by kelsey | Jul 23, 2015 | Diet, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
The aging process is not a real fun one, so most of us want to do everything we can to make the process go well. One common concern as we get older is forgetfulness. Staying active and keeping your brain engaged with regular tasks are good practices, but it’s also important to eat healthy as certain foods promote brain function and memory. As always, eating a colorful diet will help you, but here are some more specifics!
Eat your veggies: strive to get a variety of vegetables in your diet (each color offers specific nutrients!). The cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and dark leafy greens are especially benefecial.
Berries: eat more berries, especially dark ones like blackberries, blueberries and cherries are a rich source of anthocyanins and other flavonoids that may boost memory function.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in particular, may also help improve memory. Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and herring are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Aim to get at least 2 servings (3 oz) of fatty fish a week and choose healthy cooking methods such as grilling, baking, or broiling over frying. You may also consider taking a fish oil supplement, but be sure to visit with your doctor about proper dosing before taking it.
As you probably noticed, these foods are foods I have discussed before, so eating a healthy and well balanced intake, will not only aid in a healthy weight and heart, but a healthy and active brain!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jul 22, 2015 | Diet, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
There are no doubts about it….weight loss is tough….but even tougher is maintaining that weight loss. Many people who lose weight slip back into their old ways and gain weight back. This yo-yo dieting or weight cycling results in a variety of issues including poor self esteem, lack of motivation, binge eating, etc. I like to compare this cycle to being stuck in a revolving door like you’d find at a hotel…you just keep going around and around and can’t seem to get out! To help you put a stop to weight cycling, follow these tips:
- Change your mindset: No one ever wants to go on a “diet” and being a diet is never any fun, so ditch the word. Diet usually has a time period to it, so instead think of this has a lifestyle improvement. Think of healthy eating as a lifelong commitment, not a short period of time. Fad diets never work as you can’t live that way forever, so instead focus on a well-balanced nutrition plan that incorporates whole foods and portion control.
- Get adequate sleep: sleep is often overlooked in the equation to success as we tend to put a large amount of focus on food and activity….but in reality, getting adequate sleep is just as important as your exercise and nutrition. You need to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep/night to allow your body to reset and repair itself. Lack of sleep or poor sleep habits typically result in poor eating habits, increasing cravings for junk foods, and a higher BMI.
- Destress: stress can cause an increase in the hormone cortisol and when this hormone is increased, you may experience a greater desire for junk foods or unhealthy foods. Examine your stress levels and think critically about ways you could improve the stress in your life. You may consider journaling, yoga, or meditation to help you. Engaging in regular activity also helps reduce stress as it gives your body natural endorphins that aid in mood boosting.
- Practice mindful eating: Slow the eating process down and think critically about your hunger and fullness factors. Think of food as fuel and you want to choose healthy foods to provide your body with the appropriate nutrients and energy. When we think of food as “good” or “bad” it tends to make us want those bad foods even more, so instead change your mindset about food and work on portion control and feeling confident about your decisions.
I don’t expect these tips to happen overnight, but I do encourage you to examine your life and look at each part of the equation to help you stop the weight cycling and get on a path of healthy living for the long run!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jul 21, 2015 | Diabetes, Diet, Eating Out, Food, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Everyone is busy and on the run with life happenings so eating out tends to be a part of our lives. I have found this happens even more in the summer with summer vacations and activities. We all know that eating out is not the best for us as we don’t have control over how the meal is prepared, ingredients, and portions like we do at home. Despite this, we all still eat out and most of us enjoy it as it means we don’t have to do the preparing, cooking, and cleaning up afterwards…and it’s typically a social activity as well! Restaurants are taking notice of our nation’s desire to improve our health and wellness and there are more healthier options on the menus today, but there are still some very unhealthy ones as well. Below are some tips to help you eat out the healthy way:
- Go for a smaller portion of the meal such as half of the meal, lunch portion, or appetizer size portion.
- Look for key words such as baked, broiled, grilled, or roasted. Stay away from descriptive words such as crispy, creamy, crunchy, and crispy as those typically mean fried and more fat added.
- Substitute the fries for a salad (dressing on the side and use sparingly) or if available a second serving of cooked veggies or fruit.
- Get a to-go box right away before you start eating and package half of your meal in the box and eat at another meal at home. If it’s on your plate, you’ll be more apt to eat it, so put it away right away so you aren’t tempted and you are more apt to practice proper portion control.
- Share! It’s ok to share an entree with you friend, spouse, etc to help you practice better portion control.
- Look at the options ahead of time online or using your smart phone. Many restaurants have their nutrition information included in their websites or you can use the Calorie King app to explore the options and make a healthy choice when dining out.
- If eating out is a rare occurrence, it is ok to splurge, but keep in mind it should be a special occasion and only every once in awhile, not every day or every week as those extra calories will add up and cause weight gain quickly!
- To help balance out the extra calories consumed when eating out, be sure to get your activity in and engage in at least 30-60 minutes/day!
-Kelsey
by kelsey | Jul 16, 2015 | Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Two weeks are already down with the Park and Rec’s Riding the Recreational Trail Activity! This is another great opportunity to get some activity while enjoying our beautiful trail system! There are three weeks left of this activity, so be sure to take advantage of it! Details are below!
Details: Five different nights with bike rides on different parts of the Recreational Trail. Designed for the recreational bike rider in mind. The only things you will have to have is a bike and a helmet which will be mandatory. Ride one or all the nights. No registration required just be ready to ride at 6 p.m. sharp at the starting location for that week. There is no cost to participate.
Dates:
July 22-McKinley Park to Eastwoods Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (8.44 miles)
August 5– Eastwoods Park to Redlin Art Center and back
(meet by the playground) (5.6 miles)
August 12—Around the Lake Ride-start and finish at City Park
(meet by Veterans Memorial) (13.92 Miles)
Time: 6pm sharp each week.
Fee: FREE!
by kelsey | Jul 7, 2015 | Exercise, Family, Heart Health, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
Another great opportunity to get some activity while enjoying our beautiful trail system starts tomorrow, Wednesday, July 8th!
Details: Five different nights with bike rides on different parts of the Recreational Trail. Designed for the recreational bike rider in mind. The only things you will have to have is a bike and a helmet which will be mandatory. Ride one or all the nights. No registration required just be ready to ride at 6 p.m. sharp at the starting location for that week. There is no cost to participate.
Dates:
July 8-McKinley Park to Jackson Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (6.72 miles)
July 15-McKinley Park to City Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (8.12 miles)
July 22-McKinley Park to Eastwoods Park and back
(meet at the Horseshoe Courts) (8.44 miles)
August 5– Eastwoods Park to Redlin Art Center and back
(meet by the playground) (5.6 miles)
August 12—Around the Lake Ride-start and finish at City Park
(meet by Veterans Memorial) (13.92 Miles)
Time: 6pm sharp each week.
Fee: FREE!
For more details contact:
Jeremy Herrboldt
Adult/Senior Activities Coordinator
Watertown Park and Rec.
882-6260
by kelsey | Jun 25, 2015 | Cooking Tips, Diet, Food, Holidays, Weight Management, Wellness/Health
With the 4th of July a week away, many are prepping their grocery list or menu for the fun filled holiday weekend. You’ll fire up the grill, enjoy some burgers or steaks, a few tasty drinks, and friends and fellowship. I love to grill and foods on the grill are my favorite…and I know beef will be what’s for dinner in my household as nothing beats a tasty “Raml” hamburger or steak. Besides the protein, I am sure there will be plenty of fruits and veggies to enjoy of which both can be grilled as well! Kabobs are a great way to incorporate meat, veggies, and fruit all in one!
Did you know that beef is 20% leaner than it was about 15 years ago? There are at least 29 cuts of lean beef which means they meet the government guidelines for lean, meaning each cut has less than 10g of total fat, less than 4.5 g of saturated fat, and less than 95mg of cholesterol (in a 3 oz serving). Here are some tips for you to make beef a part of your heart healthy meals:
- Look for key words such as “round” or “loin” …these are typically leaner cuts
- Choose 90% or greater lean beef. This means in a 3oz serving there is less than 5g of fat in it.
- Use healthy cooking methods such as grilling, broiling, baking, roasting, or braising. The less tender cuts can be marinated in a tenderizing marinade such as salsa or light Italian dressing.
- Trim the fat! Trimming the fat before cooking will help eliminate some of the fat from the cut.
- Cook with fresh ingredients such as lemon juice, peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs instead of adding extra fat to the cut.
- Practice portion control. Select the 3-5 oz serving over the 10oz.
Balance is key to a healthy diet, so be sure to include your fruits and veggies and whole grains along with your lean meat to create a healthy plate. All meat is required to have the nutrition content (label) posted by it in the grocery store. Be sure to use this when you’re selecting your cuts of meat and pay special attention to the total fat and saturated fat content. If you want to learn more about the benefits of beef and explore healthy recipes check out these websites: www.beefnutrition.org and www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com.
Happy 4th of July!
-Kelsey
