Health & Wellness

Inspiring Pieces From Women Around the Web

10 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

Who inspires you?

Being a blogger and freelance writer, I am also (no surprise here) obsessed with reading other people’s blogs, magazine articles and inspirational essays. Often, I am drawn to other women who I can relate to and cooking-related blogs, because they make me feel inspired, motivated and connected.

This week, I’ve read a number of amazing pieces from a variety of bloggers whom I follow, and felt that I just had to share their stories with you. It’s only fair, after all. Take a look at these powerful women around the web who’ve got me bookmarking their posts left and right.

“Love, Loss and Spaghetti” by Bianca, Confessions of a Chocoholic: I always love the way Bianca writes, making you feel as if you are right there with her, whether she’s traveling Italy, trying one of Boston’s best restaurants, or biting into a decadent gourmet cheese. This powerful piece of love, food, and loss in particular made me feel like I was right there with her, as I could empathize with what she went through.

“Photo Inspiration: 10 Years of yo-yo dieting” by Elina, Healthy & Sane: Elina is one of the most honest bloggers I … Read More!

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A Little Rant: The Crap We are Feeding Our Children (and Buying Into Ourselves)

2 Comments / Health & Wellness /

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Wow! You can now get 20 of these puppies for just $4.99. Does that mean you are going to give in?

Yesterday evening while watching television, I saw an advertisement on TV for McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets. The 20 piece is now “on sale” at a special $4.99. That’s a penny under $5.00 for 840 calories, 49 grams of fat and 125 mg of cholesterol. For all of those taking advantage of this deal…congrats? But are you really doing yourself or your children a favor by clogging them up with saturated fat, sodium and an overdose of calories?

The sad thing is that many families are taking advantage of these Fast Food “deals” just like this one. You can now get a box or two of Mac ‘n’ Cheese for 50 cents, a bag of chips for a buck, and a foot-long grinder for $5, most with a free sugar-laden soda. Schools serve loads of instant potatoes, pizza, and fried chicken in the cafeteria and call that “lunch.” Oh, and some are even going as far as saying pizza counts as two servings of the required vegetables, and if you don’t believe me start watching Jamie Oliver’s Food … Read More!

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Motivation Monday: Dealing with Turkey Day Bloat, Fatigue, and the ‘Blahs’

3 Comments / Health & Wellness /

[healthy snacks like these raw pecans can help keep you in check during the day]

Good evening ladies, and happy Cyber Monday. Any online deals catch your eye today? I received dozens of emails, but decided to hold back from online shopping as I know I can get a little carried away. I work better shopping in-person, where I tend to make more cautious, controlled choices.

Anyway, despite today being Cyber Monday, I noticed many people were in a funk. Most everyone I talked to said they felt sluggish, tired, bloated, “fat” or generally “Blah” and I gotta admit I’m right there with them. Being the Monday after Thanksgiving (which was also a long weekend for many), most of us let ourselves get a little carried away, be it skipping our daily workouts or bingeing on one too many chocolate chip cookies.

Have you let your routine get away from you this past weekend too? No worries! Thankfully, there are several things we can do to kick that “blah” to the curb, and get back to our normal, beautiful, perky selves in no time!

Feel-Good Tips to Beat Those Winter Blahs

  • Skip your morning latte, and instead down a
… Read More!

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I’m Back & Friday Favorites

2 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

[source] Faneuil Hall Tree Lighting this weekend!

Hey ladies! Sorry I’ve been M.I.A. all week, but I guess I’ve been in vacation mode ever since our New Hampshire getaway. But now I’m back in action, just in time for Friday Favorites. Here’s what I’m obsessing over this week:

  • Surfing the internet for tasty Thanksgiving recipes to impress the fam. I have to make a comeback after I made the worst gluten free red velvet cupcakes last year. I guess some things are meant to be left alone, or maybe it’s just my poor baking skills.
  • 27th Annual Faneuil Hall tree lighting ceremony this Saturday. I will totally  be attending, and so will Santa!
  • Cupcake-flavored lip gloss
  • Red pea-coats
  • Dad’s homemade turkey chili with turkey & sausage meatballs
  • Snuggling by the fireside with a glass of red
  • Cleansing – This week, I am cutting out all processed foods, corn, gluten, sweets, cheese, etc. (Pretty much anything that comes in a box or a bag)
  • This song (Seriously obsessed)
  • All of the gorgeous holiday recipes lately on Jessica’s blog over at How Sweet It Is like these Sweet Potato Pie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting.
  • Good, ol’ fashioned holiday
… Read More!

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Comfort Food for You AND Your Kids: Mac & Cheese and Chicken Nuggets Get a Makeover

7 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness /

[source]

Craving these lil guys? Try this healthy substitute instead. You AND your kids will appreciate.

I have a confession: As healthy as I may be, there’s something about those little Dinosaur chicken nuggets and boxed Mac ‘n’ Cheese that gets me every time. Every time I see my little cousins nibble away on their itty bitty dinos, I want to join in. I don’t know if it’s childhood memories or comfort food cravings that gets to me, but it is what it is.

But I’m well aware these little dino friends aren’t the best for your health. In fact, the Tyson’s brand for one is loaded with foreign, unnatural ingredients like rib meat, modified corn starch, sulfate, riboflavin, dried whey, caramel color, and methylcellulose. Yuck. What happened when chicken was just…chicken?

Anyway, when my craving hit last night, I decided to give this classic comfort food combo a makeover, and let me tell you it was definitely for the better. My remake came out tastier, crunchier and best yet: guilt-free. Feed this to your kids next time they want McDonald’s, or stuff your face with it. No judgement. None at all.

Crispy Baked “Chicken Nuggets”

  • 1
… Read More!

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Bloggers for Boobs Event Recap With Pretzel Crisps & Likeable Media

6 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

I’ve been so caught up in Integrative Nutrition lectures, friends, work, and life in general that I completely let the week get away from me. In fact, I STILL haven’t written about the Bloggers for Boobs event I attended last week. Hosted by Pretzel Crisps and Likeable Media, this blogger cocktail party benefited the Susan G Komen For the Cure. Pretzel Crisps has been on an ongoing mission to raise money to donate for the Susan G. Komen Foundation through their pretzel sales, and will make a minimum donation of $100,000. Talk about a company with a good heart (and good snackin’).

[look at all these tasty flavors!]

The Bloggers for Boobs event was absolutely wonderful, and quite a few people showed up despite the miserable snowy/rainy weather. I was able to connect with other bloggers, chit chat with the event hosts, enjoy a specially crafted cocktail (with Chocolate vodka and raspberry) and snack on pretzel crisps munchies. I  ate far too much cheese throughout the evening as well (oops).

[how pretty?]

In addition to a silent auction with prizes like a 10 pass pack to Exhale Spa, we were prompted to enter a recipe contest. We were … Read More!

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Guest Post: Indoor Winter Exercises to Stay in Shape

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness /

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This guest post was written by Ashley from Long Island Heart Associates. For questions about heart health and exercise, contact our cardiologists today.

Baby, it’s cold outside, and you might not feel up to bundling up and braving the cooler temperatures with wind, snow and ice just around the corner. The good news is that there are many exercises that you can do indoors to stay in great shape, lose weight and keep your heart healthy. You don’t even need a pricey gym membership to exercise indoors this winter; many workouts can be done at home.

If you have any exercise equipment in your home, dust it off and bring it to an easily accessible part of your home. Keeping your treadmill in the basement might not work out well during the winter, when it is likely to feel cold, damp and uninviting. Bring it into the living room so you can jog while watching television or enjoying a flickering fire in your fireplace. Even a small trampoline, called a rebounder, can help you stay in shape this winter. Set it up in the family room and bounce or jog in place to your favorite … Read More!

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SuperFood Roundup: Stock Up on These Healthy Natural Supplements

6 Comments / Health & Wellness /

Yesterday, I took a trip to Whole Foods and decided to browse their Whole Body section. I was particularly interested in all the natural supplements and powders they had to offer, as I’ve heard so much talk about various super foods. I was overwhelmed and amazed with the many powders, supplements, and natural remedies I came across. While I was extremely tempted to go home with $100 worth of these miracle supplements, I decided to do a little research first. After all, I’m not made of money.

Instead, I picked up a few packets of a Green SuperFood blend made by Amazing Grass. You simply add the packets to milk or water, and in an instant you can enjoy a glass full of superfoods. Is there really any better way to start the day? I decided to try the natural green blend, as well as the chocolate flavor, which was absolutely delicious might I add. The blends contain a variety of natural supplements including organic wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa, spirulina, spinach, chlorella, maca, acai, rose hips and green tea just to name a few.

Do these supplements sound foreign to you? I decided to do a little research … Read More!

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Food & Your Skin: How What You Can Eat Can Effect the Health & Glow of Your Skin

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[source]

Yesterday, I went to Exhale Spa for my second follow-up facial, since facials are kinda-sorta my new favorite thing. I had the works, including extractions, a hydration mask, and even a peel. Needless to say I was a tad pink afterward, but today my skin is feeling smooth and healthy. Score. During my facial, I was talking to the esthetician about how I don’t really take care of my skin as well as I should. I’ve never owned an exfoliator, I rarely moisturize, and sometimes I’ll even leave remnants of last night’s makeup. (EEK!)

It got me thinking how I should really start taking care of my skin. After all, I am 24 years old and I’m not getting any younger (and neither is my face). So why not start now? With a little help from my esthetician, I now know some steps I can make to take better care of my skin (product wise) but I was also interested in what I can do for my skin the natural way (a.k.a food).  I mean, you are what you eat after all.

Since I dream about food and healthy recipes all day long, I decided to … Read More!

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Friday Favorites: Green Juice, Facials & Cleansing

4 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle /

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Oh hey fellow Healthy Chicks, and Happy Friday! Let’s just cut to the chase and go over what I’m lovin’ this week. Here goes:

Mega Green: This green juice blend by “Simply Nutritious” is surprisingly mega-tasty as well. I spotted it in the Whole Food’s aisle last night and decided to pick some up. Packed with nutritious ingredients like peach puree, spirulina and barley grass, broccoli and spinach power, this Mega Green juice is Healthy Chick’s approved for sure.

Facials: You may be shocked, but I went 24 years of my life without getting a facial. That is, until this past week. I officially had my first Cool Beam facial at Exhale Spa, and am definitely hooked. Who knew how relaxing a facial could be? From the steaming to the “Cranberry Crush” exfoliating mask, to the cool beam light therapy treatment, I was in pure bliss. I will definitely be back for more of that!

Cleansing: I’m not a huge fan of diet cleanses, you know the Cayenne Pepper celebrity fad or eating only raw foods. However, I’m totally all for going on a temporary cleanse that is right for your body. For me, that means … Read More!

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