Top 10 Kitchen Staples
Goodmorning! I think we would all agree being in Quarantine or even semi- Quarantine can be exhausting! Many of our husbands are home and the kids are home...which means trying to keep the house clean and everyone fed is a job in itself! For myself, maintaining healthy eating and workouts became more challenging while working, balance helping kids with online school, cooking, cleaning and having constant distraction! I also have to admit...for awhile, my wine consumption went up as I tried to decompress, de-stress and relax.
What has been keeping me sane and healthy so far is, getting enough sleep, drinking a lot of water and green tea, and maintaining daily workouts whether they are 20 min long or 45min on a good day! I do believe sleep trumps it all when it comes to staying healthy and its something I've actually had to work on in the last 12 weeks! When you get enough sleep, your body has time to repair and build muscle and you're more likely to make make healthier food choices. When I'm tired, I not only move less but I choose higher carb foods since my body craves them for energy. The best way I know how to get more sleep is to turn off my cell phone and TV at least an hour before bed. It allows me to clear my mind and to shut it down. There's a number of things I have tried that have helped....if you are having trouble sleeping, reach out to me and I will send you some ideas to try!
Along with getting enough sleep, having these 10 staples in my kitchen allows me to stay on track with healthy eating:
1. eggs- hard boiled for snack, cooked in am with spinach for high protein breakfast- can always make eggs in a mug: https://www.hungry-girl.com/recipes/the-egg-mug-classic
2. frozen shrimp- always a quick dinner thrown in tacos, over zucchini noodles or sauteed and thrown on a salad
3. plain greek yogurt- great snack on the run or at work
4. 100 calorie pack nuts- I throw a pack on my plain yogurt to stay full longer
5. chicken- grilled for the week to throw on salad or eat on its own
6. bag of fresh salad mix- worth every penny
7. Trader Joes frozen veggies and meal starters-I buy the vegetable fried rice and throw in a lean protein on top for a quick meal
8. smoothie bags- I throw frozen fruit, protein powder and Flaxseed in a baggie for a quick smoothie- just add the liquid!
9. pre made fresh turkey burgers- great for lunch or as dinner with avocado on whole grain bread- I cook 4 at a time for the week
10. Greens...kale, spinach, collard greens- I can make an appetizer out of a whole bag or whole head of collard greens- they saute down to a small portion but cooked with sauteed onions and salt and pepper- they are really tasty!
Do you have an item in your kitchen that you can't live without? An item that makes your week a little easier? If so, please share on our facebook page. The more ideas we share the more able we are to maintain our strength and health the whole year through.
I have a great week of classes planned! Here is the sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4ca9aa2ea20-spin1 Because our classes are limited in size, please cancel your spot by 7pm the night before if you are unable to attend.
P.S.- not part of our private facebook page? Please email me and I will add you to the group so you receive health tips, recipes and workouts weekly!
