Directly from the Canadian Choice Wholesalers Press Release:
Start Your Healthy Habits Before the Holidays Hit. Feel great with the ‘pre-season’ makeover - don’t wait till New Year’s!
Vancouver, BC – The holiday season is just around the corner. We all know what that means - lots of indulging. It’s no wonder New Year’s Resolutions are so popular, even though they never seem to stick.
Don’t fear - there’s time to introduce healthy habits now that will have you glowing right through the holidays and turning heads on New Year’s Eve with your smooth silhouette. You’ll be at your best and start the New Year right.
“I recommend six simple resolutions that you can start now, before the holidays hit,” suggests Dr. Justyna Swiatczak, a naturopathic doctor working with CCW. “If you make these part of your daily routine, they’ll be second nature once the holiday season is in full swing, and take you right into next year.”
Here are Dr. Justyna’s six tips for a healthier you going into the holidays:
1) Eat five small, balanced meals a day, every three to four hours. If you stay satisfied – not hungry and not full – your blood sugar and metabolism will stabilize, allowing your body to operate most efficiently. Don’t skip meals; it puts your body in starvation mode.
2) Always eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. This snaps your body out of night-time starvation mode and kick-starts your metabolism for the day.
3) Include complete protein with every meal, balanced with small amounts of healthy fat and carbohydrates. Protein helps you feel full longer and prevents blood sugar spikes. Choose nutrient dense foods like fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, brown rice, and lean protein. Vegetarian sources of complete protein include quinoa, hemp, and soy.
4) Keep healthy meals and snacks easily available. If you can grab something that’s good for you, it can help prevent you from making a poor impulse choice. It will also be more satisfying and keep you feeling energized.
5) Drink green tea. It’s a great way to warm up as the weather gets colder, and the anti-oxidants in green tea will help rev your metabolism and aid in fat-burning.
6) Exercise. The holiday season gets so busy – make time to walk for 30 minutes every day. This will burn calories and keep your metabolism humming, and walking has loads of other benefits. It has been shown to reduce fatigue, depression and anxiety – just what you need when the pressures of the holidays start to mount.
“Dr. Justyna’s six-point plan is easy to follow and will have you at your best right through the holidays and New Year’s,” says Arif Ahmed, General Manager of CCW. “Making healthy choices doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the very best. CCW carries a wide range of natural, organic and specialty foods that combine great taste and great nutritional benefits. Try our quinoa stuffing recipe - it will take your holiday turkey to a whole new level!”
Quinoa stuffing is the perfect complement for your feast. Combine TruRoots Organic Quinoa with cranberries, chopped vegetables, and spices: you’ll get a rich and healthy stuffing that’s packed with protein and fibre.
Take a minute now to stock up on the healthy foods that will help you to follow Dr. Justyna’s pre-season plan to help you feel good and look great this year. TruRoots Organic Quinoa and other delicious, nutritious tastes from CCW are available at London Drugs, Save On Foods, Urban Fare, Choices Market and other local retailers.
Quinoa Stuffing Recipe
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups TruRoots Quinoa
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 medium onion, finely diced
1 cup zucchini, cubed
1/2 cup butternut squash, cubed
1 tablespoon coconut oil (may substitute olive oil)
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup green onions, chopped
sea salt, to taste
freshly ground pepper, to taste
Method
Rinse quinoa. Bring vegetable broth and quinoa to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Set aside. Over medium heat, fry onion, zucchini and squash in coconut oil until onions are translucent and vegetables are cooked. Combine onion, zucchini, squash and quinoa. Stir in cranberries, parsley and green onions. Season with salt and pepper.
