Happy Monday all! I am delighted to share a guest post with you from Emily, a lovely gal I met at the Healthy Living Summit. Here we are on the left being models. You know, normal conference antics.
I know fall is almost over (she did send this post to me a month ago…oops!), but there are still very relevant tips you can put into practice today! Enjoy!
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5 Tips to Stay
Healthy this Fall
Hi there! My name is Emily, a
Registered Dietitian and healthy-living blogger over at Sinful
Nutrition. I’m so excited to fill in today for Amanda and also
write about one of my favorite times of the year. FALL! Leaves are
changing, the air is chilly, and the start of the holiday season is
right around the corner. While there are plenty of things to enjoy
during the season, it can also be a difficult time for some to stick
to staying fit and healthy. The days get shorter and colder and the
over abundance of pumpkin-spiced goodies and pies may sound like a
recipe for diet disaster, but I am here to tell you it doesn’t have
to be! Here are 5 ways that you can stay fit & healthy while
still enjoying the flavors of the season.
Apple & Pumpkin Picking
It’s no mystery that Fall is abundant
with everything apple and pumpkin related. Instead of picking up your
usual bag of apples at the grocery store, make a day to visit a local
orchard and pick your own! Not only are local apples fresher,
cheaper, and overall a better deal, but also picking your own is a
great way to sneak in some exercise! Plus, you get to pick out the
biggest and best apple to call your own and enjoy the outdoors. Now
you can’t find that at your local grocery store.
If the orchard has a pumpkin patch,
stop by and give it a visit. You can squeeze in some extra mileage to
your orchard exercise and find a perfect pumpkin to carve. Don’t
forget to save the seeds as you carve for a healthy treat
afterwards, too! Simply rinse and dry the seeds, spread on a baking
sheet, sprinkle with your favorite seasonings, and bake in a 400
degree oven for about 20 minutes. Some of my favorite spices to use
are cinnamon, chili powder, and curry powder. Enjoy this seasonal
snack that is packed with vitamin E, zinc, and B vitamins, and also
helps lower cholesterol and protect against osteoporosis.
Take in the Scenery
There’s no better time to enjoy the
outdoors than Fall. The changing colors and cool temps make for the
perfect scenic walk or hike. Check your local area for hiking trails,
state parks, or even just around the neighborhood to enjoy the
scenery while getting some exercise at the same time. Nothing
motivates me more to get outdoors than the falling leaves and crisp
smell of cool air. Speaking of all these beautiful leaves, that
brings me to my next tip…
Rake in the Fitness
As much as we all dread the countless
afternoons spent raking the yard clean, only to wake up the next
morning to a scene that shows no evidence of all your hard work, put
a positive spin on it. Instead, think of it as a way to get in some
more exercise. Skip the dumbbells, and pick up a rake! Since you are
using your arms and shoulders, raking is an excellent upper body
workout. Also, raking can burn up to 300 calories per hour!
It sounds better to me than the gym already. Not to mention, you can
build an awesome scarecrow with all those leaves like me.
Don’t Make Crust a Must
While Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be
the same without an array of pies it’s easy to overdo it at the
dessert table. One tip is to pick a pie that only has one layer of
crust instead of two. Most of the calories in pie come from the
crust, so cutting back will slash the calories easily. One way I do
this is by only adding a top crust to an apple pie, and forgetting
the bottom layer. This saves 110 calories and 7 grams of fat while
still enjoying a holiday treat. Also, try to go for a fruit filled or
pumpkin pie instead of a nut or custard filled pie which tend to be
higher in calories and fat. This way you can have your pie, and eat
it too!
Hot Swap
The cooler weather calls for warmer
drinks, but do you know how many calories are in that pumpkin-spiced
latte? The average 12 oz latte packs in about 300 calories and
11 grams of fat. That’s about the same as a slice of pumpkin
pie! Some easy ways to cut back on calories are to ask for skim or
soy milk instead of whole, and pass on the whipped cream topping.
Knock it down to a 100 calorie treat by ordering a small (8 oz)
instead of a tall and still enjoy a seasonal favorite.
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Tell me…
Do you bake pies? Have you ever baked a crust-less pie?
Do you ever go for a healthier latte or do you go all out for a treat? Personally I sub out almond milk (for a non-lactose version) and go light on the syrup….I even used to do sugar free syrups, but I’m trying to get away from artificial sweeteners.
Linking up to:
Marvelous in my Monday with Katie at Healthy Diva Life
Ashley @ Power, Love, and Self
Hi Amanda – I just found your blog and love it! I started my own blog last week and your blogging 101 series is soooo helpful! Thank you so much – I feel like a fish out of water with all of this tech stuff!
Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut
Ah I’m so glad you like it!! I still have a couple more guest posts on that coming! If you want you can also send me questions you have via e-mail and I might try to do a couple more posts myself on technical stuff. I sure don’t know everything but I’ve learned a lot in the past 3 years!! 🙂
Ashley @ Power, Love, and Self
I’m such a novice, I don’t even know where to begin with questions!!
Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut
Oh that’s okay, I’m here whenever ya need me! 🙂
Katie Cummings
Yay! So glad I got to see my HLS roomie!! I think skipping a crust is genius!!
Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut
Isn’t it?? Or even half of the crust! I would have never thought of that!!
Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl
I hardly ever drink my calories..I like food too much! 😉
Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut
haha I am with you there!! I need the crunch or some texture to feel full!
Marissa
Love Emily and this post!
Amanda aka Semi-Health Nut
Me too!! 🙂