Friday, April 17, 2015

Taking a Blogging Break "See You Later Alligator!"


Blogging is one of the few things I do simply for myself, because I enjoy it.  Lately however it has started to become a form of stress for me as I have not been able to write the quantity, or quality, of posts that I would like.

In an effort to preserve my love of blogging, and divert my attention to areas where it is needed most, I am deciding to take a break.  This will allow me to focus on finishing up my degree, preparing for my future career, and my family.

During this time I will still be pursuing wellness and sharing glimpses of my journey on social media as I go along.  I will be storing away tips, ideas, recipes, and more to blog about in the future as I return.

I want to thank all of my readers for following my journey and the great feedback I have received.

I WILL BE BACK!

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Mindful (Not Mindless) Eating




What happened to meal time?  It’s so commonplace these days to grab a bite on the go as we are doing a dozen other things instead of sitting down to a well prepared meal with our families.  Or even worse yet, grazing all day long in lieu of any actual meal at all. In these situations we are not eating for enjoyment, or even nourishment necessarily, just because we are basically running on autopilot.  I know I am guilty of this.  So the question is not necessarily what happened to meal time, but how do we get it back?



Over the past year I have been on a journey incorporating mindfulness into various aspects of my life.  I started out with meditation, which was how I was introduced to the topic, then mindful driving, and most recently mindful parenting (I can’t believe I haven’t blogged about that yet).  But now for my next step in this mindful journey I am going to break the cycle of mindless eating, put the smart phone down, set the paper aside, and practice mindful eating.



Why eat mindfully?

Mindful eating is how food was meant to be consumed…by taking the time to appreciate it and enjoy it.  There are several ways in which mindful eating can benefit our health and wellbeing.  Mindful eating may improve digestion as we are taking smaller bites and thoroughly chewing our food making it easier to digest.  Eating slowly and taking small breaks as we eat gives our body a chance to signal when it is full which may decrease overeating and be beneficial in managing a healthy weight.  Using all of the senses (touch, sight, smell, taste, and possibly even sound) to “taste” our food provides us a greater, richer, experience that comes from fully appreciating every aspect of it.  As we take the time to do so, and slowly I might add, we receive a well-deserved mental break as well from our otherwise hectic and fast paced lives. 



How to eat mindfully?

It all starts before you even sit down to the table.  Making an effort to learn more about the ingredients you choose, where they come from and the nutrients they contain will bolster your appreciation for them.  Put all distractions aside, mindfulness is about being present in the moment.  Once you have prepared your meal (or plated your take out at least!) sit down to eat it at the table, regardless of whether you are alone or with friends and family.  This is a great time to practice a moment of gratitude!



Take a moment to look at the food in front of you and appreciate the meal that you are about to consume, that will provide satiety and nourishment, as a whole.   As I mentioned previously…while eating “taste” the foods with all of your senses.  Take note of and appreciate its beauty, aroma, flavors, and textures.  Take small bites, chew each one thoroughly, and set your utensils down in between bites.  This will allow you to pay attention and focus on the sensations of each bite.  Be in tune with your body and its cues that you are full, notice them and use them as a sign to stop eating.




DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Baby-Friendly Easter Basket Ideas (a.k.a. not candy!)


It's little guy's first Easter and I am so excited to do the Easter egg and basket hunt!  Even though he will likely need a little help this year, I am sure he will have fun crawling around and discovering his new toys and treats.  At first it seemed difficult finding enough items to fill his Easter basket...of course you can't put the typical fare of chocolate bunnies and marshmallow treats in there (that's not my style anyways), but once I got into it I must confess I went a little overboard! 


As always I wanted to put my wellness spin on it so I decided to do a basket dedicated to Summer fun and safety...items that we can't necessarily enjoy right away, but will provide us with great times and memories this coming Summer, while being safe and healthy too! 


When we were younger our Easter baskets always had Summer-inspired things in them so this was also a fun nod to my childhood.  We always got a new outfit and swim suits too, so of course that was all the reason I needed to hit the baby clothes isle in search of a few cute things!


So for anyone else stuck on Easter basket ideas for their baby, from birth to one year, I compiled a list of ideas that are appropriate for their age and you can feel good about giving them too.

Baby-Friendly Easter Basket Ideas:
  • Summer clothes: shorts and tee shirts or onesies. 
  • Swim trunks (or suits for girls).
  • Accessories: hats and sunglasses (try to find ones that will actually protect their eyes).
  • Sunblock for babies. 
  • Little swimmers and floaties: if baby plans one being a little fish this Summer.
  • Snacks: Finger foods like cereal, fruit & veggie puffs, or yogurt melts, if your baby is at this stage.
  • Bottles or sippy cups: depending on your baby's age.
  • Bottle cozies: keep their drinks cool in the summer heat.
  • Books: always a great idea regardless of season.
  • Bubbles: even though they can't blow them they'll love to watch you and play with them.
  • Teething toys.
  • Stuffed animals: an Easter favorite of ours are the little chicks that chirp when you hold them in your hand.  I can't wait to see little guy's reaction to them!
  • Sand bucket and tools.
  • Keepsakes: don't forget something commemorating "Baby's 1st Easter"!
 Have any other Easter ideas for our wee ones?  Please share, we love to hear them!



DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Make Your Own Oatmeal Packets


I've been stuck in a breakfast rut lately...I'm burned out on yogurt, not a huge fan of toast or cereal, never have time to cook eggs, and nothing else has really seemed to jump out at me.  So in one of my rummages through the cupboard yesterday morning I found a big bag of oats.  I haven't gone on an oatmeal spree lately, so it's probably about time.  To save time in the morning, and dress them up a little, I made up a few of my own oatmeal packets in a variety of unique flavors to hopefully pull me out of my rut.



Oats are so nutritious and a great choice for breakfast...they are very filling.  I really should eat them more often.  First of all, oats are a whole grain since their bran and germ remain intact through processing.  They are a great source of protein and healthy fats, soluble fiber, manganese, and polyphenols, among many other nutrients.  Oats have been linked with benefiting the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and in aiding healthy weight loss and management.  For more in depth information on oats and to find studies on their health benefits visit: http://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/oats-january-grain-of-the-month 


So if, like me, you want to try adding some oatmeal to your morning breakfast line up but hate to purchase those store-bought packets with all that extra sugar and preservatives this might be just the for you.  They're just as convenient and this way you can choose the ingredients you feel good about and the flavors you and your family like.

Let's get started...


Step 1:  Measure about 1/2 cup of oats into snack-sized baggies or small reusable containers if you prefer.  I also add 1 tablespoon of flax seeds to each bag for a boost of omega-3s and cause I really like the texture.


Step 2:  Add your toppings.  See some of my favorite recipes below.  Be sure to label your baggies so you remember which is which!



Step 3:  To prepare your oatmeal packet add 1/2 cup water and microwave for 60-90 seconds.  *Add more of less water depending on the consistency of oatmeal you prefer.  I make mine thicker so I can add a bit of almond milk after cooking.  **Cooking times may vary depending on your microwave.

As promised, here's a few of my favorite "recipes"...


Cran-Pistachio Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1 tablespoon flax seeds
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 tablespoon chopped pistachios 
dash of nutmeg











Mom's Classic Oatmeal Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1 tablespoon flax seeds
1/4 cup raisins
1 tablespoon brown sugar
dash of cinnamon










Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1 tablespoon flax seeds
2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped walnuts










Toasted Coconut Delight Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1 tablespoon flax seeds
2 tablespoons coconut chips, toasted
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted

**if not already toasted, heat the coconut chips and almonds in a dry pan on the stove top for a couple minutes, tossing them around constantly to avoid burning, until golden brown.




Dark Cherry Vanilla Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1 tablespoon flax seed
1/4 cup dried cherries
1 teaspoon vanilla bean powder












Spicy Red Berries Ingredients:

1/2 cup oats
1 tablespoon flax seed
1 tablespoon each: dried strawberries, dried cranberries, dried cherries, and goji berries
dash of ginger
(very light) dash of cayenne pepper 










DISCLAIMER: The content on this blog, www.mind-bodypursuit.blogspot.com, represents the thoughts, ideas, and experiences of its author and should be taken as such…with a grain of salt.  It is for entertainment purposes only and not intended to prevent, diagnose, or cure.  Before trying any new physical activity, dietary plan, supplementation, complementary and alternative therapy, or other wellness tip please seek the guidance of a qualified professional.