Bring in the New Year with Chef Shelbie!

I’m sure everyone is used to starting off the new year with a specific diet to try and lose weight. This will maybe go on for a month or two before we get tired of it and lose our “beginning of the year” motivation. As a chef of Whole Health Everyday, I want people to focus more on long term wellness of their body and not just a diet that will make them lose weight fast, but then gain it back once they get tired of the diet they are on. Instead of making a plan to follow a fad diet that is very restrictive, this New Year, make a resolution to break the dieting cycle. Create a nourishing, sustainable, eating pattern that works for you that will be reasonable to stick with long-term. This way, you could stick with this eating habit on vacations, during the holidays, and at any party or event. ​

I used to be one of those people that was always trying all these different diets because that is what everyone was talking about. None of them ever worked for me because they didn’t fit with my lifestyle. When I finally realized I needed something that worked for me long-term and with my lifestyle, I decided I needed to do something differently. I finally made a change that worked for me. I made the switch and became a Pescatarian. I have now been a Pescatarian for almost 8 years and this was definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made. I also make sure to eat rich whole, nutrient-dense foods and low in heavily processed, sugary products. A healthy, long-term diet should not only be nutritious but also adaptable, something you will be able to follow for life. 

This New Year, eat more produce. Eating more produce can help protect against various diseases and make you feel better inside. Also, eating more produce will fuel your body to give you more energy. I love helping people find what works for them, and what makes them feel better for the long run, and not just for that month. 

Some of my go-to dishes that I never get tired of, and that work with my long-term lifestyle change are:

Favorite Breakfast Dish: 
Rice Cake (I buy the No Salt kind because I use my own Himalayan Salt in my cooking)
Tablespoon of Plain Greek Yogurt spread onto the rice cake
Sautéed Garlic, Onion, Mushroom, and Spinach
Over-Easy Egg
*I season with Himalayan Salt, Fresh ground pepper, and top with chopped parsley 
Flaxseed/Chia Seed Mix (Here is a picture of what I use for that mix)

This breakfast is so satisfying, and I can honestly eat it every morning!

Favorite Lunch Dish:
Typically, I have a salad for lunch, but I never eat the same salad! I make my salads fun, so I don’t get bored of them. One of my favorite salads I eat for lunch is a cilantro lime spinach crab salad. It’s so light and refreshing that it makes me feel amazing throughout the rest of the day. I love eating it after a good workout. What I put in this salad is:
Fresh Spinach
Tri Color Coleslaw 
Cilantro
Cucumber
Carrots
Onion
Avocado
Crab Meat
*I season with Himalayan salt and fresh ground black pepper
*For my dressing, I use fresh lime juice and Organic Tomatillo Salsa (I use this one from Sprouts)

Favorite Dinner Dish:
I am all about the spaghetti squash, it never gets old! You can make it so many different ways, but my favorite way is to make an Italian shrimp dish out of it. This dish is filling and tastes great reheated the next day! What I use in the dish is:
Spaghetti Squash
Tomato Sauce of your liking (I use Bertolli Organic Basil and Garlic)
Mushrooms
Onions
Grape Tomatoes
Green Bell Pepper
Shrimp
Spinach 
Parsley 
*I season with Himalayan Salt, Fresh Ground Pepper, and Oregano

If you really want to make a lifestyle change, sit down, and think about what you like that is going to improve and fuel your body that you can see yourself eating long-term. This is what is going to help you make the change that you are really seeking, and not some fad diet that comes and goes. 

My goal this New Year is to help as many people as I can wake up every morning and feel amazing about themselves!