random facts and ideas

store your plastic wrap in the freezer. this will avoid the annoyance of sticking to itself, making it much easier to wrap up your holiday goodies!

often times broccoli stems go to waste due to people wanting to eat only the "tree" part of the broccoli. next time, save the stems and puree them, then add to a pesto or marinara sauce. a sneaky, delicious way to get your kids, or even just yourself, to eat vegetables!i

if you are trying to watch how many carbs you are eating but still love to indulge in a bowl of pasta now and then, here is a delicious, healthy way to do so. shred some zucchini then barely saute it until it just starts to go limp. this helps you eat less pasta and more vegetables! i do half pasta, half zucchini.



author of Empowering Your Health, Asa Andrews, MD, tells us how we can get more energy first thing in the morning. i do all three and noticed a difference once starting this routine. 1. have a big glass of water. after sleeping for several hours you have lost a significant amount of fluids. "Hydrating yourself will perk you up" 2. do jumping jacks. just a few will help increase blood flow, which gives you a huge burst of energy. I jumprope for the same purpose. 3. eat up. don't skip breakfast! having the right foods in the morning kicks energy levels and metabolism into high gear. some things recommended in Womans Day magazine is plain yogurt (protein), a handful of almonds (healthy fats) and an orange (carbohydrates and vitamin C) Avocados also have healthy fats and peanut butter not only has high amounts of protein but peanut butter is proven to help kick your metabolism into high gear. A little bit on some whole grain toast will do the trick!