Eating Healthy During the Holidays: Erin O'Leary Stewarts' Best Tips!

Today I have the wonderful Erin O'Leary Stewart from DEFINE Body & Mind and DEFINE Foods to share with us her expert tips on how to stay on track with healthier eating during the holidays.  

The Holidays are upon us, and so is the late night drinking, party noshing and over-indulging. While this may not be the time of year for detox, dieting and watching the scale every day, you can definitely enjoy yourself, have your piece of that traditional Holiday dessert and still feel great. It's about being mindful. There is a difference between savoring that well-deserved treat and spiraling down the slippery slope to stomach aches and hangovers. As we are all in recovery mode post Thanksgiving weekend, here's your chance to get back on track with your health and fitness goals. Follow these 8 steps to keep the rest of your Holiday season healthy.

1. Keep the Holi 'days' to a Minimum

There are only a few days that the Holidays are actually intended for. Don't make an excuse to overeat the entire two remaining months of the year. Treat non-Holiday days in December as days you would any other week. Don't throw in the towel and wait for New Year's resolutions quite yet!

2. Visit the People, Not the Food

Remember that you're celebrating and visiting with family and friends during this time of year. Find the talkers at the party and hang with them, not the ones moseying around the food table.

3.Tune In

Ask yourself how hungry you really are before indulging. Then ask yourself the same question half-way through clearing your plate. Do the same with your second glass of wine. And then again if you get to your third. 

4. Slow Down

Enjoy conversation and put your fork down occasionally. Take your time when eating and nurse your drinks!  

5. Eat This, Not That

Keep your plate mostly veggies and savor your favorite indulgent items with just a few bites. Better yet, take matters into your own hands by offering to bring your favorite healthy dish! Consider roasted butternut squash instead of mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie over cookies and cakes. 

6. Skip the Sugary Drinks

Avoid the eggnog and the peppermint-flavored cocktail. Enjoy a glass or two of wine, not a whole bottle. When you binge drink, your body may not be able to metabolize fat for up to 72 hours while your liver is dealing with the alcohol. So that great morning-after workout won't even be that effective in this area! 

7. Get Movin'

Be as active as possible. Whether it's a yoga class, a bike ride or a family football game, just get up a go. Food cravings are often anxiety-related. When the cravings come on, go for a walk. The calming practice of mindful movement can be very beneficial. Take a DEFINE body, revolution or mind class if you're in the Houston area!

8. Hit Restart

If (or when) you do over eat or drink one night, remember tomorrow is a new day. Don't beat yourself up. Get back on track! Start with a big glass of water with lots of lemon and a green juice before consuming your first meal of the day. This will help your body focus on detoxing, rather than on breaking down complex foods. 

Here are some of my favorite recipes to get you through your Holidays Season. Hope you can join me in the kitchen for our premier DEFINE foods workshop at DEFINE west university! Saturday, December 15th. 12:00pm. Learn new moves and recipes to keep you Healthy Through the Holidays! Sign up HERE!

1. Butternut Squash & Apple Soup http://juiceboks.com/2012/11/15/butternut-squash-apple-soup/
2. Miso-Maple Brussels Sprouts & Tofu http://juiceboks.com/2012/11/03/define-foods-miso-maple-brussels-sprouts-tofu/
3. Spinach & Quinoa Salad w Pears, Chickpeas and Cranberries http://juiceboks.com/2010/12/25/spinach-quinoa-salad-with-pears-chickpeas-and-pecans/
4. Farro Salad with Roasted Grapes & Pomegranate http://www.definebody.com/nutrition/define-foods-farro-salad/
5. Olive Oil Cake with Sauternes Roasted Pears http://juiceboks.com/2012/01/02/olive-oil-cake-with-sauternes-roasted-pears-homemade-whip/
6. Double Chocolate Crumb Cake http://juiceboks.com/2011/12/24/double-chocolate-crumble-cake/

Major thanks to Erin for this great contribution! The holidays are definitely a time to indulge a little---but it's important to keep everything in moderation :)  If you have a question for Erin, please leave it in the comments below!

Motivation Mondays: Define Revolution Spin Class & Erin Stewart Shares Her Favorite Summer Recipes & Nutrition Tips

If you watched my workout DVD review video on my YouTube channel over the weekend, you�ll know that fitness is a huge priority for me right now. So much so that I�ve started to work with a personal trainer again to get back into tip top shape.

One of my struggles has always been getting cardio into my workouts. I love weight lifting and toning workouts but never enjoyed running, the elliptical or pretty much anything else cardio related.

When I was invited to try out Define Studio�s new Define Revolution class at their West U location, I was excited but also nervous because I hadn�t taken a spin class in years. This past May, I purchased an unlimited month long package at Define (River Oaks location) and took barre classes about five days a week so I was familiar with the studio but not with the Revolution classes which are exclusive to the West U location.

I didn�t really know what to expect when I came to class last Wednesday but all I can say is that once the class was over, I felt like I had literally bathed in my own sweat because the workout was that intense.  I forgot how it felt to sweat THAT hard during a workout. Of course I sweat when I do my weight training because I do incorporate cardio elements..but this was a whole new level of sweat (ie: I could only take this class on the nights before I wash my hair because there is no way you can skip washing it after this class). 
   

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Here�s what I loved about the class:

• The room---it�s super dark and has these really pretty lanterns lit. I loved that the workout was almost in the dark---I could see the instructor but it was dark enough to where it really created a great vibe. It felt relaxing and you almost felt more secure because you didn�t have to worry about catching a glimpse of your sweaty-self in the mirrors.
• The music was awesome
• The instructor Erin, was motivational and high energy
• The workout was challenging---as a spinning newbie, I couldn�t put my resistance up as much as some people could but I still got an incredible workout.

The only downside to Define�s West U location is parking, but there is a lot across the street you can use (I got there early and was able to park in the main lot).

I asked Erin from Define if she should share some of her best nutrition tips with my readers and she happily obliged.  Here is a little more information about Erin so you know about her background:

Erin O� Leary Stewart is a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health and Culinary Arts in New York City. She has spent time working in the raw food and vegan kitchen at Pure Food and Wine and owned and operated her own healthy cookie and granola company, O�Cookies Wholesome Bites. As DEFINEfoods Head Chef, Erin brings this expertise to DEFINE West University by providing food education and health-supportive cooking classes to further balance healthy lifestyles.

Tell us what you do at Define and how you got started with barre-based workouts.
I am currently a Lead Instructor and Teacher/Trainer for DEFINEbody and DEFINErevolution. I earned a BFA in Dance Performance at Southern Methodist University in Dallas where I also studied kinesiology and spent the subsequent eight years dancing professionally throughout the greater New York area. A desire to stay in shape throughout audition seasons led me to a fitness class inspired by former accomplished ballet dancer Lotte Berk, called Physique 57, where I spent several years as an instructor, before moving here to Houston and discovering DEFINE.

What are some healthy snacks every woman should pack to make good food choices during the workweek?
My 'on-the-go' snacks are Larabars, Justin's Nut Butter packs with an apple or banana, and raw walnuts or almonds.

What are a few of your favorite healthy summer recipes?
My favorite recipes these days take advantage of all of the fresh summer produce (tomatoes, corn, eggplant, peaches, etc.). Here are a few of my latest recipes:

• Tomato, Corn & Okra Soup
• http://juiceboks.com/2012/06/14/tomato-corn-okra-soup/
• Peachy Crumble
• http://juiceboks.com/2012/06/03/peachy-crumble/
• Peach & Green Bean Salad with Hazelnuts and Tarragon Vinaigrette
• http://juiceboks.com/2012/05/14/texas-peach-green-bean-salad-w-hazelnuts-and-tarragon-vinaigrette/
• Roasted Eggplant & Chickpea Quinoa Skillet
• http://juiceboks.com/2012/07/19/quinoa-roasted-chickpeas-w-eggplant-mushrooms-zaatar/ 
• Summer Blueberry Muffins
• http://juiceboks.com/2011/07/09/summer-scrumptious/

How important is nutrition in regards to your overall health and fitness plan?
Physical fitness can only take you to a certain point. For overall health, nutrition starts at the home. What you eat is just as important as any physical movement you give yourself. Your food choices can affect both your mind and your body, and can fully determine how you feel throughout your day.

If you wake up and reach for the big coffee and sugary muffin, you will most likely crash come mid-afternoon, which could then lead to more poor choices in order to keep going. Instead, have a bowl of grounding oatmeal or grains with goji berries and pure maple syrup with green tea. The low-glycemic sweeteners and antioxidants from the goji berries and green tea will help to keep a steady energy and a clear mind.

Having a disciplined outlook on eating, versus a controlled outlook, can make all of the difference as well. If you're truly craving that sugary muffin, there is no need to deprive yourself. Instead, have your muffin this time and have the oatmeal bowl the next. As long as you wake up every morning with the intentions to be the very best person that you can be, knowing that you will probably make some mistakes along the way, you will lead a long, healthy and sustainable life.

How can busy women, moms and wives make healthy eating a priority? What are some tips and tricks to help us stay on track?All it takes is a little bit of prep. Head to your local farmer's market weekly and prep your veggies ahead of time. Sundays and Mondays are my days to lie out meal plans for the week. I'll wash veggies and cut up fruit to have in the fridge ready to go. A big key is to roast off veggies in the oven and make a big pot of quinoa or rice at the start of the week. This makes throwing together one-skillet dinners so quick and easy because you've done the step that takes the longest ahead of time.


Any other tips and tricks to add?     
I never make just enough for one meal. All sauces and dressings that I prep for a dish, I will make enough to keep in the fridge to use throughout the week with other dishes. Trust me, you won't be able to get enough of my tahini dressing (from the Roasted Eggplant & Chickpea Quinoa Skillet recipe)! It goes well on everything from green salads to veggie stir-fries to freshly baked whole grain toast.

I have asked Erin to become a regular contributor on my blog so I'm going to have her answer a couple of questions each month or two related to diet and nutrition so we can all learn to live a healthier lifestyle.  If you have any questions, please leave them below and thank you Erin for motivating us this Monday! You can learn more about Define classes at: http://www.definebody.com/.  Thank you Erin for motivating us this Monday!