Back to the Schedule: Tips to Keep You Sane!

Are you ready to get back into the routine with early mornings and busy weeks? Ready or not, here it comes and check out these tips to keep you sane as you get back into the school year schedule:

1. Sneak it in: add in exercise where you can... yoga in the morning, 20 minute run in the evening, 10 minutes toning exercises before bed. If you need resources for at home workouts, check your local TV listings or check out: http://www.exercisetv.tv/ for a variety of DVD's and workouts, and pick-up magazines like: Shape, Fitness, or Women's Health!
   
   



2. Hydrate: keep your energy levels up througout the day by brining a water bottle with you everytime you leave the door! Sip on water throughout the day!





3. Stock up: create a basket or container of grab n' go snacks in your cupboard and include items like: applesauce cups, Peter Rabbit Organics - Fruit & Veggie Snacks, KIND Healthy Snack bars, mini packs of nuts, single serving peanut butter packs and 100% fruit flats. Then when you're flying out the door you can throw a few items in your bag to have on hand for yourself or the kids.
   
   



4. Meal map: minimize your time in the kitchen by creating a weekly 'map' for your meals and snacks to streamline your food preparation efforts. Think of which nights you'll be home, running late, etc... and strategize what foods to make. A favorite tip of mine is make a double batch of a recipe and freeze half for a meal later in the week!

Oscars Party Planning

Are you hosting or going to an Oscars party? Here are some simple party planning strategies.

1. Strategically place light party foods throughout the house like: fruit platters, shrimp cocktail, air popped popcorn, trail mix.
2. Put away the candy dishes. One ounce of m & m's has 140 calories, mindless snacking from candy dishes can pile up the calories in a hurry!
3. Have a 90/10 rule: 90 percent healthy items, 10 percent splurge! This will still allow for plenty of delicious goodies.
4. Lighten-up party heavy weights. For example: instead of chicken wings, make baked chicken fingers and serve with hot sauce, barbecue sauce, or light ranch dressing. And have plenty of sliced carrots and celery on the side for dipping!
5. Try a new recipe! Grab my Wasabi Avocado Dip with Crispy Wonton Chips recipe.

Last but not least, focus more on spending time with your guests and take some of the emphasis off of food!

homemade applesauce

Fall is the perfect time of year (especially if you live in New York State) to make applesauce! Here is my super simple recipe. I just made my first batch today! Can't wait for dinner tonight... yum!

Super Simple Homemade Applesauce

Ingredients:
15 apples
1 cup of water

Directions:
1. Peel most (not all) of the skin from the apples and cube into large pieces.
2. Place the apples with about 1 cup of water in a large pot.
3. Bring the water to a boil and then cover and simmer until apples are tender (about 15 minutes) & until they easily mash just by stirring them.
Ready to enjoy!

NOTICE!! There isn't any need to add sugar. If you feel your sauce needs a flavor boost try a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Tip: If you have a little ones, like me, drop applesauce (once cooled) into ice cube trays. Freeze for a few hours and then break into a storage bag or container. Then in minutes you thaw a few cubes can have applesauce ready to go for a snack or to serve with a meal.

New Years Resolution Solutions

Have you been sticking with your New Years resolution? If not, not to worry and surely don't give up! Here are a few quick tips to get you started again!

• Set small, achievable goals! If you started the year with a weight loss goal, for example: losing 30#'s, break it down and change it to: this week I'm going to start exercising at least X times per week or instead of the afternoon soda, I'll have a large glass of water. This will help you to re-focus on smaller goals and see accomplishments that will all lead towards your ultimate goal!
• If saving $$ was a goal of yours, at the grocery store try buying fresh produce in bulk like: carrots, apples, potatoes, and oranges. This will allow you to still get all the health benefits while keeping your cost down.
  
• Eat a home! This will help you accomplish weight loss and saving $$. When eating out people tend to consume 25% more calories than eating at home! Crazy, huh? If you're crunched for time try making a few big meals on the weekend that can last you throughout the week or freeze leftovers which can make a great meal in a pinch.
• Check out my book, Choose Right at: www.chooseright.com for a lot of practical tips and solutions to choosing healthier foods!
  

If trends continue & 5 simple steps to reverse the trend

If trends of past 3 decades continue, every American adult could be at least mildly overweight by 2048, according to a study in the journal of Obesity. What's even more scary is that the study predicts that health care costs related to excess pounds could reach $957 billion by 2030. YIKES!
Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26058862/

Enough doom and gloom! Here are 5 simple steps to reverse the trend:
1. Have a glass of fat free or low fat milk at every meal! (just 8-ounces will do)
2. Snack on fresh produce like: apples, bananas, carrots, (my favorite) mango, or cucumbers!
3. Sip mostly water all day!
4. Have dinner together as a family, even if it's something quick like PB & J (on whole wheat bread), carrots, & fruit salad! (Don't forget step #1, see above)
5. Get MOVING! Do sit ups or leg lunges during tv commercials, go for a walk, take a bike ride... no excuses!