Category Archives: H. E. A. L.

H. E. A. L. Stands for Healthy Eating, Active Lifestyle. Wellness and Healing are a part of a big picture scenario . It is a totality of nutrition, awareness, mindfulness and physical well being. Check out this category for articles on all of these topics.

Cooking For One

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Some people say that it is hard to cook for just one person Personally, I don’t think so and I never use this as an excuse to not eat something good. If you don’t want to actually cook, how about opening a carton of yogurt and adding some fruit and a couple of tablespoons of walnuts?

Speaking of cans, what about a can of soup with a piece of French bread or a roll? There are some really good soups out there now and I especially like the “YES!” brand.

Making a sandwich is OK, but how about making a really god one? Keep some boiled eggs in the fridge and make a deviled egg sandwich or cop out and make just sliced boiled egg with mayo and tomato.

Put together a salad and while you are at it, make enough to take some out and have it for lunch the next day See above for a suggestion, you guys!

I confess I often go the easy way and microwave a packaged entre. There ae no TV dinners out there any more. Some of the frozen dinners now are fabulous. I know “Amy’s” are a bit high in fat, but yum yum! Some of the veggie types are really good too.

Cottage cheese and anything (fruit, tomatoes, yogurt, nuts etc) is good and healthy too. OK, so no more excuses.

COOKING FOR ONE IS FUN!

Beauty is not just in what we see!

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Beauty is not just in what we see, but let us not forget that beauty is also in what we hear. Loud strident sounds, shouts, bitter, angry voices, an urban cacaphony are jarring and discordant.

Try a little quiet in your day. Meditate to the sound of water or soft music.

Listen to gentle sounds or light classical music. Be still and hear the sounds of life.

Substitute!

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Yes, we all get it about the Med Diet and fruits and vegetables, but we also should get that the more of a plant based diet we eat the better.

Usually the Greek dish of layered lamb, cheeses, and potatoes called Moussaka has a lot of fat, much of it from the lamb and cheese. Why not substitute escalope of sliced egg plant, right in the freezer of most grocery stores, for the fried egg plant, lo-fat ricotta cheese, and soy ground beef. It is a bit of a different taste, but really good

I do the same with lasagne. I use whole wheat noodles, lo-fat ricotta cheese, and soy ground beef. I also use Newman’s Own vodka marinara sauce.

Try these substitutions in your usual recipes and watch the calories and fat disappear and the flavor become unique-in a good way.

Take It From Winnie the Pooh

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Winnie the Pooh is a favorite character of mine and I think that as a philosopher he is highly under rated. Just think about this picture. What could be more fun than a crafts day? Knit, sew, clean a little maybe, make something with your kids or grand kids, do a flower arrangement……..and on and on!

He is also going for a walk. I do not even have to tell you how great that is on many different levels.

Finally he has a honey pot in his hands with flowers in it which tells you that he has already eaten the honey. Point? Yes, eat something yummy. Green seedless grapes are as sweet as candy and so healthy.

So, take a tip from W the P and have a great day!!

Eat This-Not That

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Salads are not what they used to be. Lettuce and tomato are not the salad any more, they are just the starting base. What else can you add? Try some of these additives for a salad surprise. BTW-Eat This Not That means don’t add any cheese except feta and DON’T under any circumstances use full fat dressing. The best dressing is V and O of any type you like. I like apple cider or rice vinegar and Balsamic special vinegars. I use olive oil only for salads or dip and I use Canola oil to cook.

  1. Boiled egg
  2. Blueberries
  3. Different types of tomato-there are sooo many
  4. Any and all veg. Broc, Cauliflower, Carrots, (I like grated carrots) etc.
  5. Add a special bag of Asian mix or South West mix
  6. Nuts (I like walnuts)
  7. Feta Cheese
  8. Try “Skinny Girl” Dressings
  9. Any different type of greens
  10. Meat
  11. Salmon, tuna, tofu or any other vegetable protein, like chick peas or beans
  12. Just for fun-Try scallops (I buy the frozen bag at Trader Joe’s)

So, you see that I am right-right??? Do anything to your salad. Just be sure to watch the carbs and use lots of fiber! Let me know how it goes.

In Training-Get it?

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We are , in fact, always in some kind of training. We may be trying yoga for the first time, learning a new healthy eating plan, or even taking a pottery class. Here are a few life tips for whatever you may be doing with your day today.

  1. Always remember to stretch before and after you do any kind of exercise.
  2. Try your best not to snack. Grab an apple if you just MUST have something.
  3. Eat your 5 servings of fruits and veg. daily. It is not that hard. A serving is only 1/2 cup.
  4. Try Quinoa or some other different food.
  5. Read a magazine you have not read before. I like to recommend “Real Simple” or if you are an HGTV fan you might try their mag. or the “Magnolia Journal.”
  6. Try to actively fight a bad habit.
  7. Make a list of NOT meals or calories, but rather of foods you like to eat that are healthy and then try to keep to these foods. After all, you just said you LIKE them.
  8. Evaluate yourself-Daily if you need to, but on a regular basis. No one knows YOU like you!

OK, so you hate other people’s tips-I get that. Just pick one and try it. Maybe you will go on to get on board the “Train.” Let me know how it goes.

A “pear”ently Yummy

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I love pear and yes, out of season I even use canned pears. I buy the kind that are canned in lite syrup and then I drain the syrup into tea, any type of water, just a jar of juices I keep in the fridge to caramelize things, and on and on. The easiest way to eat a pear is just out of hand, but you might also try a 1/2 peeled pear on a leaf of Romain lettuce with some blue or feta cheese. It looks really fancy when plated as a starter or salad.

I also really like to poach pears. Use canned or fresh and poach in just about anything you like that is flavorful. I poach in red wine, white wine, maple syrup added to water, even cheap sparkling wine.

Just barely cover the pear halves and bubble the liquid until the pears are al dente. Save the juice to pour over the pears and decorate with some mint leaves. Yummy-I think YES!

Ok, so life just gave you some lemons

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I love that old saying that when life gives you lemons you should make lemonade, but we here at “Skating Uphill” like to think out of the box. When life gives you lemons, first of all, jump up and shout “Lucky Me!” Then you can:
  1. Make lemonade and make lemonade ice cubes to put in tea
  2. Make a lemon merengue pie
  3. Use squirts of lemon on vegetables or fruits
  4. Saute fish with lemon and white wine
  5. Make lemon bars
  6. Put lemon peel down your garbage disposal to clean and refresh
  7. Rub lemon and or peel on your hands to kill the odor of fish or anything else you have been working with
  8. Use lemons in any kind of fruit bowl display to add big color
  9. Make lemon curd and bake it in those little puff pastry cups
  10. Make an easy pie with a graham cracker crust, a tub of Cool Whip, a package of lemon pudding, and 1/4 cup of squeezed lemon made boiling hot in the microwave with a package of lemon jello added to it and disolved. (I use Jello instant pudding and add 2 cups of really cold milk then stir for 2 minutes.) Combine all and pour into the pie shell. Put this in the fridge for at least 2 hours. It is lo-cal and really yummy.

See, being given lemons is not so bad really, is it? And if you do not want the lemon and you do not want to do any of these things, give the lemon back!!

Just A Thought

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I love getting cards and letters in the mail. Do you? Well, this is the best way to assure that you will be receiving messages from friends and relatives-Send some out yourself. I have been doing this as part of a New Year’s Resolution I made several years ago and it has worked so beautifully. I get at least two cards, letters, yes, and even a post card or two each week.
Bring some joy to your day by putting some joy out there for someone else!!