Air snacks. No it is not breathing in helium or other stupid things. An 'air snack' is something I made up, but people have been doing it for years! Yet, it's one of the healthy snacks you can have.
Take a 5 to 10 minute break and go outside. Take a few deep breaths of fresh air and just be. It's so incredibly delightful that many people miss out on this little time of bliss. In this day and age people are so into being busy it's like a contest of who is the busiest. It's so ridiculous, yet sometimes I find myself in that trap. So, what do I do to bring myself back to planet earth? I have an 'air snack' or two or three....heck, I can have an unlimited amount!
Do not go out and have a smoke or go somewhere where you smell cig. smoke...that is not an 'air snack'. If you can go somewhere where you don't have to talk to anyone. Go alone to get the full experience.
So yes, I say that an 'air snack' is a smart snack.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Write for your waist's sake
Write for your waist's sake? What does that mean? It means starting your own food journal. Yup. Facing the truth but on paper! If you can't remember by memory what you ate for three days in a row, then get your pencil out and start pushing.
Food journaling is such an effective tool when trying to manage your health and weight goals. You can see what you have been consuming, how much, and how often. It's a reality check. I, personally, hated it the first week, but after that week I found it to be a challenge and a game...kind of like our 'Bingo Bites' game for kids. I journal my workouts too: for example, I will write down: walk 50 minutes.
Write down everything you put in your mouth, even liquids. Remember this is not calorie counting. The purpose of the food journal is for you to be aware of what you are doing to your precious body. It's important that you either do it on a calendar where you can see the whole week or use an actual journal that has the date in it. I'm a visual person, I like to see the big picture.
Here is an example for one day:
Monday
breakfast-1 whole grain toast with Peanut Butter and drizzled honey, 2 cups coffee, 1 glass water
snack - 1 glass water, 1 apple
lunch - mixed greens salad with tuna fish, dried cranberries, cucumber, cranberry salad dressing, 1 granola bar, 10 MM's, 1 glass water
snack - 6 cheese and crackers, 1 glass 100% juice, 1 glass water
dinner - 1 grilled chicken breast, 1 baked yam with butter, grilled asparagus, 1 whole grain toast with olive oil and salt, 1 glass water
snack - 1 helping of apple crisp with lite ice-cream, 2 glass water
Ran 30 min. Yoga 15 min.
Just try it for three days. No less than 3 days.
In the Snacking Made Smart page at the bottom there is a 'chart' that can help you get started. This is great for kids to do too. Especially in this day and age. Try the 'Bingo Bites' game!
Food journaling is such an effective tool when trying to manage your health and weight goals. You can see what you have been consuming, how much, and how often. It's a reality check. I, personally, hated it the first week, but after that week I found it to be a challenge and a game...kind of like our 'Bingo Bites' game for kids. I journal my workouts too: for example, I will write down: walk 50 minutes.
Write down everything you put in your mouth, even liquids. Remember this is not calorie counting. The purpose of the food journal is for you to be aware of what you are doing to your precious body. It's important that you either do it on a calendar where you can see the whole week or use an actual journal that has the date in it. I'm a visual person, I like to see the big picture.
Here is an example for one day:
Monday
breakfast-1 whole grain toast with Peanut Butter and drizzled honey, 2 cups coffee, 1 glass water
snack - 1 glass water, 1 apple
lunch - mixed greens salad with tuna fish, dried cranberries, cucumber, cranberry salad dressing, 1 granola bar, 10 MM's, 1 glass water
snack - 6 cheese and crackers, 1 glass 100% juice, 1 glass water
dinner - 1 grilled chicken breast, 1 baked yam with butter, grilled asparagus, 1 whole grain toast with olive oil and salt, 1 glass water
snack - 1 helping of apple crisp with lite ice-cream, 2 glass water
Ran 30 min. Yoga 15 min.
Just try it for three days. No less than 3 days.
In the Snacking Made Smart page at the bottom there is a 'chart' that can help you get started. This is great for kids to do too. Especially in this day and age. Try the 'Bingo Bites' game!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The "O" word.
Obesity. We don't like talking about it, we don't want to know the truth, and we don't want to hear it from others. It's nothing new....food is comforting, and junk food is cheap. Too much junk food can also be deadly. Diabetes in young children is growing like wild fire! Very scary.
Just this week, the Washington Post came out with an article about childhood obesity in the U.S. For some reason I thought we were getting better about this, but apparently not! The article is a good one and truthful one. Saying that it's hard to beat obesity "with the effects of poverty, race, and family history". Not to mention high crime areas where kids can't safely go outside to play.
It is possible to beat obesity without using poverty, race, and family history as an excuse. There is really no excuse to be obese unless you have a medical condition. People can change no matter who they are or where they have come from. I have seen it many many times and have so much respect for those people who did something about their condition. It takes bravery, commitment, faith, and determination.
In fact, I have experienced that once you stop eating all that junk food for a few days, you don't crave it anymore. It's weird how it works, but it does work. Maybe the body is getting rid of all the toxins and says to the brain, "stop eating that junk, it's hurting me!" The hardest part about doing this is getting over that hump, the 2nd or 3rd day. After that, it's easy. Try it, I dare you!
As for our cute little dependent children. We need to feed them healthy snacks and meals; and make sure they are drinking more water and less soda and sugary juices. Eat by example. The whole house will be happier. And Exercise, exercise, exercise! It's a great way for kids to manage their stress and release their energy. It feeds their soul joy and imagination. Who doesn't like to play outside? Play with them!
I can't express enough how delicious, healthy, and low-fat the fruit snacks we sell in our store are. My 22 month old LOVES the Kettle Valley Real Fruit Snacks. He devours it in two minutes or less. It's a perfect healthy snack that kids love.
Just this week, the Washington Post came out with an article about childhood obesity in the U.S. For some reason I thought we were getting better about this, but apparently not! The article is a good one and truthful one. Saying that it's hard to beat obesity "with the effects of poverty, race, and family history". Not to mention high crime areas where kids can't safely go outside to play.
It is possible to beat obesity without using poverty, race, and family history as an excuse. There is really no excuse to be obese unless you have a medical condition. People can change no matter who they are or where they have come from. I have seen it many many times and have so much respect for those people who did something about their condition. It takes bravery, commitment, faith, and determination.
In fact, I have experienced that once you stop eating all that junk food for a few days, you don't crave it anymore. It's weird how it works, but it does work. Maybe the body is getting rid of all the toxins and says to the brain, "stop eating that junk, it's hurting me!" The hardest part about doing this is getting over that hump, the 2nd or 3rd day. After that, it's easy. Try it, I dare you!
As for our cute little dependent children. We need to feed them healthy snacks and meals; and make sure they are drinking more water and less soda and sugary juices. Eat by example. The whole house will be happier. And Exercise, exercise, exercise! It's a great way for kids to manage their stress and release their energy. It feeds their soul joy and imagination. Who doesn't like to play outside? Play with them!
I can't express enough how delicious, healthy, and low-fat the fruit snacks we sell in our store are. My 22 month old LOVES the Kettle Valley Real Fruit Snacks. He devours it in two minutes or less. It's a perfect healthy snack that kids love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
