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Welcome
to the latest issue of “Making the Healthy Choice
the Easy Choice.”
Each
month you will find information you can use on a monthly
topic, healthy eating, recipes and more! I welcome your
feed back and questions. Please send them to janet@nourishyourlife.com.
Thank
you!
"Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice”
December,
2003
Welcome to the December issue of “Making the Healthy
Choice the Easy Choice.” Each month you will find
information you can use on a monthly topic, healthy
eating, recipes and more! I welcome your feed back and
questions. Please send them to
janet@nourishyourlife.com.
Thank
you
December is the month of giving
What
do you think of when the calendar turns to December? The
holidays? Snow? Skiing? For those of you in the warmer
climates (and feel free to invite us to visit you…) what
does December mean to you?
For
most of us, the gift of giving is most evident. Giving
to family, friends, co-workers, teachers, neighbors…the
list goes on…as the holidays approach. Along with the
holidays comes parties, shopping, stress, overeating,
and weariness. Is that what we intended to celebrate?
Whether it is Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, or another
holiday, what can you do today to refocus on the true
meaning of your celebration?
For me
and my family, it is the gift of God’s Son, Jesus
Christ, that we celebrate. I wonder what I can give to
God this year?
My challenge for you this month, is to think of one way
you can de-stress. Perhaps taking extra good care of
yourself; eating healthy; keeping up with your exercise
routine; enlisting the help of others; plan ahead; what
comes to your mind? What can you give to yourself, so
that you can continue giving to others?
Quote for the month:
“The
gift to oneself, when given by the Blessings of God, is
to truly give the gift of graciousness to others.”
(anonymous)
Healthy eating in December
Tis
the season to be eating…and eating, and eating.
Statistics show that the average person gains 5-7 pounds
in the month of December, but only loses 3-4 pounds in
the months to follow. The pounds add up year after year.
What can you do this year to avoid the weight gain? Make
a commitment to yourself (and share your commitment with
a friend or family member ) to be mindful of what you
eat this month.
Drink
plenty of water to combat fatigue and speed up your
metabolism; avoid high fat foods that look great but
leave you feeling blah; if you think you can’t resist
that piece of pie, rich chocolate cake, or variety of
cookies, FIRST ask yourself to wait 5 minutes before
putting it on your plate-then get busy doing something
else. Brush your teeth before walking into a room filled
with tables of tempting food. Fill up on fresh fruits
and vegetables first. Plan get togethers that include
physical activity; play in the snow, go for a walk, ski,
swim (indoors in most areas), play.
What
are some of the ways that you curb overeating in
December? Send them to me at
janet@nourishyourlife.com and receive a free
coaching session. I value your ideas.
Healthy eating in December reminds me of cranberries!
Cranberry bread, cranberry pudding, cranberry muffins,
cranberry sauce, cranberry kugel, the list is as long as
every family’s favorites. Cranberries are not only
tasty, but also healthy for you.
Health benefits
Not
only are cranberries high in Vitamin C, but also high in
anti-oxidants and anti-adhesions. Anti-oxidants and
other phytonutrients found in cranberries may reduce the
risk of cancer, heart disease and premature aging.
Anti-adhesives, called proanthocyanidins (PACs), can
inhibit the adhesion of certain bacteria, (including
E.coli,) which help to prevent urinary tract infections,
gum disease and bacteria-related ulcers.
My challenge for you this month is to include some type
of cranberry product in your diet at least once a week.
Cranberries may be purchased as dried, juiced, canned,
whole or sauce. Or try a new way of serving them such as
a Cranberry Parfait.
Cranberry Parfait
Serves
4
My recipe this month is simplified, as you already have
enough to do
Ingredients
2 cups
of any cranberry sauce you enjoy. Choose whole, jellied,
relish; homemade or prepared.
1 cup cooked quinoa
(For cooking directions
click here.)
1 Tablespoon any kind of nuts
Directions
1.Divide one cup cranberries into four parfait glasses
(1/4 cup in each)
2.Layer with two tablespoons quinoa
3.Repeat layers
4.Garnish with nuts
Nutrition facts
Cannot be calculated as the types of sauces are variable
in nutrient content
For more quinoa recipes go to
www.nourishyourlife.com/quinoarecipes.htm
This concludes the December issue of “Making the Healthy
Choice the Easy Choice.”
May I pray God’s richest Blessings on your holiday
season
Next month
Have
you found the solution to your New Year Resolution?
Janet
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