nutrition Archives - Page 4 of 9

Thyroid Awareness Month

Happy January and Thyroid Awareness Month! New Year’s resolutions are usually weight oriented. So let’s talk about one of the many reasons people have challenges with weight gain. Thyroid tests are not routine for most doctors to order. The best way to tell if your thyroid is working correctly is to be aware of the signs and symptoms of thyroid disease. Thyroid diseases are relatively common, affecting up to 20 million Americans. Allow us to give you some basic facts about this important little gland. The thyroid gland is a relatively small gland that is found in the neck right below our Adams Apple. To appreciate the importance of thyroid health, we must first understand hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that provide signals to the rest of our body to keep us alive and functioning well. The thyroid gland [...]

Tags: clean eating, corporate wellness, hashimoto, hyperthyroid, hypothyroid, nutrition, thyroid|

Top 10 Gifts for the Foodie

If you’re stumped on what to give the self-proclaimed chef of your life, look no further. To help make your holiday shopping easier this season, we’ve found the top 10 gifts for your foodie friend. Think time-saving gadgets to toss together the most delicious and unique recipes, stocking stuffers that are sure to bring a smile to their face, or something tasty they can incorporate into their everyday cooking. These must-have picks are so fabulous, you may save some for yourself! 1. Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug, $69.99 at Amazon.com Coffee and tea drinkers alike will never go back to their old mug after sipping their brew from this patented technology. Simply set your mug to your preferred temperature and enjoy your morning beverage just the way you like it. 2. Polished Marble Rolling Pin with Wooden Cradle, $16.99 at [...]

Tags: corporate wellness, foodie, gifts, nutrition|

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte

Needing a PSL? Fall brings around the ever-devoured and sought after Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL). However, a drive through the Starbucks coffee line will have you consuming nearly 14 grams of fat and 50 grams of sugar. Instead, opt for making your own PSL at home with brewed hot coffee and low-calorie dairy free milk. Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 1 Ingredients 8 ounces brewed coffee or 1-2 shots of espresso ½ cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk 3 tablespoons canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice ½ teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons maple syrup, or sweetener of choice Sprinkle of cinnamon Instructions With a handheld frother or blender: In a cup or saucepan, mix together almond milk and pumpkin and cook over medium heat on the stove top or microwave for 35-45 seconds. [...]

Tags: clean eating, coffee, corporate wellness, fancy coffee, nutrition, PSL, recipe, starbucks|

Healthy Holiday Swaps

The holiday’s are a time for gathering with loved ones to celebrate the season. It’s also a time for lots of food. For somebody who is monitoring their calories and watching their weight, it can be hard to turn down all of the delicious holiday dishes. However, making simple adjustments to traditional recipes can be a sure fire way to avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain. You can still enjoy your favorite meals by swapping out ingredients for healthier alternatives! Gravy Swaps Gravy atop a mountain of food is typically loaded with extra calories, saturated fat, and sodium. Fortunately, you can still add gravy to your holiday menu by making your own. Add together some low-sodium turkey or chicken broth, skim milk, and fresh herbs. You’d never guess this combination has fewer calories than the traditional recipe. Casserole Swaps The [...]

Tags: casserole, clean eating, corporate wellness, cranberry, cranberry sauce, gravy, healthy holidays, holiday recipes, nutrition, pumpkin pie, recipe, stuffing|

Guide: Healthy Meal Planning

How can you save money, free-up time, and be healthier? Meal planning! Food prepared at home eliminates eating out at a restaurant that would cost double the price. Preparing meals before the busy work week allows time for fun activities. Health benefits include: less saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars. Plan a Menu by Building a Balanced Meal When it comes to meal planning it is all about balance, variety, and moderation. These are the daily recommendations for adults according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Vegetables: 2 ½ cups Fruit: 2 cups Whole Grain: 6 oz Protein: 5 ½ oz Dairy/Calcium Containing Beverage: 3 cups Other considerations: Added Sugar: Less than 6 teaspoons per day for females and 9 teaspoons per day for males Saturated Fat: Total of 5-6% of total calories each day Sodium/Salt: Less than 2,300mg per [...]

Tags: clean eating, corporate wellness, healthy meals, meal planning, nutrition|

Thanksgiving Nacho’s

November 6th is National Nacho Day! Thanksgiving is also in November, so why not combine the two together as a fun and delicious twist on two classics? Nachos are known for their cheesy, creamy texture and spicy flavor which can be high in calories and fat. This dish can be made healthier by using lean proteins like ground turkey, leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, or beans to reduce fats. Beans are high in fiber which can be beneficial for lowering cholesterol. Thanksgiving leftovers can be boring but reusing foods for this dish can help eliminate waste while also tasting different. Try out this festive dish today! Thanksgiving Nachos Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Serving: 1 Nacho Ingredients: 10 sweet potato or pumpkin tortilla chips 2 oz of lean ground turkey cooked or pinto beans (or 1 oz of both) Salt [...]

Tags: clean eating, corporate wellness, lean meat, left over turkey, left overs, leftovers, nachos, national nacho day, nutrition, what to do with left over turkey, what to do with leftover turkey|

Stress-Free Office Snacks

Everyone has workdays that everything just feels out of control! Perhaps you have too much on your plate or you got a disagreeable email. Unfortunately, work stress is inevitable. And during these stressful times, most of us are tempted to reach for a snack to calm and comfort. Believe it or not, there is a scientific reason for this phenomenon! When we become stressed, our cortisol levels rise and our bodies naturally respond by going into “fight or flight” mode. As cortisol levels rise, our blood sugar drops causing us to crave carbohydrates to help refuel. Thus, we end up looking for a quick sweet fix like a candy bar or cookies. But looking for a refined carbohydrate will not solve your body’s response. In fact, sugar will lead to a spike in blood sugar, causing more stress. To [...]

Tags: clean eating, comfort food, corporate wellness, nutrition, snacks, stress eating|

Easy Weeknight Meals

Make Time for Dinner Back to school brings the return of homework, weeknight sports practices, and very little time for much else. Although preparing dinner may feel like a chore, there are various strategies for making dinner both healthy and easy during a busy school week. If preparing a healthy meal comes at the expense of spending quality time with family, household chores, or squeezing in time to exercise, then these easy weeknight meal tips may be for you. Tip #1: Plan Creating a plan for weeknight dinners will prevent the dread from setting in when hearing “what are we having for dinner tonight?” Taking a small amount of time during the weekend to plan out each dinner will make sure you are ready for the week. Planning out meals also helps pull together your grocery list effortlessly. Fun meal [...]

Tags: back to school, corporate wellness program, dinner, family, nutrition, one pot dinner, quick recipe, receipe, wellness|

Snacking On-The-Go

Snacking is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Controlling hunger, by eating reasonably throughout the day, allows us to protect ourselves from losing steam. Going too long between meals results in a dip in your blood sugar (glucose) which can often leave you feeling sluggish. Snacking strategically will provide your body with the energy it needs, increase your attention-span and even improve your mood! By incorporating healthy snacks into your day, you may find that you have more energy to exercise and do the things you enjoy most. What is a healthy snack? Snacks should be thought of as “mini-meals” consisting of nutrient-rich foods around 100-250 calories. A nutritious snack usually includes a carbohydrate, a protein and a fat component: Carbohydrates are your body’s main fuel source. When snacking, carbs provide your body with a quick source of [...]

Tags: balanced meal, clean eating, corporate wellness, heahlthy snacking, nutrition, snack|

Healthy Home Cafe

Enjoying coffee in your pajamas while you sit in the silence of your home. The coffee is decadent, and you ponder how you got such a great cup of coffee without leaving the house. You remember what you added to the large pour of coffee, and it dawns on you the number of calories! It is delicious because of the amount of sugar, cream and flavors that are masking the actual coffee flavor. Coffee can be a low-calorie healthy, yes healthy, beverage. The caffeine in coffee and tea can be beneficial to our health. Find out what makes coffee and tea a healthy option. Then elevate the health-effects of your hot beverage bar with these tips. Coffee We know that coffee increases alertness, but is it good for you? Or at the very least, is it harmless? Coffee does have [...]

Tags: back to school, clean eating, coffee, corporate wellness, home cafe, nutrition, tea, work from home|