Did your mouth start to water? You probably couldn’t tell, but your stomach actually started producing juices to digest those amazing foods.
 
If you ever doubted that if what you’re thinking about could have an impact on what happens in your gut … well, you just experienced the proof that it really does!
 
And this brain-gut connection doesn’t only involve thoughts about food. ​

Did you know that almost 1 billion people across the world have a vitamin D deficiency?

That's a big deal, because vitamin D does so much to keep us feeling healthy.

Do you know how your vitamin D doing?

One big symptom of being low in vitamin D is feeling rundown and tired, along with catching every cold/bug that comes around.  Feeling depressed and losing hair are also two common signs that you might be low in the "sunshine" vitamin.

Did you know that there's a nutrient in your food that can keep you feeling full, doesn't have any calories, and also helps you live longer?

​Most of us don't get enough of it!

It's fiber, and it's definitely worth taking a look at your intake...including all those healthy snacks I've included in my free ebook this month!

Spoiler alert:  I've got a delicious fiber-rich recipe below that you'll definitely want to try.

Before we get to that, though, let me tell you how much fiber you need to get each day.

​Yes, it seems everywhere you turn health and wellness experts are telling you to eat more fruits and vegetables.
 
You totally get it.
 
Yes, they’re full, and I mean FULL, of nutrition (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fiber, etc.). 
 
Yes, people who eat more fruits and vegetables live longer, healthier lives. Not to mention protecting their bodies and minds from just about every chronic disease out there.  

A woman in a Facebook group I belong to posted a question about how while ​she feels much better when she eliminates gluten from her diet, she has trouble sticking with it past six weeks.

Initially, she said it's because she craves the density of foods like breads, and get really hungry, but ​with more investigations, it seems like she's just getting bored with what she perceives as a limited selection of foods that she can eat.

This really make me think of how when you change the way you eat, or eliminate certain foods from your diet, you really do feel like there's nothing to eat.

Read on.  It doesn't have to be that way!

If you're like me, you don't like feeling deprived.  And that's why I prefer to have a mindset of upgrading my food choices rather than eliminating them.  And by that I mean swapping out not-so-healthy choices with healthier ones.

Homemade olive oil and vinegar (or citrus) dressings are easy to make and contain no preservatives or additives, plus you can control how tangy you want your dressing.  Start with 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar or lemon juice then adjust.  Then add a little salt and fresh ground pepper and you're ready to go.

I like to use Bragg's Apple Cider vinegar in my dressing because it's organic and still contains the "mother" at the bottom, which is part of the fermentation process.

Making your own dressing also saves a ton of money!

Do you ever wonder when you should toss the food you've stored in your fridge?  I'm not just talking about the things you buy, but also leftovers and the meals you prepare.

How long do they keep, for the best taste and also for safety?

Also, have you thought about how you store your leftovers and other food in the fridge or freezer?

Today, I'll share how long you can keep prepared food and the best way to store it for maximum freshness!

Just the other day I saw a comparison of portion sizes from today, to 30 years ago.  There's a huge difference!

We eat a LOT more than we used to.  Our serving sizes have ballooned!

Portion sizes have more than doubled in many cases, for example:

We're coming up on summer and whether you're going on vacation, a business trip, or something completely different, you're going to appreciate some quick and easy healthy food ideas.

These pointers can help you stay on track and help you bring, and find real food.

And while these suggestions can all be used right here at home, they're especially important when you're traveling.  Traveling can throw your regular healthy habits off when you're skipping time zones or even just being in a different place.

As a health coach, I have to admit that I have such a sense of pride when my clients skip junky convenience foods!  Let me give you some great strategies that can help you do this while you're "on the road."

And be sure to click below to download "The Complete Guide to Dining Out."  

It's not that simple...and it's not your fault!  Cravings are simply your body's way of trying to communicate what it needs.  Your body is amazing, listen to it!

Instead of feeling bad about your cravings, try deciphering what your body's trying to tell you and try taking action based on what you learn.  Take the guilt and self-judgement out of it!
​

Consider that the food you eat is secondary to all of the other parts of your life that feed you, for example, your relationships, career, spirituality, hobbies, and exercise routine.  These parts of your life are considered Primary Foods in the Integrative Nutrition world.

Integrative Nutrition bridges the gap between nutrition, or the food you eat, and personal growth and development.  Both of these work together to create a healthy lifestyle.  As I like to say, you could eat the most perfect diet in the world, but if you're unhappy in the rest of your life, you probably won't feel that healthy.