Defining Wellness

I hope everyone had an exciting and safe 4th of July! I have so many fun tidbits, reviews, and recaps to share with you from my 4th of July weekend adventures . . . so hang on and enjoy!

Let me start with Friday afternoon and two product reviews! My lunch was so healthy and so out-of-this-world that I think I could eat it every single day and not get bored. I tried two products that were new to me: Sabra hummus and a Sunshine falafel patty. Put them together, and you get an absolutely fabulous, satisfying combo.

The Sunshine patties are so easy. Pop one in the microwave for about a minute, and it’s ready to go. The patties are soft, crumbly, bready and hearty. The Sabra hummus is so creamy and delicious that I’m not sure if any other hummus will ever compare. I put the patty and hummus on a whole wheat hamburger bun and topped them with a thick slice of red pepper, lettuce and cucumber slices. Then, I put the sandwich on our panini press and the hummus warmed up as the bread became crispy.

I’ve also prepared a similar lunch by warming up the patty in the micro, chopping it up, and putting it into a wrap with hummus and diced cucumber and tomato. Then, I heat up the wrap at work for an out-of-the-ordinary, satisfying and delicious lunch. I highly recommend both Sabra hummus and Sunshine falafel patties. There are so many other yummy things you could create using both of these products!

The rest of my Friday was spent cleaning up the apartment like a busy bee before my parents-in-law arrived from New York for a weekend visit! Carter and I both had the day off work, so we scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed and vacuumed and dusted and realized we need to clean WAY more often! We’re moving to a townhouse in 1 week (yay!!), so it was great to get a jump start on the cleaning.

We had such a delightful time with my in-laws. They are such warm, down-to-earth, loving people, which makes sense since their son is the most incredible man on the face of the planet. On Friday, the four of us went kayaking on the Delaware River. We launched from Point Pleasant, PA with a company called Bucks County River Country. My in-laws have never been kayaking before, so it was a blast to watch them enjoy it so much. Kayaking with Bucks County River Country is a joy because the staff make everything so easy. You simply show up, pick your kayak/canoe/tube, and hop on a bus that drives you to the launching point. The river scenery is gorgeous with lots of trees and beautiful homes and, if you’re lucky, some beautiful birds. The 6-mile trip is pleasant and peaceful with a few strong currents along the way (which are a fun way to get wet!), and the enjoyable workout is great for beginners to fitness buffs. Kayaking is an effective upper body workout, but it’s much more like play than work! Even if you’ve never kayaked before, you’ll get the hang of it within minutes. It’s one of my favorite forms of exercise!

After our fun day in the sun, we decided to wind down in downtown West Chester with an incredibly tasty dinner at Iron Hill Brewery. If you’re in the area, this is a restaurant I can recommend whole-heartedly. If you’re a beer connoisseur, like my in-laws, you’ll have even more reasons to love this restaurant than I did. I simply enjoyed the creatively and well-prepared food. I started with a mesclun salad that was topped with granny smith apples, pistachios, dried cranberries, vermont cheddar, sweet onion and orange-vanilla vinaigrette. The pistachio and cranberry combo was fantastic — my father-in-law commented on how fabulous it was, too.

And for dinner, I ordered the black crusted Ahi tuna (medium rare), which was served with a salad of lentils, spinach, grape tomatoes and shallots. Port wine syrup was drizzled over the dish. Absolutely awesome! This dish was featured under the “Healthy Selections” section of the menu. I really enjoy when restaurants offer diners healthy options and make it a point to highlight those options. I hope more restaurants follow suit!

All four of us raved over our appetizers and entrees, which speaks well for the quality and the consistency of Iron Hill’s food. If you’re in the area, be sure to check it out!

Following dinner, we enjoyed the sights and charm of West Chester. Though Carter and I have visited West Chester several times before, we never noticed this historic location!

The first biography of Abraham Lincoln was published in this house in 1860! Isn’t that fascinating? I love stumbling across interesting historical tidbits without even looking for them! Now I have my taste up for a trip to historic Philadelphia.

We all fell fast asleep after our fun-packed Friday, and we were up bright and early to get the fun started on the 4th! We left the apartment at around 7:15 a.m. to drive to one of my favorite travel destinations: Ocean City, NJ. This family-friendly coastal town is overflowing with wholesome fun, the kind of fun that’s always been my style. It was a picture-perfect day. We staked out a spot on the beach before the crowds settled in for the day. While my in-laws relaxed and read, Carter and I decided to take the opportunity to get in some early-morning exercise. We took a brisk walk on the beach for over an hour (time flies when you’re having fun!), and we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw a seagull with a little shark in its mouth! I’m so fascinated by animals (animal behavior was one of my favorite psych classes as an undergrad), so I just stood there with my mouth agape for a few minutes.

After our walk, we took some photos on the beach before I passed out on my beach towel for a power nap. Check out my new OCNJ hat! I’ve noticed recently that my scalp gets burned because of my blonde hair, so I wore my hat most of the day to protect my skin. I try to take every precaution to protect my skin from the sun, and for the longest time, I didn’t think about the top of my head! Protect yourself: Remember to wear a hat in the sun!

At around 5 p.m., we played some mini golf at Congo Falls on the boardwalk. Mini golf screams summer to me, and it’s become a summertime tradition for Carter and me. Carter won, as per usual, but I came in second . . . not too shabby!

To end the day in perfect 4th of July style, we watched a breathtaking fireworks display from the boardwalk. The reflection of the fireworks in the ocean added a completely new dimension to the fireworks show. It was a beautiful end to a beautiful day.

I found myself really taking the time to savor every moment this weekend. After spending so many years focusing on my eating disorder, I finally have my life back! I’m finally living in the moment. And on that topic . . . here’s a little health tip for you! Are you familiar with the wonderful feeling when it seems as though a moment is suspended in time? You’re so “in the moment” and focused on each and every sensation, that it’s like you are taking a picture with your mind. That same concept can be applied when you enjoy meals and snacks.

Here is one of the lessons that I learned from my dietitian: when you eat, take the time to savor the dining experience. For example, make dinnertime the time when you catch up with your family, friends, or a significant other. Enjoy the company, the conversation, and the food. Put down your fork and/or drink some water between bites, pause to converse, and really allow yourself to experience the taste and texture of your food. I am one of the fastest eaters I know and always have been, so I thought this would be a difficult challenge for me. However, I was surprised at how much I actually enjoy to take my time and really taste my food! Meals that used to take me 10 minutes to eat now take me close to a half hour to enjoy!

There are lots of benefits to eating this way. It gives your body time to process your feelings of fullness. It makes the food last longer, and when food is tasty, that’s always a good thing! It allows you to really taste all the subtle flavors of the food. Eating slowly allows you to relax. When you eat slowly, you are much more likely to appreciate the company, the conversation and the scenery. And keep this in mind: No matter how hungry you are, eating more quickly will not make you feel more satisfied. We all know it takes time for feelings of fullness to reach our brain.

I really took this weekend to pause, enjoy each moment, and purposefully experience life in slow-motion. The slow-paced lifestyle suits me — must be the southern girl in me. Hey, I’m southern if I went to school in the south, right?

In the spirit of southern livin’, Carter and I decided to eat southern style last night. We made this nutritious recipe for pinto beans and collard greens from the World’s Healthiest Foods Web site and served the dish alongside Vita Top corn muffins and roasted portobellos. This dinner exploded with interesting flavors and truly tasted like a southern dish.

And because I thought I’d see just how many different activities I could pack into one weekend, I decided to create and bake a new muffin recipe: Blueberry Whole Wheat Muffins with a Brown Sugar Topping. Recipe to come tomorrow! See you then!