Summer Food, healthified

Summer is the time for fun food, right? Barbecues and patios, slushy drinks and finger food. But the problem is, most of that isn't all that good for you. 

"Shut up, Kristi".

That's what you're thinking, right? "Who cares, and stop ruining my summer fun"!

I think you SHOULD enjoy some fun food and drink, guilt-free this summer. But why not make some minor changes to make your barbecue and your beach body friends!

Idea #1: Fish tacos: 

This is a fresh, fun treat in the summer. Make a spicy rub with cayenne (revs the metabolism for a leaner body, easier), paprika, garlic and onion powder, and salt, rub it into some fresh halibut (healthy, healthy fish), and throw it on the BBQ. Then cook up a little rice (remember, rice is a SIDE DISH, so small amount, and use brown or a nice wild blend), add some beans (kidney or black or whatever you have), and make some fresh guacamole with avocado, diced peppers and onions, garlic, lemon juice and a dash of sea salt. Add fresh salsa (diced tomatos, onions, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice), put it all in nice big lettuce leaves (healthier than taco shells, and much fresher in taste) and you have an incredible, easy and healthy meal!

Idea #2: Fun Slushy drink:

Add coconut milk, pineapple and ice in a blender and make a fun, healthier drink. Coconut milk is great for hormone health, full of healthy fats, and tasty, and pineapple is not only fresh and flavourful, but has natural enzymes that help you digest better, as well as decrease inflammation. Add some rum if you are feeling especially crazy, but don't overdo it or you'll undo all of your healthy work!

Add a fresh salad (I love watermelon, mint, feta, red onion and a splash of vinegar - sounds like a weird salad, but so good!) and you have a healthy BBQ. Then get the gang playing Frisbee or football and being active and you have a healthy weekend of fun and food!

Kristi Shmyr

Prana Holistic

Weight Loss Roulette

Eating late at night is a NO NO! First, your liver's natural rhythm requires it be free to clean itself at night. It can't do that if it's processing your food. Second, a study at Northwestern University finds that our body's natural cycles of sleep and wakefulness, the circadian rhythms, also influence metabolism - our metabolism gets slower at night. If you eat late at night, even if you are making healthy food choices, it is harder for your body to burn it off, more likely that it will be stored as fat and toxins, and more likely to disturb digestion. So quit the late night snacking! If you are eating right at your meals, you shouldn't be hungry anyways!

Healthy Food Trades, continued!

In a previous post, I talked about healthy food trades you can make to gently alter your diet to a more healthy version of itself. Let's continue that discussion with another upgrade I encourage you to make!

4. Trade your soft drinks for a natural spritzer!

Soft drinks are amazingly bad for you. I have heard amazing success stories of clients and friends losing 20 or 30 pounds in a year JUST from eliminating soft drinks! And don't think diet pop is any better - the artificial sweeteners have been shown in studies to cause weight GAIN! Purdue University's Ingestive Behavior Research Center reported that zero-calorie saccharin caused rats to eat more, gain more weight and store more fat than rats fed sugar. Artificial sweeteners are also linked to side-effects like joint pain and depression, as well as potentially permanent brain cell damage. In addition, the fizziness you love leaches calcium from your bones and creates an acidic environment in the body, which creates an ideal environment for inflammation and disease.

So for the sake of your waistband and your overall health, without sacrificing taste, buy naturally carbonated mineral water and add a little raw honey and lemon juice. It is refreshing, and very healthy. The mineral water adds trace minerals to your diet that help maintain a healthy body, the lemon is detoxifying and alkalizing (the opposite of acidic), and the honey contains enzymes and minerals that promote a healthy immune and digestive system (just don't overdo the honey - it is still a sugar!)

Add this simple drink upgrade to the suggestions I already made, and you are well on your way to a healthy diet! Watch the Bloggity-Blog for more trade suggestions. Until then, to your health!


Kristi Shmyr
Prana Holistic
10138 121st Edmonton
780.454.5299
www.pranaholistic.ca