Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This smoothie recipe is AMAZING for a fresh and energized morning.  And…it is so simple! Ingredients: 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt 1 cup Coconut Milk, use the kind you find by the milk in the store, not the kind in a can 1 cup fresh or frozen spinach 1 cup frozen strawberries (4-5) 1/2 frozen banana Directions: Place all ingredients in a blender, blend until smooth. Enjoy! Nutrition Information:  Total Calories: 221, Total Fat: 5 g, Total Carb: 40 g, Dietary Fiber: 3.5 g, Protein: 15 g  

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Yoga Benefits Body and Mind

By: Ingrid Wentzel, M.S. Body Positive Personal Training Studio Many students and clients come to me with a few misconceptions about yoga. One is the idea that doing yoga is all about being or becoming more flexible, but that’s just part of the story. What most of us think of as yoga is a collection of physical postures (or asanas) under the umbrella of Hatha yoga. Their purpose is to align skin, muscles and bones, creating a balance of strength and flexibility. They also open and stretch the spine so…

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Sun-dried Tomato Basil Pasta

As with most pasta dishes, they are a little higher in carbohydrates than some other dishes.  The key is to really watch your portions of the pasta!  This recipe is a great one to make and then portion into containers to freeze to eat for later.  You can also try some of the higher protein pasta options. Serves: 8 Total cooking time: About 30 minutes 1 Tbsp Olive Oil 2 Chicken Breasts, diced ½ tsp Salt ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper Note: You can substitute chicken sausage for chicken breast…

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Preventing Cancer: Highlights from LLS Seminar

I had the honor last night to speak for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Cancer Survivorship Seminar.  We had some other amazing speakers last night also including Dr. Arana Yi, Anastasia Estocin, and Kathryn Fearnside.  It was a wonderful evening of good food and fellowship with fellow survivors.  A special thank you to the LLS for organizing this wonderful event!  http://www.lls.org/who-we-are/about Healthy Lifestyle My portion of the seminar was of course on good nutrition both during chemotherapy and also after chemotherapy in the context of improving quality of life and length…

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Sweet Potato Fry Bowl

Have you heard of SUPERFOODS?  This recipe is loaded with 8 SUPERFOODS!  But more importantly, I think, is that it tastes amazing! What are they?  They are foods that are packed with tons of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants.  Antioxidants are these wonderful compounds that protect your body against all kinds of toxins and can prevent or slow down aging, chronic diseases, and cancers!  Who knew food this good for you could taste so amazing??? The superfoods in this recipe are in bold. 6 Servings Ingredients: 3 Medium…

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Healthy Snack Ideas

Healthy snacks

Healthy Snack Ideas It is so easy to grab a granola bar or some crackers for a snack when you feel like you need a boost, but is that really a healthy snack option?  Many of our go-to snacks tend to be heavily processed and are less than ideal for good nutrition.  So how can we change our habits and our snacks to help us succeed in our health goals.  Here are some easy tips and some ideas to get you started. Tips: #1 Make sure to include a good…

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How did we get so far from normal?

“Comparison is either wallowing or boasting, neither of which is helpful.”  –John Piper What would it be like if you never compared yourself to anyone else? Ever. Again. What if you ate to nourish your body for energy, health, and well-being? What if you stopped worrying about your weight and focused on eating healthy? I think the world would be a much different place. It seems we are never happy where we are, and we are always trying to look better. The images of what beautiful is go through our…

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Sugar Alcohols: Are they a Sweet Alternative to Sugar?

What are sugar alcohols? Sugar alcohols are found in many “sugar free” foods and low sugar or low calorie foods and beverages.  These products include sugar-free gum and candy, no sugar added ice creams, yogurts, and puddings, and some baked goods.  Their chemical structure consists of a simple carbohydrate attached to an alcohol group.  Some examples include lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol.  You can identify them by the -ol at the end of their name on the food label.  There has been a recent increase in the consumption…

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10 Tips for Better Sleep

Better sleep= Less weight More and more research is confirming that there is an inverse relationship when it comes to sleep and weight.  In general, this means, the less you sleep, the more you weigh.  Experts agree that adults should be getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night.  Some of us may have trouble getting in these much needed hours.  Here are 10 tips to help you achieve this goal.  Number 6 is so important for me! I didn’t even know I was a light sleeper until I had this…

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Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes

The whole family will love these made from scratch pancakes.  They are easy and taste delicious! Makes 10 pancakes (about 4” diameter) 1 cup Dry Whole Oats 1.5 cups Boiling Water 1 cup All Purpose Flour 2 Tbsp Sugar 2 tsp Baking Powder 1 tsp Cinnamon 2 Eggs 1 tsp Vanilla Extract ¼ cup + 1 Tbsp Milk 2 Tbsp Canola Oil In a large mixing bowl mix the oats with boiling water and let stand for 3-4 minutes.  In a separate small bowl, blend flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon. …

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