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12 Healthy Holiday Secrets



Ha! If it were only this easy! Navigating through the holidays can be challenging when you are trying to stay on track to reaching your healthy lifestyle goals but we have 12 tips for you to help you maintain throughout the holiday season:

1) Balance your meals 

2) Eat a healthy breakfast every day, and especially on the day you are going to eat a lot. Don’t starve yourself. You will only eat more at the meal. 

3) If you don’t love what is in front of you, don’t eat it! Save that for the really special treats. 



4) Track your food every day 

5) Regift your food! 

6) Review your weight loss goal every day. Think how you will feel after the new year if you have not gained weight. 

7) If you overindulge, don’t feel guilty. Get back on track. 

8) Keep healthy snacks on hand at all times. 

9) Keep moving. Add exercise whenever possible 

10) Set those saboteurs straight. Make sure people know about your maintenance plan. Tell them you are doing it for health reasons 

11) Gauge your weight by how your clothes are fitting. 


12) Create healthier versions of the food you love.





9 Secrets To Surviving Your Next Holiday Party


By: Susanne Ware - TNT Health Educator


We've all been there during the holiday season.  You've committed to a healthier way of eating and have stayed the course on the way to your goal.  And then....BAM!  The holiday party invitations start rolling in.  But don't worry!  We have 9 secrets we are going to share to help you survive those parties and stay on track.  And the best part...you won't even feel like you are missing out on all the holiday cheer!


Bring Your Own Food

1. Contribute a healthy dish to a gathering to ensure there’s something you can indulge in.

2. Eat the best-for-you offerings first. For example, hot soup as a first course―especially when it's broth-based, not cream-based―can help you avoid eating too much during the main course.

3. Stand more than an arm's length away from munchies, like a bowl of nuts or chips, while you chat so you're not tempted to raise your hand to your mouth every few seconds.

4. Concentrate on your meal while you're eating it. Focus on chewing your food well and enjoying the smell, taste, and texture of each item. Research shows that mealtime multitasking (whether at home or at a party) can make you pop mindless calories into your mouth. Of course, dinner-party conversation is only natural, but try to set your food down until you're finished chatting so you are more aware of what you're taking in.


Snack Before a Party

5. Before going out, have a healthy snack to curb your appetite.

6. Eat breakfast. This has been shown to prevent overeating later in the day.

7. Limit the number of high-calorie foods on your party plate. Research has shown that when faced with a variety of foods with different tastes, textures, smells, shapes, and colors, people eat more―regardless of their true hunger level. Cutting down on your personal smorgasbord can decrease what you end up eating by 20 to 40 percent.

8. Choose foods wisely, filling your plate with low-calorie items, such as leafy green salads, vegetable dishes, and lean proteins, and taking smaller portions of the richer ones. That way, you can eat a larger amount of food for fewer calories and not feel deprived.

9. Pop a sugar-free mint in your mouth.When you’ve had enough (and don’t want to eat more), the feeling of a fresh palate can curb additional noshing.

Weigh your Brain and Eat Right Through The Holidays (FREE printable hunger scale chart)

FREE PRINTABLE - hunger scale chart - decide how full you are with this chart! (AWESOME resource for Christmas time!)
Well you made it!  You survived Thanksgiving…even if just by the skin of your teeth.  And if you’re anything like me you’re probably scrambling to get ready for Christmas.  The holidays can be a mix of celebration and stress!  And both of those can get healthy eating off track.  So it’s important to stay mindful of our eating especially through the holidays.
With so many sweet treats around us now 24/7, mindful eating can seem almost impossible.  Stack a hectic schedule and a little holiday stress on top of that and it can become the perfect food storm.  I can relate because I have battled with being an emotional eater and if I am not “mindful”, I can find myself gravitating to food when I am stressed, antsy and simply burning the candle at both ends.  So I wanted to share a little tip that I (and my clients) use to help keep eating in check…it’s a hunger scale.  A hunger scale chart is a wonderful way to help you listen to your body instead of your head before you eat.
If you can identify as an emotional eater, you are not alone.  We all eat for many reasons and being hungry isn’t always one of them.  Stress, anxiety, boredom, social influences, even exhaustion are just a few emotions that can drive us straight to food.  And holidays are the perfect time for these emotions to become elevated.  Using a hunger scale during this eating season is one of the best ways to keep the scale steady.

So when you find yourself standing in front of the refrigerator, over that plate of cookies or in the pantry looking for something to eat, first ask yourself…”Am I really hungry?”  This little graphic might help you answer that question…
If you decide it is more “emotional hunger”, find something to distract yourself or grab a bottle of water.  If it is “physical hunger”, see where you are on the hunger scale.   The goal with the hunger scale is to never start eating below a 3 and to stop eating when you are at a 6:

10           So full, you feel like you will bust
9              Full and Uncomfortable
8              Full
7              Starting to feel full
6              Slight feeling of fullness (good time to stop eating)
5              Neutral- feel energized and comfortable
4              Slight feeling of hunger (good time to eat)
3              Hungry (best not to drop below this)
2              Hungry and light headed
1              So hungry you feel shaky and can’t think straight
                (will be hard to make healthy food choices, watch portions and eat slow)

Remember, it takes the body 15-20 minutes to feel full or satisfied.  Eating slowly and pausing frequently can be helpful in figuring out when you need to stop eating to reach the feeling of 6 after a meal. I like to keep a copy handy of the hunger scale in thekitchen on my fridge and a copy in my purse.  Keeping it handy helps me remember to use it.
You may find that using a tool like this feels a bit foreign at first, especially during the holiday season, and that’s okay.  The key is to be mindful of why you are eating as well as what and how much you are eating.
Here is a simple, easy to use HUNGER SCALE for you to print and start using today.
Let us know how it works for you!

Angela Wilkinson President & Founder BS, DTR, PLSN

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10 Healthy On-The-Go-Snacks




If you like to hit all those wonderful Thanksgiving weekend sales it will be important for you to keep up your energy.  Here are 10 great healthy On-The-Go snack ideas from Shape magazine.  They are perfect for marathon shopping because they are healthy, will keep up your energy and don't need to be refrigerated!  The guidelines for a healthy snacks is that it ranges between 150-200 calories and is a combination of the right carbohydrates (for quick energy) and either protein or healthy fats (for staying power).  

Top 10 Snacks for On-The-Go:

  1. Trail Mix: Make your own by combining 2 parts nuts with one part no-sugar-added dried fruit and put a 1/3 cup serving in a plastic baggie. Or try one of the new pre-packaged options that are already portioned out.
  1. Apple and Peanut Butter: Yes, you can take this with you! Apples do not have to be refrigerated and travel very well. Many companies now sell single-serving packages of peanut butter, which make them very easy to throw in your purse.
  1. Lean Beef Jerky and Unsweetened Apple Sauce: This makes for a great sweet and salty combination. Individually-wrapped beef jerky and single serving containers of apple sauce make this an easy snack to keep anywhere- even in your purse.
  1. Tuna Snack Packs: I found these at the grocery store in the aisle with the regular cans of tuna. These snack packs come complete with a single-serving packet of tuna, some light mayo, relish, and whole wheat crackers. I often take them in the car on road trips for a filling snack.
  1. Popcorn with Dried Roasted Chickpeas: You can find roasted, dried and seasoned chickpeas in specialty grocery stores or you can make your own- add it to some pre-popped popcorn for a flavor, crunchy snack.
  1. Almond Butter and Banana Sandwich on Whole Wheat Bread: Don't just think of sandwiches as lunch fare-options such as this can make great snacks as well. I cut my sandwich into fourths before packing it up so that I can just eat the amount I need. This is good for a day of driving too as one sandwich can serve as 2 or 3 snacks.
  1. Carrot Sticks and a Wedge of Laughing Cow Cheese: If you will be eating your snack in less than 4 hours, this snack works as a portable option as these things can stay unrefrigerated just fine for about that long. If it is going to be longer than that, or you would like to be able to take more fresh options with you, simply get a small cooler with ice packs to keep in your car to keep the food cool.
  1. Snack Bars: Choose ones that contain a combination of carbohydrates and protein, such as Luna bars, Kind bars, and Lara bars. I always keep one of these in my gym bag and purse.
  1. Dry Whole-Grain Cereal mixed with Sunflower Seeds: This is a great option that you can seal in a plastic baggie and keep in your purse or desk drawer for several weeks. Use 2 parts cereal and 1 part seeds and limit total serving to 1/3 cup.
  1. Rice Cake with Low-fat Pudding Cup: If you are craving something sweet on the go, this snack is a great option. Choose a pudding cup that doesn't require refrigeration and pair it with a whole grain rice cake for a snack that is a good source of calcium and also provides a little protein and fiber.

What snacks are your favorites?

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Fun with Food: Thanksgiving Turkey Veggie Trays

Total Nutrition Technology



We are always looking for creative ways to help make our Holidays fun and HEALTHY!    There are a lot of holiday recipes out there but we put together some of our favorite ways to serve vegetables!  We love these because they are festive, fun, crowd-pleasing (even the kiddos), inexpensive, quick to make, inexpensive and healthy.  Can you tell we love them?  Well here are a few for some inspiration!



















Which one is your favorite?






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Rubber Bands Make Snack-Time Slices Fresh!

via ~ Chobani



Rubber bands make snack-time slices fresh!

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Portion Control Just Got ALOT Easier!


TNT Health Educator: Stacey Gretka

PortionMate



A big part of following any nutrition plan, no matter your health goals, is to know how much you are consuming. Not to mention work towards making sure those portions are the right sizes for you. Short of carrying measuring cups and a food scale with you to dine out, there hasn't been much help away from home on this front. That’s all about to change! 

With the light and portable construction of PortionMate rings, any business trip, vacation, or even picnic in the park is still under your control. The rings nest inside one another for easy transport. They are color coded for quick and easy use, and rather than leveling food into a measuring cup, to dump it unceremoniously onto a plate, these easy-to-clean rings allow diners and dieters alike to enjoy a beautifully presented (and properly portioned) meal or snack. Bonus: because the rings are so easy to use, even kids as young as three are able to understand the concept and properly portion their carbohydrates, proteins, and fats onto their own plates! 

With all these benefits and an amazingly low price, we can’t help but recommend it to our clients. No more guessing and comparing to invisible baseballs and varying size fists, with PortionMate you’ll get every portion just right every time, and that’s why PortionMate gets the TNT Seal of Approval. 

PortionMates are now available through Total Nutrition Technology.  

Start getting your portions right day...visit tntgetfit.com to purchase your set!




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Holiday Eating Survival Guide





Let’s be honest, from the moment you buy that first bag of Halloween candy until the crystal ball drops on New Year’s Eve, do you ever feel like holiday temptations plot to keep you from sticking to your healthy eating habits?  Sadly the average weight gain between Oct 31- Jan 1st is 7-14 pounds!  So with that said, you may ask yourself… Is it really possible to eat healthy during the holiday season and not feel like you are missing out on all the holiday fun?  Well the answer is definitely yes!  There is a way to approach holiday eating without sabotaging the weight-loss you worked so hard to achieve.  Here is my Holiday Eating Survival Guide. 
Put a Healthy Spin on Family Recipes
Family recipes are always a staple at holiday gatherings.  These recipes can usually be made healthier without sacrificing the flavor you have always loved.  For example, substitute applesauce instead of oil in your cakes, use 2 egg whites in place of a whole egg, and use low-fat dairy products instead of whole fat.  And make holiday treats in smaller quantities. This year bake a small-size cake that the family will finish at one sitting with no tempting leftovers.

Have a Plan
The holidays can be a stressful time. The weeks leading up to the holidays are full of shopping, wrapping presents, going to parties, hosting family and friends, baking and cooking and at the same time keeping the rest of your family in check.  Don’t let any stresses that may arise steer you into poor eating habits.  Having a plan is the best course of action.  Have healthy meals frozen and ready to go for those crazy hectic days.  Keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand when you’re on the go.  And when you get to a party scan the buffet table for the healthiest options beforejumping in.  And when you do sample one of those tasty holiday treats just be mindful of calories and portions.

Being Mindful Doesn’t Mean Depriving Yourself
Changing some habits can keep a diet going without having to give up holiday treats altogether.  For example, make a list of favorite holiday foods and then pick two or three to enjoy this year.  This way you can enjoy yourself without over indulging in all those holiday temptations.

Focus on Family not Food
Plan on activities for which food is not the primary focus. And, when food is an important part of the celebration try and spend that time catching up with family and friends instead of hovering over the buffet table.  And don’t be afraid to let your family in on your plan.  Friends and family are more than happy to help.

Eat Before the Party / Eat Smaller Portions
Don’t skip a major meal like breakfast or lunch because you want to indulge at the party.  Eating a healthy meal or snack before you arrive can help you pass on any tempting treats that will come your way.  And when you do eat at the party, keep you portions in check.  In fact it doesn’t hurt to even keep your portions a little smaller than usual to help avoid overeating.

Make Exercise Time
There are 43,200 minutes in the month of November; surely you can find 30 minutes a day to fit in your exercise. And exercise is a huge outlet for stress.  If you don’t have time to make it to the gym or hop on your elliptical then turn holiday preparations into exercise.  Clean the house at a faster pace.  Park your car at the far end of the parking lot if you are going shopping.  Rake lease for 30 minutes.  Raking leaves is a great way to burn those extra calories.  If you have children involve them in this activity.  You can rake piles and let them jump in them.  What Fun!  Enjoy your time and family while burning calories.

Avoid excessive alcoholic beverages
It is so easy to drink calories.  We can do it mindlessly.  So watch what you drink over the holidays.  Plus as you drink, your will-power can subside and the alcohol can spark you appetite.  Grab a glass of sparkling water with a twist or a diet soda instead of a sugary cocktail.  And don’t forget your water.  It will help you keep up your energy and help curtail your appetite when you are surrounded by all the tastes of the holiday.

The holidays will soon be upon us.  Even though it can be a challenging time to keep healthy eating habits, I assure you it is possible.  Just using a few of these 7 tips can help minimize your caloric intake while still letting you enjoy the holiday festivities.  And it will help keep you from dreading that scale come January 2nd!
What are some of your tips for keeping healthy eating habits over the holidays?

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Meet TNT Health Educator Carol Goodwin


Carol Goodwin ~ TNT Health Educator, BS, HFS, ACSM
CHARLOTTE SOUTH END



Carol is a Health Educator with Total Nutrition Technology and has been putting her expertise and passion to use by help others realize their true health and fitness potential.  It is certainly more than just a job for her and she took some time to share why she loves her job and also provide some useful tips that can help during your personal journey of health.

" I love to see the changes in my clients! Its like we are doing makeovers from the inside out! If I can inspire even the smallest bit of a change - its worth it to me." ~ Carol


Carol's Top 5 Tips - 
  1. The grocery store is "the other fast food" choice. Get in the habit of running in and out of the grocery store vs waiting in the drive-thru.
  2. Leave your house every day as if you are going on a road trip - pack all your food and your workout gear.
  3. Keep a big bowl of non perishable snack items on your kitchen counter and grab 2 different ones each day to take with you.
  4. Rotate your fruits and veggies out each week when you choose them at the grocery store to ensure variety.
  5. Draw lines on your water bottle to set "drinking goals" - for example, draw a line 1/2 way down. Try to drink down to that line by 12 noon.

***If you are in the University or Concord area and would like to learn more about the products/services TNT offers, contact Carol to see how she can help you realize your goal.  Carol@tntgetfit.com or call 704-549-9550***



About Carol
Carol first joined Total Nutrition Technology in 2008 and is the acting Area Manager for the North Charlotte Region. She holds a BS in Health Education and is also a Certified Personal Trainer. In addition Carol has certifications in Massage Therapy and Weight loss counseling. She chose TNT because of the "cutting edge" type of approach in the industry and the high level of personalization in the customized programs. In addition, this type of service attracts a "can do" type of clientele, which I am grateful for every day. 

Tips for Dealing With a Picky Eater


Via ~ American Heart Association /  National Eating Healthy Day



When you get home from a long day at work, the last thing you want to do is wage war over broccoli at the dinner table. That’s why it’s so easy to fall into the trap of making mac-n-cheese or ordering pizza. It keeps you out of an “eat your vegetables” fight. The good news is, getting a picky eater to eat a nutritious meal doesn't have to be a battle. 

Here are some tips for dealing with a picky eater:

1. Start by introducing healthier elements into foods that your child already likes. For example, offer 
blueberry pancakes, carrot muffins, fruit slices over a favorite cereal, chunks of bell pepper in a potato 
salad, or shredded veggies over rice.

2. Include your kids in the prep work. By being involved in grocery shopping and food preparation, your 
kids will have more ‘buy-in.’ If they feel some ownership over the meal, they may be more likely to eat it.

3. Don’t buy unhealthy foods. Out of sight, out of mind. If the chips and cookies aren’t around, your kids 
can’t eat them. They may resist at first, but when they get hungry, they’ll start munching the carrot sticks. 
Keep healthy foods on hand — 100 percent juice instead of colas or sugary drinks, and a bag of apples 
instead of a bag of chips.

4. Schedule snack time and stick to it. Most kids like routine. If your kids know they will only get food 
at certain times, they’ll eat what they get when they get it. Try to have snacks incorporate two food 
groups. For example, offer cheese and whole-grain crackers or apple slices with low-fat yogurt or 
cottage cheese.

5. Have healthy finger foods available. Kids like to pick up foods, so give them foods they can handle. 
Fruit and veggie chunks (raw or cooked) are great finger-food options.

6. Repeal the “clean your plate” rule. Kids know when they’re full, so let them stop. Overeating is one 
of the major reasons we get too many calories.

7. Encourage kids to “eat their colors.” This game works well with younger kids. Food that’s bland in 
color often also lacks nutrients. Eating a variety of brightly colored foods provides more nutrients in 
greater variety.

8. Don’t cut out treats altogether. Think moderation. A scoop of ice cream or a serving of Oreos is all 
right occasionally. If you cut out all the goodies, your kids will be more likely to overeat when they do 
get them. Make sure to moderate the treat consumption.

9. Veg out at the dinner table, not the TV. Eating in front of the TV is distracting, and kids may not 
notice that they’re full because they’re wrapped up in the show. Eating as a family is a great time to 
catch up.

10. Be a good role model. The best way to influence kids is by example. Don’t expect them to eat 
spinach if you won’t touch it.


photo source: http://teenymanolo.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/picky_eater.jpg

Article copyright © 2012 American Heart Association. This article is brought to you by the American Heart Association’s Simple Cooking with Heart® Program. For more articles and simple, quick and affordable recipes, visit heart.org/simplecooking.

TNT Tips for Smart Snacking


The importance of planning ahead is to set yourself up for success.  Planning can make your life easier and it helps prevent deviation from the program and gets you results QUICKER.  At first this may appear to be time consuming and feel awkward but it is important to realize that this is NEW and will get easier over time.  We can assure you that proper PLANNING is the ONLY way you will successfully achieve and keep your goals.  Just as you would not take a trip w/o a road map to a destination you have never been to before, the same applies to this.  Planning is your road map ….       

  1. Pre-measure snacks.  For example, if one starch exchange is equivalent to 10 pretzels, count out 10 pretzels and store them in zip-lock snack bags.  Then when you need a snack, you can just grab the pre-measured bag and go!  This keeps portion sizes in check.  This can be done with dried fruits, baked chips, nuts, seeds, and cereals.   Some pre-made snacks can even be stored in the car or at work.    
  2. Before leaving the house for the day, pack a pre-measured healthy snack that is easy to consume.  This will keep you away from fast food and high calorie convenience foods.
  3. Don’t shop when you are hungry.  It is best to make a list at home and stick to it. 
  4. Try to eat meals and snacks on a regular basis to prevent blood sugar levels from dipping too low.



In order to make this part of your daily/weekly habit you must first put it into practice day in and day out…If you want to achieve a new life style and a new physique then patience is a virtue.  
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The Buzz Breakdown: Caffeine Content of Common Foods & Drinks




We all know that you can find plenty of caffeine in a regular cup of coffee (80-150 mg per 6oz. cup of brewed coffee). But you might be surprised to learn that there is as much (or more) caffeine in common things you eat and drink throughout your day.  Here's a breakdown on the buzz found in common foods and drinks:



"Energy" Products
Energy shots: ~100 to 280 mg per 2 oz
Energy drinks: ~40 to 200 mg per 8 oz



Coffee Drinks
Starbucks drip coffee: 240 mg per 12-oz ("tall") cup
Generic drip coffee: 135 mg per 8-oz cup
Instant coffee: 95 mg per 8-oz cup
Starbucks espresso: 75 mg per 1-oz shot
Generic espresso: 40 mg per 1-oz shot
Decaf coffee: ~ 5 mg per 8-oz cup


Tea
Black tea: 40 mg per 8-oz cup
Green tea: 25 mg per 8-oz cup
Bottled iced tea: ~25-40 mg per 20-oz bottle


Soda (per can)
Mountain Dew: 55 mg
Dr Pepper: 43 mg
Sunkist Orange Soda: 41 mg
Pepsi: 39 mg
Coke: 34 mg
A&W Cream Soda: 25 mg
Barq's Root Beer: 23 mg


Chocolate

Candy bar: usually less than 10 mg
Milk chocolate: 10 mg per 1.5-oz serving
Dark chocolate: 20 mg per 1.5-oz serving
Chocolate milk: 1 to 5 mg per 8-oz serving
Hot chocolate: 5 to 12 mg per 8-oz serving


Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt
Coffee-flavored ice cream or frozen yogurt: 20-45 mg per half-cup serving
Chocolate ice cream or frozen yogurt: less than 5 mg per half-cup serving
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