Check out these 7 chocolate recipes! 
The Chocolate Almond Truffles sure look delicious!!
All posts by M. Terry
Chocolate- Ahhhhh!
Posted by M. Terry on February 9, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/09/chocolate-ahhhhh/
To Eat, and Not To Eat – Day 3
To Eat
Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits
These all fall under the category of complex carbohydrates. Since they contain high levels of fiber, they are slowly digested and keep you filling fuller, longer. Whole grains include wheat, oat, brown rice, barley, quinoa, farro, and rye to name a few. Legumes are comprised of beans, peas, peanuts, lentils, and other “pod” fruits. Many grocery stores now carry pastas made from various grains or legumes, and you can even find crackers that contain high levels of complex carbs.
Many people forget that fruits and some vegetables are considered carbohydrates. They are a great source of long-lasting energy and are filled with countless vitamins and minerals.
Not To Eat
White (Refined/Enriched) Flours
Processed flours have been degerminated and sometimes bleached (Who wants to eat something that has been bleached?!). The removing of the wheat germ strips the flour of the nutrients, vitamins, and amino acids leaving behind a refined flour. When refined flour is eaten, the body treats it in a similar manner to the way it processes sugar- a spike in blood sugar, and then a quick drop in energy. Once again, this affects insulin levels. Studies have been conducted and shown that those who consumed refined grains had ten percent more belly fat than those who ate whole grains. Yikes!
Posted by M. Terry on February 9, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/09/to-eat-and-not-to-eat-day-3/
To Eat, and Not To Eat – Day 2
To Eat
Honey, Agave Nectar, Pure Maple Syrup
These natural sweeteners satisfy your sweet tooth and have added benefits. Honey contains small amounts of various vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. Maple syrup has potassium and calcium as well as zinc and manganese. Agave nectar has a much lower glycemic index than table sugar, so it is released more slowly into the bloodstream and therefore does not cause a “sugar rush”. You can enjoy the sweet life!
Not to Eat
Processed (White) Sugar and High fructose Corn Syrup (aka Corn Sugar)
Simple sugars, or carbs, are often referred to as “empty calories”. These are most often found in cookies, cakes, sodas, and other processed “treats”. These sugars offer no nutritional value, and actually cause your blood sugar to spike quickly, and then drop just as fast. As Dr. Oz states, “This triggers an insulin reaction, driving levels back down and creating fatigue. You’ll feel hungrier and crave even more sugar. Plus those rapidly absorbed extra calories are stored as fat, putting you at risk for obesity.” In fact, high fructose corn syrup is linked to additional weight gain in recent studies.
Posted by M. Terry on February 8, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/08/to-eat-and-not-to-eat-day-2/
Valentine Treats
The next two weeks will be filled with red, pink, and chocolate candy. Tonight, I made my girls this special strawberry parfait. I started with Stonyfield’s strawberry yogurt, then layered it with strawberry sauce, and finally topped it with Cascadian Farms Granola and dried cranberries. The strawberry sauce will actually be the filling that I will be using in Anna’s birthday cake this weekend. It’s super easy and also goes great on top of whole grain waffles or pancakes! Oh, and you must serve these parfaits in a fancy glass. I would love to know what healthy treats you plan on making for your family this Valentine’s Day- so leave a post and share your great idea!
Strawberry Sauce/Filling
1 16oz pkg Frozen Strawberries, thawed
1/4 cup Berry Fruit spread (I use Polaner All Fruit or Cascadian Farm Fruit Spread- any berry flavor will do)
1/4 cup 100% Fruit juice (grape or apple works best)
1 Tablespoon Organic Cornstarch
Stir grape juice and cornstarch together. Set aside. While still in the bag, crush strawberries with your hands. You want the berries broken up a bit, but not completely smashed. Place the berries in a pot over medium-high heat. Add fruit spread and stir together. Add the cornstarch mixture and stir as you slowly bring to a boil. Let boil for about 10 seconds and then remove from heat. Let cool. You can easily freeze this and pull it out when needed.
Makes about 3 cups
Posted by M. Terry on February 8, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/08/valentine-treats/
To Eat, and Not To Eat – Day 1
Over the next five days, I will be listing foods that I avoid and foods that I enjoy. I hope this proves to be useful to you!
To Eat
Good Heart- Healthy Fats
Monounsaturated fats – Olive oil, peanut oil, avocados, nuts and seeds
Polyunsaturated fats – Safflower, corn, sunflower, and cottonseed oils, nuts and seeds
Omega-3 Fatty Acids -Salmon, mackerel, and herring, ground flaxseeds, flax oil and walnuts
BENEFITS…
- They can lower your risk of heart disease
- They may decrease the risk of coronary artery disease and help lower blood pressure levels
Not To Eat
Trans Fat (aka – Hydrogenated oils)- Usually found in processed foods like cookies, crackers, some peanut butters, and fried foods
DANGERS…
- Increases LDL (bad cholesterol), decreases HDL (good cholesterol) which leads to heart attacks and/or strokes
- Overactivity of the immune system
- Causes inflammation and damages cells
There is a great Mayo Clinic article on Trans Fat. I think of it like this- Crisco is a trans fat. If you are warned not to wash Crisco down your sink, why would you put it in your body? I avoid this fat at all costs! 
Saturated Fat – Fats found in animal products (fatty cuts of meat, full-fat dairy, tropical oils)
DANGERS…
- Increases LDL (bad cholesterol), decreases HDL (good cholesterol) which leads to heart attacks and/or strokes
I eat lean cuts of meat (white meat, loin cuts) and use lower fat dairy products.
BTW- My sister-in-law made the Chicken Verde Enchiladas that I posted Thursday, 2/3. Check out her finished product on her blog.
Posted by M. Terry on February 7, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/07/to-eat-and-not-to-eat-day-1/
Super Bowl Family Fun
The weather has been spring-like here in Florida, so we have taken advantage of it! Yesterday, we set up a Super Bowl obstacle course for the kids. They started off by kicking the football,then weaving in and out of cones, and then throwing a football through a hula hoop that I hung on the tree. This eventually turned into a game of backyard soccer, and we even managed to get in a bike ride after dinner. As parents, Scott and I know that we are setting examples for our children in all areas of life, including health. They are a busy little bunch, so I think they are definitely taking notice of our active lifestyles!
Posted by M. Terry on February 6, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/06/super-bowl-family-fun/
Working Off a Donut
Thankfully, I am not a big sweet eater. However, when I am tempted to grab a quick treat, I think about how far I would have to run in order to work it off. The vast majority of the time, I figure it’s not worth it. Take a look at “The Hole Truth” from this month’s Runner’s World. Next time you see the “Hot Doughnuts Now” sign lit up, ask yourself, “Is is really worth it?”
Posted by M. Terry on February 5, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/05/working-off-a-donut/
Sufficient Motivation, Insufficient Funds
This weekend is the Melbourne and Beaches Music Marathon here on the Space Coast. The marathon and half marathon will take place on Sunday. On Saturday, they offer a 5K and an 8K race. I was planning on entering the 8K, but money is a bit tight right now and I didn’t think it was very wise to pay the race fee. Since I still wanted to challenge myself, I printed off the race route and ran tomorrow’s race this morning. I wish I could say it was a beautiful morning, but the fog was thick! It was still a great run, and I was pleased with my time. If you want to challenge yourself, you can find a list of races in the Central Florida area at The Running Zone. If you live outside of the area, try finding a running store in your neck of the woods and see if they can help you. Happy racing!
PS – I checked out the results for the race and, with my time, I would have placed 6th in my age group! 🙂
Posted by M. Terry on February 4, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/04/sufficient-motivation-insufficient-funds/
Take the Money and Run!
I love running, and one of the pros of running is that it is relatively inexpensive. I go through about 3 pairs of shoes a year. I am thankful that I always get a good deal on my shoe of choice – Nike Shox. When I retire a pair of shoes, I actually sell them on eBay. I just sold my “old” pair last week and recouped just under half of what I paid for them! If you have an old pair of shoes around or some other kind of unused athletic gear, do your research and see if you can sell it so you can upgrade. I was very honest in my description of my shoes. I made sure to explain that they were my running shoes and the tread was worn in spots, but they were still a good-looking pair of sneakers to wear around town. You can also check out stores like Play It Again Sports to see if they would buy your items. Happy selling!!
Posted by M. Terry on February 4, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/04/take-the-money-and-run/
Barnes and Noble $20 for $10!
Here is a great chance for you to pick up a healthy cookbook, a new workout DVD, or some music to get you moving! Groupon is offering a $20 B&N gift certificate for just $10! Good in stores or online.
Posted by M. Terry on February 3, 2011
https://wholetothecore.com/2011/02/03/barnes-and-noble-20-for-10/
Proverbs 31 Devotionals
Whole to the Core Blog 