Regardless of age, now is always the right time to implement changes to improve your health. Specifically, incorporating small, baby steps are when I see the most success. Huge changes all at once are very overwhelming and at highest risk for abandonment. Here’s what I’m doing as a late thirty-something to improve how I feel and achieve better health for years to come.
Note: Everyone’s nutritional and activity needs vary, do what’s best for you, boo!
Finding Easy Weekday Lunches That I Actually Love
Hands down, my cold tuna spread has been my favorite weekday lunch lately. I actually crave it when I think about it, and it’s so simple and healthy.
Easy Tuna Spread Recipe
It’s simple, add ingredients to a bowl line by line below.
- Two packets of Safe Catch Elite Pure Tuna (or your preferred flavor)
- Lemon juice – just a little on the tuna before adding rest of ingredients
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp light mayo
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/8 cup green onions (whites and/or greens)
- Top with dill seasoning to taste
Enjoy with your favorite dipping snacks!
Seed Oil-Free Masa Chips
These chips are so GOOD! I typically have these with my tuna spread above, but will also dip these in virtually anything else or enjoy them on their own. They don’t use seed oils, are cooked in beef tallow and are just corn and salt!
You know what else they were amazing with? My homemade buffalo chicken dip. I don’t have a recipe for it because it was a clear-the-fridge recipe that used up cream cheese, chicken and other shredded cheeses that needed a use. However, it was so good I may need to get that on the blog soon. 👀
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Incorporating Nutrient Rich Snacks for Better Health
There are healthier options out there that won’t cost an arm and a leg, and are actually simple to make. Here are a few I keep turning to at snack time.
Greek Yogurt Protein Cheesecake – Under 200 Calories
Have you heard about the Greek yogurt cheesecake phenomenon from TikTok? People were adding Biscoff cookies to Greek yogurt, letting them sit overnight and claiming it tastes like royal cheesecake. Can confirm, it is delicious!
I’m not necessarily a huge cheesecake fan, but this better-for-you snack tastes incredible. Depending on the yogurt you use it’s only around 150-170 for a cup of Greek yogurt and two Biscoff cookies which is plent yot fill the yogurt cup.
Here are the two ingredients you need for my high protein 155 calorie Greek yogurt cheesecake snack!
Protein Ice Cream – Whole Pint for 350 Calories
Ice cream is one of my few vices. I want it literally every day. It could be negative 20 degrees outside but once 8pm hits I’m craving a couch and a pint. Knowing that, I made it a point to craft a recipe I could feel good about consuming on a regular basis.
Tagged all of my ingredients from my first episode of “Is It Ice Cream?” on my LTK. Be sure to follow me on Instagram and/or YouTube to catch new episodes of this series for Ninja Creami recipes!
As a small caveat, the calories will fluctuate depending on what mix-ins you add to your pint. My protein ice cream on its own is about 350 calories. Two Oreos add about 110 calories, two Biscoff cookies add about 75 calories, etc.
Supplementing My Diet with What My Body Needs
Disclaimer: everyone’s dietary and supplemental needs vary. You should always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplements!
I stand by a robust multivitamin all day. Additionally, since being on the other side of the postpartum hair battle, I maintain my hair health with a separate vitamin. Aside from those two common vitamins, I have a few others I’ve started taking for specific reasons.
I’m about to get quite frank. Since having kids, my cycles have been a little less predictable and a little more painful. I’ve never had unbearable cramping during periods before, but since having kids my hormones might’ve shifted, and with them, so has my cycle.
Enter my beef organ superfood supplement. I know that’s a crazy sentence, but they’ve helped me SO much! I started taking them primarily for iron to help with low energy, but I’m starting to see a lot of other benefits. I’m feeling less brain fog, have much more focus, my cycles have regulated quite a bit (and aren’t nearly as painful) and in general, I feel more energized.
In addition to my beef organ supplements I also get my creatine gummies from Primal Queen. A basic 5g of creatine a day has also really helped with my focus and brain fog. It’s a wonderful supplement for your muscles, especially as you age.
When I mentioned my creatine to my Registered Dietician recently she was super pleased I’d started on it. She recommends it all of her female clients at a certain age!
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Actually Stretching When My Body Needs It
A massage gun like my Theragun is so clutch.
Having been playing tennis at a competitive level for a few years now I’ve really started listening to what my body needs. It’s the world’s healthiest sport (really!) but if you want to play it into your senior years you need to be smart.
I have both a Theragun and a Theragun Mini for home and my tennis bag, respectively. While I have nagging hamstring tightness (that’s currently unexplained after an X-Ray, MRI and resistance to a cortisol shot), stretching is even more so on my mind. Regardless. of preexisting injuries though, stretching is key. In fact, it’s how you’re going to prevent any injuries!
Things I’m Adding to Post Workout Recovery for Better Health
As a mom, I swear by the power of electrolytes more than ever. When I get home from a long day of tennis matches (sometimes two in a day) I’m immediately on duty as a parent again. There’s no kicking back on the couch, putting my feet up, etc. Chances are, the kids are excited I’m home and want to play!
Having an O2 Hydration on my way home helps me start to rehydrate and feel more energized naturally. I drink a caffeine-free electrolyte drink because as most of you know, I’m pretty caffeine sensitive. However, O2 Hydration does offer caffeinated flavors for those interested in that extra boost!
If I’m needing more calories after tennis, I’ll also pack an Active GoGo Squeez pouch. They look just like my kid’s pouches so they always make me chuckle a little, but they’re SO good! I love the strawberry, pineapple and orange flavored ones, but they also have a blueberry based one. Love that it gets me some fruit in my diet, too.
These are all my heavy hitting healthier choice foods. I have each of these at least once a week, some more than half the week. I explain a bit more what each is for here on this post.
What’re you doing for better health right now? No need to place stigma of a resolution or transformation on it, just think of a few things you’d like to incorporate into your routine and go for it! Share your favorite healthy hacks in the comments for the rest of us too, please!
