Benefits of Yacon

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Krissyar

Yacon, Polymnia sonchifolia, also known as Peruvian ground apple, is a native of South America that is a relative of the sunflower. It produces juicy, edible tubers, from which its name, translated as “watery root,” is derived. People in the Andes have enjoyed yacon as a food source for more than a thousand years. Yacon offers certain health benefits.

yacon

Blood Sugar Management

Syrup made from yacon root may help lower your blood sugar, according to a study published in the April 2009 issue of “Clinical Nutrition.” Sugarlike molecules in yacon known as fructooligosaccharides, which are derived from a nondigestible carbohydrate called inulin, provide about half the sweetness of sugar without raising blood sugar levels.

Cancer Prevention

Potential anticancer benefits of yacon were demonstrated in a tissue culture study of human cervical cancer cells published in the October 2011 issue of the journal “Fitoterapia.” Yacon compounds inhibited the growth and reproduction of cancer cells and promoted early cell death.

Liver Health

A combination of yacon and silymarin, which is the active component in milk thistle, Garcinia Cambogia Formula , improved cholesterol and blood sugar levels in patients with metabolic syndrome in a study published in the March 2008 issue of “Food and Chemical Toxicology.” Metabolic syndrome is a combination of conditions that increases risk for heart disease and diabetes. In the study, participants consumed 2.4 grams of yacon and 0.8 grams of silymarin a day for 90 days. Results showed the combination supplement improved cholesterol levels and prevented fat accumulation in the liver, leading researchers to conclude that yacon and silymarin may promote healthy heart and liver function.

Dietary Uses

Fresh yacon has a slightly sweet taste and a crunchy texture similar to that of an apple, while its flavor is close to that of watermelon. South Americans eat the tubers, which can range from yellow to purple, as a fruit, with lemon juice and honey, or they add it to fruit salad. You can also stir-fry, roast or bake yacon as a vegetable. Use yacon leaves, also high in inulin, to wrap other foods as you would cabbage or grape leaves, or brew them to make an herbal tea. Yacon syrup and powdered yacon supplements are also available.

 

 

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Top Ten Ways to Make Lunch Fun Again with Meatless Meals

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Krissyar

Adults often have a difficult time fitting lunch into busy schedules.  Many find themselves torn between a few unattractive options.  First, you can choke down fast food while driving back to the office.  Not only does the “drive and scarf” lunch sort of defeat the purpose of a lunch break, it also often comes with a post-meal guilt trip.  Second, you can try to fill up with a protein bar and fight off hunger until dinner. 

Healthy lunch ideas can make lunch fun again.  Avoid the guilt trip and fast food dash.  Also, don’t starve yourself.  Healthy meatless lunches can be filling and fun. Listed below are the top ten ways to eat healthy and make lunch at the office fun again:

1.Get Others Involved

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, over 60% of Americans are currently overweight.  Introduce others in your office to different types of healthy lunch alternatives, such as crispy vegetarian chicken.  Have a weekly meatless office potluck, or start a friendly competition.

2.A Little Competition Never Hurt

Start an unofficial healthy lunch club with several other coworkers.  Elect one person to share his or her latest meatless creation with the rest of the group every week.  Elect a quarterly winner, and find a goofy prize for the master of meatless cuisine.

3.Find Your Philanthropic Side

It might not be practical to donate your lunch to your coworkers every day.  Instead, make homemade sample-sized dishes for everyone in the office.  Everyone loves snacks and free food.  Help everyone else endure a marathon meeting by bringing tasty meatless snacks, and feel good about yourself instead of feeling guilty.

4.Learn to Love Cooking Again

It is not uncommon for great cooks to get stuck in a rut.  Spice up your routine by trying new ingredients, such as vegetarian burgers, into your repertoire of go-to recipes.  Make lunch for the week on Sunday, and stick it in the freezer.  Love lunch by rekindling your love of cooking.

5.Go Meatless for Lunch

Going vegetarian for breakfast and lunch can have multiple benefits in addition to making lunch more fun.  You can politely decline to attend a gathering with a clique at work that you would prefer to keep a safe distance from.  Keep your office social status secure by playing the vegetarian card.  Enjoying meatless mandarin chicken salad in the park on a sunny day can also help you save money and cut calories.

6.Show Off How Cool You Are

Do you remember when you ate at the cafeteria as a kid?  There was always that one kid who had the good fortune of enjoying a really stellar lunch from home.  Now, it’s your chance to be token office pro se chef.  Enjoy a delicious vegetarian Thai beef salad with the works, and let the comments roll in.  You can choose to snicker or share the recipe.

7.Think About How Much You Love Animals

Eating a slice of pepperoni pizza after seeing how animals were brought for the slaughter can be more than a downer.  It can make lunch not fun.  Thinking about the nutritional value of said pepperoni pizza can also detract from the fun factor.  Enjoy meatless products that taste like the real thing.  Remember, one cute picture of a piglet could ruin your entire lunch.

8.Watch Your Waistline Get Slimmer

Stay full for longer by eating healthy food during your lunch hour, and wait for the results.  Unless you are a contestant on a reality television show, you probably will not drop over ten pounds in a week.  Make lunch more fun by sporting the clothing you bought at your last trip to the mall.  Look and feel great by going meatless.

9.Fun Doesn’t Have to Mean Commitment

Many people that are not strict vegans or vegetarians can benefit from incorporating meatless products into their diets.  Carnivores can enjoy healthy lunches while having fun.  It is often comforting to recognize that you don’t have to swear off steaks and ribs forever.  You can choose to only go vegetarian for breakfast and lunch.

10.The More, the Merrier

Probably the most effective way to make lunch fun again is to include others.  Instead of scarfing down a shake in an office all by yourself, get lunch back.  Include coworkers and acquaintances.

Share healthy lunch ideas, and go meatless for one or two meals every day.  Healthy doesn’t have to mean boring.  To the contrary, healthy lunches could be the thing you need to make lunch fun again at the office.

 

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Resolutions Continued: Organization 101

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Krissyar

So I’ve pretty much kept on track for part 1 of my New Years Resolution. I’ve been eating healthier, and hitting the gym whenever possible (though I tell you between sick kids and a busted hot water heater, the days were few and far between for awhile). As these things are becoming habits I am now turning more of my focus onto another very important resolution: organization.

“A place for everything, and everything in it’s place” This is a concept that I have no problem wrapping my mind around..but my kids, they are a different story. Since we’ve had such a hard time with this in my house, Mom has made an executive decision that if it doesn’t have a place – she find’s one for it – in the garage sale bin. I have bins in our basement for donating to charity & for our annual garage sale. If we have too much, then something needs to go. Trying to buy new, and never get rid of the old is what’s gotten us to the place where I feel overwhelmed when it comes to cleaning. Let’s just say right now, we are on track to pay for summer vacation with what’s in the bins!

“Get ‘er Done” I cannot even begin to tell you the ‘to do list’ I have in my planner. I have posters frames I need to purchase, and pictures that need hung, photo albums to put together, even a dresser for my son that’s been sitting in the box since November! 

“Have a Workable Task List/To Do List” Having a list for everything, from cleaning to a grocery list makes life a LOT easier. I get a lot of my printables from Lisa over at Organize365. Having a list to follow, and check off, makes it a lot easier to stay on task. It especially helps with my absent mindedness – this way, I can’t forget!

“Change” When it comes to change, I’m usually not that hip on it. Though I love the idea of a clean organized home, the idea of change – not to mention the how – is always scary to me. I’ve found some great ideas (especially for the kids rooms) from IHeart Organizing.

“Unapologetically take control of your time and priorities” I know that I can’t do any of the above without taking control and making certain things a priority. I know that I need to balance my need for perfection and realizing that I have 3 young kids, and a full-time job! There are times when the laundry won’t be done, when their toys and books will be laying all over the floor. I’m going to enjoy them while I can, because one day I’m gonna’ miss it!

Posted in Cleaning & Organizing | 2 Comments

Meal Plan Monday: Paleo Friendly Recipes

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Krissyar

Ang over at MommaYoung at Home and I have decided it’s time for us to be a bit more proactive on the meal planning for our families. Where in the past we’ve both had the best intentions, by Tuesday were usually wondering around the kitchen wondering where dinner is coming from (or like me, asking the kids what sounds good only to find I have none of the ingredients in my pantry). As we did some research, we decided that leaning towards a Paleo diet would be most beneficial to ourselves and our families. We started digging around Pinterest for some easy, yet tasty meals we could plan for the week without breaking our grocery budgets.  Since we do our grocery shopping on Saturdays  we planned a Monday through Friday meal plan, with one “leftovers” night, so we picked just 4 recipes to try that were going to share with you this week. As we move along, well share more of the recipes we ‘created’ ourselves, and hopefully a few desserts as well.

#MealPlan #Paleo #recipes

Monday – Creamy Crockpot Chicken & Tomato Soup

Ingredients Needed:               

8 frozen skinless boneless chicken breast
2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2 14 oz. can of coconut milk (full fat), shake before opening can to avoid separation
2 14 oz. can diced tomatoes and juice
2 cups of chicken broth
1 small can of tomato paste
1/2 jar of your favorite tomato sauce
Sea Salt and pepper to taste

 

Tuesday – Chicken Cutlets with Olives & Tomatoes

Ingredients Needed:

4 (4-6oz) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
extra virgin olive oil
juice of 1 lemon
1/4-1/2 tsp sea salt (optional)
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 (28 oz) can plum tomatoes, drained and chopped—or equivalent amount of fresh plum tomatoes, blanched to remove skin and chopped
18 black olives, drained, pitted, and chopped (about 1/2 can)
3 Tbs fresh parsley, chopped fine (divided)
2 tsp fresh thyme (chopped)
 

Wednesday – Ground Turkey Picadillo Lettuce Wraps 

Ingredients Needed:

2 tsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil
1 lb. lean ground turkey (less than 10% fat)
1 large onion, chopped small
1 large green bell pepper, chopped small
1 can (14.5 oz.) chicken broth (Or use 1 2/3 cups homemade chicken stock if you have some.)
1 can (14 oz.) crushed tomatoes
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground coriander
salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste (I didn’t use much salt, about 1/4 tsp.)
2-3 tsp. Green Tabasco sauce (or more)
1/2 cup chopped green olives + a few sliced green olives to garnish (preferably Spanish olives)
1-2 T green olive brine (from the jar of olives)
2 heads iceberg lettuce
 
 

Thursday – Quinoa Chicken Soup

Ingredients Needed:

1/2 chopped onion
2 sliced carrots
2 sliced celery
2 tbls olive oil
2 cups chopped chicken
1 tsp minced garlic
1 sliced sweet potato
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1 can organic beans
1/2 cup quinoa
32 ounces chicken broth
 
Friday : Bring on the Leftovers!
 
Posted in Fitness/Health, Motivational Monday, Recipes | 5 Comments

Looking Good for Less

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Krissyar

Employees with high visibility and job-seekers both need to look good even before the money starts rolling in. For instance, salespeople on the rise need to convey confidence and success. Corporates climbing the ladder also need to display a winning look and attitude. Yet that’s challenging when finances are strained. It can start to feel like playing a role but “fake it ’til you make it” is sometimes needed to attract success. Payday Loans may be able to make buying the appropriate outfits to achieve this a possibility by providing you with essential funds.

Thankfully there are many clever ways to look good whilst saving a bundle.

Shop Outlet Stores

In order to find brand-name quality for significantly less look to outlet stores offering significant savings. It’s also wise to comparison shop by looking online. Spring for the best quality that one can afford and also make it a point to pick classics that stay in style. Begin with a basic wardrobe that can be embellished and added to over time. What’s more, take care of those clothes as the work asset they are. Use dry-cleaning coupons for maintenance and repair, and always hang up items when not in use. Hide shoes from the pup, too. If the discount stores are still too pricey then check out thrift stores. For those seeking an interview suit look to local charity organisations that help give job-seekers assistance with such matters.

Visit a Styling School

Granted it’s a good idea to do a test run well before the interview but many styling schools offer huge discounts for haircuts, colours and facials done by students who will soon graduate. All work will be overseen by a licensed professional, but at a fraction of the cost one would face at a regular salon. Though the style price may be low be sure to leave an appropriate tip as if paying the full rate.

Lunch

Business lunches are part and parcel of living in the corporate world. Yet that doesn’t always mean the boss will be buying. Set aside money for luncheons as part of a work budget. In order to afford such a thing that may mean eating Ramen Noodles at home but it is imperative to be prepared to spring for lunch occasionally so as not to be embarrassed. Other times when combining lunch and business isn’t a factor, bring a lunch from home to help save money. Whenever you are responsible for paying for a business dining arrangement try to make it a lunch instead of dinner, which will be considerably less expensive.

Happy Hour

Whether drinking and socializing with co-workers is accepted varies greatly from business to business. If it’s not a problem but money is, seek out the best deals in town. Also look for deals that offer snacks as well and the better setups should suffice well enough for free dinner. Don’t forget the value of dining coupons, two-for-one deals, and new restaurants offering low-cost incentives to make theirs the regular haunt. For business people mingling with others at the same level it shouldn’t be a problem letting them know costs need to be watched. In fact, they’re probably facing the same financial restraints, too. Another even more affordable way to make a business social hour is to do a potluck at home.

Buy in Bulk

There will be occasions such as holidays and birthdays when gifts for co-workers is expected. If an item is a great deal and has the necessary shelf-life then buy them in bulk. That could be a case of decent wine on sale, chocolates, ties—anything that would be deemed appropriate as work gifts. Just remember to take anyone’s food allergies or dietary restrictions into account before delivering the gifts. Having something in stock for any impromptu dinner is never a bad idea, especially if the occasion arises when finances are especially low.

Investing in one’s appearance may seem like a gamble but it’s a winning one. Remember that the definition of success is when preparation meets opportunity. So put in the time and energy to look like a million bucks even before it’s earned—but thankfully that isn’t what needs to be spent to look sharp, powerful and in charge.

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