BY: Andrea Nakayama
DATE: 2011-05-18
There’s one question I hear all the time. The lead-in is always different:
My daughter is going on a school camping trip. . .
I’ll be away on business in Ohio for a week. . .
I’m going to visit my parents in Florida, in an area where there are no health food stores. . .
But the question always ends the same:
. . . what should I eat?!
It’s for this reason that I’ve created my new free e-booklet due to release this summer called Stick With It!: Your Top Three Secrets for Maintaining Your Healthy Eating Habits. The booklet will include three sections: Crowd Out, Eat Out, and Pig Out! The most important thing to know when making and sticking to a dietary change for health, weight or preventative reasons is that all three are absolutely possible.
In Stick With It! I’ll provide you with the guiding principles. You can consider me your cruise director on this journey that is actually a way of life instead of the old four-letter D word (diet). And you’ll find that while navigating this new terrain may take time, that you don’t have to be freaked out, baffled or deprived every time you leave the house.
My diet is more limited than many and I actually leave the house all the time! (Some of you may even have seen me out in the world, dined out, camped out and pigged out with me. And if I can do it, you can too.)
So this leads to another question I hear a lot: What do YOU eat?
And as I’m on the heels of a kick-ass business conference in San Diego, I thought I’d share how I jump start my day, while away, in a healthy, nourishing and easy way.
The answer?:
Chia Goodness.
I love this stuff. It comes in a handy re-sealable bag that I can throw into my suitcase. Its simple (ie. instant!) to mix up a hearty breakfast that will give me all the fat, fiber and protein I need to fuel my morning. And it eliminates wondering how the hotel fare might have breached my personal food rules, or worse yet, feeling the effects of the transgression while trying to be at the top of my game.
Chia Goodness is a mixture of chia, hemp, sprouted buckwheat (and buckwheat is gluten-free) and Celtic sea salt. It’s raw and its yummy! You can make it hot or cold with water, any kind of milk, or even a blended mixture of protein powder and water. The latter is a great way to have some extra protein-rich milk in the morning as well. Pack a little Vanilla Sun Warrior Protein Powder, mix with some bottled water, and you’re on your way to breakfast heaven.
At home I’ll eat my Chia Goodness with some berries and coconut milk. On the road it might be more simple, but I always pack a little liquid stevia to make sure my sweet tooth is satisfied and I’m not left wanting.
With so much travel in the air, or even mad morning dashes out the door, I invite you to give the goodness a try!
Chia was one of the four main foods of the Aztecs, along with corn, amaranth and beans. In fact, “chia” is the Mayan word for “strength”.
Those of you in training might be interested to know that chia was considered the endurance runner’s food because messengers could run all day with the help of these tiny seeds. They also keep the body hydrated and promote electrolyte balance. Talk about goodness! Read on:
Chia is a complete protein, which means you can have pudding for breakfast sans the guilt! The seeds are packed with fiber, making them a perfect colon cleanser. And chia is also a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. (To learn more about the importance of your omega-3’s check out Fat or Fiction, details below) For now, eat up and enjoy.
By: Andrea Nakayama, FxNA Founder & Functional Medicine Nutritionist
Functional Nutrition Alliance provides the comprehensive online Functional Nutrition training in the Science & Art of the Functional Nutrition practice. Learn to address the roots of your clients’ suffering with client education, diet & lifestyle modifications.