Pick of the Week...

As a health and fitness professional, I see many trends come and go.   We all like to try the latest and greatest ideas, but the bottom line is to be fit and healthy takes hard work.  There is no magic pill, drink, or piece of equipment that will miraculously leave you healthy and lean.  Sweat, hard work, willpower and educating yourself are keys to your success for a healthy life.  I am a firm believer in "everything in moderation".  This works for me.  However, many clients tell me this doesn't work for  them.  They can not stop at one piece of pizza or one cookie.  But cutting those foods out forever seems awful to them as well.  I am not a nutritionist or therapist to help in these areas, but I can offer different ideas and possible solutions.  I like to keep updated with the latest food trends and it seems as though "clean eating" will be around forever.  It makes sense and is a lifestyle rather than a fad diet.

Clients have asked me to offer a spring food challenge and guide them into a healthier eating pattern.  I have been looking for some sources to use and I found one I really like that offers shopping lists, recipes, food swaps, etc.

http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/clean-eating/getting-started/  has 5 Tips for getting started to eating clean and stocking your kitchen.

I love that it first asks you to identify what eating clean means to you?  I think that is very important to ask yourself if you are thinking about adopting a "clean" eating lifestyle.  I am ready to offer the food challenge, but you need to be prepared and decide what your goals are and define clean eating for you.  Once you do that we can begin!

In the meantime, my pick of the week is an easy lunch or dinner.  I love pizza, but I don't always love how I feel afterwards.  I like Trader Joe's whole wheat pita, so I used it make a pizza.  I loaded it with tomatoes, red onions, left over roasted cauliflower, feta cheese, and arugula.  I baked it in the oven at 425 degrees for 5-8 minutes and it was crispy and delicious.  Definitely satisfied my pizza craving without the belly ache afterwards!

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather.  Get outside and walk, run, begin your gardens!  If you're interested in joining the food challenge, be in touch and do your preparations.

Best,

Donna