eat smart

Time for me to get this baby weight off! Unfortunately I can't exercise until end of the month due to my c-section, but I can kick start my diet. And when I say diet, I mean feeding myself and my family healthy meals and snacks. I don't buy into fad diets.

I just read this quick article in Everyday Food about ways to upgrade your diet. It's 15 ways to make healthy eating easier. Although most of it is common sense, I think it's just a great reminder of ways to maintain good health.

1. Kick start with protein- eat a protein-rich breakfast, you tend to consume fewer calories through the day

2. Rethink your cooking- don't fry or saute, try poaching, roasting or cooking in parchments instead.

3. Swap it out- use simple substitutions to cut calories: pick yogurt instead of sour cream, mustard instead of mayo, and lean ham instead of bacon

4. Don't drink your calories- replace fruit juices, lattes and sodas with seltzer water spiked with lemon, lime or cucumber slices. Or go for coffee with a splash of milk.

5. Pay attention to portions- a serving is the size of a deck of cards (starchy foods the size of a tennis ball). Eat as much veggies as you want.

6. Go easy on the oil- don't pour it straight into the pan. Use measuring spoons, or a pastry brush to save calories.

7. Boost your vegetables- reduce the amount of meat and increase the amount of vegetables on your plate.

8. Choose lean protein- lower-fat meats, such as skinless chicken and turkey breast or beef and pork tenderloin, and eat more fish and meatless proteins like beans and tofu.

9. Slim down your salads- Reduce the dressing, cheese or croutons. Reduce the oil in your dressings or use low-fat buttermilk as a base. Toss salads with enough dressing just to coat.

10. Add fat-free flavor- enhance dinners with a touch of vinegar, citrus juice, spices or fresh herbs.

11. Fill up on fiber- beans, whole grains and legumes have lots of fiber and help you feel fuller longer.

12. Snack smart- choose snacks like fruits, carrots, hummus and sliced chicken breast.

13. Savor some soup- brothy soups are usually low in fat and help fill you up.

14. Eat slowly- take your time and stop eating when you are almost full.

15. Don't deny yourself- finish your meals with low-fat treats like angel-food cake, meringues and fresh fruits. Or enjoy a small portion of our favorite dessert or a few squares of bittersweet chocolate.

i will be first in line

Free seasonal flu shots in Orange County

adults and children (4 years and older)

Friday, October 30, 2009

11:30am-1:30pm

Click here for more info!

refreshing

Lately, we always have a big pitcher of iced tea in the refrigerator made with Lipton tea bags. Not only is great for hot weather, but it's so much better than soda when you want something a little more than water. What's so great about tea? It has protective antioxidants and is 100% natural. I actually don't buy the iced tea bags, we but the regular lipton like the box above and follow their iced tea directions. I don't like to sweeten my tea so really it couldn't be any easier to make.

Pour 4 cups of boiling water over 3 to 5 tea bags and brew 3 to 5 minutes. Chill or add ice.

Enjoy!

on the flip side

A few days ago I posted on the top fruits/veggies that you SHOULD buy organic because they have the highest levels of pesticides. Well this weekend in Cooking Light Magazine I found the top 5 fruits and top 5 veggies that you can SKIP on buying organic. They are the least likely to contain trace levels of pesticides.

1. pineapples
   
2. eggplant
   
3. asparagus
4. onions
5. broccoli
6. mangoes
7. kiwifruit
8. bananas
9. avocados
10. cabbage

Great to know since it's pretty expensive to try and buy everything organic, now I can feel less guilty about these 10. Obviously someday I would love to go all organic, but for now I want to focus on the most important products. Thank you Cooking Light!

ummmm yeah

Anyone else feeling a little pressure to start getting into summer mode? Bathing suit time is right around the corner and I'm feeling a little anxious about it. It doesn't help that my house is filled with lots of candy and leftovers from yesterday. I need to get about 5 pounds off of me and tone up. I hope to share some good tips and ideas that I find over the next few months for inspiration. I think I'll wait and take one more day to enjoy all the sweets around the house.

XO

kind to the waistline

Just got this cookbook! We made the fajitas tonight...yummy. Can't wait to try other recipes. They seem simple and satisfying, while good on the nutrition. 

a cute something to help your kids feel better

We use to have a humidifier where you had to replace this vent-type thing and the water always sloshed around. It felt old and dirty (even though it wasn't) and it never seemed to work right. I finally got fed up one night and went to Target to get a new cool-mist humidifier, after all, it is an important tool in child wellness. We didn't have a lot of money to spend so I bought a Crane Frog Humidifier for around $20. They didn't have a lot of affordable choices so the fact that it was a cute frog too was just a bonus. I actually didn't expect it to work that well due to the price, but I hoped anything would be better than what we had. 

Well, 2+ years later I STILL LOVE IT. Unfortunately it went up in price ($34.99), but at the same time they came up with new animals to delight your kids. I not only love that it's cute, but it's really easy to use, it has a lot of different levels for the mist and it doesn't seem bulky to me. Plus, Brody just calls it "his froggy" and doesn't mind when it's in his room. It's not a scary machine. Pictures of some of the cute animal choices are below and there are many more (cow, koala, dragon or a football) at target.com. If you don't use a humidifier, I suggest getting one. It really makes a huge difference during the cold and flu season. Our little froggy is working hard tonight in Piper's room.

Sick today

I'm under the weather today. But come back tomorrow for our guest bloggers from Laurin & Kelly Talk. I will be guest blogging on their site tomorrow as well!

Soy what?

Ok so I need help. Looks like I will be going Vegan for the next 6 months (well okay I'll be eating meat still, so not really). Piper is not tolerating any of the dairy that I am eating and I still want to nurse her, so no dairy for me! I need any recommendations you might have for good vegan products and where you got them from. The doctor said I should go to Whole Foods, any other suggestions? Wish me luck because pretty much my entire diet centers around cheese and yogurt. I miss cheese already; string cheese, cheddar cheese, provolone.....oh and I love sour cream....oh and I love milk chocolate. Damn!

Lunch is Served

I can't believe it's back-to-school time already. I'm getting ready to send my son to preschool for the very first time! So when I read the September issue of Parents Magazine I got excited to see the multiple page spread of different lunch box ideas. They are all healthy and heck some of these would make great dinner ideas or lunch ideas for me! I know we all get in the rut of giving our kids the same few things and these look so fun, colorful and tasty. Plus I love the lunch trays they are in, anyone know where to get them? If you want to check out the webpage version that tells everything in them click here. Happy back-to-school!

A New Life

My life and most importantly, my body have gone through a lot of changes lately and for the better! After having Piper 4 months ago, I knew that it was time to take charge of my health, something I had been postponing for awhile. At 28, it's not like I was obese, yet I was overweight pre-baby. And, our eating habits were, well, eat a lot and enjoy it! Which is fun, but was taking its toll. I think that a big realization came when I would grocery shop and I would never buy anything from the fresh vegetable section, only frozen. Now we buy lots and lots of colorful vegetables! And we still eat treats, but in moderation. Plus it makes a scoop of ice cream more fun, and now we share a lot more instead of getting our own. Frozen yogurt is always a life saver for that sweet tooth and with kiwi and a some brownie bites I am totally satisfied!

Today after pilates, I took the long way home and was inspired to post the things that inspire me to get my family and myself healthier. Some things have been posted before but it's ok to duplicate right? So here they are!

This show planted the seed in my mind that it was time to change. I encourage everyone to watch it, it's inspiring and uplifting, and it's also educational. I learned to NEVER get a shake at fast food restaurants anymore, they are the worst thing on the list! I cannot wait until the next season of this show starts again. I am now 13 pounds below my pre baby weight and I hope more can come off!

This book made our healthy eating take off! It taught me about portions and made me pay attention to all the calories, fat, fiber, etc. in every meal. Plus the recipes are super easy and got me back into cooking and learning what ingredients to buy. I have moved on from this book for the most part but still make some recipes like the tacos and taco salad. I also signed up online for her weekly emails, which are awesome!

I swear that pilates has totally transformed my body. Now my body is in a shape I have never seen before and I love it! I feel leaner and I like how I look in my clothes. I really love pilates and I feel thankful that I am able to do it and that I have a great instructor. 

This is the cookbook I am into now. We have made some good recipes from here. I love it because every recipe has the nutritional contents. I will never buy a cookbook again that does not have all the serving size and nutritional contents in it!

And lastly, I love where we live! Ladera Ranch helps keep us healthy. We love to go on family walks on the trails around our house. Or we walk up to get breakfast on the weekend! We are so fortunate to be here in a place that not only is all about community, but about being outdoors!

I hope that perhaps this post can inspire you to strive for a healthier life. I know that I am still in the learning phase, but by taking tiny steps and finding what works for you, it is possible to get healthier in ways you never imagined. Be fearless and try it!

Mott's Plus

I just happened upon these cartons of Mott's Plus applesauce in the grocery store yesterday. I bought the Cranberry Raspberry and was impressed by the nutritional facts. No fat, no cholesterol and no sodium. Each cup only has 50 calories and it contains 25% of your daily Vitamin C and 12% of your daily Fiber. Plus, there is no sugar added. It's a great quick snack for the mom on the go. In fact I'm not sharing these with the kids. Enjoy!

Coca-Cola 100 Calorie Cans

Anyone else obsessed with Coca-Cola? I don't drink coffee so this is what gets me through the day and I have to admit I am addicted. However, now that I am living a healthier lifestyle I keep these around so that I don't feel guilty if I want a soda. I'm not into the 100 calorie snack craze right now, but since this is my vice I love that these are available. I buy them at my regular grocery store. If you drink soda every day I suggest you buy these and limit yourself to just one! Now if only restaurants would serve these little guys instead to stop me from drinking those refills!

O'Coco's Snacks and More

Today's entry is dedicated to my friend Eva who just had a baby girl but still found time to share some of her favorites with me. She is environmentally friendly, a healthy eater and a super great friend! Eva gave me a bag of these O'Coco's Organic Chocolate Crisps. At first bite I thought "wow these are super chocolately, maybe a bit too much for me." I love chocolate but I will never order the rich chocolate cake for dessert. But while I was contemplating the strong chocolate flavor, I managed to eat the entire pack! And then when I read the package it says that it has "intense chocolate taste and fun crispy crunch," so there you go.  And you know what, I felt super satisfied after just a few. Best part about these is that they are organic, 90 calories, have 2 grams of fat and 0 trans fat. They are also super thin and light. The website shows they also have mocha and cinnamon flavors. Eva bought these at Henry's but you can get more info online if you click here. Plus they are Hungry Girl approved...which you know I am totally into if you read my Hungry Girl blog below. I love guiltless snacking!

Eva also recommended Diana Warner Studio- Materialism that Matters and Tina Tang Jewelry- Jewelry and gifts for the American Forest Foundation. Both websites make your shopping worthwhile because you are doing it for a cause! I know Eva has bought gifts from both these websites. Check them out!

Pilates

So I started pilates at the 6 week mark after my c-section. I heard that it can lengthen and lean your muscles and I really wanted to do something other than the gym. I have had 6 private lessons over the past few weeks and I took my first group class tonight. I love it and I am a believer! When I started my muscles were so weak, especially my abdominals from the surgery. Every week I am noticing how much stronger my body is getting and it's helping me slim down (along with eating healthy). I am taking at least 2 pilates classes a week, and since pilates does not replace cardio, I am also walking a few days a week. I have had a lot of people tell me thay have done the pilates mat classes which I have never tried, these classes are on the actual reformer like the picture above. The only drawback is that it is pretty expensive. Unfortunately I will only be able to do this for another month or two but I will miss it! The studio I go to is Pure Pilates in Ladera Ranch, they also have a location in Laguna Niguel. For more info go to www.purepilateslaguna.com.

Hungry Girl

Ok I don't remember how I came across Hungry Girl (www.hungry-girl.com), but it's a website where you can subscribe to receive emails with healthy tips and tricks to make delicious foods. Now I don't believe in diets because I know that once you go off them you usually gain all that weight back, so you have to make lifestyle changes and that's what this is all about. It's for normal people who still want their tacos and desserts, but are willing to make small adjustments to have them. Well the best part about all of this is that the creator Lisa Lillien just put out a cookbook with all her recipes and it ROCKS! Mark and I have made about 6 or so things and we love them. It's all about following serving sizes and not caring if you use non fat sour cream instead of regular. And everything is really EASY. The book is cheapest at Target online for $10.77. In the Target stores I think it's somewhere around $15, regular bookstores closer to $18. Enjoy!