Archive for the Category » Health «

Health Challenges Require Diet Changes – But Which Diet Do I Pick?

I haven’t said much about the health problems I’ve been having for the last few years. I figure most people have their own problems, many much worse than mine, and don’t want to hear me whine about my aches and pains. I’m usually a glass-half-full type person, too. I keep expecting things to just go away. But they haven’t, and they probable won’t. I recently ran into a friend at the doctor’s office, and he encouraged me to share a little about what’s going on so he could keep up and pray for me. I was still hesitant, but then realized [ ... ]

Walk to Beat Breast Cancer…In the Dark

Wondering what you could do this summer that is unusual, helpful, and downright fun?  How about walking the streets of New York City.  At night.  In a bra.   The MoonWalk 2013  (#MoonWalkNYC) will take place on Saturday, July 20.  It will attract thousands of men and women to power walk the streets of NYC to raise money for breast cancer research and other initiatives.  Participants will be walking in bras.  Yes, even the men.  I’m not talking WonderBras here, but glitzy, goofy, put-your-eyes-out bras.  It sounds fun and corny and over-the-top different.  Now, why would I choose a fundraiser like this?  Well, if you [ ... ]

Day 20: Menu Planning Reduces the Stress of Healthy Meals

Today is Day 20 of the 30 Days to Less Stuff and More Life Challenge. If you want to jump in, go get the book at Amazon, Simple Living – 30 days to less stuff and more life. Today we talk about one of my favorite ways to simplify my very busy life…meal planning.  Simplifying food doesn’t mean you succomb to bad eating habits, and cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated or hard.  No, I don’t use a box for much of anything, and I’ve even greatly reduced my canned additions to a few cans of beans and tomatoes and an [ ... ]

You Become What You Eat: 5 Ways We Are Changing

When my husband and I got married, I was not a great cook. Capable, for the most part, but not great. Over the past 16 years, I have improved a lot. It didn’t happen overnight. But each year, we made minor changes, sometimes major changes, to our diet. I took cooking classes, not because I was so horrible, but just because I enjoyed learning new techniques and trying new cuisines. I gathered a few recipes from here and there, and we have a somewhat eclectic recipe selection now. I started baking most of our own bread six or seven years ago [ ... ]

Invisalign Changes the Smile of Millions…Minus the Metal Mouth

I’m sure somewhere there is someone who hasn’t worn braces, but that wouldn’t be me.  I, in fact, have worn braces not once, not twice, but three times.  My husband is on his second round.  My oldest daughter has braces now, and I have at least one in the wings waiting her turn.  My philosophy: A good parent lines up a good orthodontist.  And a good orthodontist knows pay dirt when she sees us. My first round of braces was the oh-so-chic, over-the-head metal frankenstein-looking variety.  With my curly frizzy hair, I was the picture of teenage awkardness.  My second [ ... ]

News Flash! ‘Healthy Snacks To Go’ Book Is 99 Cents!

If you are interested in reforming or refining your eating habits, run, don’t walk, to buy Katie Kimball’s book, Healthy Snacks to Go: Over 45 recipes to get you on your way with real food, fast.  It’s on sale now for 99 cents (Kindle version).  You can’t beat that with a stick. I have her book, Smart Sweets, which I seriously love.  So, I am perfectly confident that Healthy Snacks is just as fabulous.  I just bought it and can’t wait to look at it. If you don’t have a Kindle, never fear.  You can download a free Kindle app for your computer to [ ... ]

Online Cooking Class Helps Make Meal Planning Easy. And Its FREE!

My best cooking friend Shelley from OneRoastVegetable.com is rebroadcasting her super popular cooking for the freezer class called Fresh From the Freezer: Healthy Meals for Busy People. Two things you need to know.  The class started Tuesday (the first video is already up and ready for you to watch) … and it’s FREE. I know it’s hard to believe, but after more than 6 years of teaching cooking online, Shelley’s letting everyone take this Freezer class and there’s no charge. That’s zero dollars and zero cents! This class is made up of short video lessons that you watch online, each one showing you [ ... ]

Tweaking a Favorite Family Recipe Results in New Fave

I am not a food blogger.  More importantly, I am not a food photographer.  I make these two qualifying statements as I post the following recipe and accompanying photo. I am a decent cook.  I’ve learned my way around the kitchen mostly the hard way, through lots of trial and error.  My family and friends have choked down a fair share of burned meats, undercooked deserts, and just plain bad food.  But we eat to live, and as I’ve become better in the kitchen we can even live to eat on occasion. I have two muffin recipes that are absolutely sacred in [ ... ]

Encouraging Kids to Develop Good Lifestyle Habits

Originally published in Bell County Family magazine. Everyone is in a tizzy over the government’s healthcare initiative.  I won’t argue the finer points of the ridiculous costs of healthcare.  I know it’s expensive.  Been there, done that on a number of occasions.  I am also not casting blame on anyone who requires extensive or specialized care.  I’ve been there and done that, too. However, a better focus may be on improving health.  Particularly the health of our children.  For the last century, we have measured advancement by how much easier we make anything and everything.  Instead of a week-long pony express ride [ ... ]

Menu Makeover: Grilled Tuna Sandwiches

As I’ve tried to remake our menus to include more vegetables and healthier recipes, I’ve gotten stuck on breakfast and lunch.  I’ve made some progress with breakfast by adding veggies to omelettes and frittatas, but lunch still has me mostly stumped.  I’m asking you for help.  What do you do for a healthy lunch that is kid friendly?  In exchange, I’m sharing one recipe that we like.  It can be adapted easily for allergies and taste preferences. Grilled Tuna Sandwiches 1 can tuna in water, drained (I suggest the chunk tuna) 1-2 tbsp. mayonnaise or greek yogurt (depends on how wet you like your tuna) Fresh basil, chopped (as [ ... ]