Favorite {healthy} foods abroad

Hello, everyone!

We've been home from our amazing trip abroad for a little less than a week now and I've finally re-adjusted to the time difference. I can honestly say, I've been bitten by the travel bug. After a good night of sleep and more than a couple loads of laundry (yay for clean clothes!), I'm ready to catch a plane back to London! What an unforgettable adventure. 

As promised, I kept tabs on the many unique (to the European culture) foods I came across. Though they certainly have endless options for delectable pastry items, I'm writing to prove that there's way more to European meals than just the sweets. So here it is, my list of healthy food finds abroad (with the exception of one or two). Enjoy! 

1. Too hot, too cold, juuuust right. Yes people, I'm talking about porridge. Being an avid oatmeal devour-er in the States, I was pretty stoked to try some England porridge -- I was certainly hooked after my first spoonful. Since it was sold everywhere, porridge became my morning go-to while abroad. I'd top it off with a sprinkle of almond slices and any berries that were offered -- 100 percent delish and 100 percent healthy (the perfect combo).

                             

2. Split pea soup. Although the color of the soup may be a bit repulsing, it's actually quite delicious. If you're a first-timer with this meal (like I was), split pea soup is pureed peas, ham and other veggies (like onions and carrots). It's a very light soup that hits the spot and leaves you not feeling stuffed. Not to mention, there are a ton of health benefits: high fiber, potassium (and other minerals), vitamin K, low calories... the list could go on.

Give this recipe a try and make it at home: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/split-pea-and-ham-hock-soup-recipe.html

                        

3. Lunch for breakfast? Here's something a bit different from the norm. In each of the countries we visited (Ireland, England, Italy, Switzerland, France) there seemed to be a trend for morning meals. The layout of breakfast each morning included a mixture of hams, turkey, a myriad of cheese and veggies. Though I never could commit to forgoing breakfast foods (my favorite meal of the day), my momma did -- she loved the layout of different, yet healthy morning options. 

                                       

4. Tea, please. Gah... London tea time. This picture brings back great memories. For a little background info, my mom and I are suckers for a good tea time. We love settling down in the evening by making a hot pot of tea and scrolling through the latest Pinterest trends. So, when we made it to London, we were definitely excited to give the English tea time a try -- 'twas nothing less than lovely. There are so many benefits that come with drinking tea... An article I'll certainly have to write. For a Sparknotes version of health benefits, click here. As for the pastry items, they fall under the "exception items" mentioned in the beginning paragraphs. 

                                        

5. Happy Juicing! This was a fun find. I came across all of these different juices while at a coffee shop in the Chelsea district (in London). Not only did I have to try one (I bought the "Lean & Green" Vit-Hit), but I had to do some research on both Vit-Hit and Savse. Both juices are extremely healthy and offer a great amount of nutrients. What you see in the flavor description is what you get; each bottle is packed with various fruits and veggies, nothing more. I thoroughly enjoyed my Vit-Hit. It was scrumptious and actually filled me up. Come to America, Vit-Hit! To read more about the two, click the links: Vit-Hit or Savse

                             

6. Veggie and fruit stands! These stands were scattered everywhere throughout Europe. People would stop by to grab their weekly fruit and veggie groceries, while others (*cough,* us) just wanted a cheap and healthy snack. Nothing like a mid-day banana or apple, am I right? 

                             

7. Weeta-what? Weetabix! I'm very excited to write about this one. My mom and I discovered Weetabix during our hotel breakfast one morning. The unique packaging had us perplexed at first, but from the looks of it, Weetabix seemed like a popular morning meal -- we had to give it a try. Basically, Weetabix comes in the shape of clumped, shredded-wheat bars. Once a little (emphasis on the little) milk is poured over top of the bars, Weetabix turns into a porridge-wanna-be meal/soggy cereal. OK, so that makes it sound gross, but take my word on this one, it's scrumptious and offers a whole lot of health benefits (put link here). I fell in love. The best part: though the meal is unique to Europe, it's offered in America... Let my Weetabix obsession continue!! 

7. As stated above, this is the exception to my healthy finds, but boy is it worthy of being mentioned (actually can't believe I forgot to take a picture of it). Two words: chocolate crossant. Yes, it's definitely not a healthy start to the day... But necessary when in Paris. You may ask, "what's a chocolate crossant?" Well, it's exactly how you imagine: a warmed crossant filled with just the perfect amount of chocolate. Heavenly. Top it off with a morning latte and you've got yourself one heck of a good start to the day. 

Now that's a sweet ending... Thanks for reading!

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10 {mostly healthy} things to do in Paris

                                     

                               

                            

Last stop: Paris, France

Bonjour, bonjour! 

Well, we've officially come to the end of our wonderful, wonderful trip abroad. With that being said, what better way than to end the adventures with Paris?! Paris has been nothing less than magical.   The romantic architecture, historical views, beautiful language, quaint boutiques, kind-hearted people... Everything is simply enchanting here. Paris has definitely been the cherry on top of the sweetest ice cream sundae ever created! 

Paris, like many other cities we've seen this month, encourages an active lifestyle. There are parks, sidewalks and bike paths everywhere, promoting an easy walk/ride commute; who wouldn't take advantage of such a scenic stroll?! Each day, we'd get lost in the beauty of Paris (literally, lost) and would stumble upon a new, lovely area. Regardless if our new findings were planned or serendipitous, my momma and I loved every second together in the city. 

This article is all about our findings -- with a healthy twist, of course! So here ya go, the 10 {mostly healthy} things you must do in Paris! Enjoy :)

1. Visit the Eiffel Tower. This one is a no-brainer. The Tower is ginormous and beautiful; it literally "towers" over the entire city. Visiting the Eiffel Tower was one of the first things we did after arriving in Paris. Though we didn't have any spare time to try this, it's possible to climb the stairs up the tower. Can you imagine that view? Not to mention, the cardio-workout? Next time, fo sho. 

2. Walk through the Arc de Triumph on your way to Avenue des Champs-Élysées. The Arc is a famous monument in Paris that leads to the widely known shopping street, Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Personally, shopping has always been a sport to me, but even more so now. The avenue is 1.2 miles long, with a loop mileage of about 2.4 (yes, you'll want to shop on both sides of the street). Add in the walk from the Arc and you've nearly shopped your way to a 5k.

3. Skip the taxis and rent a bike to explore the city at a faster pace (than by foot). All over Paris, as well as most cities, there are bike racks with rentable bikes (from a company called Velib). The cost for one day is 1.7€, while seven days is 8€. You simple pay, ride around, then return the bike to any of the bike rack locations. What a great {inexpensive} way to cover some ground! 

4. Emerge yourself into the culture by learning a few words in their language! This one is fun and incorporates a different side of health. Prior to visiting Paris, mom and I knew how to say about five words in French... Combined. That quickly changed. All of the Parisians are certainly eager to help you learn their language if you show you're willing to try (they are such a great bunch). By the end of our stay, we could string together a couple of sentences in French. I definitely want to continue to learn the language. J'adore Paris! 

5. Stop for a mid-morning coffee at one of the many cafes. Adorable cafes are located all over Paris and sell a variety of goodies (especially coffee). Since exploring and walking miles can grow exhausting, find a nearby cafe and order a cup of coffee -- we all know coffee has wonderful health benefits (from my recent article)! There's no doubt that you'll enjoy sitting outside, while watching the Parisian lifestyle take place. 

6. Tour Notre Dame Cathedral and the Lourve to admire some ancient (and beautiful) art, including the Mona Lisa. Both of these locations are gorgeous, not to mention extremely historical. Both locations require some walking (especially if you're walking from one to the other) and leave you feeling enriched -- physical and mental health! 

7. After viewing the Notre Dame Cathedral, head over to Ile St. Louis for {more} quaint cafes and shops. Crossing over the bridge onto the ile is beautiful (have I used that word enough yet?). Accordion players and pure happiness greets you as you wander into the cute "island."

                             

8. Put your feet up and take a shopping break! Head to the nearest pâtisserie to buy a box of macaroons. No health whatsoever, but macaroons are always a necessity. Treat yourself. 

9. Take a leisure stroll through Jardin du Luxembourg (gardens). The landscaping of this garden is simply magnificent. It's filled with beautiful statues, seating areas and views. Don't forget the "jardin" when making your "to-see" list in Paris. 

10. I admit, I saved the best "must do" for last. Head to the Hyatt Regency bar (on the 33rd floor of the hotel) for an unforgettable, amazing view. While at the bar, we each ordered a glass of wine and veggie focaccia to share. Tip: Get there early (a little before 10:00pm) to claim a comfy couch by the window. Trust me, you won't regret waiting a little longer for the sun to set once you see the Tower glistening at night. 

Thanks for reading... And remember, "Paris is always a good idea."

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Making healthy a lifestyle

                             

                                            

                              

Fourth stop: Vevey, Switzerland 

Bonjour! The next stop on our adventure abroad is Vevey. This is the most breathtaking place I've ever seen. In all honesty, I've fallen completely in love with every aspect of the city: the simplicity, people, stores, lifestyle, dogs (so many pugs) and most definitely the scenery. I can assure you that I'll be back one day... And hopefully to stay for quite a while!

One of my favorite parts about Vevey (though I can't say that I'm able to narrow it down to just one) is the active lifestyle that the residents have adopted, seriously! Within the three days we've stayed here, we've seen non-stop exercise -- the people of Vevey definitely take advantage of their beautiful surroundings and climate. In each direction there are rollerbladers, bikers, yogis, walkers, runners, paddle boarders, kayakers and even "Razor scooter" riders (remember them?!) of all ages. This is quite an active town... I love it! 

When comparing Vevey to my hometown there's an obvious difference in the level of outdoor exercise... Or exercise in general. Sure, accessibility is a key difference when comparing the two, but there are always ways to incorporate the daily dosage of exercise... regardless of location. To me, the same thought holds true with age. In Vevey, it seemed as though everyone wanted to participate in some form of movement/activity. Little tikes were taking sailing lessons, teens were rollerblading down the street together, adults were biking and jogging and (my favorite) the elders were partaking in a stretching class, which turned into a walking club! Each stage of life within the town utilized their time to lead a healthier lifestyle. Can you tell I'm in love? 

As I was soaking in every ounce of their lifestyle and admiring the entire town's want to participate in living a healthy lifestyle, I came across the infographic below (on one of my favorite blogs, http://stronglikemycoffee.com) -- I think it's just perfect! The graphic was made by the Bankers Healthcare Group on account of their survey results (from multiple health and wellness bloggers). In short, the survey is a "snapshot of health-minded individuals, those of us interested in living well tend to use many different strategies and regimens to complement our lifestyle and reach our fitness goals." 

To see the infographic in a bigger view, click here. Take a look and tell me your thoughts. There are multiple ways to become motivated and incorporate healthy living into your day-to-day agenda... Make being healthy a lifestyle! 

                           

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Gelato vs. ice cream

Third stop: Milan, Italy 

After stumbling through multiple train and subway stations, with no signs in English, we successfully made it to our next destination: Milanooo! Our visit was very short, but boy did we do some damage -- they weren't kidding when naming Milan the "shopping capital of the world." During our quick stay, we made a trip to the longest {greatest} shopping street in the world, gawked at the beautiful cathedral (Duomo) and ate all-things Italian. 

The Italian food was amazing, as expected. We had to try all the staples: pasta, pizza, wine, cannoli and gelato (coming back to this point soon, stay tuned). Regardless if we shared the meal or ordered individually, we left our plates without a trace of food on them. The craziest part was, we never left the restaurants feeling uncomfortable or stuffed -- likely because of our non-stop walking, but still! The portion sizes were the perfect amount each time; this certainly helped with not feeling bloated.

I digress. What I really want to talk about is Italian gelato! Mm mmm good. Everywhere we turned we saw a gelato shop or stand in the midst of clothing stores. Each shop had a vibrant display of their flavors (check out the picture: @twentyfitandfab)! The taste of the gelato definitely held up to its appearance... It was so fruity and refreshing that I just had to look further into the health aspects of the tasty treat. So, today I'm comparing two similar {or not so} frozen desserts: gelato vs. ice cream. Let the throw down begin. 

                

Still screaming for ice cream? Comment below to let me know your take on the two. Au revoir!

Sources:

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/nutrition-gelato-compared-ice-cream-2157.html

http://www.eatouteatwell.com/ice-cream-or-gelato-whats-the-difference/

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The benefits of coffee: love you a latte

   

                             

Second stop: London, England

Ello everyone! The next stop on our summer adventure is the lovely town of London. Yes, we're moving right along. Our stay in London is the longest stop we make during our month of travels; from here on, it'll be pretty fast-paced. Boy are we excited... And a little uncertain of what we're getting ourselves into (language barrier issues are likely to present)!

Any who, transitioning on to the topic of this article. As I'm sure you've guessed (by my artsy insta pic: @twentyfitandfab), this article is all about one of the greatest creations, coffee. Everywhere we turn in London, there's a coffee café... And let me tell you, the English certainly know how to brew a solid cup of coffee. They aren't bad at creating latte art too, making me have to have at least one a day. Girls gotta get her latte on! After daily, morning coffees, I decided it was time to do a little research on the benefits of coffee (hoping that there were a few). Turns out, there's more than plenty... Drink on! 

Here's what I found:

Coffee has caffeine. Caffeine acts as a stimulant that gives you, your brain and metabolism an extra boost of energy! That's right -- about two, strong cups of coffee contain 250 milligrams of caffeine. This caffeine not only speeds up the respiratory rate, but also blocks the chemical in the brain used to signal sleep, adenosine. Therefore, coffee perks us up, making us more alert and focused to get some work done (or extreme Pinteresting)!

As far as increasing metabolism goes, studies have proven caffeine to increase the resting metabolic rate by 3 to 11 percent. Most of this increase is a result of fat burning, pretty cool, right?! What I gathered is that the stimulant affects the nervous system by signaling to the fat cells in the body. These signals alert the cells, telling them to break-down and release into the blood. Voilà, a slightly increased metabolism and a yummy pick-me-up in one!

Multiple sources claim coffee as having "the highest amount of antioxidants." Whether that's true or not, there's definitely a rich source of antioxidants crammed into your morning cup. Antioxidants are nutrients in the body that assist the immune system; they kill any free radicals floating throughout your body. WebMD sums up all of coffee's disease-fighting capabilities by stating that it may "reduce cavities, boost athletic performance, improve moods, and stop headaches -- not to mention reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, liver cancer, gall stones, cirrhosis of the liver, and Parkinson's diseases." Seemingly, coffee is the cure-all! To read more about the disease-fighting characteristics about coffee, check out the websites listed below. 

Lastly, coffee is low-cal and scrumptious. A cup of black coffee only contains around two calories. That's nothing! Unfortunately, I (and I'm sure many others) prefer to add a little something to mask the strong taste -- a small sprinkle of raw sugar and a dash of skim milk is my favorite way to add some flavor without making it unhealthy. Cream and sugar definitely add to the amount of calories in your morning cup(s), but moderation is always key!

If you're not already sipping on a warm cup while you read, I hope this article inspired you to brew a pot of coffee and enjoy the day! Xo

Sources:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270202.php

http://www.m.webmd.com/diet/features/the-buzz-on-coffee

http://authoritynutrition.com/coffee-increase-metabolism/

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/the-benefits-of-coffee?page=2

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How to avoid the European-15: tips for keeping healthy abroad

First stop: Dublin, Ireland

Top o' the mornin to ya!

Yes, my summer travels abroad have commenced. Nearly the entire month of June will be spent hopping from country to country (within Europe) with my bff -- stay tuned to see which country I end up in next. 

Since we're hopping all-around, we're definitely limited to the amount of luggage we can 'lug' around with us. Dare I even say what this means: 1 to 2 pairs of running clothes. Because running is my favorite way to stay active, I knew from the beginning that the lack of running clothes (and washer/dryer access) may present itself as a minute problem... Especially since I'll be surrounded by the yummiest of foods. So, this article, as well as the next few ones this month, will be all about keeping healthy while abroad (or at least attempting to). There'll be no European-15 for this girl!

For starters, let's talk about the temptress itself: bread. The Irish certainly know how to make some mighty fine bread -- I'm sure it's only going to get more delish as we continue on through Europe. Day one in Ireland was a complete wash when it came to watching my bread intake. It's a marathon, Caroline...the bread isn't going anywhere; in fact, it'll be here all month. With that motto in mind, I have limited myself to one serving a day (and somedays, none!). But! Eropean bread is definitely a must try... You can't go overseas and restrict your every calorie, right?! Try it all... Portioning is key. 

This brings me to my next point: portion sizes. Thankfully, my momma is always up for sharing; which not only saves money, but saves our poor jeans from ripping in half. A lot of the meals here are very heavy... By that I mean, if you finish your plate, you'll likely be uncomfortable for hours. On the other hand, sharing allows us to move and groove ourselves out of the restaurant and into the shopping centers, without feeling stuffed. Sharing is caring. 

As I mentioned above, not being able to get my run on was kinda a bummer, but I got over that almost the second we landed in the city! With a Fitbit strapped on my arm, my mom and I took off exploring. So far, we've been racking up 10 mile walking days (and boy have we hit the bed hard each night). The best part about being with my mom abroad is her wanderlust... We're both anxious to see everything a new area has to offer, regardless of the amount of walking. Having a Fitbit is awesome (or "brilliant") for keeping our moves in-check... You don't realize just how much walking you actually do! 

In summary...

1. Limit your bread intake (Think: Marathon)

2. Sharing is caring 

3. Walk (and adventure) til you can't walk no mo'

Check back for my next articles abroad!

                   (So far, I've snuck-in one, five mile run... The views weren't too shabby either.)

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