Health Clicks: Reader's Favorite Health Tips and Strategies

Here are some popular posts from The Health-Minded you may have missed this year.  I cover a variety of topics here at The Health-Minded that can help you create a healthy lifestyle for yourself and your family. There are so many ways to go about it and these posts reflect that assortment. The topics range from how to create a home gym with no space or much cash to when to treat a fever and even how to take your coffee.  I sure had a lot of fun putting them together for you, and I look forward to creating lots more in 2015 and, of course, hearing about how you stay health-minded, too!

Did You Catch This?

Please, click on the links, take a peek and, as always, let me know what you think!

1.  Just another example of how green can do so much darn good! 

2.  Low funds and little space, but want to get in shape? Here's how to fix that!

3.  Expand your choices of adding a touch of sweet and drizzle this over your dish or try this one here to reap loads of health benefits.

4.  This gland has a lot to do with a whole lot in your body. Best take care of it.

5.  Get the softest skin ever with hardly spending a dollar!

6.  Sleep like a baby tonight with a routine like this one.

7.  Warm up this winter with a technique that gets rid of the gunk as well.

8.  What's on your spice shelf? Here's some of what is on mine and why.

9.  Sometimes, your body knows best.

10.  Here is what to season your food with most of the time.

11.  Next time you change your sheets, you may want to change this, too!

12.  Some like it iced, some like it black, but science is showing us a morning cup can be a healthy start.

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5 Last-Minute (But Thoughtful) Gifts That You Can Get Anywhere

Need a gift for someone with no time in the schedule to go about finding it?  Ah, yes, I have been there, too! With hectic work schedules, family demands, and holiday functions, these things can slip our mind or at least go to the bottom of the "to do" list.

Allow me to save you the sweat, the guilt and the embarrassment of looking and feeling a bit thoughtless.  I offer five solutions to your potential problem. Five last-minute, thoughtful and health-minded gift ideas that you can get anywhere.  In fact, these are all from Walmart, which is everywhere (in the US anyway, except, ironically enough, not in my area, until very recently). For readers outside the US, these gift ideas could be found at many superstore type of retailers as well.

Keep this post handy, because if your schedule is tight and you are racking your brain for ideas, save yourself and make a quick trip for a thoughtful gift for a health-minded one  . . . just like you!

Five Quick, Thoughtful Gifts For The Health-Minded

Consider one of these gift ideas if you find yourself in the eleventh hour empty-handed:

1. Delight with a trendy but healthy dinner idea.  Place the spiral slicer in the center of the four stacked colorful bowls and tie (like a cross) with a hefty thick ribbon.  These could work:

• Rachael Ray Dinnerware Rise 4-Piece Stoneware Soup and Pasta Bowl Set ($20)
• Spiral Slicer ($27)

Why it is a health choice: For those wanting a lower-calorie, lower carb, higher vitamin profile for their pasta meals, zucchini noodles may be a good choice.



2.  Go zen.  This bonsai tree is a nice idea for those who love nature and are on the nurturing side. How about this one? Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree ($25).

Why it is a healthy choice: Digging in the dirt and giving some love to plants is good for your health!



3.  Promote outdoor time.  For outdoor enthusiasts or those with a family, badminton is a game anyone can play but do keep the bugs away from ruining the fun. Try these tools to get the shuttlecock flying, bug-free:

• Viatek BUGBANDS10 Bug Repellant Bands, 10 pk ($20)
• Beginner Badminton Volleyball Set ($18)

Why it is a healthy choice: Everyone knows outdoor time with others and moving your body is oh-so-healthy!


4.  Open the lid to yummy eats. Pop in a favorite healthy stew or soup recipe under the lid that your friend or family member can make with this: Tramontina 6.5 Qt Enameled Round Cast Iron Dutch Oven ($40)

Why it is a healthy choice: Cast iron is a much better choice to cook in than teflon coated pans and it lasts forever!


5.  Encourage relaxation:  Give the gift of stress relief with a bottle of mineral bath salts along with a dry brush for the softest skin ever. Try these:

• Natural body brush ($20)
• Mineral bath salts - ($4)

Why this is a healthy choice: Dry brushing is a chemical-free and easy way to rev up the circulation while exfoliating yourself to much softer skin.  (Here's the right dry brushing technique.) Using mineral salts along with a few other steps is a great way to turn that bath into a detox bath.

Need a bit more?

• Staying with some friends for the weekend? Here are some hostess gift ideas she or he may like.  

• Try filling those Christmas stockings with some healthy, holiday cheer!

Make sure you don't miss a healthy thing!

• Join in on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, too! Just click on the "connect box" in the upper right hand corner to link in there, too.

• And, it would be a shame if you missed a health promoting post! Don't forget to enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, "Follow by email." 

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Is Concierge Medicine For You and How to Find It

Familiar with the term concierge medicine? I wasn't until two of our regular family doctors transformed their practices using the approach. We were forced into learning about it quickly and assess whether this type of practice could work for our family. Here is what I found out about how this approach to medicine works.

A small but growing number of doctors are making the switch to a practice incorporating the concierge method of practicing medicine in the hopes of offering more-personalized patient care. Patients may look to concierge care because they seek a doctor who is more available and will actively manage a serious illness or serve as an advocate within the system. Some consider the convenience of it a huge plus and need help with prevention and wellness that many practices build into their practices.

Others say it is a solution to the concerns regarding the Affordable Care Act pulling more patients into the health care system resulting in more-crowded waiting rooms and longer waits to get an appointment to see a doctor. But, whatever the reason, it is something that is gaining traction in the United States. Let's take a closer look and see if it may be something for you to consider.

CONCIERGE MEDICINE: BENEFITS AND COSTS

Concierge medicine is probably how all medicine should be practiced in a perfect world if there were enough talented health practitioners and other medical resources to go around.  Doctors creating practices using the concierge outline see fewer patients. Seeing fewer patients allows these benefits:

• Much more time spent with the patient at the appointment
• An especially thorough yearly exam
• Access to your doctor 24 hours a day and same day appointments
• Better patient/doctor ratio which equates to earlier appointment scheduling and less time in the waiting room
• More individualized care 
• Wellness programs and classes for free that emphasize prevention
• More job satisfaction for the doctor as he or she is able to give the time needed to get the patient better

It all sounds great, doesn't it? But, it comes with a price - a hefty one at that.  But, I bet you knew that was coming. Depending on where you live, a typical yearly (usually) out-of-pocket membership could begin at $1,500 for an individual to $3,000 for a couple. But, some of those membership fees could include some services that you may have paid for anyway.

Some call the concierge model "elitist" with those only "in the club" and able to pay the fee are allowed to be seen, but many doctors find they practice medicine more effectively. It also may attract more talented individuals to the field of medicine giving more job satisfaction. In addition, many doctors do keep space for lower income patients in their practices that they will see as well without the fee.

HOW CONCIERGE MEDICINE CAN ENHANCE YOUR LIFE

Those health benefits from seeing a doctor in a concierge practice also can benefit your life in other ways, too.  Joining a practice using concierge medicine could enhance your life in these ways:

• Less time waiting at the doctor means less time away from your job or family or whatever else you want to be doing.

• You may solve your health complaint a lot faster and a lot easier as the doctor has more time to spend to fit the puzzle pieces of your symptoms together.

• You may be alerted to a small health issue before it becomes a bigger health issue because a thorough yearly exam is included in the fee.

• You get an answer to your health complaint earlier because the doctor may be able to schedule diagnostic tests faster and easier.

• It could be life saving as you have access to your doctor 24 hours a day, which could greatly assist in an emergency issue.

• You have the comfort of dealing with one person and establishing a deeper rapport and relationship with your medical team.

HOW TO FIND THE BEST POTENTIAL CONCIERGE MEDICAL PRACTICE FOR YOU

If you are interested in finding and comparing various concierge practices in your area, this tool may help or this one as well.  Then, when you have a few names you are interested in investigating and can possibly afford, you should interview the practice before agreeing to any fees. After all, your health (and those who monitor and treat it) is one of the biggest investments you can make!

Dig deeper.  Here are some questions to ask the potential practice:

• What is the ratio of doctor to patient?
• How does that ratio equate to how long a wait time to get an appointment and for waiting room time?
• Are you able to schedule required testing sooner?
• What is the average length of an appointment?
• Do you offer free classes or wellness programs?
• What services are included in your fees?
• What other doctors do you refer to regularly and can you schedule an appointment with him or her sooner if needed?
• Do you have digital record keeping for easier sharing of information among the medical team?
• Does the group specialize in any form of medicine?
• What hospital affiliations do your team members have?
• What are the costs?
• How do you handle billing and insurance?
• If your practice is not a good fit, what kind of fee reimbursement do you offer?
• Why should I come to your practice and not another one?
• Are there any other benefits you can tell me about?

Click over here. Check out a post I wrote regarding tips to finding the right health care provider over here that can apply to any doctor (concierge or not).  It is a big decision that deserves attention.  

Swing by the office.  Before you sign the dotted line, visit the office to see whether you like the practice and those that work there.

Check your insurance.  Your health policy may cover procedures that the concierge contract does not such as laboratory tests and diagnostic screenings.

Compare with others.  Create a chart with the various attributes, costs and services you are seeking to easily compare the practices.


We ultimately did not join the concierge practices, but it is something I will revisit periodically in the future and will be sure to investigate the plans thoroughly to get the right fit.  But, I would love to hear - has anyone used this type of doctor before? If so, what has been your experience? If not, what do you think of this new movement in the practice of medicine? Are you for it or against the idea?

FOR MORE ON THE TOPIC . . . 

• Meet this medical doctor that is a big believer in prevention and wellness. 

• Sit back and watch these individuals spread inspiration and hope in the field of medicine and wellness. 

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No Gym? No Problem! Create Your Own With Little Money or Space

Over the weekend it occurred to me that the "gym" that I belong to does not take up much real estate or put much of a dent in my wallet. No, it does not. No monthly fees or elaborate rooms with all mirrors and state-of-the-art treadmills and exercise machines.  Rather, I'd say, my gym is small, rather modest (but gets the job done) and low key.  In fact, so small, it just about fits in a mid-size box . . . under my sofa. Really! Come take a look!

Why I Don't Belong to a Gym

I am in the midst of restarting my regular exercise program and spoke about how important it is to fit in a regular fitness routine and why I am trying to get back on track with it, but it does not mean I spend a lot of time at a gym or driving to one either. Although gym memberships can offer great incentive and be an effective tool for many, here is why, at this time, I do not belong to a gym:

• Gym memberships in my area are expensive.  
• It takes gas and more time to drive to it and back.
• You have to wait to use equipment adding to the time to exercise.
• Sometimes the vibe can be sort of "meat marketish."

My Home Gym and What's In It

I am not an exercise fanatic by any means, but I try to move in some fashion most days of the week.  I prefer to get exercise doing an activity (discussed here), but when I do not have time for that, my goal is to keep to a fitness routine that is generally short (so that I can get on with the other parts of my day) but more intense (so that I get the health benefits of exercise).

Here are the inexpensive tools I keep in that "gym" under the sofa to do just that and why. I simply choose a routine (I try to switch it up) and usually complete it in 30 minutes or so.

1.  Choose your weight.  

I have various weights for the various type of exercises I may be doing. Dumbbells allow you to do upper-body exercises as well as adding to lower body challenges like lunges or squats.

2.  Swing your way to a great workout. 

A kettlebell can serve as another dumbbell for strength training and used for a kettlebell exercise program (many of which you may find on-line). They offer a high-intensity, interval training cardio workout.


3.  Hop along.

Jumping rope can offer a quick, intense cardio and lower body workout. I wrote more about it here as well as what kind of ropes to buy too.


4.  Open your laptop.

You can access all kinds of workouts ready to follow on YouTube. I like these quick barre3 videos a lot.

5.  Pop in a CD:

Exercise CDs offer lots of variety of every workout imaginable. They are inexpensive and can be used over and over.  I talked about one I have used a lot here.

6.  Gentle jumping. 

Yes, a rebounder does not technically sit under my sofa but it could as there are foldable varieties.  Rebounding is a great tool to strengthen the lymphatic circulatory system and can be a gentle workout on the joints as well.

7.  Strike a pose. 

A yoga mat offers a bit of cushion to that downward facing dog, cobra, or triangle pose. Choose a PVC-free one though like one of these as many are made with toxic chemicals.

8.  Just me.  

Planks offer a great abdominal exercise and require zero machines or tools.  The same goes for push-ups, jumping jacks, burpees and more!

9.  Take man's best friend.

Walking my Giant Schnauzer offers time outdoors in the fresh air and can be a great time to catch up with friends and family if you get them to come along too.


I like the fact that a lot of what I need to get in better health and feel and move a bit better too is all under the sofa, (with not too much time sitting on it).

So that is what is presently in my gym box at home.  What's in yours?  Any suggestions of anything else I should include? Tell me, how do you keep fit?

Need More?

• If you are looking for a nice way to refresh after your workout, try one of these.

• Here is one of my favorite spots to exercise. What about you?  

weights photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericmcgregor/346990046/">ericmcgregor</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

treadmill: photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/militaryhealth/8652397443/">MilitaryHealth</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

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Why I Hate Exercise

I am a health blogger, and I hate the word exercise.  I could be shunned and promptly escorted out the door of the healthy health bloggers' club for admitting such a thing. Perhaps you could deem me a fraud and I would understand.  Regular movement is a rather important part of this whole health bit, after all.  And, besides, how can I write asking you to try this strategy and this tool to improve your health and that of people you care about after such a proclamation?

But, allow me to back up a bit.  I said I hate the WORD exercise. It just feels like work, that word. And, frankly, I can get a bit bored with that word, too. I would much prefer to move my body and get my heart pumping in natural ways where my mind is occupied as well.  Occupied perhaps on the beauty of nature,  a great conversation or an athletic skill I am working on. Not, climbing a fake stair machine, bicycling in place or running while staring at a wall.

But despite hating the word exercise, I know I still have to do it.  Our bodies (and minds) require it. And, really, that includes yours, too!

How to Hit Restart in Your Exercise Routine

I do enjoy exercising so much more through an activity like hiking, skiing or kayaking for example, however, most days I don't have the luxury of being able to set that much time in my day to devote to that.  So, I do have to work in an exercise routine that can be fit into a busy week to stay fit.

Because I have gotten off track these last few months with sticking to that type of exercise routine, I have gathered some tips.   Here are a few ways I have found help me in the past when I got away from a routine and that others use to help them stay on top of their exercise game that I plan to borrow as well:


Don’t stop.  The easiest way to keep any good habit going is not to break it.  Although, sometimes that can't be helped.  I had a foot injury that started this whole "stopping the exercise routine" and I just have not gotten back into it as much as I should.  Try your best though to avoid long breaks in exercising as rebuilding the habit is more painful and takes more effort. I know!

Go steady and start easy.  Keep to it but don't start a program too intensely or you will be too sore to move or hate it so much, you will find an excuse to not keep to it.


Schedule it.  I think this really helps me.  If it is on my schedule or on my to do list, I love crossing it off! If I do it earlier in the day, I don't have the phone ringing to interrupt me, either. That whole 21 days to make a habit could be a myth though so just schedule it and keep scheduling it.

Don't let perfectionism get the best of you.  You will have good days and bad.  Don't let one less than stellar workout ruin your efforts.  Just keep going and you will have better days, too.

Play music to make the time pass.  Music is a great tool for elevating the intensity and enjoyment of your workout. Here are some playlists to help with that tip.

Let your outfit lead the way.  If I lay out my workout clothes the night before, I just slip them on first thing in the morning and get the exercise routine going early in the day.

Find a buddy.  When I walk my dog with my husband or neighbor in our hilly neighborhood, the time flies.  Also, taking a class with a friend or having a gym buddy can keep you motivated (or at least too embarrassed to back out).

Change it up.  Try to vary your types of workouts to keep the boredom at bay and give your body a break. Yoga mixed in with a run or a swim or kettlebells with some long walks and a pilates class, etc.

So, how do you stick to an exercise routine that you can fit in your schedule easily? Help me keep to mine and let me hear how you do it.

Need a bit more?

• If you are looking for a bit of an energy boost before a workout, this would do well.

• Here is one of my favorite ways to spend time with my kids connecting with nature and exercising without even knowing it.

Make sure you don't miss a healthy thing!

• Join in on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, too! Just click on the "connect box" in the upper right hand corner to link in there, too.

• And, it would be a shame if you missed a health promoting post! Don't forget to enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, "Follow by email." 

yoga photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/83905817@N08/7676579466/">RelaxingMusic</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>yoga

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Easy, Free Ways to Bring More Music Into Your Life

I wrote about the numerous ways music can play a role in benefiting our health over here.  Besides clocking those hours at the gym and creating nutritious meals, studies are showing us how simply listening to beautiful sounds can improve so many aspects of our health, too!

Many have music storage devices filled to the maximum with their favorite tunes, while others need to expand their repertoire a bit or just don't have the time to create playlists or the money to download them.  

Playlists for Almost Every Mood

So, if your cell phone isn't jammed with latest musical trends, but, incorporating more music in your life is something you are more interested in doing after you have learned how many ways music can benefit you, here is a nudge.  Below are a few ways to do just that.  First, a few suggested playlists you may enjoy based on whatever you may be doing or what kind mood you find yourself in:


A playlist to deflect a bad mood:  It's pretty much impossible to be in a lousy mood and listen to this at the same time! Some real toe-tapping. mood elevating oldies here!


A playlist for a fun night ahead:  This one could do the trick and is pretty fun, too!


A playlist to get the job done:  Ah, the not-so-fun: final exams. They are coming up for many right before winter break! So, these are for you, my dear daughters, who will be hitting the books extra hard soon! I hope this or maybe this can make it a bit more bearable!  

Or, perhaps you may prefer background noise to help you concentrate and get your work done. This cracked me up but I must say, it is really authentic!


A playlist for that special dinner:  You can certainly find a playlist here for whatever that special dinner could be - asking for a raise dinner with the boss to the romantic Valentine's dinner with your sweetie.


A playlist to workout with:  Exercising by music can really intensify your efforts to getting and staying fit.  Here are a few to choose from depending on what kind of tunes help you run a bit longer, lift a little heavier, or take on that challenging extra pose or two.


A playlist for the season:  Perhpas write a few holiday cards or wrap a gift or two while listening to some holiday cheer.  For those who celebrate the holiday, did you know, it's only five weeks until Christmas?


A playlist to heal the soul:  If you need to have yourself a good cry or want to ponder on the tougher sides of life, I guess you could go here.


A playlist for doing stuff:  Here is a general playlist that is mostly alternative that I have been enjoying lately doing just about anything - puttering about at home, driving, blogging, cooking. Or something more in the classical realm like this or this I enjoy as well.

Free Ways to Listen to Music On-Line

You may have great musical selections already on your phone, iPod or even old records, but if you just want to switch it up like I do, here are some places that I check out rather often to get access to great music based on my mood or the occasion:

1. Spotify has over a million songs to please you.
2. Pandora is a nice place to discover new artists.
3. Grooveshark has the ability to allow you to share your choices.

Music is so personal and maybe none of these do anything for you.  So, please share what you enjoy. Another playlist, a song, a particular artist . . . who and what inspires you in the music department?

Need a bit more?

• If you live in Austin, Texas or New York City, here is an interesting site for free concerts in those areas.  

• Music makes all get-togethers that much better. Here is how to easily create a little gathering with your favorite bunch this weekend.

• Make a great pot of soup or stew like one of these while playing some great music to accompany your creativity!

Make sure you don't miss a healthy thing!

• Join in on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, too! Just click on the "connect box" in the upper right hand corner to link in there, too.

• And, it would be a shame if you missed a health promoting post! Don't forget to enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, "Follow by email." 

photo credits: pixabay

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Health Clicks: Whose Side Are You On?

The turkey gets all the attention at Thanksgiving, but for me, the true excitement and all the action at Thanksgiving belongs with the sides!  But, many of them can be very rich and loaded down with too much fat and cooked too long losing all the nutrients.  But, we have lots of help with undoing all that.

Food bloggers.  Gotta love 'em. They work so hard to bring us such beautiful bounty. Their original photographs, their tried and true recipes that they make and make again to get it just right to present to us.

So, food bloggers, thanks, thanks a lot . . . for inspiring me and so many others. Thanks for all your help to feed our families, to entertain our friends and make us look better doing it, and most importantly to nourish our bodies.

Pick a Side

Chose one of these seven delicious, healthy sides that some really talented bloggers created for a special day of thanks we celebrate here in America in a few short weeks:

1.  I love some crunch on the Thanksgiving table to offset all those creamy, luscious sides. I think the colors of this squash and fig salad from Allison presented on wooden plates would be so picture perfect harvest!

2.  Or . . . I think this salad would really wake up the taste buds with a kind of licorice, citrus snap to it. I think Helen got it just right here.

3.  You may fool everyone at your table because this looks like mashed potatoes but it's not. But, Jenn says it's just as comforting and silky and so good for our bodies!


4.  If you have any gluten-free abiding guests attending your Thanksgiving harvest, they will certainly be happy with this. Beth created this butternut squash dish that is spiced just right with a lovely little topping.

5.  Getting all the dishes on the table at the same time for big holiday meals with lots of people can be a brow-wiper. Just make sure you have a few make ahead dishes as well as at least one so simple you can do it with your eyes closed! Here is a simple one that Kalyn created that you can prepare mostly ahead and it's a classic side with a nice flavor twist.

6.  Com'on! You must serve at least one cruciferous vegetable at your table for all those cancer preventing glucosinolates. And, this one will not create any groans or get skipped over at your buffet. Jeanette added grapes to keep it a tad sweet and colorful, too.  And, this is really easy!!

7.  A generous bow is in order to the Native American Indians who taught European colonists to grow corn and therefore inspire this dish.  Everyone at your gathering will love this homey and pretty corn side and Phoebe made it dairy-free and gluten-free, too.



**Bonus:  And if it is extra cold where you are (and I hear a lot of the country may be in for a chilly holiday), here is a delicious and seasonal way to warm up - dairy-free, egg-free but oh so special!  I may just skip the pie and just have this!

Need a bit more?

• Here is another classic side lightened up to make your guests ask for more. 

• If you are reaching for cinnamon a lot lately for those holiday dishes, please make sure you are using the right type of cinnamon to reap all those heart healthy, circulation, germ-fighting benefits.

Make sure you don't miss a healthy thing!

• Join in on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, too! Just click on the "connect box" in the upper right hand corner to link in there, too.

• And, it would be a shame if you missed a health promoting post! Don't forget to enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, "Follow by email." 

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Entertaining: Should You Consider Place Cards At Your Next Party?

Whether you plan to extend or accept invitations in the coming weeks, we are about to embark on a condensed time of entertaining - the holidays.  But, I am sure you don't need me to tell you that. After all, I was hearing Christmas music on the radio before Halloween!

Developing and deepening your relationships is important for leading a healthy lifestyle, and celebrations at the holidays can be an great time to reinforce your relationships, strike up new ones and take part in family traditions. If you are choosing to attend any events or hosting them soon, I ask: what's your reaction to assigned seating for dinner parties? Too stuffy? Too bossy? Too old-school? I think most people don't favor them.  But, I have learned to embrace them, and, in fact, I regret not creating them for some past hosting gigs, myself.  Here's why:

Benefits to Using Place Cards For Dinner Parties 

I do not suggest strong arming your guests into seating submission, but there are some good reasons to consider putting place cards on your next dinner party table:

Place cards show consideration.  Place cards can actually be quite welcoming.  They can even be a conversation starter if you get fun with it and use photos or other personal thought into making them for each individual.  The host took the time to think it through and place you where he or she thinks may work best for you.  Relax and trust your host's judgement.

Single guests or newcomers have a place.  Guests without a spouse or date or new friends sit right down and don't have to figure out where to sit and feel they are taking someone's spot.

Practice those conversation skills.  Being a mother, I love to watch my children as they get older engage and connect with family friends and family.  If they are seated next to someone they don't know as well or someone we know would be a great influence, they get one-on-one exposure to the guest they otherwise might not have had.


Give people a chance.   Preconceived ideas of who people are can really get in the way of connecting to others and family roles can go pretty deep as well. But, if you sit people next to each other they ordinarily do not gravitate towards, they may learn something new about each other and see that individual in a new light.

On occasions where I was assigned a seat at a table away from all the ones I knew, I ended up having some really interesting conversations and tossing my preconceived notions of some individuals right out the window.

Create mended fences.   OK. This is a risk, but perhaps if you place two people that have a bit of a misguided grudge next to each other, they may be able to see the the situation differently and move on.

The food won't get cold.   I don't know about your family, but when we have a big crowd with open seating, people can really hem and haw over where they should sit and in the meantime, everyone's food gets cold.

Place cards are pretty.  Place cards can be a nice touch to your table decor. You can get really creative and have a lot of fun with place cards! Look at these clever ideas here or go with something more classic and simple and make place cards using a computer here.

How to Create Assigned Seating For A Dinner Party

If you decide on assigning those seats, consider this when creating those cards and where to place them:

Be the connector.  Help facilitate connections of both kinds: the business kind (a wealthy individual next to a brilliant creative mind with a great idea) as well as the romantic kind (two individuals you just know are meant for each other).

Seat talkers in the middle.  Talkative people are great to have in the middle of the table so they can engage in conversation on both sides of the table and keep the energy flowing.

Split up the pack.  Most etiquette books tell you to split girlfriends from boyfriends, husbands from wives, best friends from best friends so they can mingle and meet someone new.

Keep the sparks from flying. A good showdown might be entertaining for some, but certainly stressful for the host.  If two guests that have strong opinions (nothing wrong with that) but can't tolerate others' ideas too well (not so good), perhaps sit them next to someone who is less argumentative.

Have dessert elsewhere.  In case the seating did not go too well, cut your losses and plan a buffet for dessert and then everyone sits where they want.

So, what's your experience with assigned seating at parties? Thumbs up or down?

Need a bit more?

• If you are seeking an easy going attitude to entertaining, here is how to entertain on the fly. 
• Need a great hostess gift idea? You may want to check these out. 

Make sure you don't miss a healthy thing!

• Join in on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, too! Just click on the "connect box" in the upper right hand corner to link in there, too.

• And, it would be a shame if you missed a health promoting post! Don't forget to enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, "Follow by email." 

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/49494891@N07/4582480626/">Special invite</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

fence: photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vamcmag/4835276352/">MizGingerSnaps</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>

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21 Tips to Make Kitchen Clean-Up Faster and Easier

You cook. Then, you clean. The two do go together . . . unfortunately.  I like the first part, but I could do without the later.

But, if you want to eat mindfully and healthfully and really know what you are putting in your body, it does require stirring a pot or two.  But, we can make cleaning those pots a bit less painful, can't we?

Cook With Less Mess

Try incorporating these kitchen clean up tips next time you find yourself reaching for your favorite pot and make cleaning it up a whole lot easier and a whole lot faster. I have included links here to recipes and other blogs with great clean-up ideas as well as some of my very favorite kitchen tools if you are interested. I only link to products I use and to be of excellent value:


1. Create a plan before you start.

The clean-up process actually can begin before you even get started cooking. When reading a recipe and meal planning, look at the recipe in terms of how much mess it will create, too.  I save the messier making meals for days when I have more time.


2.  Choose wisely.

One pot meal making can really cut down on messy clean-up.  Try these healthy ones or some soups and stews like these. Here is my favorite pan I use every day that is inexpensive, sears foods beautifully, is chemcial-free and cleans up like a champ!



3 - 6.  Clear the deck.

Create a clear path for easy clean-up later by taking these steps before you begin cooking:

• Empty the dishwasher. Clean out the sink of any dishes in there too.
• I think spoon rests can be too small sometimes for the mess I make. Rip off a generous piece of tin foil or use a dishcloth to set up next to the stove or area where you are cooking. Rest all your messy spoons, knives, measuring tools, etc. on it rather than the counter.  Wash the towel later or scrunch up the foil and toss. No counter clean-up.
• Place the trashcan or large trash bowl next to where you are working. No walking across the kitchen with onion skins to scatter all over your clean floor.
• Place a large bowl or bin filled with hot, soapy water next to dishwasher for dirty utensils, measuring cups and small plates to soak right after use to make them clean up easier and much faster.  Later, when loading the dishwasher, they are right there to directly place on the rack. 

7.  Make extra.

Always chop extra of food items you use frequently.  Go ahead and chop up that extra onion and store it covered in the refrigerator to use later and not have to create another mess.  Double that soup recipe and freeze, as well.  There is no clean-up in pulling a home-made soup from the freezer! Here is are great freezer storage option. These containers are glass (much healthier option!) and are oven safe too, which lessens clean-up (no transferring food to oven safe container) for all those extra servings of soups and stews you can make-ahead to save time.


8.  Pile it on.

Why chop herbs or garlic and ginger separately when they are going into the dish at the same time? Line those ingredients up together on your best cutting board and mince them together with fewer steps and less mess.


9.  Bigger may be better.

Work in a bigger bowl than you think you need. You’ll avoid a mess on the counter, and you won’t have to transfer contents to bigger bowls once that batter starts slopping over the edge.


10.  Drain it.

Do messy work in the sink. Stir those batters, marinades and spice mixtures in bowls set in the sink. Watch those spills easily float down the drain.

11.  Don't create unnecessary work.

I never wash a measuring cup that I was using to measure water. And if it is for rice or a dry grain, a simple wipe down should do the trick.

12.  Recycle.

Use the same tools again. Give the knife a wash and dry after to use again.  There is no need to dirty another one to use.


13.  Line up.

Use non-bleached parchment paper for roasting. Throw the vegetables on the pan and mix your additional oils, spices right on the pan and don't dirty another bowl to season the dish.  Line baking pans with parchment paper, too, for little clean-up after baking.


14. Whistle while your work.

Put on some upbeat tunes to make the clean-up team (hope you are not working alone!) work faster and have something to elevate the task. Or, you could always bring out your laptop and listen to a Podcast or a TED talk, too.


15.  Think chemistry lab.

The best dirty pot secret is baking soda and vinegar.  Sprinkle lots of baking soda in the empty dirty pot and pour inexpensive white vinegar over the stain and soda and watch it bubble and etch the mess away.  When pots and pans are really bad, I turn to this to make them look brand new again.


16.  Turn to paper.

Cooking in packets like this method makes your kitchen clean-up a dream.  Toss that parchment paper that steamed your fish and walk away.


17.  Don't let stains sit.

Wipe up spills as quickly as possible so that they do not set and bake on and take a lot longer to clean-up.


18.  Protect the innocent.

Keep laptops, cookbooks, and recipe cards covered loosely in plastic wrap or throw a towel over it so that splatters don't form on that expensive LED screen.

19. Load them right.

If you have one, load your dishes in your dishwasher properly.  Ensure there is room between dishes and utensils to allow the water to get in between them. And, don’t overload it.  You will just end up doing the dishes by hand (more work!) because the stains became baked on in the dishwasher.


20.  Get outside.

Choose grilling as your cooking method.  It keeps the mess outside and although cleaning your grill is necessary (and here is how), it is not needed as often.


21.  Create a film.

Give your measuring spoons or cups a quick, light mist with a cooking spray device before measuring out honey, molasses or syrup to ensure those food items pour easily with no mess.


So, that is 21 ways I make cleaning up my cooking creations less of a hassle. But, I really want to hear yours. Can you help and add to the list?

Need More?

• Here are some other tips on cooking you may find helpful.
• Want to take that soup to a new level, try some of these ways to do that.

So, do you have any tricks to add to the pile here so that we all can get out of our healthy kitchens a lot faster and easier. Please add in the comments.

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A Quick Energy Fix for The Afternoon Slump

The afternoon slump can hit both our bodies as well as our minds.  We may find our posture slouching right along with our brain.  The demands of a busy day can really hit us and as we glance at our "to do" list for the rest of the day, we wonder how we are going to make it through.

Sound familiar? Maybe I can help.

Let's steady our energy levels right along with inching up our metabolism with a familiar ritual: afternoon tea. But, hold on! This tea is no ordinary afternoon tea. It has a bit of an island feel to switch it up from the many pumpkin flavoring foods we all tend to consume this time of year.  So, take a break with me from the pumpkin spice and let's head for the tropics, palm trees and all.  Grab your flip flops and pull out your blender, and, I promise, this will only takes a few minutes from that busy day of yours.

Ingredients to Increase Your Energy and Your Metabolism, Too

I wrote about a green tea called matcha here and the many health benefits, one of which is a nice, even energy boost.  It is a main ingredient in this tea, but, I have thrown in a few other metabolism boosters as well:

• The EGCG found in green tea, and in much greater quantities in matcha, promotes fat-burning as well as many other health benefits.

• Cayenne contains capsaicin, a chemical compound that can inch up our metabolism.

• Hemp seeds are full of protein that provides energy and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which are a great anti-inflammatory and help your metabolism too.

• Coconut oil is a fat that can help with your metabolism function and in many other ways too. In this recipe, it is a fat used to help absorb all the other nutrients in this tea.

Tropcial Matcha Energy Boosting Tea

Pop in a paper umbrella, sit back and sip this tropical energy boost and transport yourself to your favorite beach next time you feel the afternoon wilt coming on. You can make this tea ahead at home, too, and chill it in your refrigerator at work to reach for when that slump may hit.

Gather

• 1 tablespoon matcha powder
• 1 teaspoon organic virgin coconut oil
• dash of vanilla extract
• 1 cup almond milk
• dash of cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
• 1 teaspoon or a bit more raw honey
• 3/4 cup frozen pineapple 

Now do this

• Place all the ingredients in your blender.
• Swirl and blend.
• Watch your energy climb!

Go ahead and give us some tips on how you stay focused for your afternoons. Just post your energy boosting suggestions in the comments.

Need a bit more?

• Here are some other benefits of tea drinking in general. 
• If you prefer something warm, here are two elixirs that taste great and nourish your body.

Make sure you don't miss a healthy thing!

• Join in on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, too! Just click on the "connect box" in the upper right hand corner to link in there, too.

• And, it would be a shame if you missed a health promoting post! Don't forget to enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, "Follow by email." 

umbrella: photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/madamemeow/5466937178/">Madame Meow</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

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3 TED Talks on Health To Fascinate and Inspire You

Some people really like to talk. And, TED Talks was cleverly created to harness all that talking and innovation and put it in one place for us all to access for free.  Many new ideas, interesting angles and inspirational thinking on a vast array of topics is available with a simple click.  It is a generous world!

I wrote about TV and movies recently and how your choices could be affecting your health, but I want to introduce you (if you have not established a relationship already) to TED Talks. But, this is TED talks-health, and these people talking have loads of creative, fascinating information and wonderful stories to tell regarding health.

How To Create Time to Listen To TED Talks and Videos

I usually have a hard time just sitting there watching a video at my desk, as interesting as it may be.  I typically find myself wanting to do something.  So, that is what I do -- I do something while I listen. Here are some ideas of how I create time for TED talks or other videos to get inspired or introduce myself to new ideas and information:

• While I am cooking: I set up my laptop on the kitchen counter and start stirring. 
• When I am getting dressed in the morning: Why not start the day with some great ideas?
• When I am folding laundry and cleaning: Take a mundane task and make it inspiring.
• Paying bills: Why not have some fun while depleting the bank account.
• Organizing a closet or drawers: I love to open a closet and drawer and find what I need.

Watch and Be Amazed: 3 TED Talks on Health

Here are three TED talks on health that I listened to lately and really enjoyed. I think you might, too.

1.   I begin with The Future of Medicine.  I am cheating here as I said 3 TED talks but I sneaked in many more as this is actually a series of TED talks from which you may choose. These presenters illustrate an amazing medical future that I could get excited about. I am forever grateful for these great minds and talents that could be bringing it to us.  Listen to how the future could hold surgery without any cutting, creating organs from 3D printers and inexpensive ways of saving infants with little access to good medical care around the world.

2.  I promise you, you will love this woman and be inspired by the story of Australian cross-country skier Janine Shepherd during her talk A Broken Body Isn't A Broken Person. She had hoped for an Olympic medal, but was hit by a truck during a training bike ride creating massive life-threatening injuries. Through her miraculous recovery, she learns all about the human drive to come back, how to not define yourself by your body and to make room for new dreams to soar.  I loved her amazing recovery story, her spirit, her accent and her humor! You will, too! I know it.

3.  I am pretty sure you have heard of Jamie Oliver.  I watched him a very long ago when he had a TV show as a teenager feeding his British friends.  (I secretly wished I had had a cool friend that cooked for me like he did!) Jamie has moved on to other projects now and has taken on the noble task of leading an anti-obesity program for kids and making food education a priority.  Listen to Jamie's great ideas on How to Teach Every Child About Food. 

Do you have a favorite video or TED talk you find inspiring or helpful?  Please share it in the comments!

For Even More On The Topic . . . 

• If you are a multi-tasker like me, perhaps you will find this list helpful of what to do when you find yourself waiting.

• Want a time saving technique for dinner making all week? Here you go: one very healthy sauce for 5 dinners in 20 minutes!

photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alessandropinna/4632026331/">Alessandro Pinna</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>

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Are Your TV and Movie Choices Affecting Your Health?

I shut my eyes and cover my ears during a lot of TV programming lately. My family has come to accept this part of me, but a few friends tease me about it. But, I ask them - am I really the strange one? It is almost impossible to turn on the television now without being barraged with negative imagery, characters and stories.  The violence in the world appears to be at an all time high worldwide. It is difficult to keep up with the latest horrific event or act of violence.  And, as far as the movies -- filmmakers leave nothing to our imagination.  They want to fill in all the blanks.

As much as you would choose not to socialize or engage in conversation with someone that has dark or violent tendencies, why do we allow them in our home so often and more importantly in our minds via the television or the movies?  I get the world is not a perfect place with lots of ugly, complicated struggles and to portray it realistically, artists and newscasters want to show the raw footage.  I am a big follower of the news myself, but the effects over time of viewing it so often and so graphically, I think can be damaging.

Too much TV viewing can possibly even decrease our attention spans. Further, studies show it can make children more fearful, insensitive and maybe even more aggressive. That negativity just seeps in our psyche affecting our moods, the way we interact with others and our health -- all without us even realizing it.

How to Make Better TV and Movie Choices For Your Health

Take charge, protect yourself and those young minds being shaped each day in your family and put up some barriers to the destructiveness that can sometimes be so upfront on TV and at the movies. Here are a few ideas on how to do just that as well as maybe even decreasing your time in front of the TV in the first place:


It's your life.  You owe it to yourself to create your life -  not passively watching someone else's on TV hour after hour.  If you decrease your television watching and work on your own development, you will be far more interesting than some other character on the TV.  You have a lot to offer, so offer it.


No surfing.  Choose your programming ahead of time. Don't watch TV just to fill your time or help you relax by viewing whatever happens to be showing. Get out the guide, plan ahead to see what you want to see that week and record it.  Let your children choose as well (as long as you approve of the program).  Recording programming and movies allows you to skip the commercials that carry negative messaging as well.  And you are taking less time to watch TV because you have effectively deleted the commercials.  Once the recording is over, turn it off.  Don't switch to surfing.



Ask questions.  Ask your children why they want to watch a particular show or movie.  Does the program or movie contain characters that make good role models for them? Does it show effective problem solving?  What does the story really say? What about you? Do the shows teach you something or feature characters that you find admirable or inspiring?  Dig deep and make sure you are filling your mind and your children's minds with the positive side of life at least more than the negative.

Play music as a background noise instead.  Don't keep the TV on all day playing in the background with that news story about the latest shooting repeating.  You can stay up-to-date on the news but it does not need to be playing over and over.  Besides, have you noticed the TV is playing now everywhere - airports, doctors waiting rooms, bars and restaurants, even the gas pump? We get enough of it already.


Get physically away from the TV.  Get outside where you can't reach the remote.  Engage in an outdoor activity and get in the real world and you will forget about the TV.


Unplug one day a week or month.  Try to go "TV free" for 24 hours and see what you do!  Read, go see a friend, call your cousins and aunts, spend time on a hobby, play cards with your family, develop a new interest. It may feel strange, but you may actually look forward to keeping if off sometimes and spending time with that new book instead.


Keep it off right before bedtime.  I wrote about ideas for a bedtime routine here to help you sleep.  Keeping the TV off close to bedtime (especially intense, violent programming) can help your mind relax so that you can catch the rest you need.


So, what are your thoughts on TV programming and movies lately? Do you find it affecting your mood in a positive or negative way?  Would you care to share a TV program or movie you like and find inspiring or interesting?

photo credit: iStockphoto
photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nainiewen/9687999498/">Laura Pereyra</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

Need a bit more? 

• Fall is so perfect for time outside and off the couch! Get inspired by these links to the Great Outdoors!

• Prefer moving indoors? Unwind with this form of stretch and relaxation and get a great workout, too.

Don't go just yet! Connect with me on Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+, too. Find the "connect box" in the upper right corner to get a hold of me at those places, as well!

Please make sure you don't miss a healthy thing and subscribe to receive posts directly to your door. Just enter your email address in the box in the sidebar, "Follow by email."

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