February 19, 2014

A Healthy Life


At first you might think that my blog post today is full of contradictions, but in fact, it is not. I am here to share a favorite new cookie recipe with you and to ask you for suggestions for healthy eating.

Wait.
What?

In my mind it really does make sense. Live a healthy lifestyle and then enjoy small pleasures. For me that means getting my cardio on at least 3 days a week and if I'm really lucky hitting a yoga class once a week. It means cutting out chips and soda (most of the time) and cutting back on sugar (although Sunday dessert is must). It means more fruit and veg and mostly skipping fried food. It means not getting on a scale for 8 months!!! It's just a number and I won't let it define me or set my mood for the day. Pretty amazing for this reformed weigh-in addict. It means having a nicer inner voice and congratulating myself for each victory rather than tearing myself apart for each failure. It's about not saying always and never but about saying usually and occasionally. It's about moderation and changing my thinking and sometimes I still struggle with it but on the whole I'm in a much better place. I no longer fall asleep at night recounting the things I ate during the day. That is a victory in itself.

This is what has been working for me and even though this dreadful winter has set me back a smidge I am feeling really excited to re-energize my efforts. So I'd really love it if you would share with me any of your favorite healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack ideas. Any products you love? Any tips you have?

In return I'm sharing with you a favorite new cookie recipe. I love that it makes a small batch so that when I bake them on Sunday they aren't lingering all week calling to me.



Nutella Cookies

1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c nutella
1/2 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 1/2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In another medium bowl combine the butter, nutella and sugars. Using an electric mixer, cream the ingredients together, about 4 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Add chocolate chips and stir until just combined.

Using a cookie scoop, spoon out the cookie dough onto a cookie sheet, spacing the mounds about 4 inches apart. Bake until lightly golden around the edges, about 11 minutes. Use a metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool.

21 comments:

  1. You are a smart woman! I turned 50 this year and I'm just getting around to figuring some of this out. I've been going to Zumba twice a week since the new year started and absolutely love it! Would like to find something else to do more days of the week. I love walking but don't have a buddy these days. Yoga sounds wonderful.

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  2. Ooooh! Can't wait to try these cookies!
    And I agree with you! I am all about everything in moderation, 'sometimes' and 'occasionally's'! The one thing I need to add is that three days of exercise. . . . and maybe a few less chips.

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  3. these cookies look amazing! i'm a huge fan of nutella : ) we'll definitely be making these! i would love to give yoga another try... i've only gone once... and it was to a hot yoga class with my neighbor... an advanced class to boot... {that's a story for another day... haha!}

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  4. I wish I had some tips for you Jen. I am still trying to find what works for me. After 2 years at a VERY sedentary job and then breaking my foot last spring, I am more out of shape than ever. Add to that the fact that hubby and I LOVE to cook and bake and well, I'm currently low carbing it, but not seeing many results. Walking at the mall 4x a week to build up the energy and strength that I lost sitting around for 2 years. I too believe that you can't just say never to the good things. You end up sad and craving, and feeling deprived. Still working on balance and baby steps here.

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  5. We love nutella! Looks like a good recipe to try!

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  6. As for tips, I can only suggest you eat plenty of protein, less carbs, and more fresh fruits and veggies, but you probably already know that and do that. I've discovered the older I get, the harder it is to drop a few pounds.

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  7. i think it is all about moderation... if i have a "fatty" lunch, i will have a sensible dinner and vice versa. i try not to overdo it on sweets, but they are my weekness. I also do a kettle bell work out 3-4 days a week. oh, and i've started adding more protein to my diet like greek yogurt and shakes/smoothies with protein powder. thanks for sharing the recipe, it sounds divine!

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  8. Thanks for the recipe! I think you're on the right track. Lots of fruit and veggies. Everything in moderation. Walks. Rest. Water. I need to get back to this too :-)

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  9. Those sound delicious!! Your approach sounds very sensible, too. I just asked Mr. Magpie for cookies, but he said he's too busy cleaning out the garage. Silly priorities. :-) ~Angela~

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  10. Can I just say that I LOVE THIS POST!! Heck, who am I kidding, I love them all! ;) But really, I could have written this myself! I have stopped weighing myself as well. I eat very healthy and try to avoid anything processed. But I do fall off the wagon and that's ok too. I fit in my clothes and when they start to get a little snug I know it's time to rein myself in a little, lol. But really, I ride 4-5 days a week and sometimes 2 and 3 horses in a day. Strength wise I'm in the best shape of my life. However I'm still a size 10 pants and I probably will never be any smaller! And that's ok! I'm starting to love myself just the way I am. Getting older is good. :)

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  11. These look delicious! My older daughter loves Nutella. She had braces put on today and not feeling great...I think I will make these for her.
    We moved in September and i tossed my scale then...we did not have a good relationship. :).

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  12. The best thing I've learned to do is eat more protein at breakfast- fried egg on toast with one slice of turkey bacon is my standby- it really does keep me fuller longer.

    Those cookies are going to be a 'must try'- we LOVE nutella!

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  13. You probably have heard all of the tips I am going to list-Eat like a King at breakfast, a Queen at lunch and a pauper at dinner, drink lots of water all day long, skip meat once a week, although I haven't eaten red meat in years. Exercise/walk at least 30 minutes a day or more if possible. I make soups on the weekend and I do bake little treats for my family of boys but they can eat anything and not gain weight! I have tried every diet-I love the way my body looks now and I am almost 59-Weight Watcher's recipes are wonderful and my family will eat them and not even know they are eating food that has healthy ingredients. I do not eat much bread or dairy-except I love plain Greek yogurt with fresh fruit and a teaspoon of orange blossom honey. I live in Florida so I can be outdoors a lot and we live close to a beautiful beach. I take 3 yoga classes a week and work 4 days a week. Start moving more and writing down what you have eaten-you will be surprised! I add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to my foods once a day, take a multi-vitamin and lift weights every other day while I watch a 30 minute show, counting my reps. You can do it-set a goal for yourself and get an exercise buddy or walk the dog for 30 minutes every day! I love to keep moving-and if you do the smallest amount of exercise everyday and start to increase the amount of time you exercise you will see a nice change! Good luck and keep up the good posts!

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  14. nutella cookies sound delicious. thanks for sharing Jen!

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  15. oops! that was me posting above!

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  16. Have you heard of the 2-ingredient pancake? 1 banana + 1 egg = delicious!! Mash banana with a fork ~ and an egg and mix together. Grill like you do a pancake. (I do mine in a lil butter) Let is set awhile before you flip it. Here's the blog where I got the recipe. Give it a try. :)

    http://carrotsncake.com/2012/08/secrets-to-a-perfect-two-ingredient-pancake.html

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  17. Lower your sugar, fat, and salt intake. Strength training three days a week, and cardio three times a week. Those are my tips.
    The best thing, though, is to realize that you don't have to be perfect. That is the hardest thing for me. I have a tendency, when I am trying to lose weight, to really obsess over it. Or I am constantly trying to lose those "last ten pounds", but I have come to realize that maybe the reason I can't lose those pounds is because my body is perfectly fine right where it is. I am healthy, I don't wheeze when I am climbing a set of stairs, my body is strong and takes good care of me.
    It sounds like you are on the right track. Eat healthy most of the time, get some exercise, and don't stress out about your weight. Life's too short to spend it obsessing over our bodies. We do have to take care of ourselves, but life's no fun if we don't enjoy some treats now and then! :)
    Speaking of which, I am definitely going to be trying those Nutella cookies. They sound divine!
    Hope you have a wonderful day.
    Beth.

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  18. I've been been vegetarian for 5 years, for moral reasons and because our food system is so out of whack. I've been mostly vegan for a year now and that brought about the biggest change. Without meaning to, I lost weight and it is so easy to keep it off. I truly believe that once you start eating healthy, you change your tastebuds. And when the changes are made from your heart and mind for the right reasons, it is all so very easy. There's no such thing as a diet. I don't believe in depriving yourself. In fact, I eat more now than I did before. When you eat healthy, you can do that and not gain weight. Walking as often as possible is my favorite form of exercise, plus it's free and communing with nature is good for body and soul. My typical food for the day is 2 sliced bananas topped with cashew butter and flaxseed mix; dried fruit and nuts mid-morning; some type of salad for lunch usually with chickpeas or avocado or quinoa; then maybe soup for lunch; dark chocolate for a snack ... hmmm, we haven't even gotten to dinner yet. Ha! See what I mean, I do eat a lot. I just turned 48, am officially in menopause and have never felt better. :) Best wishes and blessings, Tammy

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  19. Do you know the paint color of this door? Absolutely beautiful!

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  20. I loved this post! It reminds me of a book I recently read titled, " Get Balanced, Get Blissed: Nourishment for Body, Mind, and Soul" by Lynne Goldberg http://liveblissnow.com/. The book has taught me that I need to make more conscious choices from a place of self-awareness. You put it out there so plain and simply. Thanks for the great tips. From now on I am going to take your advice and eat less sugar, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise more, and I will not get on my scale for 8 months at least! That is incredible advice! I love it!

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