Healthy Eating

Everyone seems to be talking about doing a Keto Diet recently, but I'd never really looked into it that deeply. Plus, One of my resistances to going back on a diet like this was how people all too often abuse "Atkins" style diets. There's absolutely no debate in my mind that this style of diet works - I lost over 100 pounds following a very strict regimen... but then gained more back after quitting. The key to being able to succeed though is focusing on balance and creativity. So, with that in mind I walked around my local grocery store a few days ago and dreamed up two easy to make keto recipes. My conditions for success were: 1) it had to taste great 2) it had to have good colors that were visually interesting and 3) it had to be easy to make. Plus, ultimately it had to follow a fairly strict interpretation of the keto nutrition guidelines.

The office break room is hell for anyone looking to make smart choices. While things have gotten better over the years, this can still be a black hole of pastries and sugar-filled coffee drinks, pop, and other treats that are best avoided. However, with a bit of willpower, you can stay strong, happy, and healthy despite how tempting it might be to cheat.

For most of you, winter is in full swing right now and that means it's time to warm up with a steaming bowl of hearty soup. I've also found that for some reason there seems to be a lot of spiral cut hams on sale right now. Perhaps it's just that "after the holidays" inventory close out, but who am I to complain. My only problem was that I end up leaving an awful lot of meat on the bone after eating the slices. So, instead of throwing them out - let's make soup!

Vacations and even traveling for business may seem like the perfect excuse for overindulging in your favorite snacks. After all, it's easy to order desert or that steak instead of a salad when you've got extra per diem left! However, making the right food choices and maintaining a nutritious diet will boost your energy throughout your trip and generally make you feel better as well as being more productive. Despite what you might think, it IS possible to eat healthy whenever you travel, so here's some of our favorite tips!

When you’re planning a vacation, make sure you add pounds to the suitcase rather than your waist. Of course, it’s a good idea to travel light in both senses, but if you want to eat natural and organic foods on the road, you may need to pack a few extra items for food preparation. In addition, make sure that you are aware of healthy eating options in the places you plan to go. With some preparation, research and a sense of adventure, you can stay slim and healthy wherever you go.

How many times have you heard "healthy" and thought, "YUCK!"? Probably most of you thought that at least once, but it doesn't have to be that way. The problem is that most "healthy" recipes are written by people that prefer "health" over big robust tastes, textures, and experience. I'm here to say that it doesn't have to be that way!

Dreamfields has presented me with a challenge to create an innovative recipe that includes: Beer, Smoked / Grilled Meats, Hot Peppers, Lemon, and a Vegetable of choice + two other ingredients that features their "Healthy Carb Living" pasta. By participating in this challenge, a donation will be made to a food pantry of my choice and the winning recipe creator will be able to donate an even larger amount.