Category: Cooking Healthy

Twelve Healthy And Fun Holiday Gifts

 

Fitness Gifts - Holiday Gifts - Cyber Monday - Jennifer Ledford - Certified Personal Trainer - Healthy Lifestyle Coach

Need great gifts for the people on your list that are interested in health and fitness but not sure what to buy? No worries! I’m here to help.

There are so many products available these days it can be a little difficult to choose just the right gift. To  keep things simple for you, I’ve made a list of twelve fitness and health-conscious gifts that are sure to please.  Based on my own personal experience, not everyone that’s interested in health and fitness wants something “gym” related so I stepped outside the box and added a little more variety than just your standard fitness gear.  🙂

Twelve Fitness and Health-Conscious Gifts

  1. Foam Roller. It’s hard to go wrong with a tool that can be used for self-massage, strength training, and stability work all in one neat little foam cylinder. These are available on Amazon’s website or you can find them at online fitness stores like Power Systems. I recommend purchasing the 36″ long by 6″ round because it is the most versatile. $18-$20

    AmazonBasics high-density foam roller - Fitness Gifts - Holiday Gifts - Cyber Monday - Jennifer Ledford - Certified Personal Trainer - Healthy Lifestyle Coach Photo courtesy of Amazon.com

  2. TRX Suspension Training System. This training tool has become a staple in the fitness world due to its effectiveness and the simple fact that you can use it anywhere. You can use it to stretch, build strength, increase endurance, improve stability, and develop a great looking physique. The TRX is suitable for beginner to advanced levels of fitness. The list price is $199.95 but since I’m a certified TRX trainer the company allows me to share a direct link with you that offers a $45 discount.  Whoo-hoo!  Click here for the discounted link.

    TRX HOME Suspension Trainer - Fitness Gifts - Holiday Gifts - Cyber Monday - Jennifer Ledford - Certified Personal Trainer - Healthy Lifestyle Coach

  3. Gift Cards. Gift cards for stores that sell active wear, cooking supplies, specialty groceries, and outdoor gear are all great presents for the active and/or nutrition-conscious person on your list.
  4. Sports-related gift certificates. A gift certificate for lessons to try a new activity or sport that someone has expressed interest in is super thoughtful and it could be the encouragement that helps them get started. If they already have a favorite sport, a gift certificate for usage fees, passes, supplies, or gear is a big hit as well.
  5. Fitness, Cooking, or Healthy Living Magazines. A subscription to a magazine is a simple and budget-friendly gift that keeps on giving all year long.  Before giving this type of gift make sure you have confirmed that your recipient has expressed an interest in “light” cooking magazines or magazines that feature health and weight loss.  I’ve seen this well-meaning gift taken the wrong way before.  The last thing you want is to offend the person you sent a gift to. I recommend staying away from the image-based magazines and sticking to the publications that are more health-focused than weight loss driven.
  6. Music. Gift cards or memberships to music sites like iTunes or Pandora are a nice way to help the exerciser on your list stay motivated by freshening up their playlist.
  7. Ready-made meals. Who wouldn’t want fresh meals delivered to their doorstep? It’s the next best thing to a personal chef and giving it as a gift could shoot you up into rockstar status. Munchery gets good reviews and they offer a wide variety of well-balanced and healthy meals. You can place your order the same day you’d like it delivered. Bonus!If the person on your list loves to cook but could do without the shopping, check out companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh.  They’ll send out pre-planned meals along with all of the ingredients and their easy-to-follow recipes.
  8. Wine or beer.  Yep, you read that right.  I recommend wine and/or beer.  Most people that are into good food like wine or craft beers.  My husband and I like to pick a few wineries or wine shops each year and make a tasting date out of our shopping trip.  Tasting it beforehand adds that special touch.  It allows you to share how much you enjoy the wine and why you’re excited to present it as a gift.
  9. Aprons.  This is a great gift for the person that spends a lot of time in the kitchen and likes to keep the food off of their clothing..  I wear an apron almost every night but for some reason I don’t always splurge for a new one so when I receive one as a gift, I’m thrilled.  Aprons are not just for the ladies.  Guys like to wear them too!  http://amzn.to/2fqbsk0
  10. Nice linens.  For the health-conscious person that likes to eat most of their meals at home, cloth napkins, fun dish towels, place mats. or tablecloths are all great gifts to help add a little ambience to the kitchen.
  11. Cheese plates.  Cheese plates aren’t just for entertaining.  We use ours for snack time.  A set of cheese plates is something your recipient will use for years to come. http://amzn.to/2fpu0Rw
  12. Exercise mat.  This a great gift for the home exerciser or the person that prefers to bring their own mat to the gym.  I even let our dogs use mine from time to time. 🙂  http://amzn.to/2gnd40c

Enjoy your shopping and holiday season!

With love,
Jennifer Ledford

 

Fourteen Seasonal Fruits And Veggies For Fall

Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables - Fruits and Veggies for Fall - shutterstock_152970545

The fall season brings a great variety of fruits and vegetables that can help you stay on track with your healthy eating plan.  Eating seasonally not only offers great taste, it usually offers a lower price per pound and the opportunity to support local farmers.  That’s what I call a win-win.  🙂

This fall, I encourage you to explore local farmer’s markets, roadside stands, and grocery stores for an abundance of good eats this time of year. To help you get started, here’s a list of in-season fruits and vegetables and ideas on how to incorporate them in your weekly diet.

TRY THESE TASTY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR FALL

1) Apples. Harvest Season: August-November.

Apples make great on-the-go snacks. Use them in salads, with savory dishes like pork chops or chop them up and put them in yogurt.

2) Dates. Harvest Season: September-December.

Dates are great in baked goods. Try chopping up a few for your oatmeal or over the top of frozen yogurt. For savory dishes, try doing a search for middle eastern recipes that include dates.

3) Grapefruit. Harvest Season: September-April.

Add over greens, squeeze fresh for a healthy juice, or eat this fruit in its fleshy form just like an orange.

4) Kiwi. Harvest Season: September-March.

Kiwis are a great way to spice up a fruit salad or a smoothie.  They make a wonderful dessert on their own.  If you want something a bit more decadent, try pairing them with a small serving of ice cream.

5) Pears. Harvest Season: August-February.

Pears are one of my favorites because they are so versatile. This fruit is great as part of a snack, added to mixed greens, used in savory dishes, or poached with a bit of cinnamon for a low-cal healthy dessert.

6) Tangerines. Harvest Season: November-April

Add these sweet little treats to yogurt, pack them in lunches, snack on them, use as a dessert, or add them to a salad.

7) Brussel Sprouts. Harvest Season: September-March.

I must confess, it took me awhile to like these wonderful little cabbages.  Now, they are one of my favorites this time of year.  Try roasting brussel sprouts with olive oil, or sauteing with butter and garlic. Serve with roasted meat and mashed potatoes.

8) Cauliflower. Harvest Season: September-June.

Use cauliflower to make fantastic soups, mix it in your stir-fries, or serve steamed with other vegetables as a side. You can also chop up cauliflower with other veggies and serve it with a healthy yogurt dip for parties.

9) Squash. Harvest Season: October-February

There are so many varieties of squash and ways to prepare them. Try them steamed, stir-fried, or in soups. I’ve even used butternut squash to make a lower calorie bechamel sauce for mac and cheese.

10) Pumpkin. Harvest Season: October-February.

Pumpkin is used mostly in desserts like pies and cakes. You can use it for waffles, pancakes, and breads.  However, pumpkin soup is delicious and I’ve even had pumpkin raviolis.  You can get really creative with pumpkin.  Just like with the dates, try doing a search online for interesting pumpkin recipes.

11) Sweet Potatoes. Harvest Season: September-December.

Sweet potatoes are not just for Thanksgiving Day anymore and they are a fantastic complex carbohydrate.  Roast them.  Make mashed sweet potatoes, or baked french fries. If you’re cooking for 1-2 people, you can save time in the kitchen by microwaving a large sweet potato.

12) Turnips. Harvest Season: September-April.

Try these tasty root vegetables roasted with olive oil or in stews.

13) Parsnips. Harvest Season: October-April.

Add parsnips to other root vegetables and puree for a sweeter soup, or roast with potatoes and carrots for a wonderful blend.

14) Rutabaga. Harvest Season: October-April.

Honestly, I haven’t cooked with this one yet. I discovered it when researching my list for this article. It’s a cross between a turnip and a cabbage. Suggested uses include roasting, or adding to casseroles and soups along with turnips and carrots. I’ll report. You decide.  🙂

When meal planning this fall, decide which seasonal fruits and vegetables you’d like to incorporate into your healthy eating plan and use lower calorie nutrient dense recipes that include these foods as ingredients. You can find great low-cal seasonal recipes on websites like Cooking Light and Eating Well.  If you are a little old school like I am and enjoy looking through recipe books I recommend purchasing a monthly subscription to a healthy cooking magazine.  The cost is minimal and having a variety of seasonal recipes to choose from takes the boredom out of meal time.

Have fun experimenting with healthy seasonal foods. Browse your produce stand and farmer’s market. When eating out, ask your food server what’s fresh — and depending where you live — ask what’s local on the menu.

Please feel free to share any great seasonal recipes or snack ideas you come up with. I love to hear from you!

Blessings to you and yours!
Jennifer

A Labor Day Travel Tip

shutterstock_176863070 - Labor Day - travel

Happy Labor Day!

My husband and I decided to take some time off to hang out with good friends and all of our fur babies at the Russian River here in Northern California.  Total bliss!  It’s SO important to take time off periodically to play and rest.

In honor of the long weekend, I’m sharing one of my favorite travel tips with you.

Years ago I traveled twice a month for business and experienced my fair share of hotel life.    Business travel is different than traveling for pleasure and it can often times cause you to want to stay home and nest rather than travel when vacation time comes around.  The desire to stay in a hotel is simply not there.  Even the fancy ones!

A Labor Day Travel Tip

To remedy this situation my husband and I do our very best to rent a home or an apartment with a kitchen when we travel.  Having access to a kitchen allows us to prepare our own meals and having extra space feels more homey to us.

My husband and I enjoy eating out.  However, after a few days, eating every meal in a restaurant can become a bit much even for a couple of  foodies.  Spending time searching for restaurants can take time away from your outdoor activities and after a while you may find you just want to hang out in your own private home and eat a casual meal.

When it comes to maintaining your weight loss goals cooking your own meals while on vacation is a great way to avoid weight gain and it’s much easier to stick to your meal plan if you have any special dietary needs.

We’ve rented homes and apartments here in the United States and in other countries as well.  On one of our trips to Mexico we stayed in a timeshare and had the cab driver stop at the grocery store on our way to the resort.  Talk about some amazing produce!

The nice thing about having a kitchen when you travel is it allows you flexibility.  You can eat in or out as much as you want to.  When we travel to new places we normally like to go out to lunch and then eat something a bit lighter for dinner.  It’s all about what works for you.

Here’s to creating that home away from home while you travel!

With Love,
Jennifer