Good for you? Maybe not..

Think this guy is your friend?

Negative Ghost Rider. If I were you I'd stay clear of any bagel with cream cheese that happens to catch your eye. Why, you ask?
Well, something you should know about this "frenemy" is that it can be the equivalent of 5 servings of bread! This means you'll be packing on an extra 320 calories that will NOT do your body good.  Avoid, avoid, avoid.
Surprisingly, in a recent article done by Shape magazine, the Krispy Kreme donut came out the winner against your former BFF in a contest of healthier foods. Krispy Kreme = 260 calories. Both are made with white flour so no one here is suggesting that you run to the closest "Hot and Ready" window, but I do think it's important to be informed about those supposed  "healthy" choices. 
Convinced you could easily choose the healthier option? Let's try again...

Cereal with fruit?

 or

 A smoothie?
Believe it or not, the cereal wins.  Both have antioxidants and other nutrients, but with the cereal you'll also be getting those important Vitamins and Minerals that women tend to fall short on such as Iron, Calcium, and Folic Acid.  Just make sure you're choosing a cereal that has whole grains as the first ingredient and less than 9 grams of sugar.

I was surprised by a few of the results from the Shape article and will confess I DID think Chicken Fingers were healthier than Potato Skins...
The point is that it's easy to be deceived about healthy foods..so be sure to check those nutrition facts!

Here's the link from Shape magazine: http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/nutrition-101/which-is-healthier-the-best-weight-loss-foods?slide=28961

Preparation

        My husband wakes up with plenty of time to prepare breakfast, eat it and then make his lunch. I on the other hand sleep in as long as I possibly can in order to still get to work on time. Which leaves me rushing out the door with breakfast in my hand and leftovers from the night before for lunch. If I wasn't prepared the night before by simply cutting up veggies/fruit to eat with my leftovers, I was cramming veggie servings with dinner.
        If I procrastinate exercising until 9 pm, then I am "too tired" to go. If I hang out with friends and I haven't practiced saying no to sweets before hand, then I eat them! Sounds silly, but sweets are my weakness! 
      Preparation starts with the mental resolve to keep your goals. Then feeds into everything else it takes to have a healthy lifestyle. From your meal plans to your grocery list. It takes knowing how much time you actually have and finding healthy recipes that you can cook in the time you have. It takes making a schedule and fitting exercise in like you would work, or some other non-negotiable activity. (facebook?) :)
       Mostly, I am writing this because I want some ideas! Have you run into the same challenges, different challenges? What solutions have you tried that are working for you? 

PS I found a website that has lots of tips. It has exercises, running tips, nutrition tips, information about different types of diets etc. It is livestrong.com

Don't judge a smoothie by its color.

I was recently telling my brother how surprisingly good this smoothie is. He answered, "Yes, that would be a surprise." So, I don't blame you if you are skeptical. I was afraid to take a sip the first time I made it, but have loved it ever since! The green smoothie is perfect for the health challenge because there are two servings of spinach in this baby! Yes, that means only one more cup of veggies to consume for the day, AND you get to drink it.

Here is the recipe:
 2 cups of raw spinach (you need to kind of pack it in)
 1 small banana, or half of a large one
 1 1/2 Tbs of Peanut Butter
  1/4 cup of milk

I promise the banana takes the earthy flavor out of the spinach and the spinach calms the strength of the banana flavor. Perfect balance. Taste it, tweek it, enjoy it! I hope you give it a try!

(I guess I should have put mint leaves in the cup and come up with some cute background. I couldn't find my camera so I used our video camera.)

The Healthy Cafe!

"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing."

This quote is hilarious and essentially true. While it is (slightly) possible that I may feel like a fool on my deathbed, I know it won't be because I failed to live life to the fullest!  Taking control of your life, by incorporating healthy habits, is empowering! Self-discipline goes a long way so remember as you keep the challenge rules, you're also inching closer to other goals you may have once never thought possible.

At "The Healthy Cafe" you'll find tasty recipes that will punch those cravings for sugar and junk food in the face.  We'll also provide daily tips to help you stay focused and show the world that you've got what it takes. Have concerns? Don't hesitate to share them..we want to help you become the best version of yourself.  So feel free to stop in at the Cafe for a few minutes everyday...this is the place where you can feel good and "everybody knows your name.."