Ingredients
(serves 4-6)
•    3 zucchini, cleaned and dried
•    sea salt, to taste
•    ground pepper, to taste
•    taco seasoning, to taste
•    shredded cheddar, to taste
•    ¾ c black beans, rinsed and dried
•    ¾ c corn, cooked
•    ½ c green onion
•    ¾ c vine ripe tomato, diced
•    1 dollop sour cream

Directions
1. Slice zucchini to no more than ¼ inch in thickness.
2. Place slices on a baking sheet lined with paper towel. Lightly sprinkle both sides of zucchini slices with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat grill to medium-high. Spray lightly with olive oil. Grill zucchini until tender and crisp on each side, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Just before the slices are ready to be removed from the grill, sprinkle with taco seasoning and shredded cheddar.
5. Place the zucchini slices on a platter and layer with beans, corn, green onion, tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream.

Helen is the founder of Professional Nutrition Consulting and The 24_7 Dietitian app. She’s a mom of 5, contributor for the Huffington Post, triathlete, and chocolate lover. Helen is passionate about educating families on how to cook healthy meals and snacks at home. You can now receive Helen’s Personal Nutrition Coaching thru her 24_7 dietitian app-available on iOS and android. Go to www.pronutritionconsulting.com for more info.

Zucchini Nachos by Helen Agresti, R.D.

Join #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat this Monday 5pm(Pacific)/8pm(Eastern) on Twitter and pick up healthy eating tips, nutritious snacking ideas and on-the-go best food choices!

Here’s how to join:

Log onto your Twitter account and follow @HealthyWayMag to see the chat questions. Questions for discussion will be posted as Question 1, “Q1″, Question 2, “Q2″ and so on. Contribute your answer and experience via answers to Question 1 noted as “A1″, designating your answer to Question 2 as “A2″ and so on. Interact with others, chat, exchange ideas, training tips and have fun!

Monday September 28, 2015 #HealthyWayMag Fitness Chat welcomes Co-Host Helen Agresti, R.D:

Helen is the founder of Professional Nutrition Consulting and The 24_7 Dietitian app. She’s a mom of 5, contributor for the Huffington Post, triathlete, and chocolate lover. Helen is passionate about educating families on how to cook healthy meals and snacks at home. You can now receive Helen’s Personal Nutrition Coaching thru her 24_7 dietitian app-available on iOS and android. Go to www.pronutritionconsulting.com for more info.

Eat On-The-Go Healthy!

Blueberry Jam

Ingredients
•    2 cups fresh blueberries
•    1/4 cup chia seeds
•    1 tbsp honey
•    pinch cinnamon

Directions
1.    Mix all ingredients in a food processor until well combined. Spoon into a glass dish and put in the fridge to gel
2.    Serve a top your favorite toasted bread

Recipe by Shirley Plant- Nutrition Coach and Author of Finally Food I Can Eat
www.deliciousalternatives.com. Follow her on Twitter via @sherrecipes

Blueberry Jam by Shirley Plant

Smart Food Choices For College Students

According to several research studies, college students gain on average about 3-5 pounds of weight during the first college year. Thus, Freshman 15 is a term used to describe the excess weight first year college students’ gain due to various factors.

Here is your foolproof plan to foil the problem of the Freshman 15.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day.  Use nonfat milk or 100% fruit juice. (Limit juice to one or two servings.)

Ditch the soda, sugary fruit punches and sweetened iced teas.  There are several excellent unsweetened ice tea available in supermarkets in convenient plastic bottles that can fit in your backpack.

Breakfast is important. Research indicates that people who skip breakfast consume more carbohydrates during the rest of the day. Healthy options include whole grain cereal, oatmeal, eggs, or yogurt with fruit.

Snacking can be healthy if you choose controlled portions of nuts, granola bars or dried fruit. Single serving packs are easy and just the right amount!

Include 2 or 3 servings of fresh fruit every day. Apples, oranges or bananas are easy to take along!

Avoid fried salty snacks or highly processed foods.

Choose lean cuts of meat and skinless poultry. Consider egg whites instead of whole eggs.

Go for the veggies:  cooked, salads, or raw with low fat salad dressing.  Vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber…more is better!

Treat yourself, but go easy on desserts.

Have fun and get active! Grab your friend and go walking, running, biking or any other activity that you enjoy. Engage in sports that you enjoy such as swimming, basketball, or maybe tennis!

Need a few new ideas for those healthy snacks?  Here are a few easy snacks you could have on hand.  If you have a small refrigerator in your dorm room, even better yet!

* Low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt
* Raw vegetables and hummus
* Cut up apple or banana dipped in vanilla yogurt
* Whole wheat English muffin/bagel/pita pizzas
* Homemade Trail Mix: mixed nuts, dried fruit, whole grain cereals
* Low fat mozzarella cheese sticks

The following recipe is perfect for college students and it can be made ahead of time and packaged in baggies:

Cereal Snack Mix: Makes 9 servings

1 cup Fiber One- Original
1 cup Kashi Go Lean – Original
1 cup Cheerios – Original
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dry roasted unsalted peanuts
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix well and measure 1/2 cup portions into sandwich bags.

½ cup portion = 145calories, 4 gm Protein, 22 gm Carbohydrate, 4 gm Fiber

Gretchen Scalpi is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She is the author of “The Quick Start Guide To Healthy Eating”, “The Everything Guide to Managing and Reversing Pre-Diabetes”, “The Everything Diabetes Cookbook, 2nd ed.” and “Pre-Diabetes Your Second Chance At Health”.  Use your organic produce in the recipes from her book “Quick Start Recipes For Healthy Meals”.

Smart Food Choices for College Students by Gretchen Scalpi, R.D.

Summer Smoothie
6oz non-fat honey greek yogurt
1/2 banana
1 ripe mango
1/2 cup pineapple
1/8 cup coconut water
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Combine ingredients and blend until smooth

Vegan “Ice Cream” Smoothie
2 ripe bananas
1/3 cup raw cacao powder
Agave syrup to taste (*depending on how sweet you want it to be)
Handful of ice cubes

Combine ingredients and blend until smooth

Recipes contributed by Jessica Matthews. Jessica, MS, E-RYT, is an exercise physiologist, yoga teacher, group fitness instructor, personal trainer, adjunct professor, blogger and fitness personality. Jessica strives to open minds, ignite passion and inspire the world to health and fitness through purposeful movement, quality nutrition and kind words. She has been featured as a fitness expert on CNN and has been quoted in numerous publications including Shape, Self, Oxygen and Oprah.com. For more health and fitness information, follow Jessica at www.twitter.com/fitexpertjess

Healthy and Refreshing!

The Powerful Benefits of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are powerful molecules that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules in the body. This process of cell oxidation is what creates free radicals. Free radicals can lead to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune system impairment, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease when there aren’t any antioxidants to create balance in these molecules.

While having antioxidants readily available in your body is necessary for preventing these diseases, they’re also beneficial for creating an overall well-functioning body. For example, the beta carotene you find in carrots and sweet potatoes can help protect your eye health. Lycopene which is found in tomatoes helps to protect prostate health. In addition, the flavonoids in tea, cocoa and chocolate are great for your heart.

There are plenty of fresh organic fruit and vegetable sources of antioxidants, so as long as you’re eating these – you’re helping fight off free radicals and disease for your future and maintaining good overall health.

Here are a few powerful sources of antioxidants that you can begin eating now:
Beans (red, kidney, pinto, black beans)
Cherries, prunes, peaches, plums and other stone fruits
Blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries
Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples
Artichokes, broccoli, kale, carrots, tomatoes, sweet potatoes
Nuts
Tea
Coffee
Chocolate and cocoa powder

From this list you can see that the most beneficial foods to get adequate amounts of antioxidants and fight free radicals are whole foods straight from nature. Fill up on a few of these each day to help keep your body functioning at it’s peak and fight off future disease.

Rachael Roehmholdt is a certified holistic health coach and founder of Be More Healthful. With a passion for good food and living a healthful and balanced life, she believes that small changes to our everyday lives can set us up for a lifetime of health and happiness.

The Powerful Benefits of Antioxidants by Rachael Roehmholdt

5 Convenient On-The-Go Snack Ideas

With a busy schedule, snacks are inevitably an important part of the day. What is chosen as a snack can easily make or break any healthy eater’s plans, which is why sticking to whole foods is your best option between meals.

Whether you regularly snack on the go or use them as an afternoon pick-me-up only when you need them, try one of these five healthy and convenient on-the-go snack ideas.

Nuts & Seeds

Choose from a variety of healthy nuts and seeds like cashews, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds to snack on for an energy boost that’s also packed with protein and essential vitamins and minerals. You can also get creative by mixing up a batch of your favorite nuts and seeds, portioning them out, and carrying them along with you in your car or your bag.

Baby Carrots (Or Other Veggies) With Hummus

When you’re looking for a crunch factor at snack time, choose carrots or other veggie sticks to dip in hummus. You’ll be loading up on fiber, which will help to keep your hunger level in check for a while.

Stuffed Dates

For a sweet snack during the day, stuff a few dates with your favorite nut butter and  sprinkle with cinnamon. These can be made in a big batch at the beginning of the week and portioned out to keep on hand all week long. Dates give your body an energy boost from the natural sugars and vitamins A and B.

Salted Edamame Pods

When you’re after a salty bite, choose convenient edamame pods sprinkled with a little bit of sea salt. These young soybeans are loaded with fiber, protein, and omega 3’s – a fantastic combination to satiate your stomach until your next meal!

Popcorn

Plain unsalted popcorn is a fantastic option on-the-go, as you can pop it up quickly in the microwave in a brown paper bag and bring it along with you. Another option is carrying unpopped popcorn and a paper bag with you until you’re ready for your snack, then pop it in the microwave once your snack pang hits. It’s another fiber-filled food, and it gets extra points for being a whole grain!

Snack foods don’t all have to come from the convenience store. Load up on healthy whole food options like these and you’ll be sure to keep your healthy eating on the right track!

Rachael Roehmholdt is a certified holistic health coach and founder of Be More Healthful. With a passion for good food and living a healthful and balanced life, she believes that small changes to our everyday lives can set us up for a lifetime of health and happiness.

On-The-Go Snacks by Rachael Roehmholdt

Apples: One of the Original Superfoods

I’m going to assume that you have never heard the saying “An açaí berry a day keeps the doctor away.”  I know that I haven’t.  While the saying may be true, I don’t see it catching on very well.  Recently “superfoods” have been coming out of the woodwork, but what is it that makes them so much healthier than the standard fruits we have always eaten?  Personally, I love pomegranate-flavored yogurt, but I have never thought to buy a fresh pomegranate at the grocery store, no matter how much of a “superfood” it is.  I wouldn’t even know how to open it.  I like things simple, delicious, and nutrient-dense.  I like apples!

To me, apples are the perfect fruit.  They’re portable, versatile, sweet, and do wonders for your health.  Now lets look at the facts behind the phrase that I’m sure you have heard: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

Nutrient Density
•    4 grams of fiber (per medium apple)
•    Excellent source of potassium
•    High in vitamin C
•    Fat-free

Weight Management and Healthy Diet
•    Help to satisfy hunger for few calories (95 calories per medium apple)
•    One medium apple counts as 1 cup of fruit

Heart Health & Chronic Disease Prevention
•    Soluble fiber in the flesh has been shown to lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
•    Antioxidants help reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol and inhibit inflammation
•    Diets high in potassium are associated with lower blood pressure
•    Compounds found in the skin of apples have powerful inhibitory effects on cancer cells in the liver, colon, and breast
•    A flavanoid unique to apples may enhance bone density and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis

Dental Health
•    Apples have been referred to as “nature’s toothbrush”
•    Replacing sugar-sweetened snacks and desserts with fresh apples will stimulate saliva production and reduce the number of cavity-producing bacteria, reducing the risk of developing dental caries

Physical Activity Benefits
•    An antioxidant in the skin of apples has been show to make oxygen more available to the lungs, enhancing endurance during physical activity

I’ve been known to eat apples for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks in between.  Given their versatility, they can be used in sweet and savory recipes any time of the year.

No Bake Apple Crisp Bites

Prep time: 10 – 15 minutes
Yield: 12 balls

1 medium apple (I use Gala)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
¼ cup honey
1 cup quick-cooking oats

Wash and chop apple, leaving skin on.  Put apple in medium sized bowl and add cinnamon.  Mix until apple pieces are evenly coated.

Mix peanut butter and honey in microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, until slightly runny.  Add to apples and stir until evenly coated.

Add oats to mixture, ¼ cup at a time.  Stir after each addition.

Roll into small balls, about the size of a tablespoon (the mixture will be sticky.) Place balls on a plate or tray and transfer to the refrigerator to cool.  Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Enjoy!

Follow me on Twitter (@lmaydak) for more nutrition and wellness tips!

An Apple a Day… Written by Laura Maydak