Tasty Tuesday Treat #30

After being stricken with food poisoning during a recent trip to Ohio, I have been very hesitate to try new cuisine while on the road.  Such a decision has been deeply disappointing since many of the areas in which I visit have unique plates to share.

Last week while in Upstate New York I decided to take a leap of faith and try something out of the ordinary.  No, it was not the famous Buffalo Wings, rather Hamilton Whole Foods' Curry Tofu Salad.  Having been told that the taste was "out of this world,"  I couldn't wait to dig in.  After one bite, I was in food heaven and knew that I needed to find a way to replicate this recipe.

My pinterest poking and google glimpses lead me to this take on curry tofu.  Although slightly different from my lunch at the market, I figured I could use the new recipe as a starting point and add in the golden raisins, slivered almonds, tomatoes and toasted sesame dressing that Hamilton Whole Foods used!

Health note:  Tofu is made from fermented soybeans which can be an ideal source of protein and heart healthy fats.  If you are an individual who cannot tolerate heightened levels of soy or struggle with thyroid issues, tofu should be avoided.

Mindful Monday Inspiration #30

Last August, after graduating from IIN, I realized that I had a true passion for helping people live more healthfully.  In order to supplement my health coaching skill set, I decided to enroll in ISSA's Personal Training Certification course.  The online course required me to complete 33 mini exams and 1 final cumulative assessment which covered topics from human anatomy to supplementation to first aid.  

I am proud to report that after submitting my final test, I am now a certified Personal Trainer! Thrilled with the outcome and even more excited to seriously embark on a journey in the world of health and nutrition, I can't help but smile at the once overwhelming ISSA text book.  Opening the book and reading the first sentence was the little step that I needed to start a personally fulfilling journey.  

I hope that you too will be able to take a step, or even a tip-toe, toward your dream or goal.  I can say from experience that the "slight movement" is a rewarding exertion!

Fitness Friday Fact #30

Growing up, I was the furthest thing to a runner.  I "walked" during my middle school track tryout and "huffed and puffed" when attempting to jog with my pre-season soccer training cousin.  Today, however, my love for lacing up keeps me on the treadmill daily. 

My passion for this form of cardio exercise unfortunately leaves me at risk for injury and does not help to improve my overall strength.  If you can relate, we are not alone, as this tends to be the case for most runners.  Fear not, as there is a simple fix that will keep our sneakers striding! 

Active.com writer, Jeff Horowitz, recently shared this Total Body Strength Training Exercise.  In the article, Horowitz claims that this "kind of strength training, will make you a stronger, more injury resistant runner!"

Thursday's Trend Alert Dirt Report #29

                   

As a way to truly get to know a new person, we were instructed to "never judge a book by its cover."  In the world of forming friendships, this is certainly a polite suggestion, but in the world of health and nutrition, this rule should not reign!

Food labels were first introduced in the early 1990's and were "based on eating habits and nutrition data from the 1970's and 1980's."  Since then the American diet has changed, which has led to outdated data on the packaging of our "go to" grub.  Not only are the current labels "old school," but their initial intent of promoting mindful eating is no longer a clear cut process for consumers.  

In an effort to modernize our munching and help prevent poor diet habits, the FDA has proposed "major changes to nutrition labels on food packaging, putting calorie counts in large type and adjusting portion sizes to reflect how much Americans actually eat." (See visual above)

The FDA, as well as health advocates like Michelle Obama, strongly feel as though this update will shed additional light on the "sweet tooth" American diet and help to fight against the obesity epidemic.  Although skeptics don't think that the new labels will have widespread effects, individuals who strive to eat and feel better will be able to form lasting food friendships by "judging [ food ] by its new cover."

((In addition to the FDA's proposal, check out how to better your buys by avoiding these food label traps))

Wednesday What Not #29

As a Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador, I recently had the opportunity to review an awesome athletic accessory.  This accessory was a Borelli Performance Scarf.  Check out what I had to say about the product and then consider picking one up for yourself :)

"In my line of work, I spend a great deal of time outside walking around college campuses.  Despite my countless layers of clothing and my “top of the line” winter gear, I have still managed to feel a chill in my bones.  Having dabbled too closely to frost bite one too many times this winter, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to review a performance scarf.  My Black Borelli Scarf arrived just in time for my recent business trip to Ohio – a perfect icy environment for testing!

On the day of testing, I wrapped the scarf around my neck once, and paired it with a stripped ¾ length cotton tee and leggings.  After a quick check in the mirror, I felt as though the look and feel of the scarf was business / professional enough to host an information session. 

Upon arriving to campus and walking to my meeting, I still managed to feel the chill of the 3°F day.  What I did notice, however, was that the areas closest to my scarf were not covered in goose bumps, nor were they as painfully cold!  I also found that as my meeting progressed and my body adjusted to the indoor environment, my scarf continued to warm the areas that it was in contact with.  The warmth was nowhere near overwhelming and it certainly did not make me feel as though I was overheating. 

Happy to have been able to survive my recent campus tour sans hypothermia, I immediately went to the Borelli website in hopes to purchase a few more scarves in different colors.  I was thrilled to see their options and even more willing to shell out a few extra dollars when I discovered that my scarf could also be a summer accessory!"

((Thank You Borelli Design for sharing your product with me!))

Tasty Tuesday Treat #29

"In the world of winter greens, kale is KING."  

This victorious vegetable has definitely made its mark on mainstream and continuous to grow in popularity.  Such was the case when Wolfgang Puck dished a Kale Salad at the recent Governor's Ball and Michelle Obama "sillily" served Kale chips on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon!

Packed with vitamins A, C and K, as well as calcium and iron, Kale is definitely something to add to your shopping list!  In order to reap its benefits, however, you don't need to have culinary skills like Wolfgang Puck.  Instead, you can quickly whip up this tasty treat which will have your brain thinking "snack food" but your body knowing "good food"!

Mindful Monday Inspiration #29

Whether it was the movies, the actors, the fashion or the pop culture buzz, I'm fairly certain that you were drawn into the Oscars last night!  I would be lying to you if I were to say that I was not star struck by nominees like Leonardo DiCaprio and in complete awe over the beautiful gowns that strutted down the red carpet.  

But it was not the fashions, nor the film faces that really got to me this year.  Instead, it was a quote from The Wolf of Wall Street star, Jonah Hill. During a Pre Oscar taping of the Howard Stern Show, Hill said the following in response to his "salary cut" for his work with Martin Scorsese:

"I would've done anything in the world.  I would do it again in a second...You should do things that you care about."

Hill's determination and complete awareness of his dream should act as an inspiration to all of us!  We should follow in his footsteps and focus on what is TRULY important and not on the by products.  Doing so will certainly award each of us with an oscar for personal "best performance."