Our December meal plan and the beginning of my Plan to Eat subscription/trial.
How Moth Infestation Led to Pantry Organization
How I tackled a moth infestation in my pantry and used the occasion of organize pantry.
Popcorn - My Favorite Healthy Snack and a Fun Gift
Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks. If you looked at my family meal plan from last week's blog post you probably noticed it several times. I like to combine it with some nuts (cashews, almonds, pistachios) or dried fruit. I prepare my own popcorn (no microwave bags) and vary my seasonings to give variety!
If you prepare it properly it is a super healthy snack. Popcorn is a whole grain that is minimally processed. Popcorn contains many vitamins and some minerals (folate, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, pantothenic acid, vitamins B6, A, E, and K, iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc). It is full of fiber and polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenols help protect our bodies from certain cancers and heart disease. In fact, the concentration of polyphenols is higher in popcorn than fruits and vegetables because of the low water content of popcorn. This doesn't mean we skip fruits and vegetables. They are still packed with other nutrients which popcorn lacks. A healthy diet includes both. The hulls of popcorn have the highest amounts of polyphenols and fiber. Hulls also contain beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin, three antioxidants linked to eye health. Popcorn is on the upper edge of the lower glycemic index (GI) foods. Lower glycemic index diets help control blood sugar in people with diabetes and can help with weight control because lower GI food digest slower, delaying hunger.
“ “Popcorn may be the perfect snack food. It’s the only snack that is 100 percent unprocessed whole grain. All other grains are processed and diluted with other ingredients, and although cereals are called “whole grain,” this simply means that over 51 percent of the weight of the product is whole grain. One serving of popcorn will provide more than 70 percent of the daily intake of whole grain. The average person only gets about half a serving of whole grains a day, and popcorn could fill that gap in a very pleasant way.”
- Joe Vinson, PhD, a University of Scranton Researcher who published a study on popcocrn. ”
You do have to prepare popcorn properly or it can become a health nightmare. Air popped popcorn has the lowest amount of calories. You can also pop popcorn in a brown paper lunch bag in the microwave. Use caution with store bought microwave popcorn bags. Some bags are lined with harmful chemicals and the butter flavoring has also been linked to health hazards. I personally like to prepare mine in a stove top popper with a little coconut oil in with the kernels. then I top it with a little olive oil and season it. The oils help the seasonings stick. Drizzle the olive oil immediately after popping. Then season and toss. Go light or without salt, most Americans get too much salt. Experiment with different herbs and spices. Here are a few of my favorite ways to prepare it. Check my Pinterest popcorn board for more inspiration.
- Blood orange infused olive oil and a little orange zest
- Olive Oil, nutrition yeast (has a nice cheese flavor), and a tiny bit of salt
- Olive Oil and Herbs of Provence blend
- "Special" popcorn seasoning (I cut the salt way down in this recipe)
- Salt and Vinegar
- Cinnamon glazed popcorn mix
- Scallions and cilantro
- Turmeric and coriander
- Parmesan and black pepper
- Coconut sugar and orange zest
- Parmesan and oregano
- Spriulina **I have not tried this but want to, I don't know how my kids will do
- Grind up fresh popcorn to use as a gluten free substitute for bread crumbs
- Season it like croutons and use as a salad topping
Full Disclosure: these are not affiliate links. I just like these products or recipes.
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Popcorn also makes a fun gift! The picture above was my dad's birthday present. This would also make a great Father's Day gift (Sunday, June 21st this year). He got an air popcorn popper. I bottle of olive oil and some sea salt. I made four different seasoning blends from those listed above and put them in these wonderful Ball Spice Jars. I also included a book on Prime Time Health.
For Christmas, I gave my brother a stove top popper and some organic popcorn kernels. I gave extended family small bags of popped and seasoned popcorn with a cinnamon ornament. My kids helped stuff the bags and make the ornaments. They loved being able to help!
We have also given bags of seasoned popcorn to neighbors as a just-because gift. These would also make a a great housewarming or teacher gift. You could also fill a ball jar with kernels and include a recipe.
Here are some of my favorite popcorn products on Amazon. These are affiliate links. If you make a purchase your price stays the same and I get a tiny commission to support my site. Thanks for your support!
Sills Family Meal Plan - June 2015
Meal Planning and I have a love/hate relationship. I (we/my family) eat so much better with a meal plan, but it takes time and doesn't always get done. I've decided to start sharing our family meal plans to give you guys some ideas for your own meals. I usually plan dinners a month at a time and lunches/breakfasts are either loosely planned by week, just spur of the moment or leftovers. I've decided to start planning lunch, breakfasts and snacks to try and be more intentional in what I eat and what I offer my family.
Planning ahead leads to healthier eating. It helps me remember (assuming I actually look at my meal plan) to thaw or prep foods when appropriate instead of after it is too late. I also am better about using up foods before they spoil. This is a just plan and things change. Life happens so I try to be flexible.
We live on a pretty tight grocery budget, so I shop at the beginning of the month with very few additional purchases later in the month. Planning helps keep our grocery budget on track. Sometimes I have to get pretty creative towards the end of the month. I try to budget my spending to keep some money in reserve for fresh foods and milk as the month winds down, but the majority of my shopping happens at the beginning of the month.
I use my crock pot a lot. I use it to "bake" potatoes - technically this is steaming them. I also will cook a whole chicken to use in future meals and then make broth from the bones afterwards. I cook beans (pinto, black, garbanzo) in the crock pot and them freeze them into portions equivalent to a can. I try to stay away from canned food as much as possible because of BPA - a chemical found in the lining of cans. (The Environmental Working Group just released their report on BPA in canned foods if you want more information.) Making my own beans is also less expensive than canned and is very easy and takes very little hands on time.
I am trying to feed my family a fish or seafood at least twice a week to increase our Omega 3 fatty acid intake. This is fairly new for us and the kids are hit or miss whether they eat it. I also try to have yogurt or kefir daily to get probiotics without a supplement. While I am not opposed to supplements, it is nearly always better to get nutrients from real food. The body can absorb them better and there is no risk of toxicity. I know I have only touched on a lot of things I do, without much detail, so please contact me with any questions.
Here is an example of a weekly plan for the week of June 8th. This month I have lot of prep work for camping and vacation so there are quite a few meals were we eat from the freezer and just add something fresh like salad, bread or fruit. The handwriting is horrible, I know, but this is the actual calendar I am using. So it doesn't have to be super professional.
Here is the June dinner plan.
Are you ready to get started? Decide how often you want to plan (weekly or monthly), gather a list of family favorite meals, maybe your Pinterest board of all those great ideas you never tried, and your calendar. You could start slow and plan just dinners for a week or plan several weeks and then just repeat. Keep in mind how much time you have to prepare meals and how often you go to the grocery. Start slow and make lasting changes rather than have a perfectionist attitude that won't last.
Teaching meal planning is another service I provide. As a dietitian I can plan menus, but I have found that people are more likely to stick with a plan long term if they learn to do it themselves. So if you are ready to learn meal planning, I'm happy to help. Just contact me.
Need some food ideas, check out the Health Happens at Home pinterest boards which I add to reagularly.
Here are some of my most used kitchen products on Amazon. These are affiliate links - if you make a purchase your price doesn't change and I get a tiny commission. Thanks for your support!
Have questions or comments on this post, join the conversation on facebook or contact me!
Recipe Revamp: Chocolate Chip Cookies
My favorite indulgence, chocolate chip cookies revamped into a healthier version.
Let's Get This Started!
Health coaching for real life
I started Health Happens at Home as a way to help interested people further their wellness journeys. Although my interest in health started early and I’ve been a dietitian for nine years, I have not completed my journey (and I won’t until the Lord decides my time on earth is up). This is real life. I consider health a hobby, but I still struggle with a sweet tooth. I know how hard it can be! My family lives on a tight grocery budget so we don’t eat all organic. Two of my three kids are picky eaters. My youngest (20 months old at the time of this writing) refuses to eat any fruits or vegetables unless they are hidden in her food. When our refrigerator broke (which it did this week) we ate lots fast food, the cheap, unhealthy kind. When I had terrible morning sickness (all three pregnancies) we didn’t cook for 3 months at home because I could not handle the smell of foods cooking like broccoli or even the thought of yogurt existing in the fridge! This is real life, not a perfect life. There will be days and even seasons where we don’t eat, exercise, or live that way we want. With each new day we each get a fresh start to make healthier choices.
My journey to become a health coach
Growing up, my mom was a PE/Health teacher and a fitness fanatic. Here is a picture of me “working out” with her when I was 7 months old. My mom inspired my interest in health.
I went to college to be a dietitian and never wavered. I loved all the required science, nutrition, and cooking classes. As a dietitian, I worked in multiple hospitals for several years. It was discouraging that very few of my patients had any interest in making dietary changes. After the birth of my first child, I became a stay at home mom. While I missed the adult interaction and educational opportunities hospital work provided, I did not miss the fact that most of my efforts were not leading people to healthier lifestyles.
I have always dreamed of owning my own nutrition business, but after visiting several businesses early in my career and hearing insurance company horror stories, I was no longer sure it was possible. [Side note: My dad has owned a small business for years and inspired my business interest.] As a stay at home mom I continued to pursue wellness and stumbled upon some health coaching information and was immediately intrigued. I researched several programs and decided to pursue certification through the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute. Dr. William Sears is a renowned pediatrician and author of over 40 books. His wellness philosophy closely aligns with mine. He focuses on nutrition, real food with emphasis on plants and Omega-3 rich seafood. He also emphasizes exercise and the other pillars of lifestyle and attitude. I agree with Dr. Sears that taking a holistic approach to health is more effective for long term change.
I am passionate about nutrition and wellness. I am excited to share my passion, knowledge, and personal experience with you. I am not the food police. No matter where you are in your wellness journey, I won’t judge you. But if you are ready to start making some healthy changes I’d love to help you and your family! To take your first steps check out my services and contact pages.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Erin Marie