Hello there!

Just a quick post before bed! With the help of my hubby, I finally finalized my workout schedule for April- May 2010 in the Fitness section. In the past few weeks, I’ve been working out 2-3 days out of the week, not including classes. This new schedule definitely boosts the challenge, but I’m really excited to start taking my workouts to a more serious level!  Check out the schedule and let me know what you think!

Also, thought I’d share a favorite healthy snack with you all: organic apples drizzled with 100% pure Grade B maple syrup! “Crisp and sweet” are the first words that come to mind here. I used to think eating half/whole apple is kind of a chore, but the maple syrup makes all the difference. But be careful with the syrup, because a little goes a long way!

These scrumptious-looking apples also have a lot to offer in terms of nutritional value: one apple has enough vitamin C and dietary fiber to satisfy about 15% of the daily value in each category.

Apples contain a long list of phytonutrients that function as antioxidants and support our heart health in this way. Included in this list are quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid. To take full advantage of the antioxidants in apples, it’s important to include the skins. Since the skins are also most exposed to the outside world, we always recommend the purchase of organically-grown apples to minimize the apple skin’s exposure to unwanted pesticide sprays and other potential contaminants (WH Foods).

Maple syrup, which actually has a long and rich history, is actually one of the best sources of manganese and a good source for zinc – important minerals which act as antioxidants, thereby supporting your immune system and protecting against various diseases (and apparently, it’s excellent for men’s health!). Although maple syrup has more minerals and fewer calories than honey, I still wouldn’t recommend using a ton of it…

Anyway, let me know what you think of this snack when you try it! Goodnight