Hey NYC! Forget the Ban and Bring the Better

My husband and I were sitting in McDonalds a week ago... OH MY GOD. Yes. McDonalds. And we were talking about how New York City has proposed a band on  large sodas. What is a large soda you ask-  whom ever decides these things has declared that  it is a 16 oz serving or larger. To me 16 oz of soda sounds like an Andre the Giant sized serving.. but hey, what do I know. So- New York City is debating on whether or not to ban "large" sized sodas and from what I can gather the main purposed behind this ban is to steer our children away from drinking large sugary beverages. I am one person who thinks this is just plain ridiculous. Here's the deal. Cups are refillable. And soda can be bought at the local supermarket and your cup can be refilled at home as many times as you darn well want. Dummies. Really New York City, do you REALLY believe that telling someone they can't have a Big Gulp sized beverage container is going to so anything for the health of the nation?
I still love you NY, but no, it won't.

So I know I am not the only person on the planet who has figured out that banning foods won't make us healthier. But better education and availability will. I bet in NYC, children everyday are being taught not to talk to strangers. I bet they are being taught to run if there is trouble. How to escape their home incase of fire. Their phone number. Their address. What children everywhere are not being taught, however, is the dangers of an unhealthy diet. What we are not offering these children are access to actual food. We need not to worry about spending money on banning anything... what we need to do is  put the manpower towards erasing food deserts. How are people to choose the right foods when affordable healthy food choices are unavailable? No to banning, Yes to better. We need to bring more into our societies diet. More color. More texture. More Nutrients.

As my husband and I discussed the NYC soda ban, we ate our McDonalds. Like I said, We were eating McDonalds. Incase you missed it. McDonalds. (A little ironic I admit it)  So What does a fitness nut eat at McDonalds. One Double Cheeseburger. For no other reason other then because I like them. My husband and I SPILT a small or medium soda and some times we SPILT a medium or small fry. And normally, we don't eat fast food often.

I usually make our food. As you can tell from this blog, I have gotten really into the art of the Stealth Veggie Attack. I hide as much good stuff in a dish as I can. Sometime it works, sometimes I wonder if my husband is considering hiring a food delivery service to replace me. Either way, I am trying. And you should too. Even if you don't have kids- we as a nation need to commit to trying to EAT BETTER. By simply eating better and moving more you can change your whole health M.O. It's really not rocket science,
but I will spell it out:

How to Eat Better:
1. I don't care if it is Organic or Not (But if not wash it well) just eat more things from the ground- Vegetables, Fruits, Legumes and Nuts.
2. Pick Whole Grains
3. If you have cheat items, like pizza or cookies, make them at home, instead of buying frozen or packages- which means you control what goes in them.
4. Eat when you feel hungry, don't eat if you are not.
5. Make sure you have a diet full of color, NO BROWN UGLY DIET FOODS
6. Drink Water, Lots of Water
7. Read labels, low fat usually means more sugar
8. Pick Lean Meats
9. If you feel bloated after eating something, don't eat it
10. If you feel guilty after eating something, don't eat it

How to Move More:
1. Move More, any chance, anywhere
2. Engage in a physical activity that makes you sweat for twenty minutes a day
3. Try something new
4. Have fun with it

It seems that every minute a new diet book is published. The truth is, I don't count calories and I have never followed a "diet". I don't have the patience for diet plans and I get bored easily. Every so often I find a new program I feel I can incorporate into my daily life, but I am not a fan of fad diets and you should not be either. Research is great, but diets are kinda dumb.

Being healthy does not require running marathons or having a six pack, though they are there for the taking. All you need to do is make better choices. We are surrounded by "large" sodas and no matter if soon in NYC you won't be able to buy them, you will still be able to drink them. Big Brother can't force you to make better choices and there is a large difference between eating to live and living to eat. You need to make the decision on which path you will choose.

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well

-Virginia Woolf

* though I am a certified personal trainer, I am not a dietitian or nutritionalist, always consult a doctor before beginning a new health and wellness routine

We all Wail for Kale

I will admit it, I have become obsessed with Kale. I roast it, bake it, saute it, drink it and even freeze it. I eat it savory and sweet. I have made everything from chips to smoothie pops with Kale. It is hailed as one of the healthiest vegetables on the planet. Kale gets it's 'AWESOME' rating based mostly on it's high concentration of antioxidant vitamins (A, C and K). Kale can help lower bad cholesterol and help prevent heart disease.
Kale pairs well with Italian themed dishes, much like Spinach. Tear up Kale to add to meatballs or cook with Chicken or Pork sausage before adding to homemade pizzas. Make a pesto using a 1:1 ratio with kale and basil,  and add the kale infused pesto to lasagna or toss with with your favorite pasta.
If you find the texture of the leaves a little rough try squeezing them in clean hands before adding to a salad.
Here are two of my favorite kale recipes:

Alaskan Kale Chips
(Named purely by first being made in Alaska)

Three Stalks of Kale – Washed, Patted Dry and Leaves torn into bite size pieces
1 Tablespoon Parmesan Cheese (Freshly Grated or Bottled)
Black Pepper
Sea Salt
1 Tablespoon McCormick Perfect Pinch Mediterranean Herb Seasoning
Olive Oil

Pre Heat Oven to 350
Place Kale pieces evenly on a baking sheet
Drizzle with Olive Oil
Sprinkle generously with Pepper
Add McCormick Seasoning and Cheese
Bake for Ten Minutes
Or until Edges begin to Brown
Sprinkle with a touch of sea salt and serve

Warm Potato and Kale Salad
Serves Three to Four

Ingredients
One/ Two Large or Four Medium/ Small Potatoes cut into chunks (Leftover or pre- Baked or Boiled)
Two Stalks of Kale- Washed, Patted Dry and Leaves removed and torn into medium sized pieces (discard stalks)
Low Fat Low Sodium Turkey Bacon or Low Fat Deli Ham – Cut into small Strips
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Pepper
McCormick Perfect Pinch Mediterranean Herb Seasoning

Heat One Tablespoon Olive Oil in Large Skillet over high heat
Add Bacon/ Ham and cook until bacon is cooked or Ham is heated
Add Kale, One Tablespoon of McCormick Seasoning and Pepper to taste
Sauté until Kale begins to turn bright/dark green
Add Potatoes and cook until heated through (the potatoes should be pre cooked so this should not take long)

Sprinkle with a touch of sea salt, serve warm

NOTE: If the Mixture begins to dry out or stick to the skillet drizzle more olive oil over it as needed to keep moist!

Use as a side dish (Lean Boneless Thin Cut Pork Chops with Salsa Verde pairs well)
Or use to top a bed of mixed greens as a hearty salad (Top with one Tablespoon Neman’s Own Italian Vinaigrette!)

Don't be afraid to experiment not only with Kale, but any vegetable. Try adding vegetables to more and more dishes. When we begin to add more veggies into our basic meal prep we give our families the opportunity to enjoy the meals they love but at a lower calorie intake. 

 The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.
- Thomas A Edison