Honey is as interesting as the insect that makes it.  The process of raising bees and harvesting honey from the comb would fascinate any self sustaining enthusiast.  While honey may become forgotten in your pantry, here are some honey facts which will have you reconsidering this caramel colored gem. 

1.  Versatility 

Honey has a variety of uses. 

Cooking and baking

It provides balance to dishes – complementing and enhancing a variety of recipes. Honey pairs nicely with citrus, berries and yogurt, as well as with fermented or pickled products, because it decreases sourness in certain foods. Honey also balances bitter flavors, making it a clear favorite for coffee and tea. Additionally, honey modifies salty perception and works well with cured products, like ham and bacon.

RECIPE

Honey Roasted Carrots 

Ready in 20 minutes

Things you need:

• carrots 1-2 lbs
• cookie sheet (baking pan)
• foil
• olive oil
• honey
• salt, pepper

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Line baking pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray.

2.  Trim, peel and cut carrots on a diagonal into 1/2" thick pieces.

3.  Toss carrots with olive oil to lightly cover and spread on baking pan.  Season generously with salt and pepper.

4.  Bake until tender and golden brown on edges, about 20-25 minutes.

5.  Remove from oven and drizzle with honey.

6.  Serve while hot. ENJOY!

Get the vitamins from this veggie without the cooked carrot taste.  These come out of the oven tasting more like candy than a vegetable. 

Until next time,

Be fit, be strong, use honey in a new way

We need balance in order to live a happy and healthy life.  Think of everything that takes your time and makes up your life.  Whether it’s work life, home life, eating healthy vs. eating what makes you happy or doing for others without neglecting yourself, it can be a struggle to find balance.  Life runs more smoothly and happily when there’s balance.  Achieving balance isn’t the easiest thing, but there are five ways to introduce more balance into your life and get things going in the right direction. 

1) Prioritize

Prioritizing and scheduling can be a great practice to start introducing more of a sense of balance to your life. We all have busy lives and long to-do lists.  The only way we’ll ever get everything done and find balance in our lives is by prioritizing what needs to be done, when to do it and scheduling our days. 

The tricky part is deciding what is important.  In some cases, your work may take priority...

If you’re thinking of starting a new fitness regime, which all massage therapists should have, use these 10 tips for beginners to make sure that you reach your goals. 

 Keep It Simple

 Those people you see in the gym running for an hour or lifting heavy weights began somewhere just like you.  Remember it’s a lifestyle and change doesn’t come overnight.  The cool thing is your body can learn to do anything you train it for.  Want to build upper body strength so your neck doesn't hurt while doing massage?  Take it step by step and you will get stronger and those little aches will go away.  In order to avoid injury, make sure you familiarize yourself with the basics first.  This is a good time to hire a personal trainer to teach you how to use the machines, show you proper form and write you an appropriate workout plan tailored to your current fitness level.  Start off with some shorter sessions and then expand your...

Metabolism.  How to keep it at peak levels is what we all want to know.  Everyone would like the metabolism of their 18-year-old self.  Food didn’t seem to affect your body as much at that age.  You may have heard about special pills, supplements or diets that can amp up your metabolism but believe it or not; exercise is the golden ticket for boosting your metabolism. Think of your metabolism as a powerhouse that converts your food into energy and propels your body from one minute to the next without missing a beat.

Factors that affect your metabolism

Multiple factors may affect how well your metabolism operates. Let’s take a moment to examine a few of the things that may get in the way of our bodies functioning at optimal levels.

Age

Studies show that with age, our metabolism begins to decline. This change often leads to extra pounds that are difficult to shed. Along with that we lose anywhere from three to five percent of our muscle mass, and we...

How much you eat matters as much as what you eat.  For those who snack, partake in office shared food, or stop for coffee/soda during the day along with consuming regular meals might be surprised how much food they’ve had in one day.  In this world of super-sized fast food and enormous quantities served at restaurants, it’s no wonder Americans are the most obese society.  I don’t blame people for not knowing what a healthy serving size is.  It’s not talked about or demonstrated by most restaurants.  Restaurants get reviews toting “lots of food” or “big portions” as if it’s a good thing to grossly over-deliver portion amounts to the table.  Unless you’re sharing that meal, it’s most likely enough for 2-3 meals.

Young and old, obesity has infiltrated our lives in one way or another; affecting us personally or a loved one. And it isn’t just about the numbers popping up on the scale....

Here’s a great way to use up any leftover vegetables sitting in your refrigerator. If you don’t have the vegetables used here, feel free to substitute any sturdy veggie you have on hand, such as carrots, fennel, parsnips, eggplant, and cauliflower.  

Roasting deepens and intensifies the inherent sweetness of vegetables; so don’t be surprised if this becomes a new family favorite!

RECIPE
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40-45 minutes

Ingredients 

• 1 lb. bag mini sweet peppers, seeded and cut in half 

•  1 lb. Portobello mushroom caps, sliced

• 1 large red onion, sliced

• 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half

• 2 t. garlic powder

• 2 t. Herbs de Provence (or Italian seasoning)

• 2 T. extra virgin olive oil

• 2 T. balsamic vinegar

• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. Add peppers,...

Spending time alone isn't easy for some people.  Those who thrive with human interaction (the more people around the better) don't always know how to let quiet surround them.  As a massage therapist I'm sure you've had a client on the table who talks and fidgets throughout the session.  One of my longest standing clients took 2 whole years before she could lie quietly on the table and not "help" me by moving limbs.  These very cerebral people with cerebral jobs take some time and coaching to learn to receive massage and use the time to decompress and feel their body.  Massage time is a great opportunity to be alone with your thoughts, tune in to how different parts of your body feel and come out feeling refreshed.       

What quiet allows

In this world of cell phones it's rare that we unplug for more than a few minutes of the day.  The convenience these handheld computers bring also disrupt our quality time with others and...

This one beverage is the center of many days.  It's from a bean that grows in nature so it must be good for us right?  Well, that depend what you put in your coffee.  A gingerbread latte is a far cry from a black cup of coffee.    

How do you take your coffee?

There are as many ways to make coffee as there are ways to drink it.  Black, with cream and sugar or a fancier version like the latte or cappuccino.  Espresso machine, french press, pour over, good ole drip coffee, there are many ways to make coffee.  Some swear grinding the beans right before you brew makes all the difference.  However you come by your morning cup let's look at what's hiding in your coffee so you can decide whether a change for better health is in order. 

Creamers

• Milk of any percentage will contain sugar and dairy calories of course.  Fat free milk for example has about 3 grams of sugar per 2 ounce and roughly 25 calories. If you're a 16...

Over 2 billion cups of coffee are consumed each day worldwide according to Wikipedia.  This beloved drink is the beginning of the day for so many people but are there any nutritious benefits in this popular cup of joe?  It depends on what you put in your coffee, how the bean is processed and how much you drink.  In this two part series we will take a look at the health benefits of the coffee bean, caffeine in general (how much is too much), and the healthiest ways to drink your coffee.  With a bonus Starbucks menu deep dive!   

Not all coffee beans are equal

Although there are different ways to process the coffee beans before they are ready to purchase, mold has been reported in some coffee bean production.  The potentially harmful chemicals, called mycotoxins are formed by mold which can be found on improperly stored beans.  Our bodies are regularly exposed to trace amounts of other harmful substances and since mycotoxins are...