Healthy Eating is a LIFESTYLE, not a Quick Fix

So many times I have read in magazines about the next "quick fix" to lose weight.

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not the solution!

Healthy eating has to be a lifestyle! You can't just decide that you want to lose a few pounds, eat good for a week, and then go straight back to eating all that other junk!

When you want to lose a few pounds, add more fruits and veggies into your meals.

But...DO NOT DEPRIVE yourself!

A lot of times, people think, "I am going on a diet. I can't eat cake, cookies, etc, for a whole month!" Well, what do you think they want to eat the most????

EXACTLY THOSE THINGS!

If you're serious about losing weight, or just eating better foods to be healthier, you need to do so gradually. Over time, the more veggies and fruit you eat, believe it or not, you will most likely CRAVE those foods, instead of the JUNK!


Here are some healthy snack and things to include in your meals for those of you looking to make that journey towards a lifestyle of healthy eating.

Snacks:

• Any kind of fruit
• Peanut Butter with an apple, or celery
• YOGURT

Meal Add-Ins:

• Oatmeal (check out my recipe tab for TONS of different ways to eat it!)
• Grilled Chicken

• Veggies
• Soup
  
• Peanut Butter & Banana wraps with Cinnamon
  
• Veggie Burgers
• Omelettes
  

If you're stuck in a rut, check out some cookbooks at the library or other healthy living blogs for new ideas!

Just don't beat yourself up if you don't see changes overnight.
Remember...
Healthy Eating is a LIFESTYLE, not a quick fix!




Do YOU have a healthy eating tip that you would like to share?
Do you follow the "quick fix plans" or do you try to incorporate healthy foods over time?

Enjoy Life Foods Crunchy Cookies Review

Enjoy Life Foods sent me there new Crunchy Cookies to review!

Here's some info from their website:

We’ve invested in a dedicated plant so that you have the added confidence and assurance that you can eat Enjoy Life products without worries. Unlike other manufacturers whose facilities might also process gluten- or nut-containing products, all Enjoy Life production equipment warehouse space is dedicated to being gluten- and nut-free.

Our bakery features 7,000 sq. ft. and includes a production facility and two warehouses. Approximately 40 production employees work daily to bring you our delicious and nutritious treats. We produce and package the majority of our products in the bakery. Did you know that we can produce up to 18,000 Soft Baked cookies per hour? That’s 30,000 boxes of cookies in a day!

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I decided to have a COOKIE PARTY with my small group!

My small group leaders are kind enough to provide a homemade meal for us each week before we dig into scripture. This week was probably my favorite so far! (I'll share what he made us on another day) Okay, I lied, I really can't choose my favorite because Tristan is an AMAZING cook! I love everything he makes!!!)

Here is a video of our review of these cookies!

In case you couldn't hear me on the video, this was our order of favorites:
Chocolate Chip
Vanilla Honey
Double Chocolate
Sugar

We all gave these Crunchy Cookies a THUMBS UP!!

:)

Please visit Enjoy Life Foods website and check out all of their great products!
http://enjoylifefoods.com/index.php

Sunday Splurge

I do believe that eating good food and exercising are some of the keys to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but I also believe that it is necessary to INDULGE now and then.

I definitely did that on Friday night and it was FABULOUS!

"I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted - stay up all night or eat ice-cream straight out of the container."
-- Bill Bryson

On Saturday, I went to my favorite workout ever: DANCE IT OUT. Then, I rushed to campus to take my senior exit exam (can I get a WHOOP WHOOP!?!!? ONE STEP CLOSER TO GRADUATION!!!) after that, went straight to Body Flow (while I ate some carrots along the way..haha), then I came home, ate lunch, showered, and got ready for the Volunteer Banquet at my church.

The banquet was lovely. They served yummy lasagna, green beans, rolls, and cupcakes. We had a comedian and he was great! I was laughing a lot. (but, that's typical...it doesn't take much to make me laugh!)


They gave us all an envelope with our names on it. When I got home, I opened it. This is what was inside:

I think it says a lot about our church staff when they HAND WRITE thank you notes to all of the people that came to the banquet! There were a TON of people there! I am so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful church!


Talk to me:

What's YOUR favorite thing to splurge on?

Have you ever seen a comedian???

NEWS NEWS NEWS!!!

I am STOKED right now!!!!!!

I have LOTS of crazy fun updates for you!!!

First things first....

Be ready for a review soon!

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Next, I just have to talk about my student teaching for a quick minute. My 2nd placement is the TOTAL opposite of my first placement! WOW! I have seen more behavior disruptions in 5 days than I did my ENTIRE 7 weeks at my first placement. CRAZY. But, I am glad that I am getting to experience this end of it too!



Tonight, I FINALLY got to see my "little sis". Her mom texted me earlier this week asking if I could babysit and I immediately responded with a huge YESSSSSSS!!! I miss them soooooo much!



Robbie went to a birthday party, so her mom said we could have our own little dinner date! We couldn't decide if we wanted Subs or Pizza, so we picked Subway, since they have both. I got the cheese pizza topped with tomatoes and onions, while Myrt got a turkey sub and chips.

Isn't she just the cutest date ever?!?


To continue on with the exciting news...

I will be reviewing quite a few companies over the next few weeks.
They include:
RiseBar
Bearded Bros Energy Bars
Zevia
Barney Butter
Enjoy Life Cookies
Nature Box
Cookiehead Cookies
Pur Gum

Some have offered to do giveaways, so stay tuned!
:)



Do you have any exciting NEWS???

Oogave Soda Review

Oogave contacted me to review their soda!

Here's some info about Oogave:
We are completely natural, organic, vegan, kosher, caffeine free, gluten-free, and low-glycemic. We sweeten our soda only with 100% organic agave nectar and with only 100 calories per bottle, we are all the greatness of soda without the junk! We are a very family friendly product looking to provide all soda drinkers with a healthier, all natural alternative to the existing, artificial soda options.

Oogave's Mission Statement

To create fun, healthier, more thoughtful alternatives to traditional sodas. To share delicious sodas made from the amazing agave plant. To show the world that there are better-for-you beverage choices that are organic, natural, and made with socially and environmentally forward-thinking choices.

Core Values – “We believe . . . ”

. . . in caring about your health, about what goes into our products, and about what stays out of our products.

. . . in being part of something bigger than ourselves, supporting our people and our communities, promoting good health, and caring for the environment.

. . . that fun and delicious can play nice with healthier, natural, and organic ingredients.

. . . that you as a consumer can be conscious about what you put in your mouth and decide what is best for you.

. . . that agave nectar is Mother Nature’s gift to the human race, that it’s a righteous treat, and that it should be shared freely with our good friends and family.

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Now, for my review...

I don't normally drink my calories, but since this was a healthy soda, I decided to treat myself.

There are only 100 calories in every bottle, so this was a nice little treat!

I liked all of the flavors. They had quite a few UNIQUE ones, which I really enjoyed. Here is my order of my most favorite to least favorite:

Watermelon Cream
Strawberry Rhubarb
Vanilla Cream
Ginger Ale
Cola
Mandarin Key Lime
Grapefruit
Root Beer

My parents tried some of the Cola flavor and they liked it too!

I'm sure you will enjoy these fun and healthy sodas!
Check out their website:
http://www.oogave.com/

I got to eat Fancy Food :)

I LOVE being my Daddy's dates to his award dinners because...

1) It's a FREE meal ;)

2) I get to indulge in some fancy food! (The dinner was delicious. Started out with some cute little tomato and cream cheese hors d'oeuvres. 2nd, nice salad with poppy seed dressing, mandarin oranges, and walnuts. 3rd, Chicken, veggies, and potatoes. 4th- (MY FAVORITE) Banana Pudding with blueberries and whipped cream. I wish I would've taken a pic..it was so pretty!)

3) I get to meet new people throughout the community and start to NETWORK with them!

4) And last but not least, I am PROUD to be my daddy's daughter! Not only is he such a great father, he is just an A+ man in general. He gets along with everyone and is a great leader!

Do YOU like fancy food?

Monkey Brains Review

Monkey Brains sent me some of their oatmeal and granola bars to review!

(Side note: these are perfect for me, since my family and friends say I act like a monkey ALL the time...haha)

Here is some info about Monkey Brains:

Monkey Brains Oatmeal is simply the perfect healthy breakfast for kids: just enough sugar to taste great, 100% whole grain rolled oats, 100% natural ingredients and NutraFlora, a prebiotic fiber to Improve Digestive Health. Truly, Monkey Brains Oatmeal is a healthy oatmeal for kids.

Dietitians recommend Monkey Bars as a healthy snack because our nutrition panel is perfectly balanced. Low sugar snacks are almost impossible to find. Not only are Monkey Bars a low sugar snack, but also a low sodium snack, too.

Monkey Bars and Monkey Brains contain a prebiotic fiber that improves digestive health by helping regulate the balance of friendly bacteria that already exists in the digestive system. The reason it is called “pre” biotic fiber is because it feeds your existing “pro”biotic fiber. The non-scientific description is that prebiotic fiber is food for your tummy.

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Now, for my monkeylicious review:

10/10!

I LOVED EVERYTHING THEY SENT ME!

The blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry oatmeal was incredibly fruity and filling. There were huge chunks of fruit in each package, that dissolved and spread after you added the boiling water to the oats, which gave it and extra fruity taste! The Maple Brown Sugar was fabulous as well. Nice and hearty!

The granola bars were SUPER chewy and incredibly tasty! They blended two flavors in each one. Blueberry Vanilla and Strawberry Vanilla! YUM YUM YUM!

Yes, these products are geared toward children, but trust me, they are JUST AS TASTY for adults! ;)

(Gotta take my tasty snack to the ballfield to see my brother! I'm SUPER proud of him. He is playing COLLEGE BASEBALL!!! )


Please visit their website:
http://monkey-brains.com/



What do you think your favorite Monkey Brains product would be?