A Practical Guide To Healthy Living

Most of you know I’m all about eating fresh foods, limiting your chemical exposures, yada yada yada. You know I don’t use canned goods anymore at home.  Well, listen to this one. The good people at the Silent Spring Institute, along with the Breast Cancer Fund, last week released a small study that showed that food packaging is the major source of exposure to BPA and DEHP in children and adults, and that a fresh food diet reduces levels of these chemicals by half, after just three days. Yowza. [Read more →]

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I’ve been gone from here for a while . . . and some of you have taken notice. “What’s up with you?” come the emails, the questions at school, the texts and phone calls.

It’s all been good, friends. There’s no crisis, no health emergency. My mammo was clear, my cholesterol rocks.

No, it’s this: I’ve been taking some time away to evaluate the blog, my involvement with the blog and what I want to do (or not do) with the blog. I’ve also been committed to my Move Into March challenge and to healthy eating, and I’ve lost the 7 lbs. I gained thanks to my arthritis and my vacation. I have been able, for the first time in 2 years, to exercise standing up. I feel great, I’m enjoying myself. I’ve been reading lots, and prepping very simple, very healthful food.

“So what about RECIPES???” “The well is dry!!!” come other emails . . . I love love love that you all depend on the recipes – that this blog serves you so well! I may try posting once a week or so – try to strike a happy medium for us all, but truthfully, I’m really quite preoccupied with thinking up ways to better integrate my passion for healthy living, my love of food and cooking and face-to-face, real-life connections with people like you.

As Tama Kieves says, “If you feel lost, you’re on your way to the miraculous.” I’ll admit it – I have no idea what’s going on yet.  But hang with me, will you? What’s yet to come might be even better than we all could have imagined!

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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We just came home from an all-inclusive beach resort and although we had a great time, I’m overstuffed.

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This tangy, protein-packed salad is so good, so easy, so healthy.  There is nothing to hate about this dish – your taste-buds, body and family will thank you for putting this on the table! [Read more →]

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Oh. My. Goodness.  This was so tasty, and wait, guess what?  You make it in the CROCKPOT!  Yes!  All you’ve gotta do is open a few containers and chop an onion.  Super delicious and a dump-n-go preparation?  Too good to be true?  No, folks, trust me, it’s not.  Read on for the deets!

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Put the raw chicken breast, tomatoes, enchilada sauce, onion, chiles and garlic into the slow cooker.  Pour in chicken broth and season with cumin, chili powder, salt and bay leaf.  Stir in the corn.  Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours.  Shortly before serving, shred the chicken and return it to the cooker to mix with the soup.  Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.  Remove the bay leaf and serve topped with your fixings – crushed corn tortilla chips, sour cream, cheese, etc.!

Serves 4.

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When I first saw this recipe, I didn’t believe the total time could be 30 minutes, and I was right – it’s more like 45 by the time you do a bit of chopping.  But once this hits the oven (after about 15 min. of prep), you’re pretty much free to do as you please.  And when it comes out, you’ve got a complete meal that just screams “fall!”

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66 days. About 2 months – that’s how long it takes for a new behavior to become a habit . . . that is, something that’s automatic.  So says a University college of London study. Make it easier on yourself by picking a set time each day to practice your habit – whatever time you think it’ll be the easiest for you to stick with and tolerate.

So what’s it going to be? A big salad for lunch? Making a shopping list/meal plan every weekend? A new exercise plan? The last time I did this in earnest was when I was 20 and learning how to exercise for the first time.  I capitalized on my trait as a morning person by getting up at 6:00 every morning and going for a walk/run . . . which turned into a run . . . which turned into a years-long jogging habit and a 40-pound weight loss.

If you start now, you’ll have a new habit firmly in place by the time the weather turns! What’re you gonna do?

Image: zirconicusso / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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I don’t know what I’d do without Google.  I use it all.the.flippin’.time. for cooking.  I often research ingredients I’ve never cooked with (garlic scapes, for example) and find inspiration for things I have on hand and want to use . . . last night was one of those nights.  I had some beautiful spinach and fresh dill from my Picadilly haul on Wednesday and a nice piece of cod I’d gotten at the market earlier . . . plugged those into Google and voila!  Up popped this recipe, which D. has dubbed “restaurant-worthy.”  Be still, my heart.

Even if you don’t have the ingredients on hand, this one’s worth a trip to procure them.  It’s so fast, and there is so little cleanup.  I didn’t alter it a bit – too tired to tinker.  So I’m providing you with the link and the commendation.  It’s a keeper.  Although we enjoyed it side-dish-less, I think it’d be great with some steamed new potatoes topped with a little butter, salt & pepper.

Bon appetit!

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