1-219-765-8600

carol@inkwellcoaching.com

Crown Point, IN

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March 14, 2024

10 Muscle Building Tips for Women

Most women I talk with would like to build more muscle and lose more fat. While strength or resistance training is a key component to building muscle,

March 7, 2024

A Taste of Spring

In case you’ve been missing out on some of the most delectable oranges, this is your friendly reminder that we are in the midst of SUMO season. This

February 29, 2024

10 Healthy Snacks for Busy People

My family loves snacks. I love snacks. Who doesn’t love a good snack? I believe snacking can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle. When you c

February 21, 2024

Saving Dough and a Surprise Cake from Mr. Non-Compliant

Some say it’s expensive to eat healthy. I believe it’s even more expensive, especially in the long run, to eat unhealthy. Today I present some tip

February 14, 2024

My Best Workout Tip for Top Results

Ever wonder how to get the most out of your run or walk or strength training workouts? It’s the same way you can feel the most productive about your

February 8, 2024

Celebrating the Birth Month Without FOGO

This year’s birth month is a rare one because I get to celebrate for 29 days. Those of you who get 30, or if you’re REALLY lucky, 31 days, may not

February 1, 2024

How to Stick with Exercise

Work is really busy. Or your kid is going through a “phase.” Or it’s chocolate season. Any number of obstacles, distractions, and competing dema

January 24, 2024

Find the Right Foods for You

You know what it’s like to create a pump-up playlist, right? You compile a list of songs that—when they come on—make you say: “Yes, I feel lik

January 18, 2024

Mastering a Dry or Damp January with Style

As the new year begins, many of us look for ways to reset and rejuvenate our bodies and minds. One popular approach is embarking on a ‘Dry Janua

January 11, 2024

Gluten-Free Substitutes for Healthier Baking

The world of gluten-free baking can be rather intimidating. Experimenting with various “other” flours and mixes can sometimes result in frustratin

A Simple Celebration Salad

Happy Independence Day and the kick-off to summer!

Since there will probably be a few picnics and family gatherings happening at some point, I thought you’d enjoy a simple, tasty, and (don’t tell Mr. Non-Compliant) healthy salad.

This quinoa salad is great for hot weather events because there are no ingredients that will easily spoil. Also, you can make it ahead of time and the flavors will blend.

One cup of cooked quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) has about 8 grams of protein and is a good source of fiber. It has a crunchy texture, nutty flavor and is gluten-free.

Quinoa is a complete protein source, which means that it provides all nine of the essential amino acids our bodies need. These are the amino acids that we cannot make and that must be acquired through diet.   

It is a good source of antioxidants and minerals, providing more magnesium, iron, fiber, and zinc than many common grains.

While I don’t care for warm quinoa on its own, I do like it in a cold salad with vegetables and a simple dressing. The first time I made quinoa I treated it like rice and decided that there must be a tastier way to enjoy it.

There are scads of variations for quinoa salad. Experiment to your heart’s content and have fun.

Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad

  • 1 cup organic quinoa
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup peeled and diced cucumber
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • ¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
  • ¼ cup kalamata or black olives, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoonful chopped mint (optional)
  • ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Juice of 1 fresh lemon
  • Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Prepare quinoa according to package instructions. Let cool. Combine quinoa, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, parsley, cheese, olives, and mint in a large bowl. Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper together. Pour over quinoa mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately or chill in refrigerator.

Serve as a side salad or add grilled chicken to make it a main dish for lunch. This is also tasty as a topper for tortilla chips. (I like Late July brand chips.)

I wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday weekend. 

Much love,
Carol

“Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I’m not ashamed of that, never have been, never will be.”—John Wayne

Ever try butter on saltines?

I’d forgotten about this childhood treat until a friend of mine mentioned it. We’d gathered for an informal dinner, and the next thing I knew we were all snacking on Glutino gluten-free crackers topped with Earth Balance (dairy-free) buttery spread.

It was almost like eating saltines with butter.

Of course, this was in addition to the veggie tray.   

This treat led to some other fun childhood summer memories like:

*Catching lightning bugs and keeping them in a jar with air holes in the lid. I put my jar in the freezer. Why I did this, I’m not sure, however catching them was a favorite summer night pastime with my neighborhood buddies.

*Eating fresh peaches and nectarines and the juice running down my chin.

*Riding bikes with my friends and staying out until it got dark and our moms made us come in.

*Homemade ice cream on Sundays when friends came to visit—banana, vanilla, or peach. Never chocolate because my dad didn’t like chocolate ice cream.

*Having more time to read Nancy Drew mysteries.

*Running through the sprinkler on really hot days.

*Setting up a Kool-Aid stand and ending up in the red. I think I employed a few too many friends.

Consider taking some time to live summer like a kid. I got my bike out for the first time in ??? years. It was fun, although I need to toughen up my “sitting on a bike seat” muscles.

It’s Fruit and Veggie Time

Many people I consult with are practicing the art of increasing their fruit and vegetable intake. This is a great aspect of eating to focus on, and one that is much easier now that more of the produce is local.

A simple way to do this is to take note of the number of servings of vegetables and fruits you typically eat in a day. Practice increasing it by one a day over time. I find that eating a tossed green salad almost daily is an easy way to add 2-3 vegetables.

Take a handful or two of greens, and add any of the following: chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, sweet peppers, zucchini, carrots, etc.

Toss with a simple dressing of extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper. Easy.

The ultimate goal is 10 servings per day. A good ratio is 3:1 vegetables to fruits, 5:1 if you’re interested in weight loss.

It’s easy for me to reach my fruit intake, tougher to get in the suggested number of veggies. I continue to practice. 

Just try to do a little bit better.

Whatever health challenge you’re facing today, I’m here to support you.

Much love,
Carol

“Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape…” — Harper Lee

Beware of the Buggy Bandit

This week, my client and I were enjoying a peaceful grocery shopping field trip at Whole Foods. We were in the produce department reviewing the list of fruits and vegetables we needed.

When my client went to put carrots and green beans in her buggy, she couldn’t find it. Thinking she’d left it in another area, she began searching the entire produce section. 

Her buggy had vanished. Poof. Gone.

The worst part: she had found the perfect avocados for her breakfasts to go with her veggie omelets. They were in the missing buggy.

Don’t you just hate when that happens?

She quickly took off to search other areas of the store and had no luck. We began again, filling a new buggy and keeping close watch.

We had almost finished restocking the second buggy when her initial buggy appeared next to the apples. She was never near the apples, didn’t plan to buy apples, yet there it was, next to the apples.

 The good news: nothing was missing from the cart and she had her beloved avocados back.

We then proceeded to return all the produce from the second buggy.

This same thing has happened to me in the past.

The moral of the story: beware of the buggy bandit. And if you happen to be a BB, at least grab one with really great avocados.

 A Fun Strawberry Fact

It’s strawberry season here in the Midwest, and U-Pick farms are open for picking.

I remember taking my sons to pick berries when they were little. We’d ride a hot, dusty school bus out into the fields and pick our buckets full.

While we were picking them, we’d often stop, stick our heads in the buckets and inhale the wonderful aroma of the best strawberries anywhere.

June strawberries in Indiana are amazing.   

I just learned that strawberries help with longevity. Yes, that’s correct. They’re delicious and they have anti-aging properties!

Strawberries contain a plant compound called fisetin which acts as an antioxidant, reduces inflammation in the body, and kills senescent cells. Senescent cells have lost their ability to divide but do not die, leading them to accumulate and inflame surrounding cells. This is characteristic of aging.

UGH! Try to eat ½ cup of strawberries daily or several times per week in order to keep this aging process from happening to you.

And on that note, I wish all you dads a very Happy Father’s Day! May you and your families enjoy a delicious celebration on Sunday, as we also ring in summer with the Solstice.

Much love,
Carol

“One way of celebrating the Solstice is to consider it a sacred time of reflection, release, restoration, and renewal.” —Sarah Ban Breathnach

A Delicate Summer Surprise

Apricots are a hidden gem of a fruit. While the delicate little apricot is not even in the running of most popular fruits in the world, it has a special charm of its own.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, they are smaller than peaches and share the tartness of purple plums.

They have been showing up frequently in my local grocery, so I decided to do a bit of research on these golden beauties.

More than 90% of the apricots grown in the United States come from California. The season runs from late April to the end of July.

Now is their time.

Of course, apricots have many nutritional benefits.       

They contain fiber, potassium, loads of antioxidants, are very hydrating, and may contribute to improved eye, skin, and gut health.

When selecting your apricots, be gentle. DO NOT SQUEEZE THEM! A light touch will tell you if they are firm or soft.

Ripe apricots yield slightly to the touch. Those that are very soft are overripe. Look for small fruit for the sweetest and best flavor.

A ripe apricot will be fuzzy and soft on the outside. It will have a deep orange or yellow hue, but you might also notice a red or rosy tinge to the skin. Those that have a green tint or are light yellow are underripe.

If they smell delicious, they probably are. They are perfect when you can break one open easily with a slight twist.

Store ripe apricots in the produce drawer of your refrigerator. If you find that they are a bit underripe, keep them at room temperature until they are just right.

Purists will enjoy these “au naturel.”

For something a bit more exciting, split them open, remove the pits and fill the soft hollow with rich strained yogurt drizzled with honey and topped with toasted, slivered almonds.

You can substitute them for peaches or plums in most recipes.

Apricot marmalade is quite a treat and makes a tasty glaze on pork near the end of grilling time.   

If you haven’t tried an apricot lately, take the apricot challenge and buy a few. The more variety we have in our diets, the better.

Cheers to trying something new,
Carol

“Five tender apricots in a blue bowl, a brief and exact promise of things to come.” –Frances Mayes