The Ultimate Food Plot Twist 🎬🍽️

• Here’s the kicker: you can be a plant-munching, gym-crushing machine on a vegan or vegetarian diet, but it’s like playing nutritional Tetris on hard mode. If your heart says no to meat for ethical or religious reasons, more power to you! But for pure health?

• A diet with a mix of plants and animal products might just hit the sweet spot. 🎯

QUOTE OF THE DAY
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TODAY’S GIGGLE FUEL:
The Mom Approved Meme-Break!  😄 

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

🤔🤷‍♀️Q: Will using an activity tracker (like an Apple Watch, Fitbit, etc.) make a difference?

✅A: Not to be all wishy-washy here, but it depends! 

(I believe they can be SUPER USEFUL … and am going to tell you why in a sec.)

💡A study done a couple of years ago found that wearing an activity tracker didn’t lead to much in the way of immediately measurable health outcomes. 

👉Basically, people who used them didn’t notice their blood pressure or cholesterol levels go down.

But the study found those people were motivated to exercise MORE ... which can obviously have healthy payoffs over time!

❤️ Here’s one reason I like activity trackers: They can be a good way to get a feel for how hard you’re working during a workout. 

🔥That’s info that can help you either pick up the pace or slow down, so you’re working within your ideal and safest “zones” on any given day. 

😅They also can encourage you to be more active because you can immediately see your total activity for the day. 

💡Depending on what kind of tracker you have, this can show up as steps per day, “strain” per day, activity minutes, etc.

(NOTE: if you’re on a medication that slows your heart rate, like some blood pressure drugs, the heart rate readings on your tracker might not be so meaningful for you. Ask your doc or pharmacist for guidance there!)

FOODS OF THE WEEK:
Spaghetti Squash

It’s low in calories, high in fiber, and contains lots of vitamin C, B vitamins, and antioxidants — and makes for a super delicious (and healthy!) alternative to pasta. 

It can seem a little intimidating the first time you make it, but it’s actually very simple.

Just slice it in half lengthwise (the hardest part of the prep), scoop out the seeds, drizzle each half with olive oil, and season with salt. 

Place the squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet and roast in the oven at 400ºF/200ºC for 40-45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before scraping out the strands with a fork. Serve with your favorite sauce. YUM!

FAST FOODS
Cheesy Italian Spaghetti Squash

🍝This recipe for spaghetti squash has a cheesy taste despite being 100% plant-based.

This recipe is SO good you may want to double it. 

Cheesy Italian Spaghetti Squash

(2 big or 4 small main dish servings) 

• 1 large spaghetti squash

• 2-3 Tbsp Olive oil, divided

• 1 large yellow onion

• 3 large cloves garlic, minced

• 1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce

• 4 large handfuls of baby spinach, washed

• ½ cup of nutritional yeast

• Salt & pepper, to taste

Preheat your oven to 400ºF/200ºC and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and drizzle olive oil over the inside of the squash. 

Place the squash cut side down on the baking sheet and poke the tops with a few holes. 

Place in the oven and roast for 30-40 minutes. The squash will start to brown on the outside and feel tender. 

Remove from the oven and turn the squash over so the cut side faces up. When it’s cool enough to touch, scrape the flesh to remove all of the strands from inside the squash.

To make the sauce: heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat. 

Add the onions and garlic to the pan, and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion softens. Pour in the marinara sauce and let simmer for about 5 minutes. 

Stir in the baby spinach, one handful at a time, and then add the nutritional yeast and spaghetti squash. 

Stir until heated through and then remove the pan from the heat. Enjoy!

QUICK QUESTION
If you had to scrape all social media except one, which one would you keep?

MOTHERHOOD INSIGHTS
Managing Time Effectively

Juggling everything as a mom can feel like a never-ending balancing act, right? There's just so much to do between the kids, maybe work, the house, and trying to find a moment for yourself. It's totally normal to feel like there aren't enough hours in the day.

Have you tried using a planner or an app? They can be real lifesavers. Planning out your day can help you see where your time is going and what you can realistically fit in. And remember, it's okay to prioritize – not everything has to be done right away.

Delegating is key, too. Whether it's asking your partner to help out more or getting the kids involved in small tasks, it's important to share the load. And don't be afraid to say no to things that just don't fit into your schedule. You can't do everything, and that's perfectly fine.

Creating routines can help a lot as well, like having set times for meals, play, and chores. It might sound a bit rigid, but it actually helps in making things run smoother. And don't forget to carve out a little 'me' time. It might seem impossible, but you're at your best when you're not running on empty.

Oh, and look for little hacks that can save time – like meal prepping, online shopping, or even just cleaning up as you go. It's all about finding those small ways to make your day a bit easier.

Remember, it's a learning process, and no two days are the same. Some days you'll feel like a time management pro, and other days it's okay to just let things be. The most important thing is that you're doing an amazing job, even on the chaotic days.