Hydration is so important for your body. The body is made up of 60% water and helps with so many of your bodily functions such as absorption, tears, sweat, circulation. Water helps keep your skin and organs hydrated and nutrients flowing to and from them. I have read on several articles that drinking two glasses of water to get your day started helps control your cravings and calorie intake as well.
With my busy schedule, juggling two full time jobs, chores around the house, maintaining a consistent work out routine and ensuring that I take time for myself and loved ones, I have found that sometimes I forget to grab a drink of water. My body totally feels it- my skin feels tight, my mouth is dry and my lips crack, I feel lethargic, and want to snack all the time. For the past year, I fully cut out soda, Mios, and juices to also reduce the amount of sugar in my diet so my go to for hydration is water which is not always an exciting drink and does not come in a variety of flavors. My mother actually helped with making water a more desirable drink for me.
Flavored water can be accomplished in several different ways and can help with those "cravings" you may sometimes get for a sweet drink or alternate taste. My mom started with a cucumber, lemon and mint water- still water and there are additional nutrients from the citrus and vegetables. After that I looked up several other recipes on Pinterest and asked my friends what were some of their favorite flavors. My favorite is still my mom's recipe thought I have tried several with different berries, different herbs (basil is really tasty) and ginger.
Tip for the Day: Here's a few recipes to get you started that I like:
1 whole lemon, washed and sliced into rings
1 whole cucumber, washed and sliced into rings
1/4 cup rough chop of mint
Fill a pitcher with all ingredients with a cup of ice. Give it a quick stir to release the oils in the mint and fill the rest of the pitcher with water. Keep refrigerated. The water, if you can keep from drinking it all at once, will keep for 4-5 days.
1/2 box of raspberries
1 whole lime, washed and sliced into rings
Same as a above for instructions
Enjoy!
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Whole 30 Day 2 Supportive Sources
Know your stuff!
The most irritating thing to me, are all the people who so quickly discredit paleo and primal lifestyles because of one article they have read or because they are bread lovers and do not agree with this particular lifestyle. These are also the most uneducated about paleo and do not look into the benefits or the causes of the negatives. They do not look at the science or what people are actually eating- it clearly must just be meat and vegetables, how do you live like that?! I admit I was skeptical at first and compared paleo to the Atkins diets and in some aspects they are similar. The important thing to remember is that everyone is different and different nutritional lifestyles work for all different body types. So it really benefits you to do your research and find out what works best for you!
One of the sources that was recommended to me that I have written about before, is the information dense It Starts With Food. This book breaks down the science of how food interacts with the body. This couple makes the science totally easy to understand and even has specific examples for particular aliments. They have even come out with an updated edition of their book that expands and accepts moderation of potato starch and salt for certain instances- continuing research! It Starts With Food also comes complete with recipes for your Whole30.
If you have joined in the paleo lifestyle, you already know it is clearly more than just meat and vegetables that you are eating. I have used so many different proteins that I was unsure of how to cook before, liver, heart, lamb part, and developed an appreciation for a wide range of flavors. As a former culinary student and active member in the hospitality industry, I found myself regressing to the same flavors with no creativity because I figured there was only one way something could be made. I have been able to make several varieties of curries (from scratch!), I am able to differentiate certain spices that before just seemed to blend together into routine and my appreciation for food in general is much greater- I'm like Remey from Ratatouille. What really help get me started was the pantry lists from the Whole30 site. I did a lot of research on all the different spices, 'flours', fats and nuts to find out how they replaced, enhanced or interacted with food. To help with further variety I found Nom Nom Paleo who even has a section dedicated to Whole30.
All of these sources do talk about what works for them and how paleo has affected their lives. And these people are accountable and admit when something does not work. Like I said before you have to find what works for you- Hess and I eat the same meals but different foods affect me differently than they affect him.
Tip for the Day: Like in any situation, do your research. Have your facts to support your claims. I did the research and proved myself wrong :)
The most irritating thing to me, are all the people who so quickly discredit paleo and primal lifestyles because of one article they have read or because they are bread lovers and do not agree with this particular lifestyle. These are also the most uneducated about paleo and do not look into the benefits or the causes of the negatives. They do not look at the science or what people are actually eating- it clearly must just be meat and vegetables, how do you live like that?! I admit I was skeptical at first and compared paleo to the Atkins diets and in some aspects they are similar. The important thing to remember is that everyone is different and different nutritional lifestyles work for all different body types. So it really benefits you to do your research and find out what works best for you!
One of the sources that was recommended to me that I have written about before, is the information dense It Starts With Food. This book breaks down the science of how food interacts with the body. This couple makes the science totally easy to understand and even has specific examples for particular aliments. They have even come out with an updated edition of their book that expands and accepts moderation of potato starch and salt for certain instances- continuing research! It Starts With Food also comes complete with recipes for your Whole30.
If you have joined in the paleo lifestyle, you already know it is clearly more than just meat and vegetables that you are eating. I have used so many different proteins that I was unsure of how to cook before, liver, heart, lamb part, and developed an appreciation for a wide range of flavors. As a former culinary student and active member in the hospitality industry, I found myself regressing to the same flavors with no creativity because I figured there was only one way something could be made. I have been able to make several varieties of curries (from scratch!), I am able to differentiate certain spices that before just seemed to blend together into routine and my appreciation for food in general is much greater- I'm like Remey from Ratatouille. What really help get me started was the pantry lists from the Whole30 site. I did a lot of research on all the different spices, 'flours', fats and nuts to find out how they replaced, enhanced or interacted with food. To help with further variety I found Nom Nom Paleo who even has a section dedicated to Whole30.
All of these sources do talk about what works for them and how paleo has affected their lives. And these people are accountable and admit when something does not work. Like I said before you have to find what works for you- Hess and I eat the same meals but different foods affect me differently than they affect him.
Tip for the Day: Like in any situation, do your research. Have your facts to support your claims. I did the research and proved myself wrong :)
Monday, December 29, 2014
Post Holiday: Whole 30 Day 1 again...
What a whirlwind of a year! I have fallen off my routine and have enlisted my amazing Beach Body Coach Kelsey Ann, my supportive family and my "bustin' my chops" boyfriend to keep me in line. This means ensuring I post on ridiculousday EVERY DAY (Dad I'm counting on you!), I complete my PiYo and get that extra push when my P90X3 arrives (so excited!) and that my daily routine stays on track and that our grocery trips stay true to my goals.
Hess is focusing back to his primal paleo while keeping me on my Whole 30 goal. The holidays were not kind to us but we're not complaining! A wedding and a family union called for plenty of delicious food: prime rib, au gratin gruyere potatoes, an appetizer party with my mom's famous spring rolls and our Argentinean visitors made another 300 empanadas...you get the idea. With all of the delicious food, I definitely did not want any specials made while we were visiting so I made sure to moderate and ate a lot of foods that I probably shouldn't have eaten!
Exercise was always easy to incorporate especially when I had a holiday charity run to complete. However, after a shoulder injury and a mysterious broken pinky my exercise routine was put on hold. And I will admit, I have gained a lot of weight back and am back to several of my initial measurements.
So today is the day! I am starting Whole 30 again, we are moments away from our initial grocery shopping trip since the fridge is empty from our 2 week long vacation, lists in hand and meal ideas in abundance. My goals: to work out at least once a day and to complete this Whole 30 by January 29, 2015. After completion I will post another set of goals to keep me on track!
You can keep me on track too! If I don't post or if you would like to see a recipe comment below!
Tip for the Day: You know I'm a big fan of planning (oh that Type A personality) which also means I'm a huge fan of lists and things I can cross off. The above lists you can find on the Whole30.com site and are really helpful for your paleo shopping and guides.
Hess is focusing back to his primal paleo while keeping me on my Whole 30 goal. The holidays were not kind to us but we're not complaining! A wedding and a family union called for plenty of delicious food: prime rib, au gratin gruyere potatoes, an appetizer party with my mom's famous spring rolls and our Argentinean visitors made another 300 empanadas...you get the idea. With all of the delicious food, I definitely did not want any specials made while we were visiting so I made sure to moderate and ate a lot of foods that I probably shouldn't have eaten!
Exercise was always easy to incorporate especially when I had a holiday charity run to complete. However, after a shoulder injury and a mysterious broken pinky my exercise routine was put on hold. And I will admit, I have gained a lot of weight back and am back to several of my initial measurements.
So today is the day! I am starting Whole 30 again, we are moments away from our initial grocery shopping trip since the fridge is empty from our 2 week long vacation, lists in hand and meal ideas in abundance. My goals: to work out at least once a day and to complete this Whole 30 by January 29, 2015. After completion I will post another set of goals to keep me on track!
You can keep me on track too! If I don't post or if you would like to see a recipe comment below!
Tip for the Day: You know I'm a big fan of planning (oh that Type A personality) which also means I'm a huge fan of lists and things I can cross off. The above lists you can find on the Whole30.com site and are really helpful for your paleo shopping and guides.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Do you know the Muffin Man?!
Success! The first baked good that does not suck all the moisture out of your face. I can't remember how I stumbled across this blog with tons of GF and paleo recipes but this gal knows what she's doing. What I Gather's Lemon Blueberry Lavender Muffins are full of protein and most of the ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
I never used to eat too many baked good before moving on to paleo and the few times that I did they were usually bran muffins from a local bakery or the once a year Voodoo. The doughnut aside, even the bran muffins were full of sugar and were usually dry until I slathered it in butter and still not a favorite breakfast food or snack.
The LBL muffins- the most moist, filling muffins I've ever had and the majority of them were gone as I packed up a tin to share with co-workers. The consensus: they were awesome and this coming from all my "don't believe in gluten free" and "you can't eat anything on paleo" co-workers. I cut back on the dried lavender and they were still pretty pungent. When I make them again, I plan on cutting back a little more on the lavender, adding a little more lemon zest and making them into mini muffins. These guys are a perfect snack and make your house smell like a garden as they bake.
Tip of the Day: There are always different ways to make something your own. I believe in going by the recipe at least once to get a handle on it and then adding your own spin! Lemon raspberry muffins are next. Not everything has to go by the book all the time- it's more of a guideline :)
I never used to eat too many baked good before moving on to paleo and the few times that I did they were usually bran muffins from a local bakery or the once a year Voodoo. The doughnut aside, even the bran muffins were full of sugar and were usually dry until I slathered it in butter and still not a favorite breakfast food or snack.
The LBL muffins- the most moist, filling muffins I've ever had and the majority of them were gone as I packed up a tin to share with co-workers. The consensus: they were awesome and this coming from all my "don't believe in gluten free" and "you can't eat anything on paleo" co-workers. I cut back on the dried lavender and they were still pretty pungent. When I make them again, I plan on cutting back a little more on the lavender, adding a little more lemon zest and making them into mini muffins. These guys are a perfect snack and make your house smell like a garden as they bake.
Tip of the Day: There are always different ways to make something your own. I believe in going by the recipe at least once to get a handle on it and then adding your own spin! Lemon raspberry muffins are next. Not everything has to go by the book all the time- it's more of a guideline :)
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Trying new recipes
I have been house bound with a small case of bronchitis that turned into pneumonia. In my impromptu house vacation I have taken up quite a few hobbies- my love for Pinterest has only grown and I have completed an endless amount of crafts including some crayon art, wedding gifts, doodles and I've tried my hand at some more baking.
Baked goods aren't really something that I've missed moving to paleo; however, they are the one thing that seem to be the most difficult to get even close to right. Every cookie, scone and cake that I had made in the past seemed to just suck all the moisture out of my mouth. Store bought paleo cookies are also not completely paleo and some of them do not taste very good. I've tried a ton of recipes and each time they do get better and better!
A not so successful recipe were these Paleo Lemon Blueberry Scones. I modified them to have a little bit of lavender I bought at the Spice Exchange downtown and the blueberries were from the secret farm Sweeny and I went picking. I used an almond flour blend, which I think was the mistake- they came out crumbly and were only good if eaten with an extra handful of blueberries and a giant cup of tea. My next challenge are muffins. Scones may have been a little ambitious. In the meantime, I have been trying some new breakfast items to master- pancakes, which used to be my least favorite.
Coconut pancakes, banana pancakes have been a pretty consistent staple for weekend breakfasts so I was in need of some variety. Today I tried a new recipe that I just made up for Pumpkin Almond Butter Pancakes. Definitely not mastered but it was a delicious start to something great. They were tough if I didn't eat them right away which means that I just need to adjust a little bit- if you can find a better way let me know in the comments below!
Baked goods aren't really something that I've missed moving to paleo; however, they are the one thing that seem to be the most difficult to get even close to right. Every cookie, scone and cake that I had made in the past seemed to just suck all the moisture out of my mouth. Store bought paleo cookies are also not completely paleo and some of them do not taste very good. I've tried a ton of recipes and each time they do get better and better!
A not so successful recipe were these Paleo Lemon Blueberry Scones. I modified them to have a little bit of lavender I bought at the Spice Exchange downtown and the blueberries were from the secret farm Sweeny and I went picking. I used an almond flour blend, which I think was the mistake- they came out crumbly and were only good if eaten with an extra handful of blueberries and a giant cup of tea. My next challenge are muffins. Scones may have been a little ambitious. In the meantime, I have been trying some new breakfast items to master- pancakes, which used to be my least favorite.
Coconut pancakes, banana pancakes have been a pretty consistent staple for weekend breakfasts so I was in need of some variety. Today I tried a new recipe that I just made up for Pumpkin Almond Butter Pancakes. Definitely not mastered but it was a delicious start to something great. They were tough if I didn't eat them right away which means that I just need to adjust a little bit- if you can find a better way let me know in the comments below!
Pumpkin Almond Butter Pancakes
1 egg
2 scoops homemade Almond Butter
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin)
1/2 cup of pumpkin pie mix (brown sugar, almond flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt and black pepper)- I have a mix from my mom but after research pumpkin mix is easy to make and there are tons of different ones online through Food Network, Pinterest, etc
2 tablespoons of ghee, coconut oil or grass fed butter
Mix all the ingredients together until you get the pancake batter consistency. Heat your pan with some coconut oil or olive oil and fry them up just like normal! Stack them together and top with some real maple syrup and some more butter. Maybe some cream mixed in will help keep them moist and some baking soda may help them fluff up a little bit. They were still really tasty.
Tip of the Day: Everything tastes good with butter. But everything in moderation so that's why I always put alternatives. For the most part they usually all work the same and are equally as tasty!
Monday, July 7, 2014
Lost track of the days on the bright side...
...a hide-a-way pick your own berry farm has been found! Sweeny and I took a drive around the island and found tons of little farms. It seems that most people will hit up the first two larger farms right when you enter the island; however, the drive around it actually quite nice.
Blue Bee Farm is a small family owned farm that has rows and rows of blueberry bushes, a small garden where they sell lettuce, they make their own raspberry jam, which is quite good and they even have bee hives for honey! BBF is unfortunately not certified organic but they do not use any pesticides or sprays on their plants. In comparison to the other larger farmers, the rows are more spaced out so you don't have to fight your way to the berries.
They were actually closed the day that Sweeny and I went, but the owner still allowed us to pick and gave us a solid background of their farm. Complete with a pair of large German Shepherds and a gaggle of kids snacking while they run through the rows of berries. We were able to pick a flat of blueberries and I bought some jam with promises of returning for beets and carrots this week. So if you're in the mood for some good company and yummy berries, this would be the place to find! I have two types of berries, Rekas and Gold something or others ready to be snacked on and baked into noms.
Tip of the Day: Sometimes the effort is worth it for something great. I don't like blueberries- I'd eat the Rekas all day long from this place.
Blue Bee Farm is a small family owned farm that has rows and rows of blueberry bushes, a small garden where they sell lettuce, they make their own raspberry jam, which is quite good and they even have bee hives for honey! BBF is unfortunately not certified organic but they do not use any pesticides or sprays on their plants. In comparison to the other larger farmers, the rows are more spaced out so you don't have to fight your way to the berries.
They were actually closed the day that Sweeny and I went, but the owner still allowed us to pick and gave us a solid background of their farm. Complete with a pair of large German Shepherds and a gaggle of kids snacking while they run through the rows of berries. We were able to pick a flat of blueberries and I bought some jam with promises of returning for beets and carrots this week. So if you're in the mood for some good company and yummy berries, this would be the place to find! I have two types of berries, Rekas and Gold something or others ready to be snacked on and baked into noms.
Tip of the Day: Sometimes the effort is worth it for something great. I don't like blueberries- I'd eat the Rekas all day long from this place.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Whole30 Day 6 and 7 Bulletproof Coffee
Fell behind. Actual Day 15
Caffeine is a must start to everyone's day. I am a tea drinker and have found some great local tea shops here in Ptown and I get the same kick. E loves his coffee and some mornings he doesn't have time to eat breakfast, which we have all established is the most important meal of the day!
I try not to skip breakfast since it is usually the only solid meal I get to enjoy cooking for myself. One "meal replacement"that people have talked about is bulletproof coffee. It's like a coffee smoothie to tide you to your next meal. The added good fats that get blended in the coffee provide that full feeling and your caffeine fix. I have yet to try it but it is paleo, not Whole30, approved with the right ingredients.
For 2 cups of coffee, 2 tablespoons grass fed butter (I use Kerrygold butter and cheeses), 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Warm a blender with warm water and put in all the ingredients, blend together and enjoy! There is also a higher quality coffee brand that you can buy that doesn't necessarily give you the side effects like jittery or the anxious feeling- always something more to look into before purchasing!
Tip of the Day: Always do your research and look into all the facts. Everything has its pros and cons.
Caffeine is a must start to everyone's day. I am a tea drinker and have found some great local tea shops here in Ptown and I get the same kick. E loves his coffee and some mornings he doesn't have time to eat breakfast, which we have all established is the most important meal of the day!
I try not to skip breakfast since it is usually the only solid meal I get to enjoy cooking for myself. One "meal replacement"that people have talked about is bulletproof coffee. It's like a coffee smoothie to tide you to your next meal. The added good fats that get blended in the coffee provide that full feeling and your caffeine fix. I have yet to try it but it is paleo, not Whole30, approved with the right ingredients.
For 2 cups of coffee, 2 tablespoons grass fed butter (I use Kerrygold butter and cheeses), 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Warm a blender with warm water and put in all the ingredients, blend together and enjoy! There is also a higher quality coffee brand that you can buy that doesn't necessarily give you the side effects like jittery or the anxious feeling- always something more to look into before purchasing!
Tip of the Day: Always do your research and look into all the facts. Everything has its pros and cons.
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