Moving in Gainesville or Tampa is a very exhausting experience for all those involved regardless of the time of year. It can be especially taxing during the holiday season when pressured with shopping, catering to friends and family, and trying to prepare dishes for all of those holiday parties, particularly if all the cookware is packed up in boxes!
Even so, it is important to keep proper nutrition in mind in order to avoid putting on the extra pounds and to stay energized throughout the whole process. With food on the minds of so many of our clients who may be moving this time of the year, we have decided to team up with our friends at Eat the 80, a healthy meal delivery service, to get some advice on good eating habits!
What you put into your body has a direct impact on how you feel, both mentally and physically. You may be tempted with sweets, casseroles, alcoholic beverages, and all the other comfort foods associated with the season. And sometimes, it is ok to indulge! Eat the 80 recommends keeping in mind the 80/20 principle when moving in order to feel great, and be productive throughout your move.
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What is the 80/20 principle?
Carlee Marhefka, co-owner of Eat the 80 says:
“The 80/20 principle is not a diet. It’s a real lifestyle change that can lead to sustainable weight loss, and improvements in your health. The breakdown is simple: 80 percent of the time you focus on eating clean and good for you foods. 20 percent of the time you have the freedom to indulge as you please.
May people I know force themselves to sustain these unrealistic and restricting diets. However, the 80/20 rule is actually about balance and moderation. When you practice 80/20, you have the space to go out socially and enjoy a meal, or a cocktail with friends. But most importantly, it makes the whole clean-living thing feel doable for the long run.”
A few commonplace holiday foods that would fall into the ‘20’ category:
- Alcohol (Yes, eggnog, alcoholic or non)
- Grandma’s Famous Pies
- Stuffing
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Sweet Potato Casserole loaded up with sugar and marshmallows (Allow plain sweet potatoes, or those with grass fed butter are fine)
- Candied fruits
- Bread rolls
- Baked or Mashed Potatoes
- Gravy with a flour base
Eat the 80 suggests that contrary to popular belief, carbs like sugar and starches can actually decrease energy levels, weighing you down and making you feel sluggish. The reason behind this is that they cause blood sugar levels to spike, which causes the body to produce insulin and other hormones that may give you a quick jolt, but ultimately cause you to feel tired. For this reason, frequent indulging in the ‘20’ can lead to health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Whether you are packing or moving yourself, or coordinating with Tampa or Gainesville movers like the trained and experienced movers at 2 College Brothers, you will want to feel sharp throughout the whole process.
Holiday favorites you will want to try and eat 80 percent of the time:
- Baked turkey or Chicken
- Salads (watch the dressing!)
- Green Beans (be careful what goes into casseroles though)
- Ham (shoot for uncured, and minimally processed)
- Coffee (black, in moderation)
- Red Wine (1 glass)
- Plain Sweet Potatoes
- Grass Fed Butter
Other Tips Include:
- When cooking, use healthy oils like olive, coconut, or avocado (these taste way better than hydrogenated and processed vegetable or canola oils anyway).
- Bake your turkey rather than fry it.
- Use vinegar based salads dressings.
- Serve water with lemons in it (this helps balance PH levels in digestion, and contains the cancer-fighting anti-oxidents found in citrus, without the extra sugar from juices
- Think of fruit based desserts like cranberries or date balls coated with pure cocoa
- Add walnuts and almonds to salads instead of croutons
Eat the 80 Holiday Recipe:
Paleo Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”
Ingredients:
- 5 cups Roughly Chopped Cauliflower
- 1 cup Coconut Milk (light is okay)
- 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Chives (optional)
Directions:
- Bring a large pot to a light boil.
- Add the cauliflower and simmer on low for ~10 minutes.
- Drain and blend the cooked cauliflower in a food processor or blender until smooth.
- Add some of the coconut milk to help liquefy in the food processor.
- (Note: you may need to blend in batches.)
- Stir in the spices and coconut oil.
- Top with chives and serve!
Credit to- Fed+Fit
If you are moving and have all of your cooking essentials packed up, Eat the 80 offers pre made, healthy meals available to pickup or delivery. Use Code MOVEBRO at check out at Eatthe80.com to save 10% on your order!
