diet

What’s On The Menu – Peanuts For the Peanut

Last week’s menu spotlight touched on the prevalence of the peanut allergies among children. In an effort to combat the likelihood of our little Ella developing this burdensome allergy, we asked our pediatrician when and how we should introduce her to peanuts.

Shannon and I were already aware that recent research suggest exposing certain children at a younger age to peanut products could reduce the chance of them developing the allergy, but we wanted to get the OK from Ella’s doctor before going off and feeding her spoonfuls of peanut butter. Thankfully at her 6 month check up, the pediatrician told us we could start introducing peanut products at anytime and suggested a specific type of food.

She suggested using Bamba peanut snacks as the peanut introduction vehicle. They only have 4 ingredients, 1 gram of sugar per serving and are composed primarily of peanut paste. They do contain a fair amount of refined grains (corn to be specific) so once we determine if Ella can tolerate peanuts, we’ll most likely start giving her more wholesome  foods that contain the faux nut.

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What’s On The Menu – The Superior Nut Butter

Much like coffee creamers, the variety of nut butters has seemed to increase almost exponentially over the past 5-10 years. I imagine that the increase in childhood peanut allergies (21% increase since 2010) has been a major contributing factor.

For those of us that aren’t stricken with that terrible affliction, deciding on whether to buy peanut butter or almond butter can be a constant struggle. Well no need to worry because this menu spotlight will tell you which nut butter is nutritional superior.

Both are a great source of monounsaturated fat, fiber and plant based protein, but almond butter has more vitamin E, iron and calcium. Just make sure the only ingredients are almonds and maybe a pinch of salt. You don’t want to negate the nutritional benefits by buying something full of sugar and additives that prevent oil separation.

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What’s On The Menu – The Vegans Got This One Right

My dietary preferences are broad to say the least. Animals, plants, fungi and even bacteria are all menu options for yours truly. That means that all wholesome food options, whether they be paleo, keto or vegan, are literally on the table for this omnivore.

One such vegan item that I’ve been putting on pretty much everything as of late is this pesto from Trader Joe’s. It has a short list of whole ingredients and is high in that oh so important macronutrient, FAT.

If I could change anything in it I would substitute the cashew butter for walnuts & nutritional yeast. Shannon is a former vegan and we’ve made a lot of vegan pesto. I can say with the utmost confidence that adding nutritional yeast gives it a much more “cheesy” flavor.

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – Life Update & FabFitFun Unboxing

I apologize for the tardy publication of the show notes for this episode of Addicted to Fitness. We had a very busy, yet rewarding trip to see my family for the Easter holiday, which you guys will hear more about on next week’s episode. But we’re living in the NOW, so here’s a recap of this week’s podcast

Listeners Talk Back

Received a brand new 5 star iTunes rating and review from a health & fitness pro who happens to be on an upcoming ATF guest. You can read her review by visiting the iTunes store, and while you’re there please let us know what you think of the podcast by leaving your own rating and review.

Training Recaps

I finally led my first Stick Mobility group class at Tampa Strength. Stick Mobility exercises/movements utilize 4 to 7 ft pliable sticks that act as “force multiplier(s)” to improve mobility, flexibility and muscle activation. The video below demonstrates how the sticks can enhance well-known exercises.

Shannon has stayed super active this week thanks to the awesome Florida weather & the desire to get Ella outside. She walked on the Riverwalk, visited local markets and even strapped her in the body carrier and moseyed around our neighborhood. All this exploring led to her surpassing her iWatch step goals several days in a row.

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Life Update

Ella turned 6 months old a little over a week ago and she has made a ton of progress. She’s communicating with us, sitting up on her own and has started experimenting with solid foods. Her new nutrition options have helped us be more adventurous when it comes to grocery shopping. We are also back to our old meal prepping ways.

If you have a little one at home that is reaching milestones & helping you be more cognizant of your health, please let us know about it on the Addicted to Fitness podcast Facebook page.

FabFitFun Unboxing

Shannon wanted to share the “unboxing” of her seasonal subscription box from FabFitFun. Subscription boxes are a pretty popular trend and Shannon decided to invest in this one because it focuses on fitness as well as beauty, wellness, and fashion products. You’ll have to listen to the entire episode to hear about everything that was in the box but my fav’s include:

  • A vegan “leather” travel eye mask that has a cooling insert
  • A massage roller that fits into your carry-on luggage
  • Guava body butter – smells terrific

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Thanks for listening & sharing ATF. Don’t forget to check out our sponsors, The Hemp & Coffee Exchange. Head to hempcoffeeexchange.com, read about their awesome products, and use our exclusive promo code “ATF” at checkout to get 20% off your order.

Links to this episode

iTunes: https://goo.gl/vKYU7C

Soundcloud: https://goo.gl/deZRFx

Website: https://goo.gl/b74rMs

What’s on the Menu – These Veggies Could Save Your Life

Vegetables are a great source of vital nutrients. I know that’s not exactly a news flash but eating a variety of veggies is necessary to obtain a wide range of vitamins, minerals and other beneficial organic compounds.

One such group of veggies that Shannon and I try to each multiple times a week are cruciferous vegetables. The member of this veggie family, including the brussels sprouts pictured below, contain organic compounds known as glucosinolates that have been found to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects (source).

I love roasting them in the oven, but when I’m crunched for time, I simply boil them up, cover them in spices & butter and chow down. I want to point out that eating them with a fat source, like butter, helps you absorb the tremendous amount to of Vitamin K contained in these mini cabbages.

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Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – What is the Pegan Diet?

We lead off this episode of the ATF podcast with the announcement of an important milestone.

We finally have a website solely dedicated to podcast!

Visit addictedtofitnesspodcast.com and check out all of Shannon’s recent handy work. We’ll still post show notes here until we get all the content transferred to that site, but go ahead and bookmark it now.

Listeners Talk Back

Our listeners are noticing the new changes on the website and Facebook page because we’re getting lots of thumbs up on the new podcast logo and cover photo.

Our recent episode featuring the lactation cookie taste test is also eliciting a response from people. One listener asked me in person about how they tasted and the company that produces them, Stork and Dove, told us how much they enjoyed the episode on twitter. They even shared it on their social media.

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New ATF content can now be found on our WEBSITE!

Training Recap

Shannon has not done much more than her daily morning yoga routine and doesn’t feel guilty about it. However, she did get a stand-up desk at work, which has allowed her to incorporate periodic compound & isometric exercises, in addition to standing while she works. These movements are important because recent studies show that standing can be just as bad as sitting. Check out this article to find out ways you can properly use a standing desk.

I’m pretty stoked by the fact that I officially enrolled in the June Stick Mobility certification course. In order to hone my stick skills, I’m leading a Stick class at Tampa Strength every Saturday at 1030 AM (message me if you’d like to attend).

I’m also stoked about the new weekly ATF episodes that dropped last week. I don’t want to give too much away about the episode that will be dropping this week, but I will tell you that it has a lot to do with mindfulness. If you haven’t listened to the first Thursday episode with certified personal trainer & mobility specialist Alexis Rivera, download it today!

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Contact Nick to learn more about Stick training

Pegan Diet

Shannon recently discovered an article on Well+Good describing the benefits of a paleo, vegan hybrid diet. This approach to nutrition is championed by Dr. Mark Hyman, author of Eat Fat, Get Thin (which I’ve listened to on audible) and Food: What the Heck Should I Eat. 

Dr. Hyman believes that Peganism combines the best practices from both diets. He’s quoted in the article saying “A pegan diet is low-glycemic, high in plant foods, low in sugar, and includes adequate protein for appetite control and muscle synthesis.”

He also adds that each person should tweak it to fit their own particular health conditions, preferences, and needs

“If you’re vegan and don’t want to eat anything with a mother for moral or religious reasons, then that’s perfectly okay. But it’s critical to get omega-3 fatty acids, and not just ALA (or alpha-Linolenic acid) found in plants you need pre-formed DHA, which is what most of your brain is made from. The good news: You can get it from algae.”

I’m a huge fan of the idea of peganism. I feel the majority of our food should come from whole vegetables and fruit. I also know that animal products are high in important nutrients like heme iron, vitamin B12, and the aforementioned DHA. If you want to be fully optimized nutritionally, without having to rely on supplementation, I think the Pegan diet is an attractive approach.

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If you already subscribe to the Pegan diet, let us know on the ATF Podcast Facebook page how it’s working for you. While you’re there, please leave us a rating & review, which we’d also appreciate if you could do in iTunes. It only takes a few minutes and really helps us reach more listeners.

We also strongly encourage you visit hempcoffeeexchange.com and read about their delicious & nutritious sustainable super coffee. When you decide to purchase some of their tasty product, don’t forget to use our exclusive promo code “ATF” at checkout to get 20% off your order.

Links to this week’s episode

iTunes: https://goo.gl/XHHCrZ

Soundcloud: https://goo.gl/PyAEQX

Website: https://goo.gl/JbQjwd

Addicted to Fitness Show Notes – An Interview with Personal Trainer & Mobility Specialist, Alexis Rivera

THE DAY HAS FINALLY COME! The inaugural Thursday edition of the Addicted to Fitness podcast has arrived. These episodes will be dedicated to conversations with professionals, experts and compelling individuals from the world of health and fitness.

The first individual I have the pleasure of speaking with is personal trainer, certified Precision Nutrition coach and Stick Mobility & FRC specialist Alexis Rivera. Alexis and I chat about his past struggles with body image, the benefits mobility training can have for all fitness levels and how “small victories” can be the key to a successful nutrition plan.

Listen to the entire episode for more useful health info from Alexis and check out his awesome Instagram feed @the_holistic_hipster (love that handle). If you’re interested in utilizing his online personal training services, click here to contact him directly.

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We’ll be bringing you interviews with health & fitness pros each week, which means we’d love to hear your suggestions on who we should have on ATF. Send your recommendations to TheATFpodcast@gmail.com and don’t forget to rate, review and share the podcast.

Links to this episode

iTunes: https://goo.gl/NW6Nxr

Soundcloud: https://goo.gl/qxxBN6

Website: https://goo.gl/GLWkUH

What’s on the Menu – Goes Together Like Peas & Coffee

A few weeks ago I shared my favorite dairy coffee creamer, but I want to let all you know that I’m also a fan of nondairy creamers. As mentioned in the previous post the variety of nondairy choices you have to choose from is borderline overwhelming.

Soy, almond, and coconut are probably the most popular (besides the uber processed coffemate), but there is one that is starting to show up more in stores that I believe provides the most nutritional benefits.

Ripple Foods produces “milk” made up primarily of pea protein. Eight ounces contain nearly 5 g of fat and 8 grams of protein. It doesn’t have as short of an ingredient list as I’m use to, but it’s much more nutritious than almond milk.

Too much dairy wreaks havoc on my digestion so I like to add this and some unsweetened coconut milk to one of my daily coffee concoctions.

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