Simple tricks and tips to healthier eating
Comments Off on Simple tricks and tips to healthier eatingHappy Spring! I am finally feeling I can throw off the heavy blanket that was this very long, very cold winter. Today as I’m writing this blog, the spring sunshine is streaming in my office window and the above 0C temperatures are calling me outdoors.
My meal planning is changing too. I am getting away from hearty soups and chilies and stews and thinking about lighter fare like summery salads … soon soon, there will be locally grown greens available. They are first things you’ll see at Farmers’ Markets.
On March 5 I took up the challenge offered by White House Black Shutters
http://www.whitehouseblackshutters.com/40-bags-in-40-days-2014/
and I have been faithfully getting rid of one bag each day (with Sundays off!) Spring is a great time to de-clutter one’s house. It’s a great time to make some positive changes in our eating and exercise habits as well.
Here are some simple tricks and tips that we can use.
I’m sure my clients get tired of me talking about the importance of being well hydrated and chewing their food. If you need visual clues to see that you are on track, I suggest getting a container that holds 8 cups of water and putting it in the refrigerator (or on the counter or your desk if you prefer your water at room temperature). I like to use a glass mason jar. The one pictured only holds 7 cups so I make sure that I have a cup of hot lemon water to start the day and that’s one cup ticked off before breakfast. Having lemon in water is a GREAT way to kick start one’s digestion.
The other thing I stress is 8 to 10 servings of vegetables and fruit each day. Consider enjoying a green protein smoothie for breakfast a couple of days a week. Remember we don’t want to have the same thing EVERY day. Mixing it up helps ensure we get a variety of vitamins and minerals in our diet. Sometimes green smoothies aren’t very pretty. The combination of blueberries and spinach made this one a khaki green. But it tastes really good! The recipe – Blend 1 cup almond milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 cup blueberries, 1 scoop Vega protein powder, 2 cups spinach.
See it, eat it. Some of us need visual clues. So everyday put 2-4 fruits per person on the table (or on your desk at work) Fruit is actually more flavourful at room temperature and it helps to see it when you are looking for something sweet. I encourage you to always eat fruit first before you head for the candy jar. It usually quells the craving for sugary snacks.
And finally, you can get your veggies is all sorts of forms. Here’s a cauliflower recipe for you to try.
Cauliflower “bread”
This is a gluten free (actually grain free) recipe. It is tasty but it’s not bread, hence the quotation marks. You could however use it as a base for pizza that you are willing to eat your slice of pizza with a knife and fork.
1 head of Cauliflower
1/2 cup shredded parmesan (or more to taste)
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp Herbes de Provence (if you don’t have that use dried Oregano or Basil )
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp onion powder,
Salt & Pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
Cut up cauliflower and steam until soft.. put on a clean tea towel and blot, try to get as ‘dry’ as possible.
Pulse in food processor until it is resembles mashed potatoes
Scoop cauliflower mixture into a bowl and mix with eggs, cheese, garlic & seasonings
Line baking tray with parchment paper and form mixture into a flat loaf
Bake at 450 for 20 -25 minutes or until top starts to brown
Cut into bread sticks and enjoy!
