Healthy Junk Food?

I have been doing a Spring Greens Cleanse since last week, and the food on this cleanse mostly comprises greens and spring veggies (kale, arugula, fennel, watercress, asparagus) and some lighter grains (quinoa and millet). I love all that stuff, so it’s been really fun and I feel great eating all this seasonal food.

But this morning I cheated (sshhhhhhhh!) and enjoyed a bowl of junk food: some leftover quinoa reheated with stewed apples and cranberries, and topped with cinnamon, cloves, and sunflower seeds. I just started laughing out loud because of how guilty I feel that eating this food was cheating. Now don’t get me wrong. My version of cheating is not always this annoying… I LOVE chocolate (here’s one place to get your lovely raw chocolate) and I’ve been known to indulge in a bison burger with bacon and bleu cheese from time to time as well.

Since this morning, I've been thinking about how subjective the concept of “junk food” is, and that it is certainly relative to what our normal diet is at any given time. Even though when I say “junk food” you may instantly think about pizza, chips, and candy bars, I bet we all have a few healthy favorites that feel like junk food. (If not, I'll begin writing some recipe posts soon, so stay tuned for those!)

What’s your healthy “junk food”?  Can this healthy treat of yours become your “go-to junk food”?

I’m not sure that we can (or should) do it all the time, but if every once in a while we can substitute one of those bacon-bleu burgers for a nice home-cooked meal and one of those candy bars for a homemade whole fruit-based dessert, then I think we’re headed in the right direction.

Final thought:  If you’ve just got to have that junk food you’re craving, then what about this… Consider making your junk food at home. Homemade food is always better for us than whatever we might buy at the gas station or fast food restaurant -- at least you know what’s in there! And, if you have to make it yourself, you’re less likely to give in to that junk food craving every time it rears its ugly head. But if you do give in every once in a while and indulge in that pizza or candy bar, then be sure to take your time and enjoy it without guilt -- otherwise, it's just not worth it.

Eat Well.  Live Well.  Be Well.

Happy Earth Day!

Today is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. What a great day to set some new intentions about food and exercise. Maybe you can make personal committments to get outside to exercise and enjoy the warmer weather and to purchase local, sustainable, and seasonal foods as much as possible. Or maybe you'd like to take actions towards creating that backyard garden you've been thinking about? However you choose to honor yourself and the environment today, have a Happy Earth Day!

Eat Well.  Live Well.  Be Well.

What’s Your Sleep Story?

 

I woke up this morning feeling particularly well rested. I slept for about 8 hours last night and had the luxury of not forcing myself out of bed early this morning. And this well-rested feeling got me thinking about the importance of good sleep.

I have had an interesting relationship with sleep throughout my life. I’m told that, as a kid, I avoided sleep as long as at least one other person in the world was still awake (didn’t want to miss out on anything, you know?). I don’t remember being that obstinant (and can’t imagine it). My memories of sleep from childhood include nightmares about the Wizard of Oz (tornados and angry apple trees), sleep walking, sleep talking, and waking up with my feet on my pillow. As an adult, I experience periodic bouts of insomnia (not fun!) but other times I can’t seem to get enough sleep. And I still have the occasional tornado nightmare.

What’s your sleep story?

We all have different needs when it comes to sleep, but the average person should probably be getting between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night. Recently, though, Harvard Medical School reported that a survey found that an increasing number of Americans are sleeping less than 6 hours per night and that 75% of Americans experience some sort of sleep difficulties several times a week. This is troubling because many studies have demonstrated that sufficient sleep is important for maintaining good health. Lack of sleep has been linked to many conditions including poor memory, moodiness, increased risk of accidents (at work and while driving), poor metabolic function and weight gain, immune suppression, disrupted hormone function, and hypertension.

Many factors can influence our ability to get a good night’s sleep, including seasonal changes, emotions, stress, caffeine, medications, and our sleep environment. Because sleep is so important to your overall health, take a moment to reflect on your own sleep patterns and consider the following recommendations for getting good sleep:

1. Develop a regular schedule of sleeping/waking times.
2. An Ayurvedic approach recommends going to bed between 9:30 and 10:30pm and waking up between 5:30 and 6:30am. (Those of you who know me will be surprised to learn that I have experimented with this schedule and really loved it, but you have to make it a habit!)
3. Avoid alcohol and food for 2-3 hours prior to bedtime.
4. Exercise: regular exercise can help regulate your sleep.
5. Allow yourself to wake up without an alarm clock whenever possible (at least weekends?).
6. Minimize noise and light in your sleep environment.
7. Avoid extreme temperatures in your sleep environment.
8. Caffeine: avoid caffeine for 4-6 hours prior to bedtime and limit overall use of caffeine.
9. Avoid television and computer screens for at least 1 hour prior to bedtime.
10. Develop a bedtime ritual – this might include enjoying a calming cup of herbal tea or a relaxing bath or shower before bedtime.

 Eat Well.  Live Well.  Be Well.  Sleep Well.

The Science of Living a Healthy Life

Sunday’s New York Times Magazine (4/18/10) featured a collection of articles under the heading The Science of Living a Healthy Life. You can access these articles online and read about: (1) the importance of exercise for weight loss; (2) how the quality of your relationships can affect your physical health; (3) the effects of estrogen replacement therapy; and much more.

These are interesting articles, but as is always the case, it is important to read what these authors have to say and consider the information in the context of your own experiences. For instance, when reading “Weighing the Evidence on Exercise”, you may get the sense that there is a great range of responses to exercise in terms of its effects on weight loss, appetite, energy levels, and mood. This can be confusing, but it is not surprising because our responses to just about everything we experience in life can depend on our own unique collection of characteristics, including our gender, age, overall health history, diseases and medications, sleep patterns, and so much more. (By the way, read all the way through the “Weighing the Evidence on Exercise” article – I found the second half especially interesting.)

So then, what do we do when the information out there seems ambiguous? That’s when we need to read (or listen) mindfully, and to purposely not hold on to anything as “The Truth”. Take in what you read, consider how it relates to what you already know, and then listen to what your body and mind say is right for you.

What is true for you? ... What role does exercise play in your life?  Do you find that your relationships can affect your physical health?

Enjoy the day.  Eat Well.  Live Well.  Be Well.

Food Revolution

The fifth episode of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution aired last night on ABC.  If you haven't already been watching it, you can catch up with previously aired episodes on Hulu.  His message and the actions he takes to get real food into public schools are fantastic.  And when you have 20 minutes to spare, check out Jamie's TED Prize Wish talk about obesity and teaching all children about food.  Very difficult stuff, but also very inspirational. 



Have a lovely Saturday.   Eat well.  Live well.  Be well.

Stay Tuned...

Welcome.  Thanks for stopping by.  Stay tuned as I get this new blog up and running with thoughts and advice on healthy living, mindful eating, cooking, relaxation and self-care practices, and more. 

In the meantime, if you are interested in learning about what I do as a Holistic Health Coach, visit my website where you can contact me to schedule a FREE health consultation.