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Make Your Veggies Taste Great w/ Elizabeth Girouard

One of the worst parts about “dieting” is the deprivation!  Hi, I’m Elizabeth Girouard of Pure Simple Wellness — emotional eating expert and health coach.  I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to feel like you are missing out on every fun summer cocktail and yummy dessert to lose weight and feel great!

One of my favorite strategies for weight loss and healthy eating is to ‘crowd in’ healthier foods, rather than to remove foods from your diet. Pulling out foods or food groups can be frustrating and feel very restrictive. Feeling restricted can lead to bingeing on junk food and the all or nothing mindset around food.

Instead, crowd in more veggies into your daily routine to increase your vitamin, mineral, antioxidant and fiber intake. If you aren’t thrilled with the taste of veggies – I’m here to change that! Check out these cooking hacks to make your vegetables taste great so you can increase your nutrient intake while crowding out some of the less healthy foods each day.

Crisp up your veggies. Coat your vegetables with a drizzle of oil, garlic, salt and pepper and roast them in the oven. They’ll come out extra crispy and delicious. One of my favorites are Brussels sprouts! You can also stir-fry them in the pan— usually, they’ll turn out just as crispy and in half the time. An air fryer can give you those crispy veggies with just a drop of olive oil, and they’ll still taste amazing.

Add seasoning. Most foods taste bland without any seasoning. Along with the classic salt and pepper, garlic or onion powder goes well most vegetables. Create different spice blends to cater to whatever cuisine you’re feeling— Greek, Mexican, Moroccan, Indian— the possibilities are endless. If you don’t have time to make them, purchase a premade organic blend such as Spice Islands. Here are a few links to my favorite spices:

Don’t limit your seasoning to dried spices. Fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary are an excellent accompaniment to your veggies. Coconut aminos or tamari sauce taste delicious when drizzled over your veggies.

Mix your veggies. Dips such as guacamole, hummus, or ranch are great ways to eat your veggies because the flavor of the dip will take the flavor up a notch. Eggs taste even better with lots of colorful veggies as well. If you’re making a marinade for your main meal, why not marinate your veggies as well. If you eat dairy, top your veggies a bit of grated cheese to elevate the taste. There are also many different types of dairy-free cheese available.

Experiment with new vegetables. Get adventurous next time you’re at the grocery store. If you are bored with the same old veggies, maybe it’s time to try something new. There’s so much more out there than just carrots, broccoli and lettuce. Check what’s in season to get the freshest veggies possible. Veggies have so many different flavors and textures, so there’s bound to be something out there that you like.

If you still don’t enjoy eating your vegetables, try hiding them in other meals. For example, cauliflower, zucchini, and spinach are great additions to your morning smoothie, as the sweet fruits will mask the flavor of the vegetables. Add veggies such as carrots and zucchini to your muffins and banana bread and add mashed veggies into the sauces for chilis and stews. No one will notice and you’ll feel better knowing you have added more veggies into your daily routine!

If you need some inspiration for recipes for healthy eating, join our free Simple Healthy Recipes Facebook Group where we share simple, allergen friendly and delicious recipes. Recently we shared recipes for a simple sheet pan blueberry salmon, crispy chickpea snacks, and Portobello mushroom tacos!

* Any links provided are for products I personally use. I may receive a small compensation from your order, but it will not impact the price you pay.

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Katie is a passionate mover who was brought to Pilates through dance. After a professional dance career, Katie discovered her love of teaching-connecting the mind and body, and working with students of all ages and levels. Her appreciation and understanding of everyone’s ever changing body and needs only became greater as her own body went through pre and post natal stages, an experience which has helped Katie navigate problem solving, and bring a freshness to each session making them feel personal and specific to each body’s needs. Her sessions are full of flow and aim to challenge clients with a sense of comfort, and often a little humor, all of which she has brought to Pure Pilates since 2016. Katie thinks the gift of movement and self care is one of the best things one can do for overall wellness, and is thrilled to seek and fulfill milestones and goals with each of her clients. When she’s not at the studio, Katie is taking care of her three little humans- another job that also makes her smile, laugh, and challenges her on the daily.
Eighteen years ago I discovered my love for Pilates. After having my two children, I felt the need to move my body again. At the time I was living in North Carolina, and worked through many different exercise and training programs. I discovered Pilates, and instantly knew it was right for me. Forteen years later, and a move to New Jersey, I decided to share my love of Pilates with other people looking for some way to move their bodies. Pilates has also been a way for me to keep me strong and flexible to continue many activities. My family loves to be active, and I often find when we are all together (mostly vacations) our days consist of activity and movement such as hiking, kayaking, or skiing(more on this later). As I have gotten older I find it even more imperative now that I keep my body strong. Recently I was in a skiing accident that left me with many knee injuries and ultimately having to go into surgery. I found being able to do light Pilates a few weeks after surgery kept me sane and ultimately helped with recovery time. Pilates has not only helped me be able to keep up with my children, but has also provided me with a body that is able to function at peak performance. My approach to Pilates can be described in one, simple word: movement. Movement can help you, both physically and mentally. Movement, and Pilates, is ultimately about self care. Having a built in time to focus on your body and movement can help relieve yourself of feeling tired, anxious, and stressed. Movement awakens you. Even after one session you can leave feeling calmer and energized.
Enjoyment of life through movement is a vital part of Kathy’s philosophy. When not in the studio she leads an active lifestyle trail running, cycling, skiing and hiking. She also loves connecting with people while traveling with family and friends. One of her favorite cycling trips was riding along the coast of northern California. Learning new things and sharing knowledge is also important to Kathy. She has a passion for food, likes to cook for her family and experiment with new recipes. She is currently trying to achieve the perfect pizza. She is also an avid reader of historical fiction and biographies. Her latest endeavor is learning to play golf.
Carol M. Crincoli, owner Pure Pilates studio, has been in the fitness industry since 1990, with experience in corporate and commercial fitness, recreational programming and teaching as an adjunct professor. She began practicing Pilates in 2003 and received Pilates training through the PhysicalMind Institute in New York, NY. She holds certifications from the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a group exercise instructor, personal trainer and lifestyle and weight management consultant. She was also accepted into the IDEA-PFT Recognition System as an Elite Level Personal Fitness Trainer. She is the only trainer in the NY-metro area for Trent McEntire’s Arcus equipment. Carol graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a BFA in musical theater and a minor in dance. Opening Pure Pilates is the culmination of a lifetime dream, and her mission to "inspire life from the core" is a holistic approach to health and wellness—from exercise and nutrition, to stress management and self-care. Carol is also the inventor of 8th Avenue Rail, an organizing solution for Tower springs.