Healthy Tips For Your Summer Kick Off Weekend! (Repeat Reminder Blog)

Memorial Day weekend is upon us.  Let the barbecues begin!  I wanted to utilize today’s blog as an opportunity to share a few party health tips.  I know, I know, I know, party health tips…sounds like an oxymoron.  I don’t mean throw a health party and I certainly don’t expect anyone to avoid a hotdog this weekend.  But there are a few suggestions I have for this kick off to summer party weekend (and other holiday weekends that have more than one day of celebrations). 

1.)   Stay hydrated:  I am sure many of you are going to kick the weekend off on Friday and plan on festivities through to Monday night.  Make sure you are drinking tons of water throughout the day and evening.  Try to do cocktail, water, cocktail water.  In the morning the first thing to hit your lips should be water (two glasses).  As a host and hostess make sure there are water options for your guests.  If it is out they will be more likely to have a glass.  Make it inviting.  Add mint leaves and lime or lemon.

2.)   Appetizers:  Take a breath.  Survey the situation.  What do I really want to try?  Don’t just dive in for the sake of diving in.  What is appealing to you?  And when you find it, chew it, taste it and enjoy it.  I have found that I am really good at enjoying food while sitting at a table, but when talking, drinking, and eating appetizers, I am really good at shoveling…into my mouth!  One way I have learned to stop my disaster approach to appetizers is by not going to parties totally starving.  Eat some fruit and a handful of nuts or a Raw Food Bar (my food bar of choice because it is made with real food and no fillers) before you go.  Also, look for the healthy option.  Is there a crudités?  Guacamole?  As a host and hostess, try to make sure there are some raw veggies for people to snack on.  It’s refreshing and easy.  Most of the prep-work can be done the day before!

3.)   Mingle:  The weekend parties don’t have to be all about food.  Make it about primary food…your loved ones!  Chat it up and really hear about what is new and good in your friends and families life.  As a hostess have some social games set up like baci or ladder golf.

4.)   Workout:  Don’t make working out an after thought.  Plan for it.  If you always go for a run on Saturday’s but have a soccer tournament to get to, plan for it.  When can I fit this in?  Even if you only walk or run for 15-20 min.  It is better than not getting your workout in.  Monday morning you have off, plan for a bike ride, a hike, a run!

5.)   Focus on what you do have control over:  While you are not out partying it up, focus on the food choices you do have control over.  Eat tons of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Raw or juiced when possible.

6.)   Enjoy the choices:  Don’t feel guilty about the hotdog you are eating, enjoy it!  Often times when we are eating foods that aren’t the best for us we feel so guilty eating it, we don’t even know we ate it!  Commit to your choice.  If the burgers look big, ask a friend to split one. Look for healthy side options.  Bottom line, be aware and conscious of your choices and enjoy. As a host and hostess, make sure there is a big salad as an option.  If you know a healthy side dish that is a crowd pleaser, offer to bring it!

Happy Memorial Day and a special thanks to all the men and woman who have served for our country!

Love deeply and eat mindfully,

Kim Gilroy

The Monday Morning Comeback!

The Monday Morning Comeback!

If my fellow graduates saw the things I ate on a Saturday night or a Sunday fun-day, someone might take away my certificate!

This weekend we were at a wedding and I was sitting next to an acquaintance that also happened to be extremely passionate about health and wellness.  We shared cooking ideas and she told me she was reading up on Integrative Nutrition (the program I received my certificate from).  We relished in our conversation about the benefits of eating well and the importance of good quality food.  All the while, I was buttering my roll, cleaning my plate and taking bites of my husband’s steak dinner.  I also found complete delight in the amazing desserts that were served.  I really wasn’t holding back on indulging and a piece of me wondered if this girl might think I was a fraud!

Recently I was out to dinner with a group of friends and they all turned to me looking for friendly advice on ordering healthy.  I told them it was Saturday night and they should order whatever they want!  I really try to leave room for my favorites on Saturday night and Sunday morning.  But more importantly for me, it’s a time to not think about every morsel.  It’s a time to get out of my kitchen and try not to over think food. 

Alas, the holistic health police have not come knocking on my door (thank goodness because I love what I do). But Monday mornings always do and it’s back into gear!  This week I made a killer comeback breakfast.  It left me with a ton of energy and excited for the next morning to have it again! 

Enjoy!!!!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Amaranth  

(Gluten and Dairy Free)

½ cup of cooked *amaranth

2 ½ teaspoons of peanut butter or sun butter

1 teaspoon of 100 % cocoa powder

¼ of a large banana sliced or half of a small banana

2 teaspoons of hemp seeds

In a small pot combine the first four ingredients and heat on medium mixing all the ingredients together.  When the ingredients start to bubble remove pot and place the ingredients into your bowl.  Mix in hemp seeds and enjoy this powerhouse breakfast!

*Amaranth can be found in the bulk bins at most health food stores.  It is a gluten free grain.  Cooking 1 cup of amaranth:  Let soak for a few hours.  Rinse and put into a pot with 2 ½ cups of water.  Bring to a boil and then bring heat down to a simmer, cover and let it cook for about 20 minutes.  All the water should be absorbed. 

Love deeply and eat mindfully,

Kim Gilroy - kimgilroyinsideout 

Chocolate Works

“Chocolate Works”

“I control what I can, so I do not stress about what my girls eat when I am not around.”  That is a complete lie.  Although I do not, and never will, make my girls bring a healthy snack in place of the host’s dessert (unless, of course, they were diagnosed with something that required me to do so), I would be lying if I said that my toes don’t curl when it is time for dessert at a friend’s (or family member’s) house. 

However, a story that my friend told me helps to keep me balanced when I am deciding whether to let me girls have a treat.  She knew of a little boy who was raised in a house where absolutely no sugar was consumed, and at parties his mother brought a separate treat for him.  One Christmas they were all celebrating the holiday and Santa came to bring all the kids presents.  When it came time for the boy to sit on Santa’s lap to receive his gift, he was nowhere to be found.  Santa left and the little guy was found in a room shoving his face with the desserts his mom had never let him have (and he discovered at the Christmas party).  This story always serves to remind me that a treat every now and then is not the end of the world.  I try to maintain a balance for my girls, although I get a little nervous when I ask Shealyn about the favorite part of her day, and if she had candy or a treat that day, sometimes she says, “Having my treat.”  Out of her entire fun-packed day, she holds onto her five minutes of indulgence.  Managing the negative impact of sugar on the development and wellness of two three-year-olds can be draining, but I do my best.

Two week ago, however, I let my guard down completely (well, almost).   We went to a “Chocolate Works” party.  This party had special meaning in so many ways!  “Chocolate Works” and its sister company, “Fifth Avenue Chocolatiere,” are owned and operated by our dear friends, the Whaley family.   The Whaley family and the perks that come with knowing the owners of a chocolate factory have significantly sweetened our lives.  And now the girls’ lives have been sweetened too!

The occasion was Jack Whaley’s fifth birthday!  Colleen Whaley (wife, mother of three and chocolate party planner) has a Masters degree in education and uses her creativity to enhance the family business by hosting chocolate-themed birthday parties and educational field trips at “Chocolate Works.”  The events cover all things chocolate through literature and hands-on experiences (from cocoa beans to the chocolate that we eat).  The parties are organized for the kids to explore the machinery and ingredients that create the delicious treats sold to “Chocolate Works” customers every day.  From dipping graham crackers, Oreo cookies, and pretzels in chocolate and decorating with sprinkles and other goodies, to retrieving their masterpieces from the “Chocolate Works” conveyor belt (think “I Love Lucy”), the kids get the full “Chocolate Works” experience!

                                        She is getting ready to           Bryce filling her mold with

                                        dip her graham cracker!        Uncle Joe!

The girls were in heaven!  And I was too.   Watching Joe and Colleen in action, and the proud smile on Grandpa’s face (John Whaley, founder of the company) as he celebrated one of his twelve grandkids’ (three more on the way!) birthdays, swept away my rigid inhibitions and allowed me to sit back and enjoy the day! 

                                        Shea getting hugs from         The girls with the birthday boy!

                                        Mr. Whaley!

“Fifth Avenue Chocolatiere,” originally known for their unforgettable truffles, continues to expand their quality offerings and experiences through “Chocolate Works.”  They truly offer something for everyone . . . here are some of my picks: 

                                        Their chocolate covered nut selection along with their 

                                        nuts and trail mix, makes the perfect treat!  

Thanks for sweetening our lives Aunt Colleen and Uncle Joe!

Love deeply and eat mindfully,

Kim Gilroy - kimgilroyinsideout

Debbie Downer or Secretly Glad She Came?

Debbie Downer or Secretly Glad She Came?

I have a vivid memory of a time when people were glad I came!  I was 21 and it was the morning after a really great night out.  A friend of mine had a slew of friends in from college and they were all crashing at his parents' place.  He had an awesome backyard, perfect for whiffle-ball and swimming, the perfect morning after cure.  But growing up in Huntington, there is another component to the morning after remedy . . . Bay Deli egg sandwiches.

As I showed up with a bag from Bay Deli, I felt like a rock star.  I was the hero of the morning.  All were outwardly glad that I came!  As I dove into my egg sandwich, I looked around the yard and realized that I was the only girl eating an egg sandwich.  When I had a moment to digest this, I was confused and judgmental (and completely over-thought the situation . . . shocker).  Did these girls not get the memo about visiting Huntington?  An egg sandwich from Bay Deli is a part of the experience.  Did they really watch EVERYTHING they put in their mouths?  I thought they were from another planet.  And they were probably looking at me thinking: “Does she not realize she will never loose the bloated look if she keeps that up?”

Alas, here I am 16 years later and . . . I have become one of them (although still addicted to Bay Deli egg sandwiches . . . everything in moderation)  This past weekend we were tailgating at West Point (Whoo-hoo! Go ARMY) and though I felt like a rock star for showing my true colors, there is a piece of me that felt a bit like Debbie Downer.  Popcorn, carrot and celery sticks, almond trail-mix, oatmeal/almond cookies with chia seeds, apples, and avocado deviled eggs were my contribution to the day.  We picked up bagels on our way and Terry was on Bloody Mary detail. 

                                                                

So why the commitment to health and wellness even at a Saturday tailgate?  Because it makes me feel good.  A tailgate lasts all day.  We arrived at 11:30 and did not leave until 4:30 . . . standing around, chatting, and picking.  The kids were running around, screaming, and picking.  When all was said and done, I just wanted to pick on some healthy snacks and I didn’t want a food hangover.  I was being true to myself at the expense of being “that girl.”  Am I a Debbie Downer for bringing healthy snacks to a tailgate or were folks secretly glad I came?  Would love to hear your thoughts!

Avocado Deviled Eggs

Hard boil 6 eggs.

Rinse eggs with cold water and let them cool.

Peel eggs and gently cut in half.

In a separate bowl place the following ingredients:  gently scoop out the yolks of the eggs, 1 avocado, the juice of 1 lime, 2 teaspoons of lemon pepper, 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise.

Mix well and gently fill the egg whites with the mixture.  Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and your favorite  hot sauce.

                                                                            

Oatmeal/Almond Cookies

Ingredients:  Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour, Rolled Oats (Bob’s Red Mill makes Gluten Free), Vanilla Extract, 1 Stick of Butter, Maple Syrup, Coconut Sugar, Chia Seeds, Flax Seed Meal

NOTE:  Let butter soften – if you forget like I did, throw it on the stove for a few minutes to soften.

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl mix:

2 ½ cups of almond flour

2 cups of rolled oats

1 stick of softened butter

3 tablespoons of chia seeds

3 tablespoons of flaxseed meal

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/3 cup of maple syrup

1/3 cup of coconut sugar

*If you don’t want to buy coconut sugar you can use 2/3 maple syrup

Stir well until all the butter has been evenly mixed in.

Use a teaspoon to place dough on cookie sheet.  Flatten the cookies slightly by patting them down gently with the spoon or your finger-tips.

Place in the oven 12-15 minutes or until cookies start to golden on top.  When you pull the cookies out of the oven YOU MUST LET THEM COOL ON THE COOKIE SHEET FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES!  If not they will crumble.

Happy tailgating!  More importantly, happy true color expressing!

Love deeply and eat mindfully,

Kim Gilroy - kimgilroyinsideout