|
|
|
|
Enjoying the Holidays without Packing on the Pounds:
I want to wish you a holiday season inspired by the gifts of life, rather than a holiday filled with guilt from over-indulgence. This month I am going to share with you some simple tips on how you can embrace the holidays and enjoy the peace of the season without calorie counting and the worry about unwanted weight gain.
Happy Holidays!
- Miranda
10 Tips to Enjoying the Holidays without Packing on the Pounds:
- Be a food snob. Eat only what you REALLY enjoy instead of everything that is offered to you feeling like you “have” to eat it because it’s tradition.
- Make your workouts efficient, effective, and consistent. If you only have 20 - 30 minutes to get something done, then make it effective by doing intervals and changing up the intensity.
- Include a fruit or vegetable at every meal and snack. This is a simple yet effective tip to increase your dietary fiber intake and overall nutrition and help you consume less calorie dense foods.
- Skip the sugary alcoholic beverages and fancy coffee drinks. Instead opt to keep it simple! Savor (in moderation) the simple pleasures in life such as a good glass of wine or hot cup of coffee.
- Serve yourself on a mini sized plate. Choose the foods you love, just smaller portions!
- Avoid arriving at a holiday party or meal starving; instead eat something small before you go to help ward off hunger.
- Mingle near people, not food. When socializing with friends, avoid gathering near buffet tables, candy dishes, and cookie platters. This can help you reduce mindless eating and consuming food you are not even present with to enjoy.
- Take a walk after meal time, and ask a family member or friend to join you. Not only is this good for digestion and nurturing your relationships, it also keeps you from overeating food just because it’s there.
- Enjoy club soda or sparkling water before or as a replacement for a cocktail to limit alcohol consumption.
- Take time to enjoy the season without feeling the need to rush and buy the next gift, attend the next party, or try the new food. Be still and experience both the peace and joy of life’s moments. Be grateful for all you have instead of letting your mind fall into the trap of not ever having enough.
|
Almond Fruit Balls
Give a sweet treat with these perfectly portioned and easy to make ahead Almond Fruit Balls.
Serves: 24, 1 ball = 1 serving
Ingredients:
1 cup whole natural almonds, toasted*
1 pkg. (6 oz.) mixed dried fruit bits
1 1/2 Tbs. honey
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 Tbs. orange-flavored liqueur
Preparation:Place almonds in bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade; process until finely chopped. Add fruit, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg. Pulse on and off a few times, then process to make a rough paste. Add liqueur and process to make a firm, sticky paste. (Add more liqueur, a few drops at a time, if needed to make a slightly moist dough.) Shape into 1-inch balls, rolling between palm of hands. Pack loosely in airtight container with waxed paper between layers. Serve as confections or as dessert with coffee or tea. These make a nice gift, packed in an attractive tin or box.
*To toast almonds, spread in an un-greased baking pan. Place in 350-degree oven and bake 5 to 10 minutes or until almonds are lightly brown; stir once or twice to assure even browning. Note that almonds will continue to brown slightly after removing from oven. These fruit balls are low in saturated fat and very low in sodium.
Nutrition Info: Calories 58; Fat 3 g; Sat Fat 0.2 g; Mono Fat 1.9 g; Poly Fat 0.6 g; Protein 1 g; Carb 7 g; Fiber 1 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 2 mg; Calcium 19 mg; Potassium 102 mg; Vitamin E 0.3 mg
Recipe Reproduced with Permission of The Almond Board of California
|
Health is the greatest gift “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.”
Buddha
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Miranda has a Master’s Degree in Nutrition, is a Registered Dietitian (RD), Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT)*, and Nutrition Coach / Consultant in her own Private Practice, Grand Traverse Nutrition, LLC. She has extensive experience across a variety of areas in clinical dietetics, sports/performance nutrition, the pharmaceutical and food industry, and most recently corporate health and wellness promotion areas.