Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition

Next to flowers and jewelry, chocolate is a staple gift on Valentine's Day. Although much of Valentine's day is all about marketing (if you love someone/something - say it daily), chocolate has history as a love food.  According to a Smithsonian article , "passion for chocolate is well-rooted in Mesoamerican history. It was a highly-prized luxury item among Mayan and Aztec upper class elites, who were known to savor a drink that combined roasted cacao beans with cornmeal, vanilla, honey and chilies. Cacao beans were as valuable a commodity as gold, and gold, and were even used to pay taxes levied by Aztec rulers. By the early 1600s, the vogue for chocolate had swept across Europe. In London, chocolate houses began to rival coffee houses as social gathering spots. One shop opened on Gracechurch Street in 1657 advertising chocolate as “a West Indian drink (which) cures and preserves the body of many diseases." In France, Madame de Sevigne wrote about eno...

 Dark chocolate packs a great heart-healthy punch and is a great cure for a sweet craving. Although it may taste bitter to many, up to 1.5 ounces of dark chocolate a day (> 60% cacao) can be a great addition to a heart healthy diet. Whether it is due to the nutrient compound found in chocolate or just the way it makes most people feel inside after taking one bite, chocolate alone has been shown to help improve cardiovascular health (lowering LDL cholesterol and blood pressure), reduce inflammation, control appetite (ex. overeating/excessive snacking), increase insulin sensitivity, reduce blood clot risk by improving blood flow and improve stress and mood.  Now that's a great list of reasons for you to enjoy dark chocolate!  Here are a few ways to get creative with chocolate: *Add 1 tbsp cacao powder to smoothie, oatmeal or pancake/waffle combinations *Enjoy an individually wrapped or piece of dark chocolate within 30 min after finishing a meal, combined ...

Strawberry chocolate ginger smoothie Ingredients 30g  protein powder  (grams are protein amount. Vegan, soy or whey protein are fine). 1/2 tsp chopped ginger 1 large celery stick (chopped) 5 baby carrots 1/2 cup organic soy milk (or your choice of milk) Dash of cinnamon 5 coffee beans (optional) 1 square dark chocolate (I used  Ghirardelli 86% Cacao ) 4 pineapple chunks 4 large strawberries 1/2 banana 1 tbsp chia seeds 3/4 cup water 1 cup ice cubes 1. Place ingredients in blender (except protein) and blend until ice is crushed.  2. Add protein powder and blend until you reach your consistency needs (the longer you blend, the more volume you will make for a thicker smoothie).  3. Optional - top with a little granola for a crunch in your glass. Serves 2 people (16 ounces each person) I recommend to treat this as a "meal" per person. This is a great way to recover from a workout or to just enjoy a smoothie as a balanced, wholesome meal, f...

  Yesterday I did a segment on behalf of Baptist Heart Wise and it was great to be on set again for News4Jax. I was really excited for the segment on chocolate and wine but I received a few looks at the grocery check-out when I was prepping for the show on Monday evening.     Along with my props for the segment, I needed PB and bananas for home. Good thing I wasn't wearing my Clinical Dietitian name badge from the hospital!   After a sweaty 1 hour and 10 minute session on the trainer, early in the morning, I was getting myself ready around 6am and left for the TV station (downtown Jacksonville) around 7am.                                                The news reporters stayed busy with the morning stories as I started to pr...