Health and nutrition are very important to me. They would be even if I weren't a nurse. I've always been conscientious of my eating habits. I am no purest, but for some reason I like protein bars and soy just because I'm me. And I balance good food with the rich, ooey gooey, chocolatey stuff we all like. Or in other words, the bad stuff. Lately I've noticed I've needed to add some food choices for me to feel, well, normal.
As I get older I can appreciate where I have been led by food. I have a shut off switch so I don't have weight issues, and the little angel on my shoulder is quite loud when I need to make better decisions. Of course if my pants are a bit too tight whereas I used to be comfortable, I cut back. It is obvious my body is aging because it's not as easy as it used to be.
What I'm finding in my almost mid-forties is the need to add certain types of food and vitamins to keep my mood even and my body one temperature. Let's not forget how bone health and heart health is important for aging women as well. Today I'm going to talk soy.
I'm not a big animal protein kind of girl so I've turned to the protein bars that are lined up with the snacks in the grocery store. I've also turned to powdered soy that I find in the health food store. Without going off the deep end about GMO's (genetically modified organisms), know this: any time a food is altered by man to increase color retention, shelf life or the like, remember it has a downside. It's too soon to know for sure what all the ramifications will be, however, in my personal opinion the increase in diabetes and food allergies are because of this as well as the hormones our farm animals are laced with. Enough said on that. Anyway, soy is a wonderful substitution for animal protein or protein found in nuts.
The only downfall with powdered soy is the fact that it takes awful. Straight that is. My container suggests mixing it with a favorite beverage. Uh, not really. It can be mixed into baked goods, added to cooked cereals or made into smoothies which might hide the fact that you're trying to smuggle a cowboy in a white hat among a posse of cowboys all wearing black. Sometimes it doesn't work well.
What I've found tolerable is mixing the 2 tablespoons into a tall glass of milk and adding a generous amount of flavored liquid coffee creamer. It masks the raw soy taste to the point where I don't mind drinking it. It makes a good replacement for one small meal like breakfast, is filling and supplies 25 grams of protein in only 110 calories (not counting the milk) and less than 1 gram of fat.
This concoction helps me in so many ways it's impossible to dismiss it. I'll probably indulge in ice cream later and that's okay. I can eat guilt free because I did something small for my body's health today that will have a big effect in the long run.
As I get older I can appreciate where I have been led by food. I have a shut off switch so I don't have weight issues, and the little angel on my shoulder is quite loud when I need to make better decisions. Of course if my pants are a bit too tight whereas I used to be comfortable, I cut back. It is obvious my body is aging because it's not as easy as it used to be.
What I'm finding in my almost mid-forties is the need to add certain types of food and vitamins to keep my mood even and my body one temperature. Let's not forget how bone health and heart health is important for aging women as well. Today I'm going to talk soy.
I'm not a big animal protein kind of girl so I've turned to the protein bars that are lined up with the snacks in the grocery store. I've also turned to powdered soy that I find in the health food store. Without going off the deep end about GMO's (genetically modified organisms), know this: any time a food is altered by man to increase color retention, shelf life or the like, remember it has a downside. It's too soon to know for sure what all the ramifications will be, however, in my personal opinion the increase in diabetes and food allergies are because of this as well as the hormones our farm animals are laced with. Enough said on that. Anyway, soy is a wonderful substitution for animal protein or protein found in nuts.
The only downfall with powdered soy is the fact that it takes awful. Straight that is. My container suggests mixing it with a favorite beverage. Uh, not really. It can be mixed into baked goods, added to cooked cereals or made into smoothies which might hide the fact that you're trying to smuggle a cowboy in a white hat among a posse of cowboys all wearing black. Sometimes it doesn't work well.
What I've found tolerable is mixing the 2 tablespoons into a tall glass of milk and adding a generous amount of flavored liquid coffee creamer. It masks the raw soy taste to the point where I don't mind drinking it. It makes a good replacement for one small meal like breakfast, is filling and supplies 25 grams of protein in only 110 calories (not counting the milk) and less than 1 gram of fat.
This concoction helps me in so many ways it's impossible to dismiss it. I'll probably indulge in ice cream later and that's okay. I can eat guilt free because I did something small for my body's health today that will have a big effect in the long run.
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