It’s Hip to Be Square!

Last week’s Marvelous Monday, generated a few question about Kefir, it’s role as a probiotic and good bacteria. It got me thinking about all the things we do to to care for ourselves and how easy it is to do the ‘little things’ to take our health in our own hands. With so much good information very easily accessible to all of us, the average person, with a little research here and there, can keep themself and their family on track to increase the chances of a healthy body and life. And…(drum roll please) it’s very chic and quite hip right now to “Be Square” and be aware how we are caring for ourselves bodies. Look around and you’ll see what I am talking about…

person climbing concrete stairs — Photo by Clique Images / Unsplash

Look at how easy it is to incorporate physical fitness in our lives. You can join a gym at any budget from a cost friendly membership at Planet Fitness to the boutique fitness studio like a Soul Cycle or in such as a YMCA or for us locally, Henry Ford Genesys Health Club. If you don’t want to leave your house, you can subscribe to a fitness regime like a Les Mills, or Peloton or lastly, you can equip your own home gym with new or purchased on Facebook Marketplace. We all know the benefits of physical activity from keeping our heart healthy, helps maintain stable blood sugar in check, aids in managing weight, not to mention the exhilarating way the body feels when the feel good hormones are released. From my personal experience, the days I workout, I feel as if everything looks and feels better from my skin, to my eyes seem brighter and vigorous activity makes my body feel alive.

a man and a woman talking — Photo by Accuray / Unsplash

Of course, making your annual health assessments and appointments with routine blood work and screens being what a smart person would keep on their calendar to give them the greatest chances to catch any problems as soon as possible to increase the chances of a healthy life…

black and red cherries on white bowl — Photo by Brooke Lark / Unsplash

Lastly, and probably the most important, is how you fuel your body and we all know that “You Are What You Eat.” This is the easiest portion of the equation to stack in your favor. It takes some time and effort on your part, but once you start taking control of what you eat and how you eat, it becomes just how you function each day. When you pay attention to what you eat and how you shop, it’s easier to not buy the junk food. I know that in my own experience, I try to make purchases at the grocery story with intent. I go with a list and a plan for the week of what the menu is. On my recipes page here, I have made suggestions of a soup or stew, especially in winter months, on hand in the fridge. This is a good weekend project. Making a stew or soup on Sunday, it is your Sunday meal around the table and I double the recipe so that there is some to freeze in individual or two serving zip lock freezer bags right away, correctly labeled and dated (I just keep things in the fridge for a maximum of 3 months). I will give a couple servings to my Mom and then there is a container of the stew/soup in the fridge on hand for lunch, an encore meal or afternoon snack.

Bolognese Sauce with Pasta from my book (you probably have your own favorite recipe), served for dinner or with a snack. Freeze some right away for later meals or to share and keep some on hand in the fridge for an Encore Meal (a nicer phrase for leftovers) or snack.

I do the same with a salad too. A tuna, bean or grain salad, like a Kashi or Farro salad prepared early in the week becomes lunch at home or on the go, or a side dish at dinner with grilled lamb chops or grilled chicken.

This is the Quinoa Salad (which could also be made with Bulgur wheat or Kashi) is in my book. Here, salad is served with lamb shiskabob.

Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day. Most days I prepare smoothies with a high quality protein powder that tastes delicious. The one we use right now is Ka’Chava. It is online and now is available at Target. They have a very easy and amendable subscription, which you can save with or order individually. We like the chocolate powder mixed with filtered water, and a frozen 1/2 a banana per serving. Smoothies are also a good afternoon pick me up or snack. Making smoothies with Greek yogurt and other frozen fruits are an option too. A little less protein than a protein shake but still nutritions. Add cottage cheese to up the protein content.Other options for breakfast of course eggs. If you are looking for a little more to go with a smoothie, mix up some homemade granola, here on my website Bircher-Muesli. These are good snacks too for later in the day. Again, they are easy to make, they made a good quantity and you have food for later in the week, and the granola stays good for a while when stored in an air tight container.

Bircher-Muesli could be breakfast or a nice snack. Recipe link below on my Marvelous Monday page.

https://www.itsagreatdayto.com/bircher-muesli/

Have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand and good filtered water. I have read that you want to store water in glass bottles. I put filtered water in glass bottles and store in the fridge.

In addition, limit alcohol and sugar intake, take supplements you are deficient in, get quality/adequate sleep and you will greater your chances of good health. There are no guarantees in life, however, if we do everything on our end to make sure our body is healthy and strong and we are proactive in our health, we will be in shape to take on the fight.

It all starts with us and eating good healthy food is in OUR control. Below are some recipes from the website here and there are other good recipes in my book, like a turkey chili, bolognese, boeuf Bourguignon to name a few. Also, look at the recipes in YOUR kitchen repertoire, add them to your dinner plan for this week, make a double recipe, like mentioned above, freeze some immediately and have some on hand for an Encore Meal this week, lunch on the go or a snack. Get in to the mode of making and having good food on hand and it will be come you MO. Get all the other wheels in motion for good health, you may be hip to be square, but who knows, it may just be the beginning of many more Great Days!