Health Hacks

Good health is something almost all of us would love to have, right? We all want a healthy body, mind, and environment to live in!
     Being healthy isn't just as easy as wishing for it. You have to work for it! And that is why a lot of people give up or don't even try to have a health lifestyle. It just seems too hard! I was inspired by Cotopaxi to write a blog post with some tips and tricks for a healthy lifestyle!
    With a few tips, tricks and hacks, a healthy lifestyle can become second nature and like a habit! It doesn't have to be hard or stressful to live a healthy life! Keep reading to learn how to make a healthy lifestyle attainable to every one!


Whether your coming from an unhealthy lifestyle or you are looking to upgrade your already healthy lifestyle, these hacks can be useful to everyone! Some might not apply to you and others will be exactly what you need! Pick and choose, or use them all, to help yourself create a healthier lifestyle!


#1 Start Today!
No matter what you are starting( a diet, workout plan or lifestyle change), you don't want to waste any time! Starting today, right now, as soon as possible helps you get excited and hyped up right away and helps you stick to whatever you are starting. Saying, "I'll start on Monday" "Tomorrow..."  or "Next Week" just puts it off and gives you a way out if you lose your will power. Make a decision, take a deep breath, and start today!

#2 Start Learning!
Whenever you make a change in your life, you need to read up and learn all you can about the choices you are making, why, and how they will effect your life! I love learning about nutrition, a healthy lifestyle and fitness and it helps me have a healthy lifestyle. When you learn about the health benefits of things and the dangers of other things, helps you make the right choices. It keeps you from eating that donut and choosing the fruit bowl instead!

#3 Clean Out Your Life!
A healthy lifestyle is much easier if you don't have triggers in the place you live. Cleaning out your pantry, fridge and house of all the unhealthy things ( like junk food, trigger foods, and packaged/processed foods) will help you stay on track! You won't be able to binge on cookies or chips because they won't be in your house! You'll have to make an effort ( get dressed, leave the house, go to the store......) to eat un-healthfully! A clean home is a clean mind and a clean mind is a clean life!

#4 Cook for Yourself
Making your own food is the best way to make sure that you are eating as healthy as possible. When you cook or bake your own food, you choose what goes into it and how healthy it is! Also, bringing your food with you ( to work, school, trips..) helps you stay on track when you aren't at home. Simple things like cut up veggies or fruit keeps you from eating out of the vending machine. Making extra food for meals at home leaves leftovers for meals when you are out! Also, cooking is  lots of fun!!

#5 Be Easy on Yourself
You aren't perfect and you won't always be perfectly on track with your healthy lifestyle. And that's okay! A healthy lifestyle doesn't mean eating healthy all the time. It means understanding balance in your diet. Eat as healthy as possible most of the time and allow yourself those treats every now and then! Don't stress about it, because that isn't health either!


These of course are just a few of the many hacks that will help you to have a healthy lifestyle. But these are great building blocks to start with, and I hope they are useful you! The more you learn, the more you experiment, the better you'll become at living a healthy life!

Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to help others live a healthy lifestyle too!
You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @SpinachisGood, tumblr @ justruningforfood and Instagram @ That_Vegan_Runner. Please follow me and connect for more Spinach Is Good For You content!

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!
H. Banana

Healthy Candied Nuts for Father's Day!

   Father's Day is in just a few days! I can't believe it is already the middle of June already. It seems like just yesterday we were freezing in January!
     Anyways, with Father's Day approaching, everyone is thinking of ways to make their Dad feel special. There are a million ways to make him feel special and loved, but nothing says "I love You" like a homemade gift from the heart. And to make things even better, its a gift you can eat!


    I love candied nuts! They are so sweet, crunchy and really delicious on salads! But, most of the time, candied nuts are covered in butter, sugar syrups, egg whites, or additives that we really don't want in our body. So, what's a girl to do? Make healthy candied nuts, that's what!

     These candied almonds are vegan, oil and butter free, and really delicious! They make the perfect snack, salad or smoothie bowl topper, and Father's Day gifts! I can just see them in a glass jar with a tag tied to it as a gift for that special person in your life!

So, lets get started!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup Almonds ( Pecans or Walnuts would work here too, or a mix of all three!)
2-3 TBS Powdered Sugar
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 TBS Raw Granulated Sugar ( Optional)

Start by washing your almonds to make them wet. Place them in a bowl and try not to have too much water in the bowl. Add in the powdered sugar and cinnamon.

 
Stir them well until each nut is covered with the mix. The sugar will dissolve into a sticky 'sauce' , but that's okay!



Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the almonds out in one layer in the sheet. Make sure that not too many are on top of each other.

 
Bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring every 5-8 minutes. When you have 10 minutes left, sprinkle the raw sugar over the nuts and stir them well. This just adds a nice crunch, but its totally optional!
 
When the nuts are done, allow them to cool completely before removing from the pan. This will allow them to become nice and crunchy!
 
 
     Now you have a batch of healthy and delicious candied almonds! I ate them on their own as well as chopped up on a salad!  I would also love to give them as a gift! They would be perfect for Father's Day, House Warming Gift, Party Favor or any other occasion to treat some one with some delicious candied nuts!


I hope you enjoyed this post! I really enjoyed making these yummy treats and I hope you will like them as much as I do!

Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to spread the love of a healthy lifestyle!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Happy Father's Day!

Hurray For Oats!

     Oats might seem a weird thing to write an entire blog post about, but they really are amazing! My family and I have started making and selling homemade granola at our Farmer's Market, so we have been dealing with a lot of oats lately! This got me thinking.. "Why should we eat oats? How good are they really for us?" and so I did some research. This is what I found...

#1 Oatmeal is Delicious!
well, maybe not on it's own, but when oats are added to recipes they really can be delicious! Keep ready for some great recipes and ideas on how to use oats more!

#2 Oatmeal Provides Fiber and Protein
Most Americans don't get enough fiber these days, so adding it in whenever you can is important. Protein is also a important thing in your diet. Having oats for breakfast provides you with some much needed fiber and protein, and it keeps you full until lunch!

#3 Oatmeal Helps Lower Bad Cholesterol
Oats contain a special strand of fiber called beta-glucan which, studies have shown, reduces levels of bad cholesterol and can help to prevent heart disease and strokes! With the number of deaths from heart diseases grows, it is important to protect ourselves from it in every way possible!

#4 Oats Contain Important Vitamins and Minerals
Oats might seem simple, but they are packed full of nutrients! They contain B vitamins and minerals like iron and magnesium! These are so important in our diet because they keep our bodies running smoothly, like they were meant to!

#5 Oats Aid in Weight Loss
Oats contain fiber, which helps to keep us full and also acts as a natural laxative. Both of these things help in weight loss. When we eat oatmeal for breakfast, we will remain full until lunch, which keeps us from snacking, thus, helping us lose weight. Studies have shown that, those who eat oatmeal at least three times a week, lose weight and keep it off better than those who don't eat oatmeal!

#6 Oats are Cheap!
There are so many "health" foods out there that claim to help in weight loss or keeping your body healthy. And while those things might work, they are usually pretty expensive. Oats, on the other hand, are so healthy for you and they help in weight loss AND they are super cheap! Replace your morning "health" cereal with oat meal and watch your wallet get bigger and your waistline get smaller!

   So, oats are pretty great, right? With all those health benefits, why wouldn't you want to eat them everyday? Well, maybe because they are pretty boring by themselves and you don't know how to make them delicious? Worry no more! Here are some great ways to eat oatmeal everyday!



Brownie Batter for Breakfast-
Measure out your oats into your pan ( 1/3 of a cup is a serving size). Add in 1-2 TBS of cocoa powder, 2-3 TBS of maple syrup, a pinch of salt and your cooking liquid ( you can use water, almond milk, chocolate almond milk......). Cook your oatmeal as usual. When they are done, add them to your bowl and top with chocolate chips, almond butter and raspberries for a delicious, health and filling breakfast!

Oil Free and Vegan Granola-
My recipe for Valentine's Day Granola is oil free, vegan and delicious! I love to eat granola on top of smoothie bowls, oatmeal, nondairy or banana ice cream or just a handful for a snack!


Oatmeal Smoothie-
Add 1 banana( Frozen is best) , a handful of berries ( I like strawberries and again, frozen is best), 1 TBS nut butter of choice, 1/3 cup oats and enough nondairy milk ( coconut or almond are my favorites) to blend to your desired thickness. This smoothie is super refreshing, filling and delicious! Its perfect to start your day or to pick you up in the afternoon!

Oatmeal Cookies-
My Banana Bread Cookies are super simple to make, but they are really yummy! With just a few ingredients, these cookies can be whipped up in a flash and enjoyed for breakfast, snack or dessert!

Oatmeal Bowls-
Here are a few great ways to enjoy oatmeal-
Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Apples and Raisins
Vanilla, Blueberries, Almonds and Maple Syrup
Peanut Butter, Banana, Chocolate Chips
Pears, Maple Syrup, Dried Cranberries and Nutmeg
Coconut Milk, Pineapple, Mango, Raspberries

     So there you have it! So many ways to enjoy oats everyday! of course there are so many more ways you can eat oats, but I couldn't fit them all in to this post! Oats can also be used in things like veggie patties, breads and other savory things! With all these options, you have no excuse not to be eating oats everyday, or at least every week!


 I hope you enjoyed this post all about oats, their health benefits, and several ways to eat them everyday! Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Spice Up Your Life!

Spices are for seasoning food, right? We use them to change and enhance the flavors of our meals and make them tastier. But, did you know that spices are also health foods? They aren't just tasty, they are also super healthy for you!

 
Turmeric
Turmeric is a yellow root that you can find at most grocery stores. It can help prevent breast cancer, protects against UVA damage and can make your skin look younger and healthier. It also can help lower cholesterol, alleviate allergies and aid in brain health. This little root is more than meets the eye! Add it to your smoothies, salad dressings and so much more!

Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a pretty popular spice. It helps to control blood sugar, prevents irritable bowel syndrome(IBS), and it can help to ease a stomach ache. Cinnamon can also help to preserve food and neutralize odors. It can aid in lowering LDL cholesterol, prevent tooth decay and help in weight loss. No wonder this spice is so popular! I'm sure you've used cinnamon before, but I like to add it to oatmeal, smoothies, muffins and bread and even curries!

Ginger
Ginger is another root, but it's not as vibrant as turmeric. It can help to relieve motion sickness, nausea and migraines. Ginger can also ease or prevent heart burn, reduce inflammation and help fight cancer. Ginger isn't just good for making cookies anymore! Add it to your smoothies. salad dressings, rice and so much more!

Cumin
Cumin is a smoky spice, commonly used in chili. Like ginger, cumin aids in digestion. It can also help fight diabetes and treat food poisoning. Cumin can aid in increasing a mother's milk supply and treat skin problems such as eczema and acne.  The  next time you are making chili, tacos, or any other spicy dish, throw some cumin in there!

Cayenne
Cayenne  is a pepper that is made into a spice. It also aids in digestion and can boost the metabolism. Cayenne can relieve migraines, help fight off colds and the flu,  help in weight loss and prevent allergies. It also it a source of vitamin A and E. I love adding cayenne to Pico de Gallo, Guacamole, Tacos, and so much more. If you are looking to add some serious spice, cayenne is the one for you!

So these are just a few of the many many spices out there! Hopefully now you look at spices as health foods as well as flavoring and seasonings! Adding just a bit of spice into your diet can help you have a healthier body and life!

I hope you enjoyed this post! Please share it with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Stay Healthy, Happy and Laughing!

H. Banana