Be Healthy Blog

Healthy Catering: How To Appease All Your Guests

With Memorial Day right around the corner, many are officially kicking off the start of summer and warmer weather means weddings, parties, and all kinds of celebrations. Whether you are planning your wedding reception or an outdoor anniversary party, one of the biggest things to keep in mind is your catering choices - the food served should accommodate all your guests, especially if you have a rather long guest list. My Salt Lake City catering company of choice gave me these tips to remember when selecting the fare for any event:

• Make sure you have low-fat entree options. No doubt you will have guests who are trying to shed some pounds and will most certainly appreciate a tasty dish sans the fat!
• Vegan and/or vegetarian dishes should always be included in the menu, such as a pasta dish. Your caterer should have various vegetarian entrees you can select from.
• Desserts are the one place where calories and sugar can really add up - try serving scrumptious desserts that are lower in calories and sugar but just as delicious! Fresh fruit, frozen yogurt, parfaits…even popsicles, which aren’t just for the little ones! They make a tasty, frozen, healthy treat.
• If you are serving alcohol, make sure you have light beers and a myriad of liquids to provide alcoholic drink options that aren’t calorie-laden, such as cranberry juice, sparkling water, and club soda.
• Just in case, have all the nutritional information of everything you are serving on hand. From the number of calories to ingredients used, you may have guests inquire about such information.

More Energy Than You Know What To Do With

With so many diet and fitness fads, it is important to do some research before you commit yourself to one. You should look at review after review to make sure this is the right thing for you. It also wouldn’t hurt to talk to your doctor about it.

One great way that I’ve found to give me that extra kick of energy–especially during those times at the gym where I am just dragging–is to take Zantex3’s Insta-Shot. It is a great energy shot that gets me through my run on the treadmill.

But, I did recently find a Zantrex review that gives a lot of information. Take a look.

The Stresses of Clutter

Nowadays, everything seems to give us stress; it is not limited to our jobs anymore. Everything around us that is out of “harmony” can create stress and just might send us over the edge. One of those things is clutter…and lots of it. If you want a healthier life, look into these ways to get rid of your clutter and live a more stress-free life.

• Garage sale: Not only will you get rid of extra stuff, you will make a little extra money too. The trick with the garage sale is to donate everything you don’t sell to charity. Don’t keep it around waiting to sell it another garage sale. Chances are, you won’t have too much time in your life to set up a garage sale every weekend. But if you do have time for that, then by all means…
• Store it: If you have valuables that aren’t on display in your home and you just don’t have the heart to sell them, find some Utah storage units (or wherever you are from). You can rest assured knowing that your heirlooms/valuables are safe and protected.

There are many other ways you can use to declutter. You just need to find the right way for you, the one that works the best.

Time For a Relaxing Vacay?

I am a firm believer that one of the most important parts of overall health is giving the body, mind, and spirit time to relax, rejuvenate, and renew.  Everyone needs time away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, from the stresses of work and the cares, worries, and burdens each of us has.  If it has been awhile since you took some time for yourself, consider doing so.

For the sake of my own sanity, my husband and I are headed next week to a quaint and relaxing Arizona bed and breakfast.

The Obvious Tips

The best and easiest ways to live a healthy life are those that we should already be doing…obvious habits that no doubt can lead to a longer, healthier life.  Question is, are you doing them?

• Wear your Seatbelt.  Yes, it seems obvious, but did you know that less than 14% of all motorists actually wear them consistently?  And nearly half of all the individuals who die in vehicle-related crashes (roughly 17,000) most likely would have survived if they were wearing their seatbelt.
• Floss your Teeth. Recent studies have shown a direct correlation between longevity and teeth flossing.  No one knows why…but keep your mouth clean and healthy by flossing at least once a day.
• Think Positive! It doesn’t take a genius to figure out there is a direct connection between living well and having a positive outlook on life.  Those who are optimistic tend to live longer and have fewer health problems.
• Avoid Excessive Drinking. Drinking in excess can lead to a myriad of health problems including kidney and liver problems or even alcoholism.  Drink only in moderation.
• Quit Smoking.  Well, duh.  Yet, it is always mind boggling how many people still take up smoking even though we are fully aware of the countless health problems and diseases directly related to the nasty habit.  From prescription medication to support groups to nicotine patches, there is a method for quitting perfect for every smoker.

Jump-Starting Weight Loss: The Use of Weight Loss Supplements

There seems to be an enormous amount of controversy when it comes to using diet supplements to help individuals lose weight.   And some of it seems to be rather unfounded.  I am constantly finding tons of negative reviews and posts online attacking certain ones, labeling them as scams that do nothing more than drain your wallet.

Call me crazy, but I think weight loss supplements can be an effective tool for individuals struggling with weight loss.  While there is no magic pill or “quick-fix,” a weight loss pill can help kick-start the new, healthy lifestyle that is often required to sustain long-term weight loss.  If you are determined to shed a few pounds and keep them off, you have to implement physical activity into your daily routine and make a conscious effort to eat healthy (well, healthier).  Utilizing weight loss pills may just be the jump-start you need to get going.

Laugh Your Way to Better Health

Research and studies conducted over the past few years has shown that laughter can have a positive effect on one’s health. It makes sense, right? Negative emotions such as depression or stress have been shown to be potentially harmful so why can’t positive emotions be good for you? Laughter can create a domino effect of joy and happiness and is far more contagious than any yawn, sneeze, or cold.

In fact, researchers and health experts argue that laughter and an active sense of humor can have a myriad of positive health effects, including:

• Decreasing food cravings, thus leading to weight loss for some individuals.
• Reduce the risk of a heart attack and prevent heart disease.
• Strengthening the immune system.
• Lower blood pressure.
• Reduce stress levels.
• Improve brain function.

Is there a more fun or easy way to start improving your health? I think not. Laughter truly is the best medicine.

Gardening Food

If you really want to eat healthy food, start your own garden. You can pick fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs for your meals. The food tastes fresh and scrumptious, and you never have to leave your house! Even if you don’t have a green thumb or a lot of space, you can plant some herbs near a window and dry them for use throughout the winter.

You only need a few tools for a garden as well, including a spade, seeds, some potting boxes, and maybe something extra like a gardening hat, knee pads, and extra digging tools.

For truly healthy eating (without pesticides), start your own garden this year!

Healthy Holidays

This year I was determined not to gain more than a few pounds around the holidays. I wanted to enjoy myself, but not go overboard and feel guilty, thus forced to burn off the calories in the New Year. So, I hired a Salt Lake City caterer who provided healthy appetizers and treats for my annual family Christmas party. (The lower stressload from hiring a professional to bring the food probably helped my body as well!)

When I went to parties, I skipped dessert and focused on enjoying the main meal. When I did indulge in dessert, I went sparingly on the cheesecake, ice cream, hot chocolate, egg nog, and gourmet chocolate candy.

I’m happy to say that I enjoyed the holidays, and hardly gained a pound. Now I don’t have to make that New Year’s resolution to lose weight! I think instead my resolution will be to run a 10K with my husband.

How did your holidays go?

Healthy Money

Part of having a healthy life is having healthy relationships.  Most relationships with family and friends are based on who you are and what you have in common, but when it comes to marriage relationships there’s a whole lot more to consider.

Recent studies have shown that the highest stress on a marriage is financial concerns.  Nothing stresses people out like money does and even when there’s enough to go around the constant juggling act of calculating interest and paying off bills can get a bit wearing.  Here are some tips to help manage the stress of finances.

-Designate one spouse to monitor all the finances for the family.  One person can more easily see where the money is going and keep track of where it needs to be going.  Don’t get overly confused with multiple statements and balances but instead keep them manageable with one person in charge.

-Find out what debts you can pay off now.  It’s much easier to manage a couple monthly payments instead of several, so look into which credit cards you can pay off early or if it’s possible to do an early mortgage payoff to take the pressure off during the tight months.

-Discuss and decide what things you need to budget and what things have more leniencies.  Is your spouse an impulse buyer that needs to have a strict limit, or are you both willing to consider each purchase and how it will affect your finances?