About this blog

In other words, the Zone + Crossfit = Optimal Heath!
This blog focuses on nutrition, using the Zone Diet as the basis. However, I often eat Paleo foods in Zone proportions.
I love to investigate anything having to do with food- what we eat and why. And what happens within our bodies, our organs, our brain, when we do? My precious mother struggled with eating disorders. I want to avoid this delimma based on research, common sense, and the natural consequences on my body. The Zone shows me where the balance lies between eating too much and eating too little.
My husband runs a Crossfit gym. Exercise and choosing the right foods have become a mission for ourselves and our children. We don't want to be nerds about it, we just want to be healthy.
I have been asked by several friends what I feed our family, especially our kids. My husband and I follow the Crossfit prescription to nutrition (meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar). If you know me, you know that the sugar part of this equation will be a life long struggle given my love for chocolate! Evan adheres to the stricter version known as the Paleo-Zone diet (and I do on my good days!) which requires the same foods in a ratio of 40% protein, 30% carb, and 30% fat. Children require 50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein. If you're wondering how to figure this out, I do it on a per meal basis and I have a "block" chart from the Zone website.
It seems like a headache at first, but if you're interested, just know that it is not that bad once you practice it for a couple of weeks. All you need is a $10 scale and some determination. It really is quite simple and makes my life easier at the grocery store and when cooking dinner. Most of all, I feel great when I eat well- mentally and physically, and we all know that the physical can affect the mental and visa versa!
Evan and I are hunter/gatherer wanna-be's! This blog will track my journey of health as it should be, and the honest reality of living in a sugar fried culture. When it comes down to it, I get excited to talk about nutrition, but I am definitely not perfect at it! If you have the desire to eat well, but it is often a challenge to overcome the temptations along the way, then you are in the right company!
I hope you leave this blog feeling enlightened and encouraged as you go throughout your day!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Iron: What's the use?

I got it today! I mean, I understood what the deal is with iron! I recently bought a bag of pepitas, pumpkin seeds. I also bought some granola that claimed to be high in Omega-3's. The granola had flax seed and pepitas added to it. The back of the box highlighted pepitas as being high in iron. I read on. We need iron to help oxygen travel through our blood. Without oxygen in our blood, we feel weak and tired, anemic. The oxygen grabs on to iron to travel through our blood. Hmm. The more iron we have, the better we feel, the more energy we have. I see! So, pepitas, or pumpkin seeds are a good source of iron. Other seeds, such as sunflower and pine nuts, have 10% of our daily need in 1/4 cup. Pepitas have 25% what we need in 1/4 cup! I will be using these pumpkin seeds in my trail mixes from now on!
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2 comments:

  1. the beam teamJanuary 27, 2010 at 7:41 PM

    Just so ya know. You inspired me by your encouragement.
    I started...again. http://amandaandstacy.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  2. KellerJanuary 28, 2010 at 11:21 AM

    Dang it Ang. I just read through your blog and now I feel so guilty. I guess I have no other option than eating healthy. You shouldn't have said anything about the trail mix, you know I'll be searching for it everytime I come over from now on.

    P.S. - I like your blog

    ReplyDelete

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