Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Wednesday Wellness: Soothing foods and smells for stress

I'm really bad at handling stress and am always on the lookout for new methods to try.  Most of the time I go to food for comfort, which is usually bad, but this article recommends seven soothing foods and smells that can help with stress.

Apparently, the part of the brain that processes odors is very close to the part that handles emotions and memories, so when you smell or eat foods that you like you tend to breathe more deeply, have your blood pressure lower and have your heart rate slow.

They suggest:
  • Sniffing an apple can help alleviate headaches.
  • Drinking caffeinated black, green or oolong tea can help you remain alert.
  • Breathing in lavender can lower anxiety levels.
  • Inhaling coconut can slow your heart rate, which allows you to remain alert, but feel soothed.
  • Smelling peppermint helps stop overeating.
  • Nibbling on chocolate can reduce levels of hormones associated with stress.
  • Eating carbohydrates can stimulate the release of serotonin.
I can't wait to give these a try!

What do you do to handle stress?

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Try This! Warm lemon pudding cake

I love desserts that include citrus because they taste so bright and light, but are also satisfying.  That's why I was excited to try out this Warm Lemon Pudding Cake because it sounds like such a cozy combination.  It was super easy to make and will be a wonderful springtime dessert.
  • Prepare 1 box of lemon cake mix according to the package directions (I also needed 3 eggs, water and oil).  Pour the batter into a 9x13 greased baking dish.
  • Combine 2 (3.4 oz) boxes of lemon pudding, 1/3 cup of sugar, 2 cups of cold milk and 1 1/4 cups of water.  Whisk for 2 minutes until it begins to thicken.
  • Spoon the pudding mixture over the batter as best you can.
  • Put a large baking sheet underneath the baking dish to catch any pudding that bubbles over.
  • Bake for 55 minutes at 350 degrees.  You can use a toothpick to check if the cake is done.
  • Dust with powdered sugar to finish.
The pudding on the bottom makes me feel like I'm eating cake with frosting upside down.
The denseness of the cake and pudding were lifted by the lightness of the lemon, while the warmth of the whole dessert was comforting.  I'm definitely interested in trying new flavor combinations in the future.

What dessert combinations do you enjoy?

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Wednesday Wellness: Green exercise

As the weather starts to finally become warmer and brighter for spring, I can't wait to stop being cooped up indoors.  I'm definitely one of those people who hibernates in winter.  This usually results in a grumpy attitude and a couple pounds added to my waistline, so I'm really looking forward to spending more time being active outdoors.  When I was looking up fun, new ways to spend time in nature, I came across this article, which actually proves that outdoor exercise is good for your health.

The article shares that a study from Environmental Science & Technology found that just five minutes of exercise in a green space will benefit mental health.  Green exercise simply means physical activity in the presence of nature.  It's a whole, new way to go green!

There's already been scientific evidence showing activity in natural areas decreases the risk of mental illness and improves the sense of well-being, but this study finally tells people how much time to spend.

They analyzed 1,252 people (of different ages, genders and mental health status) drawn from ten existing studies in the United Kingdom for the results.  They investigated activities like walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming.

Those of you in cities can still get in on this because they found that parks in urban settings still did the trick.  They also found that a blue and green environment were especially beneficial, so areas with water are even better.

This is a totally do-able way to get your daily dose of healthy.  Even just walking to the mailbox to check for mail, fulfills your five minutes outdoors.

How are you going to spend your time outdoors?

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Try This! Cake mix cookie bars

It's been a very busy and stressful time at my job for the past couple weeks as we prepare for a big event this weekend.  I wanted to give all of the people who have been working so hard a little morale boost for this final week.  I couldn't decide whether to make cookies or cupcakes, but when I found this recipe for Cake Mix Cookie Bars, I knew I had the answer.  They were quick and easy to whip together after work.
  • Combine 1 box of cake mix, 1 (1 oz) package of fat free sugar free vanilla pudding, 1/4 cup of water, 3/4 cup of vegetable oil, 2 eggs and 1 cup of chocolate chips.
  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  • Pour the batter into a greased 9x13 baking dish.  Bake for 20 minutes.  I used a toothpick to check that it was cooked through.
The edges were more chewy, while the chocolate chips were more concentrated in the middle.  No matter what piece you had they each were delicious and different.
These were light like a cake, but had the flavor of a chocolate chip cookie.  They were even better if you microwaved them for a few seconds before eating, so the chocolate would melt.  It's been cold and rainy today, so I'm sure they were a cozy treat for everyone working.
What treats does your workplace enjoy?

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Wednesday Wellness: Sleepytime tea

I never grew out of the childhood phase of worrying that you'll miss something if you go to sleep.  This makes being a functioning adult difficult when you're not getting the recommended hours of sleep.  Rather than rely on expensive sleep aid pills, I decided to try a more natural approach first and test out Sleepytime Herbal Tea.
That bear is definitely out for the night.  Apparently they need to include a warning to extinguish fires before drinking tea

The aroma of the tea is very calming, particularly the spearmint, but I also wanted to investigate the benefits of some of the ingredients. 

Chamomile
A study reported in the January 2006 issue of the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" indicated that the therapeutic benefits of drinking chamomile tea included relaxed muscles and a boost to the immune system. The same study reports that chamomile tea acts as a sedative and helps fight infections associated with the common cold.

Spearmint
In addition to having a soothing smell, it also helps sooth internally.  Spearmint is often used for gastrointestinal problems, asthma relief and cold and flu aid.

Tilia Flowers
These are also called linden, brasswood and lime.  These flowers are used for many medicinal purposes, and also has sedative properties and helps to induce relaxation. 

Hawthorn
This ingredient is useful for cardiovascular health by treating chest tightness and heart palpitations.  This also makes hawthorn effective for treating anxiety by lowering blood pressure and tension.

I've drank this tea for a few nights and it's actually helped me fall asleep.  It's good to know that it's not just in my imagination and that these herbs are beneficial.

How do you calm down for bed?

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Try This! Healthified chicken tortilla casserole

Exercise is half the battle to living a healthier life, so I've also been trying to be more mindful of what I'm eating lately.  In my opinion, diets are a waste of time because they aren't sustainable or enjoyable.  Instead, I think it's important to control your portions, use healthy alternatives and have a balanced diet that includes the different food groups.

Mexican food is one of my favorites, but with cheese, tortillas and sour cream being the main ingredients, it's not the healthiest of options.  I couldn't wait to try this Healthified Chicken Tortilla Casserole because I loved that with a few alterations I can have a flavorful meal, but still stay on track.
  • In a large bowl, mix 1 can (10 3/4 oz) 98% fat free 45% less sodium condensed cream of chicken soup, 1 can (4.5 oz) chopped green chiles, 1 container (8 oz) fat-free, sour cream, 1/2 cup of skim milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons of chili powder and 1/2 teaspoon cumin until blended. Stir in 2 1/2 cups of shredded, cooked chicken breast, 8 tortillas (6 inch), torn into bite-size pieces and 1 medium red bell pepper. Stir in 15 halved grape tomatoes and 1 cup of grated, reduced-fat cheddar cheese.
  • Heat the oven to 350°F.  Spray a 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.  Spoon and spread the mixture in the baking dish.  Cover it with foil.  Bake for 40 minutes.
  • Uncover and sprinkle 1/2 cup of grated, reduced-fat cheddar cheese on top. Bake uncovered 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the mixture is bubbly.  Let it cool for 5 minutes.
My favorite parts were the crisped edges.
This smelled phenomenal while it was baking and the flavors definitely lived up my nose's expectations.  The chiles and spices boldly filled your mouth and blended well with the creaminess of the dish.  The tortillas, chicken and melted cheese made it substantial and filling.  This was a huge hit with my family and was even suggested as a regular, weekly meal.

How do you healthify your favorite meals?

Saturday, March 9, 2013

CT Wine Trail: Haight-Brown Vineyard

In September, I visited Haight-Brown Vineyards in Litchfield and absolutely loved it, so when I saw a Groupon that offered another wine tasting with a cheese of the day and a cellar tour, I immediately snatched it up.

I brought my dad with me this time and we had a wonderful day.  We got there just in time for the cellar tour.  Honestly, I was really disappointed by the tour.  I imagined big wooden barrels stacked everywhere, but maybe The Parent Trap from 1998 just gave me unrealistic expectations.  It's a small winery, so everything was just in the basement and in large metal containers.  I didn't even take pictures because it just looked like a cluttered basement.  Some interesting information that we did learn was that they have their own corking and labeling machines, which shows just how small of an operation it is.

There were two dessert wines and a liqueur that were added to our tasting this time.  They're all apple based, which is why they weren't available yet when we went in September.  The first one was Honey Nut Apple, which tasted exactly like apple pie!  Next, was AppleCrannie that was also sweet, but a little more dry.  I bought bottles of both.  The last was the liqueur.  It was extremely strong and I was almost knocked out of my chair from just taking a sip.

Afterwards we stopped at the same restaurant, @ The Corner, and I got the clam chowder bread bowl.  In case you missed my declaration of love last time...  It is the best chowder that I have ever had.  There were large pieces of clam and potato nestled in a thick, creamy broth that warmed and filled you with each bite.  I'm a bit of a chowder connoisseur, so I don't say any of this lightly.  The bread bowl was fresh with a crisp crust and soft center.

It was a beautiful afternoon with great wine and food.

What did you do this weekend?

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Wednesday Wellness: Tone your arms

I needed some weight routines to accompany my cardio workout and decided to focus on my troublesome arms first.  Pinterest is a fantastic tool for finding different fitness ideas and I've been loving this plan that I found to tone your arms.  My arms aren't even close to being toned after seven days, but I do feel them getting stronger.  Hopefully, in seven weeks I'll be able to fiercely stare down my biceps like this fitness model though.
They're uncomplicated, diverse moves that aren't time-consuming, so get yourself some free-weights and give them a try!

What exercises do you use for your arms?

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Try This! Skinny cupcakes

It's actually fairly easy for me to adjust to eating healthier and smaller meals, but I have a serious addiction to sweets.  My cravings build throughout the day, so when I'm watching TV in the evenings I usually succumb to snacking.  I've tried the 100 calorie snack packs, but they always feel insufficient.  Imagine my relief when I discovered these Skinny Cupcakes that are only 110 calories each!  Now I can get my sugar fix and feel satisfied without the guilt.
  • In a large bowl, combine 1 package of cake mix (just the powder) and 1 can (12 oz) of Sprite Zero until the batter is smooth.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line the cupcake tins with paper liners.  Then, pour approximately 1/4 cup of batter into every cupcake wrapper.  Bake for 20 minutes and let cool before frosting.
  • Mix 1 (8 oz) container of Fat Free Cool Whip and 1 (1 oz) package of fat free vanilla pudding.  Mix with a whisk by hand or an electric hand mixer until smooth.  Spread over cooled cupcakes.
Who knew skinny and cupcake could be in the same sentence!
These definitely hit the spot and tasted almost like regular cupcakes.  The cake part was actually better than usual because it was extra dense and moist.  The frosting still did the trick, but I'm going to keep experimenting so it's the same level as the cake.

What skinny desserts do you enjoy?