Laura is back this week, with a great take on gazpacho. It features watermelon, the ultimate summer fruit! -- Denise It’s hard to believe summer is almost over! I am so happy I met Denise when I did so I could feel healthier for the warm weather. Her healthy eating system has enabled me to 1) fit into my summer wardrobe and 2) feel inspired to be active outside. My 2-year-old daughter and I have come up with a great routine in our week. Friday night is “girl’s night,” while dad is ...
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 ...
3 Tips for a Healthy Holiday
Winter is upon us -- brrrr! Cold weather coupled with the busy holiday season can be taxing on our immune system, which can cause us to get sick, leaving us not so jolly. Although there are many great strategies and power foods to strengthen your immune system, today we will focus on my top three, specifically designed to keep you healthy during the often hectic holiday season. 1. Lather Up! Washing your hands is crucial for preventing illness -- get in the habit before leaving a public ...
Exotic Coconut Pumpkin Soup
Thanksgiving is upon us and that means it's pumpkin-time. Pumpkin is everywhere - lattes, pies, muffins! Although it is a healthy vegetable, giving us vitamin A and C, it is usually paired with sugar and fat, which completely counter all of its goodness! Instead of the traditional pumpkin pie, I was looking for a different way of bringing our good friend the pumpkin to my Thanksgiving table that highlighted all of its nutritional goodness. Did you realize that a big ol’ slice of Pumpkin pie a ...
If I had breast cancer, I would eat…
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, and as I listen to the statistics of women diagnosed, I ponder the reality that it could happen to me. I can’t help but wonder, what would I do? What power foods would I eat to strengthen my immune system? What I do know is that we have incredible power over our health. Even if there are genetic factors involved, our lifestyle can have an effect on whether or not those genes are expressed. That being said, cancer is a stinker and can appear in even the ...
Think outside the Strawberry Short Cake!
Strawberries are still in abundance and I can’t stop eating them. So let’s do some culinary exploring! Most people use strawberries as a dessert or just sprinkled in their cereal. That’s all good, but with the health benefits that they offer and deliciousness, I like to find other creative ways of getting them into my day. Not to mention, they make anything beautiful with that pop of red! Here are some recipes to get you thinking about strawberries in a different way. And since both of ...
Soup for the Win!
Spring time = Busy Sport Season for Families Are you trying to figure out how to feed your family a healthy meal while shuffling your kids to their various sports? Don’t reach for the fast food. Think Soup! You can make it ahead of time, scoop up a bowl pre-game, post-game or even bring it to the game in a thermos and enjoy while you are watching the game. The beauty of soup is that it is simple and you can make it into a complete power meal by adding greens, lean protein, and a ...
Almost there! Healthy Holidays!
The best way to handle the stress of the final run up to the holidays? Be prepared! For me, that means thinking and cooking ahead. When will you need some extra time? Be it morning or night, I've got some tricks up my holiday sleeves that I would like to share with you. Smoothie for Breakfast: make mine a double! Nothing starts the day off right like a healthy, color- and vitamin-infused Kale Pineapple Smoothie. So tasty, your kids will drink them; so energy-filled, you'll swear by them. ...