New healthy living favorites

As part of my healthy living commitment, I've definitely stumbled across some new favorites. I thought I'd share them with the rest of you, in case some of you are working on new healthy living commitments of your own and could use some inspiration or encouragement along the way...

#1. Salsa!! For those people who aren't into veggies (ahem, me), salsa is an incredibly easy way to break yourself into that food group without going all cray cray and bringing home the whole produce section of your local grocery store. For me, I absolutely despise chunky salsa - so I buy a bulk container from the store, and blend it all up until it's smooth. I pair it with almost anything, and get an extra serving of veggies in on the side!

#2. Pita chips. I have a problem with chips. I eat one. I eat fifty. I eat two family sized bags. Something about the potato-chip-seasoning combo that is like crack to me, and I just can't help myself. Obviously, this is no comprendo, especially on my diet. So I've cut out chips, and have turned to pita chips! An incredibly easy alternative - you get your crunchy, 'salty' fix without all the calories and sodium and crap. I dip these 'chips' into my blended salsa and voila - a quick and easy, but infinitely more healthy snack.
Recipe: (one medium sized pita will make 8 reasonably sized pita chips)
I usually make these in bulk (say 5or 6 pitas at a time), and take 8 chips/day to work (yay portion control!) Turn your oven on to 350 degrees Farenheit.
Take your pita, and using a pizza cutter, slice the pita into 8 triangles (half, half, half, half). Get out a cookie tray or other pan/oven-safe dish, and place the pitas in the bottom (they can overlap, but it's best if each chip is touching the plate on it's own). Combine a few tablespoons of olive oil and mince 1 large clove of garlic into the oil; stir this combination and let sit for a few minutes while the flavors marinate. Apply a reasonable coating of the mixture to both sides of each pita chip. Slide the tray full of pita chips into the oven and let bake for 5 minutes. Turn all the chips over and let cook for another 1-2 minutes, depending on how crispy the chips are. When they're done to your liking, take them out, let them cool and serve with your choice of dip.

#3. EatingWell.com I freaking LOVE this site. I've found so many fantastic recipes and articles on healthy living, it's really a dream. I love perusing through and finding articles on foods to avoid, and the best veggies to buy, as well as alternative recipes to my favorite dishes that taste delish but allow for a healthier twist. It's definitely worth checking out - they have so many different areas of the site to look at for different health queries.

#4. Calendars. I keep 2 calendars (at least) handy every day. On one, I track my weigh-ins; on the other, I track my exercise. The former calendar I use as a comparative guide - where was I two weeks ago compared to where I'm at today. Am I making good changes or am I plateauing? Am I taking more steps back than I am forward? I don't find myself dwelling too much on my day-to-day comparisons, but find it useful for keeping me accountable, which leads into why I keep the second calendar. My second calendar is used for marking down which days I actively exercise at home, and approximately how many calories I burn each time. It's a temporary calendar that I get rid of at the end of the month, but I appreciate how it keeps me accountable and encourages me to work out every day so I can mark the coveted "X" on the calendar. The biggest thing I can say about my calendars is ACCOUNTABILITY.

#5. Healthy cookies. This has been a lifesaver over the past three days. I have a ridiculous craving for chocolate and 'bad' food nearly every day. It's difficult to remain indifferent and not bow to the craving, but I often excuse myself from work to go pick up a chocolate bar or something to cuddle my sweet tooth. The other day, one of my girlfriends from University posted an article listing a 'two-ingredient cookie' and I was intrigued... I tried it out, and I'm in love. I cannot even imagine going back to other cookies... all I want is these. It's weird though, the first few bites you're thinking, "This is disgusting... maybe my husband will eat them for me...," and then five minutes later you're back in the fridge for another one.
Recipe: 2 bananas, 1 cup of quick oats, and the add-ins of your choice (I like a handful of chocolate chips, chopped finely so that I use less...). Turn your oven on to bake at 350 F. Mash the bananas and quick oats together - make sure the mixture isn't too runny (if it is, add a few more oats). Add in whatever extras you'd like - my recommendation - CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Grease a cookie sheet well, and then roll the mixture into little balls and flatten slightly. Put in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. After the cookies come out and they're cool, I keep them in the fridge to make sure they stay wonderful. Ahhhhhh, LOVE THESE SO MUCH.

#6. Journaling. I think this goes hand in hand with my calendars, but I find that journaling every evening keeps me... ACCOUNTABLE!!! I can reflect on my day and make goals for the next day. It makes me very attentive to the areas in which I failed or the areas in which I excelled. I try to focus on adding both good and bad things so that I don't feel like a complete dunce for sucking and eating five more chips than I should have, but that I still leave room for improvement and change.

#7. Measuring tape. I've heard that one of the 'better' ways to track your weight loss success is by measuring the circumference of your waist and hips - apparently inches lost is better than pounds lost. I can't speak to the truth of this entirely, but I do know that it's incredibly encouraging to wrap the measuring tape around me and seeing the inches slip away... Try it sometime!!

So those are my healthy living favorites lately. What are yours!? I'd love to hear.