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| Thursday, September 02, 2010 |
| Grilled Peaches & Ice Cream |
Grilling seasonal fruit is the perfect way to end a Labor Day celebration! This recipe is super simple, but sure to please.
Grilled Peaches & Ice Cream
Serves 6
3 large peaches, cut in half and pits removed (peaches should be ripe but still firm)
¼ cup brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp water
3 cups low-fat vanilla or peach ice cream
Preheat the grill to high. Brush and oil the grate. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and water in a small bowl. Place peach halves over direct heat and grill until nicely browned, 3 to 4 minutes per side, basting with the brown sugar glaze.
Put a ½ cup scoop of ice cream into each bowl and place a peach half in each. Spoon any remaining glaze over the peaches and serve at once.
Options
- If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try making your own ice cream, check out this Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Eating Well.
- For a ‘grown up’ version use dark rum instead of the water.
Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!
- Lauren
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: Savory Grilled Pineapple
Sensei Talks: Mmmmm Chocolate!
Labels: Healthy Recipes, Holiday Eating, Lauren
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posted by My Sensei @ Thursday, September 02, 2010   |
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| Wednesday, September 01, 2010 |
| Are Super-Sized Portions Super-Sizing You? |
We all know that typical portion sizes in restaurants have increased significantly over the past few decades. Add to that the fact that people don’t really know how much food they should be eating and you have yourself a recipe for diet disaster. A recent report by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) published in the September issue of Nutrition Action finds that even what would be considered a “regular” portion at many popular chain restaurants is actually 2-3 times bigger than what the government defines as healthy.
Let’s look at a few examples. A dinner size serving of capellini pomodoro at the Olive Garden is about 3 ½ cups. The FDA defines a serving of pasta as 1 cup or about 200 calories (and that’s without the sauce). The FDA says a bagel should be about 2 ounces; but popular chains like Panera Bread and Einstein Brothers serve bagels that are on average 4 ounces and 300 calories. Keep in mind, when calories double or triple so does everything else, including things like sodium and artery clogging fat. There’s no question that super-sized portions are contributing to the nations ever expanding waistline.
Most people don’t really seem to have a problem with these larger than life portions because on some level they think they’re getting a good deal. But the price of such overabundance can be high. It’s obvious that people who consistently overeat will become overweight, but they’re also at risk of developing medical issues like type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, breathing and sleeping problems, bone and joint problems and even depression. People who overeat are also at greater risk for heart disease, heart failure, and stroke later in life.
What is a weight conscious consumer to do? Your best bet is to learn what a recommended serving size looks like, so you can "eyeball" your meals and have an idea of how many servings each meal provides. To learn more check out this video from USA Today where registered dietitian Edith Howard Hogan gives some nice visuals on what a recommended portion size should look like. Learning how to estimate a healthy portion can really help you navigate this super-sized world!
- Lauren
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: Keep It Simple With the 50/25/25 Rule
Sensei Talks: Real Life Portion Control
Labels: healthy eating, Lauren
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| posted by My Sensei @ Wednesday, September 01, 2010 |
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| Tuesday, August 31, 2010 |
| Master Procrastinator |
I am a master of selective procrastination. Why figure out something today you can wait to deal with tomorrow? It is not something I would have admitted, admired, or addressed until very recently. But now that I know, I see how easy it is to fool yourself; and when you believe your own excuses, it’s very easy to fool other people as well.
Now that I’m getting comfortable with it, I’m beginning to like almost everything about it. Especially the name. Pro-crastinator. Like Professor, or Professional, it sounds important, like not just anyone can do it. Someday it may even be licensed. Who knows? There will be a short course offered. We procrastinators will miss the registration deadline, pay a small late fee, and then fail to show up for the course…even if it’s online.
We could then put fancy initials after our name, like Pr. P. (Professional Procrastinator). We would be licensed to fool ourselves….which could be great, but then people would know, and it would be much harder to pretend to ourselves and others. That could be a problem! Maybe a club would be better? We could meet…or fail to…and laugh or cry about the excuses we use to kid ourselves and stop ourselves from living and being present in the present tense. You know- happy healthy active adults.
I think I’m not alone. We’re all so busy. We have lists of imperatives, and are constantly juggling what do first, second, third and fourth; it’s only natural to rearrange our to-do lists so that the things we prefer to ignore, or that are “just for us” are last…or lost.
What issues seem easier to ignore, forget, or pretend don’t exist in your life? The ones that we need to create excuses for that we use to kid ourselves and stop ourselves from living and being present in the present tense. Try putting one or two on a list. Give them a name. You can write in small print, or fold that list up and hide it. Just take the first step, make it a little one; just make it real. You can take the ‘Pro’ out of crastinator.
- Nancy
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: Just Do Something!
Sensei Talks: Tomorrow We Shall Diet…
Labels: Mind-Body Connection, Nancy
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| posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, August 31, 2010 |
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| Monday, August 30, 2010 |
| Do You Know Gilad? |
Few people can be recognized by just one name. In the fitness community, Gilad is one of them. Gilad Janklowic has been an expert in the fitness industry for many years. He was one of the first personal trainers/aerobic instructors to be featured on a television show. I remember watching his first show on ESPN back in 1985 when I was just 13. I was always interesting in exercising and I loved watching his show. I think he deserves partial credit for me being a personal trainer and owning a gym!
Since he’s been on TV for 25 years, you may have seen his show. He calls it Bodies in Motion and it’s really good. In 2005 he added Total Body Sculpt with Gilad which is currently shown on FitTV. Gilad’s show is the longest running fitness show in the United States and has been shown in 80 countries!
If you haven’t seen his show and you don’t get FitTV, you can still work out with Gilad. His videos are for sale at Gilad’s Bodies In Motion or on FitTv.com. Below is a list of my favorite workouts that he currently has on video. Try one or two for something different or when you don’t feel like going to the gym. He has great energy, is very motivating and is quite creative. I’m sure you will love the variety in his workouts.
- Cuts and Curves. This video is a total body workout. You will tone every muscle! It is a 60 minute video with a nice warm up and cool down. I love doing this workout every couple of weeks to shake it up. Anyone from beginner to advanced can do it because he gives many options.
- Core and More. Let’s face it, abs are in! Gilad has great abs so it makes this video even more motivating. He does a lot of ab exercises mixed with some Pilates and even some yoga moves. You will feel your abs and lower back working during this workout. I love it!
- Interval Training with Gilad. This video is like a Boot Camp class and is definitely intermediate to advanced. It is a tough workout that gets harder and harder until you are ready to cool down. If you can’t make it to Boot Camp or don’t want to pay big bucks, this is a great option.
Gilad has many other videos such as ‘Step and Tone’, ‘Beginners Weight Loss’ and ‘Toning’. He even has a ‘Kids in Motion’ video. Check him out on TV or on his website and try one of his workouts. They are well put together, safe and effective. I bet you will love them!
- Jennifer
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: I Love iTrain
Sensei Talks: Video Review – Turbo Jam
Labels: Exercise, Jennifer, Product Review
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| posted by My Sensei @ Monday, August 30, 2010 |
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| Friday, August 27, 2010 |
| Obesity: Let’s Focus on the Cure |
Something struck me as funny (odd, not ha ha) while scanning headlines in health and weight earlier this week:
“Does Driving Cause Obesity?”
“Beverages and Weight Gain: You Are What You Drink”
“Are Parents of Obese Children Guilty of Abuse?”
“Defending the Anti-Obesity Movement”
“Salon Charges Overweight Customers Extra”
The governmental focus on obesity makes it a VERY hot topic. Being so ‘hot’ everyone is looking for a way to capitalize; some with prevention, some by making strange associations, and others by taking advantage of the overweight.
I have to wonder. How, as a country, did we manage to turn such a blind eye to our national expanding girth for so long? This reminds me of high school…the popular girl (or guy) has said they are interested in something, so now the whole school is suddenly aware and interested.
In this case, the ‘popular girl’ is the First Lady, Michelle Obama. We, the citizens, are the school. As a health professional, I’m thankful to Mrs. Obama for finally opening so many eyes to what we are doing to ourselves. It’s too bad it took so long.
In the coming months and years, there will be thousands of studies conducted, links drawn and claims made about specific things that are causing or contributing to obesity. The fact is that if we look hard enough, most of what we do could probably be linked in some way or another (as cause or cure). The current lifestyle for many is a busy hectic one. A lifestyle where we are often sedentary at work, using convenience foods, eating out, not eating enough fruits, veggies and fiber and not getting enough exercise.
We all know we need to eat less, eat healthier and move more. It seems to me that even more efforts should be focused on how to help people do that rather than pointing out all the contributing factors. Instead of vilifying parents, jobs, people…lets help them figure out how to change and support them.
Just my ‘Andy Rooney’ style thoughts (or ramblings) for the morning. I’m going to focus on the ‘fix’, not the ‘fault’. How about you?
- Renee
If you like this article, you might also enjoy…
Sensei Talks: A BMI Report Card for Kids?
Sensei Talks: Social and Economic Status Linked to Childhood Obesity
Labels: Obesity, Renee
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| posted by My Sensei @ Friday, August 27, 2010 |
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