LiveWell Vermont

Use leftover turkey from your Thanksgiving meal to make this quick and tasty turkey soup! It’s high in fiber, packed with protein and is comforting and delicious - especially with the Winter weather we've been experiencing. Enjoy the leftovers as a quick lunch or at dinner. Servings: 8 Ingredients: 2 teaspoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 bunch of carrots, chopped 2 onions, chopped 1 bunch of celery 1 fennel bulb 1.3 lbs cooked turkey or lean ground turkey 4 cups veggie broth 1 (14.5oz) can stewed tomatoes 4 ears of corn, kernels sliced off cobb 3 Tablespoons tomato paste 2 teaspoons dried basil Dash of salt and freshly ground pepper Preparation: In a large skillet heat the olive oil. Add garlic. Add chopped carrots, cover for 5 minutes. Add onions, celery and fennel. Sauté until soft. If you don't have leftover turkey, you can use lean ground turkey. In another ski...

Unplug, shut down, get together with friends and family face to face, and be thankful for this crazy life. That's what the holidays are about -- celebrating life and those close to us who put the color in it.  We are busier than ever, and those rare moments that allow us to slow down and actually experience life are worth celebrating. So here are our top five ways to live thankfully this November. Host a "Gratitude Dinner": With so many friends traveling into town to see family during the holidays, throwing a potluck-style dinner party is a great way to celebrate with them before everyone goes their separate ways. Have everyone bring their favorite dish to share takes the stress out of hosting. You can also make grateful cards and envelopes to share with your friends, letting them know why they are special to you and what you are most thankful for. Host Friendsgiving: Just because you can't make it back home to see your family doesn't mean you can't ce...

Indulging in drink after drink is never a good idea for your health or your waistline, but there are ways to indulge in moderation and have a little fun without the guilt. Use the following guidelines for a healthier happy hour: Alternate cocktails with water. Most of us don’t drink enough water, and alcohol significantly contributes to dehydration. If you plan to stay awhile, sip slowly and alternate drinks with a glass of water.  Even if you just have one drink, sipping a glass of water before and after will help ensure you stay hydrated so that your energy levels aren't depleted and you won’t feel sluggish and unmotivated in the morning. Choose wine over sangria. While sangria may seem like the lighter, “healthier” choice, many varieties have added ingredients like syrups, liqueurs or soda that add up to a lot more calories, often well over 200 calories a glass.  Plus, mixers like that typically contain unwanted ingredients like lots of sugar or even high fructose co...

Ready to hit the slopes this winter? If you spend most of your week cooped up at a desk, weekend ski and snowboard trips could leave you with strained muscles and a sore back. But with the right preparation, including strengthening your hamstrings, quadriceps, back and core, you won’t have to risk injury or suffer from the usual aches and pains. These five exercises will get you into the right shape to be a true winter weekend warrior. Toy Soldiers Having flexible hamstrings is crucial for skiing and snowboarding. While something as simple as a seated forward bend can stretch your hamstrings, active and dynamic stretches like the toy soldier are the most effective How to: To start, stand up straight with your left arm out to your side at shoulder height. Without bending your knee, kick your right leg while extending your left arm out in front of you to touch your toe. Repeat with the left leg and right arm. Complete three sets of 10 to 12 reps on each side, alternating legs, mov...

Mornings can be a crazy time in any household. Having a few go-to techniques may save your sanity and help you to have a more productive morning. Try the following tried-and-true techniques to help you save time, simplify your day and leave you feeling more efficient and stress-free all day long: Current Habit:  digging through drawers in the morning Technique to try:  packing your gym bag and choosing tomorrow’s clothes the night before This is especially helpful if you help more than one person get dressed in the morning, or if you have a hard time deciding what to wear. Start by getting clean clothes out the night before so you or your kids can grab them in the morning and start getting ready on their own.  Each of these tasks saves a few minutes here and there, but it adds up and makes the start of the day less hectic.  Current Habit:  sleeping in Technique to try:  say "no" to the snooze button It's true...hitting the snooze button throws off the enti...

Upper body strength eludes many of us. Push Ups are one exercise that may just be the perfect to build strength and confidence. Did you know that push ups build upper body strength, core strength, increase bone mass, and increase your metabolic rate? So how do you do a perfect push-up? Glad you asked… Push up Basics for Beginners If you are new to push ups and lack the strength to do a standard push up correctly you can start with a progression that will lead to you gaining strength, and practicing the correct form to avoid injury. Start Here: Wall Push-ups To do a wall push up, face a wall, place your feet together about a foot away from the wall. Place your hands flat on the wall about shoulder width apart. Bend your elbows until your face is about two inches from the wall and then push your arms straight. Repeat for 10-15 repetitions. Tips: Keep your body solid, don’t sag and keep your elbows at 45 degrees. Table Push-ups You will need a sturdy table. Place your hands on...

Try the following quick, healthy breakfast ideas to give you the energy you need to keep you going all day long! 1. Protein Boost! Traditional fluffy bakery muffins sure are delicious, but most are not the healthiest of options to start your day. Try the following protein-packed egg muffin instead. They are quick, last up to 4 days in the fridge, and will fill you with wholesome energy.  Egg Muffins 6 eggs 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped handful of shredded cheese sprinkle of salt and pepper Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners or grease with coconut oil. Mix up the eggs, add bell pepper, cheese and seasonings. Fill 6 muffin tins. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the egg is fully set. Enjoy! Consider mixing and matching with your favorite veggies! 2. Make it a Smooth Day! Not all smoothies are created equal, in fact most are filled with loads of simple sugar. Try this yummy green smoothie recipe, ...