Me? Exercise?! Oh hell no..

If the idea of running like a rodent in a wheel at the gym makes you claustrophobic or bored beyond belief, you're not alone. For some people, the gym scene is not the best workout environment. Fear not anti-barbell lifters and treadmill-runners, there are plenty of alternate exercise ideas!!
For exercise throughout the day:

• The signature "park far away" deal rings true. Your kids might curse you for parking in the bowels of the parking lot, but your gut will appreciate it in the long run.
• For many it may be unrealistic, but walking to school/work/stores can often serve as an eco and body-friendly way to get from point A to point B. (weather permitting of course..)
• Inevitably, it's difficult to get active during your work/school day. Humans were soo not meant to sit hunched in a chair, squinting at a screen all day! If you have the opportunity, get up and stretch. Maybe talk a walk to a water fountain that's far away or take the stairs to the ladies room at a light jog (no one will question it..gotta go when you gotta go). This one always looks incredibly classy: do some desk push ups in your cube. Your co-workers may gawk at first, but, hey, you might inspire someone!

Gym-free exercise:

• I'm a huge fan of field hockey and tennis. They are both incredibly fun and tone your body. I urge you to check out local clubs/rec sports teams that appeal to you! Maybe you've always wanted to play soccer, but never knew how. You could join a beginner's league. Or maybe you can't play such high impact sports as field hockey; you could join a nature walking group.
• Determine if you like to exercise alone, or in a social environment. If you feel the latter describes your desires best, team sports and clubs, like the one's mentioned above are great. If you prefer solitude when you're sweating it out, try playing racquetball or swimming!

Exercise by definition doesn't require the exerciser to be bored! You can work towards fulfilling your dreams of learning jazz dance while getting an outstanding workout. Find what works for you and go for it! You don't have to always do the same thing, so experiment! Life is much to short to waste time hating what you're doing.

It's raining here :/

I hope for your sake, the weather where you are is not so..delightful. But if it is just as dreary and miserable there as it is here (or if you've ever endured such weather for that matter) you probably are familiar with the "rainy day feeling". The rainy day feeling is that restlessness that leaves you craving an afternoon of lounging with a good book or movie with a mug of cocoa and warm cookies; you know the one. Don't give me that interweb glare! Just because I know better than to give in to these desires to gorge myself with such treats, doesn't mean I can't imagine!! I don't have to imagine for long, however, because if I can manage to rouse myself from my rainy-day stupor, I can whisk together a satisfyingly sweet something. Oh, and by the way, that sweet something is guilt-free. Check out two such fabulous recipes below :-) (Since I mentioned cookies and cocoa above, I figured I'd keep with the theme)

Hot Cocoa Recipe (doesn't necessarily qualify as "healthy", but we all need to splurge!)

1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar (you can certainly reduce this significantly for fewer calories, but still that signature sweetness)
1 tablespoon water
1 1/4 cups nondairy (soy) milk (less milk and more water is another strategy to cut back the calories)

Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookies (for this and other outstanding recipes with a healthful flair, check out Jessica Seinfeld's "Deceptively Delicious")

Ingredients:

nonstick cooking spray
1 c firmly packed brown sugar
(vegans: replace margarine with vegetarian butter substitute) - 3/4 c trans fat-free soft tub margarine
(vegans: use vegetarian egg replacement) - 2 large egg whites
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 15 ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
(vegans: look for vegan dark chocolate..it's the best!) - 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
(fiber seekers: use whole wheat flour instead!) - 2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the sugar and margarine with a wooden spoon or on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the egg whites and vanilla, then the chickpeas and chocolate chips. Add the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt, and mix on low speed until a thick dough forms.
3. Drop the dough by the tablespoonful onto the baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Press gently with a fork to flatten. Bake until the cookies are golden brown and just set, 11 - 13 minutes; do not over bake. Transfer to a rack to cool.
4. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Note: Serving size calculate for 3 dozen cookies.

Number of Servings: 36

YUM! If you do test this recipe out, or if you'd like to comment on my recipe choice/suggest recipe ideas; do so below :-)

Before I get carried away...

You should know I'm a vegetarian. I never pressure anyone to become a vegetarian because the decision to become or not to become one is all your own. I do talk about the pros and cons of vegetarianism on occasion, however. I sincerely hope the fact that many of the recipes I share with you all will be vegetarian, doesn't scare you off. Try them. I guarantee you will enjoy them as much as, if not more than, their meaty counterparts.

Why am I personally a vegetarian?
Well, let's see. To keep it simple, I don't believe in today's meat industry..yes, that's what it's become: an industry. Innumerable animals are mistreated and/or poorly fed, which causes the animal, and often times the consumer, pain and suffering. Furthermore, I don't support the negative environmental impact animal rearing for the sole purpose of slaughter has. These are my personal views which you certainly do not have to share! My only goal is to enlighten readers on the facts and allow them to make the most appropriate decision for themselves.

For those readers who would rather not become vegetarians (a perfectly acceptable choice) what strategies would you recommend be utilized to reduce their environmental impact and prevent animal cruelty on farms?
What a great question! ;-) I would encourage anyone who eats meat to cut back! Reduce your meat consumption (particularly beef which tends to be the most environmentally havoc-wreaking), and you'll reduce the damage of your eating habits drastically. In my opinion, this website sums it up perfectly (and elaborates on the topic significantly): {http://www.earthsave.org/environment/foodchoices.htm}. As for choosing the meat of well-treated animals; it's very tough. Phrases such as "free-range" or "free-roaming" are often very vague. In many cases, meat labeled as such is the product of an animal who was allowed, say, an hour outside to freely range. Check this site out for elaboration on the subject: {http://www.cok.net/lit/freerange.php}. My suggestion is to research local farms that sell organic, free range, antibiotic/hormone free, grain (not corn) fed meat (I'm specifically referring to beef in this context) {http://www.ota.com/organic/foodsafety/OrganicBeef.html} is a great site to learn about what makes organic meat different!!

In conclusion, whether you're a full-fledged vegan or meat connoisseur, I urge you to check this site out for local farms. Support local farms and save the environment! {http://www.localharvest.org/}

It's all about food!

Since the beginning of human existence, there has been an insatiable desire for food. Of course, back then the issue was when the next meal would be foraged for or speared successfully (with a bow and arrow..not a fork); how long a meager ration of grain would have to support a family's concave bellies. These days, for those people lucky enough, food is so readily available that the issue isn't when we will eat (we do that all the time), but what to eat and where. Women are anxious to fit into their yellow polka dot bikinis, and guys just want a six-pack (abs, I mean..although either interpretation tends to be appropriate here). But, with all those tempting snacks, restaurants with portions of food so immense (though, somehow, so incredibly manageable), sleepless nights that leave you with only enough energy to shovel chunky monkey into your starving (for sleep!!) body, endless hours behind your desk that leave your back sore and butt smooshed flat, and that beatific flat screen with Netflix movies screaming your name; staying healthy is such a chore! Or maybe not...

As a dietitian's-daughter who grew up during a time where eating oatmeal went from being the recipe for being a mega-nerd, to the envy of the diet-obsessed town; I've seen (and tasted..trust me) just about everything. Now that this whole healthy eating thing is "cool" (have you SEEN the number of diet books at Borders lately??!!), I figured I'd spread some of the love(-handle prevention secrets). Want to know which diets are a load of..lard? Looking for a restaurant with food to die for (but not literally)? Considering a new workout regime that's not so boring you'd rather wax your eyebrows (...first thing that came to mind)? I CAN HELP! I swear it. I'm (brutally) honest and I know about some weird-ass stuff (we're talking seaweed soup that kicks gluteus bootius, tofu cheesecake that satisfies even the most maniac sweet tooth, yoga moves that will knock you unconscious and have you sleeping like a baby 'till morning, and about a million other foods, recipes, restaurants, movies, moves, websites, freaky facts etc).