Thursday, October 25, 2012

Monster Tacos!


Monster Tacos!

I have been working diligently to “educate” our children about all the fun things we get to do on Halloween (that don’t involve candy)!  I plan to have activities and healthy foods in place to shift the focus of the day away from just trick-or-treating. The less time we spend trick-or-treating, the less candy we will come home with.  If there is less candy at home . . . everyone will eat less candy!

Here is what I have been telling the girls to get them excited about the day:

  • “We get to decorate the bushes outside with all the Halloween decorations you made in school and the decorations Mommy bought.”
    • Take time decorating the house with all the extra fun stuff on the day of Halloween.  We have caution tape, Halloween ornaments and other fun stuff. 

  • “We get to make up silly monster dances!”
    • Download some Halloween music (Michael Jackson “Thriller”, “The Monster Mash”) and make up silly dances.

  • “We get to make Monster Tacos!”
    • Take a taco shell and use the fixings to make monster faces.  Look at our trial run below!

Here are some other ideas I have but haven’t told them about because I don’t know if I can commit:

  • Make a piñata over the weekend and fill it with Halloween pencils, stickers, and glow necklaces.  Invite a few friends over for a pre-game swing. 
  • Paint pumpkins.
  • Turn your basement into a haunted house and invite friends over for a post-game spook!
  • Turn daddy into a mummy;)

For other Halloween crafts and healthy food ideas check out this website:  http://spoonful.com/halloween/best-halloween-recipes-gallery


Here is how we made Monster Tacos:

Ingredients for taco meat: 1 medium yellow onion, 1 pound of chop meat, 1 can chopped tomatoes, ½ 1 table spoon of olive oil, ¼ teaspoon of cyan, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, pinch of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper split.

Cookware and tools: Large pot, peeler, can opener, cutting board, knife, spoon, measuring spoons, strainer.

Directions:

1.)   Chop onion and put in pot with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Heat on medium low for about 5-6 minutes stirring every few minutes.  You want the onion to become slightly translucent.

2.)   Add chop meat.  Stir chop meat and onions together and add ¼ teaspoon of cyan, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, pinch of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.

3.)   When meat is almost fully browned add can of chopped tomatoes and stir all ingredients together.

4.)   When the ingredients begin to bubble, stir for about a minute and put the stove on low and let simmer for about 10 minutes.

Toppings to your liking:  avocado, chopped carrots, chopped broccoli, sour cream, shredded cheese, corn, black beans, red peppers and green goop (puréed kale with salsa and sour cream) are just a few suggestions.

Serving:  You can serve with Ezekiel food for life wraps or other wraps that you enjoy.  For left-overs, serve over brown rice and melt cheddar cheese on top.  For a snack, serve a small portion with natural tortilla chips.

Our trial run at Monster Tacos (Shealyn gives new meaning to the term “belly-up”!):






                                                                                

In “Sugar Shock” by Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C., with Stephen T. Sinatra, MD, Dr. Willet is quoted, “Bottom line, greatly reducing or eliminating refined starches and sugar is one of the most important steps you can take toward a better diet and long term well being.”


Live well.  Happy, healthy Halloween:)

Love deeply and eat mindfully,
Kim Gilroy – kimgilroyinsideout – Open for Business

Sunday, October 14, 2012

The Birthday "Week"


Avoiding Sugar Surge During Birthday “Week”

Last week we celebrated the girls’ third birthday.  Of course, the celebration did not end when the “official” party was over.  We celebrated the “real” birthday (two days after the “official” party), we celebrated at school, we celebrated with friends who were not at the “official” family party . . . the week was one big third birthday celebration.  So how much cake did Bryce and Shealyn eat? 

We had real cake and candy and potato chips at the “official” party . . . not a trace of kale to be found!  But once the “official” party was over, the sugar party was over as well.  On their actual birthday, we did not have cake and for their school celebration I made healthy muffins (see recipe below) with cream cheese icing and passed them off as cupcakes.  The girls were happy as could be.  And there was only one kid in the class who was on to me! 

So why did I decide to keep sugar to a minimum during birthday “week”?  Because sugar is everywhere and in everything; the minute we leave our home, we are bombarded with food choices all involving sugar.  Our diets contain too much sugar and many studies link excess sugar to a number of health problems.  So as a mom, I need to make healthy choices for the girls. 

“…Mounds of research reveal that repeatedly over consuming these nutrient deprived quickie carbs and caloric sweeteners wreaks havoc on your blood sugar levels, overstimulates insulin release, triggers inflammation, and could contribute to 150-plus health concerns, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, failing memory, sexual dysfunction, and infertility. Victims of SUGAR SHOCK! may also experience depression, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, cold sweats, anxiety, irritability, tremors, crying spells, severe PMS, nightmares, heart palpitations, mental confusion, muscle pains, blurred vision, temper outbursts, suicidal thoughts, and more.  Ultimately, this insidious roller-coaster effect, which occurs whenever you eat lots of sweets and quickie carbs, hampers sufferers’ ability to function at full or even half throttle.”

SUGAR SHOCK!  By Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C, with Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D. (pg. 15)

The sugar season is upon us – Halloween through Christmas – and we need to be diligent to ensure that our diets do not contain too much sugar.  This is the time of year during which we need to work really hard to find balance and other joys besides sugar.

Stay tuned for my next blog where I will provide tips for Halloween with less sugar (it is possible!).



Healthy Muffins

From Meredith Shanley’s blog whatsforlunchdot.com (same muffins referenced in my rewards blog, yum!)

All ingredients should be at room temperature.

1.     ¾ cup all-purpose white flour

2.     ¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour (I substitute 1. and 2. with 1 ½ cups Arrowhead Multigrain Pancake Mix) 

3.     ¾ cup flax seed meal

4.     3/4-cup oat bran

5.     1 cup brown sugar (I loosely pack the sugar and use just under a cup)

6.     2 tsp baking soda

7.     1 tsp baking powder

8.     1 tsp salt

9.     2 tsp cinnamon

10.  1 tsp nutmeg (I substitute pumpkin spice on occasion)

11.  1 ½ cups shredded carrots

12.  2 peeled apples, shredded

13.  ½ cup yellow raisins (I use 1 or 2 small boxes of regular raisins if any)

14.  ¾ cup chopped toasted pecans (I did not use nuts for the school treats)

15.  ¾ cup milk

16.  2 eggs

17.  1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Mix together first 10 dry ingredients in a large bowl.  Add in carrots, apples, raisins and nuts.  In a small bowl, combine milk, eggs, and vanilla. Fold into other ingredients, being careful not to over mix.  Fill greased or papered muffin tins about ¾ full, and bake for 15-20 minutes (use a tooth pick to double check).

Enjoy!

Love deeply and eat mindfully,

Kim Gilroy
kimgilroyinsideout – Open for business!







Sunday, October 7, 2012

Open for Business!


kimgilroyinsideout

Open for Business!

I received my Holistic Health Counseling Certificate in 2008 from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition.  I have recently started blogging about health and wellness (kimgilroyinsideout.blogspot.com) and continue to research and explore the newest trends, wellness life styles and recipes. I have spent the past three years using my information and knowledge to feed my family and self, wholesome, good food.  I have seen a few clients through word of mouth but I am ready to step it up and spread the love!

Through experiencing food, discussing health articles and handouts and most importantly discussing your individual needs, I can coach you through the tricky label reading, the diet frenzies and the cooking confusion. This past summer I began seeing clients and this is what they are saying:

“By educating me on how to prepare well-balanced meals and motivating me to reach my fitness potential, Kim Gilroy has challenged me to better myself, emotionally, mentally and physically.  Her positive attitude and insight on wellness has given me a new perspective on healthy living.”

Kerry, 21 years old

“Kim Gilroy has taught us to cook our very own meals along with educating us about making healthy choices. As we leave for college, we are now aware of the decisions we make about leading a healthy life, both physically and spiritually.”

Brittany, 20 years old and Kaleigh, 18 years old

Experience, taste and explore wellness with a program that fits your lifestyle and wellness goals.  I offer a number of programs that allow my clients to experience healthy living at a pace that suits them.  Below are a few of the programs that I currently offer:

Taste and Talk

Experience food.   Prepare, taste, and discuss quality, organic, whole food.  2-hour sessions will include the following:

  • Taste and discover a variety of ways to get fruits and vegetables into every meal
  • Learn how to incorporate whole grains into your diet and understand gluten
  • Discuss and reflect on current wellness habits and learn how to integrate practices to build on your lifestyle needs
  • Learn how to incorporate chocolate and other “can’t have foods” into your life
  • Receive recipes, health and wellness handouts and a gift to take home

Price: $40 per person






Private Sessions

Private sessions are designed to meet a client’s individual needs.  Through cooking and counseling, clients will learn the basics of healthy food preparation and healthy living. Clients will use Integrative Nutrition’s “adding in” theory to change current eating habits.  Each 90-minute session includes the following:

  • Prepare and take home one healthy organic meal (to feed minimum of four people)
  • One-on-one coaching sessions to review current health and discuss how to integrate wellness practices into your lifestyle
  • Receive informational handouts based on individual goals
  • Follow up motivational e-mails with notes, goals, recommended shopping list and other wellness tips for your individual needs
  • Unlimited access to call or e-mail me with any wellness questions or success stories
  • Receive recipes and a gift to take home

Price: $125 per person

Teen Sessions

With today’s schedules and demands, pre-teen and teenage girls need a healthy, balanced diet more than ever. It is important that they feed their bodies and brains with the proper foods in order to maintain optimal wellness.  My 4-week teen program (90-minute, weekly sessions) includes the following:

  • Discuss, learn and reflect about health and wellness through cooking, interactive games and creative journaling
  • Prepare, taste and discover fruits, vegetables and whole grains
  • Students will understand that the phrase “healthy diet” means a lifestyle filled with amazing food and wonderful choices
  • Follow up motivation e-mails with notes, goals, recommended shopping list and other wellness tips (parents will be included on all e-mails)
  • Unlimited access to call or e-mail me with any wellness questions or success stories
  • Receive recipes, health and wellness handouts and a gift to take home

Price: $250 (inquire about discounts for groups of 3 or more)

Let my passion and obsession become your tool and resource.  Experience, taste and explore wellness with Kim Gilroy of kimgilroyinsideout.  Open for business and so excited to meet you!

Love deeply and eat mindfully,

Kim Gilroy
kimgilroy@gmail.com