open to the public Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m.
Being healthy through the holidays…or not?
We all get busy during this time of year. There just seems to be too few hours in the day. In addition, we are encouraged to overindulge; the 8 pounds of sugar I purchased for Christmas candy-making is testimony to this phenomenon. The temptations are great, and we’re tired and stressed. This is not an ideal combination. But what’s a body to do?
During this holiday season, consider enjoying a piece of pie with that friend that only visits once a year. You might eat a cookie that is left for Santa. (Note: this might put you on the naughty list!) Contemplate enjoying an adult beverage to ring in the new year. Consider all these and your many other options. However, you can be healthy through the holidays by continuing to do those healthy things that you do every other day of the year and being selective with your indulgence.
For example, continue to floss daily, wake up at your normal time each morning, and walk the dog. If you normally take a 20 minute walk each day, keep it up because there’s nothing better for stress than movement. (If you have hips like mine, there’s no other way to keep that extra cookie from being applied to them either.)
In addition to doing what you normally do, plan out some of your indulgence. Nothing will wreck your attempt to be healthy more than not having a plan to deal with the temptations. Those peanut butter balls, peppermint patties, and French cremes often cry out from my freezer just begging to be eaten. However, all of them are going in various gifts or to different parties and gatherings. I made scant extras, so I can’t eat them or I’ll come up short (and wide, going back to my hips). Storing the goodies in the freezer is another good way to avoid the temptations. (Please note though, that contrary to one of my friend’s claim, storing cookies in the refrigerator in the garage does not allow you to eat more cookies simply because you have to walk all the way out to the garage, thereby exercising before and after snagging a cookie.)
Take the steps that you need to this holiday season to hang onto some of your healthy habits and minimize some of your temptations. It is a time of celebration though, whether you say “Merry” Christmas, “Happy” Hanukkah, “Cheery” Axial Tilt, or any of the like. Happy celebrating to you, and may your new year be happy and healthy.
3rd Annual Christmas Home Tour
Please help spread the word about the 3rd Annual Christmas Home Tour. The tour will be held Saturday, November 24th from 9AM until 3:30 PM. I’ll be visiting the tour along with a friend and some family from out of town. I hope that you will join us.
The houses on the tour this year are great. We try to pick locations that are surrounded with history, suspense, and novelty. Some of the sites this year include FoJo Studio on Main Street, the historic Grace Lutheran Church, a Habitat for Humanity home, a Century Farm, and, if this doesn’t get you there, a home on Silk Stocking Hill. (Straight from a Perry Como album to be sure!)
There are 8 locations on the tour this year, and they run the gamut from contemporary to traditional, business to residential. You are sure to find some great decorating ideas for the holiday and discover some of the history and charm of De Soto.
Tickets are $15 in advance and are available at the De Soto Public Library, First State Community Bank, Drummond’s Florist, Cherished Memories, Fo Jo Studio, Pogolinos Pizza, Lorenzo’s Italian Kitchen, Mona Lisa Salon and St. Andrew’s UMC. If you’d like to pick up a ticket the day of the tour, you can purchase a ticket for $18 at FoJo Studio (116 N Main St).
Please share this post with others that you see, through your Facebook page, and via other methods. We appreciate your help in making this our best Christmas Home Tour yet.
Apple Raisin Bran Muffin Recipe…Yum!
(from Recipes for Life-Healthy Choice)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup bran flakes cereal with raisins
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup frozen cholesterol-free egg product (or 1 egg)
- 1/2 cup chopped red cooking apple
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup non-fat buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray 12 muffin cups with nonstick vegetable cooking spray or line cups with paper liners. Set aside. Combine cereal, flours, sugar, pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in large mixing bowl. Add buttermilk, applesauce, egg product and oil. Stir just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in apple. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups. Bake for 20-23 minutes, or until lightly browned. Loosen muffins from rim of pan. Cool before removing from pan. Serves 12. Serving Size is 1 muffin.
Nutritional Info Per Serving: Calories 122; Total Fat 3g; Saturated Fat 3g; Cholesterol 1mg; Sodium 122mg; Total Carbohydrate 22g; Dietary fiber 2g; Sugars 9g; Protein 3g. Diet Exchanges: 1 ½ starch.
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