Sensational Stuffing

Holiday eating really does get a bad wrap. The actual staples of traditional dinners aren't bad - it's just when all the cream and sauces are added that things go down hill. Combine that with the odd sensation that you need to eat it all quickly or it is sure to disappear and you've got a bloated stomach and an afternoon coma.

Instead of covering up the flavor with heavy sauces, start by bringing out the natural flavor of the dishes . I personally feel that a good turkey brine is the best way to lock in the moisture and bring out the flavor.

Next cut the butter and sauces in half and add in some flavorful fruits and herbs. Here is another family recipe that is always a big hit:

Apple Rosemary Stuffing

Ingredients:

• 2 bags of stuffing mix w/herbs
• 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup diced yellow onion (1 medium)
• 3/4 cup diced celery (2 medium stalks)
• 1 large Granny Smith Apple (unpeeled, cored, and diced)
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

In a large saute pan, melt the butter and add the onion, celery, apples, parsley, and rosemary. Saute for 10 minutes until the mixture is soft. Combine the stuffing mix, cooked vegetables, and chicken stock in a oven safe pan. Cook for 45 minutes or until golden brown.


For more healthy recipes visit Eating Well's Healthy Thanksgiving Collection.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Change Your Mind - Change Your Body

The biggest obstacle for any change tends to be our own negative thoughts. Actually, the thoughts aren't the main problem - it's that we start to believe them. So what if we switched those thoughts into something more positive? Would we start to believe those too?

The article below answers just that. It relates specifically to fitness but I truly believe that this concept can be applied to any part of your life.

Change your mind, and you just might change your body, too. Psychologists say our “self talk” or “internal dialogue” can make or break a fitness routine.

The problem is that many people simply aren’t aware of how destructive their thoughts are, says Gareth Dutton, a psychologist at Florida State University in Tallahassee who specializes in helping people to exercise and lose weight.

“The thing that precedes your behavior is a thought, and we sometimes aren’t good at getting in touch with our thoughts,” he says. “We’re on autopilot.”

The first step in charting the right course to fitness is to recognize how your thoughts are undermining your exercise plan, says Dutton. The second step is to challenge the negative thinking – and there’s certainly no shortage of that when it comes to exercise.

Playing mind games
The key, Dutton says, is to remember that “a thought is just a thought. It doesn’t mean it’s reality.” read more

Stressed Out? Eat Up!

You are so stressed out and busy that your sleep is either long and restless or solid but way too short. So you wake up and start pounding coffee to get you going. There's no time to eat so by the time you get around to it you are starving. That in combination with the elevated cortisol (stress hormone) causes you to crave foods high in sugar, fat, and salt. Poor sleep, caffeine side effects, and blood sugar imbalance from poor nutrition finds you tired, moody, and finding it hard to concentrate.

This is a cycle in which too many of us find ourselves. There are, however, several things that you can do to stack the cards in your favor and regain control.

1. Cut out the caffeine after 2pm. Ok, I know that i just lost half of you! I'm not saying get rid of it all together. Just switch to decaf in the afternoon. Caffeine stays in your system for 6 hours so even if you are one of the people with a caffeine tolerance it will negatively effect your sleep.
2. Increase your B-vitamins. B-vitamins support the entire nervous system as well as our stress response. They also aide in energy production so you will feel a natural increase in energy. Food sources include: liver, soy, broccoli, beans, lean meat, sprouted grains, salmon, nuts, and eggs.
3. Don't forget to eat, especially breakfast. I know I sound like your grandma but it really is the most important meal of the day. It will start your day off with good fuel and help you focus. Stock your pantry and office with easy options like oatmeal so you can make sure that you always have something on hand. While I'm at it, don't forget your jacket and would it kill you to pick up the phone every once in a while?
4. Make sure everything you eat contains protein. Protein supports brain function, which in turn impacts mood, behavior, and concentration. It will also give your sustained energy and decrease sugar cravings. No need to go Atkins with your protein (in fact, please don't!) but just include some with every meal. Food sources include: fish, meat, eggs, nuts & seeds, tofu, dairy, soy, beans & rice.
5. Add in some more Magnesium. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer. Not the kind that causes you to speak gibberish and pass out, but the kind that helps pull your tense shoulders from your ears and quiet your mind so you can sleep. It is also one of the minerals that American's are most deficient in. I recommend supplementing with a high quality Calcium/Magnesium Citrate before bed. It will also help with muscle soreness from all the exercise you are also doing to relieve stress!

Hydration Situation

Seeing as how it is Earth Day - and that happens to be where I live - I thought that I would provide a tip today that benefits both you and the world around you.

Drinking more water is one of the best and easiest things that we can all do to increase our health. And we as Americans have been doing a great job. So much so that carrying a water bottle has become a bit of a status symbol. Certain brands of bottled water will even make you rich & famous. Unfortunately it still won't land you Brad Pitt.

Really, the only down side is that they all come in these little plastic bottles that tend to add up. But what's the alternative? Drinking tap water?

I don't know if my fear of the San Diego tap water is well founded or an effective marketing ploy, but I do know that I won't be experimenting with it any time soon. Instead, I choose to filter my drinking water. My filter of choice is the Aquasana AQ-4000 but there are plenty to chose from. At $0.09/gallon it's considerably less than even the most economical bottled water. So you can not only expect to hear about this on Earth Day, but also on Save-a-Ton-of-$ Day, Look-@-How-Nice-My-Skin-Looks Day, and Why-Yes-I-Have-Lost-Weight Day.

Bottoms up!

It's Hip to be Square

A few weeks ago I came across the Flax Roll-Ups at Henry's. After a quick read of the nutrition label (yes, going to the grocery store with me is an all day adventure) I was impressed with the level of both fiber and protein. I wished it didn't have Soy Isolates but I we can't win them all. It was also square - like myself - so I thought I would give it a try.

The entire wrap is a bit much for me to handle but I cut it in half and it is the perfect size to support my standard lunch of turkey, hummus, and veggies. I love the flavor, and yes the shape makes it much easier to handle than it's curvy counterparts. I enjoy it so much that I have had it virtually every day for the past month. Stay tuned for next week's blog "If I See Another Wrap I'm Going To..."

Healthy Dining Finder

I wanted to share a great website that I came across today (the internet still amazes me). It is called Healthy Diet Finder and it gives you healthy suggestions for all of your favorite restaurants. You enter in the area of town that you want to eat and the amount that you want to spend. It then gives you a list of the local restaurants (even fast food) and items to select from the menu.

Now, their definition of healthy may not be yours so you still need to use common sense. I know, I'm sorry. However, it is an excellent place to start!

Motivation At It's Finest

A good friend shared this with me and it honestly gave me chills!



Thanks for passing it along Toby!

The Soy Situation

I probably get at least one question a day about soy. I can understand why. The soy debate is a virtual ping pong match of information that would make any seasoned politician's head spin.

Some feel that soy is the nectar of the gods and a diet rich in good quality soy will solve all that ails you. I mean, Asian cultures have been using soy for centuries and have the most amazing skin and virtually no menopause. It's gotta be the soy.

(ping)

Other's feel that the benefits of soy are actually manufactured by the soy bean industry. It is in fact so dangerous that men will grow breasts and become sterile almost upon contact. But wait, I heard that was a theory invented by the meat and dairy industries...

(pong)

So, what is the truth? As one can imagine it's somewhere in the middle. I'd like to share an article that I came across the other day that does an excellent job of exploring the pros and cons of soy.

Soy - What's the Big Deal?

If you have any interest in this issue I highly recommend you give the article a read. For those of you that want a VERY oversimplified summary here goes:

A moderate intake of soy in whole food form can absolutely be a part of a healthy diet. Examples of whole food soy are: tofu, edamame, tempeh, and miso. It is a safe bet to steer clear of isolated and high refined soy. Examples of this are soy isolates, soy concentrates, and textured vegetable protein. So, in short, soy is much like most foods out there - it should be enjoyed in moderation and as close to it's natural form as possible.