simply7snacks

Can you believe it; It’s that time of year already? We’ve put together 7 of our best gift ideas for your significant others this year!

1. Check out Groupon or Living Social, they always offer great deals on classes you can take with your significant other or activities for the whole family.
2. Make dinner in. It is always crowded out on Valentine’s Day. Plan a dinner for two at home, and your partner will probably appreciate it even more than a night out. Find some great recipes here.
3. The new Kindle is out and hot this year on everyone’s wanted list. You can eve download a book you know your sweetheart will like ahead of time and make this gift super thoughtful! Get it here.
4. The cliché thing to do is to book a fancy dinner out, but reservations are filling up, so if you haven’t yet, make sure you go to opentable.com and book a reservation! They even have a link to set up flowers and limo service if you want something extra special.
5. Photo Displays. Even though were all used to Facebook and photos are everywhere online, it’s still nice to have a few special ones framed. Pull together a collage of photos for your sweetheart’s desk or room. You can even do it online at http://www.shutterfly.com/
6.  Spoil your significant other with a massage; male or female, everyone loves a great message. Try a gift certificate or even book it for them when you know they have a window of free time. If you are short on cash, give them one yourself!
7.  If all else fails, there’s always Victoria Secret.

The holidays are over, and now it’s time to get back into your skinny jeans! These great healthy snacks are easy and will help you stay thin through 2012.

1.     Hardboiled Eggs

Eggs contain protein, iron, and Vitamin B. They’re a great way to keep you running strong, and they’re easy to eat alone or add into other foods. Remove the yolks and eat only the white for an even healthier option.

2.      Skim Milk

If you can tolerate milk, do yourself a favor and chug a cup or two from time to time. The calcium, protein, and Vitamin D are all exceptionally healthy. The vey framework of our bodies is composed of calcium—drinking milk is an investment in your bones, and an 8 ounce glass of milk in the afternoon, containing only 90 calories can hold you over until dinner.

3.   Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes are a great snack choice because they are small, tasty and provide important nutrients! Tomatoes are low in Sodium, and very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol. They’re also a good source of Vitamin E, B6, C and fiber. And they require absolutely zero prep work.

4. Greek Yogurt

Yogurt is rich-tasting and satisfying. It contains healthy bacteria that aid in our digestion and boost our immune system. It is also full of both calcium and protein. I try to eat yogurt every day, but check for sugar levels. Plain yogurt is best, but lightly, naturally sweetened varieties are still a good choice. I prefer Fage or Chobani yogurt in Peach.

5. Berries

Not only are berries delicious to snack on, they are the best fruits for you. Blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Buy fresh berries whenever possible, bur if these are too expensive, try picking up a bag of the mixed frozen ones.  Dried berries are another alternative, but usually not as good for you due to the high sugar content.

6. Lean Meat

Lean lunchmeats like turkey or chicken slices are a great snack, especially when paired with a small serving of whole wheat crackers or with fresh sliced vegetables, or even a slice of reduced fat Mozzarella. (Avoid any meats preserved with nitrates and nitrites.)

7. Carrot Sticks

Baby carrots are the perfect size for snacking, they need no preparation, they’re packaged without any additives or preservatives, and they’re on the shelves at any grocery store.

Provided by Mint.com

Which means it’s time for holiday parties and time to go celebrate with family. But how do you possibly stay healthy through the overwhelming amount of holiday treats being offered to you and the numerous cocktail parties?

I’ve compiled a list of my favorite tips to stay health this holiday. Make it through New Year’s without gaining a pound!

1. Take Vitamins. With everyone traveling and the change in weather, it is a very easy time to get sick, so make sure you are up on your Vitamin C intake.
2. Drink lots of water! Believe or not, keeping hydrated keeps weight off, and is the best thing you can do to stay looking great. The mayo clinic recommends 2.2 liters or 9 cups= 72 oz per day!
3. Make your own healthy treats for the office or parties, then you will know what they are made from and can control your snacking. If you’re making cookies, use less oil, or sub olive oil, and use egg whites instead of the yolks for all baked goods. It’s also a great idea to keep healthy snacks, such as carrots sticks or low-fat yogurt, Fage is my favorite, in your office so when you see others snacking you have something healthier to snack on.
4. For holiday parties stick to the meat items, protein will fill you up and is lower in calories, look for chicken or turkey as well as any vegetables. And keep in mind those shrimp hors d’oeuvres are high in cholesterol! Stay away from dips or cream sauces, they are usually high in fat and add additional calories.
5. Opt for vodka drinks with soda water or light juice. Another option is wine, both red and white wine usually contain about 120 calories per glass Sometimes we forget that cocktails usually have 120-450 calories each.  The best way to evaluate is if it’s sweet, it’s probably loaded with calories. Sweet also = hangover, so stay away!
6. If you will be with family where it is cold, don’t think you can’t workout, the nice thing about being outside when the weather is cold is that you burn more calories than you normally would.  Your body is programmed to maintain a temperature of 98.6, when your core temperature drops when you are cold, your body needs to exert energy to bring the temperature back up by shivering, which burns calories. One perk to being cold this winter  
7. Find little exercises you can do inside, try taking the stairs in your building or office. Walking to lunch instead of driving. This is also a great time to pull out an old yoga or Pilates DVD that has been collecting dust. Remember, everyone is probably trying to stay fit through the holidays too so convince a friend, co-worker or family member to help you out.