Avocado Deviled Eggs

Getting together with friends and family to watch the big game can be enjoyable and exciting without ruining your healthy eating plans.  For a protein-packed snack/appetizer, try this recipe:

• 1 dozen hard boiled eggs
• 3 avocados
• Juice of 3 limes
• ¾ tsp. garlic salt
• fresh dill
• pepper

Peel the eggs and cut in half, removing the yolk.  Combine yolk with avocados, juice from the limes, and garlic salt. Pipe mixture into the center of the eggs. Top with fresh dill, salt and pepper.  Enjoy!

Prebiotics & Probiotics

You may have heard the term “gut health,” but do you know what it means?  The gut, or gastrointestinal tract is full of bacteria that assist in digestion.  Foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics are necessary for microflora in the gut to keep you healthy. 

So what foods have these prebiotics and probiotics?

Prebiotics are a dietary fiber that feeds healthy gut bacteria and can be found in these foods and others:

• ·     Raw onions
• ·         Raw garlic
• ·         Raw leek
• ·         Raw asparagus

Probiotics are live and active bacteria (good bacteria) and are found in:

• ·         Yogurt (labeled with live and active cultures)
• ·         Sauerkraut
• ·         Kombucha tea
• ·         Miso soup
• ·         Kefir

Eating a variety of foods rich in prebiotics and probiotics may promote weight loss, reduce cholesterol, and improve your mood.

A New Approach to Food in the New Year

Have you made your new year’s resolutions? Is a diet on the list?  This year try taking a fresh new approach to nutrition. Instead of counting calories, focus on the quality of the foods you eat. 

Consider one or more of these strategies:

• Switch from juicing to smoothies. Juicing removes most of the fiber and many vitamins. Puree whole fruits and vegetables in the blender with ice, a splash of milk, protein powder, or yogurt. Experiment to find the combinations you like most. 
• Go whole and eat only non-processed foods. Cooking from scratch is much healthier and can save you money.
• Make a goal to try a new vegetable every week.
• Cut back on sugar by limiting yourself to one or two desserts per week. Satisfy your sugar cravings with fresh fruit.

Simple changes like these can make a big difference to your waistline and your overall health.  Don’t forget to motivate yourself with a non-food reward for meeting your goals.