i like the word tornadic.

so i had great intentions of getting the ball rolling on my fun nutrition topics..but then the week of INSANITY occurred. if you are a news watcher...you may have heard about the tornadoes in oklahoma city. i was at the hospital when the craziness occurred and have now experienced the excitement of a "code black." but don't worry...i'm a survivor.


aaaannyway. i'm excited that ya'll had some questions for me! i hope i can get around to them all. keep them coming!

first up: what are some common misconceptions about healthy living?

#1...that you can't do it.
i know this one sounds a little cheesy, but it's the most common. i addressed some of these things in my last post, but my advice is to take it one decision at a time. choose water. choose a walk. choose mustard over mayo. etc...the little things add up and keep you from getting too overwhelmed.

#2..."i'll be healthy when i'm older."
first off, yeah right. if you think it's difficult to make changes now, think about how difficult it will be when you are older and have been stuck in your habits for your entire life? exercise will be more difficult the more you put it off. start now choosing healthy. find the veggies you like...figure out what ways you can prepare things to increase taste value. (it is possible! i can help!) and just because you're young and your waist line doesn't immediately show the effects of a grease filled diet doesn't mean that your arteries are as lucky. plaque buildup is real people! and you might not know what's going on until it's severe. (sorry to be a deb..but really)

#3...eating breakfast makes me more hungry.
i hear this all time time. here is the abridged version (more or less) of my response: when you don't eat breakfast your bodies is still in "starvation mode" which is what occurs while you are sleeping. we call it "break-fast" because you are breaking the fast and allowing your body to feed of the fuel you give it. when you skip breakfast, your body has to get the fuel from your muscles (note: it's not using stored fat). sooooo when you DO eat breakfast and you get hungry it's probably because your breakfast choice needs some more fiber. oatmeal perhaps? get some whole grains in there and a bit of protein to stay with you longer. you should be eating around every 3-4 hours anyway so if your hungry around then, it's natural. what isn't natural is when you don't eat breakfast and don't feel hunger until around 1pm. i'll stop here. let me know if you have more questions on this.

#4...it's too expensive
sure some of the healthier options are pricey. but there is a way to do it on a budget. oats are cheap. beans are cheap. soy milk lasts a long time. my general guideline is to shop the perimeter of the store. most of the time this is where you will find fresh fruits and veggies, lean meats, whole grains, etc. just be a smart shopper like you would anywhere else. look for sales. go to farmer's markets during their season. and try to go with a list. this will keep you from spending too much and getting foods you don't really need. (and as always, try not to go to the grocery store hungry...)


there's a quick breeze through some classic scenarios. i guess i'll be addressing bacon and burgers soon for the men. i do have some thoughts there...

Happy Valentine's Day! go listen to some pat benatar or something.