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Showing posts from 2020

Hindsight Is 2020

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We all know Hindsight Is 2020. Here are some thoughts on the past year starting with my January 2020 word of the year and ending in the middle of a crazy pandemic. I don’t think anyone could have predicted all the twists and turns of 2020. Hindsight is 2020 is going to be the buzz phrase of the century. I look back on my Word of the Year post from last January (it was a good one!) and I clearly remember writing it. I was totally fired up and energized coming out of Birch’s first year and pumped to get back into action. Actually, I think I’m mixing up the feelings with January of 2019 when I came back from maternity leave. It seems a whole year is missing from my brain. Ha. That should tell you something. ANYWAYS. I tend to get fired up every January and so I’m sure I was both years. Very fired up and then – BOOM – plans changed. We all learned a lot this year There isn’t a person in this country who wasn’t affected by COVID in some shape or form. I think many of us have le

2020 Recap

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Happy New Year’s Eve Everybody!! First, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for continuing to support my blog by reading it, trying my recipes, interacting with me via social media and blog comments, and even making purchases through my amazon links. You are the reason I’ve been able to support my small family for the past eleven years and I can’t tell you how much that means to me and Mini Chef. 2020 Recap It’s been a nutzy year and I’m so glad to leave it behind.  But I did learn some valuable lessons this past year and that’s always a good thing. I learned: Being cut off from everything and everyone might feel like a curse at first, but it can be turned around into a blessing with the right frame of mind. It is a chance to turn inward and self reflect. Something we don’t always have ample time to do. People often show you who they are through their actions (and when somebody shows or tells you who they are, you should believe them). Downsizing, organizing and

InsideTracker Ultimate Blood Test Giveaway

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Thinking back to my early 20s, I didn’t understand how important food was to my health. I know, it probably sounds ridiculous to say now, but hear me out… ⁠ Back then, I ate sandwich thins, Light ‘N’ Fit yogurt, and 100-calorie packs of cookies. I was only concerned about the calorie count, and it honestly didn’t matter one bit that the ingredients and nutritional profile of these “foods” was artificial junk. ⁠ Fast forward to June 2011 when I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis… I *thought* my diagnosis came out of the blue, but looking back and knowing what I know now, I’m pretty much the poster child for IBD. I took lots of antibiotics as a child I took lots of prescription acne medications as a teenager I used oral contraceptives for 15 years I ate a less than stellar diet consisting of gluten (lots of beer), conventional dairy, and processed foods Nowadays, I KNOW just how important nutrition is to my overall health, especially since I have a chronic digestive disea

Winter Break Activities

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It’s been both fun and chaotic having the boys home from school for break. Here are some of our winter break activities and the fun, games, and food we’ve had so far! ^^^We made 3 batches of Christmas cookies the week before the holiday! Hot Chocolate on the Downtown Mall Sadly I can’t remember the last time we were downtown! I think probably early November when T and I had dinner outside at Passiflora. It’s been cold and we’ve been busy. But with all this holiday time on our hands, we walked downtown one morning and had hot chocolate on Java Java’s patio! Birch had his own little toddler cup that I refilled with 2 sips over and over. I had a Peppermint Mocha that was delicious! I rarely have coffee drinks out, so this was a special treat.  Of course we had to see the giant cranes at the end of the mall – it’s amazing how much they’ve built on this project since the last time I was nearby! Mazen the Aspiring YouTube Star Mazen has been  begging me to let him create his

Is muscle mass THE most important factor in effective aging?

Is muscle mass alone a major factor in effective aging?  The authors of Muscle Mass Index As a Predictor of Longevity in Older Adults make the case that folks could/should focus more on building and maintaining muscle vs. say, losing body fat. I’m not enough of a statistician to be able to comment on if that really holds water, but it kinda makes sense. At a minimum, it could shift the focus in a way that lends itself to better adherence. Something to keep in mind, and why I think a focus on muscle mass is a one-stop-shop for effective aging. … Want my full thoughts on Muscle Mass Index As a Predictor of Longevity in Older Adults ?   If you’re a The Healthy Rebellion member, read, comment, and ask your questions here .  If you’re not a Health Rebel yet and are interested in my full breakdown on this article and ones like it, coached Resets and Challenges, and the best health and resilience community anywhere, come join us at the The Healthy Rebellion. from The Paleo Di

5 Pillars of Holistic Health

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I’m sharing my health story and how the 5 pillars of holistic health are key to feeling my best. This post is sponsored by Blue Apron, which is focusing on health in the new year. Get $60 off your first 3 boxes here . My Health Story Many of you know my health story already. I graduated from Davidson College in 2005 about 30 pounds more than when I entered. Part of the reason my health went to the wayside was I had a foot problem that eventually led to surgery and kept me from being active. Even walking was difficult in the two years prior to my surgery, and I had to give up both soccer and running. (I did swim some, but pools are too cold most of the year!) But the other part was the college life: mindless eating, too much alcohol, inconsistent sleep, stress, late night quesadillas (YUM!), daily dessert in my eating house. Tie that all together with a lack of knowledge about nutrition and a disconnect between what I was eating and how I felt.  The key to my health shift wa

Macro-Friendly Mocktail Recipes

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From a Simple Switchel to a Classic Margarita or Mojito, ditch the booze in January with these delicious macro-friendly mocktail recipes. Now that the holiday season is behind us, many of us tend to focus on our health. Oftentimes, this means the urge to eat all the sugar and drink all the cocktails is behind us. The holidays can be an indulgent (and fun!) season, but it often leaves us not feeling our best. The past few years in January, I have done a “Dry January” and eliminated alcohol for a month. And while I do absolutely love a glass of wine in the evening, sometimes it takes a little break from the booze to realize just how much better I feel without it. (I definitely made this realization when I gave up wine for 40 days before my 40th birthday!) ) If you decide to join me for Dry January this year, I’ve got you covered with six delicious macro-friendly mocktail recipes! From a Simple Switchel to a Classic (virgin) Margarita or Mojito, you won’t miss the alcohol in this tast

Grilled Cheese Roll Ups Recipe

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These grilled cheese roll ups make a delicious snack or easy meal for busy weeknights. Both kids and adults will love these! We all need an easy meal we can throw together last minute. This delicious spin on a traditional grilled cheese sandwich is great as a side to soup or as a main meal or even snack. Types Of Grilled Cheese Roll Ups You can make a grilled cheese roll up any way you like. There are a lot of additions that many folks will enjoy. Here are some examples you might want to try. Plain Grilled Cheese Roll Ups To make these plain like a regular grilled cheese sandwhich, the only thing you’ll put on the bread is cheese. Use your favorite cheese in either sliced or shredded. But slices tend to be a little less messy with the roll up process and give you more even coverage. Bacon Grilled Cheese Roll Ups If you want to add bacon to these roll ups, you’ll want to fully cook it separately. It will not cook inside the roll up. That being said, do not cook it until it’