Since I am not very mobile due to my surgery and my first Q&A went so well, I decided it was the perfect time to do another Q&A! I had so many questions that I decided to break the post into a few different parts, so stay tuned for more questions and answers tomorrow in Part 3! Tomorrow’s Q&A has a bunch of foodie related questions that I get quite often!
Since the Rabbit Food Pyramid lists 4 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack) do you eat your Snack meal as one meal with all 4 servings from each food group together? or separate as 4 small snacks throughout the day?
I usually keep my snack as one mini meal because it’s pretty routine to me now, and it keeps me really full! I have learned through research that by pairing a complex carb with protein, it helps to keep blood sugar levels stable to avoid an insulin spike. This is another reason why I like to eat my produce, whole grain, protein, and plant based fat together. Of course I have had days where I felt really snacky, so I spaced out my “snack” meal. Here is an example of one day of regular meals with the “snack meal” broken up into 3 mini snacks (spaced 2-3 hours apart to keep your metabolism going):
8:00am Breakfast
10:00am Midmorning Snack: apple (produce)
12:30m Lunch
3:00pm Afternoon Snack: one piece of Laughing Cow Light Baby Bell Cheese or Chobani Greek yogurt (protein)
6:00pm Dinner
8:30pm Dessert Snack: Tbsp of peanut butter on whole-wheat toast (plant based fat and whole-grain)
There are so many different theories about food pairing, but I just do what works for me. When it comes down to it, as long as you stay within the “snack” guideline and portions, you should be just fine!
What is your weakness or cheat food?
I LOVE gummy candy. I am a gummy candy-aholic! gummy bears, Swedish fish, cinnamon bears, lifesavers gummies, gummy coke bottles. It’s gummy, I’m obsessed haha. When I do buy candy (not too often), I will open the bag, fill one small Dixie cup (which is about a ¼ cup serving), put the bag away before eating, and then sit down and enjoy my little cup of gummies. This way I don’t have the uncontrollable hand that keeps mindlessly reaching into the bag for more.
Can you recommend any motivating books on health?
1. “The End of Overeating” by Dr. David Kessler,
“Dr. Kessler cracks the code of overeating by explaining how our bodies and minds are changed when we consume foods that contain sugar, fat, and salt. Food manufacturers create products by manipulating these ingredients to stimulate our appetites, setting in motion a cycle of desire and consumption that ends with a nation of overeaters.” –Source
There was an interesting part that really stuck with me: “Sugar itself is not the only reason we’re partial to sweet foods. If nothing else mattered, more of us would just open a packet of sugar and eat it.” He describes how the combination of sugar along with fat and salt is what our bodies start to crave. Interesting huh? Like Dr. Kessler said, when I’m “craving sugar,” it’s not just sugar. I crave something with sugar, fat, and salt like a baked good, or a candy bar, not a packet of sugar. Now I am very aware of it!
2. “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA
For anyone who has ever struggled with disordered eating or yo-yo dieting, this is an excellent book to help free yourself from food prison. It provides a healthy approach towards food and teaches you how to listen to your body to find the weight you’re meant to be.
In “Intuitive Eating” you will learn:
How to reject diet mentality forever
How our three Eating Personalities define our eating difficulties
How to feel your feelings without using food
How to honor hunger and feel fullness
How to follow the ten principles of Intuitive Eating, step-by-step
How to achieve a new and safe relationship with food and, ultimately, your body –Source
Do you read any health related magazines?
I love Shape, Women’s Health, and Fitness. They are filled with great tips and feature healthy athletic women. Strong is the new skinny!
What is your facial cleansing routine? What do you use?
This is a great question. I actually don’t have the best skin in the world. I’ve struggled with acne and breakouts since my teens and have used all different prescription topical gels from Retin-A to Differin. My skin is super sensitive, so I have found that gentle products work best for me. I also have tons of allergies to certain fruits and berries that are often found in skin care products because of their powerful antioxidants, so I have to be extra careful with scented and “antioxidant rich” products.
Cleanser: I wash my face in the morning and before bed with Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. It’s mild, but gets all of my makeup off and doesn’t irritate my skin.
Day-time Moisturizer: Aveeno Positively Raident Daily Moisturizer SPF 30. It contains a soy complex to naturally even out skin tone, while the SPF protects against sun damage.
Nighttime Moisturizer: Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream. It’s hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free, and keeps my skin nice and moisturized without any oily residue. If this product had sunscreen in it, I would use it during the day too!
Stay tuned for Part 3 of my Q&A tomorrow!
