by Cascade Ice on February 3, 2021
One of the most common pitfalls in creating and maintaining a healthy diet is not being prepared. When we’re prepared with healthy food options, we’re more likely to make better, more nutritious choices and stick to our game plan. However, when we’re simply left to “wing it”, it’s easy to go with what’s convenient – bagged snacks and fast food. Instead of falling off track with your healthy goals, simply take the time to establish a weekly meal prep routine. How? Here are some quick and easy tips on how to be successful at healthy meal planning.
Plan Ahead
This is the most important part of meal prepping. But you don’t have to overthink it. Think about what dishes you feel like eating in the week ahead and ask yourself what sounds good. And, if your ideal meal is less than healthy, the Internet has a ton of ideas for ingredient swaps to make a meal better for you. Loved a meal you made? Make sure to write notes on what you loved and didn’t love so you can adapt your menu in the weeks to come.
Make a Grocery List
With a healthy eating plan, you’ll definitely be consuming lots of fruits, veggies and lean proteins. Plan a weekly grocery trip with your list in hand and try not to deviate from what you came there for. By hitting the store weekly, you’ll be getting fresh ingredients each week, and you can better stick to your plan.
Buy Convenient, Portable Containers
The best meal prep containers are glass and have separate compartments for each menu item. Plastic works as well. Make sure that the containers are easy to take with you on the road, so that you can eat on the go if needed. Simply search “meal prep containers”, and you’ll be amazed at how many options are available.
Practice Portion Control
Another reason why meal prepping can truly help people maintain and lose weight is because it helps you practice portion control without really realizing it! It’s also where the right meal prep containers can play a big part. Try to have a portion of lean protein, vegetables, and healthy carbohydrates in each of your meals. If you have food allergies, you can search terms like “dairy free healthy recipes” or “gluten free healthy recipes” to get some inspiration.
Don’t Forget to Hydrate!
An often overlooked part of a healthy diet, but one of the most important…make sure you are well-hydrated! And thirst can often be mistaken for hunger. Not to mention, there are recent studies that suggest that people who drink water before meals eat an average of 75 fewer calories at each meal. Is regular water too boring? Reach for a Cascade Ice Sparkling Water to spark things up!
Do you meal prep? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
by Cascade Ice on January 8, 2021
What exactly does it mean to live a balanced life? For different people, “balanced” might mean different things. Life is a balancing act between fulfilling our desires and obligations to our family, friends, career and health. And if one area of our life gets more attention, it tends to throw off the other areas. So how do you achieve a balanced, healthy lifestyle?
A great place to start is by writing down where you think your life is now, and where you’d like to see yourself improve. Are you chronically tired? Are you wanting to be in better shape? Do you long for closer relationships with your family and friends? Define what a healthy balance means to you and start there.
Another important thing to remember is that while having goals is a great way to motivate, make sure that you approach them realistically by making small, daily improvements to your relationships, your physical body, your spiritual needs, your mental health, career and finances. Here on our Flavorful Life blog, we talk a lot about how making small changes can have a big impact on your health for years to come. Check out some of our past blog posts!
Lastly, be flexible! Lifestyle balance cannot be made overnight and expect to change your course at least a few times. It’s quite normal to reassess how you feel about things, and decisions are definitely not etched in stone. If you feel something isn’t working, switch it up! Make time for yourself each day to “check in” and see which areas of your life need some rebalancing. We are all a work in progress!
How do you strive for a balanced life? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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by Cascade Ice on December 30, 2020
Making New Year’s resolutions has become a tradition, and a vast majority of people tend to make resolutions to be healthier. But whether it’s to lose weight or exercise more, many healthy resolutions fizzle out just a few weeks into the year. So instead of setting ourselves up for failure, what can we do instead?
Attaining goals is all about making small changes daily that add up over time and end up becoming long term lifestyle changes. As humans, if we set our ambitions too high and don’t make our goals, we tend to self-sabotage or even feel guilty. Rather than start 2021 out on the wrong foot, try making these small, daily changes to your life!
Hydrate
A recent study found that 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated, which leads to issues like fatigue, hunger, headaches, weakness, high blood pressure and even chronic joint pain. Keep water in various places in your home and car where it’s easily accessible so you can sip throughout the day. You can even set daily goals for yourself (they even sell large water bottles that have markings on the side showing where you should be at different times of day!). Regular water feels boring? Cascade Ice Sparkling Water offers plenty of different flavors and product lines to suit your needs and keep things interesting.
Get Some ZZZ’s
With the rise in electronic usage, we have also become sleep deprived. Try setting realistic limits for yourself to turn off your phone, tablet or TV at least 30 minutes before bedtime each night and try to establish a regular sleep routine. Aim for 8 hours of sleep per night, and make sure your room is dark and quiet. Sleep plays into our overall health, affecting everything from your ability to maintain a healthy weight to fending off depression and anxiety.
Interact with Others
In a global pandemic, it’s definitely tough for everyone to resume fun activities like parties and vacations, but it’s now more important than ever to make sure you’re not “over-isolated.” Try making a regular Zoom call with your family or even schedule a socially distanced outdoor picnic with a friend. The benefits of seeing those you love (even if it’s not in-person) are tremendous – talking with friends can boost the serotonin levels in your brain, leaving you feeling happier and more content. Get creative with ways you can interact with others on a daily basis and you’ll notice that your physical and mental health will get a boost!
Move Your Body
You don’t have to set your sights on establishing a strenuous new fitness routine. This daily goal can be as simple as taking the dog for a long walk twice a day (which benefits you AND your pup!), or even stretching and meditating at home. There are thousands of resources online to suit your preferences, but all that matters is that you move your body for 30 minutes out of your 24-hour day. You’ll be surprised how these small physical fitness goals can transform into an entire healthy lifestyle change, keeping you moving by becoming a habit.What healthy do you have for the new year? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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by Cascade Ice on December 9, 2020
This upcoming year, just like every other year, millions of Americans will make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. But, by the 6-month mark, less than half of them will be unsuccessful in losing or maintaining their weight.
What are the common pitfalls that often cause people to fail at their diet? The answers may be more straightforward than you think! Read on to find out the most common mistakes so that you can avoid being another New Year’s resolution dropout!
You Fall into Marketing Traps
As a society, we often get duped into the idea that fat-free and gluten-free are always a healthier option. However, reading the actual ingredients on products is an important part of weight loss. Unfortunately, sometimes health claims on diet foods are misleading. Instead of falling for fancy marketing language on products, get to know what’s actually in your food and adjust your purchases from there. Remember – not all foods with high fat content or gluten are bad for you! Each person is different. Consult your doctor to come up with a food plan that’s tailored to your body’s needs.
You Drink Your Calories
It’s so easy to forget how much sugar is in that frappucino, or how many calories are in that post-workout sports drink. Instead, make it a rule to only drink water (or a lightly sweetened sparkling water like Cascade Ice), and only the occasional sugary beverage. Unfortunately, sugary, high-calorie drinks contain a large portion of your daily dietary allowances, but won’t leave you satisfied for long. As a result, you end up consuming way more calories and sugar than you even realized.
You Skip Meals
Most people mistakenly think that skipping meals is an easy way to eat less calories throughout the day when trying to lose weight. However, studies have shown that it can often lead to overeating later on, which completely defeats the purpose! Not only that, but skipping food can cause your metabolism to stall. Instead, opt for a quick, high-protein option if you’re busy and can’t enjoy a full meal, like a protein smoothie or homemade trail mix.
You Pass on the Treats
It’s counterintuitive, but experts agree that if you deprive yourself of your favorite treats completely, you are more likely to binge later on. Instead of completely nixing treats, allow yourself a small one each day, whether it’s salty chips or a piece of chocolate. In the long run, you’ll be happier and less likely to fall off the healthy eating bandwagon.
Your Sleep Schedule is Out of Whack
Sleep is one of the most crucial aspects to living a healthy life, and it correlates directly to your diet goals. Getting regular, uninterrupted sleep each night can regulate hormones and stave off cravings, which in turn can keep you on track. Aim for 7-8 hours each night, and try to stick to the same schedule.How do you maintain a healthy lifestyle? Tell us in the comments below or share a photo! Remember to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
