Healthy Eating Archives - Page 4 of 4

Mashed Cauliflower Recipe: The Healthier (and Better Tasting!) Mashed Potatoes

I used to be the world’s biggest mashed potatoes fan.

There was just something about the creamy deliciousness of the ultimate American side dish that was so comforting… so satisfying… so good.

But that was until a couple of weeks ago, when I finally tried to make mashed cauliflower for the first time.

I’ve tried to make mashed cauliflower before from Paleo-approved recipes and it turned out a little blah, so this time I tried to tweak the recipe to fit my taste buds.

The result was magnificent.

Not only did the dish live up to all my comfort food taste and texture expectations, it didn’t leave me feeling heavy afterwards like mashed potatoes always would… and it was way healthier.

So try this mashed cauliflower recipe at home… you won’t regret it!

How to Conquer (Or At Least Tame!) Your Sweet Tooth

Let’s face it: most people have at least something of a sweet tooth. I know I do.

And to be completely honest, I don’t fully trust anyone who never craves sweets at all.

Sugar, in all its various forms, is a fairly natural human craving. It comforts us. It helps us bond with others. And yes, it even satisfies us emotionally— since we tend to crave sugar when we’re feeling sad, lonely, or even bored.

And while indulging your sweet tooth every once in a while it completely acceptable, too much of a good thing can completely derail your fitness and weight loss goals, even if you work out on a near daily basis.

So while I’m not one to say you shouldn’t have any sugar at all (I’d be a hypocrite if I did!), I certainly can relate to the need to lessen your constant desire for sweet things and start living by the 80/20 rule.

Here’s how to tame your sweet tooth for good:

The Amazing Wonder of Coconut Butter (And How to Actually Use It)

If you’re anywhere near the health food or fitness circles, you’ve no doubt heard of coconut oil by now.

But have you ever heard of coconut butter?

Until about a month and a half ago, I hadn’t. And oh my gosh is it good.

It tastes like the most delicious, decadent, oh-so-bad-for-you treat.

Except, it’s not. It’s actually good for you. In fact, coconut butter packs a crapload of benefits:

It’s rich in lauric acid, which boosts immunity and destroys harmful bacteria, viruses, and funguses.
It actually boosts your metabolism, which aids in weight loss and increases energy levels.
Read more

11 Nutrition Rules I Swear By To Make Healthy Eating Easy

Let’s face it. It’s not always easy to eat healthy 100% of the time—especially if you’re not used to eating that way.

But along with consistent exercise, healthy eating is what’s really going to propel you to the fitness level you want. Plus, it will make you feel better, give you more energy, and help you achieve the body of your dreams.

But it doesn’t have to be difficult. Healthy eating can actually be incredibly easy and enjoyable—if you know how to structure your meals and your days around it.

Along my fitness journey, I’ve discovered there are eleven healthy eating rules I follow that when combined with the HIIT workouts, mean I never, ever have to worry about my weight.

And that’s pretty awesome, if you ask me.

How to Eat Healthy—And Like it

Have you ever gone on a diet, only to quickly become so hungry and miserable, you give it up almost immediately?

If you’re like most people, your answer is most definitely yes. Because there’s no doubt about it: the vast majority of people think that in order to eat healthy, they have to be miserable.

They just assume they have to give up all the foods they love and eat nothing but kale and boiled chicken for the rest of their lives… and never feel full again.

Heck, before I knew any better, I thought the exact same thing.

During one particular diet I tried out in high school, I immediately became cranky and lethargic, my brain started to feel fuzzy, and I felt like crap. After the second day, no one wanted to be near me and I just wanted to sleep to pass the time away.

Luckily, on the third day, I snapped out of it and realized that dieting (or in my case, not eating anything but carrots and yogurt), wasn’t doing me any good, and soon after decided to learn about what it really means to eat healthy on a day-to-day basis.

Because here’s the truth: diets just don’t work.

So how can you eat healthy—without dieting—and like it?

Five Steps to Reaching Your Happy Weight Once and For All

If you could get to a place where you never had to worry about your weight again, would you?

If you’re like 99% of the people out there, your answer is most definitely yes.

(I don’t know what goes on in the other 1% of people’s minds, but let’s just assume they exist…)

Because let’s face it: trying to be healthy and fit sucks.

Constantly thinking about how you should be exercising, denying yourself your favorite foods, counting calories… it’s no fun. This type of thinking starts to take over your life, interfers with your social engagements, and totally stresses you out.

And on top of that, it’s probably not even working.

Find your happy weight

Everyone, including you, has an ideal weight. This is the weight where you don’t have to be overly concerned about what you eat, where you have plenty of energy to do all your favorite activities, and where you feel pretty damn good in a bathing suit.

This is called your “happy weight” (yes, this is an informal term). Basically, it means that you have the right level of body fat and muscle for your body.

When you reach this weight, you’ll be healthy and strong—but not overly skinny.

Read more

Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Like most kids, I grew up thinking that brussels sprouts were about the worst food on the planet.

Not that I’d ever tried them—I’d just heard horror stories of the mushy, bland vegetable and avoided them like the plague.

Then, a few years ago I realized that when cooked right, brussels sprouts are fricken amazing. And an added bonus, they’re easy, quick to make and full of vitamins and minerals.

These days, I’m pretty much obsessed with this roasted brussels sprouts recipe and make it anytime I get the chance.

Try it for yourself and you’ll see why… and be sure and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

3 cups brussels sprouts, ends cut off and cut in half
1-2 T olive oil
1 T balsamic vinegar (the longer it’s aged, the better)
Sea salt
Fresh cracked pepper
Rosemary to taste

Is Your Food Obsession Ruining Your Life?

Some people spend every minute of their lives obsessing over food.

Devout Paleo diet followers, for instance, nearly cry if a speck of grain touches their lips. They have a hard time eating out with friends, and can’t enjoy a rich dessert at a party. And this is the same for any extreme dieter, not just Paleo lovers.

If that’s the kind of life you want to live, go for it.

I, on the other hand, am a big believer in enjoying life.

I want to experience everything life has to offer, and yes, that means a glass or two of wine several times a week, some bread here and there, even (gasp!) a melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookie once in a while.

No, I don’t eat these things every day, but I do eat them more often than you might think.

Why? I want to be happy. I want to experience life with the people around me. I don’t want to obsess about every morsel of food I eat—I want to enjoy my food.

I live by the 80/20 rule — 80% of what goes into my body has to be good food (fruits, veggies, protein, healthy fats, etc.)—and 20% can be the fun stuff (wine, treats, carbs).

Healthy On-the-Go Snacks You Can Take With You Anywhere

Are you food obsessed?

Don’t feel bad answering yes (most people are, to some degree).

I am, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I think about food constantly. Just ask my husband — I’ll be finishing breakfast, lunch, or a mid-afternoon snack when I’ll suddenly ask him, “so, what should we have for dinner?”

I can attribute this food obsession to three things:

1. Low blood sugar.

Being hypoglycemic means I need food often.

In fact, if I don’t eat every two to four hours, I get dizzy, light headed, and CRANKY. Anyone who knows me knows that if I say I’m hungry, I need food right now.

2. Being vegetarian.

Especially as a kid, there weren’t many options available to vegetarians outside of making your own meals.

At restaurants, all I’d often be able to eat was salad and bread. At friends’ houses, the parents would often try to shove meat down my throat, disbelieving that a child could make her own decision about what she puts into her body.

As a result, I developed a slight (or maybe not so slight) anxiety about getting enough substantial food.