If you’ve spent any amount of time on social media, you’ve probably come across a plethora of content touting metabolism-boosting “hacks”: drinking cold water, green tea, and coffee; eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day; making your food as spicy as possible; cold plunging in ice water; wearing a weighted vest. What’s worth implementing? What’s simply noise? Read this week’s blog to find out.
Read MoreFor many, one of the biggest barriers when first starting to track your macros is hitting your protein target. It’s easy to think that eating protein is only important for bodybuilders and elite athletes, but it plays a crucial role in all of our bodies, regardless of our age or athletic ability. Hitting your protein target may be hard at first, but it’s not impossible -- and it definitely doesn’t require just eating meat all day, every day. In fact, since making the personal choice to stop eating meat last year, I know that it’s totally possible to eat an adequate amount of protein and even follow a higher-protein diet with little to no animal-based sources. In this week’s post, I’m sharing just how to do that along with a list of plant-based protein sources and some awesome, easy (and macro-friendly!) plant-based recipes. With the surge of popularity of plant-based diets has also come the increase in plant-based marketing. Walking around the grocery store, you’ll find “plant based” whole wheat pasta, donuts, and chips - all foods that are generally free of animal products anyway, and foods that don’t become automatically healthy just because of a plant-based label.
Read MoreThe idea of what is “healthy” is nuanced. A salad can be healthy as it’s filled with micronutrients, and a cookie can be healthy when we allow ourselves to enjoy it guilt-free. It’s important to note that fast food can be consumed in a way that isn’t as healthful if opting for super calorie-dense options that lack nutrients, but most fast food restaurants do have options that are more aligned with goals of eating healthfully. Fast food is not bad, nor is any singular food bad or good, because they exist within the context of our goals and life circumstances.
Read MoreRotisserie chicken is one of those often overlooked options that can cut down on our cooking time, make our food delicious, and add ease to our busy lives. It comes cooked and ready to eat and is a wonderful, healthful substitute to protein prep at home. Simplicity is key to sustainability in our nutrition and, with that in mind, here are 5 quick, simple meals using rotisserie chicken. Because these recipes are so simple and customizable, the ingredients and directions are merely suggestions.
Read MoreIntentional out-of-routine times, like the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday, tend to cause panic around meals where panic need not be warranted. Nutritional and lifestyle habits might need to temporarily change but managing expectations, having flexibility with our choices, and giving ourselves the permission to intentionally get out of our routines can ensure that those occasional meals stay exciting (not stressful!). Understanding and establishing the intentions of our meals gives us more control over how our meals make us feel. Remember: we have the power over food, food does not have the power over us.
Read MoreIn the ever-evolving landscape of nutrition, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a potential ally in the pursuit of our health and nutrition goals. However, it's crucial to approach this technology with a healthy dose of skepticism. From my (admittedly biased) viewpoint, AI's capabilities, while promising, cannot completely replace the nuanced guidance provided by a human nutrition coach.
Read MoreIdeally you are starting with a diet that is already well-rounded and focused on whole foods, then reducing/eliminating meat consumption and replacing animal based proteins with plant-based alternatives. The unfortunate side effect of a plant-based diet being a fad right now is that many people skip this part and move right to just cutting out meat and dairy.
With the surge of popularity of plant-based diets has also come the increase in plant-based marketing. Walking around the grocery store, you’ll find “plant based” whole wheat pasta, donuts, and chips - all foods that are generally free of animal products anyway, and foods that don’t become automatically healthy just because of a plant-based label.
Read MoreIn the throes of the holiday season, it’s easy to push your nutrition goals to the side and tell yourself you’ll gear up to tackle those big goals in the New Year. But in the spirit of flexible nutrition, we find that this is the perfect time to work on building important skills around eating and making food choices as well as improving your relationship with food.
Read MoreThe holidays are a time of twinkling lights, cheerful gatherings, and copious amounts of joy-- and sometimes, stress. Consequently, you've probably found yourself frazzled amidst the festivities, wishing things were as simple as a Hallmark Christmas movie. Despite the hustle, bustle, and festivities muscle, there are a few ways you can help avoid the typical holiday burnout and still prioritize yourself.
Read MoreWe are in the midst of what is typically the busiest, most travel-prone, food-centric time of the year. So for my frequent flier clients AND the majority of the population at this time, most of our normal “controls” aren’t quite able to happen. Food choices look different, we may not have access to a gym, and we may be enjoying more meals out or savoring more of the foods that only come around this time of year. These higher variable times don’t have to add stress to our lives! One of my favorite parts of coaching is helping clients see that there is no “on or off track,” no matter where they are or how many variables are at work in their lives.
Read MoreBatch prepping refers to cooking large quantities of food ahead of time so that you can easily throw together a meal when it’s time to pack your lunch for the day or feed your family for dinner. When batch prepping, we can think less about the specific meals we are going to eat for the week, and more about creating the building blocks of those meals. This also makes grocery shopping and any meal planning you may do much easier!
Read MoreAs we say goodbye to warmer months and head into seasons of shorter days and colder temperatures, it is common for those shifts to translate into some seasonal gloom. We feel the impacts of less perceived time in the day and less sunlight, and we may initially feel a bit less motivated in the way of our normal health habits. During these colder months when we may find ourselves with a less zeal for prioritizing our nutrition, getting those workouts in or staying mindful of our sleep and stress management, we can meet our bodies and brains where they are at and create winter action plans that still support us feeling our best and in flexible ways.
Read MoreTracking calories has been largely utilized for various health and physique-related goals, and it is a tool we use often with our clients to help bring awareness to our eating habits. When it comes to tracking our macronutrients or calories, one of the first (and often overwhelming) steps is finding a tracking app that suits your needs. There are many apps out there that track the calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients in the foods we eat. Today we’re going to talk about the two most popular, MyFitnessPal and Cronometer.
Read MoreThe goal of this post is to share with you some of our favorites but, more importantly, give you some ideas of how you can use these pre-made, ready to go foods to simplify the process of feeding your body and, ideally, save some time while you’re at it.
Read More“I just hate eating vegetables” tends to be the most common sentence I read when I get a new client intake form. It usually comes straight after reading that said client’s main goal is to “lose fat and gain muscle.” If that gives you any consolation for not being a fan of veggies, GREAT. But in years of coaching, I’ve learned it’s not so much about hating vegetables as much as not knowing how to prepare them or make them enjoyable.
Read MoreWhether you’re off to the beach for a summer vacation or heading out for some international adventures, traveling is great but can also be a bit stressful. We believe that eating the foods you enjoy should not require restricting, rationalizing, or guilt. This post will help you find strategies that will keep you on track as you travel and navigate situations that are not totally in your control.
Read MoreWe think smoothies are awesome! They can be a great addition to your day, regardless of your goals, and are also a really great way to get in extra protein as well as lots of nutrients. So, this week, instead of sharing more recipes with you, we’re going to share a little more about why we think smoothies are beneficial and, more importantly, how to make the best one for your needs and preferences.
Read MoreProtein is one of the harder macronutrients to incorporate into our diet because it generally requires storage and prep time and therefore it can be less convenient. However, protein powder is super convenient! There are A LOT of different types and brands of protein powder out there, and it can be confusing to know which protein powder you should buy. Here is how to choose the right protein powder for you and a list of some of our favorites!
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