by kelsey | Oct 4, 2012 | Diet, Wellness/Health
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The majority of us know of at least one woman who has been had breast cancer so we can all appreciate the awareness for breast cancer prevention. Nutrition can play a key role in disease prevention. There is no certain way to prevent breast cancer, but we do know that living a healthy lifestyle will aid in disease prevention as a whole.
Risk factors for breast cancer include having a family history, menstruation before the age of 12, menopause after 55, overweight, older age, pregnancy of first child after 35, and inherited gene mutations. To help you prevent disease and free radical development in your body, incorporate more vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber into your diet. This includes more dark, leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and kale; more fruits in a variety of colors such as blueberries, strawberries, cherries, and oranges; more whole grains such as oats, barley, whole grain pastas, breads, and cereals; and legumes such as dried beans.
In addition, achieving a healthy weight is also beneficial in disease prevention. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity every day to help you reach and obtain a healthy BMI.
Most of these recommendations you have heard from me before, but in light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a perfect time to reflect back on your lifestyle and choices you make and give you another incentive to eat healthy and exercise!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Oct 3, 2012 | Cooking Tips, Food, Weight Management
Once again, County Fair Foods provided us with an excellent treat at last night’s STRIVE 2 Survive meeting. The Breakfast Berry Parfait provides us with a great source of nutrients including protein, calcium, fiber, and excellent vitamins and minerals. You can make your own twist to it, but here is their recipe for your enjoyment and nourishment.
3/4 c sliced strawberries
3/4 c blueberries
6 oz fat free yogurt
1 Tbsp wheat germ
1/2 banana sliced
1/3 c granola
To add additional protein to your dish, use the Greek yogurt. It is processed a bit differently than our regular yogurt, thus making it thicker and double the protein and typically lower in carbohydrates. Just be sure to choose the low fat/fat free as some can contain high amounts of saturated fats.
This is good for breakfast or for a snack….enjoy!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Sep 27, 2012 | Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
A few weeks ago, my mom taught me the art of canning tomatoes and salsa. It certainly makes that can of salsa seem a lot more valuable when you learn how tedious the process of canning is! Tomatoes are one of her favorite vegetables so her garden had plenty of them. There are several varieties of tomatoes, but all are a great source of nutrients for our body. As you have heard me say before, the more color, the better! Incorporating tomatoes into your meals and snacks is a great way to add a great deal of nutrients to your diet.
Tomatoes are especially high in lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that aids in disease prevention. In addition, they are a great source of vitamin A, vitamin E, and potassium. They are loaded with great vitamins and minerals, but low in calories, making them an excellent part of a healthy diet. You can certainly eat the tomato raw like we do an apple, however you can add them to various dishes and still get these great benefits. Be sure to check out the Farmer’s Market and our local grocery stores, as they are ripe right now, making them be at a great price and quality!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Sep 26, 2012 | Exercise, Wellness/Health
Attention Women! Have you been thinking about getting more activity into your daily routine? Or have you been meaning to start working on your nutrition goals? Today is a great day to put those efforts at the top of the list as it’s Women’s Health and Fitness Day! The Women’s Health and Fitness Day was developed to increase awareness and encourage women to improve their health by making healthy nutrition choices and engage in regular activity.
As we discuss in STRIVE 2 Survive, it’s never too late to take control and start working on healthy behaviors. As many of you know, regular activity strengthens muscles and bones, improves overall health, agility, and balance, and aids in disease prevention. Regular activity is also essential to weight management. A healthy lifestyle includes both activity and proper nutrition, so working at getting more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy, and lean meats into your intake, and practicing portion control are all essential to a healthy diet.
In celebration of Women’s Health and Fitness Day, I encourage you to put these efforts at the top of your list today and everyday! Go for a walk with a friend, do some gardening or yard work, or even do some stretching and strengthening activities. Every little effort will add up to big results and help you achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle!
To learn more, visit: http://www.fitnessday.com/women/.
The picture is of my two good friends Anna and Katie after we ran a 5k this summer together. A good deal of our friendship has been centered around activity as we were on the SDSU Equestrian team together and continue our friendship by meeting up to engage in activity and health functions together now!
Get out and get moving today ladies!!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Sep 20, 2012 | Cooking Tips, Food
County Fair Foods provided excellent treats for Tuesday’s STRIVE meeting! The food not only tasted great, it was healthy! Be sure to try these recipes out at home!
Healthy Eggplant Parmesan
1 Egg
3 Egg whites
1 Tbsp water
3 Eggplants thinly sliced
2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs
6 c spaghetti sauce (divided)
3/4 lb part skim mozzarella cheese shredded (divided)
1/2 c grated parmesan cheese (divided)
1/2 tsp dried basil
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat together egg, egg whites, and water in a shallow bowl. Peel and slice eggplant. Dip eggplant slices into the egg, then bread crumbs. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until fork tender…about 7-10 minutes on each side. Spreadh spaghetti sauce on bottom of a 9×13 pan. Place a layer of eggplant in the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese on top. Sprinkle with basil. Bake in oven for 35 minutes until golden brown.
Chicken Stirfry & Brown Rice
Mix brown rice, stirfry vegetables, chicken, and stir fry seasoning together! There really isn’t a wrong way to do this one…adapt to your own liking.
Healthy Holiday Apple Cider
2 bottles of Old Orchard Perfect Balance Apple Juice
1 box Shurfine sugar free cherry gelatin
Mix ingredients together. Heat and serve.
Enjoy!!
-Kelsey
