A Fit Nurse: vegetables

Showing posts with label vegetables. Show all posts

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Thursday, September 10, 2015 / No comments / blueberries , brain , clean eating snacks , clean snacks , coffee , Dark chocolate , eating healthy , healthy , healthy brain , healthy choice , salmon , vegetables

5 Perfect Foods for a Healthy Brain

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<b id="docs-internal-guid-4197172d-b797-2577-fd64-1e22f8845254" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzXSZ1fPTPDPh-ZwoBC3lxvgLGsQDOZy0hL7PHWsLC4GTUdydIF8NPi1-jkwXfmGFw0rpnj416R4qVanHVacfbQF3lyBvvO94VtQIo4fzDDc40cEMlx2Ui6XR2vo9O8FUhISyvjKR6b6Z/s1600/woman-731395_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="5 Perfect Foods for a Healthy Brain" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzXSZ1fPTPDPh-ZwoBC3lxvgLGsQDOZy0hL7PHWsLC4GTUdydIF8NPi1-jkwXfmGFw0rpnj416R4qVanHVacfbQF3lyBvvO94VtQIo4fzDDc40cEMlx2Ui6XR2vo9O8FUhISyvjKR6b6Z/s1600/woman-731395_1280.jpg" title="" /></a></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-4197172d-b797-2577-fd64-1e22f8845254" style="font-weight: normal;"><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;">We need to have a healthy brain if we want to have a healthy body. We are only as strong as our minds. As we learn more about food and its effects, the phrase, “you are what you eat,” becomes more true. We have five perfect foods to protect your healthy brain. Implement them into your diet for a clearer mind and a stronger memory.</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-4197172d-b797-2577-fd64-1e22f8845254" style="font-weight: normal;"><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;">Blueberries</span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-4197172d-b797-2577-fd64-1e22f8845254" style="font-weight: normal;"><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;">Blueberries are a great snack for a healthy brain. Blueberries contain strong antioxidants that are important for brain cell rejuvenation. Blueberries also contain bioflavonoids and phytonutrients. Bioflavonoids and phytonutrients increase memory function in the short-term and long-term. </span></b></div>
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-4197172d-b797-2577-fd64-1e22f8845254" style="font-weight: normal;"><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;">It is easy to implement blueberries into your diet. You can eat them plain, or you can add them to your peanut butter toast, morning oatmeal, and smoothies.</span></b></div>
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<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;">Seafood</span></div>
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<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;">Specifically, fatty fish such as salmon, albacore tuna, and sardines are great foods to implement for a healthy brain. These fatty fish are packed with omega-3 fatty acids which are necessary for transmitting signals between brains cells. Good communication between the cells is important for memory retrieval, mental health, and the prevention of dementia.Try eating fatty fish for two dinners each week or pre-make salmon to add to your lunch salads!</span></div>
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<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;">Vegetables</span></div>
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<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;">Leafy green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables are important aspects of a diet for a healthy brain. Cauliflower, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and spinach should be implemented into your daily diet to reap all the nutritional benefits. These vegetables contain antioxidants, vitamin C, and carotenoids. Carotenoids are great brain protectors. Making vegetables as a side dish to every meal is an easy way to get more of these nutrients into your diet. </span></div>
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<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;">The Sweet Treats</span></div>
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<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;">Yes! You can enjoy some tasty treats to improve your brain. We do not mean chocolate chip cookies, but there are some delicious options! Dark chocolate, apples, grapes, and red wine all share a common nutrient. That nutrient is a flavonoid. Flavonoids are linked to the improvement of brain function. That’s enough reason to enjoy an after dinner sweet treat or a glass of wine at the end of a long day. </span></div>
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<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;">Coffee</span></div>
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<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;">When drinking coffee, it is all about moderation. Too much caffeine can cause brain fog and restlessness, but 1 to 3 cups (a cup being 8 ounces) of coffee each day has been shown to increase attention span and reaction time. Stay within 300-400 mg of caffeine each day and you will notice an instantly more alert healthy brain. </span></div>
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<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;">Overall, a healthy brain produces a strong mind and a strong will. To obtain your fitness and wellness goals, implement these healthy foods into your diet! You will notice a difference. For extra support on your journey, </span><a href="http://www.afitnurse.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">contact me</span></a><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;">! I’d love to help motivate you to reach your fitness goals. :)</span></div>
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blueberries, brain, clean eating snacks, clean snacks, coffee, Dark chocolate, eating healthy, healthy, healthy brain, healthy choice, salmon, vegetables

5 Perfect Foods for a Healthy Brain

We need to have a healthy brain if we want to have a healthy body. We are only as strong as our minds. As we learn more about food and i...

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Saturday, June 20, 2015 / No comments / brown rice , clean dinners , clean eating , deliciousness , diet , easy meals , fitness , food , health , healthy dinner , healthy family , meal ideas , recipe , rice bowl , vegetables

Rice Bowl Meals Your Family Will Love

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEzPcLirFUdbc65AsgXGldMcM1PXtbctN646GU1XlgeECEfYdTY1zN-SAFxkXHMx48vUlINJ9GdL5VwE4Ve25jbc1pQ9IoBm5kPxzcwuHtZmoaOBjN1zCTC9EbZg6SngGmHExSpn4oOm-/s1600/RiceBowlBLOG+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rice bowl with yellow squash" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEzPcLirFUdbc65AsgXGldMcM1PXtbctN646GU1XlgeECEfYdTY1zN-SAFxkXHMx48vUlINJ9GdL5VwE4Ve25jbc1pQ9IoBm5kPxzcwuHtZmoaOBjN1zCTC9EbZg6SngGmHExSpn4oOm-/s1600/RiceBowlBLOG+%25281%2529.jpeg" title="" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A rice bowl is a great way to pack plenty of nutritious foods into one delicious meal. With a rice bowl, you can use different ingredients to create the perfect flavor combination. They are the perfect option if you have picky eaters in your family, because they’re so simple to customize. Just cook up a big batch of brown rice or quinoa and chop up an assortment of veggies, and you’ll have all of the ingredients for a tasty meal. Here are some of my favorite ways to mix up a healthy rice bowl:</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-85de3eee-e8de-1d8f-07e3-aba3dc5435ea" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start with a base of brown rice or quinoa. Brown rice is high in fiber and essential minerals like iron, zinc, magnesium, and potassium. It takes a bit longer to cook than white rice, but it is worth the wait. Brown rice has a subtle, nutty flavor. You can also substitute quinoa for rice. Quinoa is high in protein and amino acids in addition to the nutrients found in brown rice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cook as much brown rice or quinoa as you need. You can make enough for one meal, or make a large batch that you can use for several meals throughout the week. Store leftover rice or quinoa in your fridge to use whenever you want. A leftover rice bowl can also be a quick and satisfying lunch!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burrito Rice Bowl:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Combine some of your favorite burrito fillings for a flavorful rice bowl. Add some black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro to your brown rice or quinoa base. Mix in a little bit of cumin, and squeeze some lime juice over the top.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Asian-Inspired Rice Bowl:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love rice bowls that combine a variety of different tastes. Top your rice or quinoa with shredded cabbage, green onions, steamed broccoli, shredded carrots, and chopped cooked mushrooms. Mix in a few tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mediterranean-Inspired Rice Bowl:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Combine diced tomatoes, sliced roasted red pepper, spinach, olives, and feta cheese with your favorite base for a tasty rice bowl. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can customize your rice bowl even further by mixing in your favorite protein. Add grilled chicken breast, tofu, or an egg for a healthy protein boost!</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;">Try one or more of these rice bowl ideas the next time you’re looking for meal ideas. You can even experiment with whatever vegetables or protein you have on hand. There’s no wrong way to make a rice bowl! </span></span>

brown rice, clean dinners, clean eating, deliciousness, diet, easy meals, fitness, food, health, healthy dinner, healthy family, meal ideas, recipe, rice bowl, vegetables

Rice Bowl Meals Your Family Will Love

A rice bowl is a great way to pack plenty of nutritious foods into one delicious meal. With a rice bowl, you can use different ingredient...

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Tuesday, May 19, 2015 / No comments / cobb salad , Delicious Salad , diet , easy summer salads , fitness , health , healthy foods , Healthy Salad , nutrition , Party Salad , Recipes , vegetables , vitamins

4 Easy Summer Salads To Try

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZiAu_oT18G-hvSsKMtgBFMrfeukUrEZwbhPffsBcMSvRpqOsSLlxoBUMQrXIq6WdKu515bIqQ0oB6Ip3jLRKs37WLsCVXABMtGOpTBhiDtMmgn8AGSLGLsTOz5ksJj8xh5SewXnDiMSh/s1600/summer+salad+BLOG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Easy summer salads on a plate." border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZiAu_oT18G-hvSsKMtgBFMrfeukUrEZwbhPffsBcMSvRpqOsSLlxoBUMQrXIq6WdKu515bIqQ0oB6Ip3jLRKs37WLsCVXABMtGOpTBhiDtMmgn8AGSLGLsTOz5ksJj8xh5SewXnDiMSh/s1600/summer+salad+BLOG.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easy summer salads are some of my favorite meals in the summer! They are fresh, delicious, and a great way to eat clean and feel healthy. Plus, the variety of local ingredients available during the season makes easy summer salads even more amazing! To make these salads, combine all the ingredients, and then whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour over the easy summer salads.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-94b82458-6d0a-2a1a-5335-30a95635824d" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 Easy Summer Salads</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cobb Salad</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 cups chopped romaine lettuce</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2-3 ripe avocados, seeded, peeled and sliced</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and sliced</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dressing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5 tablespoons buttermilk </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 teaspoon lemon juice </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¼ teaspoon onion powder </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon dried dill </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon dried parsley</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon dried chives </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon salt </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¼ teaspoon pepper </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Strawberry-Orange Spinach Salad</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 oz. baby spinach</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 container strawberries, washed and cut</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 can mandarin oranges, drained</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup crumbled blue cheese</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ cup sliced toasted almonds</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dressing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Red wine vinaigrette</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">salt and pepper to taste</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quinoa Salad</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup quinoa, cooked in water with 1 tsp ground cumin</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 ¼ cup corn</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup cooked black beans, drained</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 diced tomato</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 zucchini, diced</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¼ cup finely chopped red onion</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¼ cup chopped turkey bacon pieces</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">salt and pepper to taste</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dressing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">⅓ cup fresh lemon juice</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">⅓ cup olive oil</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Combine with salad, cover and refrigerate at least an hour, or up to 2 days.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kale Salad</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 bunch of dinosaur kale, stemmed, rinsed, dried, and chopped in a food processor</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¼ cup chopped raisins</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">¼ cup chopped craisins</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ cup toasted pine nuts</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">½ cup grated parmesan cheese</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dressing</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 tablespoons lemon juice </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 tablespoon olive oil</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon honey </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; 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: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">salt and pepper to taste</span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Easy summer salads are perfect for a refreshing picnic lunch or an outdoor meal. Munch on your tasty salad as the kids run around on the playground or enjoy it as part of a romantic dinner with your man on the patio. I love the way you can turn easy summer salads into your own creation by adding the ingredients you love and omitting the ones you don’t. Enjoy!</span></span>

cobb salad, Delicious Salad, diet, easy summer salads, fitness, health, healthy foods, Healthy Salad, nutrition, Party Salad, Recipes, vegetables, vitamins

4 Easy Summer Salads To Try

Easy summer salads are some of my favorite meals in the summer! They are fresh, delicious, and a great way to eat clean and feel healthy....

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Monday, March 23, 2015 / No comments / abs , benefits of vegetables , diet , eating habits , fitness , habits , healthy , healthy choice , healthy eating , nutrition , organic , Recipes , vegetables

The Superpowers of Healthy Greens

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5cVEGZSMkRftLncmwkTRnJInWGPqyTf7_7fvctSFsRWlvAVEXVQqMt9WlAQyrQM81E9b7XDVzPd673zhVkF4X3mtr-Tl8p6Pu-8ZJx_TE9bq-iTckUde6lavYukmwedHoDrJu-D_c7Wa/s1600/Healthy_Greens.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Healthy greens including asparagus, cucumber and green pepper. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5cVEGZSMkRftLncmwkTRnJInWGPqyTf7_7fvctSFsRWlvAVEXVQqMt9WlAQyrQM81E9b7XDVzPd673zhVkF4X3mtr-Tl8p6Pu-8ZJx_TE9bq-iTckUde6lavYukmwedHoDrJu-D_c7Wa/s1600/Healthy_Greens.png" title="Healthy greens." /></a></div>
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Healthy greens are a great way to add a burst of nutrition to your daily eating habits. There is an array of health benefits if you are eating them regularly. Plus, there are so many types of healthy greens that it’s easy to add a quick and delicious side dish to any meal. Or, you can make a full meal using healthy greens as the primary ingredient. <br /><br /><b>Immune System</b><br /><br />Healthy greens offer a bunch of vitamins and minerals, which help boost your immune system. Vitamins A, C, and E are found in most healthy greens and add extra nutrition to any snack or meal. The antioxidants found in healthy greens are a great way to maintain and protect your health. Phytonutrients are unique to healthy greens and offer an extra bit of healing of power to fight off illness and protect your immune system.<br /><br /><b>Weight Control</b><br /><br />Because most healthy greens are low in calories, you can eat a lot of them without worrying about excessive weight gain. Most healthy greens have a high amount of fiber in them, which will keep you full and satisfied. Using healthy greens for a large portion of your meal also decreases glucose intake. Fresh, healthy greens don’t contain the sugar that is in processed foods, so it does not raise your blood glucose level or include excess sugar that can turn into fat. Plus, healthy greens contain water so they can help keep you hydrated all day long.<br /><br /><b>Improved Moods</b><br /><br />Healthy greens have so many healing and preventative properties that they can help improve mood swings. They also promote lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Plus, the fiber in healthy greens helps control sugar-induced mood swings by slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates into your bloodstream after you’re done eating. <br /><br />Some of my favorite ways to eat healthy greens are in a tasty spinach salad, with a side of roasted, spiced broccoli, or munching on fresh green peppers as a snack. But there are SO many options. I can easily switch up the type of healthy greens I’m eating, or the way I prepare them. Time to get creative! </span>

abs, benefits of vegetables, diet, eating habits, fitness, habits, healthy, healthy choice, healthy eating, nutrition, organic, Recipes, vegetables

The Superpowers of Healthy Greens

Healthy greens are a great way to add a burst of nutrition to your daily eating habits. There is an array of health benefits if you are ea...

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Friday, February 6, 2015 / No comments / abs , bulgur , cooking , fitness , food , food tips , health , meal , meal tips , nutrition , real foods , spaghetti squash , spices , Tips by Alyssa Schomaker , variety in foods , vegetables

Using Different Foods to Change Up Your Meals

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv6CthbjThPiqQ_aiItxo0SZGBlFPUYFxnRLr7IEQ4_6SSXyrgD8y9MDQ_xgZf1Kw-frUc-HutQAnDjKbzyGmYZLkGk9w63bRcemhE1gtWsLP-qmTdI6dxGj0pOLYxC_Msee6Bwk9Pchv/s1600/different_foods.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A collage of different foods and spices. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv6CthbjThPiqQ_aiItxo0SZGBlFPUYFxnRLr7IEQ4_6SSXyrgD8y9MDQ_xgZf1Kw-frUc-HutQAnDjKbzyGmYZLkGk9w63bRcemhE1gtWsLP-qmTdI6dxGj0pOLYxC_Msee6Bwk9Pchv/s1600/different_foods.png" title="different foods" /></a></div>
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<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: #444444;">I love food! I love that there are so many different foods with unique flavors and I love them even more since I’ve dedicated myself to a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy can sometimes leave us in a rut, eating the same things over and over, but it doesn’t have to be like that! I’ve got a few different foods I like to add to the meal plan when I start to feel repetitive with my eating habits. I’m sure you have felt this way before too, so I’m going to share some different foods and options that you could try.</span></span></div>
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<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: #444444;">Spaghetti Squash. Okay, the reason I love using spaghetti squash when I need to incorporate different foods is because of all the options for sauces! You can make a tasty pesto when you want a savory dish, or add a brown sugar and cinnamon glaze for a sweet treat. </span></span></div>
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<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: #444444;">Bulgur. Bulgur is a wheat grain that is high in fiber and low in fat and calories. It’s great to use in place of different foods like rice or couscous. You can add spices to it, pair it with a stir fry or find a tabouli salad recipe to enjoy. </span></span></div>
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<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: #444444;">Spice it up! Experiment! Spices really add flavor to different foods. Experiment with a few different spice combinations, like cinnamon and sage or chili powder and lemon peel. Peruse the internet to find the most interesting combinations and give them a try.</span></span></div>
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<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: #444444;">Ethnic Foods. Visit a few restaurants or grocery stores that feature ethnic foods, they are sure to have some great flavors! Go find a cool Thai restaurant or an Indian restaurant and see what they have to offer. If you like something, experiment with recipes at home to duplicate the flavor.  </span></span></div>
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<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: #444444;">Splurge. Okay, this isn’t actually a specific food, but it helps change up the different foods you eat. Splurge on something that is healthy and delicious, like a nice lobster dinner. You can go out, or prepare the lobster yourself if you’re feeling extra motivated. </span></span></div>
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<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: #444444;">Combinations. Think about things you really love and how you can incorporate them into different foods. For example, when the kids are feeling bored with their lunches, I’ll pop in something like an apple, peanut butter sandwich or wrap a pancake around some fruit to give them a healthy change in their meal. Or, just change the shape, try spiraling some carrots into noodles for a stir fry or soup. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #444444;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-00b30220-5a32-23f7-f9b7-5018f93f0399"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<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: #444444;">So, which different foods are you going to incorporate into your meal plans this week? Let me know what interesting foods are your favorite! </span></span></div>

abs, bulgur, cooking, fitness, food, food tips, health, meal, meal tips, nutrition, real foods, spaghetti squash, spices, Tips by Alyssa Schomaker, variety in foods, vegetables

Using Different Foods to Change Up Your Meals

I love food! I love that there are so many different foods with unique flavors and I love them even more since I’ve dedicated myself to a...

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Friday, January 9, 2015 / No comments / abs , diet , fitness , habits , health , healthy habits , lifestyle , nutrition , Recipes , Tips , vegetables , veggies , winter , Winter foods

7 Winter Foods to Eat More of This Season

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj7kcn6TQfrl1V6IeGrK4AKaaCjReeuLjyS4fqjrab3OGQSDO8XlQy_AVwxxD2_lp2H6CarAkgEL9ULwlOCF1odv4zuMbNukTU5_dqSm1S28zlBl8JaxIPe4dDqJRFn8FYBcMm-kwnmr8/s1600/winter_foods.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Collage of winter foods including root veggies. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoj7kcn6TQfrl1V6IeGrK4AKaaCjReeuLjyS4fqjrab3OGQSDO8XlQy_AVwxxD2_lp2H6CarAkgEL9ULwlOCF1odv4zuMbNukTU5_dqSm1S28zlBl8JaxIPe4dDqJRFn8FYBcMm-kwnmr8/s1600/winter_foods.png" title="Winter foods" /></a></div>
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<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: #666666;">The winter blues can often leave us hungry and thirsty for warm foods that will fill us up and make our bellies happy. But sometimes, this can turn into eating lots of fried, high carb and high sugar foods that offer temporary relief. It’s difficult to notice the unhealthy habits until the pounds start stacking up and energy starts to decrease. Well, I’ve made a list of winter foods I like to eat, that make me feel happy and full yet are still healthy so I can stay fit and active. Start incorporating them into your meal planning for a healthy, satisfied winter!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666;">5 Winter Foods to Eat More of:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Winter Squash -</b> At the top of my favorite winter foods list is winter squash, so delicious! There are a variety of squash in the winter family, including butternut, acorn, and spaghetti. Squash are full of vitamins, particularly A and C, but are low in calories so you can enjoy the goodness guilt-free! I love cooking squash and eating it warm with a few spices, or adding a fresh basil pesto to spaghetti squash for a healthy version of pasta. SO good!!!</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Root Vegetables - </b></span><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;">Another group of winter foods that I can’t get enough of is plant roots. These are vegetables that are the root of the plant, so they are pulled from underground. The most common root vegetables are carrots, parsnips, radishes, sweet potatoes and yams. They are chock full of vitamins and nutrients, not to the mention the amazing flavor! A mixed root vegetable medley is the perfect side dish for any meal, just bake with butter and spices and you’ve got one of the best side dishes made from healthy winter foods! </span><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;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Pomegranates - </b></span><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;">Okay, let’s talk about a winter delight that doesn’t need to be warm to be enjoyed, the pomegranate! This is one of those winter foods that is bursting with antioxidants and is a great dessert or snack option. I love opening up a pomegranate and eating it as a movie snack, it’s a huge upgrade from milk duds :) Oh, and did I mention </span><a href="http://www.afitnurse.com/search/label/Winter%20Salad" 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;">winter salad</span></a><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></span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Oatmeal - </b></span><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;">One of the reasons I love oatmeal so much is because it’s one of the most versatile winter foods. There are so many delicious ways to enjoy oatmeal, from savory to sweet, like this </span><a href="http://www.afitnurse.com/2013/10/almond-joy-oatmeal.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;">almond joy oatmeal</span></a><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;">; doesn’t get much tastier than that! It is one of the best breakfast options because it’s full of fiber and vitamins, plus there’s even some protein in there to keep you full and satisfied until your next snack or meal.</span><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;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666;"><b>Honey - </b>Well, I suppose this isn’t necessarily one of the winter foods you would enjoy on it’s own (unless you really love it) but honey is a great way to add some sweetness to your winter foods to satisfy that sweet tooth. Drizzle it over some yogurt for a sweet afternoon snack, or put it in your tea or coffee to sweeten up your morning or evening beverage. </span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Homemade Soups and Stews - </b></span><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;">The great thing about soups and stews are that you can add as little or as much to them as you want. Make a light veggie soup for a great side dish or add some ingredients like lentils and chicken for a hearty main course. Winter foods are the best when you can customize them to what you feel like eating that day!</span><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;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Eggs -</b></span><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;"> The staple breakfast ingredient is also in my favorites for winter foods. Okay, so I obviously love winter foods that are versatile and eggs are something you can enjoy in a variety of ways. A nice omelet can be as simple or extravagant as you would like, or a hard boiled egg can top a nice salad. Eggs can be whisked, scrambled, and added to a delicious sweet potato hash or served with bacon. Try these </span><a href="http://www.afitnurse.com/2013/01/line-muffin-tin-with-slices-of-ham.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;">egg and ham breakfast cups</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><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;">for a quick on-the-go option.</span><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;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #666666;">Don’t let fried foods and sugar dipped treats entice you too much this winter. Instead, try incorporating these winter foods into your daily meal plan for delicious and nutritious dishes that are sure to please your stomach and help you stay healthy and fit this winter! </span></span>

abs, diet, fitness, habits, health, healthy habits, lifestyle, nutrition, Recipes, Tips, vegetables, veggies, winter, Winter foods

7 Winter Foods to Eat More of This Season

The winter blues can often leave us hungry and thirsty for warm foods that will fill us up and make our bellies happy. But sometimes, thi...

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Monday, April 14, 2014 / No comments / Butter , good or bad , grass fed butter , green beans , lemon juice , sea salt , vegetables

BUTTER.... Good for you?? YAY or NAY??

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuUC30VUkval0AWYCMeD-O84mI-vTRUx4aKLOyN9xMF3D4FG7N44ujJQ_zbURSle70LeX_yYPlv6PCZub0t_S8Ntx8HRVsu977LwTlE5mVfl5h7-I5zQAc_XhQeaAKQd2RJJgH2a3MuJT/s1600/butter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuUC30VUkval0AWYCMeD-O84mI-vTRUx4aKLOyN9xMF3D4FG7N44ujJQ_zbURSle70LeX_yYPlv6PCZub0t_S8Ntx8HRVsu977LwTlE5mVfl5h7-I5zQAc_XhQeaAKQd2RJJgH2a3MuJT/s400/butter.jpg" /></a></div>
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 I'm so happy to find out that butter is making a comeback as a "health" food, (grass-fed butter that is) because I love it, we broke up for a while but I made amends and use it in my cooking often. In my home, it is high quality and organic and (usually, except for right this moment while I detox) it goes in everything from oatmeal to fresh tomato sauce to green beans. It makes food taste better and the best part is, it is loaded with health benefits. Here are a few reasons why you should re-introduce real butter into your lifestyle, plus a recipe that might also get your kiddies to eat their vegetables without a fight.<br />
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Butter...<br />
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is rich in fat-soluble vitamins A, E and K2, which puts it in the "super food" category.<br />
contains key health supporting nutrients and minerals including lecithin, selenium, magnesium, zinc, copper and iodine <br />
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contains anti-oxidants that protect against free radical damage and weakening arteries.<br />
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has strong anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties due to its level of saturated fats.<br />
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contains conjugated linoleic acid, which is a potent anti-cancer agent, muscle builder, and immunity booster.<br />
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aids in the absorption of calcium.<br />
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helps prevent tooth decay.<br />
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prevents hardening of the arteries, cataracts, and calcification of the pineal gland.<br />
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may help promote fertility in women.<br />
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is a source of quick energy, and is not stored in the body's adipose tissue.<br />
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helps brain, bones and teeth development in unborn and young children.<br />
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contains Arachidonic Acid (AA), which plays a role in brain function and is a vital component of cell membranes.<br />
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is a great source of the fatty acid butyrate.<br />
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is associated with a lower risk of obesity.<br />
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This is the short list...there are many, many benefits to eating butter. Since America's butter consumption has declined in favor of processed margarine, Alzheimer's, obesity, diabetes, and consequently, heart disease, have sky-rocketed. Plus, new studies show that there is "no association between saturated fat and heart disease." It's something to consider.<br />
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Here is the recipe for your kids' favorite Green Beans:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC23lNfQ-FruXNUCI6hpOSi1lihKo1HitEHbwpfKkFwVlmzMv4PhzkegeWPDVmd8P18ifX2ObKiDitapdK9X6p8yyJhJKMiXV9weHIm-1sLzf6EGRX_-0HSxR-IK7M4kzqsYqh4BJq_Btw/s1600/green+beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC23lNfQ-FruXNUCI6hpOSi1lihKo1HitEHbwpfKkFwVlmzMv4PhzkegeWPDVmd8P18ifX2ObKiDitapdK9X6p8yyJhJKMiXV9weHIm-1sLzf6EGRX_-0HSxR-IK7M4kzqsYqh4BJq_Btw/s1600/green+beans.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Steam a bunch of fresh green beans for three minutes<br />
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Add a tablespoon (or two) of organic "grass-fed" butter (it's the healthiest)<br />
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Add the zest of one organic lemon<br />
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Squeeze the juice of 1-2 lemons<br />
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Sprinkle course sea salt over top<br />
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Replace lid and shake<br />
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I put them in a bowl and place it right in the center of the dinner table. The big guy will start grabbing them before I even sit down. Seriously though, my guests just love them. Adding organic butter along with a variety of other healthy oils and fats into your diet supplies your body with essential fatty acids for longevity, hormone balance, heart health, sharp vision, glowing skin and energy. As is usually the case, with anything this good, the key is moderation.

Butter, good or bad, grass fed butter, green beans, lemon juice, sea salt, vegetables

BUTTER.... Good for you?? YAY or NAY??

I'm so happy to find out that butter is making a comeback as a "health" food, (grass-fed butter that is) because I love ...

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Saturday, June 29, 2013 / No comments / craving , diet , eat , fast , fiber , fruit , loose weight , lose weight fast , meals , soda , sweet tooth , vegetables , water

How to loose weight fast

It is one thing to look at this list of tips for how to lose weight fast and marvel at it’s size but in fact to make the biggest changes in your life you just have to make a couple small changes at a time in your life until life is where you want it to be. So peruse this list, sure, but more importantly just pick a couple of things that you can do now and then come back in a couple of days to pick another couple.<br>
<strong>REMEMBER if YOU NEED MOTIVATION or SUPPORT PLEASE <a href="mailto:schomakeralyssa@gmail.com" target="_blank">Message ME</a>! </strong><br>
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<div class="pinit alignright" data-indexer="0"><span class="pinit-overlay alignright" data-indexer="0" style="height: 364px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 350px;"></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMMwUMpqdAZotltGi9Xy3HkgIq-0r1PmJMeFb_jNWgGF44U9iAXX4-tMEKV4IFk-jJzGvw3OIVRf67EwWCd9b3vDAtMrWwpBtvBsjxdCEWae-Mv6Z84XnwIjnnagBuDdQ5JNoPWoP4vvH/s480/scale3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMMwUMpqdAZotltGi9Xy3HkgIq-0r1PmJMeFb_jNWgGF44U9iAXX4-tMEKV4IFk-jJzGvw3OIVRf67EwWCd9b3vDAtMrWwpBtvBsjxdCEWae-Mv6Z84XnwIjnnagBuDdQ5JNoPWoP4vvH/s400/scale3.jpg" width="400"></a></div><strong>1. Drink plenty of water.</strong> Our body needs a <a href="http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/how-much-water-to-drink.html">lot of water</a> so give in to water. Water is not just way to flush out toxin but if you have more water in your body you will generally feel healthier and fitter. This it self will discourage any tendency to gorge. The best thing about water is that is has no calories at all.<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H48tikG82WbwVPZUbsi8lv6BVIShhWc4STpW2-n9inO9ovkjMk5vb4XBZ8Z3R8x72qUytymPxTE_scZTS4v94B6Bqadh4EpOg2inuSPXgvhh1NaUAZBdpaXxUmeZgpXMkpYRy7PXSxW-/s1100/Benefits-of-Drinking-Water-Mind-Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H48tikG82WbwVPZUbsi8lv6BVIShhWc4STpW2-n9inO9ovkjMk5vb4XBZ8Z3R8x72qUytymPxTE_scZTS4v94B6Bqadh4EpOg2inuSPXgvhh1NaUAZBdpaXxUmeZgpXMkpYRy7PXSxW-/s320/Benefits-of-Drinking-Water-Mind-Map.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br>
<strong>2. Start your day with a glass of water</strong>. As soon as you wake up, gulp down a glass of cool water. It’s a wonderful way to start you day and you only need a lesser quantity of your breakfast drink after that. A glass of water lets out all your digestive juices and sort of lubricates the insides of your body. You may have your morning cup of tea but have it after a glass of water. It is good for you.<br>
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<strong>3. Drink a glass of water before you start the meal.</strong> Water naturally needs some space so that you feel fuller without actually having to stuff yourself.<br>
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<strong>4. Have another glass of water while you are having the meal</strong>. Again this is another way of making yourself full so that you can actually rise from the table eating less but feeling full just the same. Instead of drinking it one gulp, take sips after each morsel. It will help the food to settle faster so that you get that feeling that you are full faster. SIDENOTE: Water is such a remarkable thing, but seldom do we give it the credit that it deserves. Did you know that over 66% of your body weight is nothing but water’ It’s amazing! Water also plays a vital role in weight control, which is why I donated so much space to it, above.<br>
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<strong>5. Stay away from sweetened bottle drinks,</strong> <a href="http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/the-effect-of-coca-cola-on-your-body.html">especially sodas</a>. Hey all those colas and fizzy drinks are sweetened with sugar and sugar means calories. The more you can cut out on these sweetened bottle drinks, the better for you. Drink naturally flavored water, tea or coffee instead.<br>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXzGZ8c0QsbKTw37SDjmUisgZJyMQ1pPgNcNjDYo4qiyOoi-T1DSwylzbSpj5RWf49O7DayJmTKuRqysHhETXEzquC4VgA9_7H6kALXhEwF0LMgzntc92znT3PzqmNzBc6tGIjeAEvZ0a/s1308/no+soda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXzGZ8c0QsbKTw37SDjmUisgZJyMQ1pPgNcNjDYo4qiyOoi-T1DSwylzbSpj5RWf49O7DayJmTKuRqysHhETXEzquC4VgA9_7H6kALXhEwF0LMgzntc92znT3PzqmNzBc6tGIjeAEvZ0a/s320/no+soda.jpg" width="320"></a></div><strong>6. Include in your diet things that contain more water like tomatoes and watermelons.</strong> These things contain 90 to 95 % water so that there is nothing that you have to lose by feasting on them. They fill you up without adding to the pounds.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-N5HUdHuWABIAeePz-YsQa7UPvCLbH-9MWs5BdnmUwi9lkNsv6j9KmDywDcUPx5PVvLdQ1YajCfdvQAT1jJUO8I-QMNJbgOo2F6izdSVvQ7niKC5WZMVq2mhPGxRB3ISg8iFYduIlUMH/s611/IMG_1072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN-N5HUdHuWABIAeePz-YsQa7UPvCLbH-9MWs5BdnmUwi9lkNsv6j9KmDywDcUPx5PVvLdQ1YajCfdvQAT1jJUO8I-QMNJbgOo2F6izdSVvQ7niKC5WZMVq2mhPGxRB3ISg8iFYduIlUMH/s320/IMG_1072.JPG" width="320"></a><strong>7. Eat fresh fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.</strong> Juice is often sweetened but fresh fruits have natural sugars. When you eat fruit, you are taking in a lot of fiber, which is needed by the body, and fruits of course are an excellent source of vitamins.<br>
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<strong>8. If you do have a craving for fruit juice then go for fresh fruit juice</strong> instead of these that contain artificial flavors and colors. Or even better, try making your own fruit juice taking care not to sweeten it with too many calories.<br>
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<strong>9. Choose fresh fruit to processed fruits.</strong> Processed and canned fruits do not have as much fiber as fresh fruit and processed and canned fruits are nearly always sweetened.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzQvGeekkmruZkWWg9bMemmpNDWwdC6CkjihAPLcUF_rFUmi5B0Q3aPs6yKo9iFsLVJfdyH8u6jig_IagIC0MA0EAI6VM1DNuYZuR9jAeJ6CPUxawPoIl-Ij3p_1TfohCAkABIjBNEsMl/s700/IMG_1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzQvGeekkmruZkWWg9bMemmpNDWwdC6CkjihAPLcUF_rFUmi5B0Q3aPs6yKo9iFsLVJfdyH8u6jig_IagIC0MA0EAI6VM1DNuYZuR9jAeJ6CPUxawPoIl-Ij3p_1TfohCAkABIjBNEsMl/s320/IMG_1182.JPG" width="320"></a><strong>10. Increase your fiber intake. </strong>Like I mentioned, the <a href="http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/soluble-fiber-and-insoluble-fiber.html">body needs a lot of fiber</a>. So try to include in your diet as many fruits and vegetables as you can.<br>
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<strong>11. Go crazy on vegetables.</strong> <a href="http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/eat-5-fruits-and-vegetables-a-day.html">Vegetables are your best bet</a> when it comes to losing pounds. Nature has a terrific spread when it comes to choosing vegetables. And the leafy green vegetables are your best bet. Try to include a salad in you diet always.<br>
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<strong>12. Eat intelligently</strong>. The difference between man and beast is that we are driven by intelligence while beasts are driven by instinct. Don’t just eat something because you feel like eating it. Ask you’re self whether your body really needs it.<br>
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<strong>13. Watch what you eat.</strong> Keep a watchful eye on every thing that goes in. Sometimes the garnishes can richer than the food itself. Accompaniments too can be very rich. Remember that it is the easiest thing in the world to eat something without realizing that it was something that you should not have eaten. Selective memory you know’<br>
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<strong>14. Control that sweet tooth.</strong> Remember that sweet things generally mean more calories. It is natural that we have cravings for sweet things especially chocolates and other confectionary. Go easy on theses things and each time you consume something sweet understand that it is going to add on somewhere.<br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW18OeCOBRxBd8HVpVkB6zCthG7q34O15FQQziKrIIh5-guzc7uBWbaSAjR4N99eCbFn6Txooq-H6LLZA55xx0nYg-PMag5pcVfmsBtMOQWr6fILaB0aDJqW7al49KV0rP2CtG7EAdpGlu/s400/no-skipping-meals%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW18OeCOBRxBd8HVpVkB6zCthG7q34O15FQQziKrIIh5-guzc7uBWbaSAjR4N99eCbFn6Txooq-H6LLZA55xx0nYg-PMag5pcVfmsBtMOQWr6fILaB0aDJqW7al49KV0rP2CtG7EAdpGlu/s320/no-skipping-meals%5B1%5D.gif" width="320"></a><strong>15. Fix times to have meals and stick to it.</strong> Try to <a href="http://www.fitnesstipsforlife.com/meal-sizes-and-frequency.html">have food at fixed times of the day</a>. You can stretch these times by half an hour, but anything more than that is going to affect your eating pattern, the result will either be a loss of appetite or that famished feeling which will make you stuff yourself with more than what is required the next time you eat. I eat every 2-3 hours 6 times a day! It keeps my metabolism humming along!<br>
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craving, diet, eat, fast, fiber, fruit, loose weight, lose weight fast, meals, soda, sweet tooth, vegetables, water

How to loose weight fast

It is one thing to look at this list of tips for how to lose weight fast and marvel at it’s size but in fact to make the biggest changes in ...

Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Wednesday, May 29, 2013 / No comments / appetizers , bite , children , clean eating , cooking , food , healthy , interactive , nutrition , real foods , snacks , toddlers , vegetables , veggies

10 ways to get your children to adjust to a clean eating lifestyle

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know about you but, I really struggled and still do with getting my three kids on board with clean eating. My oldest Son Gavin was never a good eater! I mean he ate NOTHING! It was a very tough thing for my husband and I to go through watching our child refuse to eat food. My pediatrician had told us when he was two that we should not worry at this point about "healthy" foods but, just make sure that he is eating. I think his approach was anything is better then nothing. So, now that he is older and quite a good eater, I must add, we have really been working with our kids to eat healthy and make good choices when it comes to food. This is definetly a work in progress but, continue to educate my children because I feel like it is very important and want them to feel as good as I do from consuming whole, real foods!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw9GzSVJwMIa8EGfUm-M2CgVwcNcT4rZKveqtklRSjNwdY-l7qQfp1l-sZjeIl4zXCHuVDnWY2iGBpwr4R7PhohSBaHCB30exBNHEDkoa3-lKxK_1DwXDYZeaqngeBVa2ezNBgltM2w_7/s1600/How-to-get-your-kids-on-board-with-healthy-eating-and-living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw9GzSVJwMIa8EGfUm-M2CgVwcNcT4rZKveqtklRSjNwdY-l7qQfp1l-sZjeIl4zXCHuVDnWY2iGBpwr4R7PhohSBaHCB30exBNHEDkoa3-lKxK_1DwXDYZeaqngeBVa2ezNBgltM2w_7/s640/How-to-get-your-kids-on-board-with-healthy-eating-and-living.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are some of the ideas and things we have been doing to incorporate our children into eating clean foods....</div>1. <strong>Serve vegetables as an appetizer.</strong> While you set out the rest of dinner, keep hungry kids occupied with veggies. (I love carrot sticks and fresh cut bell pepper.) When you serve veggies before dinner, they’re more likely to be eaten.<br />
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2. <strong>Offer control. </strong>Picky eating is often about control, not taste. Offer two options (“Shall we have peas or broccoli trees with lunch?”) and give your child the power to choose one.<br />
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3. <strong>Remember tiny tummies</strong>. Do you often think that your toddlers aren’t eating enough? But when they describe all the child ate that day, it’s really plenty of food. Children’s tummies are quite small, about the size of their clenched fist. What looks like a reasonable snack to grown-up eyes might be an overwhelming portion for little ones.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwfRKazprAfT_vzzsBsrH1tZAU0kDDY4RzNu0otLK1scgCtpQep6Ux5oV5nFWlwU_jWse4vVDSkqSww0Jd0Puuc_A_MbGt772ar-oKRkyNeWnbGVkUx7D3yPh6rCJpsKgVKbeW0ysjqfF/s1600/healthyfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwfRKazprAfT_vzzsBsrH1tZAU0kDDY4RzNu0otLK1scgCtpQep6Ux5oV5nFWlwU_jWse4vVDSkqSww0Jd0Puuc_A_MbGt772ar-oKRkyNeWnbGVkUx7D3yPh6rCJpsKgVKbeW0ysjqfF/s320/healthyfood.jpg" width="320" /></a>4. <strong>Never underestimate the power of a silly face or use animal shapes.</strong> At snack time, try arranging cucumber slice eyes with a ranch dip smile and carrot teeth, or peanut butter eyes and a celery mouth on an apple slice head. And what kid can resist this BEAUTIFUL butterfly!<br />
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5. <strong>Make it interactive.</strong> Who says you shouldn’t play with your food? Steamed artichokes with lemon butter for dipping, roasted asparagus with a little cup of grated parmesan, lettuce wraps for stuffing with seasoned chicken or beans and veg — kids love interacting with their food! For bonus points, give each component a cool name — “trees with snow” will add a dash of giggles to a dish of broccoli with parmesan.<br />
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6. <strong>Delegate sous chef duties</strong>. At the market, have everyone pick out one fruit or veggie they’d like to have that evening. Then, let them add their chosen food to the pizza, soup, or salsa. When children are involved in the cooking, they’re much more likely to try the result.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/523b9617c80635ef92a6140b840530ed/tumblr_inline_mn0l3kjUl51qz4rgp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" class="toggle_inline_image inline_image constrained_image" height="400" src="http://media.tumblr.com/523b9617c80635ef92a6140b840530ed/tumblr_inline_mn0l3kjUl51qz4rgp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>7. <strong>Be a veggie pragmatist.</strong> As a busy mom, I know it is not always possible to browse the market with your children. And to be honest with three kids grocery shopping can actually be quite enjoying when I get the oppurtunity to go by myself. When that happens, reach for frozen vegetables. The nutrient profile on vegetables that are flash frozen are just as good  and frozen veggies are more forgiving of busy schedules and fickle toddler tastes.<br />
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8. <strong>Zucchini bread is not a vegetable. </strong>Quite a few recent books suggest ways to “sneak” fruit and veg into children’s meals. Boosting nutrition is all well and good, but it’s also important to teach children what things look and taste like in their natural state. Don’t just sneak a cheeky puree into the pizza sauce. Let them know it’s there, and let them see how it’s prepared.<br />
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9. <strong>Don’t give up.</strong> Studies show that children have to try a food 10-15 times to like it, and I’ve certainly found that to be true. Encourage children to play with a new food, touch it, smell it, and above all taste it, but keep things lighthearted. Remember your child isn’t just being contrary being suspicious of new food is an entirely reasonable instinct, especially for children.<br />
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10. <strong>The no-thank-you bite</strong>. If your child refuses outright to try new things, introduce a “no-thank-you bite” rule. With this rule, if a child doesn’t want to eat something, that’s fine  so long as she takes a small bite and says “no thank you.” If she still doesn’t like it, chalk it up to one of those 10-15 necessary new food exposures and move on.<br />
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I hope you find these tips helpful! Remember it is a work in progress and your children will eventually start eating more real foods over time!<br />
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Alyssa<br />
XXOO<div style="float: right; margin: 4px;"><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/green_tea/pin.jpg" /></a></div>

appetizers, bite, children, clean eating, cooking, food, healthy, interactive, nutrition, real foods, snacks, toddlers, vegetables, veggies

10 ways to get your children to adjust to a clean eating lifestyle

I don't know about you but, I really struggled and still do with getting my three kids on board with clean eating. My oldest Son Gavin w...

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Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Saturday, June 29, 2013 / No comments / craving , diet , eat , fast , fiber , fruit , loose weight , lose weight fast , meals , soda , sweet tooth , vegetables , water

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Posted by Alyssa Schomaker / Wednesday, May 29, 2013 / No comments / appetizers , bite , children , clean eating , cooking , food , healthy , interactive , nutrition , real foods , snacks , toddlers , vegetables , veggies

10 ways to get your children to adjust to a clean eating lifestyle

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