Healthy Food Swaps for Unhealthy Snacks

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeqnC5ITz3uNf0FAWFKAVaHhTW1PMnwe3ivEzl3cqPy5G9QpIQtKrF6vuhfmCc3keQ-Esajhv8ay2CzlQ7JkGPiiysMLOxU4u4jN5EBigZJ3Ndu4eYuGdpqH53O49NivsJoCn_t7JeKFi/s1600/ceongpodo-645947_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Healthy Food Swaps for Unhealthy Snacks" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeqnC5ITz3uNf0FAWFKAVaHhTW1PMnwe3ivEzl3cqPy5G9QpIQtKrF6vuhfmCc3keQ-Esajhv8ay2CzlQ7JkGPiiysMLOxU4u4jN5EBigZJ3Ndu4eYuGdpqH53O49NivsJoCn_t7JeKFi/s1600/ceongpodo-645947_1280.jpg" title="Healthy Food Swaps for Unhealthy Snacks" /></span></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lifestyle changes are hard, but food swaps can help. When you are craving unhealthy snacks, food swaps can help you beat the craving without indulging or overeating. Candy, lattes, chips, or ice cream, any chance you’re craving those? We all do have those cravings from time to time! Knowing how to avoid the indulgence is what counts. I’ve created a list of easy food swaps so you can control those unruly cravings! </span></span></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-ff0aba20-1bcc-88c0-fe75-7687391e03a4" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Candy</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first food swap is for candy, chocolate and fruity chews! Make these delicious snacks at home and ignore the candy options at the checkout.</span></span></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Chocolate Candy</span></span></div></li> </ul><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For chocolate candy cravings, treat yourself to dark chocolate covered almonds. They are easy to make at home, but you can also purchase them in most all grocery stores. For this food swap make sure that the almonds are covered in dark chocolate. Milk chocolate is packed with sugar and doesn’t have the same nutritional value and dark chocolate! Dark chocolate is a great food swap for chocolate candy because it is packed with antioxidants. The almonds will help you feel full more quickly, so you will be less likely to overeat. </span></span></div><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sweet Fruity Treats</span></span></div></li> </ul><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sometimes fruity sugar candies look so delicious. Avoid them entirely. They are just sugar. They’re bad for your teeth, your gut, your health, and you energy! Food swap these candies for frozen grapes. Grapes will ease your sweet tooth, without all of the fake sugars and preservatives. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">White Bread</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Food swap all white bread for whole wheat bread. This means swap tortillas, sandwich bread, buns, and any other source of refined grains. This will add protein and fiber to your diet! It will help you feel full. White bread and other refined grains are loaded with hidden sugars and will only make you feel hungrier in the long run. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lettuce</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While romaine lettuce contains nutritional value, you can food swap it for kale or spinach. Spinach and kale contain more vitamins and micronutrients per serving. They truly are superfoods, and they will still taste great in your salads!</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Potatoes</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Food swap your regular starchy Idaho potatoes for nutrient-dense sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes contain a healthy amount of vitamin A and taste great! They will complement any meal in the same way a regular potato would. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ice Cream</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh man, we all have those intense ice cream cravings. It’s so easy to overindulge.  Food swap store bought ice cream for homemade “banana ice cream.” You need a food processor, frozen banana chunks, and any toppings you desire. I like to add natural peanut butter and dark chocolate chips. Combine frozen banana chunks and peanut butter in your food processor and pulse until the texture resembles that of ice cream! Then add the chocolate chips!</span></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="font-size: 14.666666666666666px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope you find these food swaps to be helpful in resisting unhealthy cravings! The main goal is to eat healthy, real food and avoid overly processed junk food! If you would like support on your journey toward a healthy lifestyle, </span><a href="http://afitnurse.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 14.666666666666666px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contact me</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.666666666666666px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! I’d love to help inspire and keep you motivated toward healthy living. </span></span>

clean eating, clean eating snack ideas, eating healthy, food, food swap, healthy eating, tips to eat clean

Healthy Food Swaps for Unhealthy Snacks

Lifestyle changes are hard, but food swaps can help. When you are craving unhealthy snacks, food swaps can help you beat the craving without...

3 Ways to Avoid Over Eating

<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIK30Rbca2Jn1VpJsmRWts15KqvmZWXwStrDqe1sh9f2F2dMB9h5yFe6o9MFUd4NRXSSz6BgoM5nfUDU5PL-yexvGwhoMjh0Qu7ptewJst_24F8kxgDMZ6RpNNF8d4R-X9d3ng2LrqQgc/s1600/chips-843993_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="3 Ways to Avoid Over Eating" border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIK30Rbca2Jn1VpJsmRWts15KqvmZWXwStrDqe1sh9f2F2dMB9h5yFe6o9MFUd4NRXSSz6BgoM5nfUDU5PL-yexvGwhoMjh0Qu7ptewJst_24F8kxgDMZ6RpNNF8d4R-X9d3ng2LrqQgc/s400/chips-843993_1280.jpg" title="3 Ways to Avoid Over Eating" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /> </div><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overeating is when a person continues to eat after they are full or if they are eating when they do not feel hungry. Overeating is often the result of boredom, stress, or a bad habit. Learning to overcome overeating will make living a healthy lifestyle much easier and will motivate your weight loss journey! Overcoming overeating is not an easy feat, but with these three tips and your willpower, you will kick this bad habit to the curb!</span></span></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-10aa4b6b-aae2-9d2f-7c34-bab0c879cbf7" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Eat Small Meals or Snacks</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Throughout the day, eat small meals and snacks that are abundant in healthy nutrients! Overeating is more likely to occur if you feel extremely hungry when you start eating. A ravenous appetite results in excess consumption of unhealthy foods because your body is trying to fill a caloric void with anything that is quick and easily digestible. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you eat small nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day, your body will never get to this “starving” state of hunger, allowing you to make health-conscious decisions about what to eat! Carry some freshly cut vegetables with you or your favorite mixed nuts to make for a nutritious snack when you are feeling hungry. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you do make it to a ravenous point of hunger, drink a full glass of water twenty minutes before you eat. It will help calm your appetite, so you are less likely to binge during your meal.</span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Purge Your Pantry</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another strategy to avoid overeating is to clean out your pantry! Everyone has trigger foods for overeating. A trigger food is a type of food that continually tempts you. For example, if you eat one potato chip, do you feel satisfied or do you keep eating the chips until the bag is gone? If you experience the temptation until the bag of chips is gone, chips are a trigger food for you. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Temptation can happen with all sorts of foods. Chips, cookies, ice cream, and crackers are all common examples of trigger foods for overeating. Purge your pantry of these foods. Donate unopened items to the local food shelter. Throw away all unfinished items. It seems wasteful to throw away uneaten food, but remember that this food is only making you unhealthy and is an obstacle in your journey toward a healthy lifestyle. Throw them away! It will be emotionally and physically beneficial to you. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Are You Hungry or Bored?</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you find yourself reaching for a bag of potato chips or a box of donuts, think about why you want to eat. Do you actually feel hungry, are you watching TV and craving munchies, or are you just bored? Learning to understand your physical need for food is important to lead a healthy life. Eating out of boredom or out of habit will not help your body. </span></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> </span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you are bored, do an engaging activity for a while. Read your favorite book or take a walk around the block. If you still are thinking about food during the activity, you are probably hungry. In this case, make yourself a nutritious snack. An apple with peanut butter or carrots with hummus are great snacks to avoid an unhealthy episode of overeating. </span></span></div><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For extra support and inspiration on your weight loss and fitness journey</span><a href="http://www.afitnurse.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> contact me</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I would love to help you with your transition to a healthy and happy lifestyle!</span></span>

clean eating, diet, eating healthy, healthy choices, healthy snacks, hungry after a meal, over eating, tips to eat clean

3 Ways to Avoid Over Eating

Overeating is when a person continues to eat after they are full or if they are eating when they do not feel hungry. Overeating is often th...

Packing Your Kids a Healthy Lunch

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mFyk_3tRAScq6n_LMw5b7FHHXkzVyocWy0onWb7uratlRIde_8cxTgwA67q6g6RAys2D0x_Q-LIwq4ycprQhHLMLpuWJbtC2d8qEfy3y4h9_GpKP3aDmp4aYiiPDHLYdBYSKbVfEybUo/s1600/packing+healthy+lunches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mFyk_3tRAScq6n_LMw5b7FHHXkzVyocWy0onWb7uratlRIde_8cxTgwA67q6g6RAys2D0x_Q-LIwq4ycprQhHLMLpuWJbtC2d8qEfy3y4h9_GpKP3aDmp4aYiiPDHLYdBYSKbVfEybUo/s640/packing+healthy+lunches.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether you are packing your children’s lunches for a fun day at the beach, a play date with their friends, or school, adding healthy choices in their lunchbox is important! You want to make sure they are growing strong and healthy. A healthy lunch can be a challenge to prepare. Kids are susceptible to pressures from their peers and the media when it comes to food options. Overcoming these influences is difficult, but it can be done! Here’s how!</span></span></div> <b id="docs-internal-guid-82357cdf-2834-5400-e80f-de63f1e061b6" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have a Conversation</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first step in creating a healthy lunch is having a conversation with your children about healthy food! Help them understand what “healthy” means and how healthy choices will be good for their bodies and brains! Kids want to grow, and they want to be strong and smart. Tell them about the healthy aspects of certain vegetables, fruits, nuts, and proteins. The more they know, the more they will be interested in the food they consume. </span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Decide what kinds of foods you would reasonably be able to pack in a healthy lunch. Make a list. With the list of foods that you have created, ask your children to pick their favorites! Involving your children in the preparation will make them more excited about the process! Then, you can pack nutritious lunch options based on their healthy preferences.</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Know the Basics</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is important that your children eat well-rounded meals. What constitutes a healthy lunch? There are many ways to get proper nutrition, but the basics come down to protein, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy. Putting the basics into each healthy lunch will give your children a nutrient dense diet, helping them grow strong!</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that you have a general idea of what to pack, it’s time to pack it right! A healthy lunch is only healthy if it is properly stored and maintained. To create a portable lunch, you’ll need ice packs, a lunch box, a stainless steel thermos, and air-tight microwave safe containers.  To involve your children even more in this process bring, them along when you go shopping for these essentials. Let them pick the color thermos they like, the shape of the ice packs, and the design of the lunch box! Just make sure the lunch box is well-insulated and roomy enough to store the containers and the thermos.</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fun Food Ideas</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To keep things interesting for your kids, here are some fun food ideas for healthy lunches. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kids tend to love finger food! Try making your own healthy version of pre-packaged lunch snacks. Pack whole grain crackers, fresh deli meats, and slices of your child’s favorite cheese. Then, they get to put all the food together as if it is their own creation!</span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another great finger food option is a pinwheel wrap. Take your whole grain wrap and put in the ingredients that your kids desire. Tightly wrap and then place toothpicks through the wrap about an inch apart. Cut between the toothpicks and you will have bite-sized pieces that have all the colors of the ingredients! It is a pretty finger food that your kids will love, too.</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can also try using long kebab sticks for a variety of lunch options. You can make fruit kebabs, meat and cheese kebabs, or vegetable kebabs. It is a simple way to add variety to your kids’ healthy lunch.</span></span></div> <span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With these ideas in mind, planning and packing a healthy lunch for your kids is easy and fun. You may even want to pack your own healthy lunch! If you are looking to pursue a healthier lifestyle and improve the lives of your family, please </span><a href="http://www.afitnurse.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666666666667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contact me</span></a><span style="font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">! I can help you get on track with food, fitness, and a healthier approach to living!</span></span>

clean lunch ideas, eating healthy, family, fitness, health, healthy choices, healthy family, kids, Kids Health, lunch, tips to eat clean

Packing Your Kids a Healthy Lunch

Whether you are packing your children’s lunches for a fun day at the beach, a play date with their friends, or school, adding healthy c...

Tips for Weekly Meal Planning

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZ18QV_Ni9pjoVKvzkyT84wHlRmOajuYynd8MZuDfHLW0VAxV29oitbMZjZ3-T816-SeOGLb2bFAj0Eg3kqYXsKTnqnm_mfFpuY4coGMn5dfE9FNGAwHUySQ5k0YqUR__EB0pcZtq971e/s1600/weekly_meal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Woman cutting up veggies after doing her weekly meal planning. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZ18QV_Ni9pjoVKvzkyT84wHlRmOajuYynd8MZuDfHLW0VAxV29oitbMZjZ3-T816-SeOGLb2bFAj0Eg3kqYXsKTnqnm_mfFpuY4coGMn5dfE9FNGAwHUySQ5k0YqUR__EB0pcZtq971e/s1600/weekly_meal.png" title="Weekly meal planning. " /></a></div> <div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial;">Weekly meal planning is important for a healthy, active lifestyle - especially when you have a whole family to feed! </span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #1: It WILL take time.  </span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">I know we all hope there’s a magic trick to snap your fingers and the weekly meal planning would be done. I wish! But I’m sorry to say it does not happen that way. So, you will need to set apart some time to sit down, plan the meals and do the grocery shopping. If necessary, I recommend finding a babysitter once a week so you can fully concentrate on the task. </span></span></div> <b id="docs-internal-guid-6f684c69-0b41-54b3-a691-45424cba73b7" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #2: Choose Themes.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">You can choose themes for particular days, like Mexican Food Monday, Soup Sunday, etc. It is much easier to find a recipe you will love if you have a particular category to look for. Weekly meal planning is made easy when planning is involved!</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #3: Plan Before You Shop.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Make sure you’ve done your weekly meal planning before you shop. This way, you can have an exact list of items you need to eliminate spending extra time and money at the store. Try to prep food right away when you return from the grocery store; this will save you time once you start cooking.</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #4: Keep it Simple.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Choose simple recipes when doing your weekly meal planning, especially at the beginning. Reserve the complicated recipes for the days you have company or for special celebrations. Simple is still delicious!</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b><br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #5: Keep a Journal.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Keep track of what you have already had for meals before and give them a rating based on how well you and your family enjoyed the meal. Then, you can check back on the list while doing your weekly meal planning for ideas and inspiration. You could also encourage your family members to submit requests of what kinds of foods they would like included in the planning.</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #6: Use the Freezer.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">You can put leftovers and meals that are a few days away in the freezer. This will eliminate clutter in your refrigerator and give you extra options in case you end up feeding extra people or just need to eat an extra snack in between meals.</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #7: Don’t forget about the snacks.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Plan a couple snacks a week and make batches of them to last the whole week. It’s always a good idea to keep some snacks on hand at all times too, just in case. Fruits, veggies and nuts are my favorite snacks to have around when it’s time to snack on something that’s not in the meal plan.</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Tip #8: Do Your Research.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">There are a lot of online resources that can help you with recipes and plans, here are a couple that I found:</span></span></div> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weekly meal plans from Whole Foods: </span><a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthy-eating/meal-plans-shopping-lists" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/healthy-eating/meal-plans-shopping-lists</span></a></span></div> </li> </ul> <b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></b> <ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="color: #999999;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meal Planning 101: tips, recipes and plans. </span><a href="http://www.mealplanning101.com/2009/03/meal-planning-tips-such.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.mealplanning101.com/2009/03/meal-planning-tips-such.html</span></a></span></div> </li> </ul> <span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span> <br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #999999;">Weekly meal planning does take some effort, but implementing these tips will help you make the most of your meals to keep you and your family healthy. Let the weekly meal planning begin!</span></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>

meal planning, tips to eat clean

Tips for Weekly Meal Planning

Weekly meal planning is important for a healthy, active lifestyle - especially when you have a whole family to feed! Tip #1: It WILL ...

CLEAN EATING while eating out at RESTAURANTS

<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Tips for sticking with clean eating when Eating Out at restaurants.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn43brtc2cHRAu5nPUGMkiI31tP3kunctzu4VFUiY6hRKRqk8DGWYkb1xLEjntCIhlnIIC9GIUS7MWfsxay5qhu-ycVvVGPON5_HU3Zd_P_0GfE2Qg0vidEi5RL4mzZk44eMAZkVk-WRJ/s1600/clean_eating1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clean eating, Restaurant, eating out, tips to eat clean, Alyssa schomaker, , A fit nurse, Beachbody coach" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsn43brtc2cHRAu5nPUGMkiI31tP3kunctzu4VFUiY6hRKRqk8DGWYkb1xLEjntCIhlnIIC9GIUS7MWfsxay5qhu-ycVvVGPON5_HU3Zd_P_0GfE2Qg0vidEi5RL4mzZk44eMAZkVk-WRJ/s1600/clean_eating1.jpg" title="" width="315" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span> <br /> <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /> <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">-Know before you go: Look at a restaurant’s menu online and use the myfitnesspal app to look up nutrition facts for most restaurant meals.</span><br /> <br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;" /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">-Be the First to Order: Decide on a healthy option and don’t let others sway your decision.</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /><br />-Have it your way: Don't be afraid to make special requests-substitute veggies for fries or ask to change the way chicken is prepared(baked vs. fried).<br /><br />-Stay away from snacking: Particularly watch the free chips and salsa, bread and butter, or even ordering apps. Have the courage to ask the server to remove the freebies if it’s too hard to resist.<br /><br />-Be salad savvy: Not all salads are created equal- watch for unhealthy dressings and toppings. Ask for dressing on the side and use the fork-dip method for cutting way back on extra calories in the dressing.<br /><br />-Go low on sides: Go for steamed vegetables, brown rice or fresh fruit.<br /><br />-Choose low-fat preparation methods: Grilled, broiled or baked meats and entrees. Broiled, baked, steamed, poached and grilled for seafood.<br /><br />-Enjoy alcohol in moderation: Remember that fancy mixed drinks have lots of empty calories. Try holding off on alcohol until later in the meal.<br /><br />-Practice portion control: Remember your hands are your best guide for determining portion size. Starchy carbs- one hand full, protein- the palm of your hand, complex carbs from fruits and veggies- 2 cupped hands together.<br /><br />Ask for doggy bags!<br /><br />-Practice the three-bite rule: If you truly want dessert,try sharing with someone else (or one for the table) and limiting yourself to 3bites. It may be all you really wanted in the first place."</span>

A fit nurse, Alyssa schomaker, beachbody coach, clean eating, eating out, Restaurant, tips to eat clean

CLEAN EATING while eating out at RESTAURANTS

Tips for sticking with clean eating when Eating Out at restaurants. -Know before you go: Look at a restaurant’s menu online and use...