Ways to stay healthy this fall

With back to school and cooler temperatures, fall is always the time of year when focusing on your health seems to be put on the back burner. You don’t have to let this busy time of year take the wind out of your sails though. There are certain things you can do to have a healthier fall for you and your family. 

1. Make the most of seasonal foods 

We always think about apples and pumpkins in fall because it’s prime season for them. While pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice lattes aren’t so good for us, roasted pumpkin, pumpkin soup, or even mashed pumpkin is delicious and nutritious. Apples don’t need to go in pies to be sublime. Slice them up with your favorite nut butter smeared on top. Look for other seasonal foods that will do your health good, and you'll find you can easily fill your plate with seasonal foods that you'll love. 

2. Prepare and protect from colds 

Ideally, you should do this before you notice everyone around you sniffling and sneezing. Keep your hands off your face and keep them clean. Don’t forget good rest and a proper, healthy diet will help you, too. By taking care of yourself, even if everyone else gets sick, you’ll be less likely to succumb to the germs. 

3. Stay out of the candy trap 

Admit it. One of your favorite things about fall is Halloween. It's a blast to decorate for and see all the kids in costume, but the most significant health problem we all face for this holiday is the surplus of candy. Tempting as it is to buy that big bag and stash it away for when the trick or treaters come around, don’t do it. If you can’t resist it, don’t buy it until just before Halloween, choose something you wouldn’t eat yourself, or even better, keep the neighborhood happy and healthy by buying small sticker packs instead.  There are numerous healthy Halloween options to choose from! 

4. Get into the great outdoors 

With the colder weather, it’s nice to get outdoors and enjoy the crispness on your cheeks. It’s nice for hiking, biking, or just enjoying the change in the seasons. Staying active during the fall is an excellent way to keep your health in exceptional condition.  

5. Make wise celebration choices 

Halloween is just the beginning. With fall comes football parties and then the holiday season where it’s an endless buffet of food, sweets, and ever-flowing libations. You don’t need to miss out on all the fun, but do choose wisely when you’re eating.  At parties, fill your plate up with veggies first before sampling sweets, so you’re too full to eat more than a bite or two. By doing that, you’ll avoid gaining weight by Christmas. 

Don’t forget that fall should be fun, but if you fall into any of these fall pitfalls, take care and take steps to get back on track!

You Can Still Eat Healthy Around The Campfire

With so many outside activities to enjoy in the sunshine, it can be hard to let summer go.  There’s still plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors before the cold really settles in, and one of my absolute favorite outdoor activities to enjoy as the weather cools off is camping.  Whether you go with your family, friends, or even by yourself, it can be the perfect getaway to rejuvenate and unplug.   

As you get ready to pack up for a big camping trip, you might be wondering how you can make delicious and healthy meals while in the great outdoors. Camping can indeed present some challenges for preparing tasty meals, but here are some great ideas to make every camper in your family a happy one! 

Foil packets over the fire 

One delicious way to make a healthy meal while camping is to pre-pack foil packets of food that you can lay flat in your cooler. Just use your favorite healthy food items, then add your favorite seasonings and olive oil. Seal them up tight and then throw them over the fire when you’re ready. Be very careful when opening them because of the escaping steam, it can present a burn hazard. 

Pineapple chicken/tofu skewers 

The prep is too easy on this one! Merely skewer chicken or tofu and pineapples together and stash them in zipper bags of teriyaki marinade. Take along lettuce for wrapping along with any other fun bits like crushed nuts to add a fun texture.  

Chickpea salad 

Mix tahini with a can of chickpeas and you have a healthy on-the-go salad that everyone will gobble up. Chickpeas are packed with protein and antioxidants too so they’ll help fuel your outdoor adventures! 

Chili 

Chili is a hearty meal that’s easy to make in your slow cooker first and tote along for easy heat-up anytime hunger strikes. Use ground turkey or seitan to lighten it up a bit or even make a meatless version of it. Chili is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any camping trip and can warm up any chilly night. 

Fajita fun 

Who says you need to go to your favorite Tex-Mex restaurant to get sizzling fajitas? Just marinate your chicken or tofu in a zipper bag with red and green peppers and onions and pack it away. Don’t forget the tortillas, salsa, and guacamole so everyone can customize it their way. If you want to make it even healthier, you can use lettuce for wrapping instead. 

Banana s’mores 

One tradition many campers have is to make s’mores, but it isn’t exactly healthy. Instead, use a banana as your vessel for creating this iconic camping dessert. Just split it lengthwise and fill it with a few dark chocolate chips and marshmallows. Then wrap it in foil and put it over the fire for about 7 minutes. It will get nice and gooey. You can include graham crackers to scoop out the deliciousness or just hand out spoons. 

With these tasty recipes in your arsenal, you’ll be able to make that camping adventure delicious, healthy and fun.   

Where’s the most beautiful place you’ve ever camped?  Reply and let me know, I’m always looking for a new place to explore.  Feel free to send a pic, too! Not following us on Instagram or Facebook? Come check us out @alignmentstudio!