Why? When? How? Smoothies

Why are you drinking a smoothie?  Do you need more vegetables (adding spinach or kale)? Do you need more fruit & fibre in your diet? Are you having it to boost your protein intake?   Or is it just a way to get more nutrients in your diet? All are great reasons but my tip here is don't try to do it all in one smoothie. They can often turn out to be a muddled mess. It's better to have a few different ones to choose from, a green smoothie one day, protein smoothie the next. Break it up. You will find they taste way better and pack more nutrients.

When?  

Mornings are great time to have them. Especially if you are adding fruit and greek yogurt to them. The greek yogurt gives the smoothie a protein boost and the fruit gives the smoothie dense nutrients and fibre. The fibre and protein will keep you feeling full. 

The other great time to have a smoothie is when your body is in recovery mode. After a good session at the gym, hike, or swim. Your body is looking to replenish, and this is the optimal time for a shot of carbs and protein. This is the time to rattle the shaker cup.

How?

Smoothie blenders or high powered blenders are great at chopping through frozen fruit. 

Shaker Cups are great for recovery after a gym workout. Any kind of juice and some protein powder mixed up.

Water and ice.  I've heard from a lot of people that they don't like to eat smoothies because of the consistency (thick, chalky). This is where adding water or a bunch of ice helps. Or just cutting back the amount of yogurt or protein you are putting into a smoothie. 

Recipes:

Killer Kale

1 1⁄2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 1⁄2 tablespoons almond butter
1 banana, frozen
2 cups kale
1 tablespoon hemp seeds 

Black and Blue

2-3 cups spinach
1 cup milk (or juice) of choice
1 banana, ripe
1⁄4 cup blueberries, frozen 1⁄4 cup blackberries, frozen 3 ice cubes 

Happy Belly

1/2 cup baby spinach
1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped 1 medium stalk celery
1/2 medium banana, ripe
1 medium pear, ripe
1.5 cups unsweet almond milk 1/2 tbsp hemp hearts 

Making your Own? 

Your post-work out shake should help to replenish electrolytes, provide muscle-building protein & deliver re-energizing carbohydrates. 

Start with your base

1/2 - 1 cup  Skim milk or lactose-free milk
1/2 - 1 cup  Low sugar Soy Milk
1/2 - 1 cup  Almond or Coconut Milk

Add one protein-booster

1/2 cup  Greek yogurt
1/2 cup  Probiotic yogurt, plain
1 scoop (15g)  Whey protein isolate
1 scoop (15g)  Brown rice, hemp, or pea protein powder

Add one fruit

1/2 - 1 cup  Fresh or Frozen Berries
1/2 – 1 medium  Banana
1/4 - 1/2 cup  Orange Juice or other 100% fruit juice

Add one or more nutrient-boosters

1 cup, chopped  Spinach or kale
1 tsp  Ground flaxseed
1 tsp  Chia or hemp seeds
1 tsp  Flaxseed or fish oil

3 Diet Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

If you're trying to eat healthy and lose weight, there are some simple things you can do to stay on track and avoid common diet pitfalls. 

3 Diet Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them:

1. Strategy to Prevent Sugar Cravings

Sugar cravings are caused by lows in blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar levels drop, your body screams for sugar which usually leads to eating something you know you shouldn't (usually something salty or sweet), or eating way too much (overeating or binging).

Eat within the first hour of waking up and again every 2 - 4 hours throughout the day. This will significantly help to balance you blood sugars throughout the day, avoid the 'hangry' lows, and keep you eating healthy and on track.

2. Strategy to Avoid Snacking At Night

Evenings are often the hardest time of day to stay on track and eat healthy.  If you eat at 5pm, chances are you're starting to get a little hungry by 8pm (right around the time when you might be sitting down to relax, maybe watch some tv).  

Eat a Later Dinner. The old saying "don't eat after 6pm", only applies if you're in bed by 10pm.  If you're up later than 10pm, try pushing your dinner later. Eat dinner 3-4 hours before going to bed to prevent needing a snack in the evening.

If you can't have a later dinner (say if you eat with your kids at 5pm like I do), plan a healthy snack like air-popped popcorn or frozen grapes to snack on.  

3. Strategy for Feeling Full without Overeating

Satiety is the feeling of fullness after eating that suppresses the urge to eat for a period of time after a meal. This plays an important role in controlling how much we eat. If we feel full or ‘satiated’ after a meal then we are likely to go much longer before we feel hungry and may eat less at the next meal. 

Eat a source of fibre, protein and fat at each meal, and most snacks.  FIbre, protein and fat help you feel full and control blood sugar levels. This means you will eat less and easily lose weight without feeling hungry all the time.

Healthy Grilling Tips

Healthy Grilling Guide:

1. Start out clean. Don’t let the charred buildup on your grill transfer to your meal.  Give it a good cleaning.  And ditch those wire brushes as they are ending up in more and more peoples digestive tracts. 

2. Smoke and fire. Exposing protein-rich meat, poultry, and fish to high heat and open flames creates heterocyclic amines. When fat drips and burns on the grill, the resulting smoke contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These two groups of chemicals have been linked to various types of cancer. You can reduce the formation of heterocyclic amines and PAHs in several ways: Line the grill with foil perforated with holes. Cook for longer at a lower temperature. Have a spray bottle filled with water handy to control fatty flare-ups.

3. Marinate. Marinating food for at least 20min before cooking limits the formation of potential carcinogens while grilling. Choose marinades that are low in fat and salt and contain an acid like lemon or vinegar. 

Source: Harvard Health Publications  www.health.harvard.edu/blog/5-tips-for-healthy-grilling-201305276318

Grilled Mojo-Marinated Skirt Steak

Ingredients:

2 pounds skirt steak, trimmed of excess fat
2 tablespoons juice from about 2 limes, plus 1 extra lime for serving
1/4 cup juice from 1 orange
2/3 cup olive oil, divided
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and fine stems

Directions:

1. Place skirt steak a resealable bag and add lime and orange juices, 1/3 cup olive oil, garlic, cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Seal and squish around to combine. Place in the refrigerator to marinate at least 1 hour.

2. When ready to cook, Remove meat from the refrigerator. Remove from marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer marinade to a small saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until reduced by half.

3. Place skirt steak on heated grill and cook, flipping occasionally, until thermometer inserted into their center registers 115°F to 120°F for medium-rare or 125°F to 130°F for medium. Transfer steak to a large plate, tent with foil, and allow to rest for 10 minutes. 

4. Slice steak against the grain, drizzle with pan sauce and sprinkle with cilantro. Cut extra lime into wedges and serve with steak.

From Seriouseats.com

50 Healthy Snacks

Snacking is Good!  Snacking keeps your blood sugars steady throughout the day, helping you burn calories, avoid sugar cravings, and keep energy levels up.  The best snacks are 200 calories or less, are satisfying and include a source or protein.

1. Greek yogurt

2. Banana

3. Veggies and hummus

4. Celery and natural peanut butter

5. Avocado and tomato on whole grain toast

6. Cashews

7. Dates (dried)

8. Yogurt, berries, and honey

9. Low sugar granola bar

10. Grapefruit

11. Veggies and guacamole

12. Banana ‘chips’ (dried bananas)

13. Tuna on whole grain crackers

14. Small piece of dark chocolate

15. Cherries

16. Oatmeal

17. Apple

18. Almonds

19. Mixed berries

20. Sunflower seeds

21. Whole grain toast with almond butter

22. Fruit salad

23. Cheddar cheese

24. Pumpkin seeds

25. Apple sauce

26. Unsweetened raisins

27. Fruit leather

28. Whole-wheat pretzels

29. Brown rice cakes

30. Air-popped popcorn

31. Pistachios

32. Walnuts

33. Hard-boiled egg

34. Olives

35. Edamame

36. Fruit smoothie or fruit pops

37. Whole wheat pumpkin muffin

38. Whole wheat banana muffin

39. Freeze-dried fruit

40. Homemade hot chocolate

41. Pita chips and homemade spinach dip

42. Cottage cheese

43. Fruit and cheese kebabs

44. Veggie and meat (or tofu) kebabs

45. Frozen peas

46. Frozen banana

47. Frozen grapes

48. Protein pancakes

49. Whey protein shake

50. Skim milk and 1/2 banana

The Low-FODMAP Diet

If you’re someone who suffers from IBS, has problems with digestion or gets bloated or gassy then you might want to try a low-FODMAP diet. 

What is FODMAP?
FODMAPs are a group of carbohydrates (or sugars) that some people have a hard time digesting - Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols. These undigested FODMAPs are what cause the bloating, gas, pain, constipation, diarrhea and other IBS symptoms.

What is the low-FODMAP Diet? 
All foods have a FODMAP value, making them high or low in FODMAPs.  The low FODMAP diet aims to cleanse your digestive tract of all these undigested FODMAPs and allow your inflamed or irritated bowels to rest and repair.  Following this diet, you would eliminate all high FODMAP foods from your diet for a 4-6 week period or until you are symptom-free.  Once you're symptom free, we would trial foods from each of the 5 FODMAP groups to test your tolerance.  

How do I go about starting this diet?
I wouldn’t suggest just printing a low fodmap list off the internet and cutting all these foods out of your diet - you will likely cause more harm than good doing it this way. Consult with someone who is knowledgeable in the low FODMAP diet and has helped a lot of people with this diet.  It will be a change and you will have to cut some things out of your diet for a month or two so some guidance will really help. If you can, also get a low FODMAP meal plan designed to help you follow this diet and give you some healthy meal and snack ideas.

To learn more about the low FODMAP diet our Low FODMAP Program, visit our website www.danihealth.com or email me for more information. 

"After months of crazy "diets" trying to figure out how to manage my IBS, I am finally on a meal plan that not only makes me feel better, but also tastes amazing! thank you. Rachel B.”

"The fructose challenge went VERY well. Hurrah! I love mango! It was so nice to have have honey and mango again, and to feel so good. I've had to replace a couple of pairs of jeans because of the weight loss too. AND I ran 10 km for the first time in about 3 years on Friday. So things are looking great! Thanks for the great program.Vicky K." 

"I'm shocked at how much better my IBS is. I was really worried about all the raw vegetables since they were such a huge trigger before - at least that's what I thought. I'm feeling so much better overall, the IBS isn't gone yet, but it's certainly much better. Thank you so much!!!  Susan C."

Energy Bites

Great snack to keep your blood sugars balanced and energy up throughout the day.   This one is super easy to make, simply mix these 7 ingredients together and roll into 24 little balls.  

Makes 24. 

What you'll need:

1/2 cup Natural Peanut Butter (or any other nut butter)
1 cup Large Flake Oats
1/2 cup Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (I like to use 1/4 cup salted and 1/4 cup unsalted)
1/2 cup Dried Cranberries
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
2/3 cup Shredded Coconut
1/4 cup Honey

How to Make:

1.  Using clean hands, mix ingredients together in a medium bowl.  
2. Brush excess off hands then rinse hands to be slightly wet (for easier rolling).
3. Roll into 24 equal-sized balls, about 1" diameter or 20g per ball.
4. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.  You can also try them frozen!

Enjoy! 

Ho-Ho Holiday Drinking!

‘Tis the season for Christmas parties, entertaining friends, and visiting with family - all of which may include some celebratory drinking! If you’d rather not gain 10lbs over the holidays, here’s a quick guide to help you choose the lowest-calorie drinks, as well as a few tips to help you recover from ‘one too many’! 

Calories in Alcohol:

Gin (1oz) - 65 calories
Rum (1oz) - 65 calories
Vodka (1oz) - 65 calories
Whiskey (1oz) - 65 calories

Sparkling Wine (4oz) - 92 calories
Red Wine (4oz) - 83 calories
White Wine (4oz) - 77 calories

Coors Light (355ml) - 102 calories
Bud Light (355ml) - 110 calories
Corona (355ml) - 135 calories
Heinekin (355ml) - 150 calories
Molson Canadian (355m) - 153 calories
Guinness (pint) - 207 calories

Don’t forget the calories in your mixes:

Egg Nog (250ml) - 343 calories
Coke / Coca Cola (355ml) - 140 calories
Tonic Water (355ml) - 124 calories
Ginger Ale (355ml) - 120 calories
Club Soda / Sparkling Water - 0 calories

And, in case you had ‘one too many’...

1. Drink LOTS of water - before, during, and (especially) after drinking. 
2. Get out for a walk or, even better, drag yourself to the gym! Although you might not feel like getting off the couch, even a short brisk walk will have you feeling 100% better, and ready to take on the rest of your day. 
3. Whip up a banana-orange smoothie for breakfast; the potassium in the banana and milk, and the vitamin C in the orange juice will help to rebalance your electrolytes and detoxify your system. 

10 Nutrition Tips for Preventing the Winter Blues

1. Even marginal deficiencies of the B vitamins have been associated with irritability, depression, and mood changes. If this sounds like you, be sure your diet is stacked full of foods high in vitamin B6 such as meat, fish, poultry, whole grains, bananas, and potatoes.
    
2. Low sun levels mean it's harder to get the vitamin D your bones need to stay healthy. Eat food rich in vitamin D, including oily fish, egg yolks and margarine. A daily supplement (1000IU) might also be recommended.
    
3. As well as boosting physical energy levels, bananas have a beneficial effect on mental and sexual energy. Bananas are stuffed full of serotonin, a feel good, mood lifting substance that peps you up, and dopamine, which is important for emotional balance.
    
4. It may be pouring buckets and you may be cold, but keep glugging back the water. Staying hydrated assists in flushing toxins out of your body, metabolizes fat more efficiently and allows the nervous system to work more effectively, helping you feel better all around. Warm water or a decaffeinated tea is also a good option.
    
5. When the sunshine goes, so too does the "happy hormone" serotonin which causes the body to cry out for carbohydrates. Go for wholegrain bread, oats, and brown rice.
    
6. Go easy on comfort foods. Mac n’ cheese and apple pie might make you feel better in the short term, but a high intake of refined foods will zap your energy levels.
    
7. Omega-3s can elevate mood and reduce depression. Fatty fish and fish oil supplements should be part of your winter diet. However, it does take time—several weeks at least—to benefit from dietary omega-3s, so get started now, be a bit patient, and look forward to feeling better and having more energy.
    
8. Prevent, or get rid of, cold and flus by taking garlic, vitamin C and yogurt with probiotics.
    
9. Colourful fruit and vegetables are high in immune-enhancing antioxidants. Aim to eat orange root vegetables, citrus fruits or broccoli every day.
    
10. Eat seasonally. You'll get the freshest produce containing the healthiest minerals and vitamins - and you will save a bit of money too. 

"My Fav Things' Giveaway" (valued at over $250)

Subscribe to our mailing list and enter for your chance to win 'My Fav Things' Giveaway - valued at over $250!

Thank you for the generous contributions from: Rootcellar Market, Church & State Wines, AJ's Organics, The Village & Jusu Bar.

Giveaway prize includes:

Rootcellar Market - Gift Card, Jute Bag, T-shirt ($40 value) therootcellar.ca
Church & State Wines - Red & White ($50 value) churchandstatewines.com
The Village - Free Lunch ($20 value) thevillagerestaurant.ca
AJs Organic Cafe - Free Lunch ($25 value) ajsorganics.com
Jusu Bar - Gift Card ($20 value) jusubar.com
Dani Health Nutrition Consultation ($120 value)

'My Fav Things' Giveaway will run from November 7 - December 15, 2016.  
Winner will be drawn on Dec 15, 2016 and contacted via email.

The Lunch Salad

Salads can be super boring, and are only a healthy lunch if they contain the right things.  Here's a quick guide you can follow to make your lunch salad taste great and pack some fat and protein to keep you going. 

To make a balanced Lunch Salad, simply follow the guidelines below:

Start with 3 cups of salad greens/lettuces

Add one protein choice:

• 1 hardboiled egg, diced or sliced
• 1/2 can tuna, packed in water, drained
• 85g leftover cooked chicken breast
• 55g leftover cooked salmon
• 1 small can flavoured tuna
• 30g cheddar cheese, diced or shredded

Add vegetables and/or fruit:  

• 1/2 - 1 cup diced vegetables and/or fruit (anything you have on hand)

Add a healthy salad dressing:

• 1.5 Tbsp of balsamic vinaigrette or an oil & vinegar dressing

Add 2-3 yummy extras:

• 8 almonds, chopped or slivers
• 1 Tbsp walnuts, chopped
• 1 Tbsp sunflower seeds
• 1 Tbsp raisins or dried cranberries
• 3 Tbsp chickpeas
• 1/2 avocado, diced or sliced
• 1 Tbsp crumbled feta or goat cheese