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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Stopping for a morning coffee?

To those of you who dash out the door in the morning without breakfast with hopes of grabbing something on the way to work, school, etc. there is good news I bring to you today...you can eat healthy on the go in the morning.

I myself get up extra early, get a workout in and then make myself a nice warm bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh fruit, and a handful of nuts and seeds (I know sooo healthy!)  I happen to love this breakfast even in the warm days of summer.

But you can eat a healthy breakfast on the go and here is a small list to show you just how to do that.  The first stop is Dunkin Donuts (yes that is right DD), they make a egg white veggie wake-up wrap which is only 150 calories and less fat due to no yolk and low fat cheese.

Au Bon Pain serves up apple cinnamon oatmeal for just 280 calories a serving, this may be hard to eat when you are in a car but you can purchase it and eat at your desk in your office.  There are 8g protein and 7g fiber.

Le Pain Quotidien (love this place!!!) and I recently had this breakfast one Sunday morning.  Organic Soft-boiled egg with homemade wholegrain bread.  At 290 calories this was a delicious satisfying breakfast with a nice cup of coffee!

Caribou Coffee makes a breakfast sandwich called the veggie daybreaker.  At 300 calories this veggie omelet on a whole wheat roll delivers 14g protein and 3g fiber.

Onto Panera Bread Company, the strawberry granola parfait (yum, like dessert) has only 310 calories, 9g protein and 3g fiber.  Another easy to transport breakfast.

Starbucks has a protein bistro box...what is this you ask, well it is a  sampler of foods like hardboiled egg, apple slices, grapes, multigrain bread and cheese.  This meal is only 350 calories and packs 13g protein and 5g fiber.

Don't forget that eating breakfast every morning is just as important as getting a good night sleep or brushing your teeth everyday.  You need to jump start you day with some wholesome healthy food to get the metabolism going and get your brain activated.

I hope giving you some healthy choices helps when trying to decide what to put into your body each morning.  Would you put cheap low grade gas in your car and expect it function properly....same holds true for your body.  If you grab a donut or some pastry you won't get the same benefits throughout the day.  You will add pounds to your body and the energy from this sweet treat will only last a very short time.  Fuel your body with the right foods each meal and see how much more energy you have and how much clearer your mind will be.

Thanks for reading.

Lisa

Monday, October 17, 2011

Upcoming fitness/wellness fairs

Health & Wellness Expo, Wednesday, November 2 (5:30-9:00 p.m.) this will take place at the Stamford Hilton in Stamford, CT.  Go to http://www.greenwichypg.com/ to check out more information and purchase advance tickets.

Awaken Wellness Fair, Saturday, November 19 (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) this will take place at the Double Tree Hotel in Tarrytown, NY.  This is the biggest Body-Mind-Spirit-Green Fair and in their 10th anniversary.  Go to http://www.awakenfair.com/ to check out for information about this fair and purchase advance tickets.

Yams!!!

Hello everyone!!! Sorry I have been neglecting my blogging recently, oh so many things to get accomplished each day, week, month.  But here I am and I am bringing you information about the sweet yam that is so similar to the potato.

The yam my friends is an excellent power food.  Yams are delicious and possess a sustaining form of slow-releasing carbohydrate. What does this mean to you and me?  Well, means that it will provide you with a more sustained form of energy for physical activities.  This makes them an ideal carbohydrate for individuals who are diabetic (lower on the glycemic index) and those trying to be healthy and watch their weight.

Yams are high in potassium and low in sodium this helps to regulate our body fluids.  Their vitamin C and B6 content and dietary fiber all contribute to good health.

Nutrients:  Vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, C, E, biotin, folate, calcium, idodine, iron. magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, zinc; fiber; complex carbs.

I don't typically give recipes during these blogs but thought i'd share this yummy veggie stew recipe with you.

Yam Vegetable Stew

2 tbsp. olive oil.  1 onion chopped, 1 clove garlic crushed, 1/2 yam, peeled and chopped (more if you like) 2 carrots peeled and chopped, 1 zucchini, chopped, 2 celery stalks chopped, 1 tsp paprika, 1 1/4 cups veggie or chicken stock, 1 tbsp chopped parsley or basil or cilantro (each makes the stew taste different)

heat the oil in pan and fry onion, add garlic, veggies and paprika stir together for 2 minutes.  Add the broth, bring to a boil and simmer, cover for 15 minutes (or until veggies are cooked) add the herbs.  Go enjoy this as your main dish or as a side with a lean protein.

Bon Appetit!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Take a walk!

The exercise of the week is simply "walking".  Everyone can do it as long as you have two capable legs and feet.  It is free to do, you can walk indoors or outdoors (I prefer outdoors) and it's a great time to meditate, socialize with a friend or listen to your favorite tunes.  Walking is so good for both your body and your mind.  During an exercise walk you want to keep a decent quick pace and swing your arms to get your heart rate up and the fat burning. To kick it up a notch you can jog or run for a minute every 8-10 minutes of walking this will trick your mucsles and burn extra calories.  Please DO NOT carry weights while walking as you can throw off your balance and hurt your back muscles!

There is no excuse....get out there and go for a walk you will feel great afterward trust me!

If anyone would like to walk with me sometime and get a real workout in just send me a quick email at hlisa9@gmail.com

Sweeeet Potato!

Such a lovely orange color and sweet, creamy taste the sweet potato has abundant valuable nutrients. My sweet potatoes are baking right now as I am typing up this post.

Sweet potatoes are quite versatile, from soups, casseroles and salads to baby food and desserts, sweet potatoes add taste, color and many valuable nutrients to any meal.

Orange in color, sweet potatoes are probably best known for their rich concentration of beta-carotene, which gets converted into vitamin A inside our bodies.  This nutrient plays an important role in vision, bone growth, reproduction, and keeping the lining of the digestive and respiratory tracts healthy.  Sweet potatoes are also low in fat and loaded with potassium, which helps to maintain fluid balance in cells.  Despite the name "sweet" this vegetable contains blood-sugar regulating properties and is considered to be a useful food for diabetics.

Nutrients:  Vitamins B1, B3, B5, C, E, beta-carotene, biotin, folate, calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc; fiber; protein; complex carbs.

Mash them, roast them, bake them, grill them...no matter what way you cook them they will offer you the nutrients your body needs and a great side dish to your meal!!