Oftentimes, it is difficult to make healthy choices while traveling. The key to keeping to a healthy, balanced eating regimen is planning ahead. It is much easier to give in to poor food choices when you haven’t eaten for hours and most likely have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Pack nutrient dense snacks such as fruit and nut trail mix or all natural granola to avoid hunger pains between meals, which will also help manage your appetite and the amount of food you consume at your next meal.  If you have a layover, do your best to find the best eating choices. Luckily, many of the larger airports such as Houston’s George Bush and Chicago’s O’Hare have been working to provide healthier options for travelers.

At Your Hotel

We all know that on vacation we suddenly have the urge to splurge more than usual. Just because it’s time to relax, does not mean you need to throw your healthy choices out the window! Once you are at your hotel there are a few ways that we can make sure we are eating right. Refusing the key to the mini bar can prevent unhealthy snacking. Bring your own “healthy mini bar alternatives” from home, such as fresh or dried fruit, unsalted nuts, KIND nuts and spices bars, whole wheat pretzels, flax crackers,  plain instant oatmeal, or a zip lock bag of Kashi high fiber cereal. At home, if you have access to a dehydrator, you can even make your own instant soups to bring with you.

Do you ever wonder if your child is getting adequate nutrition and/or exercise on a daily basis? Looking back on your childhood, do you wish you had made healthier choices (food wise) or played more sports, been involved in more clubs that include physical fitness? Well, there is a great answer to these questions! This summer, I started working with an amazing company, called Lean Teen Inc., which provides teens with tools, understanding, and great resources necessary to make sound fitness and nutritional choices.

Exercise and proper nutrition have vast benefits for teenagers in both their physical and mental health. They play a key role in proper development, growth and strength of bones. Bones are strengthened and developed until the age of approximately 23-25 years, after that it is about maintaining them and preventing osteoporosis. Learning the appropriate tools at a young age empowers teens to lead a healthy, happy and active lifestyle to maintain in the long run.

The weather is heating up! It’s bikini time…aka time to get in shape! There is a lot of pressure to be “thin,” from the media, especially living in Los Angeles and Hollywood – “the movie capital of the world!” However, many people that are “rail thin,” might also be nutrient deficient or lack muscle mass.

Healthy strong muscles give shape to your body (which is a good thing)! People who maintain muscle mass while losing weight look and feel better. Muscle tissue allows for proper movement and contraction of muscles, and stabilizes the body in motion. When muscle mass declines, strength, stability and mobility suffer. The scale is the most commonly used device to measure weight, however it doesn’t take into account muscle mass or bone density, therefore it is not the best indicator of overall health.

You don’t need an expensive gym to get into shape. I train many of my clients using resistance bands, a core medicine ball or stability ball, free weights, jump rope and a foam roller! Exercises that use your own body weight can also be a challenge and enhance your balance. Small muscle groups are important to help stabilize your large muscle groups.

 Here are a few pieces of “workout equipment” that I recommend you buy for an “at home or outdoor” workout:

Protandim is said to be one of the “best supplements of our time.” Have you heard of it?

There is a chance you may or may not have heard of it. Currently it is being sold person to person by people who are actually taking the product themselves and believe in it, because they are getting great results. It is not sold at GNC or other supplement stores because the staff was not educated on the science and health benefits behind it (very unique supplement). With my background in biochemistry (Bachelor of Science degree) and as a Registered Dietitian, I feel it’s my duty to inform everyone of this revolutionary product! I have been taking the product for a month now and already feel the results (more energized, the ability to have more intense workouts, no sugar cravings, less stress from the “little things” that sometimes make you frustrated, etc.)

Please watch this short video featured on ABC that will give you some background information and the science behind the product. CLICK HERE  

Dr. Joe McCord is the world-renowned scientist and PhD behind this discovery, a pioneer in free radical biology. After using Protandim for only 2 weeks, scientists “could not distinguish the cells (reduces cell aging) between an 80 year old and a 20 year old.” They tested this using blood samples and testing the T bars. Oxidative stress increases with age, however with Protandim it maintains stable, even decreases, despite age.

One of the great things about Protandim is that it is all-natural and has 4 US patents on the specific ratio of these 5 herbs:

“Intuitive” is defined as perceiving by intuition, as a person or the mind. It is similar to something that is natural, innate.

There are so many emotions involved in eating. Stress, lack of sleep, anger, frustration and anxiety are a few emotions that often increase appetite. Even joy and happiness can drive a person to eat more or lead to overindulging. When you’re relaxed, you let you guard down, and for some people, that can open the flood gates to larger portions, richer foods and an underestimation of total calories consumed.

Think about it, most social occasions are focused around food—birthday parties, family events, holiday celebrations, engagement parties, weddings, bridal or baby showers, retirement parties… the list goes on and on. It is important to have a strong (and healthy) relationship between your mind and body in order to make the “right choices”, hence the name of my private practice, Nutrition For Body and Mind. I have created this to promote a healthy balance between nutrition and exercise, which come hand in hand.

Cancer is a scary disease, even with many years of research, there is still no cure. We spend our lives trying to eat healthy foods that are high in antioxidants to reduce the cancer causing free radicals in our systems. Yet, it is still a common disease, and one that should not be taken lightly if diagnosed. It’s important to make lifestyle behavior modifications and follow a healthy diet to improve your symptoms and fight the disease.

Note: Photo of 1/2 grilled vegetable panini with tomato basil soup from Greenleaf restaurant- delicious and healthy! 

Jillian McKee has watched many friends and close family members deal with cancer, which has given her the motivation to further her knowledge on this topic and increase cancer awareness. She states, “If you have been diagnosed with cancer, whether leukemia or a rare cancer such as mesothelioma, you may feel like your entire world is collapsing. You may feel shocked that you were diagnosed with such a terrible disease and unsure if you would be able to beat it.” McKee and I both emphasize the need to follow a nutritious diet not only to keep you strong, but also to boost your immunity. Eating a balanced diet, however, can be difficult if you’re receiving chemotherapy treatments, which may make you feel nauseous and lose your appetite. Below are some tips that will aid in cancer prevention and battling the disease if you’re currently diagnosed: