January 25, 2019 at 06:55AM by CWC It’s a familiar scenario in 2019: You meet a friend for dinner, and suddenly she’s swiping left on the bread basket, ordering her steak without the cream sauce, and treating the dessert menu like it’s covered in Zika germs. (Still a thing, FYI.) But before you start searching for a new companion with whom you can split your chocolate lava cake, consider the fact that her condition could be temporary. Like tons of other people, she may just be doing Whole30—a crazy-popular nutrition challenge whereby people ditch a few food groups for 30 days to in order to improve their health and eating habits. You might say that the program, developed by sports nutritionist Melissa Hartwig, helped launch Paleo-style eating back into mainstream territory. (Like Paleo, refined sugar, grains, legumes, and dairy are just a few of Whole30’s no-go ingredients—meals revolve around veggies, fruit, and animal protein instead.) And your mom, your aunt, and your BFF aren’t the only ones on board. Stars like Busy Philipps and Emmy Rossum are also fans. So why, exactly, has Whole30 caught on like a flaming sage bundle since it launched in 2009? According to Diana Rodgers, RD, a Whole30 coach and owner of Sustainable Dish, the program is a great way to re-evaluate your eating habits if you feel like they’ve veered off course. “In our modern food landscape, where we have 24/7 access to hyperpalatable [processed] food, we’re wired to seek out as many calories as possible,” she explains. “But by focusing
Tag: Paleo
Dinner is a snap with this speedy vegetable stir-fry
January 23, 2019 at 07:23AM by CWC This January, healthy food chef and beauty guru Sophia Roe is here to help you lay the foundation for year-long healthy eating success—no dieting or juicing required. Hi beauties! We’re deep into (Re)New Year and by now, you’ve made over your pantry, created a whole new morning routine, and perfected easy homemade sauces you can use to punch up your meals. There’s one final tool I want to give you that will help keep all the amazing healthy habits you’re developing this month carry over long past President’s Day: having an amazing, easy recipe ready for those nights when you come home late and are too tired to figure out what to cook. (In other words, those moments when all your good, healthy intentions are likely to get left behind.) I think sometimes we get intimidated or scared by all the mouth-watering photos we see when scrolling through IG. Anything that looks that good must be fussy, time consuming, and therefore won’t suit our upside down, topsy-turvy lifestyles. Guess what: That’s totally untrue! Some of the healthiest and most beautiful meals can be made in under 30 minutes with all the tools you’ve been working with since beginning your new routine. A simple can of organic lentils sautéed with some shallot, lemon zest, and some garlic over a yummy piece of GF toast takes less than ten minutes to whip up. Steaming any vegetables you have in the refrigerator and topping them with
35 healthy winter dinner recipes that will hit all your comfort food cravings
January 22, 2019 at 06:58AM by CWC Real talk: The last thing anyone wants to eat when winter hits is a salad. Polar vortexes and frigid winds require big bowls of pasta, hearty soups, warm casseroles…basically anything that’s cozy and stick-to-your-ribs filling. (Sorry, salads.) Admittedly, these aren’t exactly the type of meals that have a rep for being healthy. But this is 2019—you can make anything healthy if you have the right recipes and ingredients on hand. To that end, check out these 35 healthy winter dinner recipes. They’ll hit the spot on those freezing nights, but they won’t weigh you down or leave you feeling gross later either. Talk about a win-win. Scroll down for 35 healthy winter dinner recipes to keep you satisfied until spring. Photo: Hummusapien 1. Creamy vegan broccoli cauliflower soup We’re in the middle of a cauliflower revolution, and this rich soup from blogger Hummusapien is a way to enjoy the veggie beyond your usual pizza crust or stir fry. The potatoes add to its heartiness, and also give some potassium and vitamin C. It’s also made with a full head of broccoli, which ups the amount of folate and fiber. Photo: Oh She Glows 2. Instant Pot cauliflower and butternut Thai curry Another way to make good use of all the cauliflower in your fridge is with this easy Instant Pot recipe, which brings the heat in more ways than one. The starring ingredient in Oh She Glows’ recipe is butternut squash—a glorious winter
8 Mediterranean diet benefits that explain why experts love it so much
January 21, 2019 at 08:20AM by CWC The ketogenic diet may have been the buzziest eating plan in 2018, but is it the healthiest overall? According to U.S. News and World Report, the tried-and-true Mediterranean diet rises to take the top honor. A panel of health experts examined and ranked 41 popular eating plans, concluding that the Mediterranean diet is the most universally beneficial for long-term health. Further down the list, U.S. News named the DASH diet as the second healthiest, with WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers) as fourth, vegetarian as 11th, vegan as 20th, Paleo as 33rd, and Whole30 and keto tied for 38th. What makes the Mediterranean diet so beloved by MDs and nutrition experts? Registered dietitian Lauren Slayton, RD, points to the fact that it emphasizes the consumption of foods high in omega-3s and healthy fats, like fish, olive oil, nuts, grains, legumes, fruits, and veggies. “[Olive oil] has tremendous cardiovascular benefits,” she says. Meanwhile, you’re eating a lot less red meat—although it’s still permitted on occasion. It’s generally pretty easy for people to follow, Slayton says (and allows for small amounts of red wine). The eating plan also takes into account more than just food, adds Marisa Moore, RDN. “If you look at the Mediterranean diet pyramid, what’s at the base is actually physical activity and social relationships,” she says. So movement and friendship definitely play a part, too. To quote Gilmore Girls, it’s a lifestyle. What’s not to like here? Wondering what exactly it looks like to
This Whole30 chili recipe will be your best friend on cold winter nights
January 18, 2019 at 05:21AM by CWC Photo: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Like a big bowl of mac-and-cheese or sizzling lasagna, chili is pure comfort food—especially on those nights when you fully plan on sleeping in your socks and your old college sweatshirt. The beauty of chili is that it’s virtually fool proof. You can throw almost anything you want into it that you want to use up from your fridge and it’ll still turn out pretty great. It’s also infinitely adaptable. Vegans can nix the meat in favor of lentils or more beans; Paleo eaters can If you’re vegan, use lentils for your protein. More of a Paleo eater? Go for ground turkey. And as proven in Melissa Hartwig’s latest book, The Whole30 Slow Cooker, it’s also easy to make chili Whole30-compliant. Contrary to what you may think, you don’t need beans or lentils (two foods that are persona non grata on Whole30) to make chili. And Hartwig’s take has everything you could want in a bowl of comfort food dinner: noodles (made from butternut squash), warming spices (oh hey there, cumin and chili peppers), protein (from ground beef), and even a hint of sweetness thanks to cocoa powder and cinnamon. Get out your slow cooker and try out the following Whole30 chili recipe below: Cincinnati chili butternut-noodle bowl Serves 6 Ingredients 1 yellow onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper, chopped 1 jalapeño or serrano chili pepper, seeded (if desired) and finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 can (28
11 reusable bags you won’t be embarrassed to tote around
January 14, 2019 at 09:23AM by CWC Whether it’s for stashing your sweaty gym clothes, carrying groceries, or schlepping home the countless items that seem to accumulate on your desk every week, having a trusty, cute reusable bag is basically a requirement for healthy adulting. And if that bag happens to be eco-friendly? Well, that’s even better. “In essence, choosing any reusable bag over a plastic or paper one is a win,” explains Megan Heacock, a marketing associate at Feed Projects, which donates half the proceeds from its reusable bag sales to supply meals for children. “But, in order to maximize your impact, invest in a durable one made of high-quality materials that ensure you can tote home heavy goods without worrying too much about wear and tear on your bag.” The most sustainable options are ones made from 100-percent cotton, natural fibers, or straw. Other than that, “the ideal bag is one which can be reused day after day for years to come, while still looking good, to ensure you’ll use (and reuse) it a lot more often,” says Shea Parton, CEO and brand director of Apolis. Enough said. Scroll down for 13 reusable bags that will turn your errands into your favorite part of the day. Photo: Apolis Apolis x Clare V. Market Bag, $68 This bag is made of jute fiber, “an oxygen-producing crop which is sustainably harvested by farmers in Bangladesh,” explains Apolis CEO Shea Parton. Not only is this fiber durable and environmentally friendly, but it’s also 100-percent waterproof, can
Wait, why is the Mediterranean diet cool again?
January 11, 2019 at 07:33AM by CWC You know the feeling you get when you text a new love interest for the first time and your message turns green instead of blue? Like, it’s not a deal-breaker but you feel kind of bummed and confused? That about sums up how I felt at first when I read that the Mediterranean diet was named the best diet of 2019 in US News and World Report‘s annual ranking. Really? 2013 called; it wants its food trend back. It wasn’t really clear to me why the eating plan—which advocates for a balanced approach to eating lean proteins, fruits and veggies, and grains (with small amounts of wine and cheese for good measure)—was suddenly a “thing” again. Haven’t we all collectively “been there, done that?” Well, turns out the Med diet never really went away in the first place, says Amy Shapiro, RD and founder of Real Nutrition. “New trends came out that promised fast weight loss results and felt more drastic so it got drowned out a little bit,” she says. But all the while, the Mediterranean diet stayed quietly in the background of the wellness world, doing its thing. (Kind of like a less-problematic version of the Fiji water girl at the Golden Globes.) “People are looking for something sustainable that doesn’t require too much overthinking. The Mediterranean diet is just that.” —Vanessa Rissetto, RD And Vanessa Rissetto, RD, adds that people are starting to get over trendy diets. “[People are] looking for something sustainable
5 healthified versions of your favorite childhood cereals
January 11, 2019 at 06:32AM by CWC Here’s a confession: I’m a cereal fiend. As a kid, my diet consisted of 99.5 percent Fruity Pebbles, and my love of the sugary stuff didn’t cease when I reached adulthood. If a box of cereal makes its way into my apartment, it’ll be reduced to crumbs in less than 24 hours. I avoid the cereal aisle at the grocery store altogether because I lack any semblance of self-control required to choose something other than Cocoa Puffs. While most of the cereals ’90s kids grew up eating—some with more sugar per serving than a Snicker’s bar (yikes!)—were certainly unworthy of the distinction “Most Important Meal of the Day,” some savvy food bloggers have figured out a few genius workarounds. By whipping up better-for-you takes on the classics, you’ll get the nourishment your body needs and feed your need for something magically delicious. Make these healthified versions of your beloved childhood cereals. Photo: Instagram/@keepupwithliv 1. Trix A version of Trix that’s Paleo and gluten-free sounds like a dream, but it’s reality when you use almond flour, coconut sugar, and finely-ground freeze-dried fruit and spirulina for color. Photo: Desserts with Benefits 2. Cinnamon Toast Crunch All the benefits of cinnamon without the copious amounts of sugar? Yes, please. This recipe for Cinnamon Toast Crunch is super easy and all sorts of yummy. Photo: Neurotic Mommy 3. Cocoa Puffs Try to name a kid who doesn’t love Cocoa Puffs. You can’t. This vegan version uses a mix of oats, cacao, and dates to
Holy guacamole: Chipotle just came out with Whole30, keto, and Paleo-approved bowls
January 02, 2019 at 04:00AM Trying to decide where to eat with your friends can turn into one long, endless back-and-forth—especially this time of year when everyone is newly committed to their healthy eating plan of choice. One person may be doing Whole30, while someone else won’t even touch carbs. And then there’s the person who can’t eat dairy. One chain that will always have your back? Chipotle. (Bless UP.) Starting today, Chipotle has a brand new menu of Lifestyle Bowls, which includes Whole30- , ketogenic- , and Paleo-approved options. The chain partnered with Whole30 founder Melissa Hartwig to craft the menu, and yes, they all have guac. Here’s a complete run-down of what’s inside: The Whole30 salad bowl has a base of romaine lettuce with carnitas (braised pork), fajita veggies, tomato salsa, and guacamole. The keto salad bowl has the same ingredients, except with cheese instead of the fajita veggies. And the Paleo salad bowl has romaine lettuce, barbacoa (beef), fajita veggies, green salsa, and guac. As you can tell by the ingredients run-down, each option goes heavy on the veggies and includes a good serving of protein—which is key for avoiding the hanger pains a couple hours later. The blueprint is good to keep in mind no matter where you’re eating—and what meal plan you’re following. There’s also a Double Protein bowl, which the brand says includes rice, black beans, a full serving of both chicken and steak, red salsa, romaine lettuce, and sour cream. And it’s already