Just because it says organic doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthy. I think we are often swept away by this notion that if we fill our bodies with organic foods (regardless of what those foods are), we live just a bit better. But here’s the reality. There are no long term studies to date which prove that eating organic foods will help us live longer, healthier or stronger. I know it’s hard to believe, but yes, you read it right! In fact…

Ah yes, the holy grail of dieters everywhere: the salad. Whether you love or dread the idea of it, there’s one thing I can tell you for sure; just because something is called a salad, doesn’t mean it’s healthy. In fact, most salads are the worst choice you can make. Potato Salad, Egg Salad, Caesar Salad, Taco Salad, Macaroni Salad, Buffalo Chicken Salad, Greek Salad, Cobb Salad…the list goes on and on; here’s some straight talk. Most of these “salads” have more calories, fat, sodium, and sugar than a Double Whopper with Cheese, French Fries and a Small Soda. Ugh.

Here’s a fun one! Watermelon season is hands down my favorite season, and I’ve got a simple and refreshing salad with only a few good-for-you ingredients I know you will love. Watermelon is a a fabulous fruit that’s full of lycopene, a powerful phytochemical that is rich in the antioxidants known to boost the body’s ability to prevent/fight cancer and heart disease. When it comes to cheeses, remember ”Feta is Betta.” Feta cheese is rich in protein and calcium, plus, it’s relatively lower in fat. As with any cheese, tiny portions are key. Basil is rich is in nutrients like calcium, vitamin A, iron, flavenoids and fiber; plus it adds flavor without adding calories. Combined, these wholesome ingredients make for one solidly nutrient packed dish. 

I remember as a kid, my parents sometimes saying to me, You need an attitude adjustment. Uhg. I’m going to get a little parental here and say that you might just need one too. Sometimes our food attitude needs a major adjustment. I often wonder why people don’t get as excited about carrots as they do about cake. I mean really, while the cake might taste a little sweet, it could lead us down a sour road towards an unhealthy weight, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. The naturally sweet carrot, on the other hand, can fill our bodies with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and lots of power punching prevention. The generally held attitude is that junk foods are fun foods and healthy foods are blah foods. Well, I think getting to a place of great health requires a change in attitude. Here’s how you’re going to do it.

Some mornings, I just need a blueberry muffin!! The problem with most muffins you bake and buy is that they are loaded with nasty “natural” (white sugar, butter…) and test tube (come on now, don’t eat trans-fat, polysorbate 60 and HFCS) ingredients that aren’t going to give you energy for the day and health for a lifetime. So, let’s YouAnew your blueberry muffins! Let’s make ‘em gluten and dairy free for all you wheat and milk sensitive folks and without cane sugar. But let’s make them taste so good, no one will know that they are healthy.

Hunger is a sensation that exists only in our minds. Yup, it’s just a feeling. Just like you feel happy or tired or stress or pain, no one else can exactly identify with your feeling or fully appreciate it. What you experience as hunger is likely different than what your best friend experiences. Who really knows, right? But, like any of your feelings, it’s important to identify why you are experiencing it. If you’re touching a hot stove and feeling pain, it’s your body’s signal to you that you should probably move your hand. If you’re in a dark alley and feeling stressed, your feeling is a way that your body signals to you that you might want to turn down another street. If it’s your wedding day and you’re feeling excited, that feeling is probably your body’s way of saying hey, this is a good thing for you. Okay, in the same way, you’ve got to identify why you’re feeling hungry.

Okay, everyone loves the decadence of chocolate covered strawberries. I’ve put a healthy YouAnew twist on this classic  dessert favorite. These cocoa and yogurt covered strawberries are  a treat you can enjoy as much for breakfast as you do for dessert! If you are looking for ways to add a little protein and more antioxidants to your day, you can’t go wrong with these little bites of delight.

Yes. Yes, you do. Whether you’ve failed before, just never tried, feel discouraged or hear negative messages from days past in your head, you need to own this. You can make a lasting change that will radically transform the way your body looks and the way you look at your body. Let me tell you, you have what it takes, and now you’re going to have the three keys you need to succeed.

Love that wild salmon! It’s such a good source of protein and omega-3 fats; it’s a food that makes you look as good as you feel. Add a little mango rice on the side and voila–fabulously healthy dinner. Simple, easy, quick and healthy. Eat real food, feel real good! Let’s do this. 

So, I’m not a big magazine girl; I don’t get any subscriptions, and I’m not generally tempted by the seductive cover stories that line the racks of the check-out line. But, for whatever reason, the other day I just felt like grabbing and buying a bunch. I left them on my kitchen counter as I quickly ran out the door to the office; when I got home, my (completely and totally fabulous) husband says to me, “honey, did you read those magazines?” I told him I hadn’t had a minute, and he’s tells me that he took a few to check them out. He’s like, “those are really worthless and completely superficial.” There you have it folks—worthless and superficial. Well, I bought ‘em so I figured I should at least skim them. Here’s the crazy part; most of the articles in all of the magazines (okay, I admit it my moment of weakness, I bought like 5) focused on ways you can get “bikini body” ready by summer. Here’s the start to one of my favorite (said with a snarky tone) cover stories which indicates that you too can be swim-suit-ready by month’s end. And I quote: “It may still be spring but we’ve got bikinis on our minds. And that’s fine, because if you kick your fitness routine into high gear now, you can avoid the last-minute panic come summer…”