Starting off the new year always gets you thinking about your health. Make it a goal this year to do something healthier for yourself. You only get one chance in life. We have so many patients that come in and wish they would have done things differently for their body. It is never too late to improve your health.
Eating and nutrition are almost more important than exercise. You are what you eat. Pinterest is a great way to find new healthy recipes. Dr. Gina tries to make one new healthy recipe a week. We have attached a few of her favorites. Dr. Gina works and has a family at home so the only way to be sure to eat a healthy diet is to meal prep. Every Saturday or Sunday she sits down and makes a grocery list by planning what the family is eating all week on her chalk board. During the week when we plan what we are eating, we tend to eat much healthier. With planning and not going out for lunch we eat healthier and it saves us a lot of money. None of us are perfect and you should still treat and reward yourself at least once a week. By having a cheat day, it ensures that your body does not go into “protective mode,” the increased calories help to stimulate your metabolism. These “cheat days” only work when you get right back on schedule the next day.
To maintain a healthy lifestyle, you should exercise at least 3 times a week for 30 minutes, get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, take a multivitamin, and drink water that is half your body weight in ounces. So, if you are 150 pounds you should be drinking at least 75 ounces of water a day. Try to cut out the soda (diet soda too!) or dessert coffee and replace it with water or maybe a passion drink by Yoli. Passion is a great alternative to caffeine and tastes great. More to come on this product in our next blog.
Please ask us any questions you might have on how to improve your lifestyle and make one change to improve your health this year! We are here for you today to be healthier tomorrow!
Onion-Roasted Chicken & Vegetables:
4 Chicken breast halves
1 envelope Lipton Recipe secrets onion soup mix
2-3 potatoes, cut into small chunks
2 diced carrots
¼ cup olive oil
½ tsp Garlic powder
If you like a little spice, a pinch of cayenne pepper
Put chicken, potatoes, carrots, olive oil and garlic powder in a bag and shake. Place in 9x13 baking pan and bake at 450 for 30-40 minutes or until chicken and vegetables are done.
Crockpot Chicken Taco Chili
1 small onion, chopped
1(15.5oz) can black beans, drained
1(15.5oz) can kidney beans, drained
1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
10 oz package frozen corn kernels
2 (10oz) cans rotel
1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade)
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp chili powder
24oz (3) boneless skinless chicken breasts
Place all in the crockpot and put raw chicken breasts on top. Cook 8-10 hours. Shred chicken and serve.
If you would like to make your own taco seasoning, omit the packet, and add:
1 ½ Tbsp cumin
1 ½ Tbsp chili powder
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper