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AI 101: AI Explained
Do you struggle with AI? Have parents, friends, and others who struggle with terminology and understanding what AI is good for?
The guide defines basics terms that are often mentioned in numerous online videos and definitely can be confusing to a new user.
Check out my guide, free to use, no data collected.
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Which supplement should I take? #Supplement Explorer
Are you always on your phone looking at which supplements you should take? Do you look at reviews? How do you decide what to buy?
As someone who has been in the nutraceutical industry for over 10 years, I’ve worked with many suppliers and companies to understand why an ingredient is chosen, what research is behind it, and how to sell it to a consumer, so if you are looking for some answers to questions you may have, drop a comment, or even better check out the Supplement Explorer on the site. It is free to use, 3 questions, and a simple output. No info is stored.I made the Supplement Explorer purely for my use and then thought, well, if it is useful for me, maybe it is useful for others. The tool is not affiliated with any company or brand, but was just a way for me to showcase what I find useful. If you use it, do give me feedback as to what you’d like to see it on too.
Stay well and remember, before taking any supplements, check with your doctor if it is a good fit for you or not!
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Easy Snacking: Celery and Peanut Butter
Everyone’s favorite past time is snacking! Whether you are watching a movie or at a concert or sitting at your desk and working, snacking is one industry area that will continue to explode. We are used to convenience and on-the-go meals because life is busy and time is short. Plus, we all want foods that are nutritious and filling. The snacking industry knows this and provides numerous options to you from fortified chips to skinny popcorn but what about those of us that like to make our snacks? Maybe you should consider ants on a log!
The name “Ants on a log” truly indicates to me something that I don’t think that I want to eat especially since in today’s climate, you could technically be eating edible insects but this name is a misnomer. What are ants on a log? Ants on a log is typically sliced celery with peanut butter, cream cheese, or some spread topped with raisins. Simple enough right?
I really like this snack because you can enjoy that sweetness and crunch that you desire in the snack and reap the benefits of the spread (for me peanut butter) because it will likely have protein plus celery has very low carbs so you can fill up on fiber and protein and keep hunger at bay. Plus, the convenience of making it is there too.
Next time, you are hungry, ants on a log might be a good option!
*Image from pixabay
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Afternoon snack time?
You can’t talk about snacking without talking about chips. With every sweet craving, there is a need for something savory and crunchy, don’t you agree?
Lay’s potato chips or Doritos are pretty much items that you can’t just eat one of or 10 chips or 22 chips or whatever that bag’s serving size is. If you can, I’m super impressed but most of us eat half a bag before realizing that oh, I ate more than I should have! So what can you do if you have a craving for chips?
Well, if you are creative and like to bake, you can make most leafy greens chip like by baking them slightly and seasoning them—think Kale chips with sea salt! However, if that is too extreme, you can always look at Chirps (chips made from cricket protein powder) or Quest Chips (protein chips) or Protes (protein chips) as an example.
Each of the above brands has protein and fiber in them which means you’ll be able to boost your metabolism and stop hunger cravings. Not to mention, Chirps has 20g of protein per bag, highest out of all three listed above. Plus, often times most of these chips are also keto friendly so you can happily eat them without feeling guilty of getting too many carbs but read the label to be sure. Plus, flavor profiles are good too ranging from cheddar to bbq to thai chili depending on the brand you choose. Another benefit about these types of chips are the packaging is small and with so much protein in the bag, most likely you won’t even be able to eat the whole bag without feeling stuffed so less calories in, less to burn! To take it a step further, if you care about certifications that these chips have, that too is listed from gluten free to non-gmo so there is something for everyone!
As the snacking marketing continues to provide new ways to capture consumers, one thing is for sure that the need to crunch and munch isn’t going to die down anytime soon.
*Image from pixabay
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Sugar in your Snacks?
As consumers continue to look for healthier options in the snacking area, another way companies can appeal to them is by declaring how sugar is showing up in their product. Typically, we look for fiber and protein for satiety when purchasing a product but soon you’ll be seeing more labels showing added sugar versus sugar (that is inherently in the product).
Knowing that the sugar is inherently in the product is going to help a consumer make a good purchase decision because we know from research that high sugar intakes can impact your cardio health or heart health. Plus, sugar can cause an insulin spike followed by a crash which can be avoided if consumers read the label. Not only will this help you regulate your weight, if you are struggling to lose those last 5 pounds at the gym, this little bit of knowledge might help you achieve that goal.
So how can you tell if added sugar is present? The label is going to list it clearly saying sugar and then added sugar. Remember sometimes the added sugar is what makes your product taste better while inherent sugar might not be enough to give it that sweet taste you crave. Also, sugar can show up in multiple ways from maltodextrin to stevia to monk fruit extract with each being classified differently under sugar or added sugar. If you are unclear as to what is what, simply Google it.
Stay well!
*Image from pixabay
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Vacation Eating: Day 5
Nothing completes a vacation without good old-fashioned home cooking so for me that means eating Indian food.
My meal today consisted of eating a little bit of rice with lentil curry and papad (crisps) with a side of a vegetable. Pretty normal Indian food but so good to reset your diet if you’ve been eating out all week. Your daily meal and mine might be different but sometimes that is the food that we go to, to heal ourselves.
Vacation eating was great and when it is over, I know that I haven’t splurged in excess so going back to clean eating and exercising shouldn’t be too bad.
Everything in moderation is the key!
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Vacation Eating: Day 4
Day 4 was more continued eating outside to celebrate a birthday so the occasion demanded something different. Different here meant eating Mediterranean food.
The meal here included various things like brussel sprouts and fried goat cheese but the best items were Mediterranean style pizza and falafel. Remember, the Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest one and from these pics you can see how impressive the food looks but it tasted even better!
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Vacation Eating: Day 3
Day 3 eating was another cuisine at another restaurant. I hadn’t been to this restaurant in over 15 yrs so imagine my surprise that it was still open and the food was just as great!
The meal that I had at this Italian restaurant was a sampler platter of various things like spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli, etc. with unlimited garlic bread! So yummy! The portions were just right and I had everything with marinara sauce. This meal was just as I remembered it and the yumminess of the food will not be forgotten!
Let’s see what Day 3 has in store for me!
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Vacation Eating: Day 2
Even though I ate at home every day while on vacation, one meal was always eaten out for celebrations or just casual dining. Day 2 was all about eating Mexican food.
You can definitely eat healthy at a Mexican restaurant if you choose right. I chose the green enchiladas with cheese and ate just a little bit of the rice and beans. If you want to stay healthy, limit the amount of chips and salsa especially if the chips are deep fried!. Also, don’t load up on too much sweet tea (which I love).
Day 3 was another great meal and so far I don’t think I’ve eaten too badly, what do you thing?
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Vacation Eating: Day 1
This week, I’m going to share all the amazing food that I ate while on vacation. I always talk about eating clean and staying healthy but I also mentioned that life gets in the way. What does that mean? Sometimes you need a vacation and to enjoy it, you need to eat different things and if you are like me, you’ll still account for it in your My Fitness Pal app so that you don’t go too overboard.
The first day of vacation eating included Thai food. So yummy and still healthy depending on what you eat and how much you eat. My meal consisted of chicken pad thai, veg roll, and pineapple fried rice. Of course, it was shared but it definitely hit the spot while eating out!
Day 1 eating was wonderful! Let’s see what Day 2 brings!
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Stay full longer
On this Friday, a good tip to remember is that having carbs by itself will fill you up but carbs with protein and fat will keep you full longer!
Carbs are your body’s source of energy unless you’re doing keto, when fat becomes that source. Protein and fats when combined with carbs can now keep you full longer because everything takes time in your body to burn. Once the carbs are done, there is still nutrients in your body to keep you satiated.
Next time you think that grapes are a good snack, grab them but pair them with cheese and nuts and now you’ll stay full longer.
*Image from Pexels
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What’s your comfort food?
We all have stress and each of us deals with it differently. Some of us go workout, others spend time with their family and friends, while others eat! What do you do?
I’m guessing more people eat and drink then would like to admit but let’s not shame anyone for that because everyone’s stress level is best understood by only them. I’ve talked about about stress and cortisol before and also about comfort foods but one thing that should be mentioned is what you use to comfort you can be huge in relieving your stress? What do I mean?
For me, I like to eat dark chocolate and peanut butter when stressed–not together but at some point. Both of these items give me a sense of calm that I don’t get while eating grapes or oatmeal plus both items have a slight sweetness to them that I enjoy. You got to enjoy your comfort food otherwise is it really comfort food?
Comfort food and stress do go hand-in-hand at times but don’t let your good eating get derialed by either as lots of comfort foods can still provide you nutrition and taste!
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