Hello, Sunshine

It has been in the 70’s the past few days…absolutely wonderful. I’ve been able to run and bike outside and go on walks without freezing. Love it!

In honor of Cinco de Mayo (and that fact that a friend gave me a ripe avocado), I made a little fresh salsa!

Last year my family planted a salsa garden. I can’t wait to have that this year too! For now, I used the local grocery store as my salsa garden.

black beans, avocado, lemon juice, jalapeno peppers, cilantro,
tomatoes, bell pepper

Making fresh salsa is simple and pretty individualized. You can do what you want with different ingredients, and it can be different every time! Here is what I did this time:

First I chopped up the avocado and added the fresh lemon juice in with it in a separate bowl. (and I let the lemon slices sit in there while I did the other stuff)

Then I just started chopping! Tomato first, then bell pepper and jalapeno.


Next add the black beans (with a little more tomato)


And finally, the avocado and cilantro on top!


Mix it all together and eat up! Have a fun weekend!

~What are your favorite ingredients for salsa?

~Do you grow a garden? What’s the best thing you grow?

P.S. Check out this recipe…perfect with my salsa!

Some Keepers

Want some nifty snack ideas? Well the sweet people at 34 degrees sent me some samples of their whole grain and rosemary crackers…they call them crispbread.

Only 3 ingredients!

I did what any good blogger would do and called out my professional taste tester:

(aka…my brother)

He was a fan of the whole grain crackers with some cheese on them. The rosemary, not so much.



Want some other good ideas for snacks? I like things with few ingredients and real ingredients.

Try a Trio Bar!




How about some Triscuits?




Or some Larabars!




All of these are great options! So branch out a bit, try something new…something new AND healthy!

~Are you a snacker, or more into eating a few bigger meals?
**I’m a snacker. I like to eat smaller amounts throughout the day. That doesn’t mean I eat all day though…just space it out evenly.

~My anatomy professor left us with a cool quote that I thought I’d share…it’s about appreciating our bodies as the miraculous things they are: "People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering."
What are you going to do to show you appreciate your body this week?

Snack Attack

Often times, when people are trying to lose weight or get healthy they have a good handle on meal times. They learn how to create well balanced meals with protein, carbs and loads of veggies. They even have a handle on exercise, knowing how much to do and what to do on certain days. Where they fall short? Those in-between meal times where they walk into the kitchen ready to eat whatever is in sight.

Beware. It can make or break your success. 

So this week, I challenge you to

plan your snacks!

Really. I think we often think of planning and preparation for the week and we make lists of meals and exercise schedules. But do you plan what you will grab when you get that nagging feeling at 3:00 pm? 

So this week, instead of just grabbing that bag of chips, followed by a granola bar and some pretzels, (those foods don’t have to be bad, but all of them at once? no thanks.) know what to grab BEFORE it happens. This could also mean packing a snack to put in your bag or backpack if you know you'll be gone awhile. Then there is no need to visit those darn vending machines!

Here are some easy snack ideas:

• home made granola bars
• crave something salty? try some air popped popcorn with a little sea salt
• crave something crunchy? try a handful (about 10 – 12) of almonds or a bigger handful (20-25) of pistachios
• one of my favorites: celery with peanut butter!
• 1/2 c. of cottage cheese with some peaches
• baby carrots and hummus
• a hard boiled egg with some sliced sweet peppers
• 10 crackers with little slices of turkey or cheese on it
• apple and peanut butter
• 1/2 c. yogurt with fruit
• green smoothie
  

There are so many options! Just don’t go grazing. That usually leads to unhealthy choices and over eating. A snack should be small enough to make you hungry again in a few hours, but not so small that you are hungry before the next meal. Try drinking lots of water while you snack too…it will help you stay full AND hydrated. Happy snacking!

~What are your favorite go to snacks?