4/1/2024
A Healthy Start With BreakfastDo you start your day with a healthy breakfast ? Or do you rush out of the house in the morning skipping the most important meal of the day? Maybe you aren't a breakfast person, maybe you aren't hungry or don't have time. Whatever the case, read on to find out why breakfast is the most important meal of the day and why you shouldn't skip it! I have also included some healthy breakfast ideas! It's one of my favorite meals of the day with some many delicious choices! Below are some of the top benefits to eating a healthy breakfast EVERY day. Breakfast.....
So, what should you eat for breakfast? For optimal health, choose healthy breakfast foods that are filled with essential nutrients such as, protein, fiber, calcium, fat, vitamins and minerals. Here is a list of some of our quick and easy favorite breakfast items. Also, browse through some of our favorite breakfast ideas here: www.lisacheplak.com/all-recipes/category/breakfast-ideas
A flashback to us enjoying a back to school breakfast with muffins and smoothies!
3/1/2024
Meal Planning TipsIt's something we need to think about every single day. What's for breakfast, lunch and dinner? What and when are we going to eat? Staying with a healthy diet could not be possible without planning ahead. With busy schedules and lifestyles, meal planning is definitely a must! Here are some of my tips for meal planning. My weeks are definitely easier when I plan ahead and have quick and easy meals ready to go! 1. Tired of the same old meals? Look through recipes for new ideas. Check out a new cookbook. Browse websites and Pinterest. Make your grocery list off of the new recipes that you want to try. 2. Create a place to save recipes and keep them organized. Make a list of regular items that you make and family favorites and rotate them throughout the month. 3. Ask for input from kids and other family members. If my son complains about having the same thing all of the time, I make sure to ask him what he would like for meals before I go to the grocery store. 4. Have fun cooking seasonally. Visit farmer’s markets, participate in a Community co-op produce basket program. 5. Start a weekly meal planner calendar, wipe board, computer/iPad or on a note pad. Your family will always know "What's for dinner?". 6. Plan themed cuisine nights, such as, Italian Night, Pizza Night, Taco Night. 7. Make a grocery list and choose a convenient shopping day that works best for your schedule. 8. Check what's on sale and plan your meals around those ingredients. 9. Don’t overstuff the refrigerator. Buy what you think you will consume each week so you don't have to throw anything away! 10. Be strategic about freezing leftovers. 11. Keep a well-stocked pantry: beans, grains, canned tomatoes, soup stock. 12. After grocery shopping, spend time prepping meals for the week. Cook once, eat twice. Make double batches for the next day. Pack lunch while making dinner.
3/1/2024
Smart SnackingHow many times this summer do you think you will hear, "I'm hungry mom!", while your kids are constantly looking through the pantry and refrigerator!? How about, "there's nothing to eat"! Here are my tips for healthy snacks and ideas of how you can get kids involved and have plenty of snacks on hand! 1. Create a sandwich bar My son loves going to Subway. We usually always eat at a Subway when traveling, but I love creating our own "Subway" sandwiches at home. Have all the toppings ready to go in the refrigerator such as, chopped lettuce, tomatoes, olives, pickles, jars of peppers and jalapenos, cucumber slices, mustard and other sandwich spreads. Buy some freshly baked baguettes at your local farmers market or bakery. Let your kids make their own sandwich creations. 2. Stock up on smoothie ingredients Smoothies are a great way to get extra nutrients in while enjoying a flavorful, cold treat! Stock up on frozen fruit, coconut water, nut milk, bananas and smoothie boosters like chia seeds and flax seeds. Freeze extra blended smoothies into popsicle molds. I buy extra seasonal fruit at local farms and freeze it to use throughout the summer. 3. Have a salsa party Salsa is the best way to enjoy the fresh flavors of the season! Get creative with different salsa creations like pineapple/mango, tomato, black bean and corn and our favorite watermelon salsa! 4. Stick it Kids love to eat anything on a stick! Set up fruits and vegetables for kids to make their own kabobs such as, salad on a stick, fruit sticks, or grilled kabobs. 5. Veggies & Dip Keep fresh cut vegetable sticks in the refrigerator and have dip on hand such as hummus (try our red pepper, carrot or red beet hummus). Other great dip options are guacamole, bean dip, cashew ranch dip. Veggies and dip make a perfect poolside snack. 6. Wrap it Up Make wraps using tortillas, lettuce, chard or rice paper wraps. Add any favorite toppings, such as hummus salsa, veggies. Check out our veggie pinwheels. Here is list of some other great snack ideas to stock up on:
I hope when you hear the words, "I am hungry, mom", your kids will open the refrigerator to find countless healthy options! Happy summer and happy smart snacking!
1/3/2022
Healthy New YearJust like that, the holidays have come and gone! It's that time again to set goals and focus on a new year! Maybe you still have some lingering sweets and treats around, but ready or not, it's time to incorporate the healthy stuff again. While it's definitely ok to indulge over the holidays, (I had my fair share of treats) it's time to get back on track with some healthy eating goals. Whether you are starting a cleanse, a new diet or just wanted to incorporate some healthy foods into your diet, read on for some tips to start the new year off in the healthiest way.
1) Start today Even if you still have treats lingering around, start incorporating healthy items again like starting with a healthy breakfast. One of my favorites is chia seed pudding to boost health! Chia seeds are packed with fiber, protein, minerals and antioxidants that promote heart health, strong bones and improve blood sugar. Routines get off track during the holidays, so beginning the day with a healthy breakfast is a good place to start. Read more about healthy breakfast ideas here. 2) Set goals Be specific about what you want to achieve around healthy eating. Maybe you want to incorporate more greens or try more plant-based foods this year. What is one new habit you can incorporate every day? I love eating a salad daily. Salads are always a great way to get a lot of nutrients in! Check out my Eat the Rainbow Salad post for inspiration. Salads don't have to be boring! My salads are loaded with all of the essential nutrients. You can find more salad recipes here: www.lisacheplak.com/all-recipes/category/soups-salads Review your specific dietary needs and goals to determine what your body needs. 3) Plan and prep Stock your pantry and fridge with everything you need to make quick and easy meals. Meal planning can help keep you organized and on track. You can find some meal planning tips here. 4) Try new recipes Pick up a new cookbook or browse some recipes online and try a new recipe once a week. Get the whole family involved and create healthy meals together. Find some tips on cooking with families in my post here. 5) Keep it colorful I like to use the phrase "what can I eat today to boost my immune system". With every meal you eat, think about how it benefits your health. Eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, "Eat the Rainbow", provides essential nutrients to boost immunity. 6) Drink more water Make sure to always stay hydrated. Water is the most essential nutrient your body needs. A few benefits of drinking water include: detoxifies and moves toxins through your body, hydrates your skin, aids in digestion, boosts your energy and can even elevate your mood. Don't love water? Try adding fresh lemon juice or doTERRA lemon essential oil. Find more about essential oils here. 7) Don't give up If you keep running back to the sweets and goodies from the holidays, don't worry, you can always start over with the next meal you eat. Keeping a food log would be a good way to keep you track. I hope these basic tips will help jump start a healthy year ahead for you and your family! Happy New Year!
6/15/2020
Salsa Time with Watermelon SalsaNothing says summer like fresh, sweet watermelon! It's always a perfect hydrating treat, and is always found at most picnics and barbecues! There are lots of ways to eat watermelon, but have you ever tried it in a salsa!? I created this recipe, because most of the ingredients are growing right in the school gardens around August-October. Salsa is a great ways for kids (and adults) to get their daily servings of fruits and vegetables! This recipe has been kid tested and approved at schools throughout Las Vegas. It's always a favorite. Have some fun in your kitchen with this one! Any time is good for salsa time!
Have you heard of or tried chia seeds yet? Chia seeds are a superfood (one of the most nutrient dense foods) and contain lots of beneficial vitamins and minerals. You can add them to smoothies, granola bars, salads, use as an egg replacer or make a delicious pudding with them. Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants and contain calcium, iron, fiber, protein, vitamin c, potassium and omega 3's. They are from the Salvia Hispanica plant which is a member of the mint family. When added to liquid they expand and create a gel like consistency. I love making chia seed pudding as a breakfast or for an energy boosting snack. There are so many ways to customize the pudding, by adding your favorite flavors and toppings. Try it today to get the wonderful benefits of this amazing superfood!
6/2/2020
Family Pizza PartyPizza! Who doesn't love pizza!? Gather your family and create a pizza night together. If you don't want to make the dough, then try pita bread or English muffins for the crust. Most kids I know, just like cheese and pepperoni on their pizza. Put some colorful toppings together (eat the rainbow), and challenge your kids to create their own veggie pizza. The sauce is easily made with canned and fresh tomatoes, garlic and fresh herbs or grab a jar of sauce from your pantry. Load your pizza up with veggies! Here are some of my favorite toppings: broccoli diced bell pepper mushrooms fresh tomatoes olives zucchini (zucchinaroni) cheese (dairy free, if desired!) What are your favorite toppings?
5/14/2020
Cooking with Spring VeggiesWhat vegetables come to mind when you think of Spring?! How about asparagus, snap peas, green onions, zucchini and mint! Add in some fresh lemon, avocado and lentils and you have a fresh, Spring bowl of flavor! I love using lentils and sometimes they are forgotten in the pantry. Lentils are a great source of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. They’re also a great source of plant-based protein and fiber. My Spring Lentil Bowl combines all my favorite veggies, lentils and flavors of the season. Best of all, it's super easy to make! See below for a video demonstration of this dish and the recipe.
There are three things that I usually have in my pantry: black beans, brown rice and salsa. For nights that we need a quick meal, these ingredients can be easily put together. These black bean taco bowls are easy to customize with your favorite salsa and various fresh ingredients that you have on hand (and with ingredients that your family loves). Check out my video presentation below to see how easy this meal is to create. Black beans are a great plant based source of protein. These bowls make a simple, nutrient dense full meal. Ready to make them yet?!
4/25/2020
Vegan/Plant Based Diet Tips"Eat food, not too much, mostly plants", I love this quote by Michael Pollan, journalist and food activist. "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food", another great quote from Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. These are two quotes that sum up my beliefs about food, especially the plant based diet that I have followed for the past 21 years!! I remember going to my first vegetarian cooking class at UNLV, taught by a woman named Yogi G. She made healthy eating look simple and fun as we learned how to make home made salad dressings and prepare meat free dishes. This class was life changing for me as I saw how easy it was to transition to a plant based, vegetarian diet. From this point on, it really wasn't hard for me to stop eating meat or dairy products. It was never hard for me to "give up" cheese or animal products. These things didn't really make me feel good anyway, so why not try a different way of living. I was never stressed about how I would get my protein as there were plenty of plant based options (even more so today)! My mom was a huge influence as well. We have attended many raw food and vegan cooking classes together over the years (and today I am teaching plant based cooking classes)! We had a food dehydrator and learned how to make healthy snacks and experimented with raw -vegan foods. My mom even helped start the first raw food meet up group in Las Vegas and hosted many pot lucks in her home. My father was also on board with this healthier lifestyle and also created healthier versions of favorite dishes. Over the years, the raw food and vegan community grew in Las Vegas and still is growing to this day! I attended many healthy workshops and cooking classes that always inspired me to continue this journey, and connect with many friends and professionals that inspired me to continue to follow this path. One of my favorite conferences was Health, Healing and Happiness that brought together many plant based doctors, experts, holistic healers and motivation for this lifestyle. My journey to plant based eating wasn't a drastic measure to defeat major health conditions. For me, it purely was a journey to a healthier way of living. I had minor health issues, but all healed quickly due to the removal of dairy, meat and other animal proteins. I just felt better overall eating a fresh, plant based diet that consisted of fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and legumes. I studied from many plant base doctors such as Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. McDougall, Dr. Neil Barnard, and many others doctors and plant based/vegan specialists over the years. I realized this journey was mine to create, and I continued to experiment with different super foods, herbs, essential oils and many healing foods over the years. Cooking, nutrition and food became a true passion for me. My healthy diet was put to the test when I was pregnant in 2007. I was determined to have a 100% vegan pregnancy, and I thankfully was successful. I had tended to always test low in iron, so at one point when my iron was low my doctor recommended that I eat meat. Knowing that I could eat plant based sources of iron and take an extra iron supplement, I listened to my body and ate the plants that I needed. To make a long story short, I had an extremely healthy pregnancy, and ended up having a beautiful, drug-free home birth with the assistance of a mid-wife. I know that this was mostly due to the healthy preparations that I had made during my pregnancy. Fast forward to the present, my diet has changed slightly. I have studied nutrition and many diet theories over the years. I have learned there is not one diet that will work for everyone. I have also learned that our bodies change so much as we age. I still eat a full plant based diet, but I occasionally incorporate minimal animal protein (turkey, fish, eggs) when I feel my body wants it and maybe sometimes craves it. I do this without judgement. I know it's not important to have a label on how we eat. What's important is knowing where our food comes from (eating mostly organic, unprocessed food), and knowing how we feel after we eat this food. Food is supposed to make us feel good, energized and satisfied, if it doesn't then we shouldn't be eating it. In my current career as a Certified Health Coach, I inspire other to eat more plants, to eat the rainbow, to eat greens and nutrient dense superfoods (superfoods are defined as the most nutrient dense foods on the planet)! We live in a very processed, fast food world, and I want to make a difference by inspiring others to make small changes in their diet. It doesn't have to be drastic, and it doesn't have to be hard. You don't have to go 100% vegan or forever give up your cheese (but you might want too)! All you have to do is "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants", thank you Michael Pollan. My work has focused mostly on nutrition for children and families. I saw first hand with my own son, who is now 12, as I cooked with him, planted edible gardens in our backyard and taught him over the years. I also manage the Chef and Nutrition Program for Green Our Planet, which is the largest school garden company in the United States. I teach hundreds of kids and parents how to eat real food growing right in the school garden. I love the healthy journey that I have been on, and I love inspiring others.
Please reach out to me if I can help YOU on your healthy eating journey!
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PLEASE NOTE: The information provided throughout my website pertaining to your health or wellness, is not intended to be a substitute for the professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by your own physician or health care provider. It is intended to be provided for informational, educational, and self-empowerment purposes only. This information should not be used to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or health condition. If you have, or suspect that you have a medical problem, contact your physician or health care provider. A Health Coach is defined as a guide and mentor who empowers clients to take responsibility for their own health and supports them to implement and sustain lifestyle and behavior changes that will contribute to the achievement of their personal wellness goals. I became certified as a Health Coach because of my passion for health and wellness, and to work with others on incorporating positive and healthy changes in their lives.
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