​Zucchini is a great little vegetable that is low on calories and high on health benefits. In fact, a medium zucchini has only 33 calories, but still manages to make you feel full because of its fiber and water content! This makes zucchini an excellent choice if you are trying to lose weight or just eat healthier! Read on for more health benefits of zucchini!

When I was growing up as a vegetarian, my mom used to buy a product called "Nuteena". It was a peanut butter based loaf that came in a can. Unfortunately, it seems that they no longer make it, but I missed it. I came up with this recipe and its pretty close to what my mom used to make.

The thought of some delicious dark chocolate makes me smile! Throughout my life I can count on one hand the number of people I have met who don’t like chocolate. You may have read that dark chocolate has health benefits, but did you know its actually good for your digestion? It turns out the good bacteria, or probiotics, in your gut love cocoa as much as you do!

Do you love the aromatic, spicy flavor of ginger? I have to admit that I didn’t used to love it, but it has grown on me and now I love it! Did you know that ginger’s amazing flavor comes along with a host of health benefits?

The holidays can be a stressful time, but a large part of it may be self-inflicted. By changing how you set yourself up during the holidays, you can change your experience. Exercise is a great way to handle stress during the holiday season.

Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. An easy way to do this is to take a 10-15 minute walk after every meal. Plus walking eases digestion and helps moderate blood sugar, so its especially helpful if you have over-indulged! (To learn more, read this blog.) If you have a gym class you like to take or enjoy yoga, those are great stress-busters as well! Getting this release through exercise is sanity saving!
Keeping coming back for more tips on how to survive the holidays!

Do you feel like the holidays completely derail your healthy train? The holidays can be tricky. It can be hard to make healthy choices when it seems you are surrounded by temptation! Here’s the good news! I’ve compiled a few tips and tricks that will help you get through Thanksgiving and the holiday season without regret!

Do you ever feel really sluggish after a big meal, especially after Thanksgiving dinner? There is a solution that’s both healthy and enjoyable – take a walk! Taking a walk speeds up digestion faster than alcohol or coffee, multiple studies have found. The walk helps burn calories and helps moderate blood sugar. It doesn’t have to be a long walk, either! Just a 15-20 minute walk gives you all the benefits!

For those who think they have to give up pasta so they can lose weight, there is good news!  You can have your comfort food by simply choosing 100% whole grain pasta.  Whole wheat pasta is a good option for those who are not gluten intolerant. It usually has the same amount of calories as white pasta, but many more nutrients.  Whole grain pasta contains large amounts of fiber, which is a weight loss bonus because it makes you feel full faster.  Keep your portions in control by serving up your pasta in a cereal bowl instead of a large dinner plate.  This makes it easier to stick to one cup portions.  Serve it up with a fat-free marinara sauce for a healthy dinner.

If you are gluten-free, there are many more options available now than there used to be! I enjoy the brown rice and quinoa pasta from Trader Joe’s. What is your favorite healthy pasta dish? Try some whole grain pasta this week and tell me what you think about it! If you would like help losing weight, contact me for a Free, No-Obligation Weight Loss Discovery Session today! 

Lemons are an amazing little fruit. You may not think about them much because of their sour flavor, but they are packed with vitamin C! In fact, one raw lemon (minus its peel) contains over half of your daily dose of vitamin C! This is why it has been commonly used to treat scurvy, which may make you think of pirates! Aye, matey, them there lemons will cure what ails ya! OK. Enough of the pirate talk for now!

With all the buzz about quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) in the last decade, the odds are that you have tried it. Did you feel like it lived up to all the hype? This naturally gluten-free whole grain has a very mild, nutty flavor, so for flavorful quinoa you must add plenty of seasonings. Eating 3 servings of whole grains every day can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.
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Quinoa is packed full of nutrients, so it is considered a superfood. Plus it is one of the least allergenic grains, so it’s great for those with wheat allergies.