An Enjoyable – Guilt Free Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is all about abundance or more often, overabundance. But, it doesn't have to and shouldn't have to be that way.  The Thanksgiving holiday is the start of the "seasonal seven," the average amount of weight usually gained during the holiday season. To many, the addition of the holidays to the mix of our daily lives can be overwhelming. Stop, take a breath, and evaluate your priorities during this time of year. 

Here are some planning tips that hopefully can help you stay fit and healthy during your Thanksgiving weekend. Focus on the small tweaks that can have a big pay off. 

 Get up a little earlier - Yeah, it's a day off, but doing things in the early morning doesn't lead to excuses the rest of the day.  Take a walk - you'll feel better

 Drink Water - Many times when we are really thirsty, we reach for food. By keeping hydrated, you will eat less and it will give the stomach that full feeling. 

 Eat less, but more often - It's about portion control throughout the day. This keeps the metabolism burning. When Thanksgiving dinner comes around, you won't gorge on everything in sight. 

 Pace yourself - Thanksgiving dinner is not a contest on who can eat the most the fastest. Take your time eating. This is a time for more family interaction. Put the fork down every so often and enjoy the time together. 

 Remove some fat - Yeah, I know the cooked turkey skin taste great, but remove the skin from your turkey portion. 

 Play some games - Set time aside after your Thanksgiving meal for fun. Don't take the usual post-meal nap. Take a walk after your meal - fight the urge to take a nap. 

 Limit the sweets and pies - Use portion control and don't put yourself over the edge.  Eat to feel full, not engorged!

We spend a great deal of time planning and stressing over the Thanksgiving meal. This year, plan ahead and make your Thanksgiving a Healthy, Happy one. 

We are grateful for each other, our families and you - for having an interest in us. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!! - Roger and Lisa Booth of Good Living Products.

Asian ColeSlaw

I am always trying to find and easy and healthy dish to make and I came across this one that I would like to share with you.

Asian ColeSlaw

It is obviously made with cabbage which is full of nutrients including vitamin C and indoles, important cancer-fighting compounds. In addition, red cabbage also contains anthocyanins, the purple pigment with strong antioxidant activity commonly found in blueberries. In the winter months, cabbage is an abundant nutritional resource when other fresh produce is either expensive or unavailable. This recipe calls for a lot of salt, but it is used in this dish to soften the cabbage. Then it is thoroughly rinsed off so the recipe doesn't provide too much sodium. This coleslaw is colorful and makes a delightful accompaniment to any meat, fish or vegetarian main dish.

Ingredients:

1 medium head green cabbage
1 medium head red cabbage
3 tablespoons sea salt
3 large carrots
1/4 cup minced scallions
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Dressing:
2/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons dark-roasted sesame oil

Instructions:
1. Discard the outer leaves of cabbages. Cut heads in quarters; remove and discard cores. Slice cabbage thinly or shred in a food processor. Layer the cabbage in a large bowl with the sea salt. Toss to distribute salt evenly and let cabbage sit for 1 hour to soften.
2. Meanwhile, peel the carrots and grate them into thin shreds.
3. Drain off any liquid produced by the cabbage and rinse the cabbage well in several changes of cold water to remove excess salt. Taste the cabbage; if it is still too salty, rinse it again.
4. Add carrots to the cabbage and mix well.
5. Whisk the rice vinegar, brown sugar and sesame oil together in a small bowl.
6. Pour the dressing over the cabbage and mix well. Let chill. Garnish with minced scallions and toasted sesame seeds before serving.

Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
126.8 calories
3.7 g total fat (0.5 g sat)
0.0 mg cholesterol
23.7 g carbohydrate
3.6 g protein
5.7 g fiber

Check out our site for  healthy products to supplement your healthy diet www.goodlivingproducts.com  Thanks - Lisa Booth

Some Tips On How I Create My Good Health

I try to get enough vitamins in my diet which I believe is key when it comes to staying healthy. I eat enough healthy grains, fruits and veggies, and lean protein to get all the vitamins, but sometimes everyday living doesn't make it too easy to do! Working long days and starting an online business at home takes up alot of my time, which makes planning and cooking a well balanced meal hard to do. Besides the fact that we sell them, supplements are a good way to boost your vitamin and mineral intake.

Here's a list of some of the supplements that I take on a regular basis.  I have invested in a good, complete multivitamin for women. Multivitamins usually have most of the basics but I also include  vitamin A, vitamin C ( I take chewables when they are available because I have a hard time with swallowing tablets), viatmin D, and vitamin B. You can often find these vitamins with the appropriate doses available for different age groups. An additional calcium supplement, especially for women, can support healthy bone structure. I also take a vitamin E supplement to help support my healthy heart.

I hope you liked learning little about how I try my best to stay healthy.  Stayed tuned for more tips later.  Thanks for reading - Lisa Booth of Good Living Products.