by L Young | Mar 4, 2014 | Blog
As we complete our heart healthy series, it’s only the beginning of ongoing practices that will truly affect us in a positive way. It doesn’t mean we have to completely give up fats to be healthy, but to replace the unhealthy saturated and Trans fats with healthier ones. Growing up with mayonnaise as a guilty pleasure, I know how making those transitions can be challenging. But what if I told you there are delicious alternatives. Check out these substitute favorites…
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by L Young | Feb 13, 2014 | Blog
Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches. We think of the special people in our lives and what we can do for them on the day of “love” to make them smile. But did you ever think that sharing “random acts of kindness”, even with a stranger, can relate to the heart too?
When my husband and I moved to North Carolina years ago, we noticed that our quality of life improved but just couldn’t put our finger on what exactly it was that made life feel calmer and easier. We were quickly back into the grind of working long hours, dealing with daily stresses at work, yet we felt happier. It finally occurred to me it was the subtle, little daily experiences that made all the difference. It was the exchange of smiles in the grocery store with a stranger, stopping to chat with a neighbor while out for a walk or the way the neighbor’s rushed to help when a family crisis occurred.
Yes, it’s the simple little actions we can all take, at any age, to reduce our stress and spread the love, while putting a smile on someone’s face. These small acts of kindness are now becoming part of school curriculum’s, learn how!
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by L Young | Feb 7, 2014 | Blog
** This is a wonderful recipe for those “meatless Monday” meals, and the great thing is you can reserve half the mixture, chop the mushrooms, and put on top of a whole grain pizza crust the next night to get two meals for the time it takes to prepare one!
If you choose to do this, you may want to make extra and prior to adding the goat cheese, you can replace half the mixture with low fat mozzerella or Romano cheese which goes well on pizza. This recipe is very versatile in that you can replace the Farro with brown rice, and replace the goat cheese with another favorite, low fat white cheese.
Another 2nd meal option: use half the mixture plus the sliced or chopped mushrooms, for making vegetarian Quesadilla’s. Just put the mixture between two whole grain tortilla’s, bake, slice and serve!
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by L Young | Jan 30, 2014 | Blog
With flu season in full swing, heading to the local drug store for OTC relief is a common reaction. But do they really help? More often than not, we find ourselves feeling worse rather than better. After all, even dextromethorphan which is in common cold/flu formulas, have FDA warnings for children.
But there is one ingredient that may show relief for a sore throat, honey. This natural, sweet ingredient that is often used to sweeten tea, coffee, and some desserts can actually coat the throat to provide relief from a sore throat. Studies have shown that honey, when compared to some OTC sore throat and cough medicines, provides more relief in suppressing nighttime cough’s, especially in children.
Honey is also an antimicrobial, giving it other healing effects. Some studies show that taking 1-2 teaspoons of a good quality honey a day may help in preventing and/or shortening the length of a cold or sore throat. The important thing to remember is that your honey should be organic and I would suggest a local honey, if available.
Honey has been used for centuries for various health issues, including some of the darker honey’s like Manuka which has been found beneficial in healing wounds. So for the common cold or flu, having honey in the cupboard may be a good idea. You can always use it to sweeten your tea.
Just one word of Caution: Do not give honey to children under 1 years of age. There can be risks due to their underdeveloped immune system. As with any illness, always consult your physician when deciding on treatment.
I have added some favorite honey recipes for sore throat and cough symptoms.
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by L Young | Jan 17, 2014 | Blog
Does making a family dinner turn into a dreaded event in your household? If so, you may not be alone. More households are facing issues with putting healthy meals on the tables when faced with less time and picky eaters. As experts will tell you, enjoying quality meal time as a family is a great way to connect with each other on the day’s events, take in a healthy home cooked meal, and relish in the downtime. Ideally it can be as little as 15-20 minutes and include a quiet, electronic free meal.
How does this all happen if you have picky eaters (adults or children) and end up making separate meals or grabbing convenient fast foods to accommodate everyone? There is no doubt this can keep families from moving to healthier choices due to ease, little time, and avoiding confrontation at mealtime. But the results may not be worth it in the long run (increased negative impact on health, behavior, and increased resistance to change).
So what may be behind the reasons for picky eaters who are unwilling to try new things? You may be surprised to find out it’s not just be stubbornness.
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