Nell Stephenson's Blog, page 35

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of the Day: Get Your Yoga On

Let’s face it: many, many people eat for reasons other than being hungry.

In fact, I think I could count the number of clients who honestly didn’t eat for any other reason other than their body telling them it was time to fuel up on one hand.

Whether you’re eating less than ideal foods at inopportune times in less than balanced macronutrient ratios and portions because you’re stressed out about the holidays, depressed about the holidays or have simply fallen into the mindset that by eating in a healthy manner, you’ll somehow miss out on enjoying the holidays to the fullest, this post is for you.

I have one word:

Yoga.

And while a killer yoga class at the local studio with a name like YogaButt may be a great workout, whatever and wherever you do for your practice, try to make sure there’s at least some element of a mind-body, soulful connection.

If you can calm your mind and leave class taking yoga with you, you’ll be less anxious and perhaps less likely to eat a whole chocolate bar instead of just a piece.   If you tune in and mellow out, braving the hustle and bustle at the mall will be that much easier and so, too, will be avoiding the ice-cream shop or donut kiosk.

You see where I’m going with this.

No matter how busy and stressful your life is, there’s got to be time for some kind of introspection, if only for a few minutes stolen during a pause between meetings in the office, or while the kids are napping.

Every little bit counts!

Namaste.

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of the Day: Pay it Forward

We choose to nourish our body with real, Paleo food.  We nourish our bodies by engaging in regular physical activity.   Let’s not forget one really important thing- nourishing our spirits and our hearts, by ‘doing unto others’.

Let’s keep in mind that not all of us can access fresh food or safe places to exercise, and think about how we might help correct this dilemma.

Here’s where I need your help.

I’d like to start creating more of an awareness of viable options by which to make more of an impact. I’ve suggested in the past broad ideas, like helping to set up a community garden or volunteering at local schools in your community to help implement physical activity.

Now, let’s put a plan together.

While I’d love the idea of creating my very own Paleo-based charity (imagine a foundation that would help get real, fresh, food to those who need it, educate society on all the benefits of eating this way and even funding studies to counter all those in-studio ‘experts’ we see in the media who tell us that Paleo ‘sounds good, but isn’t sustainable and there aren’t enough studies to show that Paleo cures ‘x’), the thing that makes more sense is to learn about existing charities and organizations and find out how to contribute to them.

So…tell me!

What charities do you contribute to?

Childhood obesity prevention?  Diabetes awareness?   Your local CSA?

I’d love to have a list of organizations to contribute to that have something to do with the broad message I’m trying to get out there- eat food, move, eat Paleo and so on so that others can begin to be aware and do their part, too!

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of the Day: Carrots Aren’t Just for Reindeer

I  know, carrots aren’t exactly the most exotic or exiting things to snack on, but just hear me out (can I still use that phrase if I’m writing?).

Given that things are particularly busy (it’s crunch time in terms of last minute holiday things!), and given that cooking and food prep can often take a back burner, why not go simple?

If you’re not finding the time to squeeze in your weekly (or more, preferably) hour in the pitch during which you’re getting your veggies, proteins and an array of go-to foods ready to keep in the fridge, now’s the time to resort to the path of least resistance:  foods that require very little time to prep.

I’m talking super basics- chopping celery, carrots, cucumbers & bell peppers.   Washing your whole pieces of fruit.   Broiling or baking your proteins in the simplest manner you can.

Not only will this set you up for a far smaller chance of going all day without eating, given that there’s a good chance many will be partaking a little more than usual at the office party, or a holiday cocktail hour, one might argue that keeping it super clean and a bit on the plain side during the day isn’t such a bad things.

So get out those carrots now…don’t save them just for Rudolph & his crew!

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of the Day: Cover it in Chocolate

Just kidding… I had to throw it in there.  After all, it is National Cover it in Chocolate Day.

Yikes.

To think of what people are going to come up with…you may have think you’ve seen it all once you’ve witnessed chocolate covered bacon, glanced at a package of chocolate covered kale chips, or checked out the chocolate covered diet (not kidding- this really exists).

No doubt, real chocolate is delicious, has health benefits and can be a part of a healthy Paleo regime.   Incorporating just a piece now and then of the real deal can be, for many, what keeps them on track and balanced in terms of appreciating all Paleo has to offer without the awful side effects one might experience if they had a chocolate baked item, a chocolate dairy item or an outright low quality chocolate item with all sorts of additives.

So rather than covering something in chocolate, choose each food you eat selectively, enjoy it for its own flavor as well as its healthy and environmental benefits (like buying locally and in season) and let raw, dark chocolate play its own role with the same perspective.

By the way, a beautiful glass of a full bodied, robust Cab can also be a part of a healthy Paleoista’s holiday regime…Just sayin’

PS:  Don’t bark up the wrong tree, either.   Check out Barefoot Provisions Chocolate Bark for a special treat!

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of The Day: Order in to Save Time! Introducing Paleoista Approved Fresh Food Delivery

Don’t get me wrong; in an ideal world, we’d all be going to our local farmer’s markets regularly and making cooking a daily part of our family’s routine.

However, given the busy nature of everyone’s schedules these days, and even more so during the holidays, sometimes it makes sense to order out.

And while I’m certainly not suggesting making a call to the local pizza shop for delivery would be a good idea, if time is of the essence and you’re simply not finding it to be practical to shop and cook, you may want to consider a food delivery service.

I’m thrilled to announce just such a service that not only offers 100% Paleo friendly food, but they do so using organic ingredients and they ship fresh, nationwide.  Repeat:  fresh, nationwide.  Not frozen.

Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

I’ve seen the kitchens in person and have tasted the fare for myself and I will share with you that it is, in fact, 100% Paleoista Approved.

Test it out now and see if having this deliciously healthy food brought to your doorstep doesn’t make all the difference in your daily regime if shopping and cooking have somehow snuck their way to the bottom of the priority list.

For some clients, incorporating a balance of some delivery and some home cooking proves to be the perfect balance.

It’s much easier to avoid those cookies and candies at the office if you’re well fueled with a real, Paleo breakfast and lunch!

Check it out today!

 

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of the Day: Start the Day with A Little Extra Protein

If you’re transitioning away from the Standard American Special to the healthy Paleo lifestyle, one thing that’s rather important to do sooner than later is to make sure you take a good look at the macro nutrients of your meals.

We’re conditioned to start the day with cereal, bagels or oatmeal as the ‘healthy’ choices and the protein options can sometimes go by the wayside, or be blurred as far as which are the better options, and which are not, so much.

Why now, at this time of year in particular?

Well, if you start the day with a sugar infusion (sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but even oats, bagels or whole grain toast have this effect) , you’re setting yourself up for a blood sugar spike, insulin response and then a series of more of the same all day long.

Come afternoon or dinner time when you may be squeezing in a trip to the mall for some harried gift shopping, it’ll be all that easier to inhale a cinnamon bun or a Christmas cookie if you’re tanking.

Instead, why not have some  pastured eggs over easy with steamed veggies, or some poached salmon and sautéed greens?   You’ll be more satiated, have better focus at work and a steadier energy level all day long, which will make it much easier to deal with the angry shopper who tried to steal your parking spot, or the grumpy clerk who couldn’t be bothered helping you find just the right perfume for your mom’s gift.

Ah, the magic of eating real, Paleo food!

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of the Day: Host A Holiday Paleo Party

Just don’t call it that…depending on who your crowd is, of course! It’s alluring to some and off-putting to others who may not understand what it’s really about…

While hosting a holiday party is clearly more time intensive than attending one, the beauty of doing so is that you’re in complete control of what’s being served.

And what exactly should you serve?

Sky’s the limit!

Some of my faves include an amuse bouche of chilled melon wrapped in uncured, pastured prosciutto, a fresh fig stuffed with a pecan, warmed ever so slightly in the oven with a touch of coconut oil melted on top; this could also be the perfect time for that special occasion bacon-wrapped date which is so delicious it’s just ridiculous.

Of course, there’s always the go-to: crudités with guacamole.  Not seasonally traditional, perhaps, but always a hit nevertheless.

In addition, a fresh fruit platter with raw sprouted nuts on the side, sprinkled with fresh pomegranate seeds offers a nice complement to the savory nature of the other offerings.

As far as drink?  A glass of vino or a neat, non-grain based spirit can be fitting.  Choose a potato-vodka, such as Chopin or Karlssen’s or even the grape-based Ciroq.  Another alternative is a neat tequila.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m certainly not a proponent of the idea that you have to have an alcoholic drink. Rather, knowing you can budget it in for a holiday occasion by balancing out the rest of the day’s intake with alkaline foods high in fiber and low in sugar can help many stack on their Paleo track during even the most outrageous festivities.

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of The Day: Don’t Forget the Visuals

Eating, drinking and celebrating are only a part of the holidays…what about decorating?

Taking the focus away from baking (or buying) treats and eating them and redirecting it to other festive activities can prove quite an effective tool for keeping spirits in the Christmas mood!

Christmas trees, wreaths, door swag, mistletoe, pinecones and poinsettia plants are only the beginning!

In fact, an interesting twist on an old go-to during the holidays, if you want to keep the holiday baking tradition alive,  can still be implemented, but instead of making stuff to eat, why not gear it towards making ornaments and decor for the tree?

Pop some pop corn, but rather than drizzled it with butter and pecking away at it, why not string it up and use it as tree garnish?

Make some sugar cookies but rather that eating them, thread a loop of sturdy string through and use them as ornaments, too.  (Don’t forget how close some baked items are to play-do; the recipes for bread and the children’s molding dough are nearly identical apart from the yeast!)

Let the visual component of the holidays be just as significant as the eating part and see if that doesn’t offset the feeling of wanting to eat that fudge or drink that eggnog, if only a little!

 

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of The Day: Set A Fun Goal

While you might have a goal of losing ten pounds, fifteen pounds, or more, that in and of itself is not exactly a fun goal.

Inherently, it conveys the words ‘diet’, ‘restriction’ and ‘deprivation’, none of which are exactly enticing at any time of year, let alone during the holidays.

So rather than have the number on the scale be the end all, why not add something a bit more intriguing?

How about signing up for your first 5k at the end of January?  Or maybe registering with your significant other for a trail race?  Whatever sounds fun and is going to get you moving is the ticket.

Having that on your calendar can sometimes be just the little extra impetus needed to carve out time in the day now to get in that morning run, or pop into the gym in between work and the mall for some holiday shopping.

Get those trainers on!

Healthy Paleoista Holiday Tip of The Day: Spice It Up, Drink It Up

Feeling tempted by that peppermint mocha?  Allured by the eggnog latte?

I get it.

I recall happy childhood memories of making eggnog during the holidays, whipping the eggs with a hand blender, suitable for a little girl to use, then topping it off with a dusting of freshly ground nutmeg.

And who doesn’t like the scent of chocolate and mint?

But wait…what to do if you’ve already eschewed the dairy and the sugar?  Are there any other options?

Yes, of course, and I’m not going to suggest simply chugging another bottle of Evian.

Think cinnamon sticks.  Think seasonal apples. Think hot cider!

Yes, it’ll contribute some sugar to the picture, but if you enjoy it after an afternoon snack with some salad and some protein-packed grilled chicken or salmon, it won’t affect your blood sugar nearly the way one of the other drinks offered at many a coffee shop during this time of year would.

Cheers!