The winter season is here with plenty of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures.  It’s a great time to use your creative side to keep warm.  Here are a few ideas of my own to get you started:

1. Visualize yourself in a warm, sunny place.  I suggest the Bahamas! 

2. Be physically active to raise your body’s temperature and increase healthy circulation.  If you’re snow in at home create an hour workout that you can do while you’re catching up on your favorite TV shows or movies.  Some easy moves to do at home and that use little space are:

• Push-ups and any variations (triangle, complex push-ups, etc.)
• Crunches, leg lifts, scissor kicks, and any variation of abdominal workout that you enjoy or need to practice.
• Lunges, squats, calf raises, wall sits, etc.
• If you have a stairwell, run up and down the steps 10 to 20 times as fast as you can. 

3. If you have a medicine ball, bosu ball, and/or Swiss ball get good use out of your equipment.     

4. Make a new healthy recipe you have never tried before.  Below is a quick, easy, and fun one to try:
15 Minute Turkey Chef’s Salad

Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes      Serves 4

Ingredients:
·         1½ lb mixed salad greens
·         1 cup fresh basil leaves torn into pieces
·         ¾ lb sliced turkey breast
·         1 small jar of prepared roasted peppers, (about 7 oz)
·         4 oz Kalamata olives
·         1½ basket cherry tomatoes, cut in half
·         1 medium avocado cut into cubes
 
Dressing Ingredients:
·         2 TBS balsamic vinegar
·         2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
·         Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:
Rinse and dry salad greens. Drying is best done in a salad spinner.
Divide the greens and rest of ingredients equally on 4 plates.
Whisk together vinegar, oil, salt and pepper and drizzle on top of salad.
 
Sincerely,
Maggie