Summer is coming and boy, do I love to scoop up the sunshine! It is a definite mood-booster and a natural way to get the vital vitamin D for improving your immune system and bone health. However, we have to be careful with those golden rays. Too much UV exposure from the sun can cause accelerated aging, wrinkles and cancer. Who wants that? The key is to strike a balance. We can protect our skin with hats, sunscreen and eat the foods that have UV protective powers. I bet you didn’t know ...
Say Hello to Healthy Summer Shrimp!
Whether skewered on kabobs, tossed in salads or dipped in a cocktail sauce, shrimp is a quintessential summer food. It’s no wonder shrimp has become our most popular seafood, since it is easy to prepare and can be dressed up or down. Shrimp is great way to get in your weekly 8 ounces of seafood. A lean source of protein, shrimp has virtually no saturated fat. While shrimp is high in dietary cholesterol, nutritionists and scientists agree that unless dietary cholesterol intake is combined ...
A Side Dish for Memorial Day
Amy is celebrating all that May has to offer this week, including a delicious new carrot salad. Eat well! -- Denise May brings Memorial Day, the beginning of the summer cookout season. Did you know that May is also Celiac Awareness Month? To celebrate, my family and I had dinner at Burton’s Grill. When you have family members with allergies or food sensitivities, eating out can be both challenging and intimidating. With Burton’s, I love that we never feel like we are being difficult ...
Why You Should Give Mom Dark Chocolate
Earlier this week, I christened my new kitchen with an Energized Body Cinco De Mayo party. It was a fun event, combining all the things I love - bringing people together, noshing on fresh delicious food and sharing information. Traditional (not Americanized) Mexican fare was served. These were the favs: the Fresh Margaritas, the Jicama Salad with Watercress, Radishes and Chiles, and no surprise, the Dark Chocolate Pine Nut Torte. Now we have been hearing that dark chocolate is good for ...
Overindulged? 3 Strategies to Get Back On Track
We have all been there before - holidays, vacations, and parties add up and before we know it, we have had too many sweets, rich foods or cocktails. Celebrating with family and friends is always good but there comes a time when we need to return to our healthy routine. These are three strategies that I use when I need to get back on track. It is also how I like to start my Mondays. 1. Go Green! Start your morning with a Green Smoothie - to give your body a jolt of power nutrients that is easy ...
Easter Brunch Starters
One of my favorite pleasures in life is gathering with the family to celebrate the holidays. Getting everyone around the table and enjoying a beautiful, delicious meal is pure heaven to me :) Growing up in Indiana, Easter was always a welcome celebration after the quiet, reflective period of Lent and the grey of winter. Following Easter mass, we would gather with all our cousins and attend a big Easter brunch hosted my grandmother. Excited to be wearing a new spring outfit, eating jelly beans ...
Prep A Lasagna Dinner in 15 minutes!
Have you ever had one of these days: you roll home at 6:00 pm with no plan for dinner. Your kids return from practice, hungry and asking “What’s for dinner, Mom? I’m starving!” Is your answer “I don’t know” or worse, "Takeout, again"? I have been there so many times that now I always make sure I have a few key items in my kitchen. It allows me to respond to my hungry teenage son this way: “We’re having lasagna”. Now everybody is happy -- who doesn't love lasagna? Typically, when you hear the ...
Gluten-Free Pantry
Amy's admiring her pantry this week. Come see what she's doing right! -- Denise My family recently celebrated our gluten-free anniversary. Looking back at the changes we have made during the past year has been pretty awe-inspiring. The idea of keeping our home completely gluten-free was daunting at first but now it seems like the “same old, same old.” And having two celiacs who are symptom free? Awesome. What were our tricks to success? 1. Get a clean start The most important thing we ...
Detox Day One
Curried Butternut Squash Stew I have always loved food and cooking. I still remember my very first Peanut's Cook Book and making Lucy’s Lemon Squares for my dad every Father's Day. When I became a nurse, I started learning more about the link between food and health. But it wasn’t until I became a mom that I started thinking of food as medicine. We lead such busy lives that committing to healthy habits can be a real challenge. Believe me, I know first-hand! To stay consistent, I created ...
Let Go, Lose Weight
For Christians, early spring brings the 40 days of Lent. As a kid, I didn’t look forward to it. Lent began with ashes on your forehead and having to give up candy for what seemed like forever! Now, I actually look forward to it. It’s a time to be quiet, reflect and let go of some of the routines or habits that can inhibit true personal and spiritual growth. This year, I gave up alcohol for Lent. I will admit that I was a little scared that I couldn’t stick to it. Would I have as much fun at ...