by Cascade Ice on March 5, 2021
March is National Nutrition Month, and that means we are focused on the best ways to make our diets packed with more nutrition to feed and nurture our bodies. This sounds daunting – but does it have to be? No way! Below we give you some quick tips on how to make each food and beverage choice more nutritious, so you can live a longer, healthier life!
Choose Whole Grains
Carbs are NOT the enemy, even though we’ve been led to believe that by the diet industry. Instead of focus on eliminating carbs, which are essential to many of the body’s functions, pay attention to specific ingredients. Refined grains have been linked to countless health issues, so when you’re shopping for bread and cereals, read the label to make sure it’s made with whole grains and seeds only, not a mixture of whole and refined grains.
Make an Egg-Cellent Breakfast
Another lie we’ve been told? That eggs have too much cholesterol and should be eliminated from your diet. Eggs are actually a fantastic source of protein, and they’re packed with essential nutrients like choline that keep your body functioning optimally.
Studies have even shown that eating eggs in the morning can increase feelings of “fullness” and can prevent you from consuming too many calories throughout the rest of your day. Cheers for eggs!
Drink Enough Water
We may seem like a broken record, but it truly is one of the most important facets of good health and nutrition – make sure you are properly hydrated! Drinking your daily dose of water may benefit weight loss, reduce appetite, and help your organs function more efficiently to rid the body of waste and toxins. It’s even been shown to increase energy! If plain old water is too boring, try one of the many sparkling water varieties that Cascade Ice has to offer.
Take some High-Quality Supplements
Even if you were 100 percent diligent about eating healthy all the time, you’d still likely be lacking certain nutrients in your diet. A daily multivitamin supplement is a great way to make sure you’re not missing out on any crucial vitamins and minerals. Vitamin D is one of the most common deficiencies in our diet, and it’s extremely important for bone health and your immune system function. Omega-3’s is another crucial nutrient that Americans typically lack, so taking high quality supplements daily can really help you achieve your body’s full, healthy potential.
Don’t Overcomplicate it
If a healthy eating or diet plan sounds more complicated than it should be, it’s likely not going to be effective for you in the long term. Instead of trying to make a complete overhaul of your diet, focus instead on making small, daily goals that over time will become lifelong healthy habits that you can stick with. For example, make simple switches like trading that 30-minute TV show for a neighborhood walk, or shutting off your electronics 30 minutes before bedtime and aiming for 8 hours of sleep each night. You’ll be pleased to find out that all of these small daily decisions end up benefiting your overall health, and you’ll feel and look better too!
How do you live a healthier, more nutritious lifestyle? 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 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 February 1, 2021
Photo: @PeachinSeattle
It’s just weeks away from the national “day of love” – Valentine’s Day. And it’s our first Valentine’s Day holiday where people are looking for ways to get creative and celebrate while social distancing and staying safe during the pandemic. Personalized picnics are a fun way to get out of the house, get fresh air, and enjoy the company of loved ones while staying safe. Here’s our tips on how to plan a Valentine’s Day picnic that is healthy and FUN!
Get comfortable
Some areas of the country may have perfect weather for a picnic, while others may still be cold. So, prepare for the climate that you’ll be picnicking in! Bring foldable lawn chairs, thick blankets and a small portable space heater to stay comfortable in colder climates. In more temperate areas, bring some sunglasses, a blanket and an ice chest to keep things cool while you enjoy the picnic. You can snuggle with your special someone and enjoy the scenery if you’re prepared for the right weather.
Pack some healthy snacks
Pack some cheese slices, fruit, fresh veggies and dips, and even some crackers. Or make a small sandwich spread where you can combine healthy ingredients to make your favorite sandwich. Make sure to prepare everything before you head out like packing food in airtight containers and bringing appropriate silverware so you can spend your time enjoying the picnic rather than worrying about what you will eat. To top it all off, maybe include a healthier dessert like chocolate covered strawberries for dessert!
Don’t forget the beverages!
Plain old water just won’t cut it for a special Valentine’s Day picnic! Try a sparkling water like Cascade Ice Water, and maybe even pack some extra add-ins if you’d like to whip up a skinny cocktail on the spot for that special someone. We have loads of cocktail and “mocktail” recipe ideas that are low-sugar and low-calorie, so all you have to worry about is what glass you’ll enjoy it in!
Are you planning a Valentine’s Day picnic this 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 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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