Holiday parties are in full force this time of year. Good food, good drinks, but most importantly good company. Don't avoid get-togethers because you are afraid of overindulging. Keep the fun and lose the guilt at this year's holiday gatherings with these 6 tips!
Topics: Holidays
On the Third Day of Christmas my True Love Made for Me….Monster Cookies, Rice Krispie Treats, Homemade Hot Chocolate & more! The holidays are upon us and that means the kids are home from school. We have compiled a list of some of our favorite holiday treats that are super simple, fun for the kids and healthy, too!
Recipe & Photo Courtesy of www.dashingdish.com
Topics: Holidays
It's the most wonderful time of the year! From shopping crowds and unwrapped gifts to family gatherings and office parties, does the holiday season leave you feeling stressed and not so wonderful? Prepare yourself for the hustle and bustle and beat the holiday stress with these helpful tips!
Topics: Holidays
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Mexican food seems to be a crowd favorite, and just about everybody enjoys tacos, queso, and a margarita every once in a while! Cinco de Mayo wouldn't be Cinco de Mayo without some of your favorite Mexican cuisine to enjoy. Here's a delicious and healthy Picadillo Quesadilla from SkinnyTaste.com to ensure your fiesta is a healthy one! Plus, keep reading for 9 Food Swaps for a Healthy Cinco de Mayo and a healthy margarita recipe!
Topics: Monday Munchies, Holidays
We know the Easter Bunny is full of sweet and delicious treats. However, this is another holiday that you can celebrate just as joyously without wrecking your diet and falling off of your fitness journey. Challenge yourself and our family to have a healthier Easter this year! We've given you some fun ideas, both edible and non-edible, to help you create a healthy Easter basket this year!
Annie's Homegrown brand has multiple products that are bunny shaped and fun for both kids and adults. Chocolate covered strawberries (or any other fruit!) are always a delicious and juicy treat. Don't feel the need to go cold-turkey and have no candy at all - that's no fun! Try making your own, homemade peanut butter eggs or buying individually wrapped treats, like dark chocolate. If they're individually wrapped, you're less likely to over indulge and you won't be eating handfuls (Hello M&Ms!). You're probably laughing at us for suggesting carrots. But, after all, they do play a part in the commercialized theme of Easter. We know carrots aren't as fun as chocolates. But, throw in a new flavor of hummus to try and you'll have a new healthy snack.
Some non-edible ideas are lip-balm, make-up or toiletries, gift-cards, side-walk chalk (undeniably fun for both kids and adults!), small fitness equipment like a jumprope, and stationery. We all enjoy receiving a hand-written note these days and writing friends can actually help reduce stress.
We hope this helps you think healthy this Easter! Happy Easter!
Do you have any other tips for making a healthy Easter basket? Share with us in the comments below!
April is National Stress Awareness Month and being aware of the stressors in your life and managing them effectively can make a huge difference in how you feel and in your overall health.
Stress can be defined as the brain's response to any demand. It is how your body reacts to mental, physical or emotional circumstances. Stress disturbs the normal functioning of the body. All of us experience stress. The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. But stress is not always negative. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress-related tension builds.
There are at least 3 different types of stress all which carry physical or mental health risks:
ROUTINE STRESS // Relates to the pressures of work, family and other daily responsibilities
CHANGE STRESS // Brought on by a sudden negative change, such as losing a job, divorce or illness
TRAUMATIC STRESS // Experienced in an event like a major accident, war, or a natural disaster, where one may be seriously hurt or in danger of being killed.
Everybody may feel stress in different ways, but the body responds to all types of stress similarly. For example, some people experience mainly digestive symptoms, while others may have headaches, sleeplessness, depressed mood, anger and irritability. People under chronic stress are prone to more frequent and severe viral infections, such as the flu or common cold, and vaccines, such as the flu shot, are less effective for them. Part of managing and coping with stress is RECOGNIZING STRESS.
Today's Takeaway: Challenge yourself to be more aware of your stress. Recognize it, recognize what triggered it, and write down the triggers.
Sources: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/effects-of-stress-on-your-body; http://gammy-livelifelarge.blogspot.com/2011/09/stress-someone-rightly-said-that-stress.html; http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress/index.shtml
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Wear green from the inside out and try this healthy GREEN smoothie! The Beginner’s Luck Green Smoothie from Simple Green Smoothies is a great starter smoothie for beginners. It’s full of iron, potassium and vitamins galore and tastes like a tropical treat!
INGREDIENTS
2 cups spinach, fresh
2 cups water
1 cup pineapple
1 cup mango
2 bananas
INSTRUCTIONS
Blend spinach and water until smooth. Next, add the remaining fruits and blend again.
Topics: Monday Munchies, Holidays, Nutrition
