Home For the Holidays

One thing I've noticed about being away at college is that going home doesn't really feel like going home... it feels like a vacation! And that's because it has all the components of a vacation: you're getting away from school, work, and your every day routine. While this makes going home an incredibly enjoyable and relaxing experience, it also seems to result in another common factor of vacation: completely sending your efforts to be healthy out the window!

Now, this may not be the case for everyone, but I'm speaking from personal experience here. The comforts of being home may include things like family and your own bed, but they very well may also include the comforting temptations of your favorite greasy pizza and homemade christmas cookies. I'm not saying NOT to eat these things- I think everyone should enjoy themselves and splurge, especially while on vacation. What I AM saying is that being home doesn't mean you can get away with eating junk and being lazy without paying for it. I think that the key to finding a balance between treating yourself and staying on track over the holidays  is to "pick your battles"!

Here's what I mean by that: I can promise you that there are going to be TONS of sweets and deliciously tempting foods around 24/7 this holiday season, but that doesn't mean you have to say yes to everything! Save your "treating-myself" moments for something that's really worth it. For example, if you come home to find a tray of week old christmas cookies sitting on the counter, but know that tonight your aunt will be serving her famous homemade pie, choose to indulge in whichever one seems worth your splurge! You shouldn't say yes to everything, but you definitely shouldn't say no to everything either. As long as you pick your battles, and stay active, you are sure to have a balanced and DELICIOUS holiday season! Enjoy!

The Scoop On Juicing

First of all, sorry I haven't posted in a while! I had a wonderful visit home for thanksgiving break and have been super busy with school and finals.

Anyways, unless you've been living under a rock, you have probably noticed the increasing trend of "juicing". I have seen juice bars pop up around town, countless juicing recepes in health magazines and all over Pinterest, and every store I go in seems to have their shiny, expensive juicers on display. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a nice freshly squeezed glass of pineapple kale juice as much as the next person, but I think it's important to collect as much knowledge about trendy health crazes like juicing as possible. Here are the facts:

1. Fresh squeezed juices are healthy, but in moderation: Have you ever looked at the back of a Naked juice and noticed how many calories it contains? And what about all of that sugar? You many be wondering how that is possible, since the only ingredients are pure fruit and vegetables... the fact of the matter is, it takes a whole lot of fruits and vegetables to produce enough juice to fill up your bottle. For example, one apple only produces enough juice to fill up a shot glass. Just imagine about how many oranges it took to make that glass of fresh squeezed orange juice!
2. Fiber is your friend... but it's not in your juice: One of the bazillion reasons why fruits and vegetables are amazing for you is their abundance of fiber! Unfortunately, their fiber content is virtually lost through the juicing process. So while a refreshing, nutritional juice is great for you every once and a while, don't think that it is enough to completely replace fruit and vegetables in your diet. 
3. Beware of unhealthy additives: Always, always, ALWAYS check the ingredients. People are often fooled by claims such as "natural fruit juice" or "100% natural". The reality is, these terms have very specific meanings assigned to them by the FDA, and those meanings are not always what you expect. Just because a juice claims to be 100% natural, doesn't mean that the company hasn't added sweeteners or other additives. If you are ever unsure, always check the ingredients list so you know exactly what you're buying and putting into your body. 

That's all for now! Keep calm and juice on- in moderation of course :)