NutriTips: "Bite-Sized Helpings of Sound Nutrition Advice"
Ready, Set, Cook!
Appoint These Foods To Your Kitchen Cabinet
 
In the spirit of tomorrow's historic and exciting inaugural festivities, let's appoint a few healthy members to the cabinet nearest and dearest (and perhaps most detrimental) to your heart - the snack cabinet.
 
Move boldly and
swiftly to:
 
1. Clean It Out
Throw out or give away all of the junk lurking in your cabinets. You don't need it, your kids don't need it. What to reach for when you're searching for a nosh?
 
2. Restock With. . .
- Popcorn (unbuttered, preferably stovetop
or air popped). If you must microwave, look for the least amount of ingredients and make sure you can pronounce them.
 
- Crackers with at least 4 grams of fiber per serving. 
 
- Fresh and dried fruit, cut-up raw veggies. It goes without saying, you can't beat these for healthy "fast" food.
 
- Nuts and Nut Butters
 
- Bean-based spreads like hummus or
black bean dip. 
 
- Nonfat yogurt, reduced fat cheeses.
 
-Whole grain muffins, like pumpkin, apple, or zucchini (homemade is an even better choice.) 
 

Happy New Year!

 I realize that the New Year rang in just over two weeks ago; I'm not late in wishing you all a happy 2009, I'm intentional - like your resolutions.
 
How are those going by the way, have you abandoned them yet? Even though January 1 was just 18 days ago, when you're focused on making lifestyle changes, that relatively short amount of time can seem like a lifetime. So actually, now, rather than January 1st is the perfect time for me to check in with you. 
 
Here are 3 tips to get you through the end of the month, and then we'll take it from there.
 1) Take Manageable Bites: Not bites of food, but bites of intention (there's that word again.) It's easy to set goals too high thus rendering them unrealistic. You KNOW this, but you probably ignore the logic. Setting a goal of never eating another French fry is one that is impossible to maintain. Make your new goal something you can live with for a lifetime!
2) Set Personal Parameters: For example; skip no more than two consecutive days of exercise or eat a minimum of two cups of vegetables each day or get at least six hours of sleep each night. Then live by those parameters no matter what.
3) Accept That You'll Slip Up: Perhaps you already have - slipped and eaten those forbidden French fries that is. It's ok. Get right back on track with your very next meal or snack (that's right, don't even wait until the next day, start NOW!) It's going to happen - you're human. Just keep moving forward, even when you've taken a step backward. 
Wishing you a delicious, nutritious month! 
cathy

Cathy Leman, MA, RD, LD
    
p.s. Receive a FREE box of Dr. Kracker whole grain crackers with any purchase from my website, OR, any one-on-one nutrition consultation here at my office!