A Yummy Boost

 if you feel tired mid day or after lunch maybe you need a yummy boost. It could be anything from a handful of walnuts to a refreshing glass of ice green tea. This is what's needed from keeping you crashing at your desk, whether at a home office or a a more traditional one.

Anything can cause fatigue. It could be an underlying illness like diabetes or sleep apnea. Mostly it's our addiction to our devices. We stay up late answering e mails, watching the latest Tiktok videos or scrolling through social media. The morning is fine. we get up, have that breakfast and bounce about. Yet after lunch we may feel the need for a good long nap. This is perfect on a weekend with nothing to do but it can be a pain when you have papers to look over or kids to pick up from school.One of the top boosters are nuts. These can easily be bought in a package or a jar and kept in a handy drawer. A handful of almonds can help as can any other nuts. You can try the flavored ones for a different taste however the ones lightly salted with sea salt work just as well.Even peanut butter can be used for an energy booster. Make a plate of cracker sandwiches with them for a tasty snack. vary this with spreadable cheeses because dairy is  definitely fatigue fighter as well.  Having Brie or Gouda is a lovely way to enjoy a break. Another dairy rich snack to try is cottage cheese. Cut up either fruit or vegetables for a tasty cup.

Veggies also provide a lift as well as giving.extra nutrition.Try cut up carrots , broccoli and green peppers dipped in a fun oil and red wine vinaigrette. Add seasonings such as oregano and thyme to spice it up. You could even create a small salad with the addition of grape or cherry tomatoes. Any fruit is excellent for keeping away mid day tiredness. A fruit snack is also a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth(stay away from  any processed baked goods when you;re feeling sluggish - these will only add to the problem). A handful of cherries or grapes is always great for a quick bite. You could also make a fruit salad with them along with chunks of melon and apples . Drizzle a mix of honey and Greek yogurt over them to make them a bit more interesting.Add some grated dark chocolate or chocolate chips -another fatigue fighter. You could also have a bar of very dark chocolate to munch on as well.This and a hot cup of tea is a treat as well, perfect for keeping you bright eyed and awake.

Don;t worry if you're droopy and drowsy in the afternoon.There are yummy boosters that can revive you. Try them to make the most of your day.

Huel Chili Cold Weather Fuel

 We need nutritious and tasty food  to get through this season. Luckily Huel has come along with its' Hot and Savory line. These are nutrition packed instant meals that can be cooked with just hot water or microwaved.I thought I'd give the chili a try.

Huel is known for its' bars, ready to drink and powders. These are chock full of proteins, perfect for those on a diet or just want to eat better. The new line is perfect for providing the body with the important ingredients. There are three flavors, the Mexican chili, rife with quinoa, rice , peppers and beans, the tomatoes and herbs which mixes in lentils and onions and green curry, a blend of peppers, sweet corn and scallions.

The bags contain a whopping one pound of mix.

and each bag contains seven servings. a scoop is given for scooping out the mix and a cup to mix.You can see the different mix of grains, beans and spices.

since I was making it for dinner, I doubled the amount to four to five scoops and about a cup of water.

It was then cooking it for six minutes. You can use less to make a hot, satisfying lunch with it. 

It's a very thick mix , thicker than home made  thanks tot he rice and quinoa. You can thin the chili with a tablespoon or two of tap water.

It was fiery and super spicy. I feel I could its' spiciness can be cut with more beans but it was flavorful. I like how it could also be served with cornbread or polenta. A small serving is only four hundred calories, good for those on before holiday diets.

Huel Hot and Savory is the perfect cold weather meal for lunch or dinner. Try any of the three flavors for the maximum amount of nutrition. It's tasty and good for you during these hard times.

Can Supplements Save Us

There's been a lot of back and forth about different supplements halting the coronavirus. Do they work? Don't they? What to take? That's the big question.  What's the answer? Truthfully there is none.

I found this one supplement at my local Walgreen's. It's Zarbees, a black elderberry based immune booster.

The company was started by Dr. Zak Zarbok a pediatrician, who started the company with  the idea of all natural cough syrup for both his patients and his kids. The company also manufactures vitamins and supplements for good health and good sleeping.There is also all natural sinus sprays and respiratory syrup.  I thought I tried the immune support. It's not bad tasting and is full of Vitamin C and zinc.It also has elderberry which helps to lessen the effect of the virus. The last keeps the immune system strong which is what I - and everyone need right now. Of course it also helps to isolate myself and get good nutrition and rest along with constant hand washing. Will it help? l can only hope.

You'll probably heard about colloidal silver slowing or even killing the coronavirus. It's all bunk and it's dangerous too.Chronic exposure to it can lead to argyria where the skin turns a silvery blue along with being damaging to the eyes and possibly the bloodstream. Don't fall for any of the hucksters selling it on TV on on online.  There is some new research showing that turmeric helps in boosting the immune system, yet researchers aren't sure why yet. You can take turmeric supplements (Now only at Wal-Mart. GNC stores are closed) however you can also get it in your store's spice section. It has a wonderful flavor and can be used as an accent for everything from beans to veggies. Make a point to use more of it in your cooking. You could add a multivitamin to your diet if you haven't already along with Vitamin C and D tablets.  These also help in boosting the immune system.

Is there a magic bullet supplement that will help in staving off the coronavirus. There needs to be more research on this new and deadly virus. Once the research has been established then, researchers and scientists can delve further in what can prevent it from happening.

An Exchange Of Foods

Today is Columbus Day and like it or not it's when two cultures,the indigenous  American and European collided.It may have been the end of one culture yet it brought together what we now know as global cuisine.It expanded the world's diet and brought about better nutrition.

The Europeans brought various meats such as chickens , beef and lamb to the American diet.Yes the people already here ate meats but it came from hunted animals.The new kinds were able to be kept in herds or on properties.European bakers brought yeast to the New World which enabled breads to be made, thus more ready nutrition for the
young, infirm and elderly.It could go a long way in feeding large families. It could also be turned into sandwiches for easy meals.Whether considered good or bad,sugar was also introduced. One of the most dubious  "gifts" is alcohol.Fire water was a way of placate them however it proved lethal in the  20th Century. Sadly many young tribes people have fallen for the variety of junk food that their Euro American counterparts have. Luckily many are returning to the ancient pre-Columbian diets.

The tribes from Canada to Central America have given us so much.They expanded a European diet that primarily existed of cabbage and turnips.Thanks to the Western Hemisphere ,there is polenta and tomatoes in Italy,chocolate in Switzerland and France, and beans in England.Our diets have expanded so much thanks to the potato which was easy to grow. Any meal we eat today has at least one indigenous ingredient.Even our Thanksgiving is influenced not by the English who created it, but by the Massachusetts tribes.The native Tai no gave us barbecue or Barbac a which has become a worldwide staple.On a broader scale the Pacific Islanders gave us pineapple and breadfruit .

Columbus and his crew discovered a whole new world.It was a culinary exchange that changed diets around the world.It broadened our palates and diets.

The Education Of A Foodie

For all of you young foodies out there you may be wondering if there's a career out there for you. There is. It's amazing that there are so many possibilities with food. You can choose from culinary arts to home ec to nutrition. The field is varied.

Culinary school is the most obvious step for any foodie wishing to broaden their horizons. Also being a top chef or baker these days is akin to being a celebrity. What does it take to be a pro in the industry? First you do need your high school degree or GED. You can get an AA or Associates Degree which is two year or a full four year degree. There are also seminars and cooking courses you can take as well. Some programs also offer an apprenticeship program where basically you're thrown into the fire right away. The most famous cooking school in the US is the CIA , the Culinary Institute of America located in both New Hyde Park, New York, and Napa, California. There are also several universities in North America that offer a similar degree and training. Of course the best schools are in Italy and France. Florence, Italy's cultural capital and birthplace of the Renaissance, has s few good ones while Paris (and also Reims) offers the famed Le Cordon Bleu.

Foodies can also receive a degree in Home Economics with an emphasis on nutrition. Although they will have courses in other home ec related studies such as child rearing, textiles and family dynamics, nutrition will be their major area of concentration. Young foodies (or even those considering a career change) may want to think about a degree in the science of nutrition.This could even lead to a job as a dietitian in any hospital or facility such as a nursing home. This degree can be expanded to include a master's in the field.

There are different options for those young foodies out there. If they're dedicated enough to want to work with food, whether from a creative or a scientific standpoint. The best thing is that they will doing what they like - which involves food.