Category Archives: Baby Steps

December 31, 2012 · 1:17 pm

My Ten Truths of 2012

As I look back on 2012, I can’t help but appreciate all I’ve experienced and all I’ve learned.

It was an interesting year for me, to say the least. Action-packed and educational.

I wanted to share with you what crystallized for me in the last 12 months:

1. Listen to my body
Earlier in the year, I wrote about craving cauliflower. As my tastes are always changing, that ship sailed and now I’m into green beans for the first time in my life.

Let your body tell you about different foods. Don’t force something that doesn’t appeal. And while you may not like something now, be open to the possibility that one day you might.

2. My sweet potatoes kill
They really do. I make the best damn sweet potatoes.

Here’s how:
-Wash the sweet potato
-Stab all over with a knife
-Wrap tightly in unbleached parchment paper
-Bake on the rack at 350 for about an hour to 1:20 (until it’s really squishy to the touch)

You won’t need to add sugar, butter, or anything. It’s that sweet. And that delicious.

3. Slow down
Sometimes I just have to slow down. I can’t do it all. Nor should I try. Nor should you.

4. I fell in love with my kitchen
Fall in love with yours. Cooking at home is the healthiest way to live.

5. Embrace imperfections
I’m still working on this one, but I’m getting better. I’m finding the beauty in the flaws…most of the time.

6. Diet can change everything
I used to be the sleepiest person. Now that I live my life free of the white stuff (white carbs, white sugar, etc.), I have tons of energy. Sometimes, too much (See #3). If something isn’t quite right with you, look at your diet first.

7. Simplify
I discovered that I’m happier when I simplify things in my life. I will continue to do so. Look to see where in your life you can reduce.

My new favorite product is NuttZo Seven Nut and Seed Butter. With chocolate. So I’m getting my chocolate fix with a protein snack all in one. One spoonful packs a punch. Yum, yum, and…organic, of course. 😉

8. Baby Steps
Rome wasn’t built in a day, right? Some of the greatest accomplishments take time…lots of time. Stick with it.

9. Life takes unexpected turns
I’ve been very surprised by my life in 2012. It took some turns that were unexpected, exciting, scary, challenging, and fulfilling. I’ve grown a lot and grown some gray hairs to prove it. 2012 was further proof that when (wo)man plans, god laughs.

Which god? Doesn’t matter. Have your own kind of faith and let it guide you.

10.  I’m a blogger
That’s right. 2012 made me a blogger. And I’m loving it. Here’s a big thank you to all of you for your support and interest. I have some great topics lined up for 2013, so stay tuned.

In the meantime, what have you learned this year?

Happy New Year!

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October 4, 2012 · 9:09 am

No More Cheeri-(GM)Os!

That’s right. I finally weened The Husband off GMO-tastic Cheerios. They have that ubiquitous “Whole Grain” stamp on them, but they’re loaded with GMOs. So I can’t stress to you enough how huge this was for me.

HUGE.

How’d I do it?

As always, I’m so glad you asked.

Answer: BABY STEPS!!!

It was, at times, a bit tricky. The husband was not always thrilled. But after trying countless organic cereals to a less than enthusiastic response, we finally found some honey flakes that worked great. I was happy.

But then I thought I’d try one more thing…

…because box cereals are still processed and there are healthier options out there…

So what’s he eating now?

That’s just the best damn part.

He’s now eating and loving…drumroll, please…

HUBBY OATS!

(It ain’t so pretty but it’s oh-so-tasty)

Ingredients (all organic)

1/3 cup of Old Fashioned Rolled Oats 
1/4 cup-ish of homemade cashew milk (basically, just enough to wet the oats without being really wet and sloshy)
1 tsp of chia seeds
2 tbsp of raisins
1 tbsp of dried currants
2 dried figs (he asked for more of those without even knowing – didn’t see that one coming!)
1/2 banana
1 tbsp of organic peanut butter 
1 tbsp of chopped walnuts
1 tsp of coconut sugar
a sprinkle of salt
shakes of cinnamon 

What Do I Do?
Put it all in a bowl and mix it up. No heating necessary. Serve.

You could add berries, hemp seeds, different nuts. The sky’s kind of the limit on this one. And it’s so easy being a one-pot-dish. Have fun with it and report back on what you add in!

Speaking of baby steps, if you’re a mom or mom-to-be looking for help in getting healthier for you and your kids (or kids-to-be!), contact me. Initial consultations are always free!

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Filed under Baby Steps, Coconut, GMO, GMO-free, Health, One Pot Dish, Organic, Recipe, Superfoods, Victories

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May 15, 2012 · 10:47 am

Victory

The hubby announced this morning:

“My weight is down again. It keeps dropping! It just feels better to eat real food. It just does. You can put that in your blog.”

Well, hon, I will. Because it’s a victory for the hubby! And a victory for Health Coach Jillian!

Here’s a little background for you followers who don’t know the hubby. He is from Ohio. Land of meat and potatoes. (No offense, Ohio ;). ) When I met him, he had cabinets full of Pop Tarts and a fridge full of diet soda. Vegetables were not in abundance.

Now he puts chia seeds in his cereal. He eats organic meat and organic lettuce on whole wheat bread. He eats salads with organic, gmo-free dressing. He eats organic peanut butter and organic jelly. He had an 18 Rabbits granola bar for the first time today. And liked it. And that was on the heels of celery and pistachios. For breakfast. He now eats most of his meals at home. He has come a long way. But I want to stress that this was no overnight change – he is where he is now after making many small changes over time. And that is the best way to do it. Remember the baby steps?

These days, if he goes off the wagon and eats something not so healthy, he deals with the aftermath. He tastes those cheap ingredients and artificial flavors for the rest of the day. I helped to lay the groundwork and now he’s devoted to being healthier because he sees how much better it feels. It’s not like he’ll never eat Chinese food again because that’s his favorite. But he’ll think twice before he eats it. It’s a rare occurrence. And that’s the key.

I am proud of him and for anyone who makes positive changes. If you do it, you reap the rewards. If you don’t, you will suffer the consequences, which may look a bit like fatigue or acid reflux, bloating or a bad taste in your mouth, stomach problems or something much worse. This isn’t meant to scare you. This is meant to show you that taking control of your health can have such a positive impact on your daily living. And when your wife is also happy with what you’ve done…well, you can’t put a price on that! 😉

Question of the Day:
What great news did you get this week?

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May 3, 2012 · 5:16 pm

Sugar Ain’t So Sweet

You may be starting to hear that sugar is the cocaine of food. That’s because it’s just that addictive. And the manufacturers know it. That’s why they’re sneaking it into our food with all different names – evaporated cane sugar, fructose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, malt syrup, cane crystals, corn sweetener, dextrose, fruit juice concentrates, lactose, maltose, molasses, honey, and agave nectar. And this isn’t the entire list. So watch out for these names and any others that sound a little suspicious. And check the grams of sugar on the labels. The lower the better. Your jaw would drop to know how much sugar you’re actually consuming, without even realizing it.

Sugar, in all of its many forms…

  • is associated with a whole host of health problems ranging from anxiety to high cholesterol
  • makes you tired
  • makes your body cling to those extra pounds
  • and makes you crave…more sugar!

It might be hard to kick it completely, so I’m recommending cutting back whenever and wherever you can. Start small, my friends. Remember the baby steps I talked about in my last post? Gradually reduce here and there by cutting down on sugary drinks, cutting back on those white carbs (the body processes white carbs and sugar the same way), skipping dessert whenever you don’t really need it, and saving those baked goods for only the most special occasions!

Let’s hear what baby steps you’ve started to take!

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May 2, 2012 · 2:56 am

Baby Steps

This is important.

If you want to get healthier, the best thing to do is take baby steps. Don’t attempt to make radical changes to your diet or lifestyle overnight. Small, gradual changes bring lasting results.

Do one thing each week to push yourself. Once your taste buds adjust, you’re ready to push them a little further. Once your workout gets a little easier, go a little harder.

You can’t lose 50 lbs overnight. And you can’t suddenly wake up and run a marathon without training. So you can’t go from eating pizza and cookies to suddenly eating spirulina and kale night and day. It won’t stick. It’s a process and it can be fun to challenge yourself.

So be patient. Embrace the journey. Going slow means going the distance.

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