Health Belvedere Blog

I would like to share with my Belvedere Family the greatness in working together as a community in helping one another to “HEAL”.  “HEAL” (healthy eating/active living) is the way of life.  One cannot go each day without thinking of what to eat, drink, and do!  I encourage each of you to grab and hold on to your desire of staying healthy to live a more vibrant life.  Remember, ” Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice.”  Yes, that is our slogan!  Can I count on you to help me to grab and hold onto apples instead of candy?  Grant it, I know I will grab a candy bar every now and then.  But, as time passes, I will hope the desire of grabbing the candy bar will fade and the desire of grabbing  an apple will be automatic.  Trust me, it takes time.  I have experienced it.  That is how I know the greatness of changing our lives to “HEAL.”  Let me know your thoughts and experiences on healing.  Go Belvedere !  Nadine

Healthy eating is not always easy eating. With so many options for quick, cheap, and convenient meals, it’s hard to keep your health in mind when you’re hungry.

I know that I am constantly guilty of grabbing dinner at one of Decatur’s finest restaurants instead of preparing a meal at home. I have a working kitchen, a nice set of cookware and plenty of cookbooks to help inspire me. So what does it take to make dinner at home? One word: planning!

This week, I set out to make just 4 meals at home. My idea was to break it into something manageable and not quite as scary as all-cooking-all-the-time. It all started with a list and some inspiration. Last week, I jotted down ideas for meals, ingredients, or even flavors that sounded appealing. On Saturday, instead of finishing my book or reading the newspaper, I read through two of my cookbooks for recipes that matched up with my list of jotted notes. I made a list of the ingredients and then I looked through my pantry and refrigerator to see what I already had in stock (does anyone else have 28 cans of diced tomatoes in the pantry, or is that just me?). With my list in hand, I drove to the grocery early Sunday before the crowds arrived and while the aisles were still organized. I reasoned that I would actually enjoy the store if I could take my time and find what I needed.

After I returned home, I prepped all the ingredients for the week: diced up the onion, cooked the chicken, and even measured out the spices and other dry ingredients. I then grouped the ingredients for each planned meal together in the refrigerator. After the kitchen was cleaned up, I wrote down a list of the recipes that were ready to go and posted it on the refrigerator so I would know exactly what was waiting to be prepared.

The result was wonderful! Not only did I get to enjoy preparing the meals, but I felt less stressed…all of my decisions had been made! I also did not have to worry about getting back into my car to find dinner after driving to and from work each day. I actually had time and energy for an evening walk around Belvedere!

Speaking of Inspiration Healthy Belvedere has teamed up with  Cooks Warehouse and  is giving away a gift certificate for $75 worth of cooking classes! All you have to do is comment on this post with your favorite weeknight meal and you will be entered into drawing to win the gift certificate. A big thanks to Cooks Warehouse of Decatur…a trip to their store on East Ponce will inspire even the most inexperienced cook!  Good luck to the entrants and happy cooking!    Anne H.

All are encouraged to comment, but only residents of Healthy Belvedere are eligible to win.  For a map of the boundaries, visit our home page:  www.healthybelvedere.org

I grew up watching my mother garden just as my mom spent her childhood watching my grandmother garden. As a young girl, when spring would bring warmer temperatures and longer days, I remember my Mom and Dad spending much of their time outdoors—weeding, planting, fertilizing, watering, digging and planting some more. They were content to spend an entire weekend working in the yard and all I could think was “how is THAT fun?!?”. Thankfully, over the past couple of years, my love of gardening has finally come to fruition.

I started my first vegetable garden last spring. I can attest that few experiences match the pleasure of savoring a vegetable grown and nurtured by your own hands.  The flavor and texture of homegrown veggies is far better than anything you can get in your grocery store’s produce department. Even more important to me, planting and growing a garden is a relaxing and fulfilling activity. A feeling of peace surrounds me every time I the feel soft dirt in my hands and the warm sun on my back. A feeling of happiness also surrounds me when I look at my grocery store receipt and realize that I am spending a great deal less on produce thanks to my new hobby!

Growing vegetables does require patience and a little hard work. You can read all of the how-to gardening books in the world, but you’ll soon discover that experience truly is the best teacher. I made some mistakes last year that caused some initial frustration, but I won’t be making them again this season!  That’s all a part of the learning experience. As your knowledge grows, so will the rewards of this productive pastime.

Are you planting a garden this year? If so, what are you growing? Feel free to share tips and advice with your fellow Belvedere gardeners in the comments section.   STAR  

YOGA ?  Exercise has been proven to have a positive effect on many areas of our bodies from increased strength and flexibility to mood and it is one of the key factors in overall health. Yoga is a great form of exercise that provides all of these benefits and many others. Many people shy away from yoga citing that you have to be flexible, but there are classes that you can attend that cater to every skill level. There are also several different forms of yoga that can offer a more intense workout such as hot yoga.  Through consistent practice the flexibility will develop. The discipline and focus that can be gained through Yoga can also provide mental benefits such as deepened concentration and can also help you manage stress. Other possible benefits of Yoga include improved lung functioning and reduced blood pressure.

I started taking class about 10 years ago and have always found it to be a great workout and a terrific way to relax at the same time. Yoga provides an escape from the frenzied activities of the day. As with any exercise program it is important to listen to your body and know your limitations but Yoga is one of the most effective low impact workouts that anyone at any age can do. Due to the recent rise in popularity of Yoga access to a class or instructor has never been easier. Give it a try!   M. Love