Health & Wellness Archives - Page 35 of 45

Baked Butternut Squash with Garlic Sauteed Vegetables

7 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

This was my dinner last night:

It was heaven.

What ya need:

*This recipe serves 2

-1 large package pre-cut butternut squash (seriously, these babies are a pain in the butt to cut yourself)*

-handful fresh parsley, chopped

-2 cloves garlic, crushed

-1 c. baby spinach

-1/2 c. baby portobello mushrooms

-1 orange pepper, diced

-salt & pepper to taste

-olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Coat butternut squash in olive oil, parsley, salt and pepper. Bake for about 30 minutes.

2. In the meantime, chop your veggies and sauté in olive oil on medium-low heat, careful not to overcook. Reduce heat to low, add in the garlic and let simmer.

3. Remove squash from the oven, and assemble on a large plate with veggies. Serve with a sliced whole wheat baguette and butter. YUM.… Read More!

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Healthy Chicks and BSW Head to the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market: Recipes, Food Tasting, Book Sales and More!

1 Comment / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

[all photos courtesy of Boston Sports Woman]

Spring is most definitely in the air. Yes, I know, I know, even though it felt like negative 10 degrees in Boston yesterday, I can still feel it. That’s why I’ve been whipping out some of my favorite spring-esque recipes this week, like my pasta primavera and I even bought strawberries for dessert. Chocolate covered strawberries, anyone? Nothing screams WARM WEATHER like that.

Anyway, as much as I want spring to come now, it’s technically still winter and while I dislike that for numerous reasons, I’m super pumped that it also means the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market is still open for another three weekends (phew). Every Saturday from January 8th until March 26th, folks gather over to the Armory on 191 Highland Ave in Somerville for a festival to remember.

This weekend, March 12th we – we as in me (The Healthy Chick) and Boston Sports Woman – will be attending the market as a guest, and couldn’t be more excited! I’ll be there spreading the word and taking orders for my cookbook “Healthy Chicks in the Kitchen,” and will even be raffling off one as a prize! Be … Read More!

Healthy Chicks and BSW Head to the Somerville Winter Farmer’s Market: Recipes, Food Tasting, Book Sales and More! Read More »

EEK It’s That Time of Month Again: Natural Cures for Bloat, Cramps and PMS!

31 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

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I haven’t been able to sleep for the past two hours. No, it isn’t due to a bad dream nor the fact that I’m over-analyzing yet again. This time, it’s merely a case of good ol’ period cramps. Sorry for too much information here, but holy OUCH. The “dot” (as my mom likes to call it) sure is comin’ in like a lion just like the weather. But luckily, I’ve got some all-natural home remedies to make these next few days as comfortable as possible, and hopefully as the saying goes it’ll go out like a lamb and I’ll move on with my life.

Until then, here are a few tips to deal with “it” on your own – you know the healthy, easy, all-natural way. Hope they help!

For the Bloat: Let’s face it, being bloated is one of the absolute worst things for a woman. There’s nothing fun about going to bed feeling good about yourself, then waking up feeling like you’re about to give birth to a very large food baby. Not to mention the swelling, the pain and the fact that your favorite jeans won’t zip. Looks like it’s yet another day … Read More!

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Friday Thoughts: On Kindness, Curves, Herbs and Getaways!

4 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you all had a fabulous week. Since it’s Friday, I’m here to share some favorites from the week, since as you know I always have something new I’m absolutely lovin’. Here’s what made the cut this week:

Nice People: Seriously. I’ve come to the conclusion that there just aren’t enough nice, truly genuine good-hearted people in the world. Some random stranger screamed at me the other day for getting on the T before he got off. I didn’t see him, so I quickly apologized and stepped off of the train so he could exit. But that still wasn’t enough. “What is your problem? PEOPLE GET OFF FIRST.” “I’m sorry sir, I know… I just didn’t see you.” “NO, I said PEOPLE first.” He gave me a death stare. Ouch. I’m sick of the ‘tude people.

That’s why when I come across nice people (i.e. the nice man who started talking to me about my blog on the train the other day or the funny guy at Trader Joe’s or my neighbor who made me smile by sending a simply text), I truly cherish it. Nice people out there: keep up the good work!

My Curves: Ever … Read More!

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Hump Day Lesson of the Day: On Giving Your Body a BREAK

4 Comments / Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

Happy Hump Day ladies, and congrats on making it half-way through the week! This morning I woke up and felt like I got stomped on by an elephant, ran over by a train, or straight up beat up on. But none of those things actually happened. In reality, I pushed myself to the limits these past few days with exercise. Up until today, I’ve been following my Half Marathon Training plan to a tee. Yup, you heard that right. I haven’t missed a workout. But today I am doing what I truly believe in: listening to my body. I’m going to skip my scheduled 4.5 mile run and shift it to tomorrow instead, giving myself a “me day” today.

With a long day of skiing, several 4.5 mile runs in the past few days, and weight-lifting mixed in, my body truly needs a break. And that I will give it. Not to mention all the city-walking I do here in Boston. That’s a workout in itself!

Do you give your body a break when it’s telling you it needs one? What signifies “pushing the limit” to you? … Read More!

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Happy March: On Making Your Food Pretty!

6 Comments / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

You know how restaurants always present their food oh so pretty? Perfect little plates with perfect little – or ginormous – portions and perfect little garnishes on the side. Well, today I felt like eating pretty as well, and I wasn’t going to blow $100 at a restaurant to do so. Instead, I whipped up a tasty turkey sandwich, but instead of putting it on a napkin and munching on it as I blogged, I decided to make it beautiful and actually enjoy it.

Here, my pretty little honey roasted turkey sandwich:

What I Used:

-1 piece original Ezekiel bread, toasted with cheese and turkey

-1 slice American cheese

-1 tsp. pesto

-3 thin slices honey roasted turkey breast, all natural

-1 bag cheddar popchips & a clementine on the side

-pretty napkins

-thin white dessert plate

And there we have it. A prettier lunch in just a few seconds. If you’re interested in more fun, simple recipes I’d love you to check out my cookbook “Healthy Chicks in the Kitchen,” for sale now!

Do you like to make your food pretty every once in a while? What do you do to jazz it up?

XoXo,

Working Your Bod in New Ways

Leave a Comment / Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

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Ouch. Yes, ‘ouch’ is the perfect word to describe how my body feels right now. I’d like to say I am in good shape, and am overall a very healthy girl. I mean, I am the author of “Healthy Chicks” after all. But just because I am pretty fit and run every day doesn’t mean my body was ready for a day of skiing. OUCH.

I haven’t skied since last year, and let me tell you: it sure is a full body workout. My quads are burning, my arms are aching and my butt…oh my poor butt let’s not even go there. Yesterday on the mountain, I used muscles I haven’t used in a really long time. But pain is good, right? I’ll just keep tellin’ my poor body that…

I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t even last a full day on the mountain. I had to bail out around 1 p.m. to soothe my body in the hot tub and sauna. Boy oh boy did those spa bubbles feel good on my achy muscles.

Lesson learned? You can be in shape, fit and healthy but that doesn’t mean your entire body is in shape, fit … Read More!

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Friday Favorites: On Pretzel Crisps, Childhood Snacks and Dating

1 Comment / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

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HAPPY FRIDAY HEALTHY CHICKIES! Yes, the rain isn’t fun if you reside here in Boston. But whatever…embrace the rain and go play in it. That’s my attitude these days. Speaking of my attitude, this week I’ve really been trying to follow my heart. I’ve always been a major fan of following my heart, as I think there’s no better way to go. Whether it’s leaving a job that you know isn’t right for you or doing something completely spur of the moment like going on a cross-the-east-coast road trip to Florida with a guy you just met (yup, I did that) because it just felt right, following your heart is important to me. So I’ve really been working on that this week. And since it’s Friday, here are share some other things I’m lovin’ this week too:

1. Pretzel Crisps: The kind people over at Pretzel Crisps sent me two huge bags filled with pretzels to try out. I’ve old had Pretzel Crisps once before, and it was a while ago so I was excited to test out the flavor flave. I have to say they were INCREDIBLE. And no, I’m not just saying that to … Read More!

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Hump Day Lesson of the Day and a Tasty Post-Workout Snack!

Leave a Comment / Food & Recipes, Health & Wellness / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

I saw this video on Rachel Wilkerson’s Facebook Page yesterday – it’s originally from College Humor – and just had to include it in my weekly Hump Day Post. Seriously, too funny – and a lesson to remember too. Thanks Rachel # 2!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCmwkIFJ_xw

Also, a Healthy post-workout snack for you. I’ll call it the “Mandarin Madness Munchie”

What Ya Need:

-1/2 c. cottage cheese

-1 mandarin orange, broken into segments

-5 raw almonds

-dash of cinnamon

Layer together in a small bowl and enjoy! … Read More!

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6 Little Healthy Ways to De-Stress

8 Comments / Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Rachel @Healthy Chicks

I don’t know about you, put this past week has put some major stress on me. Now, I’m not one to get STRESSED OUT to the max, but I’m only human after all. Luckily, after a weekend with family, The Boy, movies, and lots of good food at my grandparents house, I feel loads better. That’s not to say that another stress attack can’t come on at any given time this week. Luckily, I have a few tricks I use when times get a little crazy.

1. Breathe – Seriously. Go lay down on your bed or a comfy couch and just breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. That’s why yoga’s so effective after all! I do this sometimes at night after a long day. I go to my room, shut off the lights, and after 10 minutes of breathing to myself I am fine again.

2. Massages – No you don’t have to throw away $100 on a professional massage when you have a roommate/best friend/ boy friend to give you a hand or two. If you live with a bunch of ladies, sit in a “train” and take turns giving each other back massages. It’s lots … Read More!

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