Friday's Letters

Dear Blog, I am determined to write more those week. Determined with a capital D. Sorry for my absence. Dear Olympics, I'd appreciate it if you stayed alllll year long. Deal? Deal. Dear Sunsets, For some reason you have been unreal this week. Thanks for reminding me to stop and take in the beauty that is all around us. Dear Summer, You are just about over, and then it is back to the books. I can't even believe how fast it has gone!

Beat the Heat

It has been HOT in Utah lately. Even when it's raining, the temp stays in the upper 90s. It's tempting to grab some ice cream or a sugar loaded popsicle, and while those are fine on a occasion, I thought I'd give you some other options to work with.

Here is to healthy, yummy, frozen treats! 

Layered Fruit Gazpacho 

 

Cran-Orange Juice 

 

 Chocolate Dipped Frozen Yogurt Bites 

 

Peanut Butter Cookie Frozen Yogurt

 

Frozen Yogurt Pops 

Orange Creamsicle Frozen Yogurt

 

Which one will you try first? Stay cool!

 

 

Friday's Letters

Dear Garden Peas, I could eat you all day long. And no one is stopping me, so maybe I will. Dear Skating Class, you girls were so creative with your questions and answers during my nutrition class. Thanks for showing your excitement for learning and health! Dear Desk Chair, I need to get out of you more. It'd help my body and mind. And you make me wish I had an exercise ball to replace you. Dear Weekend, I'm looking forward to sunshine, a long run, reading and naps. Thanks for slowing me down and keeping me going. Dear Summer Survival Tips, we'd all be better off if we followed some of those tips. Here's to changing for the better!

 

Grab and Go

So it's the middle of the afternoon and your kids come running in from playing outside or from swimming saying their hungry. Right? Right. Here are some quick and easy snacks you can whip up or just have ready for them. It's great to give them these instead of other options that are a little less healthy and come in packages :)

First up, the simple and common celery and peanut butter (or almond butter). Slice it up and slather on some PB and you're good to go. Know you don't have to totally fill the celery...PB has enough flavor that if you just line it, the kids will still love it. And go for the nature stuff, please! You can also add some raisins on top to make ants on a log, if you wish.

Next up, try these banana treats. Slice up a banana and put a dollop of PB on top, then a dollop of melted chocolate on top. Pop them in the freezer for about 30 minutes (or until the kids come inside) and they have have a cold, yummy treat!

Last up, here is a simple whole wheat quesadilla you can make. This one is filled with chicken and cheese, with a little cheese on top. You can make it even better by filling it with some veggies (think chopped sweet peppers, onions, tomato) and cheese, or just have plain cheese and dip it in salsa. You can slice it up like a pizza and share with everyone!

So there ya have it. Try some new snacks that the kids will like, you will like, and are a bit more healthy than the normal go-tos on those hot summer afternoons.

Have a great week!

All Day Long

Last week I started a summer internship for KSL, working with the HR department to create a wellness program for the employees. I already love it and am so excited for what the summer will bring!

With that internship, though, comes sitting at a desk from 9 to 5. This is my first time ever doing a desk job like that for a full day. So based off my large amount of experience (ha) I thought I'd share some things that we should ALL be doing ALL DAY LONG, whether you have a desk job or a busier day.

1. Drink Water: I take a water bottle with me to work and make a goal to drink it all the way once before lunch and once before I leave to go home. There are so many benefits to drinking water, and having a water bottle at my desk makes it easy.

2. Move: Every hour or so I make sure I take a break. Sometimes that means simply standing up and stretching, or other times I go walk a couple flights of stairs to get my body moving. It is good for your body and your mind!

 

3. Eat: You've heard me talk about eating small meals throughout the day and never skipping breakfast. Lots of people skip meals and end up eating their largest meal at night. Even if you aren't going over your calorie limit for the day from that late night meal, you're cheating yourself of extra burn during the day. Without fuel, your metabolism will slow down to the slowest it can go. So when you eat breakfast on the run, skip lunch and then get home and eat a big meal...you just revved up your metabolism for a few short hours before bed. Think about how much more you could be burning if you kept your metabolism up all day. So eat a good breakfast, eat small snacks through the day, and come home to a normal sized dinner of lean protein and vegetables. 

 

4. Smile & Laugh: Enjoy what you do, or find things that you can enjoy even if you're not the happiest in your current situation. Life is too short to not smile and laugh your way through it. 

~What do you do every day that helps you live a healthier life?