SWIHA Blog

By Janet Lee, Guest Blogger

While the holiday season brings happy times and wonderful memories, it can sometimes be challenging when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet. During this busy time of year, most of us have been on the run completing work commitments, eating at the mall while finishing holiday shopping, attending holiday parties with friends while eating plenty of food and drinking a little too much eggnog! It’s quite possible that the only exercise experienced is walking from the couch to the refrigerator, or running from store to store.

If, you are experiencing low energy, headaches, or lack of motivation . . .

or if your pants are fitting a little tighter than a couple months ago . . . it is probably time to begin again with some healthy reminders!

Let’s get back on track and begin some healthy habits in 2015 to help us feel our very best!

CLEANSE YOUR BODY

• Eliminate refined foods such as white bread and pasta.
• Replace refined foods with whole wheat, black bean or red lentil pasta.
• Top dehydrated crackers with avocado, hummus and veggies.
• Giving the digestion system a small break and help to re-set your body by drinking smoothies, fresh squeezed juices and plenty of good water.

GREEN IS YOUR FRIEND

• To counterbalance the highly acidic foods eaten during the holiday season, eat more dark green leafy vegetables. Plants have the chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, water, fiber and protein the body needs to feel its best.
• Instead of cooking veggies, eat at least 50 percent raw to get the live enzymes vital for optimal health, healing and increased energy.
• Drink 24-32 oz. of green smoothies a day in place of coffee.
• Drink 24-32 oz. of green juice a day in place of soda, or sports drinks.
• Eat at least one medium size salad a day.
• Snack on a variety of vegetables in place of chips or other processed snacks.

PLAN AHEAD

• To truly have control over health, it’s important to plan ahead. Buy whole foods and make salads, sandwiches and snacks to bring to work or while running errands.
• Make extra smoothies and store in glass jars for mid-day snacks.
• Plan out meals for the week so shopping and preparing are easier.
• Freeze left over meals or make meals on the weekend.

Apple Sunrise Smoothie

• 1 -2 apples
• 1 tablespoon almond butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup spinach
• ½ cup frozen berries

Amazing Green Juice

• 2 cups Kale
• 2 cups Spinach
• 1 cucumber
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 green apple
• ½ inch fresh ginger root
• ¼ inch fresh turmeric root
• 1 lemon, outer peel cut, keep white pith
• Pinch cayenne (optional)

Peach Perfection Smoothie

• 2 cups almond or pecan milk
• 2 cups super-ripe fresh peaches, cut into chunks or frozen peaches
• 1 tablespoon raw honey or 3 dates, soaked
• 2 teaspoons raw, unrefined coconut oil
• Pinch of sea salt