December 2013
Easy Solutions:
Stress is No Darn Fun at Holiday Time
The holiday season can be full of light-hearted festivities, family and fun. Or, it can be a lot of stress. This month and into the New Year, put good nutrition to the test as one of your primary stress busters. Really. Make it a priority to eat 3 light and healthy meals each day and a nutritious snack if you are hungry, too. The magic comes when you set this same priority day-after-day, and you gradually achieve it. Better nutrition means less stress!
Here are a few examples:
* Stressed out? Take a deep breath, enjoy an orange + a small handful of almonds, and then move on.
* Stressed out? Put your to-do list aside for 15 minutes while you enjoy a cup of tea + half sandwich + apple.
* Stressed out? Before tackling the mall on holiday errands, be sure to eat a light and healthy breakfast like a hardboiled egg + slice of whole wheat toast + sliced pear + glass of 1% milk.
To learn more about good nutrition in your grocery shopping cart for less stress, click on my blog.
3 Quick Holiday Season Snacks! 
#1 Super Bowl: A bowl of high fiber cereal (>3 grams fiber per serving) with toasted wheat germ, nuts and raisins + 1% or fat free milk. You’ll be amazed how this sticks with you!
#2 Spread & Veg: Cucumber slices, baby carrots and/or radishes spread with some chickpea hummus or guacamole. The crunch is delightful!
#3 Fruit & Nut Butter: Slice a pear, apple or pineapple and then add a dollop of your favorite nut butter. There are many choices such as peanut butter, soy nut butter, almond butter, cashew butter. Satisfying!
Light Recipes For Healthy Holidays!
A tempting dessert recipe from Cooking Light.
Hash-Brown Crusted Mediterranean Quiche
A recipe for your holiday brunch or lunch from the American Egg Board.
Nutrition Inspiration!
Where do you get inspiration to eat nutritiously? This grocery shopping cart is a good starting point, don’t you think? Every shopping trip, I try to get the colors going with fruits and veggies and it keeps good nutrition ‘top of mind’ for me as I walk through the rest of the store. Does this colorful cart give you nutrition inspiration? I hope so!
Take Action Now!
Jump on board with a healthier lifestyle for you and your family! For quick solutions that everyone can handle, invest in my e-book bundle of 3 books. There’s one book of meal plans with grocery shopping lists and 2 books of recipes to get you going!
Please note that I am an in-network provider of nutritional counseling for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina*. I am accepting new clients and will be delighted to help you achieve your health and nutrition goals. Contact Cindy to find out more or to set up your first appointment!
*Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Cindy
Cindy Silver, MS, RDN, LDN
Registered Dietitian
Winston-Salem, NC