Health & Wellness News & Info. Recap, Volume 1

When I was working for The Walt Disney Company, we spoke a lot about being a “student of the business.” I truly believe that I was well-informed and better prepared when I read the trade publications regularly and knew what was going on in the industry. A few wise individuals put together weekly bullets, highlighting business achievements and news in the cable world. Since I know many of you are too busy to read about what’s trending or interesting in the health and wellness world, I will do it for you.

Pretty Wellness covers clean eating, active living (mindfulness and fitness) clean living (non-toxic beauty and home) and cancer information, so I will look for interesting articles, information and posts under these content categories in the form of my own weekly bullets and links. Here’s the news and information from the past week.

HEALTH & WELLNESS NEWS & INFO. RECAP, WEEK OF JANUARY 5

IN THE NEWS
New Year’s Resolutions: I like this slightly different approach, creating a Vision Plan for what you are looking to achieve this year, not so much a new year’s resolution.

Eat an Avocado a day:  Researchers advocate eating an avocado a day to lower cholesterol. Watch out – this isn’t meant to add onto your diet, rather as a substitute for something filling.

CLEAN EATING
Meal planning: One of my favorite sites, Mamavation.com, advocates for a clean lifestyle and has useful resources. This post earlier this week is a meal plan with organic ideas that are also low-cost.

ACTIVE LIVING
8-Minute Meditation: I’ve struggled with making meditation (outside of yoga) a part of my life. I like this concept, meditating at your desk before work starts, because it isn’t first thing in the morning taking only 8 minutes to breathe, setting intentions, aka mini goals, and following them.

CLEAN LIVING – NONTOXIC LIFE
BPA in the news: Congress and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reconfirmed its position that people are not being harmed by bisphenol A (BPA), however, many activist groups cite the opposite.

CANCER /INSPIRATION
RIP Stuart Scott:  A tribute and a new cancer research fund created in his name by ESPN and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

 

Please feel free to comment below or add your own favorite story or blog post of the week. Think of this as a destination to grab a coffee, tea or any drink, read through information on wellness and join in the conversation.

Healthy Holiday Treats: Pretty Wellness TV, Episode 11

I love the holiday season and all the festivities. However, it’s easy to over indulge and feel sluggish because of it. So, what better way to keep your eating in check (and impress the hosts) by bringing your own creations to share. Whether you love to cook or would rather pick a treat up at the store, here’s our holiday episode on healthy Hanukkah and Christmas inspired side dishes and desserts. Please comment and share your favorite holiday recipes or Pinterest inspired creations.

Easy Kid Recipe: Healthy Homemade Pizza

You’ve had a long day and just need to crash on the couch. The last thing you want to do is think about making dinner. And if you’re like my family once was, you like the idea of reaching for the take-out menus. Some days, it’s just the easiest way to feed the family. But as we found out, it’s easy for the “once in a while” delivery meal to become a twice-weekly ritual. Before we knew it, our clothes became tight and we felt more sluggish. Now that I eat clean, I’m always interested in exciting my family about healthy, wholesome comfort food especially pizza. For all those who celebrate Pizza Friday, try adding this easy and healthy recipe into your rotation. It takes only a few minutes to prepare and even less time to cook. Better yet, my son loved creating his own pizza, making it a fun family activity even before he took a bite.

Healthy Holiday Travel Tips: Pretty Wellness TV, Episode 8

During my childhood Thanksgiving road trips, my sister and I built small forts in the backseat, hung Barbie dolls out the window, and made frequent snack stops. We typically sat in tons of traffic on our way to Chicago, so I also listened to my Michael Jackson, Madonna and Violent Femmes (yes, I had some awkward years) soundtracks over and over again while snacking on my secret stash of gummy cola bottles. In addition, we always whined for rest stop sweet treats. So, by the end of the eight-hour drive, our bodies would crash from all the carbs.

Now that I have a child, I often think about packing smart, so that whether we are traveling on the road or from airport to airport, we have healthy options available. All it takes is a few minutes of planning and a little space in your bag.

We are here to help you prepare with this week’s Wellness Wednesday episode.

Please share with us a comment or two about your silly childhood road trip memories.

 

Easy Recipe: Veggie Chili

There are times that I love the cold and dreary weather. When I’m wrapped in a furry blanket, nestled into my couch or eating piping hot, comfort food like chili, I actually don’t mind winter. One of my favorite seasonal foods is a satisfying veggie chili. A bean-filled, spice induced vegetarian chili is a good, ol’ comforting meal that provides a ton of nutrients. It’s easy to prepare and cook, plus it’s satisfying with just a small serving. Dump these simple ingredients in a crock-pot before work. Then return home early evening to a ready-made meal. Plus, there’s often enough to freeze, so chili leftovers are a breeze.

chili spices II

Image of chili spices

Veggie Chili II

My not-so-secret ingredient is the cacao powder. What special ingredients do you love in your chili?

Simple Chili Tools

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  This post may contain affiliate links meaning I may receive a commission with no costs to you. I pro-actively try various products and then affiliate myself with these items that I already use and love.