help your digestion stay on track.

I firmly believe in the old saying, “You are what you eat.”  Junk in = feeling like junk, and rich, living, nutrient-dense food in = much happier body and mind.  Don’t just take my word for it.  We’ve all tried the junk in, junk out experiment, so don’t you think it’s time to rock your body and mind with some fresh and fabulous food? By eating food that vibrates at a higher frequency, we increase our life-force energy and feel more radiant inside and out!!

Why Juicing Is So Beneficial

Did you know that when you make juice from raw vegetables, your body absorbs the nutrients within 15 seconds? Talk about a shot of energy! No need to buy those sugary concoctions from your local drug-store or grocery store that just gives you a crash later in the day. Juicing is an all-natural way to boost your energy and feel amazing. When you juice your fruits and veggies, you end up extracting all the water and nutrients from them and leave behind only the plant fibers. By separating the fruit or vegetable from its fiber, we gain access to all of the amazing vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and phytonutrients which are much more easily assimilated by our body than if we were to eat them.

This allows your body to absorb the nutrients more quickly, without having to digest the dense bulk of the plant. You can also fit an amazing amount of veggies into a single glass of juice, making it a great way to use up those extra veggies from your garden or refrigerator. PLUS, you will end up with a glass of deliciousness that packs a powerful nutritional punch. This is also a great way to make sure you are getting enough veggies throughout the day, especially if you are someone who doesn't eat veggies regularly.  Although some would also say that the cost of stocking enough fresh organic vegetables to make daily juices can be somewhat expensive, my feeling is that if you stop buying all of the pre-packaged foods/snacks you were buying, you will end up saving money in the long run on your food AND your doctor bills.  And, you have to admit, there is such a satisfying feeling when drinking a glass full of real, whole foods doing amazing things for your body!

One more thing before I go:  while you can control the quality of ingredients when you are making fresh juice at home, always read your labels when it comes to buying store-bought juice. These juices can be high in sugar and have a high glycemic load, which may cause blood sugar imbalances and can lead to fat storage!  So grab out your juicer and get to juicing!

Game Day Eats

Come on, we all love the comfort food that comes along with football season; it's the one day you can eat all the chips, dips and sweet treats you want and no one will judge:) RIGHT?? 

Well, Super Bowl 50 is TOMORROW and we can't wait to see Cam Newton and our Carolina Panthers take on Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos; what a great game day it will be!  We wanted to share with you a few different, super easy, game day eats that won't erase all your hard work this week. These are delicious eats that we hope you love as much as we do!

ENJOY~

Game Day Chili

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of 98% Fat Free Ground Turkey (organic if possible)
• 1 jar of Low Sodium Salsa (We like Green Mountain Gringo Salsa)
• 1 can of Organic Black Beans – rinsed(try to find a can that has a BPA free lining and no salt added)
• Avocado or Homemade Guacamole
• Organic Corn Chips

Instructions:

Brown the turkey, add the salsa and beans and simmer for a few minutes! Top with avocado or guacamole and scoop away with corn chips.  This recipe will serve 3-4 depending on appetites and whether you have a salad or another healthy side to accompany your chili!

Add Ins:

• Extra beans if you are trying to stretch to make more servings.  I like cannellini beans or navy beans
• A couple of fresh diced tomatoes will give it a fresh kick!
• Be creative!  Sauté more onions, mushrooms, green peppers or whatever you like!
• Spice this up with these doTERRA essential oils:  1 drop of Cilantro, 2-4 drops of Lime or Lemon, 1 drop of Cumin

Black Bean Brownies

(Recipe from doTERRA Blog!)

Ingredients:

• 1 (15 oz.) can of Black Beans, drained & rinsed
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
• 2/3 cup Honey
• 1/3 cup Coconut Oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
• Pinch of Salt
• 4 Drops of doTERRA Wild Orange or Lemon Essential Oil
• 3/4 cup Chocolate Chip, divided

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place all ingredients, except for chocolate chips, in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
• Pour batter into large bowl and stir in ½ cup chocolate chips.
• Pour into greased 8×8-inch pan and top with ¼ cup chocolate chips (or you can stir all the chocolate chips into the batter, your choice!)
• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Let cool and cut into pieces. Store in refrigerator. 

A few other tips to your healthy game day

Spice up your salsa with barley 1 drop of doTERRA's Cilantro and 3-4 drops of doTERRA's Lime Essential Oil, and add in 3-4 drops of doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil to your hummus.  Be sure to have some cut veggies on hand for mindless munching and make sure you are getting plenty of water, like always!  For some added detoxification, add 2-3 drops of doTERRA Lemon Essential Oil to your water for a taste of flavor and an extra benefit to your body!

Happy Super Bowl 50, y'all!!

XOXO~S&A  

How To "Paleo-On-The-Go" In 5 Simple Steps

Learn how to keep up with your Paleo lifestyle and your busy life all at once.

 If you’re like the majority of the American population, you’re always out and about running errands, commuting to work, taking the kids to practice, getting groceries, etc. Such a hectic schedule lends itself to crappy eating, and crappy eating lends itself to sabotaging your new lifestyle completely.

I don’t want this to happen to you. It’s happened to me before, and it took me a few days to get back on track. Some people never get back on track. Therefore, I want to provide you with the tips and tricks I learned for keeping up with a Paleo lifestyle in the midst of a busy life and where i find the best deals on products!

1.     Always, always, always keep Paleo friendly snacks in the car or in your purse (you may need a cooler). I recommend things like a bag of nuts or a bag of seeds, granola bars (Paleo-approved, not the sweet, half-chocolate kind), a bag of vegetables or a bag of fruit. You can take fresh fruit or even dried fruit.

2.     If you don’t have anything on you at the time the hunger hits, you can visit a grocery store with a fresh foods section (Hello, Whole Foods), and grab a healthy salad, a cup of fruit, a bag of trail mix, etc.

3.     If you failed to bring any snacks with you and you cannot make it to a grocery store, you can visit a fast-food restaurant if you need to. If you must do this, order a salad with just veggies, protein and a healthy fat (if they have it). For example, you could order a side salad from Wendy’s and a grilled chicken sandwich without the bun or sauce. At Subway, you can order a salad with protein and a side of avocado (when it’s in season). You should also probably skip the dressing at fast-food restaurants unless you can get just fresh olive oil and vinegar or lemon juice.

4.     For sit-down restaurants, what you order will depend on what type of restaurant you’re visiting. Here are some examples of meals:

• Bar & Grille: a turkey burger without the bun or sauce and a side salad with boiled eggs and no premade dressing; a chicken sandwich without the bun or sauce with a baked sweet potato on the side (I find coconut oil is a great sub for butter on the potato); or, just a healthy salad loaded with veggies is great too (if they have avocado, that would be even better to add to your salad)
• Breakfast joints: Eggs, eggs and more eggs with some veggies and avocado would be a great option; a large fruit cup would be a nice snack
• Chinese: Grilled veggies and seafood/veggie combos; sushi (if you don’t go crazy on the rice)
• Mexican: Beef or chicken fajitas without the fajita and loaded with veggies and a side of guacamole
• Italian: Stick with a bare salad with a protein on top
• Steakhouses: Fill up on the steak and veggies and a sweet potato; if you’re feeling dessert, opt for a fruit cup
• Deli: Any type of salad with protein; a protein-filled lettuce wrap; other wraps not made of grains (spinach or tomato, for example)

5.     If you’re searching for snacks for your busy life, be sure to check these out from the Thrive Market, one of my FAV sites to shop!!

Finally, I just want to mention – it’s so important not to over-complicate this lifestyle. If you do this, you will stress yourself out and not enjoy the process of becoming healthier. Sometimes, it just isn’t possible to eat Paleo-approved, so do your best with it and remember – every little step in the right direction, no matter how small, is still a step towards optimal health and your best self.

XOXO~S & A

The Ultimate Guide: All About Paleo, The Cavewoman's Diet Part 3

So What Can You Eat?

SO PUMPED you have taken the time to read all the way to Part 3 of The Ultimate Guide: All About Paleo, The Cavewoman’s Diet! You’re going to be glad you kept reading because there is a sweet bouns at the end!!  Plus, if you haven't yet read the first 2 blogs in this series, jump back and do that now!  Part 1 & Part 2

So… you know what the Paleo lifestyle is all about and all the things that are on the “DO NOT EAT” list and the reasons behind each one.  Now for the best part, what you CAN eat!!! 

Breaking Down What You Can Eat

Here is a basic list with what you should and shouldn’t be eating in your Paleo diet. However, for more advice on this, please contact me or refer to our Paleo program!

---

DO NOT EAT:

• Cereal grains
• Legumes (including peanuts)
• Dairy
• Refined sugar
• Potatoes
• Processed foods
• Salt
• Refined vegetable oils

EAT:

• Grass-fed meats
• Wild-caught fish/seafood 
• Fresh fruits and veggies
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Healthful oils (Olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut)

---

Since you’ve made it this far, here is a sample day in the life of a Paleo lifestyle!!  Hope you enjoy!! 

Curious to find out what your perfect nutrition plan is?? 

Contact me at SandAWellnessDuo@gmail.com

for more in depth Health Coaching, and we will figure out what is perfect for you and exactly what your body needs to be living vibrantly!

XOXO~S & A

The Ultimate Guide: All About Paleo, The Cavewoman's Diet Part 2

The Reasons Why Grains, Sugar, Processed Foods and most Dairy are not part of a Paleo Lifestyle

Welcome to Part 2 of The Ultimate Guide: All About Paleo, The Cavewoman’s Diet! Being that you have made it to this next article in the series shows that your health is important to you, and that is important to us! If you skipped the first blog in this series, hop back and read it here!

So we now know that the Paleo lifestyle excludes grains, sugars, processed foods, and dairy…but why??  Read on to see how each of these affect the body.

Glucose, The Un-Sugar Coated Truth

The glucose, or sugar, consumed through grains by the majority of Americans is the first reason grains aren’t allowed.

But why? Grains contain starch which digests into glucose. When we consume the typical lunch; sandwich, chips and a soda, all of that glucose can't be used for energy at once.  Some is converted to glycogen by the liver but the bulk is converted to fat and shuttled into your fat cells. You can see this example in action by just looking around you at the obesity epidemic. Put simply – eating grains make us gain fat, and being overweight is harmful to every system and cell in your body.

The second-way people consume glucose is pretty much straight up. In their sugary coffee, in their baked goods, in their pantry, in their fridge, and probably most other places you look.

We all know that too much sugar is bad. And quite frankly, I hate to break it to you but any sugar that is not natural – such as what is present in fruits and vegetables – is bad.

Sugar doesn’t just make you fat; processed sugar harms nearly every component of your body. It spikes your blood sugar, harms your liver and causes insulin dependence, and those factors are just the tip of the iceberg.

Lectins, Glutens...Oh, My!

The second thing we should discuss are the two other things found in grains that also put your health in jeopardy. These evil little things are called lectins and glutens, which pose a serious risk to our bodies.

Gluten is a protein that an overwhelming majority of Americans are sensitive to and leads to a solid number of diseases and disorders. I’m sure your eyes and ears have been inundated with the term “gluten-free”, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about.  Sensitivity and intolerances are different, but the same side effects that come along with intolerances can also be the same side effects of a sensitivity to gluten. 

Grains also contain lectins, but we should probably just call them what they are – TOXINS, which are not meant to be consumed by the human body. What do toxins do? Prevent your body from doing its job. They damage the lining of the intestines and contribute to leaky gut.

The grains we consume today are definitely not the same grains your Grandparents used to eat back in the good ole’ days!

What about Dairy?

I know you’re probably wondering what’s so bad about dairy. As part of a Paleo lifestyle, you likely wouldn’t be consuming dairy (many don’t). Many people, again, have an extreme sensitivity to dairy, which causes many other health problems. But don’t worry; dairy isn’t as important as the dairy industry makes it out to be.

Can you drink it? Yes, you can. Do you have to have it to be healthy and is it considered in the Paleo diet? No on both accounts.

I do want to mention raw milk is a benefit to a Paleo diet, and some Paleo experts suggest it. Raw dairy contains the enzymes needed to digest it, while pasteurized dairy does not. Therefore, some people that are sensitive to pasteurized dairy and whose body does not contain the enzyme, lactase, to help digest it, may do better on raw milk – if that’s what they choose.

What’s Important to You?

By going grain-free and only consuming natural foods, you’re preventing all of these toxins from entering your body, thereby boosting your health immediately, draining your body of toxins and boosting your immune system so that illness and disease stands no chance against your body!

Going Paleo is a personal choice that only you can make. But before you eat that next French fry or chug down that soda, be mindful of what it’s doing to your body – creating a perfect environment for disease to enter and thrive.

For tips and tricks that will help you kick grains to the curb for good, visit my blog post here:

5 Secrets To Going Grain Free

Have specific questions or need advice on your health? Contact me at SandAWellnessDuo@gmail.com

XOXO~S & A

The Ultimate Guide: All About Paleo, The Cavewoman's Diet Part 1

What is Paleo and why it might be what your body needs

I’m sure you’ve heard the term “Paleo” by now. Most people have heard of it, but many are not quite sure what it is. I’m here to tell you all about Paleo and why it is hands-down the ultimate way to eat and to live.  Before I go any further, remember there is no one size fits all, PERFECT way to eat, workout etc. for everyone.  You have to be your own detective and figure out exactly what works for you and what doesn’t; that is the key to optimal health, for YOU!  So many, myself included, suffer from a whole host of food allergies and sensitivities that make certain parts of some plans difficult to follow. So make sure you adapt any nutrition plan to best fit you, and what your body needs!!  Now, what the heck is Paleo?

To explain – picture yourself as a cavewoman millions of years ago. There was no such thing as cooking, let alone electricity to do it. So what would you eat? The answer is: anything that you can find.

Cavemen and women ate anything they could find in an effort to survive: fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and greens made up the majority of their diet. Eating certainly wasn’t a hobby such as what it has been made into today, but a means for survival – a means to nourish the body and thank it for all it does.  I now you’ve heard the saying “Eat to live, don’t live to eat”.  This, to me, sums up how we should approach every day! 

Now, I’m totally not saying you can’t indulge from this day forward as long as you live; I don’t even think that is possible!  But, once you are in tune with what your body needs and how it reacts to certain foods, you will be more aware more than ever of what foods actually do to your body.  For instance, if you know you are going to a holiday party this weekend, stick to your guns all week long in the kitchen and gym, prepare your body so that when you do have that extra treat at the party your not sabotaging all your efforts up to this point.  

You’re probably thinking – That’s a great history lesson you’re teaching, but what does that have to do with me? My answer is: It has a lot to do with you, especially if you’re looking for a way to eat healthier, get happier and live longer.

You can do a Google search for Paleo studies in your spare time and learn about the massive effects a Paleo lifestyle has on a person’s health, but I’ll give you the rundown: it kills depression, slows down or prevents diseases and autoimmune disorders, gives you a boatload of natural energy and provides your body with every nutrient it needs. And that’s not even all.

As a matter of fact, Paleo is so popular these days that millions of people follow it as a lifestyle, including Hollywood stars Jessica Biel and Megan Fox. But why?

Before I get into the benefits in part 2, let’s state the hard, cold reality of Paleo – there are NO grains allowed, NO sugar allowed, NO processed foods allowed and for the most part, NO dairy allowed.

Wait, what did she just say?

Yep, you heard it right. Your favorite grains – cereal, rice, oatmeal, crackers, quinoa, bread, pasta…oh for the love of pasta, etc., etc. – aren’t typically in a Paleo lifestyle, and there’s a very good reason for it. Neither are your sugary treats (yes, go ahead and put away those last lingering pieces of Halloween candy), prepackaged meats or yogurt.

Before you ditch this 3 part article series altogether and tell yourself there’s no way you can do that, listen up. Trust me, your health is in jeopardy if you don’t.  Stay tuned, part 2 explains why the typical Paleo lifestyle excludes your favorite grains, sugar, processed foods and most dairy – this is going to be good!!

Have more specific questions or need advice on your health?  Contact me at SandAWellnessDuo@gmail.com

XOXO~S & A