Is it just me, or is water a boring drink? I have a tough time drinking enough of it. It is not that I don’t realize the excellent health benefits of water. My goodness, we would die without it! After a workout, I can’t wait for a bottle of it, but the rest of the time I have to force myself to drink it. I have known plenty of people who love water, so maybe it’s an acquired taste? I have been drinking it all my life, though, so how much more acquiring is it going to take? I’ve tried the flavored waters, and those are great. But that gets expensive. If anyone has any tips for drinking more water, I would love to hear them! Here’s a good article about the benefits of drinking plenty of water.
Water, Is it Boring?
February 10, 2011 by 2 Comments
Homeade Granola
February 2, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Homeade Granola
Recently I tried going the “no-processed” food route. The result of that experiment is another story! Suffice it to say… I quickly discovered how truly difficult it is to eat no processed foods!
I am a snacker. I try choosing healthy snacks, like energy bars and granola. But I realized that most granola (even from the grocery bakery), were processed to include corn starch or high fructose corn syrup! So my kids and I came up with our own version. They added M&M’s to theirs!
Homeade Granola
Ingredients:
5-6 cups rolled oats
3 tbsp. Coconut oil*
1 tbsp. Butter**
2 tbsp. Brown sugar
1 cup whole or halved almonds (or nut of your choice)
2 cups roasted sunflower seeds
1-2 cups dried fruit (raisins, cherries, etc.)
Dash of Sea salt (if you use salted nuts and seeds it is enough)
Heat coconut oil and butter on medium heat until melted. Add oats and stir until oats are coated with oil mixture. Leave on medium heat until oats are slightly browned. Add brown sugar and coat. Add the rest of ingredients and mix.
Cool and eat!!!
*Coconut oil can be found in most grocery stores with the oils. It is a flavorless and solid at room temperature. Many believe it is healthier than corn or canola oil and it is great for baking and cooking. Its drawback is that it can be expensive and doesn’t come in large sizes. But it is well worth it! Another oil can be substituted.
**I know too much butter is not good. But in this recipe, real butter improves the taste drastically.
The Nasty Combo:Sugar and Lack of Sleep
January 6, 2011 by Leave a Comment
I worked out today. Felt terrible. Felt pretty bad yesterday, too. In fact, it has been at least a week since I have had any “real” energy for a decent workout. As I was finishing off the last piece of pumpkin pie last night, I realized why. Since a week before Christmas, I have been eating WAY too much sugar! This accumulated sugar effect is one reason for my sluggish workouts and overall fatigue.
The other reason is lack of sleep. With my college kids home, I have been keeping later hours. These two factors, lack of sleep and surplus sugar, have combined to be a force my body is having trouble fighting! They are too strong for a workout to overcome.
I know that we “are what we eat”. To say this is true and to actually feel its effects are two different things. You would think that my recognizing this fact would be enough to keep me from succumbing to the temptations of sugary treats this time of year. But I fell right into the trap!
I am anxious to start a little sugar detox…tomorrow!
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