Veggie Bee

The playoffs are over and now we know who is going to the Super Bowl. Give me a WHO DAT!! Our big question now is what are we serving at the Super Bowl party?! Finger foods and appetizers are inevitable, but making sure they’re effective for losing or maintaining weight is something that has to be planned. Whether the party is at your house or you’ll be watching at someone else’s house, be sure to take a healthy appetizer that you can share with the group. And always follow the standard strategy of eating something filling and healthy before the party starts, like a protein shake or a healthy soup.

Dips and salsas are great as appetizers, but processed chips and crackers are loaded with calories that can add up very quickly. Fill up on high-volume, low-calorie veggies and be sure you’re dipping into your favorite low-cal dip. Try a Mango Black Bean Salsa or make your own hummus for healthy snacking.

Here are some "chip" ideas to use for dipping:

• Jicama
• Bell Pepper
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Carrots (try slicing them as chips)
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Potatoes (baked or microwaved as chips)
• Zucchini
• Yellow squash
• Asparagus
• Snow peas
• Cherry tomatoes
• Radishes

Who will you be cheering for in the Super Bowl?? And what’s your favorite healthy dip & “chip” combo??

I’m sorry to be a little late in my new year wishes, I’ve just been moseying into the new year rather than hitting it head on, peeking around the corner to make sure it’s January. So now I’ve decided to come out of hiding, clear away the cobwebs, and get the year going full steam ahead. My first move, implementing "new month" resolutions, rather than the grand New Year’s resolutions that gets everyone fired up ever so briefly only to die a lonely death sometime in February. Maybe month by month we can stay on track together.

So, to get the party started, a complete list of January’s resolutions!

• Writing ~ my goal is to get more consistent with posting to the blog, which clearly is off to a lumbering start! I do have lots of great ideas and now it’s just a matter of putting "pen to paper" or more accurately, fingers to keys! I plan to post 2 or 3 times a week and will include some food pictures and recipes as well.
• Food ~ I am definitely continuing on my vegan journey. Although I know that not everyone will go vegan along with me, I am definitely using it as a way to inspire you to be more conscious of what you eat and how it affects you and the world around you. No matter what else you’re eating, the more fruits and veggies you learn to eat, the better you will feel, especially if they’re local and organic. I say "learn” to eat intentionally, because "knowing" is not "doing" and part of the learning process is developing new skills around incorporating them into your diet.
• Fitness ~ I struggled with this a little bit because initially I was going to make it a goal to join a running club to train for a marathon. However, I think I have some other fitness goals I want to reach first. One of those is finding a plan to follow for strength training. I am a cardio junkie and right now I will focus on developing strength. I’m starting the P90X plan next week and David and I are planning to do it together first thing in the morning. By first thing, I mean 5:30 a.m. Anyone who knows me, knows this will require divine intervention and daily miracles, but it can be done!
• Health ~ Although I am healthy and have no underlying health issues, I regularly have my blood work checked just to make sure that there is nothing out of the ordinary. Since I know my weight is within a healthy range, I’m looking especially for healthy numbers in cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose and blood pressure. The new year is a good time to do a reality check on your weight and to have your blood work checked out by your doctor.

So, there you have it, I’m focused on January and I’ll revisit my "resolutions" in February and revise as needed. I’ll also be reviewing some recipe books soon, I promise!

What are your resolutions this year or this month??  Anyone doing a "reality" check on weight or blood work??