Apple Crisp ala Mode "Healthified"

          

     The leaves are changing color, the air is a little crisper, and tree branches are loaded with bright red apples.  This is my favorite time of year...It's fall and I am loving it!  (I say this now, but don't be shocked in a few months when you hear me say "insert season here" is my favorite time of year as well.)  A few days ago while at a farm stand I could not help but stock up on a big bag of apples and some fresh cider.  Having apples on hand makes me want to bake all kinds of yummy, yet totally bad for you treats.  One of my favorite hobbies is trying to find ways to make some of my favorite treats a little healthier while still satisfying.  So in lieu of apple season here is my remake of apple crisp ala mode.

Ingredients:
1 medium-sized apple
1 packet raw sugar
1/4 cup granola
1/3 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
Sprinkle of cinnamon


Directions:
Wash the apple and dice into small, uniform pieces.  Place the apple chunks in a small microwave-safe bowl.  Sprinkle apples with the raw sugar and granola.  Microwave for 60-90 seconds or until apples are soft.  Carefully remove bowl from the microwave and top with yogurt and cinnamon. For a more "real" experience try freezing the yogurt first to mimic ice cream.  Enjoy while warm!

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.

Prenatal Yoga

During pregnancy I had difficulty breathing which made it impossible to exercise much more than walking and even that left me out of breath at times! Yoga was my only hope of staying at least somewhat active.  Fortunately, yoga has always been a favorite activity of mine and I was excited to develop a new routine that would be safe and effective for me during pregnancy.

Practicing yoga in general can benefit both the body and the mind in many ways.  During pregnancy I found a new appreciation for quite a few of those benefits.  As I already mentioned, yoga was one of the few ways I could continue to stay fit, which was really important to me.  I loved how flexible I was throughout my pregnancy...I like to brag about being able to paint my own toenails at 41 weeks!  Yoga was also great for relieving my daily aches and pains, stilling my restless legs, quieting my mind, reducing stress, and helping me sleep better at night.  Not to mention, my daily yoga routine provided an excellent opportunity for me to practice breathing exercises that come in handy during labor!

I want to make note that not all yoga poses are safe to perform while pregnant.  Please consult a healthcare professional first before trying prenatal yoga.  First of all some poses may become difficult or uncomfortable as the belly grows and the body's center of gravity shifts.  They can either be modified, performed with props, or skipped altogether.  Some general safety precautions to keep in mind: avoid overstretching, lying on the stomach or back, or motions that involve twisting the midsection or bending backwards.  Also be careful to reduce the risk of falling while in a pose...sorry ladies but this is not the time for headstands.  A good rule of thumb...if it doesn't feel right, then don't do it!   

My Prenatal Yoga Routine

• Mountain Pose: I love to start all my yoga routines by grounding myself with this pose.
• Half Moon: Remember to return to mountain pose and stretch both sides.
• Garland Pose: Great for opening the hips in preparation for childbirth.  If the pose is hard to hold, a prop may be placed underneath the tailbone for support.
• Warrior I into Warrior II: These poses are empowering and made me feel strong and confident. Flow from one into the other and then switch sides.
• Wide-legged Forward Bend: If the floor cannot be reached, a prop can be used or just simply allow the upper body to hang as far as it will naturally.
• Downward Dog: By the end of my second trimester this pose became difficult. It can be modified by placing hands on an elevated surface or a prop.
• Cat/Cow Tilt: This one is by far my favorite, it just feels so great!  The movement stretches out the back, shoulders and neck.  It takes the weight of the belly off of the body and can encourage the baby to change position if necessary.
• Child's Pose: I did not find this one comfortable towards the end of my pregnancy.  Extra space for the belly can be provided by spreading the knees further apart and then resting the head atop folded arms instead of directly on the floor.
• Hero Pose: This one is very good for opening the upper back and shoulders, as well as the chest which can be beneficial for those with heartburn as I did.  Again, remember to do both sides.
• Butterfly Pose: This provides an overall good stretch, specifically of the pelvic area and opening the hips in preparing for childbirth.
• Easy Pose: This is a great way to end the routine.  Often I would sit and meditate at this point.

For a guide to the above yoga poses and how to perform them visit:

www.yoga.com

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.

Family Favorite Corn Chowder

          It's the peak of sweet corn season and in our excitement last weekend for dinner we cooked way more than any of us could eat.  So as I was sitting there looking at the dozen or so bright yellow ears left on the table I was racking my brain for some way to use our leftovers so that they would not go to waste when corn chowder came to mind.  The next day for dinner I threw together this simple and healthy recipe and that's exactly what we had.  Everyone (including the kids!) raved, hence the name "family favorite".  It was in fact so good that we were scraping the bottom of the kettle before I even got a chance to snap a picture of it to share with you all.  Sounds like a perfect excuse to make this again ASAP...stay tuned for photos!  (Update:  This happened not even a week later, pictures taken before inhaling this time!)

Ingredients:

1 onion, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

2 carrots, diced

1 tsp. minced garlic

½ cup (1 stick) butter

3-4 potatoes, diced

2 cups chicken stock
6-8 ears of sweet corn, cooked and cut from the cob

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, grilled and diced

½ cup flour

2 cups whole milk, divided

Salt & pepper

Directions:

In a large kettle, sauté the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic in butter.  Add the potatoes and chicken stock to the kettle and simmer over medium-high heat until all veggies are cooked through.   Reduce the heat to low and stir in the chicken and corn (Tip: when removing the corn from the cob make sure to scrape the cob to get all those tasty tidbits and juices from it).  Whisk together the flour with ½ cup of the milk and add to the soup.  Continue stirring as the soup thickens and add the rest of the milk.  Once the soup is heated thoroughly remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste.

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.