Holiday Mindset What's your mindset going into holiday season? If you make your mind up to indulge less and pay attention more to what you eat and drink, then you may be pleasantly surprised. Getting to a New Year with healthier habits in place is a feeling of confidence and victory - and who doesn't like that?! May I suggest you pre-think the sugary foods you normally eat or drink from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day? Then, try your best to eat less, fewer, smaller. Or, sub in something less sugary that you feel good about. 10 Ways to Enjoy the … [Read more...] about 10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays with Less Sugar
A Grocery Cart of On-Budget, Smart Nutrition
Are you ever surprised at your grocery tab at checkout? I've been surprised many times at how high my tab is because, well, good food is not cheap. But, this time, I was surprised that I got in-and-out of the store for less than $20! You can see my entire cart in the picture and I'll admit it wasn't a full week's worth of food. Still, I was feeling super proud of my smart shopping skills and staying on-budget as I headed home from this mid-week grocery run. If you're interested in some insights on a nutritious grocery cart fill-up, then take a look at my earlier blog here. On-Budget Smart … [Read more...] about A Grocery Cart of On-Budget, Smart Nutrition
Banana-Carrot Quick Bread Recipe
The rich nutrition of carrots is a perfect compliment to the natural sweetness of a simple banana bread. This recipe can easily be doubled to make 2 loaves and it freezes beautifully. So, next time your bananas get super ripe, give it a try! Ingredients 2 tablespoons Butter 2 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) 1/4 cup Applesauce, unsweetened 1/2 cup Sugar, white or brown 2 Eggs, large 1 cup Flour, white 1 cup Flour, whole wheat 1 teaspoon Baking … [Read more...] about Banana-Carrot Quick Bread Recipe
7 Steps to a Successful Picnic
Picnic Month is a July celebration we can all enjoy. When you combine a picnic with good nutrition, it's a successful meal mixed with a lot of fun! Here are 7 steps to a successful July picnic: Invite a comfortable number to your picnic. For experienced hosts/hostesses, this might be 15 or 20; for the less experienced, this might be 3 or 4. Plan ahead to make the special treats. A few examples are deviled eggs, pinwheel sandwiches, blueberry crisp. Take time to include simple, healthy choices. These might include celery sticks filled with peanut butter, cucumber spears, popcorn, … [Read more...] about 7 Steps to a Successful Picnic
Spanish Tapas & 3 Easy Tapas Snack Ideas
Spanish Tapas are a food experience to love. While living in Salamanca, Spain - in the northwest part of the country, near Portugal - I am discovering a new world of food that I never knew before. It's called 'Tapas' which, in Spanish, is a small portion of food that's served as an accompaniment to a drink. The drink can be anything, like a glass of wine, beer, water, coffee, or tea. Tapas are traditional snacks full of color, flavor, and good nutrition. If you enjoy learning about food history then here's a story that describes the origin of the tapas tradition, from southern Spain in … [Read more...] about Spanish Tapas & 3 Easy Tapas Snack Ideas
Snack Ideas for Mediterranean Nutrition
Snacks can be nourishing nuggets that boost energy with refreshing flavor. These have a Mediterranean nutrition twist, too! There are hundreds of foods that can be made into snacks, or mini-meals, and many of them are nutritious. When you really want to 'hug' Mediterranean nutrition though, the snacking possibilities are even more delicious and refreshing. And, since they're made from simple Mediterranean ingredients, your health can benefit at snack time, too. Mediterranean Ingredients for Delicious Snacks: Here are 20 examples of ingredients that deliver top quality nutrition. When … [Read more...] about Snack Ideas for Mediterranean Nutrition