Oh WOW! The past weekend here in Athens, Georgia was magnificent! Sunny, yet cool and with such refreshing air! Made me start thinking about all the people who have been inquiring the past few months about wanting to make a change in their life--a new refreshing change toward a healthy lifestyle! Like all of you who were spring cleaning your closets this past week; now is the time to spring clean your lifestyle!! Just making a few small changes can help you feel more organized, refreshed, and focused on your health. I though that I would pass on
5 tips that help our family live a healthy lifestyle on a weekly basis!
Now we all know you can’t rehaul everything your family is doing in one week but you can make small steps weekly toward some new healthy goals.
Step 1: Start on Sundays
Sit down with your newspaper, see what is in season and fresh and plan your weekly menu. Get the kids involved ask each family member what they would like to eat (within reason) and plan accordingly. We use a dry erase board and write out breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. The children love helping decide what is for dinner and it helps them to learn about food groups and what you need to make a balanced meal.
Step 2: Pre-cook Protien for the week on the day purchased
Buy chicken, pork, and other meets and try cooking them all the day purchased. Bake or Grill 4-8 chicken breasts with little seasonings then throughout the week you can chop and put in a salad, a tortilla, or make chicken salad. The easy step of pre-cooking protein will help you to eat more at home for meals and not feel so rushed in the evenings.
Try this easy chicken recipe for an easy weeknight meal!
Delicious Maple Dijon Chicken
Serves 4
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt & pepper
Rosemary
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together mustard, syrup, and vinegar.
Place chicken breasts into 9×13 greased baking dish. Season with salt & lots of pepper. Pour mustard mixture over chicken.Bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees.Season with chopped rosemary. And prepare for people to ask you to make it again!
Step 3: Wash & Cut veggies and fruit for half of the week and store in grab-n-go containers or plastic bags for easy access. Make a veggie tray for the week and tray to keep in the fridge and bring out for the family as afternoon snack or appetizer before dinner.
Step 4: Make snack baskets for your children and for you!
The premise of the snack basket is that everyone is not rummaging through the pantry multiple times a day. Pre-make snacks a the beginning of the week in portion controlled bags and the snacks will be ready for active families! Snack baskets for adults are also ideal as a post-workout snack or afternoon pick-me-up!
Step 5: Make an appointment for exercise
Your doctor, hair, and other appointments are important and your health should be top on your list. Make an appointment with yourself, a friend, or a trainer to exercise 5 times a week. YOU are worth it! Put it on the calendar and stick with that time consistently!
Galatians 6:9 tells us "So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don't give up"!
Continue to make small, positive changes to your health plan and you will see results! Blessings,
Caroline