A while back an article discussing whether or not you can combat your bad eating habits with exercise caught my attention. As you might suspect, the one word answer is “no.” Actually, the foods you put into your body impact not just your overall health but also the effectiveness of your exercise habits. You cannot […]
Category Archives: Self-Health Survival Guides
05
Apr
Apr
A longtime friend of our family is visiting, and it’s reminding me how important these people are in our lives. The instant warmth that surrounded each of us, including our dog, told a story I hadn’t considered before: the power of friendship must have an impact on our overall health in a way we may […]
30
Mar
Mar
Ask Chef Phyllis: The first vegetable my husband brings in from his spring garden is a bunch of radishes. We enjoy them for about two weeks. We often forget this from year to year, but after a little while no one wants to eat them. They are too strong or spicy, the leaves are too […]
29
Mar
Mar
When your kids are young, it’s easy to control the foods they eat. Sure, you can’t completely shelter them from less nutritious foods—they will be invited to birthday parties and the like. But, for the most part, you’re their food supplier. You’re in control. This all changes once they become teenagers. They earn their own […]
22
Mar
Mar
When it comes to healthy eating habits (for your body and your wallet), choosing to “brown bag” it at lunchtime ranks pretty high up on the list. Unfortunately, when it comes to packing lunch each day, a good number of people think they only have enough time to throw together a boring cold sandwich and […]
16
Mar
Mar
Ask Chef Phyllis: I just discovered Indian cuisine, which I always thought was just curry. But recently I ate something called Peas with Paneer (Mattar Paneer) at my new and maybe soon-to-be favorite restaurant. It was very good. They told me it wasn’t made from soy (since I thought I was eating tofu), but it […]
15
Mar
Mar
If you think there’s an age at which you’re supposed to toss your jump rope aside, you’re misguided. Jumping rope will continue to benefit your cardiovascular system and brain for as long as you have them. And I’m willing to bet you fit this description, right?! So if you’ve been longing to jump some rope […]
09
Mar
Mar
I noticed bulbs popping up in my garden today. Now, if I still lived back in the Pacific Northwest, this wouldn’t be a problem. In fact, it would be expected. But in Colorado, where the chance that winter will be over by mid-February is slim to none, it’s still far too early for my delicate […]
08
Mar
Mar
As I mentioned earlier this year, I’ve committed 2016 to making small monthly changes that will, inevitably, lead to a year of success. With March being National Nutrition Month, I plan to pick one aspect of my current nutrition routine that could use a little “beefing up” and then make it happen. I encourage you […]
02
Mar
Mar
Ask Chef Phyllis: Lent seems much longer than 40 days when I don’t have any ideas for new meatless meals. I get tired of mac and cheese and fried fishcakes or BLT’s without the bacon—and certainly wouldn’t serve these to guests. It wouldn’t be so dreary if we entertained more. I need tasty dinners; fish […]
01
Mar
Mar
It’s super easy to give in to unhealthy habits when you travel with your family. A quick stop at the drive-thru while you’re on the road. A bag full of sugary treats when you fill the tank with gas. While I try not to freak out too much about occasional botches, I also try not […]
24
Feb
Feb
I’m not gonna lie—I love me some dessert! I wish dessert loved me with equal respect in return. Alas, since whittling my sugar intake down to almost nothing, I really notice now how it affects me when I do indulge. Of course, the initial high is sublimely delicious and satisfying, but I’ve come to discover […]
23
Feb
Feb
For me, it’s hard to reach the last week of February and not start dreaming of the next season. There it is, right around the corner—bright sunshine greeting you with a nonchalant smooch on the forehead, warm breezes enveloping you in a gentle hug, lingering snow and ice being banished from all the land. Sounds […]
17
Feb
Feb
Many years ago, this New York City girl got transplanted to the Adirondacks. As I look back, it was a good decision for my soon-to-begin-high-school teenagers. Now they thank me when they recall that in New York City they would have been little fish in a very big pond. Upstate, in Glens Falls, they were […]
16
Feb
Feb
My core muscles have taken a beating over the years. It all started with carrying three babies to full-term, and then the problem was exacerbated by my disdain for all things in the sit-ups and crunches family. Bicycles, side twists, exercise ball—I’m not a fan. Your core muscles are pretty darn important though, and not […]
10
Feb
Feb
I’ve been nursing a cold all week. Of course, no one really likes being under the weather, but rather than cursing my luck this time, I’ve surprisingly been somewhat thankful to my body. Feeling worn out forces us to be gentler on ourselves, take it easy, rest, and attend to things that have gone neglected. […]
09
Feb
Feb
I used to feel guilty about how rarely I felt the urge to throw together a big ol’ salad and gobble it up. After all, a bed of beautiful dark greens with bits of red pepper, cucumber, carrots, red onion, and maybe even some hard-boiled egg makes for the ultimate in health-inducing cuisine. Yes? How […]
03
Feb
Feb
Ask Chef Phyllis: Ever since I was a little girl, I remember having cherry macaroons for Valentine’s Day. I think my mother bought them in a candy store like Loft’s—not a bakery shop because they had chocolate drizzled on the top of them—but I can’t be sure. I would like to make them at home […]
02
Feb
Feb
My plan for this week’s post was to discuss the benefits of brain training and my February health goal of committing to doing it every day. It was sure to be a hit, and I was confident that I’d find a magnitude of resources touting brain training as the best decision I could ever make […]
27
Jan
Jan
January is winding down, and by now some of you may have already abandoned those well-intentioned yet tough-to-keep New Year’s resolutions. Before you go beating yourself up, know that you’re not alone. Studies have shown that a mere 64 percent of people have kept their resolutions by the one-month mark. And only a sobering 8 […]