Full of Flavor and Free of Guilt

          I am sure that when most people hear the words “healthy eating”, the first thing that comes to their mind are tasteless salads and having to resist that oh so tempting chocolate cake. I completely understand these thoughts, because the truth of the matter is that eating healthy is hard. Why would anyone want to eat salad when pizza exists?

          Being a college student, I know how difficult it can be to maintain a healthy lifestyle when your wallet and stomach are both pushing you towards the ramen noodles and the 2 a.m. mozzarella sticks from the dining hall. Despite the challenge, I also know how incredibly satisfying it is to eat a meal that tastes delicious and doesn’t leave me feeling like my insides are coated in grease. This is the reason that I have decided to create this blog.

        There is no denying the fact that when you eat better, you feel better. Exercise and healthy eating release endorphins that make you feel happier and lighter on your feet. So if we know that this is the case, why would we eat anything other than healthy food? The answer is that junk food is extremely addictive and the body craves it substantially more than it does healthier foods.

        Because healthy foods are generally not associated with great flavor and desirable taste, the human body does not actively push us to consume them. With this blog, I am out to challenge this notion that healthy food cannot also be satisfying enough to crave it as we do junk food.

        There are countless recipes and techniques that can be utilized to produce foods that not only leave us satisfied physically, but also allow us to skip out on the negative effects of regularly consuming greasy and sugary foods. The reward for eating junk food is short lived, followed by considerable and often permanent damage to our bodies. Choosing a healthier but still flavorful option will benefit not only your body but your mind as well.

         In the rest of this blog, I will discuss several ways to keep up a healthy lifestyle without starving yourself or feeling as if you have been deprived. I truly believe that becoming educated on all the ways to improve your health without suffering the assumed cost will give many people the push that they need to change their lifestyle.

       And if my word isn’t enough to convince you to make the switch, which is understandable because I certainly do not claim to be an expert, check out the web page below! After reading the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle you’ll see that it is about so much more than getting that “perfect body”! 

http://www.healthline.com/health/5-benefits-healthy-habits#boosts-energy5

           Everyone has most likely heard the phrase “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” at least once in their lives. However cliché it may be, the statement has a significant amount of truth to it. Eating a nutritious and substantial breakfast allows your body the kickstart it needs to get you through the day, and I am going to show you a couple of unique ways to enjoy a satisfying and healthy breakfast.

          Thinking of skipping breakfast? If so, check out what these super smart doctors say about eating a fulfilling breakfast in the mornings and hopefully you’ll reconsider! 

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/most-important-meal#1

           Breakfast foods are by far my favorite kinds of foods;I could eat French toast and pancakes for every meal! As delicious as those foods are, they lack nutritional value and do little to prepare our bodies to take on the day. Therefore, the search for delicious and healthy alternatives began!

           Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day because of its versatility; you can have an omelet and take the savory route, or you can prepare a sweet bowl of fruit and yogurt. There are enough options that there is sure to be one to make everyone happy. For this post, I am going to focus on the two meals listed above, a savory and delicious omelet and a satisfying bowl of fruit and yogurt.

           An omelet is a quick and easy way to give your body the fuel it needs to face the day in front of you, eggs have lots of protein and are the perfect way to start the morning. The greatest thing about omelets is that you can make them exactly to your liking. Just chop up some of your favorite veggies and meats, whisk some eggs, throw it all in a pan and you are on the way to a delicious and filling breakfast!

    photos courtesy of: Kate Hellkamp    

 Now for our sweeter option: a scrumptious fruit and yogurt bowl. This breakfast is just as simple as it sounds, a combination of your favorite fruits and yogurt (and maybe some granola). Start with whatever flavor and brand of yogurt that you like, slice up and throw in a handful of fruit such as blueberries, bananas, and strawberries, and top it off with some granola and a drizzle of honey and voila!

    photos courtesy of: Kate Hellkamp

     Both of these options are great examples of the versatility that breakfast meals present, being that you can create something that is exactly to your liking. For more ideas and recipes for delicious and nutritious breakfasts, click the link below!

         Here you are again, it’s 2 p.m. and you’re sitting in class or in your office and the coffee buzz is wearing off. Your eyelids are drooping and you just don’t see how you will make it through the rest of the day without a nap. Luckily for you I know exactly what you need to power through that afternoon slump, a healthy and satisfying lunch to fuel you!

          Lunch can be a tricky meal for many people because depending on your schedule, it can be difficult to maintain a consistent time for consuming it. Whenever lunch may fit into your day, it is incredibly important to eat a meal with enough sustenance to provide your body with the energy it needs to get through the rest of the day. Two of my go-to lunches are a delicious make ahead salad, and a twist on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

          I know what you’re thinking, “here we go again, another salad recipe”, but I am here to change that mindset. The problem with salads is that many people associate them with being the only alternative to unhealthy food. However, I have found that once you explore the world of healthy foods you discover that there is enough variety to allow you to have a salad because you want to, not because it is your only guilt-free option.

         Salads, like omelets and fruit and yogurt bowls, are incredibly versatile. To avoid the stress of rushing out the door in the morning as well as the disappointment of pulling your lack luster lunch out of your brown paper bag, making a delicious salad ahead of time is the way to go! Making lunches the night before allows you to have a more relaxed and efficient morning, and usually results in well-prepared and satisfying meals.

         I purchased this incredibly nifty salad container that has separate compartments for toppings to keep them fresh, as well as a small container for dressing. This container, along with several others can be purchased on Amazon.com for under $10. To make the salad, all you have to do is start with a heaping bed of lettuce or spinach, add whatever toppings you like, and finish off with your favorite dressing!

photo courtesy of: Amazon.com

photo courtesy of: Kate Hellkamp

          When, or should I say if, you get tired of these nutritious and delicious salads, switch up your routine with my twist on the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich! The twist that you have been oh so patiently waiting to hear is all in the bread. To make these scrumptious sandwiches I use flavored breakfast rounds instead of bread, and it makes all the difference in the world!

        The rounds simply need to be cut in half, and then slathered in your favorite style of peanut butter and topped with your desired fruit jelly. Another twist that I often add to these sandwiches is to add just enough honey to make it the perfect amount of sweet. You could even go as far as to put sliced bananas on them as well, if you’re feeling extra adventurous.

          We have finally made it through the day, classes are over, work is done, and the couch is calling your name. There is often nothing more disappointing than coming home from a long day and realizing that to eat the dinner that you so desperately desire, you have to make it first. It can be so easy to give in to that voice in your head saying to order in, but hopefully these easy and yummy dinners can convince you not to!

           The first dinner is incredibly simple and easy to prepare, but it is a staple of mine and always hits the spot and fills me right up! Get ready, because tonight we are having a protein packed dinner of grilled chicken breast and sautéed zucchini and yellow squash. I know that grilled chicken breast generally involves a grill, but if you do not have access to one it is just as easy to prepare on the stove.

           Chicken breast is a wonderful cut of meat because it is full of protein and fills you up without weighing you down like a lot of red meats. You can season or marinate the chicken in whatever way you like, and then simply heat some olive oil in a pan and place the chicken in once it’s hot. For the best results, cook the chicken on one side over medium high heat for 1-2 minutes, then turn the heat to low, cover the chicken with a lid and let cook for 10-12 minutes.

           For the zucchini and squash, first heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Slice the zucchini and yellow squash into ½ inch rounds and toss into the heated pan. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper, cover with a lid and allow to cook for about 7-8 minutes, then plate with the chicken and enjoy!

           The second meal that I want to share with you all is incredibly treasured by myself and my family and friends who have consumed it, so feel quite special. Prepare yourself for this amazing recipe and get ready to cook tonight because we are making shrimp tacos! These aren’t just any shrimp tacos, these are spicy shrimp tacos with garlic cilantro lime slaw, also known as the tastiest food you will ever consume.

           The first time I prepared these tacos, I was amazed at how incredibly easy it was. The dinner takes about 30 minutes to make, and the outcome is worth every second. Ready to try for yourself? Click the link below for the recipe and instructions, happy cooking!

http://pinchofyum.com/spicy-shrimp-tacos-with-garlic-cilantro-lime-slaw

        For more amazing and shockingly healthy dinner recipes check out the blog link below! 

           As much as we would all love to be 100 percent prepared every single day with all of the meals that we need, it is unfortunately not likely. So, when you slept in and didn’t have time to pack a lunch, or it’s Friday and you’re going out to eat with some friends, I have a couple of suggestions for you! These options are great places to go when you want to have a satisfying meal or snack, but also stay true to your healthy lifestyle.

           The first stop on our list is a quaint little restaurant on University Avenue in Gainesville, Fla., that goes by the name of 3 Natives. 3 Natives is a popular restaurant for college students because of its laid back and cozy atmosphere, not to mention its delicious food! Their most famous dish is the acai bowl, a layer of frozen acai topped with fresh fruit and granola.

           Along with several different varieties of the acai bowl, 3 Natives offers refreshing smoothies and tasty salads and wraps. My personal favorite item from the menu is The Bird acai bowl with peanut butter! Click the link below to find out more about 3 Natives!

photo courtesy of: Kate Hellkamp

 http://3natives.com/

           The next stop on our healthy exploration of Gainesville is a Mediterranean escape known as Zoe’s Kitchen. Zoe’s serves an array of Mediterranean foods, and each item on the menu is true to the title of this blog: full of flavor and free of guilt! Here you can find salads that are anything but ordinary, wraps and pitas, and kebabs galore!

           Zoe’s Kitchen is a great choice when you are trying to eat lighter, but do not want to feel as if you didn’t eat at all. The food is authentic and the atmosphere is relaxed, the perfect combination for a great lunch or dinner date. My recommendation for a first timer would definitely be the Lean Turkey Pita, but if you’re feeling brave and want to explore the menu on your own, click the link below!

http://zoeskitchen.com/

           Well, we have reached the end of our journey! I hope that this blog helped you to see that living a healthy lifestyle does not have to mean painful diets and sacrificing great tasting foods. I encourage you all to try some of the recipes and restaurants that I have listed, I promise that eating healthy will benefit you both mentally and physically!

           In case you get stuck along the way, which I am sure will happen at some point because nobody is perfect, here is a link to a couple of sites that offer great tips for keeping up a healthy lifestyle! 

http://greatist.com/health/22-cheap-and-easy-ways-eat-healthy

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/healthy-eating.htm

           However, I would like to end this blog with a piece of advice that I find extremely important. During your journey towards a healthy lifestyle, always remember to keep a good perspective on the situation. Don’t overthink it, try your best to fuel your body with nutritious foods but every once in a while when you really want it, have that pizza! 😊