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5 Autumn Veggies to “Fall” For
Ahhh, the essence of fall. With pumpkins lining farmers' markets and grocery stores, and the anticipation of Halloween in the air, I attempted my go-to pumpkin muffins last week. Mistakenly, I dumped an entire box of baking soda in the mix (don't ask me how), and...
Part 2: The Double-Edged Sword of Food
“The good news is that food connects us. The bad news is that food can divide us.” The highly personal and cultural food preferences discussed in Part 1 have set the stage for an even deeper delve into the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde role that food plays in our lives. As...
Part 1: The Double-Edged Sword of Food
Religion, politics, social gatherings. No doubt, these do not traditionally mix, unless while literally at a religious or political gathering, respectively. Why? Shenanigans could arise. People’s morals and values deeply rooted in these subject matters come out of the...
Simple Candied Beet Chips
Do you drool when you think of chips 'n dip? I'm guessing you do. It's a part of our long-standing American food culture. We love easy, and we love finger foods. Potato chips, pretzels, Fritos, Cheetos, Doritos (nice little rhyme there), and other ridiculously simple,...
“FitFuel Seminar Series: The Nutritional Truth for Optimal Living”
A few weeks ago, I decided to join the local 8th Day Crossfit gym in downtown Grand Rapids, since Kyle and I are around these parts longer than planned. And after attending a "Free Friend Friday" class with a friend (thanks, Shannon!), I was HOOKED. I've never...
Fruit of the Doom? Is Fruit Sabotaging Your Weight Goals?
After a long day grinding it out in the world of sales, I used to have a ritual of buying an apple at a local Whole Foods for the 2-hour drive home. Aww, what a healthy, hard-earned reward, right!? Don't let me fool you. I failed to mention the apple was literally the...
No-Excuse Exercise: 19 Ways to Fit It In
Long before fast food, mobile phones and corporate America, our primitive ancestors farmed, hunted, gathered, and walked sometimes 10 miles EACH day! Fast forward to modern times, where we walk to and from our car, to and from the refrigerator, and "lift" our cell...
Fluoride: Great for Teeth,Toxic to Health?
On January 15, 1945, Grand Rapids became the world's first city to adjust the level of fluoride in its water supply. Water fluoridation, which involves adding industrial-grade fluoride chemicals to water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay, has been recommended...
Banana Date Muffins (Dairy & Gluten Free)
I was struck with another bought of creativity in the kitchen this week, plus a request for easy pre- and post-workout snacks from Kyle, so I went with it! With some dates in the cupboard and a few aging bananas, I whipped up a batch of these deliciously sweet goods....
“Wake Up to Wholesome Starts:” McDonald’s FAIL
I opened my mail yesterday morning and found - gasp! - four McDonald's "wholesome" choices for 300 calories or less. Get out. Who knew McDonald's had anything wholesome for 300 calories!? Ironically enough, last night, one of my friends was mentioning that he grabbed...
8 Ways to Tailgate Without Packing on the Pounds
It's going on six years since I've returned to my alma mater for a tailgate and a football game, but today is the day!! I have flashbacks from college, and the crisp fall days, manic student cheering section, "kegs 'n eggs" and booze, (which I could hardly ever...
Lessons From a Recovering Runner: Health Isn’t About Running
While walking around a local lake last week, I passed by a cheerful, yet serious walker in her early 30's. She was the type with the hard, swinging arms (not laughing, I've been there before), and a pace at about a 10-minute mile. Sporting a pink t-shirt with the...
“Sweet Surprise?:” Not High Fructose Corn Syrup!
As Kyle was waking up from his surgery last Friday afternoon, I was anxious to see how he was feeling and how many funny things he would say while drugged up (is it bad that I took a video of him??). A bit nauseous post-surgery, the nurse walked in to check on how he...
10 Real Food Breakfasts Under 10 Minutes!
Before Moving to top 10 breakfast for morning,One must know that Not all people are born the same and different persons have their own distinctive immunity system. While some people find no problems handling hay, some others start sneezing in the presence of the same....
3 Reasons to Be a “Locovore”
I had a recent awakening at our local Farmers' Market last weekend, which I've been neglecting from crazy summer travel and busyness. I am thanking my lucky stars that it's open for several more months, because I have been missing out BIG time! The smell of the...
Preventable Pain, Overweight & Injuries: Food is Medicine
Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to work. They often say that people who love what they do are lucky, because they get to fulfill their dreams and earn for their living, all at the same time. If you or a loved one has been hurt on the job and your...
Honey Nut Cookies (Dairy & Gluten Free)
This past weekend was a rainy one, and despite it being summer, I felt the need to bust out some comfort food in the kitchen! I opened the cupboards and saw minimal ingredients to work with... except for a bag of enticing cashews. Cashews, or "shews" as I call them...
For the Love of Eggs (and Your Heart, Brain, Body!)
Two years ago, eggs (more like egg whites!) were a crucial part of my morning wake-up. A quick crack, and then I'd use the shells to sift out each egg white, leaving the yolk for the drain. If even a little yolk escaped to the pan, I would grab a spoon and carefully...
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