8 Tips to Wedding Wellness

Photo Credit: Melissa McClain Photography

Planning a wedding is hard. With so many things to organize, it’s easy to let personal health slide, but this should be your number one priority. The day is all about you and you want to not only look your best, but feel your best to enjoy every minute. So here are my top tips for wedding wellness.

6 Lunchbox Lessons for Back to School

By Guest Writer Jessica DeLuise of Eat Your Way to Wellness LLC

You can't control who your kids talk to at school, what they learn, or even, if they are paying attention in class. What you can control is what they are bringing and eating for lunch. Here are six tips and a new lunchbox combo to try for your kids.

Top 24 Thrifty & Healthy Foods at Aldi

Aldi is a mystery to some and gold mine to others. With savings of 30% over national chains, here are my top 24 foods to buy at Aldi.

Diet Friendly Smoothies

Diet season is in full swing as we begin 2016! Aren't you excited!? Well if you are dreading it, but made a resolution for better health hopefully these yummy smoothie recipes will give you some motivation. 

What's so great about Apple Cider Vinegar?

Do you have a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in your pantry? Ever use it as a medicine?

Product Review: Brad's Raw Crunchy Kale

 

I have been waiting impatiently on a sale to try Brad’s Raw Crunchy Kale and was surprisingly disappointed. I don’t like to post negative reviews, but also don’t like to see people waste their money.  

Kale Tips & Tricks

Kale is a unique leafy green that people seem to either love or hate. I hope you are reading this because you love kale or you are ready to give it a second chance. In my clean eating adventures I’ve had a great experience with kale, and now I want to share some of what I’ve discovered with you. In case you missed the memo, Kale is also full of nutrients...

Alternative Eats: French Fries vs. Sweet Potato Fries

There are tons of healthier alternatives for junk food turning up at the grocery store these days, you just have to know what they are.

Today’s alternative eat: Sweet Potato Fries

Which will win?

Left: Ore Ida Extra Crispy Fries ($3.50) 

Right: Alexia Sweet Potato Fries ($3.99)

Drinking your breakfast – Do meal replacement shakes work?

If you have been reading my blog you’re probably wondering “Does this girl eat breakfast?!”, because I haven’t posted a single breakfast recipe yet! I do love a good American breakfast of bacon and eggs and I will never say no to brunch, but since I started my diet earlier this year I have been making shakes and smoothies as my breakfast, (at least Monday-Friday). I thought this wouldn’t work for me at first. I mean seriously, I’m supposed to drink 16 oz of liquid and that is supposed to hold me over till lunch? Really? Yes, surprisingly this has turned into my routine and most days I’m alert and ready to take on the day when I take my last sip. I can’t lie, I usually supplement with a granola bar or small helping of veggies before lunch, but for the most part this has curbed my hunger in the morning and my stomach seems to agree, no more weird tummy grumbles mid-morning (common pre-diet after eating my old routine of yogurt and oatmeal!).

Alternative Eats: Does Greek Yogurt Make Tuna Salad Taste Better?

This week I did a "Mayo Vs. Greek Yogurt Tuna Salad Experiment".

I've been seeing a lot of recipes lately for tuna salad made with Greek yogurt. Intriguing. Greek yogurt is either loved or hated in my observances. I like greek yogurt but the question remains - could tuna salad taste better with greek yogurt instead of mayo?  Will it make traditional tuna salad seem old and antiquated? I wanted to know for myself, so I did a test with a somewhat traditional tuna salad recipe: one batch using mayo and one using plain greek yogurt.

Alternative Eats: BBQ Chips

There are tons of healthier alternatives for junk food turning up at the grocery store these days.

Today's alternative eat: Quinoa BBQ Chips

Simply 7 brand found at Giant Supermarket
$3.50

Simple Nature brand found at Aldi
$1.99

Reach for these quinoa based chips instead of the national brands next time you are in the store. Even if you don't like quinoa, I have a feeling you will like this new take on BBQ chips. They have plenty of flavor with a bit of a kick. Find them in the organic aisle at your grocery store or Aldi if you have one nearby (one of my favorite groceries).

Olive Oil Friend Not Foe

Before I started cooking healthy I rarely used olive oil or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), and mostly stuck to canola and veggie oil. I had some in the pantry but it was the cheapest money could buy and tasted blah.  After starting on my journey to better health, I quickly learned there is so much more to olive oil. Now I use it in anything that does or doesn’t call for it (too much of a good thing? Maybe.).

There are several types of olive oils. The one I’m focusing on here is EVOO - considered the best of the olive family because it is the least processed, from the first pressing of the olives. 

Note: I’m not claiming to be an olive oil connoisseur here – there is a whole world of high end oils and experts out there – that’s not me! Keep reading if you consider yourself low on the olive oil knowledge scale.