If you had to grade yourself today – right now! – on your eating and nutrition skills, would you get an A, B, C … or …?
(haha: I’m talking about “healthy” eating here, for the record.)
Most of us think of eating/nutrition as something we should just automatically KNOW about …
… or we even label them as virtues.
EXAMPLE: I can’t even count how many times clients have told me they have been “good” or “bad” when it comes to food.
But there really ARE skills involved – things like meal planning, grocery shopping, meal prep (aka cooking!), knowing which foods fill you up, which ones make you feel hungry, etc.
Understanding portion sizes is also a skill.
Some of us were never taught these things growing up! Or we’ve been taught so many conflicting things, it’s hard to know WHAT to believe.
Focusing on building these skills is a GREAT mindset switch.
It is empowering (vs. restricting) because it’s not about deprivation – it’s about creating a healthy and fit lifestyle that you actually enjoy.
A few more learnable skills (obviously this depends on your goals & lifestyle):
- Finding 3-4 breakfast options that taste great and keep you filled up till lunchtime (This is a yummy, healthy choice Plant-base Meal Replacement)
- Knowing how to meal prep during busy weeks
- Protein: understanding how to make sure you’re getting enough for your goals
- Veggies: finding ways to work them into your meals (most of us don’t eat enough of them!) One scoop of these greens fills in the gaps and supports healthy gut, immune system, and natural energy! https://m.lfstps.com/Tt5G2/Wipqa
- Getting great at once-weekly grocery shopping (& streamlining it so you can get in and out fast)
- Discovering snacks that satisfy you AND don’t derail your progress
Taking time to master these kinds of skills will move you closer to your goals … and give you a foundation that will last you a lifetime. I'm here to help on your wellness journey! Reach out with any questions.
Just something to think about!
p.s.
If you need assistance in this area, my 28-Day Total Body Transformation gives you a simple blueprint for eating healthy, prepping for the week, and setting you up for success! Learn more HERE.
Yours in health,
Colleen Riddle, ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Young Living Gold Independent Distributor
Join my Facebook Group for more wellness info! Wellness With Colleen
850-598-7263
Interested in ways to support your wellness with chemical-free options? Click HERE!
My husband cooks 98% of our meals (yes, I’m a VERY lucky woman)! One of my goals is to cook a little more often and try new, healthy meals. This turned out awesome, and it was so easy.
Side note, usually when I try to surprise my husband with cooking, I screw it up, LOL (burning something, undercooking something, too bland, etc).
If you are like me, OR if you are an expert in the kitchen, try this yummy recipe!
Just chop up the veggies and whisk together the sauce – and you’ll have a delicious teriyaki-style dinner in less than 30 minutes.
(For a heartier meal, serve this with rice or quinoa).
Cashew-Shrimp Sheet Pan Dinner
(serves 4)
• 12 oz (340 g) broccoli florets
• 1 diced bell pepper
• 1 medium sweet onion, chopped
• 2 Tbsp avocado oil
• 2-3 pinches each of sea salt and pepper
• 2 Tbsp coconut or liquid aminos
• 2 Tbsp orange juice (I used 10 drops YL Orange Essential Oil)
• Dash of hot sauce
• 1 lb (450 g) peeled and deveined large shrimp (fresh or thawed from frozen)
• ¾ cup (90 g) raw cashews
Preheat your oven to 400ºF/200ºC and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, toss together the broccoli, bell pepper, and onion with the oil, salt, and pepper. Pour onto the sheet pan and place in the oven, and roast for 10-12 minutes.
While that’s cooking, prepare your sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the aminos, orange juice, and hot sauce.
Remove the vegetables from the oven and add the shrimp and cashews to the sheet pan. Drizzle the pan contents with the sauce and stir to combine. Place back in the oven and roast until the shrimp are cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
Remove from the oven and serve. DELICIOUS!
Do you love to cook, or are you like me?
.Interested in ways to support your wellness with chemical-free options? Click HERE!
You’re in luck – check out this delicious, healthy Shamrock Shake recipe, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day!● 1 cup creamy oat milk (or cashew or almond)
● 1-2 handful of baby spinach
● ½ large frozen banana, sliced (I prefer half an avocado 
)
)● ¼ tsp pure peppermint extract (or 1 drop YL Vitality Peppermint Essential Oil)
● Sprinkle of cacao nibs
● OPTIONAL: 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder
● OPTIONAL: ¼ cup of Greek yogurt and/or 1 tbsp honey
Pour the oat milk into a high-speed blender and add the spinach. Blitz until well combined and then add the banana, peppermint extract, and optional ingredients. Blend until smooth. Pour into a tall glass over ice, and sprinkle with the cacao nibs. Yum!
Interested in ways to support your wellness with chemical-free options? Click HERE!
Just popping in with a little check-in!
How are you doing today?
How did you sleep last night … have you gotten in any workouts this week … are you focusing on whole foods … and how is your mood?
I’m asking because all of that is RELATED.
When just one of those things is out of whack, it can throw everything else out of whack right along with it!
- A bad night of sleep can throw your hunger hormones out of balance, making you feel hungry … even if you’ve eaten enough
- A stressful day can leave you exhausted and craving comfort foods (and tempt you to skip your workout)
- Lack of activity can drain your energy and also leave you tossing and turning
- Eating too close to bedtime can make it hard to sleep
- And on and on and on!
So … if you’re having one of “those days” … try taking a step back to look at the bigger picture – and then take ONE ACTION to help you feel better (and get back on track).
Some ideas:
- Go outside for a brisk walk and fresh air – or make time for a workout
- Take 5-10 minutes to sit in a quiet space and do breathing exercises (I grab a favorite essential oil to enhance this)
- Make sure your next meal is healthy & made of whole foods (including veggies!)
- Double-check your water intake for the day
This can be like hitting the “reset” button on your day and will help you make better choices moving forward.
What’s ONE action you can count on to RESET your day? Keep this in your back pocket in case you need it! Message me if you use one of these this week!
Having a “big picture” viewpoint can make all the difference in your fitness/wellness – and it’s just ONE REASON why working with an experienced coach can help you get the results you want!
Not only will you have a complete roadmap to success, but also the accountability, support, motivation, and experience to help you feel great every step of the way.
Yours in health,
Colleen Riddle, ACE Certified Personal Trainer
Young Living Gold Independent Distributor
Join my Facebook Group for more wellness info! Wellness With Colleen
850-598-7263
Interested in ways to support your wellness with chemical-free options? Click HERE!
Talk about an accidental discovery ...
I’ve got a client who went on a trip to Europe a few years ago.
She ate differently than she did here in the US – basically less processed foods and more whole foods (veggies, fruits, proteins, etc.).
Can you guess what happened?
After a few days, almost every one of her everyday aches and pains went away.
Pains she had gotten used to – a sore knee, a tight low back, etc. – were pretty much GONE.
And this happened even though she was MORE ACTIVE all day, walking and sightseeing. Not to mention sleeping on strange beds.
It made such a difference that when she came home, she decided to keep it up – staying away from all her favorite go-to’s for snacks and weeknight meals.
She learned a valuable lesson: Sometimes, making a slight change in your lifestyle or everyday diet can have a HUGE payoff.
There are a lot of foods out there that can increase inflammation in your body.
And as you probably already know, inflammation is linked with aches & pains (especially if you have arthritis), but also obesity, diabetes, and a long list of other diseases.
I’ve put together a list of foods that are directly tied to inflammation, according to the Arthritis Foundation.
- Sugar. Processed sugars can trigger the release of inflammatory messengers in your body called cytokines.
- Trans fats. These can cause systemic inflammation. Even though they’re banned, trans fats can still be found in fast foods and some processed items. Check ingredient labels and avoid items with partially hydrogenated oils.
- Omega 6 fatty acids. Your body needs a healthy balance of omega 3s and 6s, but most of us get way too much of the 6s, which can lead to inflammation.
They’re found in salad dressings, mayo, and many vegetable and seed oils like corn, safflower, sunflower, grapeseed, soy, and peanut. - Refined carbs, aka “white” carbs. White flour, rice, pasta, bread, crackers, cereal, etc. can spike your blood sugar and lead to inflammation.
- Alcohol. Moderate drinking (1 drink a day for women; 2 for men) may have some health benefits for many people. However, studies show the more alcohol people consume, the higher their level of inflammatory markers in their bodies.
- Processed meats. The methods used to prepare these meats create AGEs (advanced glycation end-products), which are linked to inflammation.
Some people also find they get aches and pains from foods they are sensitive to, like gluten, dairy, and even some vegetables.
I’m not suggesting that you go on a big kick and throw out all of those foods. That can be hard to sustain.
But sometimes making just one or two changes can start you on the road toward feeling your absolute best.
We can also assist our bodies through supplementation. I personally take these three everyday to support my body:
1. Ningxia Red: massive antioxidants to fight free radicals in our body.
1. Ningxia Red: massive antioxidants to fight free radicals in our body.
2. BLM (Bones, Ligaments & Muscles): helps joint mobility with collagen, glucosamine, and essential oils
Reach out if you have any questions!
REFERENCES:
Interested in ways to support your wellness with chemical-free options? Click HERE!
