Perfect example: last night I was working on my taxes with my husband Bruce and the TV was playing in the background.  We had an early dinner, about 6:15.  Mind you, it was really healthy — turkey meatloaf, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and quinoa tabouli.  I was priding myself on the fact that it was light and delicious, I ate just the right amount and I felt satisfied. Throw in the fact that we leisurely ate at the table, a friend stopped by and we all caught up on our days, and I just had to chalk it up to an enjoyable experience.

But when I fast forwarded several hours, I was seriously getting hungry.  My first inclination was to get some of my favorite gluten-free snack: Mary’s Gone Crackers.  We have a stash of the herb crackers and they’re perfect with hummus.  Then I entertained the idea of some gluten-free bread with peanut butter or an apple.

But then I thought twice and reached for water instead.

Whenever I eat late at night, I never sleep as well. Sometimes I feel restless, sometimes I seem to have the oddest dreams and sometimes it feels like I wake up feeling tired.  The truth of the matter is that our bodies do best when we go to bed having had time to digest our food. Eating late means they’re often working over time as we sleep to digest things instead of simply resting.

Water is great because it can fill you up and nip hunger pangs in the bud. And no, I don’t mean I drank a gallon, just a 10 ounce glass.  Even better, drinking the water didn’t disturb my sleep, I didn’t drink so much that I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, and I felt great when I woke up this morning.

The trick for me is to pause before I act. Instead of just mindlessly grabbing and gobbling up a snack, I took the time to think through what was most important for me.

What do you do to stave off late night hunger? Have you ever tried drinking water as a simple solution to nip snacking in the bud?

Even though we’ve been practicing clean eating for quite some time, his realization about our lifestyle really solidified that not only is he doing it (and liking it) but that his awareness has changed and increased.  And the best part is that it’s not about me beating him over the head with constant messages about clean eating.   Much to the contrary, it’s been an easy progression of subtle lifestyle changes over time. 

For example, we recently watched the movie Food Inc, an indictment of the food industry that makes you question just about every aspect of what you’re putting into your mouth.  Food Inc shares the powerful message that we should all increase our awareness about the source of our food.  Does it come from a factory farm or a local farmer where animals are treated with respect? Are many of things you’re eating genetically modified or are you eating clean, whole foods that aren’t processed?

We watched the movie and next thing I know, Bruce suggested that we stop buying meat in the grocery store and only buy it from one of several local farmers.  Mind you, we don’t eat tons of meat to begin with but I couldn’t help but appreciate the earnestness in which he responded to the movie and his thoughtfulness about our health.

Half of clean eating for me, is the willingness to shift your mindset and see other possibilities. It’s almost about envisioning a healthy future you’d like to have and seeing clean eating as a vehicle to help you get there. My simple mantra: prevention, prevention, prevention.  Clean eating is the means by which we’re creating the healthy life we want to enjoy, especially as we age.  It’s such a simple approach through which you can reap a myriad of benefits, not the least of which is a whole new level of awareness about what you’re eating and how that’s affecting you and the environment.

What discoveries have you uncovered on your clean eating journey? How has increasing your awareness about the food your eating helped you make some healthy changes?

Although I’ve been practicing clean eating for quite some time, and find it easy to make the time to plan, shop for and prepare healthy meals made with fresh, whole foods, keeping things organized at home has been another story.   For years, I’ve been in varying levels of disorganization that have left me feeling anxious, overwhelmed and less than healthy.  I would spend my fair share of time thinking about my piles of paper and clutter, I’d obsess over how I could get on top of it once and for all, and I’d easily fall into a state of overwhelm.

I’ve had clients like this before who struggled with eating cleaner foods but found the task so overwhelming that they never progressed very far.  Together, however, we’d find ways to simplify the process and break down the steps to creating a clean eating lifestyle that sticks. 

It was the same thing for me with getting organized. First I had to decide that I was ready, willing and able to make some changes. Then I hired an organizer who helped me create simple systems that work for my life.  And after consulting with someone who built me a proper desk, cabinets and workspace, I’m finally unearthing, throwing away and organizing years worth of  clutter.  This is all about a clean working space that helps me be more productive, focused and ultimately, healthier. What a concept! My whole life feels lighter and less burdened by the combination of clean eating and a clean workspace.

And you know what else? All the worrying and anxiety that kept me focused on what wasn’t working, has freed me up to be a lot more creative in the kitchen.  I’m having big fun creating delicious clean eating recipes that are feeding my body and soul. Who knew that cleaning up one’s space could have such an impact on other parts of one’s life.

What about you, what parallels do you see between clean eating and de-cluttering your own space? How do both of these initiatives help you to create a healthier lifestyle?

Despite my best efforts, however, there are days when I can’t always create a home cooked meal.  Some weeks simply get busier than I anticipate and by the end, I may be running out of food or time.  I find this usually happens at the end of the week when I’m running out of lunch options and I’m in between appointments in need of sustenance that’s healthy.

So my back up plan to support clean eating is all about keeping healthy frozen meals on hand for when I just can’t find a better, quicker option. One of my favorites is Kashi’s Mayan Harvest Bake. It’s a vegan entree with plantains (one of  my favorites), black beans, sweet potato and kale served over their 7 whole grain pilaf.  As frozen meals go, this has got to be one of my favorites — high in fiber, good source of plant-based protein, it’s all natural and the sodium isn’t sky high as in some frozen entrees.   The plantains are pleasingly sweet and with the contrast of the black beans, it’s delicious. Plus the amaranth-based pilaf is sooo good — creamy and light.  I had it the other day with a spinach salad and I have to say that it kept me satisfied for hours.

Have you tried the Mayan Harvest Bake or any of the other Kashi options? What’s your favorite Kashi or other frozen meal that supports clean eating by using fresh whole foods, not artificial ingredients?

I’m a big fan of stocking up on a few of your favorites for just these type of days — you can maintain clean eating in the midst of your busy schedule.

You’ve probably seen some of my posts this summer about the fun I’ve been having picking blueberries. They are my #1 favorite all time fruit.  I love how they’re slightly tart sometimes, other times full-on sweet. I love how easy they are to pick and eat. And I love all the powerful antioxidants they contain.

Last week, I shot this video right in the middle of the blueberry patch (thanks to my cameraman and hubby Bruce)!  I was so inspired to be outside, enjoying the weather and empowered by picking my own food. It got me thinking about just how much appreciation I have for clean, local, organic food grown without pesticides. The kind of food that truly supports my health and soul.

Simply put, I get inspired when I’m outside connected to what I’m eating and our summer activities of picking fresh, local food have deepened this appreciation like never before.  To me, it’s such a simple way to eat clean, whole foods.

Check out the video and see what I mean:

What are you doing to deepen your appreciation for your food? How does eating clean, whole foods support your healthy lifestyle?

I’ve been a big proponent of eating less congesting foods — meat, dairy products, sugar, fried foods, anything refined — and more foods that are easy on your system, for ages.

So I was excited when I read an article in last week’s New York Times about Sean Fowler,  a Colorado chef who’s cooking super healthy, anti-inflammatory meals for members of the Garmin-Slipstream team.  As you can imagine, riders have to eat numerous times per day just to keep their strength up, consuming a crazy 5000+ calories. For the normal person that would spell TOTAL disaster, but for riders they need every single calorie to power them through the grueling daily race.

Even though most of us would never even attempt something approaching this, we can all benefit from more clean eating. What’s the chef making and serving that we should pay attention to:

• Pineapples – natural anti-inflammatory
• Blueberries and cherries – antioxidants
• Fish
• Nuts
• Rice cakes
• Oatmeal

As the article mentions, going gluten-free can be helpful to avoiding inflammation.  And forget red meat and lots of wheat bread, keeping those things in check makes all the difference. 

It’s a handy reminder that some simple meal planning, especially during summer months when there’s a bounty of fresh produce, goes a long way toward feeling our best, preventing disease and supporting better health.  It’s all the inspiration I need to make a bowl of my favorite gluten-free recipe — quinoa tabouli.

What do you do to practice clean eating and make healthy summer meals that won’t inflame your body and help you feel your best?

Need ideas for clean and healthy summer eating and meal planning? Join me for a fun, inspiring teleclass on August 4th that will help you get  into action to make the healthiest (and easiest!) of meals.  http://budurl.com/sv6p

These days I don’t go very far without bringing my Vitamixblender with me. It’s such a handy tool for whipping up healthy treats when you’re away from home and when you’re traveling by car, it’s so easy to put it in the trunk and away you go!  If you don’t know about the Vitamix, it’s a super high powered blender that helps you create healthy whole foods juices, smoothies, soups, sauces and a whole variety of other delicious concoctions in minutes flat. Ever since we took the plunge and purchased it, it’s made creating a healthy lifestyle that much easier.

Bruce and I loved having the blender with us when we were in Montreal last week because we used it to make a healthy morning smoothie — we added fresh fruit and superfoods like blue green algae that kept us feeling our best all morning long! And you know what else — we saved money too.  Hotel breakfasts aren’t cheap and typically they’re not that healthy either. But with a little ingenuity, we made a delicious treat  as we watched the Williams sisters at Wimbledon. Fun!

Get the full scoop on what you need to make your morning travel routine a healthy pleasure.  And Even if you don’t have a Vitamix, you can bring along a few essentials when you travel and create your own healthy breakfast and snacks!

Do tell, what’s your favorite way to keep it healthy when you’re traveling? Ever bring your Vitamix or a blender with you?

Even though I’m not exactly an angel when it comes to eating when I’m on vacation (I mean honestly, who really is?), there’s still a part of me that maintains some semblance of healthy eating so all is not lost when I get back home.

And that’s exactly how things unfolded this week when we were in Montreal for the jazz festival. Generally, I did pretty well. I’m not a big drinker so there weren’t lots of empty calories expended on that. And we walked everywhere, some days logging 5+ miles so that helped too. But i did indulge a bit with desserts. We came across some awfully good ones that I must admit I loved. The good news is that it was all in moderation.

So what’s the key to my success in averting weight gain while on vacation? It’s all about finding a few healthy snacks that are easy to carry, keep blood sugar stable and stave off hunger. My first order of business in a new city is always to scope out the closest market and we easily found the IGA about a 1/2 mile from our hotel. We stocked up on fresh fruit and nuts that powered us through our busy afternoons of exploring and listening to amazing jazz.

We also found the one healthy food stand at the whole jazz festival. Well actually, most of the food at this particular stand wasn’t the healthiest, but the big winner was the fresh mangoes on a stick that they featured. As soon as I saw someone eating one, I made a beeline to get my own.

Check out the video I created right at the festival with this yummy treat. It’s so easy, you can make it at home yourself!

What do you do to ensure that you don’t fall completely off the wagon when vacationing? What’s your success strategy to avoid weight gain? Do share what works for you.

So when my doctor called me a few days ago and left me a message about discussing the results of my recent blood work I was little apprehensive. Was I going to have good news or not? Would she uncover some kind of chronic disease like a thyroid problem or would I find myself in great health?

Much to my relief when we connected on the phone today, I got the great news that all was good with the exception of a slight Vitamin D deficiency. But the best news of all — my cholesterol was only 129 with both my good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL) in the optimal ranges. 

That news made my day and with good reason. The time, energy and care I put into consistently preparing healthy and tasty meals has been paying off.  Lots of fruits and veggies, low fat beans and legumes, and ample amounts of whole grains make a BIG difference with our health.  It’s a powerful reminder that when we make our health a priority, build time in for meal planning and healthy food prep, any of us can reap the benefits with our health. Seriously, if I can do it, you can too!

What about you? What’s the last happy health news you’ve received and what efforts are you making to get and stay healthy?

So If you’re serious about increasing your energy, preventing chronic disease and learning about simple ways to make that happen through meal planning, you won’t want to miss this information-rich call hosted by Jim Schibly.

Here’s a sampling of what I’ll be sharing:

- How to tune into your own body to improve your health and help prevent disease
- How to create “super health” meals in just minutes that will make you feel like an 18 year old again
- How to eliminate stress, boost energy and lose weight with this secret meal planning process
- 7 proven techniques to help you eat healthier and lose unwanted pounds effortlessly
- Step-by-step details on how to effectively meal plan and stick to it with ease
 
And Much, Much, Much More!!!

All you have to do to register is go to: http://www.expertadvicecentral.com/gethealthy.html.
 
We’ll send you all the call-in details for this awesome call. And even if you can’t be there live, sign up and we’ll send you the
recording.

What better a way to get inspired and into action with your health?!

Remember, sign up by going to: http://www.expertadvicecentral.com/gethealthy.html