Examiner Articles: Healthier Halloween

I'm starting a short series this week on how to have a healthier Halloween. To me, Halloween starts what I call "The Eating Season." Don't tell me you don't know what it is. One day you're just cruising through life, taking brisk walks in the crisp autumn air, raking up piles of orange leaves. And then the next day you're in the throes of a candy corn-gasm. (Yes, I said it.) Everyone has "seasonal" treats - Pumpkin pie shakes! Pumpkin Lattes! Pumpkin Spice Hershey's Kisses! And that's just the pumpkin stuff. It's everywhere and it is a serious challenge to keep yourself from going off the deep end and disappearing into a bag of fun size Snickers. But there's no need to cave. By following (and revisiting, if necessary) a few simple rules, you'll be able to stay on track. Today's article features 5 tips to control the sugar frenzy. Let me know how YOU handle this time of year.

Examiner Articles: Good for you food of the week

Every Thursday, my Examiner article focuses on a different healthy food. I call it the good for you food of the week, and this week it's garlic. Some people love it, some hate it. But regardless of how you feel about it, garlic has numerous health benefits. Read about them here.

Fun Food Time: Tortellini Pizza Soup

I can't stress enough how much I believe in all things in moderation. That's been my mantra for several years now. I'd be lying if I said we ate healthy food for every single meal. That's a goal, of course, but by planning to have "fun food" every now and then, it keeps me from going on a binge. We call it "sometimes food" in this house and by doing so it's taught our kids that there's a reason we don't eat like this all the time.

We love to have theme meals for sports events and such. Tonight's a BSU game and I'm making one of my family's favorites: my Tortellini Pizza Soup. Sorry, the recipe is a secret, but among other things, it includes sausage, pepperoni, tortellini (actually tonight I used ravioli because my grocery store didn't have tortellini), tomatoes, and lots of herbs and other vegetables. Is it the healthiest? *Cough* Well ... *cough* not exactly. But, you can make substitutions: try soy or turkey versions for the meats. I always use low sodium broth and tomatoes. You could double the vegetables, too. Or add spinach, which I never seem to remember to buy when I'm making this.

I usually serve this with an artisan bread that I slice and then top with a little Parmesan and put under the broiler. Didn't have time for that tonight, so I just grabbed a bag of garlic bread. Also great with bread sticks, foccacia, ciabatta, or sourdough.

Did you catch today's Broncos Challege article on Examiner? Today's challenge focuses on agility training. Check it out when you have some time. It includes some cool videos.

A Change Is Gonna Come ...

Wow, where does the time go? Just when I think I've got a spare moment, it's gone. I have been working hard at Examiner and other gigs, and have seriously neglected this site, which is tragic because this truly represents why I do what I do. And there are no restrictions here! I can write in first person! Forget about word count! Curse if I want to! (*GASP*) Come on, those of you who know me know I can curse a sailor under a table straight out of bed. Be myself!

Wait, what was that last one? Oh, yeah. Be myself.

And there's the crux of it. Crazy as it may sound, I've been soooooo busy lately that I sort of forgot to do that. The simplest thing in the world. When I started this blog a few years back, it was for a couple reasons. First and foremost, it was to communicate the changes I was going through and, as a verrrrry close second, to help others who had given up on health and fitness. I wanted to show people that there is a better way to go through life than zooming through a drive-thru window or sitting on your ass (does that count as cursing?) and watching sports instead of actually getting up and playing them.

Like many work at home moms, my day is never done. No, that's not a plea for sympathy. Believe me, I could use it, but I have other things to deal with. The point is that I am continually juggling multiple deadlines, in addition to homework supervision, menu planning, grocery shopping, church activities, laundry, etc., etc., etc. Factor in the schedules of the other three members of my family, other numerous obligations, and the stress that has come from our world's financial meltdown and how it's affecting our household, and it's a lot to handle. I feel like I'm stuck in a hole right now and I need to get out of it. Fast. I find one of the easiest ways to deal with it all is to just work my ass off. (oops, cursing again) So that's all well and good when the paychecks roll in. Except I've been neglecting something: Being myself.

So ... with a much-needed break in my schedule, I am taking this week to give my blog a serious makeover. It may take more than a week. But that's fine. I want to do it right and if it takes a little longer, it's worth it. Speaking of what I want:

• I want to provide good, solid information that everyday people will find interesting and useful.
• I want to create a community of people who have both succeeded and failed at living a healthy lifestyle and see how we can help each other.
• I want to share my (eyebrow-raisingly intimate) love for food and demonstrate that it's not a crime to indulge once in a while. Some of the buzz words around here are "sometimes foods" and "all things in moderation." Life is not an all or nothing choice. Just be smart. You can make substitutions. You don't have to agonize. You can eat a smaller portion. Or you can just have the damn brownie, enjoy it, and hit the treadmill later. No. Big. Whoop.
• I want to gain momentum as I get myself back on track, too. It's been a while since I've exercised regularly. I'm not gaining, but I'm not where I want to be, either. I have dedicated so much time and energy to earning income that I've just let that slide. And I miss it. But every day that goes by, it becomes more of a routine to look past the treadmill and find something else to do. I want to feel that encouragement again and get back to the point where I wouldn't dream of a day without doing at least something to burn a calorie.
• And most of all, I still want to show others that a healthy lifestyle is possible. For all of us. Myself included.

I have had numerous ideas for this blog over the past several months and haven't made time to write about them or implement them. But that's going to change. I'm hoping to not only get back on a regular writing schedule, but make some major changes in the look of the blog as well. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time but just haven't made time for.

That ends today. Like Sam Cooke sang, A Change Is Gonna Come, and here's hoping it will be better than ever.

BBQ Re-Do

When the weather warms up, we love to barbecue. One of the challenges I face is that I love the taste of it all so much that I have a hard time controlling myself. I just want to eat everything! Recently, I started making mini burgers instead of regular sized burgers. I take two pounds of lean ground beef and add a little Montreal Steak Seasoning and some bread crumbs. I get about 16 mini burgers out of this. Not only is it built-in portion control, but they cook a lot faster. And you can eat two without feeling like you have to unzip your pants! My daughter is not a big meat eater and will rarely finish a regular sized burger. So these are perfect for her. (She still doesn't finish a whole one, but at least she doesn't waste as much!) For buns, I use dinner rolls. I set out the usual fixin's: cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and red onion. They are delicious and everyone loves them. It's a great way to save a little money when you're having a party, too.

Games & Grooves

Looking for something fun to do this Friday or Saturday night? Maybe you’d like to plan a get-together but are feeling the pinch in this economy. You’re not alone. One of our favorite activities is to hold a Games & Grooves party. It’s fun with just the four of us, but even more fun with friends over. The format is really simple: food, games, dancing.

We start with dinner, usually a selection of cold cuts and cheeses, a sliced baguette, and loads of fresh fruit and veggies. Everyone can bring something to share, just make sure it’s simple. If you want to be decadent, add dessert. I like to make truffles—I know, wait! They’re high fat and high calorie, BUT, they’re small and I only make a few. Just enough for that little something sweet at the end of the meal, but not the same as eating a giant slab of three-layer chocolate cake! It usually comes out to one or two per person and no leftovers to wolf down after the party.

The great thing about this type of “dinner” is that you can grab a little something and then go back to the main activities: games and grooves. If we have a crowd, there’s usually a football game going on outside. Or baseball. Or Frisbee. In cold weather, we might skip this part and gather for dominoes or cards. But one of the highlights of Games & Grooves is the old school Atari that I grew up with. We love to play arcade games, and they’re fun for all ages.
Again, I know—wait! No, it’s not just an excuse to sit and play video games. Only two people can play Atari at the same time, so I also put on some mix CDs and if you’re not playing Atari, you’re dancing to the music. Hence, the Grooves part.

See how it all works together? This is a really fun way for everyone to come together, enjoy each other’s company, burn off some energy and just have a good time. I use a lot of music from when I taught aerobics and I love trying to teach my kids the steps. (Seriously, is any song better than Madonna’s “Holiday” for doing the Grapevine? My kids hear it come on and line up behind me.) And I love watching them to see their dance moves.

Now, most people don’t have an old Atari gaming system lying around. A lot of you might have a PlayStation, Nintendo or a Wii. And that’s fine. You can still integrate those games into your healthier lifestyle with no problem, especially Rock Band or Wii Fit. Just make sure you’re still getting plenty of physical activity and everyone keeps moving.

I almost forgot to mention the BEST part of Games & Grooves: you will spend most of the night LAUGHING your head off. They say it’s the best medicine. In any economy. So make some memories this weekend and have fun with your own Games & Grooves party!

Let It Grow

I started out last week with a flurry of new ideas for blog posts, and then mid-week I came down with a case of the cruds: sore throat, achy head and neck, fatigue. With a busy schedule, blog posts had to wait until I could recover. But it’s a new week and I’m feeling much better, so here we go.

My first topic this week is the physical and nutritional benefits of gardening. Now that most of us are enjoying spring weather, the time is right to think about planting a garden. You don’t have to sacrifice a large portion of your yard. Even if you live in an apartment or condo, you can still use containers to grow your plants, or look for a community garden in your area. Tending a garden as a family accomplishes several things: First, it provides wholesome food to feed your family, which can also save time, money and gas, since you don’t have to make that trip to the store when you need a few tomatoes for a recipe. Second, it can be a great workout. Pulling weeds and digging in the soil can increase your heart rate and strengthen yoru arms and back. And finally, it gives each member of the family a chance to contribute to a group project.

Homegrown produce always tastes best! By growing your own, you will know exactly which products were used on your fruits and vegetables. Kids love to “get dirty” and can help by putting plants in the ground and watering. And don't forget the physical benefits: A 150-pound person can burn 286 calories by gardening for an hour.

A garden can also be a source of pride. Even young children can literally see the fruits (or veggies, or even flowers) of their labors and say, “I helped create that!” Taking care of something and watching it grow and prosper carries over to other lessons in life. Besides, at the end of a warm summer day, there is nothing like sitting on the back porch and enjoying a bowl of homegrown strawberries with your family.

Sweet Revenge

I have a notorious sweet tooth! One of the hardest challenges I face is convincing myself I don't really need that little sugar rush after every meal. I tried chewing gum: great, until the flavor wears off, and then I REALLY want something sweet. I've tried cutting out sugar all together. OK for some, but not realistic for me. Then one day I discovered something. If I have something sour at the end of my meal--the last taste in my mouth--I don't want anything sweet. So my secret weapon is a big jar of dill pickles that I keep in my fridge. They have to be kosher dill and they have to be cold. As a writer, I work at home and if I lose focus, I may wander through the kitchen, even though I'm not likely hungry. If I just feel like I have to eat something, I'll get myself a small plate, put a pickle or two on there, and maybe a handful of low fat whole grain Wheat Thins. Having it on a plate makes it look more substantial, and since we eat with our eyes first, this helps me feel satisfied. That sour taste just kills my sweet tooth and I can go back to my work without any more distractions. Pickles can be high in sodium, so don't eat more than a couple. And be sure to drink a little extra water. I figure it's worth it if it keeps me from downing half a bag of cookies in my quest to satisfy my sweet tooth!