Skip to main content

ok, so maybe just one rule...


It’s that simple.

When buying vegetables, fresher is better, although frozen is a close second and pretty convenient.  Choose organic, unless it has a thick skin already to protect it,  and if you can buy produce directly from the farmer, even better. 

Look for humanely raised meat, wild-caught fish, eggs that come from pasture-raised chickens (remember--they like to eat bugs, not grain!), and if you're going to buy processed meats, go for the highest quality with the least about of additives.

Choose dairy products that come from organically fed cows. If you prefer to drink almond or coconut milk, that's fine, but choose the unsweetened kind, or you might as well be drinking chocolate milk. And don't be afraid of whole milk and full-fat cream.  The fat in dairy products balances out the naturally occurring sugar, lactose.

If it comes out of a box or a pretty little wrapper, it's probably not real food.  Ok, there are exceptions, like the nut butter packets I take with me on long runs, or the little bags of olives or raw almonds I buy at Trader Joe's for snacks.


Now here's where I get a little controversial.  If you think you're doing your body a favor by avoiding meat or butter and buying processed substitutes, please take a look at the list of ingredients on the label first.  Your body knows what do to with meat and butter.  It has a hard time with hydrolyzed soy protein and partially hydrogenated oils.  Of course if you're veg for ethical, animal-loving reasons, I totally get that.  I was there once too.  💕  It's amazing what you can do with plants to create delicious meals, so again, stick to real, whole food.

This all sounds great, right?  That is, until you go to make dinner and realize you have an hour's worth of washing and chopping ahead of you to make that delicious, healthy, home-cooked meal.  That's where the Super Fridge comes in.

Take a few extra minutes this week to plan and prep some simple snacks, lunches, and maybe even a couple of extra dinners for the freezer.  Wash and chop veggies ahead of time, boil some eggs, grill some meat, maybe mix up some tuna or egg salad.  Then store everything at eye level so you don’t miss it when you’re looking for something to eat. I like to call it “stocking the Super Fridge” (I stole that from BJ Fogg’s book, Tiny Habits). Everything you see is healthy and ready to eat. 

I'd like to say I'm so organized that I always plan my meals for the week on Saturday morning at 10:00, then I do my grocery shopping, then I come home and wash and chop, and then, and then...but I'm not.  I put it on my list of things to do over the weekend, fit it in where I can, and feel quite accomplished when I cross it off my list.

It's the small victories, friend.


If you'd like to talk to me more about creating a nutrition plan that works for you, I've got you!  I'm a certified Nutrition Coach who will create a simple, customized meal plan for you and coach you through how to implement it into your busy life.  We also talk about all the pitfalls that make it hard, and help you make it the anchor that keeps you healthy, energized, and sane through the whirlwind of your everyday life.

I'd love to talk to you about the program, so book a free consultation with me by clicking the Calendly button. I look forward to talking to you!




Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

meditation on a rose

The universe was trying to tell me something this week.  First, I got a bouquet of beautiful pink roses from my daughter’s boyfriend for no particular reason (who does that? He’s a keeper!) The next day I read about the Heart of the Rose meditation in The Monk who Sold his Ferrari . In this form of meditation you gaze into the heart of a rose for several minutes, soaking in the beauty and clearing your mind of all other distractions. I tried it briefly, but honestly, I wasn't really into it. Later that day, since I apparently didn’t get the message, my coworker gave me a beautiful rose from her garden. So now I had a rose on my desk at work, roses on my table at home, and a book on my counter reminding me to take more time to meditate. I had been on a great streak of meditating ten minutes a day while I was at home all day this summer, but since I went back to work, that was one of the first habits to quietly slip away. The stress of the pandemic sneaks up on you. You think ...
Post a Comment
Read more

a day in the life of a nutrition coach (and part-time librarian)

I’m always interested in how other people live their day-to-day lives behind the scenes, so I thought I’d share what I do. There’s nothing earth-shattering about it, just a series of small habits strung together throughout the day. Here's what a typical day looks like for me: 5:00 wake up. I get dressed and drink a glass of water while my coffee is brewing. I used to add all sorts of things to my coffee, like collagen, turmeric, and cinnamon, but since I've been clean-fasting the last two years, to avoid any insulin response, I drink it black. While I drink my coffee, I stretch a bit, look at my plan for the day, fill my water bottle, and read for a few minutes. On the weekends, when I have more time, I like to journal and then read for a longer time. After about a half a cup, I go for a run or walk for 30-45 minutes. After a long hiatus due to foot and knee issues, I am trying to implement a little bit of running each day. This is when I listen to my favorite podcasts and chec...
Post a Comment
Read more

retaining your sanity during the holidays

Everywhere I go on social media this month I see posts on how to stick to your dietary plan over the holidays, nasty ingredients that are in your favorite dishes, and recipes for healthier options.  I'm all for eating healthier (obviously!) but aren't the holidays stressful enough?   Case in point: one of my family favorites at Thanksgiving is a corn pudding that we've been eating for as long as I can remember.  It's pretty basic—corn, butter, yogurt, and a corn muffin mix packet.  I saw a post this week on the ingredients in the corn muffin mix that was quite horrifying, along with a link to a healthier option you could use.  The price difference?  Twelve dollars!  Now, I'm all for healthier options (especially the gluten-free varieties), and quite honestly, I don't recommend eating corn muffins—even the twelve dollar ones—at all, but if you're only eating them once a year, why break the bank and stress over it? I will be making the cheaper versi...
Post a Comment
Read more