On the Road to Healthy

We’re getting healthy in 2014, this is our goal, so I thought I’d share some tips on what we’re doing to lose weight, have more energy and feel great.

I shared with you that my word for 2014 is balance.  Since I wrote that post, I’ve been trying to lead a more balanced life; taking time to breath, to be present in each moment as best I can.  I’ve also been trying to make time for my family and for living in a healthier way.  Luke has too!

With the move last year, painting rooms and furniture, well, I wouldn’t plan ahead for dinner and then we’d end up eating frozen pizza or pasta for three nights in a row.  Can you relate?  I also wasn’t making time to exercise – I could always come up with reasons I couldn’t go to yoga or pilates because I was just too busy.

Now I’m realizing – it is about balancing my time, my energies, planning ahead and making the right choices.  It is about making time to take my Poppy girl for walks.  Luke has joined Planet Fitness as they were doing a deal – a year membership for $99 – and I’ve been going to yoga / balance barre a few times a week and walking the dog daily.  I’m so much happier for it!  Poppy is happier too!

For Christmas Luke gave me Giada’s new book, Giada’s Feel Good Food.  It is wonderful and I’m not just saying that, no one is paying me to tell you how wonderful it is.  Her book is about moderation, it is about trying some new ingredients and eating in a “cleaner” way.  It is not a diet.  It is a way to change how you eat.  This book has been a tool to help me plan meals ahead of time, many of the meals my kids love.  She even has a month of meals planned in the front!

Conor loves the Chia Seed Pudding.  He had two servings with berries the other morning and we’re having it for breakfast again today.  I’d never even heard of Chia Seeds before this year.  It kind of tastes like tapioca pudding.  Giada also has an orange and almond muffin recipe that the kids love.  They aren’t huge fans of sliced almonds so I just put the almond meal in.

We’ve been enjoying fennel and pea soup, smoothies, oh, and these cute mini lentil burgers with vegan basil mayo:

The basil mayo is so delicious and it tastes so fresh paired with the Boston lettuce.  The book includes savory oatmeal, lovely fish dishes and a cumin chicken that is delicious.  I also love the Spanish Potato Omelet.

Doesn’t that look de-li-cious?!?  We had this for brunch one Sunday.  It reminded me of when we lived in London.  There was a wonderful cafe that we could walk to from our house on Brackenbury Road.  It was just up the road in Shepherds Bush – a great, bohemian cafe.   I’d always get the Spanish omelet with mixed salads.  Eating this reminded me of those wonderful lazy weekend mornings in London.

Healthy Tips

• Plan ahead – that goes for exercise, cooking, family time.  If you have a plan your more apt to stick to it.
• Move your body whether it is walking your dog, running with your kids or bike riding.
• Portion Control – Portions should NOT be super size me! (a mistake we were making)
• Beauty sleep – we all need our rest, it really is so important for our stress levels and our beauty!
• It’s okay to have some chocolate or some sweet treats or snacks.
• Eat more nuts – nuts are in a lot of the recipes I’m making and I LOVE them.
• Don’t just eat boring salad, make meals that have texture, different flavors and spices in them.  It won’t feel like a chore to eat but a pleasure.

I’ve lost four pounds since Christmastime.  I would like to lose 8 more.  I feel like I have so much more energy and I’m not feeling overwhelmed.  Oh, and my taste buds are changing.  I’m not craving salty snacks or even sugar in my coffee.  Fresh fruit over plain Greek yogurt tastes so sweet to me.

We’re on the road to healthy. Will you join us?!?