Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from A Tastier Life!
-Yesenia Whipple
Month: December 2014
Most wonderful time or craziest time of the year?
How about both?! I love Christmas. I love the festive music, decorations, excitement leading up to Christmas eve and day, and the chaos of family and kids running around the house. If you are like me and work from home then you understand this time of year can also become extremely hectic and if not careful rattle some negative nerves in all of us. So here are a few ways to ease the stress of it and focus on the important stuff that matters the most.
- Get organized. This might mean one to do list to knock out for some OR a master list with 20 additional color coded lists from Thanksgiving to New Years. Whatever works right?
- Set a budget for everything from cooking for family, gifts, stockings, and decorations.
- Get the essentials started early. We have a TON of birthdays in November and Christmas. Shop those birthdays online or early like in August or September and start thinking stocking stuffers. Every time you hit the store grab an item or two for stockings.
- Make a list of everyone you need to buy for and spread everyone out by week or even month if you start early enough. Don’t wait until the last-minute or you might go crazy. I know it is not easy, but try to wrap as many gifts as you can as you purchase them.
- Delegate. Ask and accept help any way you can. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, decorating. We are only human; don’t try to be a hero; it’s o.k. to ask, demand (o.k. a little harsh I know), and accept that help.
Are you seeing a theme hear revolving around lists and organizing your days? 🙂
Enjoy yourself. The days are long the years are short; a reminder as the year comes to an end. Remember what is important. This may be different for every family, so whatever the season brings you relish and enjoy every second of it. Moments come and go, but memories from those moments in time last a lifetime.
-Yesenia Whipple
Fun in the kitchen
Had a little fun this afternoon experimenting. Balsamic, coconut oil, garlic, green beans, almonds, and tomatoes.
For a snack or side dish- I recommend either taking the tomatoes away or keeping the tomatoes and adding a little low fat cheese.
For a main meal- I suggest adding some diced chicken and/or some whole grain pasta.
What would you add?
-Yesenia Whipple
Adding flavor without adding calories!
Some great tips on adding flavor to your foods without adding calories. Check it out!
You can find some more fitness tips here.
-Yesenia Whipple
Finding your inner fruity
Unless we talk my obsession with bananas and grapes to say I love fruit? Not so much. I like fruit, but again not my go to. So I am always looking for creative ways to incorporate fruit into a balanced diet. Here are a few ideas to inspire the inner fruity inside us all.
Fruit Parfait – what’s not to love. It’s creamy, sweet, and healthy. A great snack or dessert.
Fruit and whipped cream – A great dessert at home or when you go out. Most restaurants have both fruit and whipped cream so they are happy to accommodate. If your love wants to indulge in a decadent dessert have a bite and enjoy your healthier dessert keeping any guilt at bay.
Fruit smoothie – Smoothies are one of my favorite go to snacks. They can be packed with nutrients like greens for example while still tasting rich and delicious.
A mixed fruit salsa – You can really get creative with this. A good mix like mango, red onion, cilantro, and sweet peppers will make any meat or fish dish stand out.
Mixed in garden salad – A good garden salad with some added strawberries and a tangy vinaigrette just sounds mouth-watering right? I love combining sweet and tangy; the balance just makes my taste buds so happy.
…or you could just put some fruit in a pretty mug. Whatever works for you 🙂
-Yesenia Whipple
The City and Us on Delectable Wine App
Hi friends! Check out this post from The City and Us on the Delectable Wine App.
It’s an app that let’s you track wines you have tried and can share with your friends and family. Read more here: The City and Us.
image credit: The City and Us and Delectable
-Yesenia Whipple
Turkey Day was fun and all but….
Oh Thanksgiving. You came, I ate, I smiled in between bites of apple pie, then you left me feeling…. bloated; and yet I anticipate your return next year with open arms. Until then I shall get back to my healthy lifestyle and shed any evidence of your yearly visit.
Isn’t it so easy to just let yourself go even just a little bit when the holidays arrive? I wish I was like those uber awesome people who just have the best will power and don’t derail AT ALL during the holidays. But then I wouldn’t get to eat that extra piece of apple pie! Yikes! o.k. so honestly I am disciplined and my everyday lifestyle is one of health and fitness and that is why it’s o.k. to over indulge a little bit during the holidays. Why? Because that is not the norm, it’s just what it’s called an indulgence which doesn’t happen all the time.
Bouncing back can be hard. That is where the discipline comes in. Getting back on track and ridding your pantry and fridge of any and all leftovers that may continue to derail you is key. Some people can do this just fine and others require a couple of days to slowly get back to their routine. Whatever works for you do it! For me personally it takes about 24-48 hours. I go through cravings, I think of all the unhealthy food I ate and would love just a little taste of (mostly sweets since I am a big sweets girl). It is literally detox. I still eat what I should in calories but I may allow myself one treat in those 24-48 hours. Otherwise, I could find myself in the closet with a bag of kitkats. O.k. that is a complete exaggeration but you get what I am saying. Meal prepping is so valuable during this time. Having healthy foods ready and at your disposal can make or break you at this point.
When it comes to working out post holidays I find 2 things work best for me. Doing something completely outside my usual workout routine. Like a major run. I hate running. So why would i go for a run? When I do a workout I really don’t like knowing it is not going to be done every day it gives me a push, a sense of accomplishment, and I just feel great afterwards. The other way I get back to my workout routine is really being prepared and organized. Setting up a program that I can follow everyday so I am accountable each day for the workout I planned. Luckily being a beach body coach I have a few programs with calendars that do the planning for me. I pick the program and prepare mentally for whats to come. This usually gets me excited to start!
The last thing I want to touch on is taking it day by day. Small steps will get you overall success. What are some tips you can share with us on getting back on the healthy train?
-Yesenia Whipple
