Welcome!

Who doesn’t love food? I know personally I love food, however for the past few years I have been analyzing different diet and healthy eating trends and comparing the benefits, and also the realistic ability to actually accomplish the diet- for a busy girl like me who doesn’t get back to her house until 10pm I need something that quick and easy!

My name is Erika Welter and I am a student at Southern New Hampshire University. I am starting my junior year here at school, how time flies by! I am a marketing major with a minor in social media marketing. As mentioned earlier, I am constantly on the go, however I am always trying to eat healthy! A few organizations and teams I participate here at Southern New Hampshire are I am on the cheerleading team, I am a Resident Assistant for juniors and seniors on campus, I am a student worker in the office of Academic Advising and also I am a Peer Advising Leader, I am an Admissions Student Leader, I am the Vice President of Professional Development for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and a few other clubs on campus.

For my social media class I will be blogging about healthy food trends throughout the semester. I am challenging myself, along with anyone else who is following my blog to be more conscious of their eating habits and finding easy, fast HEALTHY meals, compared to the convenient cafeteria burgers, and the McDonalds right down the street. Be sure to follow the blog and if you have any feedback or suggestions be sure to let me know! Thanks!

Social media makes you stick to your healthy living!

So think back about 7 years ago from now… If you are a recent grad of college or even still in college you remember sitting in front of your computer AIMing your best friends and getting yelled at by your family because you were using the dial broadband. Back then I would never guess social media would become so different and we would be able to bring us ANYWHERE we go.

Now, an even crazier thought, would you believe back then that social media would be HELPING you work out, stay healthy and eat, right?

 

Social media sites are used to create support communities for one another learn different methods of eating right and working out (hey! Just like this blog) and also have fun about getting more healthy!

Studies show that social support is a huge factor of the key to a successful goal of becoming healthy. Use your online friends to motivate you and help you keep sight of the end goals. Below are just a few of the many ways you can use social media to create a healthy living and fitness beginning o f the year together. Thanks to Webmd Getting Healthy with Social Media for the helpful hints:

Follow healthy food blogs

This will help you learn about healthy foods that are simple to make that even I can do it!

Get inspired by Fitness bloggers

Following someone else’s journey can help motivate you to accomplish your own goals!

Track what you eat

I know it sounds weird, but when you track what you eat you become more aware of what you are putting in your mouth, especially during the Holidays when there are treats…EVERYWHERE!

Post your progress

Show off! You are in the process of accomplishing a goal and with the motivation and encouraging words from your friends on social media, and me! I know you can do it! Now get out there!!

The New Kids Meal

It is essential for children to have healthy meals, so parents you know what that means… you will have to TRY and prepare meals during your busy days and whenever possible, try and avoid fast-food like McDonald’s. We need to fill our precious small packages (for kiddos) with great foods and non the less. Sometimes driving by those tempting fast food chains is difficult, but I know you can do it!

The list of reasons for why children should eat as healthy as possible can go on and on. First, it is essential to have family dinners to create that family bonding and also have open communication within the family. Family dinners are a great for everyone to sit and relax and truly disconnect from the outside world. I bet you will learn more about your family sitting down having dinner together on a daily basis, or close to that, than just always rushing around.

Thanks to kidshealth for the awesome strategies to help encourage smart eating habits.

Serve a variety of healthy foods and snacks.

Kids usually eat whatever they can get their hands on. Ok- so here are the basics:

• Work the fruits and veggies into each meal!
• Make it easy for kids to choose the healthy snack by keep the fruits and veggies ready to eat at all times!
• Give some good sources of protein!
• Limit the fat intake!
• Limit sugary drinks!

Be a role model of healthy eating

Yes, that is right, be the role model! Put your best foot forward and eat well yourself! As you know, kids will copy whatever they see or hear. Take the initiative to eat those veggies too- it definitely will benefit you all!

 

Want some more info on kids and healthy eating? Read @cookinglight article Healthy Meals for Kids by Holley Grainger!

Clean Eating

What is clean eating you ask? Well, I have been saying the same thing. After recently becoming a division 2 athlete, I have been trying to find ways to eat more healthy, become stronger, and live a better lifestyle. According to Cooking Light, the concept of clean eating stresses healthy, whole, unprocessed food. Although this recent new trend has been ever increasingly becoming more popular, these principles have been talked about for many years by many nutritionists and also health organizations. Fitness Magazines discusses clean eating really focuses on not really limiting the amount of particular food items, but rather eating proper portions of food that is minimally to not process, giving the eater the most natural form of the food as possible.

Modern food production makes finding whole foods close to impossible, especially in college cafeterias, however clean eating expert, Diane Welland MS RD, shares her expertise and the 3 of the 7 principles on how to clean eat, which are shared below:

Choose natural foods and seek to eliminate processed foods. Processed foods are typically served in a box, bag, can or package. Try and find fresh foods that you can personally pick out.

Choose unrefined over refined foods. Try focusing on whole grains compared to white grains when it comes to rice and pasta. When there is the option, try finding brown rice, millet or quinoa. Beans are also important.

Eat five to six small meals throughout the day. Compared to old beliefs, try eating smaller meals more frequently rather than 3 large meals. This helps prevent lag and create more energy throughout the day.

To learn more about clean eating from guru, Diane Welland, please follow her on twitter at @eatcleanguru or find more information at Fitness Magazine and Cookinglight.com.

Healthy Food Trends

Upon self reflection on how I am living I have noticed I have had difficulty finding a healthy diet to stick to that fits my schedule. I have done multiple researches on this topic to pick one that fits with my schedule, and I am still on the look out- if you know of an easy one let me know!

Throughout my research and talking with former co-workers the hottest topic and diet is the “gluten-free” diet. I have heard mix reviews of this diet. Many people who choose to go gluten-free believe that it is not really that they want to but their health requires them due to upset stomachs when eating gluten or have a celiac disorder. All people who have done this diet said they have noticed a difference in their lifestyle; they have less “fog” in their brain, they have more energy, they are able to workout longer and many more positive attributes to convince a girl like me to possibly try this diet. Then towards this conversation where I feel as if this sounds like the best idea ever they leave me with this little caveat- “once you go gluten-free, there is no turning back”.

After thoughts and research I have decided to go against the gluten-free diet. The reasoning behind this is due to many reasons; one is that I do not have an allergic reaction to gluten. After reading Before You Go Gluten Free by Dr. Oz I realized I would not have any health benefits and would possibly gain more weight and live a less healthy lifestyle. The thought of giving up my pasta also made me think differently, however I did try corn pasta and it was not that bad!

Please stay tuned and provide some feedback and ideas on new diets and healthy living ideas for future blogs and also follow along for my journey throughout this semester!

Peace, love and healthy foods ❤

(http://consumernutrareport.com/diet-2/1077/)