Dashing Dish

I have to say, I really look forward to my ‘snacks’ every day! There is something about that mid-day ‘mini’ meal that really gives me an energy boost, and gets me ready for my afternoon workouts! (I generally workout with my sister around 5-5:30 pm during the week.)

I also look forward to snacks because they usually don’t require a lot of thought or preparation, and yet they always seem to be pretty satisfying! I generally eat my snack around 2-3pm (or whenever I’m hungry), and they are usually around 150-200 calories.  I also try to incorporate some form of protein and complex carbs/fiber to keep me full until dinner time. So…In honor of ‘Snack Time” I thought I’d share some of my favorite snack ideas! And I’d love to hear some of your favorites too!:)

What to Eat…What Not to Eat…That is the Question!

I think one of the ‘easiest’ traps to fall into when desiring to loose weight is to start putting foods into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ categories.  I know there was a point in my life when I would not eat certain foods, (or even entire food groups) because I heard something about how they make you gain weight… (Example: I stopped eating popcorn because I heard it was bad…now I think really?!? It is a perfectly healthy source of whole grain, and a yummy healthy snack as long as it isn’t smothered in butter!)

I love birthday celebrations with my family.  Unfortunately though, (and i’m sure many people can relate) birthdays and holidays are really the only time my family and I sit down to eat a meal together these days.  Now, granted, we are all married and moved out (except for my younger sister Emily…Lucky man whoever that will be ;)) and we all work and have busy schedules…But I sure wish we would get together around the table more often, because when we do it is always a blast! :)

I recently got an e-mail from a friend about Dashing Dish that really encouraged me! In that e-mail there was something that she said that really stood out, which was this:

“America is so deceived (especially women) to look a certain size. Girls starve themselves or try the latest fad diet and end up binging because of the calorie restriction. Then they end up feeling guilty and worse than before they started dieting. It’s a vicious circle. I want to work to impart healthy eating habits among the young women in America. I want them to know who they are in Christ, not what the world says they are.” ~Danielle Frontiera

This statement is truly inspiring and straight to the heart of why I started this site to begin with! There are SO many myths out there about the latest ‘diet’, how to drop 10 pounds in a week, and what foods are ‘good’ and ‘bad’ for you.  While I may not be an expert, I am someone who has tried many diets, fads, and unhealthy routes of losing weight, all to see that they backfire and end in failure.

This is a big debate/issue these days! We all know sugar is not the best thing for our bodies (or waistlines), but all those artificial sweeteners aren’t the best for our health either! (Of course they are both fine in moderation and I still use both in my recipes, but on an every day basis I like to use something a little more natural)…So what is a good option that won’t spike your blood sugar or add unnecessary chemicals to your diet?