Inspiration for the Day

To My 16 Year Old Self

My little sister turns 16 years old today and I'll be 40 next month.  As I thought about what I've learned since I was her age, I was inspired to take a moment and express what I'd say to myself at that age.  Here's what I came up with...

This was me as a teen (might have been 17 here).

Dear Me,
Life gets better.  It also gets worse.  You'll survive.  Your mom knows a lot more than you think she does.  Try to love her back as much as she loves you.  Be patient with yourself and others.  Enjoy your uncomplicated life - trust me, it's uncomplicated right now.  Work hard and pay attention - your education is worth it.  Save some money every month.  Give away some of your money every month and a lot of your time.  Be a good friend.  Believe me, your thighs are great - don't worry so much about how your body looks to others.  Mostly, they're just worrying about how their body looks to you.  But eat more vegetables anyway.  Wait for God's best for you in a husband and never date a boy who doesn't love Jesus.  Protect your heart and your body.  Dedicate them to God along with your mind and He will guide your path.  God has a wonderful plan for your life, trust Him.
I love you,
Me

What would you tell your 16 year old self?  Be healthy!

Prepare to Be Over-run With Zucchini

Today is National Zucchini Bread Day.  Seriously, I didn't make that up (but someone else may have).  I actually think they should have this day mid to late summer.  Since it's the beginning of the vegetable garden season in my part of the world, I've recently planted my tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.  I'm  trying to decide what else to add.  I've grown zucchini successfully in the past and it's a lot of fun...plus a prolific producer!  In fact, I almost always have more zucchini than I know what to do with.  But I do love bread.  And I love zucchini bread.  Vegetables in my bread? Heck yeah! 

Big zucchini like this one are perfect for bread (and not much else!).

Here's a quick list of some of the recipes I might try with my future bounty.  You too! 
Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread with Cinnamon and Dark Chocolate Chunks from the Simple Bites Blog (um, yes, please)
Zucchini Bread from Smitten Kitchen
This basic Zucchini Bread recipe from Cooking Light - maybe in muffin form...yeah, muffins.

Of course, the great thing about modern grocery shopping is that you can (if you want it) get zucchini nearly year-round. It will be freshest, cheapest and most delicious in late summer when it's fresh from your local garden...but if you can't wait, I can think of a hundred worse things you could do than eat some now.  Enjoy.  Be healthy!

Setting Limits on Sugar

Most people eat too much sugar.  Sugar in and of itself is not bad.  I don't think any food is bad.  I do think that any food that you over eat, which doesn't provide substantive nutrition needs limits.  This past weekend, many people over-indulged in Easter candy.  Chocolate bunnies, "creme" filled eggs, and marshmallow chicks added hundreds of calories to the weekend total for children and whole families.  I ate too much.  I know it's not good for me, but it tastes so good!

Did you know that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that most people limit added sugar to 10% of total calories?  This adds up to about 12 teaspoons per day.  They go further to suggest that additional benefit would come from limiting to 5% or less - just 6 teaspoons per day.  One teaspoon of granulated sugar is about 4.2g. 

 

Added sugar is any sugar that isn't naturally occurring - it's usually listed on the label, but it isn't separated from naturally occurring sugar.  If you're eating food that's in its natural state, not overly processed, and/or has few ingredients, it's easy to determine what has added sugar and what doesn't.

I'm going to start tracking my added sugar intake.  I have never done this, so it'll be a fun experiment.  Limiting sugar has many benefits, including helping to control blood sugar, reduce the chances of dental cavities, and helping maintain weight. I'll be sure to share my findings.  Be healthy!

Easter Weekend Recap

What a busy weekend!  Not only was it Easter weekend, but I also hosted a last-minute reception for my parents to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.  It was lots of fun.  I only I wish I'd thought of it sooner.  Still, it was wonderful to be with them and with other friends and family!  Then, for Easter day, my folks hosted the whole family for lunch and Easter egg hunting for the children.  Since my little guy is so very little, we didn't hunt eggs...and we were very late because he was napping (and we never wake a sleeping baby!).  Even so, we were there to enjoy food (I made this) and fellowship and to watch some of the kids jump into the swimming pool!  Crazy.  Here are just a few fun shots of the weekend...I should have taken more pics. 

Arranging colorful veggies in a pretty row makes for a lovely presentation. Served with hummus.

The fruit tray was piled with strawberries, grapes, kiwi, and pineapple.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I believe!

The Easter Bunny filled our baskets and brought my little punky a chick-chick!

Strawberry "bunnies" made even breakfast festive for Easter!

It was a wonderful weekend.  What I didn't say...yet, is that I also may have eaten a TON of Easter candy and may have to put myself on a bit of chocolate restriction to recover from the sugar coma.  zzzzz...Be healthy!

Easter Planning

Easter is Sunday!  I love Easter.  It is a time to focus on the hope of the cross.  Jesus died on the cross to make a way for sinful man (and this woman) to be reconciled to God.  Without his sacrifice, I would be responsible for paying a debt that I could never afford.  Instead, Jesus took my place once and for all making a way.  I'm so grateful for Jesus.  If you don't have plans for Easter, join me for church - no matter where you are. 

In addition to the blessings of the Easter season, it's one more reason to get together with my family!  I love our family gatherings.  We usually have a houseful and you know what that means...lots of food.  I've been charged with the salad - my usual dish.  I'm thinking of either a Strawberry Spinach Salad, Greek Salad, Cabbage and Radish Slaw with Peanut Dressing or Pea Salad with Radish and Feta Cheese.  Check out all of the recipes on by Pinterest Salads and Veggies board.  What do you think I should take?

Good Morning

Good morning. It's COLD in Atlanta today. Like freezing cold. Thank God it's not raining or we would have snow - again. I could complain, whine, or fuss. Instead, I choose to make it a good morning and focus on gratitude. I'm a believer that we can't be both grateful and discontent at the same time...and there are ALWAYS things to be grateful for I have only to look around. Choose happiness. Be healthy!

Happy Tax Day!

I know...that's an oxymoron.  At least it is for me this year.  Seriously, at least if you're bummed about tax day, it probably means you made some money.  I can put a happy spin on anything.  If it makes you feel any better, according to the Today Show...you can deduct money you spent to lose weight (if you have a medical need to do so).  And if you didn't do it this year...there's always next year.  =)  Be healthy!

Returning from Vaca...

Just returned from a wonderful business trip followed by an actual, real, serious, disconnected kind of vacation.  I'm totally re-energized, jazzed and focused!! 

This trip, I really made a conscious effort to disconnect when I could.  I worked in the morning, when everyone else was relaxing and waking up, then I disconnected and focused on my family.  It was glorious.  I thought it would be hard to do it.  But it was easy, worthwhile, and wonderful.  We made memories that cannot be replaced - many firsts for my little guy, including first swim in a pool, first time at the beach, first kisses for Grandpa.  Can't wait for the next trip!

Until then, I'm back with a sincerely recharged verve for my work and my life.  I'm reminded that in order to be really good at taking care of others, I have to take time to care for myself.  =)

What about you? Do you disconnect?  What does it look like for you?  Relax.  Deep breathe.  Be healthy!

What will you do?

 

What will you do?  Be healthy!

Happy Peanut Butter and Jelly Day!

I love PB&J.  It regularly makes it into my routine as breakfast, snack and lunch...once it a blue moon, it will even work for supper!  In my house, we have no less than half a dozen jars of peanut butter at any given time.  My sweet MIL makes homemade jelly, so we always have that too.  Makes the best PB&J anywhere.  Of course, my real favorite is PB&B - peanut butter and banana. 

Peanut butter is an awesome food to add to your diet.  It packs in protein, mostly good fats, tons of vitamins and minerals...and it tastes great.  It also makes other things taste great (like veggies and noodles with spicy peanut sauce).  Peanut butter is satisfying, so a little goes a long way toward helping you feel fuller longer.  Two tablespoons is a serving and provides about 190 calories and 8 delicious grams of protein.

I thought on this most auspicious day, it would be fun to share three yummy recipes from around the web to encourage you to celebrate deliciously...enjoy!

PB&J Smoothie from BHG

Gluten-free PB&B Pancakes from Cooking Light

 

 PB&J Overnight Oats from Eating Bird Food

These are all great ways to start your day...of course, around here we have breakfast for supper about once a week, so...yeah.  Happy PB&J Day!  Be healthy!

Disclosure: The National Peanut Board is one of my clients.  They're awesome and represent America's peanut farmers.  They didn't pay me to write this post and it is not officially affiliated with them.  I wrote it because I really do <3 PB&E (E=Everything). If you do want to keep up with my official peanut posts, follow me on Twitter and Pinterest!

April Fool's Day

Are you familiar with a fool?  No, not the kind that makes people laugh (or cry, depending on the circumstances).  The kind you eat!  It's an old English dessert of pureed sweet fruit folded into whipped cream.  Decadent, for sure, but also super pretty and a little goes a long way.  Here's a fun post from Joy of Cooking about Fruit Fools. 

http://www.joyofbaking.com/EnglishFruitFool.html

And since today's a day for fools...might as well have it for dessert.  But just a little.  Be healthy!