'Tis the Season.....

'Tis the season for yummy fall favorites:  butternut squash, spaghetti squash, pumpkin, soups, apples, apple cider.  What yummy nutritious fall favorite do you have?  Do you have a favorite recipe?  I'm very keen on simply throwing tons of veggies together with vegetable stock.  This week I made two:  Kale and Potato soup w/ cauliflower, and a vegetable lentil soup w/ fresh green beans, carrots, soy beans, lentils, and more kale. :)  YUM!!

I wanted to share some wonderful information thanks to some of my favorite farmers at SweetAire Farm.  They send out a weekly email about their farm, the farmers, and what is going to be at the market--it is truly special because you feel like you're part of it all!  If you want to sign up for their emails here is the email:  cathleen_j2001@yahoo.com. 

"This is National Apple Month, according to Lancaster Farming (16 October issue). They stated these things about apples:

1. Apples contain boron, a mineral that helps children’s bodies use calcium and keeps brain function active and alert.
2. Apples have no fat, cholesterol, or sodium, and only contain 130 calories.
3. Eating a fresh apple will cleanse your mouth of more than 95 percent of all bacteria that cause tooth decay."

So eat up those apples.  There are lots of varieties out and about.  If you're in Harford County, SweetAire has more than 25!  I love mixing it up and just asking them to surprise me! :)

Here is some more information they shared:  Journal of Nutrition, vol 140 (10), October 2010, pp 1764-1768, by April Stull et al. In this study, conducted on obese, insulin resistant men and women, some fed blueberry smoothies, it was found that insulin sensitivity was enhanced by consuming blueberries. This is good news for Type II diabetics. So, gobble up those blueberries!

Wow, what great information!  :) 

So eat up those fall favorites and be sure to keep an eye out for those blueberries in the Spring!  I know we will all be looking forward to when the Farmer's Markets bring around those wonderful first of the year fruits and vegetables. 

In the meantime, throughout the winter, be sure to attempt to fill yourself with as many veggies as possible.  I realize this is much more difficult and we will rely on frozen veggies from the grocer's freezer since we aren't quite like Barbara Kingsolver's wonderful family--I know I certainly wish I was a little farmer girl!!!!  (This is a great book and full of wonderful information Animal Vegetable Miracle)

Also, how do you plan on staying diligent to your current workout routine for the upcoming cold days?  How can you motivate yourself to workout inside your home.  Let's compile some tips so that we can share.  I know that I have incentive because on days that i'm not teaching at the gym, I will be working out hard compiling ideas from Jillian Michaels, Jackie Warner, my TKO bag, as well as my lovely new kettlebell! :)

Enjoy!  Keep up the good work because you ARE worth it!  Smile, and have a beautiful day!