Life Update : I Moved?!?

     If you've been with the blog for a while now, you might recognize that post title. That's because, almost 2 years go I posted a post with a very similar title (I Moved! ). That post was about moving from our farm outside of Memphis, to a small house outside of Nashville...this is another moving post!

Spring Into a Healthier Life!

 

     Spring is here and I couldn't be more excited! I am so ready for sunshine, warm weather and short sleeves! Spring is a wonder time to get back into a healthier lifestyle after the indulgence and sedentariness of the winter months! There are so many ways to create a healthier lifestyle!

6 Super Spices You Need in Your Diet

     Spices make food taste delicious. They can transform vegetables into curry or fajitas, depending on the combination! In short, spices are amazing and I wouldn't want to cook or eat without them! But spices aren't just tasty, they also are beneficial to your health!

How Exercise Makes You Happier

    

 

We all love to be happy, right? Some times, when life gets crazy, stressful or unfamiliar we can lose some of that happiness. How can we get it back? How can we be happy no matter what is going on in our life? One answer is simple, exercise!

 

Health and Fitness New Years Resolutions

     The New Year is here! Welcome 2017 and all that you have to offer! I can't wait to see what this next year holds for me! The new year is a great time to get back on track and start being healthier. Even if you already have a healthy lifestyle, its still a good time to shake things up and get back on track!

 

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

10 Ways to Become Healthier this Spring

    Spring has sprung and with it comes life, color and warm weather! There are many reasons to love the Spring time and so many ways to enjoy everything that Spring means! Spring is also a great time to do some Spring Cleaning in your house, diet and lifestyle!

     Spring always gets me motivated to get my healthy lifestyle back on track. Sometimes our healthy efforts fall away during those cold winter months when the last thing you want is a workout or a cold smoothie! Getting back on track in the Spring is a great way to feel and look your best for the warmer months to come!

I wrote a 3 part series of blog post last year all about Getting Ready for Spring and I hope you will check out those post after you read this one! This post is going to be easy changes you can make to your life to help get your healthy lifestyle back on track!

1. Get Moving!
We've all heard it before, but thats becasue it really is so important! Exercise is so key to having a healthy body now and in the future! It has so many benefits that you should never leave it out of your day! Get up, stretch, go for a quick walk or just walk in place for a few minutes. Even the smallest amount of exercise is enough to keep your body in tip-top shape!

2. Smoothies!
I love smoothies and smoothie bowls, but I have a hard time eating them in the winter months! I love getting back into them in the Spring and Summer! They are so good for quick meals or snacks and are a great way to get tons of nutrients into your diet! You can pack so much health into a smoothie its crazy! Try adding leafy greens, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and even herbs to your smoothies to add extra health benefits!

3. Sunshine!
During the cold months we tend to spend alot of time indoors, away from the sun. When Spring finally shows up, its important to spend time soaking up the sun's rays! We gain some much needed vitamin D from just a few minutes out in the sunshine! Just make sure to wear some sunscreen so you don't get burned!

4. Raw Foods
You might have heard about the Raw Food movement. Its getting pretty popular, and for good reasons! Raw fruits and veggies have a lot of nutrients that are lost in the cooking process. While cooked fruits and vegetables still have plently of health benefits, the raw versions have even more! In the winter its hard to find good quality fresh produce, so we tend to go for the cooked versions. Now that the weather is warming up, make sure to add lots of fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet!

5. Ditch the Packaged Foods!
This one doesn't apply just to the Spring time, but its a good way to have a healthy diet all year long! Processed and packaged foods contain alot of added things that we don't need in our diet. While some are healthier than others, its always best to stay away from anything that comes in a box or package! Not only to most of them contain added sugars, chemicals and additives, the packages fill up the land-fills! Its better for you and for the planet if we stick to homemade over packaged foods!

6. Stretch!
While exercise is imporant, stretching is also important! Its important to stretch before you exercise because you need to warm up and loosen up your muscles. This will prevent you from hurting or pulling a muscle. Stretching after a workout helps you to cool down and relax your muscles. A full workout of stretching, like Yoga, is also really good for a low-impact way to keep your body active! Next time you go for a workout, make sure you add in a few minutes of streching before and after for a healthy body over all!

7. Essential Oils
Some people don't use essential oils and some do. Those who do know the wonderful benefits of the oils. I have a blog post about essential oils that goes into more depth on how and why to use them. Adding just a few of the oils into your daily life can have a huge impact of your day to day health, mood and happiness!

8. Sleep!
Getting sleep is important all year round, and most people don't get enough of it! Sleep allows our bodies to rest, heal and cleanse and when we don't get enough sleep, our bodies don't do enough resting, healing or cleansing. Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep each night, or take a nap during the day to give your body the much needed rest it deserves!

9. Get in the Kitchen!
Its easy for those with a busy lifestlye to fall into the habit of eating packaged, processed, and pre-made foods. While this might save time, it doesn't make for a healthy diet. Like I said before, most packaged foods contain things you do not want in your body, so its imporant to stay away from them as much as possible! Meal prepping is a great way for you to have healthy meals in a flash! Also, cooking and baking your own food for you and your family is so much fun and rewarding!

10. Eat!
I know it might sound strange, but one of the best ways to keep your body healthy is to eat! Eat enough of the healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts and you will find yourself in the best state of health you have ever been in! Too many people under eat or starve themselves in the hopes of gaining the perfect body! The 'perfect body' is a body that is healthy from a diet rich in the healthy foods and has plenty of exercise!

I hope these 10 ideas are helpful to you! I suggest you pick one thing a week to work on, and after just a few short weeks you will have a super healthy lifestlye! Each one of these points are important, so don't skip or over look one because you don't think they apply to you! Everyone can have a healthy lifestyle, even you!


Sharing these tips and tricks with your family and friends will help our world become a little healthier each day! Taking care of our bodies is an important job, one that shouldn't be taken lightly!

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

Fall in Love with Fitness

     I love the season of fall so much! All the colors, the cooler weather, the seasonal food, cozy days... I could go on and on! To me, the first sign of fall is when the leaves start to change into the brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges! I think Fall is such a beautiful time of year, and it gets me in the mood of all sorts of things!

 

   One of the things Fall gets me in the mood for is working-out outside! Here, the cooler weather makes for such nice workouts, that I look forward to them more and more! Lately, my go-to workout has been running, which I used to dis-like with a passion! Now I love to run, and am falling deeper in love with every time I run! We have a treadmill in our garage, so when the weather is cool, I open up the garage doors and workout in the cooler air!

 

     With every new season comes change, and a chance to start something new! When ever the season, month, or year changes, I always get motivated to start new, start fresh, or make new goals to strive after! Fall is a great time to start new health and fitness goals because it's a great time to get outside, get active, and become healthier!

 

     But, how do you get started? How do you start down the road to a healthier life? My advice is, start small and work your way up. 'Rome wasn't built in a day' after all! Making small changes, instead of big ones, helps you get used to them and become more comfortable with them.( For example) Going from a fast-food diet to a healthier, homemade meals diet over night can be a big change, but starting slow with...maybe one meal a week homemade, and working your way up from there is so much easier and will help you stick to it!

Food First!
     I personally think that, if you are starting out fresh in a healthy lifestyle, that diet is the first thing you should change. It can be the hardest part for some, and the easiest part for others, but nevertheless, I do think its the most important part of a healthy life! How can you expect your body to be able to start being more active if it doesn't have good, healthy fuel(food) to keep it going?! Here are a few things you can do to start eating healthier!

1. More Water! Try and drink lots of water everyday! Not only does this keep you hydrated, it also helps you feel full longer, helping you not over eat!

2. Less Meat, More Veggies! If you read my Portion Control   , blog post, you'll know that only 1/4 of your plate should be meat, another 1/4 should be grains, and the rest should be piled high with veggies! Practice this the next time you eat a meal, and you'll be amazed that you can still be stratified, even with less meat!

3. Eat at Home! I know this isn't so easy for everyone, but eating at home is a great way to insure that the food you are eating is healthy! Making your own meals lets you know just what goes into your meals!( By the Way, I am not talking about premade store bought meals!).

There are lots more tips and trick to getting your diet on a healthier track! If you would like more, check out Clean Eating  , and Healthy Habits.

Get Moving!
     Second to your diet, exercise is also very important to having a healthy body. Most people are far to sedentary, which is why we have so many people with health problems( which is another topic all together!). Getting up and moving, even for a short time  every day or so, will keep you fit, healthy, and happy! Here are a few ways to add exercise into your daily life!

1. Walk! Its really that simple, just walk! Walk to work or school( if you can), take the stairs, park a little further from the store than normal, or just take a walk! Walking is such a relaxing exercise, you won't even know you are getting a workout in!

2. Short but Effective! Doing short, yet effective workouts every morning or night( I like to do them before my shower at night!) is a great habit to get into! They can be little things like: 50 Jumping Jacks, 50 Squats, 20 Sit-Ups, or 10 Push-Ups, 30 Lunges, 40 Jog-in-Place( to give you a few examples). Like I said, start small and work your way up!

3. Workout Buddy! Having a workout budding is a great way to keep yourself on track! Find a friend, or make a new one, and set goals with each other. If you work or go to school together, walk together during lunch, or something like that! Pick a day of the week to meet and go on a jog/run. Have fun and you won't dread those workouts!

My blog is full of workout tips, workouts, and more, so check them out!

 

I hope you enjoyed this post and that it helps you start fresh this fall, with a healthier lifestyle! Remember, Fall isn't just about the treats, pumpkin spice lattes, and sitting on the couch, but it is a great time to get up and get active and healthy!

Please share this post and my blog with your friends and family to share the love of healthy living! Follow the blog via email, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday, so stay tuned!

Keep healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

Favorite Books!

I love to read just about any type of book, but especially books about food, health and fitness. I find them motivational, helpful, entertaining and inspirational. I always feel inspired to eat and live healthier after I read one of these books! So, I want to share with you a few of my favorite books and maybe you can be just as inspired and motivated as me!

French Women Don't Get Fat! by  Mireille Guiliano
 French Women Don't Get Fat is one of my favorite books! Mireille is such a great writer, balancing her life story, the French tips for staying trim, and delicious recipes! I love that she shares her victories as well as failures and tips she learned along the way. Her recipes are easy to follow, delicious and all relatively healthy. She also has a 'plan' of sorts for getting started living as a French woman. I also read the sequel to the book: French Women For All Seasons and I loved that one as well.

Clean
Clean is a book I've blogged about before. It is a cleansing/detox book that explains what detoxing does, the benefits of it and how to do it! I have done a version of the cleanse twice, and I loved how I felt during and after each time! It also has several recipes that are clean and healthy!


In Defense of Food
Michael Pollan's book, In Defense of Food is such a great informational book about food, the American way of eating, and what we can do to change the way we eat. He also has several others books that I want to read, including Omnivore's Dilemma which I am in the middle of reading now!

Running Like a Girl
I just started reading this book, Running Like a Girl , and I have already fallen in love! The book is written from the perspective of someone who started out not liking to run, and follows her as she grows and learns to love it.  It is so motivational, funny, and informational. After reading just a few chapters, I wanted to go out for a run! I love how easy it is to relate to the author, and understand the struggles and realize that you aren't alone in your feelings towards running after all!

Body and Soul
Bethany Hamilton's book, Body and Soul is such a great book! She writes about growing up, losing her arm to a shark attack, learning to surf again, getting her life back on a healthier track, and living life in a healthier way. I love her workouts, recipes, stories, tips, and inspiration! She also is firm in her faith and shares ways that God has helped her through her life! I recommend this book for teenage girls( or anyone!) who wants to get their life back on a healthier track!

Healthy Habits

Habits take 21 days to make or break them. Creating healthy habits is a great way to make healthy living effortless!

I have a few habits(good and bad!) and I'm sure we all do! Having healthy habits make it easier to have a healthy lifestyle! After 21 days or so, it becomes like second nature! Here are a few habits that we should all create to make living healthy easier!

1.  Keep a Journal. Maybe you aren't the diary/journal type, and that's okay! Just get a note book and spend a few minutes every night writing down what you did, what you ate and how you felt during the day. This is a great way to keep track of what works for you and what doesn't!

2. Bedtime Routine! Having a bedtime routine helps your body calm down to go to sleep. Start a hour before going to bed by turning off the electronics, maybe read a 'real' book instead. Drinking something warm is great too! If you are going to keep a journal, add that to your bedtime routine.

3. Breakfast! Always eat breakfast within 30 to a hour from waking up! This keeps your metabolism up and running! Breakfast should be the most important, nutritious and filling meals since its the first meal you eat after fasting for at least hours over night! Also, eating breakfast helps you get going in the morning and keeps you from wanting to snack all morning long!

4. Water! Chugging water throughout the day is such a great habit to make! I try so hard to drink a lot of water, but it's still a working progress for me! I like to keep a full water bottle of cup near me so that whenever I see it, I am reminded to take a drink!

5. Keep Fruit and Veggies on Hand! Having fruit and veggies in your fridge is great when cooking at home! I love to just grab several veggies to add to a dish! Not only does this bulk the dish up,  but adds nutritional benefits as well!

6. Stay Active! Being active is so important to a healthy body! Getting 30 minutes of activity is plenty to maintain a healthy body, and it doesn't have to happen in the gym! A brisk walk, playing with the kids, walking the dog or even working in the garden is a perfect form of exercise!

7. Practice Portion Control! This is so hard for me! But, having balanced portions ensures that you don't over eat and become too stuffed! Start with having a little bit so that if you want more later, you can!

8.  More Veggies and Fruit/Less Meat and Carbs. You see Low-Carb, Low-Fat and No-Carb and No-Fat diets out there, but that isn't what I mean. What I mean is, the majority of you plate should be filled with veggies and then rest with your meats and carbs! This also helps out the pocket book!

9.  Cook at Home. I say this a lot, I know, but that is because it really is so important! Cooking at home ensure that you know exactly what goes into your meal, how big the portions are and how balanced the plates are!

10. Keep Snacks with you. Having healthy options for snacks with you and easy to grab during the day keeps you from grabbing the less-healthy options. I like to carry nuts, apples or pears, or a home-made trail mix with me when I am out and about!

These are just a few habits that can make a healthy lifestyle easier. Of course you will create your own and I would love for you to share those with me! You can do that in the comments section here, and on Twitter @ Spinachisgood ! Also follow the blog and follow on Twitter and Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett!

I hope you can use these tips to become a healthier version of you! Please share this blog with a friend and check back often for more post about all things healthy!

Keep healthy and safe!
H. Banana