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Join Me in a Healthier Summer

Taco Tomatoes

Grilled Spicy Chicken with Hominy Hash

To join me in a healthier summer means eating better and moving more. Are you ready to roll?

Let’s face it, whether you are single or have a large family, a caregiver, or have small children, it’s difficult to serve nutritious meals every day. Often it seems easier and quicker to use fast foods or boxed mixes.

Add to that, it’s difficult to find (or make) time to exercise properly. Summer is here and my bod’s not ready, how about yours?

Finding myself unable to do some of my basic tasks has reminded me of the need to make daily changes to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few of my goals for a healthier summer. Want to join me?

#1 Plan what I will eat each day.

Plan what I will eat each day” Hmmm! I plan already, I plan to eat all that’s set before me! Well, I don’t think that’s much of a plan, do you? The truth is, without another plan, my healthy lifestyle is doomed from day one.

Sadly I admit I have all too often relied on fast foods or boxed mixes because they are easy and at least seem to be cheaper to prepare. Click here for healthy, quick meals that are easy on the budget!

#2 Determine my triggers.

I took time to look at my most troubling foods and determined to eliminate those as much as possible. (Goodbye salty snacks and bargain baked goods!) What are some of your triggers that could be eliminated or cut down a bit? Bread, sugars, others?

#3 Incorporate movement.

To incorporate movement is simply plan to move more., get some exercise each day. I did better this week because I planned for at least ten minutes of exercise in the early morning. My main challenge is to make myself get up and at least stretch a bit or walk through the house every hour or so. It’s easy to spend two or three hours glued to my seat as I finish an article or work on the computer.

#4 Make it fun and enjoyable.

I enjoy walking, especially in our woods. I used to walk down the hill through the walnut grove and across our little bridge. Truthfully, today I can’t walk around the outside of our home without stopping to rest. (Sad to admit, but honest!)

What is your main challenge to a healthy lifestyle? If you need more exercise, remember to begin slow. We seem to think we need to begin with hours of exercise. A few minutes a day can and will make a world of difference, especially in how you feel–you will feel better and look better.

Here is another great link for healthy, easy meals. Enjoy and please let me hear what is working for you.

Healthy Hugs,

Have you checked out Quick Nutritious Meals for Your Family?

Mealtime Variety with Two Quick Healthy Recipes

Posted on October 9, 2013 by adminOctober 26, 2016

Crisp, cool air reminds us autumn is here. For our family we search for quick, healthy foods that offer nutrition and variety to match the changing seasons.
With little cabinet space and less time, I am always on the lookout for meals I can prepare quickly without much cleanup. I enjoy finding recipes that use foods on sale. For instance, shredded cabbage this week was ½ price. My family turns a nose up to traditional coleslaw but found this new cabbage dish quite tasty.
Apple Cabbage Salad (easy to double/triple)
Mix together ½ cup walnuts-broken in small pieces, 1 cup tart apples-chopped, and 1 cup cabbage-shredded.
To vegetables add just enough mayonnaise (or yogurt or sour cream) to moisten. Dress it up: scoop onto a cabbage or lettuce leaf, sprinkle with paprika.
Personalize the recipe by adding craisins, sunflower seeds, or pineapple tidbits. Experiment with finely chopped green onions, celery, peppers, or other veggies your family enjoys.

Here is a tasty warm casserole using shredded cabbage and apples.
Apple Stuffed Cabbage
1 medium head cabbage (about 2 pkgs. shredded)
2 cups hot water
5 tablespoons bacon crumbles
salt and pepper to taste
Mix above ingredients together and bake in lightly greased casserole dish at 375 for 20minutes.
Peel and core 3 large apples. Remove casserole from the oven, make indentations in cabbage mixture for the apples. When apples are nested in cabbage, add 1/8 cup brown sugar and 1 tablespoon vinegar to center of each apple. Dot with butter and return to oven for another 30 minutes. Will serve six.
You know already that I have another idea for this one. Instead of using the apple whole, I like to cut the apple in thick slices and arrange them on top of the cabbage. Mix the vinegar and brown sugar and sprinkle on top, dot with butter and finish baking.
NOTE: If you have space for a food processor and a little time, you can shred your own cabbage; for my schedule and space, pre-shredded works well.
Either of these dishes are easy to make; fun and nutritious. Cabbage is rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and fiber. Another good use for shredded cabbage is tossing it in soups and stews.

For more recipes, check out my e-zine articles under the Articles for Caregivers tab at the top of this page.

Hugs and happy, healthy eating,

5 Tips for Healthier Family Meals and Time Savers

Posted on March 12, 2013 by adminOctober 26, 2016

Mothers, caregivers of the elderly, homemakers, we all have one thing in common—feeding our families. Are you, as most of us, caught up in the fast-food trap? We want to serve healthy, nutritious meals but we feel there is not enough time to get it all done so we go through a drive-thru on the way home.

For years I purchased “healthy” frozen options for our needs. They are most appealing with their colorful photos of good vegetables and lean meats. I urge you to take time to read the contents before buying; most are filled with sodium, fats, sugars and ingredients we cannot identify.

At the end of this article are a few tips that have helped me along this path. Someone has rightfully said that without a plan to succeed, we plan to fail. I want to help you succeed in providing great inexpensive and healthy meals everyday. This is an important part of caring and in the end, provides great benefits both to you and to your loved ones.

Also, I want to introduce you to an exciting e-book I have found helpful. Although it is called Healthy Recipes for the Elderly, I can tell you from experience, the foods will be pleasing to your entire family and give them a real boost along the nutrition journey.
Click Here!

Learn how to create your shopping list, prepare foods for storage, and dozens of helpful hints as well as great, easy to prepare recipes that will save you time and dollars.

Now, here are those promised tips:

1. Plan ahead. One thing you can plan on, you will have meals to fix every day. Rescue yourself from the hassle of last-minute shopping or grabbing a quick-to-fix meal by having your refrigerator and pantry stocked with healthy choices.

2. Know your nutritional needs; especially sugar, salt and fats. How much is too much? What are some good options to replace sugar or salt? Did you realize a cup of cottage cheese or 1/2 cup tuna fish can often contain more than a daily allowance of sodium?

3. Purchase in bulk. We use cinnamon in our cereals and many other dishes. Look for local bulk stores near you; I save about one half to two thirds on cinnamon by purchasing at our local Amish store. Is there another family that will share large packages of produce or other perishables?

4. Try new recipes. There are some wonderful alternatives to our old, familiar recipes that incorporate more vegetables and fruits and less fats and sugars.

5. Don’t forget storage items. I have wasted too much food by not having a container, bag, or aluminum foil handy to properly store leftovers. When cooking in bulk and freezing portions to use later, it is imperative that you have ample materials on hand to wrap and label properly (and date each item).

In Recipes for the Elderly I found exciting recipes for everyone which were not only nutritious and healthy; my family really liked them. That in itself is a real plus!

Happy cooking and eating and have a great week.

Hugs,

Click here for more information Click Here!