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MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPE: SWEET POTATO TURKEY CHILI
My favorite part about fall weather is all the soup! Soup dinners are easy for a lazy chef like me and are my favorite way to prep food that will last throughout the week. This chunky sweet potato turkey chili is my favorite, because each serving is a generous size and packs in tons of lean protein and vegetables.
THANKSGIVING: HANDLING YOUR HOLIDAY MEAL
When you’re tracking your macros and you have goals that you’re chasing down, eating in social settings can be hard. Here are some tips for how to stick to your nutrition goals and strive for a mindful, balanced meal - whether you are tracking your macros or not.
STAYING ACTIVE THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS
If you find yourself cutting your gym time short or having to take some extra days off this holiday season, remember that just moving your body more can increase your NEAT (aka, the amount of calories you burn). Here are a few simple ways to keep your NEAT up when you’re short on time!
THANKSGIVING MEAL HACKS
When you’re tracking your macros and you have goals that you’re chasing down, eating in social settings inevitably brings about a bit of anxiety. Now, let’s talk about a family dinner, specifically a holiday family dinner, that’s centered around eating. How do you approach this kind of meal with some semblance of balance and mindfulness?
MACRO-FRIENDLY THANKSGIVING RECIPES
The holidays bring about lots of time with friends and family and with that usually comes lots of food. Don’t let anxiety about your food at to your holiday stress this season. We’ve got you covered with these healthier macro-friendly versions of all your favorite Thanksgiving side dishes. Your family won’t even know the difference and you can enjoy your meal, guilt-free.
MAINTENANCE MODE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
If you have serious fat loss goals, a maintenance period is a necessary part of your fat loss journey. If you have spent considerable amount of time in a calorie deficit, you should plan on taking periodic maintenance phases to add in more calories and give your body (and brain) a little break.
HANDLING THE HOLIDAYS WHEN TRACKING MACROS
With the holidays around the corner, there’s no doubt that our calendars will start to fill up with extra social events these next two months. And whether you’re at a family gathering, a work party, or a gift exchange with friends, chances are food will be involved. Here are some strategies to help you stick to your goals through the holidays.
SOBER CURIOUS FOR THE HOLIDAYS: HOW ALCOHOL IMPACTS OUR MACROS, BODY COMPOSITION, AND OVERALL PROGRESS
The holiday season often conjures images of festive gatherings, joyous celebrations, and, inevitably, alcohol. For many, these moments include a glass of wine, a cocktail, or a beer to toast the occasion. However, an increasing number of people are becoming "sober curious," re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol. This movement isn't about outright abstinence but about mindfulness and understanding how alcohol impacts our bodies, especially concerning health and fitness goals. Let's explore how alcohol affects our health, particularly in the realms of fat loss, sleep, and overall wellness.
MAKING MACRO-TRACKING BUDGET FRIENDLY
With grocery prices rising, getting high-quality food (especially protein!) can be challenging. In this blog post, I’m breaking down some great budget-friendly grocery options by macronutrients that is perfect for those tracking macros and looking to eat well without breaking the bank.
HAVING A COACH THROUGH “MAINTENANCE MODE”: INSURANCE FOR LONG TERM NUTRITIONAL SUCCESS
A maintenance phase is arguably the most important season of our nutrition since it’s where we can best focus on the habits that help us find harmony with our physical, mental, emotional, and social health. Without the prioritization of changing our bodies, the other aspects of our lives that we value can better be at the forefront. However, that doesn’t mean that body composition can’t remain in the periphery. The foundational habits that we develop before or alongside a focused fat loss phase, with the goal of long-term physical change, continuously support small aesthetic changes over time.
Q&A: HORMONAL HEALTH, SUPPLEMENT SAFETY, AND SET POINT WEIGHT THEORY
The large majority of individuals probably don’t need to worry about their hormonal health. If you are struggling with your hormonal health, that is absolutely an indicator to see an endocrinologist - not a trainer, nutritionist, or wellness influencer! What supports our hormonal health most are the basics that support our overall health: exercising sensibly, giving ourselves time to recover, managing stress levels, eating a balanced and high quality diet and not chronically dieting. Hormonal health is incredibly important, so this is not about minimizing that importants; rather, it’s a reminder that the “boring stuff” is often what we overlook when it should be our first priority.
MACRO FRIENDLY DESSERT: SALTED CARAMEL APPLE YOGURT BARK
Tracking your macros doesn’t have to be restrictive and in fact, we pride ourselves on coaching our clients on ways to be more flexible with their food choices. We feel it’s important to include foods that you love and that means dessert and sweet treats! This peanut butter salted caramel apple yogurt bark is the perfect sweet treat for this season (or any season, really!) It’s super easy to make and for 22g of protein per serving, it can actually play a role in helping you nail your protein goals!
EMBRACE FLEXIBILITY AND ENJOY SOME PIZZA: TIPS FOR MACRO-FRIENDLY PIZZA NIGHT
When I start working with a client, they typically believe that they can't enjoy pizza AND eat “healthy” at the same time. Their experience tells them that pizza is a “bad” food, it’s a cheat meal, and it will definitely make them gain body fat. But often, that’s a fear of food and diet culture talking. By embracing a flexible approach to eating and incorporating some macro-friendly strategies, pizza can be part of a balanced approach to nutrition. Grab a slice, and let’s dig in!
TRACKING MACROS VS. COUNTING CALORIES: WHICH APPROACH SHOULD YOU TAKE WHEN WORKING TOWARDS YOUR FAT LOSS, PERFORMANCE, AND HEALTH GOALS?
At its core, counting calories is about ensuring you consume a specific number of calories each day. It's a straightforward approach focusing solely on energy intake versus energy expenditure. While this can be effective for weight management, it doesn't address the quality or composition of the food you're eating. Tracking macros, on the other hand, involves breaking down your calorie intake into three key nutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Each of these macronutrients plays a unique role in your body. By paying attention to the specific amounts of each, you can optimize not only your overall caloric intake but also support your body's functional needs.
CHANGE TAKES TIME: WHY WORK WITH A NUTRITION COACH FOR 6 MONTHS?
At KLN, we require a six-month commitment from our clients, and there's a good reason for it. When you first join us, we take the time to get to know YOU – your habits, history, and what makes your daily life tick. This isn't something we can rush through-- it takes TIME! Time need to see how you live, how you interact with food, and how different factors affect your eating patterns. Getting to know you as an individual - your lifestyle, your needs, and what keeps you motivated - is crucial for providing the absolute best guidance and support from your coach.
3 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR MEALS MORE FILLING: MACRO-FRIENDLY TIPS FOR SATIETY
If you’re in a calorie deficit and working towards fat loss goals, a main goal should be minimizing any feelings of restriction or hunger so you can maximize adherence to your deficit. This is why we, as coaches, take a strong stance against aggressive and unsustainable deficits. If our hunger is through the roof each day, it’s not very likely that we’ll be able to adhere to that calorie deficit for long. Luckily, there are tools that can help us minimize hunger and, luckily, those same tools also keep us well-fueled and promote our overall health as well.
EASY MEAL PREP LUNCH: TRADER JOE’S SHAWARMA CHICKEN SALAD
Using pre-made ingredients and components can really streamline your kitchen process and help you experiment with new foods and flavors without having to resort to complicated or time consuming recipes. Introducing a favorite of mine: this ridiculously easy, high protein, veggie-packed chicken salad.
7 MACRO TRACKING TIPS FROM EXPERIENCED NUTRITION COACHES
We work within a framework of tracking macros to facilitate sustainable progress and, eventually, move away from tracking completely. However, while tracking, there are some ways we can make it easier on ourselves! In this blog post, we’re sharing our favorite tracking tips as “macro coaches,” experienced trackers, and coaches who help our clients make tracking work for them.
MACRO-FRIENDLY ADULT LUNCHABLES: 30+ HIGH PROTEIN SNACK COMBINATIONS
Welcome to your go-to guide for protein-packed snacks designed to keep you energized and satisfied throughout your busy day! When working with busy clients, we like to introduce the idea of an “Adult Lunchable” as a completely valid option for a high-protein snack that helps you meet your macro targets and keeps you fed even on the busiest days. Packed with protein and convenient enough to fit into your hectic schedule, these snacks will ensure you stay fueled and focused with at least 20 grams of protein, without compromising on taste or health. Dive in to discover both smart and delicious solutions for snacking at home or on the go!
TRADER JOE’S: YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROTEIN PROVIDER - 30 HIGH PROTEIN FINDS
Navigating the aisles of Trader Joes to find high-protein options can be manageable, even with the vast array of calorie-dense novelties and goodies. You can easily incorporate more protein into your diet by focusing on items with lean meats, plant-based proteins, and convenient prepared foods. This guide should be handy to help you make informed choices that align with your nutrition goals. And soon enough, you might find yourself a Trader Joe's connoisseur.
EASY 30-MINUTE DINNERS FOR THE WHOLE WEEK: 5 MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPES
In today’s post, I’m sharing 5 meal ideas that use 5 totally different flavors to create 5 easy, high-protein meals for your lunch or dinner meals this week. The idea here is that you’ll prepare your proteins at the start of the week and take just 30 minutes to make your meal each night. Whether you’re cooking just for yourself or your whole family, these simple, high-protein 30-minute meal ideas can easily be scaled for multiple servings, and most use easy freezer and/or pantry ingredients that you may already have on hand!
WHY YOU SHOULD DITCH THE SCALE WHEN WORKING TOWARDS WEIGHT LOSS GOALS
I think we all technically know that our weight is just an arbitrary number on a device that doesn't mean that much, but it can still be difficult to let go of the anxiety and frustration that this number sometimes carries. It's easy to step on the scale and either feel proud when we see the number has decreased or hopeless when it hasn't. This is because we have this idea that the number on the scale equates to our self-worth. Rather than just suggesting that you don't let the number on the scale bother you, I want to delve deeper into how we can utilize the number on the scale as a measure of progress alongside other metrics, or how we can step away from the scale entirely -- and how to decide which option is best for us.
WHY WE EMOTIONALLY EAT & HOW TO MINIMIZE STRESS EATING
Of the adults who overeat unhealthy foods when stressed, 33% say they do it to distract themselves from the stress. The survey finds that these behaviors are higher in women, who are more likely to report unhealthy eating behaviors as a result of stress. The percentage of those skipping meals due to stress is also higher in women, in teen girls, and in millennials. When referring to stress here, we’re not just talking about a hard day at work. Stress encompasses feeling lonely or emotional turmoil, and then also work stress, relationship stress or caretaking, etc. There’s nothing wrong with eating foods that are less nourishing sometimes, but it can become problematic -- to our health, to our relationship with food, to our trust around food -- if we consistently use junk food as the way to regulate our emotions.
MACRO-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT SERIES: STARBUCKS
Let's face it, life often gets chaotic, leaving us little time to complete all of our errands, let alone cook all of our meals from scratch. Popping into Starbucks for a drink or a meal might seem like it will throw our nutrition goals “off track,” however if we understand the nutritional content of the food we're choosing, we can choose foods that help us work towards our nutrition goals. Believe it or not, Starbucks DOES have some food options that keep us fueled and feeling good, proving that even in the midst of a busy day, we can make choices that support our health.
MACRO-FRIENDLY BURGER AND SWEET POTATO FRIES WITH COOKING TIPS
Fulfilling a craving for a burger and fries while staying goal-aligned on any old day can be a tall order, and while we fully believe in the occasional untracked meal out, why not have the best of both worlds at home? Our tips to make your lean beef burgers juicy and sweet potato fries crispy are sure to impress you and your family!
MACRO-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT SERIES: MCDONALDS, WENDY’S, BURGER KING
In an ideal world, we'd all have time to cook Tupperware meals with perfect macros, but life is rarely ideal, and sometimes, grabbing a quick bite is all we can manage. Eating out, even at fast-food burger places like McDonald's, Wendy’s, and Burger King, might seem like it goes against our health goals, but here's the thing: fast food can be a practical option when time is tight and cooking seems impossible, and believe it or not, there are some macro friendly choices at Mcdonalds, Wendy’s, and Burger King that can help you eat for your nutrition goals.
MACRO-FRIENDLY AIRPORT TRAVEL SNACKS
Whether you’re a frequent flyer or only an occasional jet setter, staying goal-aligned with your nutrition during air travel can feel overwhelming with so many other aspects of your trip demanding your attention. Staying on top of your energy needs is a must though, so we’ve compiled a list of snacks you can grab at most major airports and ones you can source before your travel day and bring through TSA to help keep you fueled until you touch down at your final destination.
MACRO-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT SERIES: CHICK FIL A
Restaurant nutrition information can be inaccurate at times, but planning ahead and choosing menu options that align with your macro targets can help you work towards your nutrition goals even when on the go and not eating at home. Today, we’re sharing a few of our favorite options at Chick-fil-A that can help you hit your macros while eating out - whether you’re on the road traveling or just need a quick bite while navigating your busy day.
MACRO-FRIENDLY TRAVEL: DISNEYLAND, DISNEY WORLD, AND YOUR NUTRITION GOALS
Disneyland and Disney World: the places where dreams come true and nutrition dreams go to die…or do they? As with any out-of-routine time including vacations, work trips, anniversaries, date nights, birthdays, and holidays, we have to ask ourselves: What is the experience that I want to have during this brief time? and Does your expectation of your time away match the reality of the environment where you are going? The way that you feel during or after periods of time outside of your regular routines does not mean that any permanent changes occurred. Whether the journey of your nutrition while on your trip includes macro tracking or not, the main focus should be on making confident choices even if those choices are less efficient than normal.
OUR NEW FAVORITE OBSESSION: NINJA CREAMI PROTEIN ICE CREAM
Ice cream is a top three favorite dessert for me and sometimes, a small serving or just a few bites isn’t very satisfying. It can feel disappointing when you want to work towards your aesthetic goals but also want to enjoy your food. Enter: the magic that is created using the Ninja Creami. This week’s post shares two very simple recipes (plus flavor ideas!) for making low-calorie, high-protein ice cream that won’t break your macros, even if you decide to eat the whole pint.