Tara Collingwood | The Diet Diva

Star Wars Race Recap 2015

3.03.2015

|

The inaugural Star Wars race weekend was the weekend after the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend–back to back weekends, with a Disney cruise in between!

I docked back in Orlando from the cruise on Friday morning and went straight to the airport to fly out to Star Wars weekend at Disneyland, CA. My fiancée John and his two sons were already out there and the boys ran their very first 5K with their Dad. They even dressed up and I’m pretty sure they are hooked on runDisney!

I arrived Friday evening and John and I […]

How to Embrace the Here-and-Now-You

2.03.2015

|

Motivational Monday

I used to just plow through life at warp speed and rarely slow down to rest or relax, let alone smell the roses. I own my own business and have two young kids and like a lot of people juggle a lot. I was happy being busy, but at times it was downright exhausting.

Then tragedy struck. My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. My boys were only 2 and 4 years old at the time. We took our fight to Germany for some integrative medicine in addition to chemotherapy here in the US. There’s nothing like a […]

Sweet Potato Smoothie

27.02.2015

|

Food

It’s Friday at time for a recipe!! This one is sure to satisfy and is filled with nourishing fruits and veggies!! Yes, slurp up your daily dose of vegetables while you enjoy this tasty treat!

Sweet Potato Smoothie

serves 1

1/3 cup cooked sweet potato (no skin)

1/2 cup frozen mango

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

5 ounces (about 1/2 cup) vanilla greek yogurt

1/3 cup 100% orange juice

Place all ingredients in the blender and process until smooth. Enjoy […]

What is Mindful Eating?

26.02.2015

|

Nutrition

We’ve been working with a lot of clients lately on developing a healthy relationship with food. This looks different for each individual’s unique situation, but boils down to mindful eating. Which leads us to the big question: what is mindful eating?

Mindful eating, as the name implies, involves paying conscious attention to what you’re consuming and also noticing the motivation behind eating. Another imperative aspect of mindful eating is that this is done in a nonjudgmental way. Overall, the goal is to be able to listen to your body for hunger cues, recognize when your body […]

Cruisin’ Disney Style: Castaway Challenge 2015

24.02.2015

|

Fitness

When I found out that runDisney had added a cruise to their lineup of races, I was crossing my fingers and toes that I would have the opportunity to go. I was lucky enough to sail the Disney Wonder the Monday after Marathon weekend for 4 nights with my boys and my mom. The cruise went to Nassau, Bahamas and to Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. RunDisney put on a 5K on the island and whoever did a race on marathon weekend and then went on that particular cruise immediately after the marathon was able to earn a special […]

Where’s the Me Time with a Full Time Job and Kids?

23.02.2015

|

Motivational Monday

Raising kids is no easy task, especially if you’re juggling a full time job and doing it alone as a single mom. It seems every second of every day is devoted to my work or my children, which I love, but I’ve found that it’s important to not let it completely consume me. Making time for myself has to be just as much of a priority so I can be the best mommy, business owner, fiancé, and friend I can be.

Now, I know this is easier said than done. It has taken me many years and […]

Southwestern Bean Soup

20.02.2015

|

Food

Southwestern Bean Soup: All it is are some beans, veggies, vegetable broth, and spices. The combinations of the flavors work so nicely together to give you a fresh, flavorful taste with a kick. Your taste buds will be begging for another bite!

In light of my blog post yesterday about why beans are the greatest (!), there’s no better way to honor that than by sharing with you all, my Southwestern Bean Soup recipe! This is definitely my go-to because it’s super easy, insanely delicious and all of the ingredients are clean and/or organic! Hard to believe […]

Beans, Beans, They’re Good for Your Heart…

19.02.2015

|

Nutrition

The more research I’ve done on this hidden gem of a food [beans], the more I’ve discovered all that they do for not only heart health, but our bodies as a whole.

That’s right, the good ol’ bean song rings true, people! Beans are an understated dietary necessity that I have particularly increased my consumption of since switching to a vegan lifestyle. But I must say, I wish I had started my bean obsession earlier, even before the vegan takeover. The more research I’ve done on this hidden gem of a food, the more I’ve […]

Golden Tomato-Date Dressing

13.02.2015

|

Food

Hello, Golden Tomato Date Dressing! I love this dressing because it’s just made with tomatoes and dates…nothing else! Because of that you can enjoy more of it than you normally would a regular salad dressing since it’s naturally low fat, low calorie, and no added junk!

I am a true believer that variety is the spice of life. I find that if you have trouble breaking away from your strict, methodical routine, chances are…you’re going to lose your mind! Let me add…I speak from experience.
It may seem slightly contradictory that I am sitting […]

Ways to Show Love without Chocolate

12.02.2015

|

Nutrition

Baked chocolate chip cookies or a box of chocolates are often viewed as the typical presents to show some one your love. This year, why not think out of the box? There are many alternatives to chocolates that may be a sweeter deal all around.

And while you’re choosing your not-chocolate-gift, why not cater it to the way your loved one feels most loved? There are five primary “languages” of expressing love, including positive affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service and material gifts. Below, we’ve explored an option for each one of these, so […]