Author: Jill McCauslin (Page 18 of 23)

Reading to Reduce Stress and How to Find a Good Book

January 17, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 4 Comments

I think reading to reduce stress is a great idea. Shortly after my husband died, I met frequently with a bereavement counselor that the hospice service provided to me. She was helpful to me and made a difficult time a bit better. Being a person who loves to research things, I asked her if there were any books she thought I should read. She thought about it and suggested The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion’s book about the death of her husband.

I had already read that and so the counselor thought about it and said, “well, just read a mystery book.” That made me laugh and I said I can do that.

We’re always talking about ways to improve our health and our fitness. Of course, that’s important. In our podcast episode 25, Setting Goals for the New Year, Chris said she wants to work on the mental aspect of health. We talked about focus and meditation and ways to quiet the mind.

Thinking about ways to improve our mental health made me remember that conversation with the bereavement counsellor. Reading a mystery or any other book for entertainment can be a great way to reduce stress, relieve anger or boredom, and improve your mood.

I’ve always been a big mystery reader so I loved that counselor’s advice. As I’ve gotten older, though, I must watch that I don’t choose a book that’s too disturbing. I really don’t want to get stressed out over gory details.

Finding a Good Book

If you’re not a big reader, you might wonder how to find a good stress-relieving book. I have some ideas on that.

Get Recommendations

Look at what book clubs are reading. My local bookstore has an area where all the book clubs have their books shelved for their members. I like to go browse that area to see what’s hot on the book club circuit.
Check out book reviews and also look at Amazon’s “If you liked this, you’ll probably like that” feature. I like to see what my friends on Goodreads are reading.
Ask your friends. Ask here on the Becoming Elli page or join our Facebook group and ask there. People love to share their ideas on books. If you visit your local library, check out what’s on the “hot sellers” area or ask the librarian for advice.

Reread a Favorite

Go and find the books you enjoyed as a child or teen. Rereading them can be a real treat. Of course, they can also make you wonder what you were thinking at that age. Over the past few years, I’ve reread the Chronicles of Narnia. I loved those books when I was probably about 11. They hold up though the religious themes were stronger than I remembered. I also reread Little Women. That was enjoyable but a very different read than when I was a girl.
Read a classic you’ve always regretted missing or reread one that you love. Every 5 to 7 years, I decide to read Jane Eyre again. I also love to reread Jane Austen. A year or two ago, I picked up Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities and was pleased that I enjoyed it.
Choose a favorite author. Perhaps you loved a book by a particular author. If so, go see what else he or she wrote.

Borrow from Movies or Different Genres

Read the book of a movie that’s coming out that you know you want to see. Or, if you’ve already seen a movie that you enjoyed, pick up the book that it’s based on.
Check out some of the current young adult series. They’re often enjoyable and usually pretty straight-forward. There was that whole period of dystopia series (The Hunger Games, Divergent, etc.) but I think you can find other genres now in the young adult area. I find these books to be great selections for audio books.
If you normally read romances, maybe try a mystery. If you normally read mysteries, maybe try some science fiction.

Reading to Reduce Stress

These are some of the ideas of where to find a book for reading to reduce stress. Remember, there are times to read books that might disturb you or upset you but we’re talking about reading to reduce stress. Therefore, try to select books that you will enjoy. If you’re having to force yourself to read it, put the book aside and try a different one.

2019 Resolutions: One New Vegetable a Week

January 10, 2019 / Jill McCauslin / 8 Comments

Now that it’s the new year, we’re all talking about goals and resolutions. I’m looking for easy to make changes. In our podcast episode, Setting Goals for the New Year (episode 25), we discuss some simple changes we can make to our lives, such as add another vegetable to each meal or drink more water. I always need to drink more water so that’s a good one for me to do. I could probably add more vegetables to my diet so that might be a good one for me to work on too. One way I can do that is to take the “one new vegetable a week” challenge.

One New Vegetable a Week Challenge

Now that goals are on our minds, Chris and I decided it might be fun to do a one new vegetable a week challenge. We’re going to try to eat a new vegetable a week (new to us, that is). It doesn’t have to be a completely new vegetable but can be a variation on one. For example, I’ve eaten red beets but I know that golden beets are very popular. If I buy, cook, and eat a golden beet, I’ll include that in the challenge.

This is similar to the benefits of buying a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) package. That’s where you buy a weekly or monthly subscription to a local farm and get a bag or basket of whatever they’re harvesting at that time. People often say they must learn how to cook a particular vegetable because they’ve either gotten a lot of it or have never had it before.

Regardless of how you’re eating, you probably are supposed to be eating vegetables. Eating a great variety of vegetables provides you with a greater variety of nutrients. Remember the thought of eating the rainbow. (I don’t know who started that saying but it’s all over the internet, so I can’t attribute this to its creator.) The theory is to eat vegetables of all different colors because they provide a wide range of nutrients. In other words, the greater the variety of vegetables you’re eating, the great the variety of nutrients you’re getting.

Feel free to join us in our “one new vegetable a week” challenge! I think in our Facebook Private Group, we’ll be sharing our new veggie ideas with each other. Feel free to join us there. Or just post your new vegetable in the comments here or on the Facebook Becoming Elli page.

Inspirational Messages with Vicki Prussak

November 27, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

Episode #22 of the Fit, Strong Women Over 50 Podcast

In episode 22 of the Fit, Strong Women over 50 Podcast for the Becoming Elli community, Chris and Jill talk with Vicki Prussak about the value of inspirational messages. Vicki is a life-long learner, the eternal optimist, a certified wellness coach, ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist, animal lover, artist, retired belly dancer and jewelry maker.

Vicki has had several careers including wellness coaching and graphic design for various large corporations. At one time Vicki practiced belly dancing to stay fit and agile. In her latest career, Vickie has developed a line of jewelry to encourage others to stay focused and positive.

Vicki’s inspirational line of handcrafted jewelry, Carry Your Message, involves tucking an inspirational message into a necklace to helps us stay motivated and focused. She created this line of jewelry when she realized that her wellness clients were not remembering or focusing on their goals.

Chris and Jill talk with Vicki about how she overcame the despair following an accident with her eyes and how she got the weight off after three years of being sedentary following that accident. As part of that discussion, Vicki talks about eating naturally and how she uses intermittent fasting or, as she calls it, intermittent eating.

Mainly, though, they discuss the power of words and how focusing on the positive improves our self-esteem and increases our ability to make a change. Vicki explains how internal inspiration—those things we say to ourselves—is more powerful that external motivation. It’s this that allows you to use your strengths and natural abilities to excel. During the discussion of the power of positive affirmations, Vicki gives us the three words she uses for her inspiration: feel, focus and flow.

Vicki meditates every day and finds it to be of great value. She recommends looking at the Deepak Chopra and Oprah 21 day free app

https://chopracentermeditation.com/article/6-oprah_deepaks_21_day_meditation_experience/

There are lots of other meditation apps, including Headspace app which Jill has used.

Chris and Jill conclude the episode by discussing some healthy tips for the holidays, focusing mainly on how to work in some fitness and how to manage food and alcohol at social events.

Vicki’s jewelry can be seen on her website, www.carryyourmessage.com and she can be found at these social media locations:

Facebook https://facebook.com/carryyourmessage

Twitter https://twitter.com/wellcoachvicki

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/carryyourmessage/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/carry_your_message/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickiprussak

Being Grateful at Thanksgiving

November 22, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

Since this post is being published on Thanksgiving Day, I thought I’d share a few things for which I’m thankful. You know, being grateful at Thanksgiving is what the holiday is about.

Chris wrote last week about her plan for navigating food at Thanksgiving this year and shared her very fun veggie turkey. I loved that photo. Go check it out if you didn’t see it. It’s also a good post if you’re looking for ideas on how to eat or not eat at the holiday table.

Grateful at Thanksgiving

So Thanksgiving is really a harvest festival, I think. We’re supposed to express our gratitude for a bountiful harvest and health and our preparation for winter. Since its inception, of course, Thanksgiving is about gratitude but most of us are pretty removed from the actual harvest. Instead, I think we give thanks for other things in our lives. I’ve been mulling over what I’m thankful for, related to my fitness and heath.

So, this year has been a tough one for me. I’ve had injuries and problems with my Achilles tendon, which has led to lack of training. I think it’s important to recognize that we can’t always set records or be super-amazing. Instead, sometimes, we just have to do what we can. I’m thankful that I managed to run two half-marathons this year and, while I didn’t set the world on fire, I completed them.

I’m also thankful that I’ve managed to do enough strength training that I’m able to use my muscles to offset some of the problems I’ve had. When my hip was sore, I had enough upper body strength to lift myself out of the chair. (This is me, trying to see the glass as half-full!)

I am also thankful that I’ve managed to surround myself with people who care about me and have lots of advice on ways to keep myself healthy. A friend ran over late in the evening to bring me a heating pad. Another friend gave me advice on how best to use ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Friends invited me to go to yoga with them or encourage me to attend classes at the gym.

Becoming Elli Community

I’m thankful that Chris and I have created this Becoming Elli blog, podcast, and community. I think I’ve learned a lot about being a fit, strong woman over 50 from both writing and reading the blog and in creating the podcast. Some of the people we’ve interviewed are so inspirational and others have been so informative. As we finish our first year of the podcast, I’m grateful that we’ve had such amazing people join us.

The Becoming Elli community has also provided me with inspiration and support. I’m very grateful for those of you who share your wins and your losses. Having a community of like-minded women is such a gift.

I’m so thankful for my fitness community. Whether the friends are in our hometowns or online, we can support each other in all kinds of ways. While I can’t bring you a heating pad, I’m happy to encourage you and tell you about my experiences with fitness or injury or running or what I eat for breakfast. The more we help each other, the more we can all become like Elli and be fit and strong. So, thank you for being a member of the Becoming Elli community. I’m grateful you’re here.

Coffee with Cream or Butter or Coconut Milk or What?

November 8, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 11 Comments

What do you drink in coffee? Do you drink coffee with cream? Or coffee with butter and coconut oil? Hard to believe this is an issue but it’s a question that I’ve been pondering.

I used to drink my coffee with cream and sugar. Then my doctor at the Trim Life program at the Cleveland Clinic told us to cut out the sugar from the coffee. She said in three days you’ll be over it. And she was right. I quit adding sugar to my coffee and very quickly adjusted to the change in flavor. I haven’t put sugar in my coffee in a long time but I do, however, still put half and half in my coffee.

The standard light cream for coffee in the United States is called half and half. It’s as you might think, a combination of milk and cream. It runs about 12 to 18 percent milk fat. Apparently in the UK, this is called half cream.

Cream in coffee is so tasty because the fat interacts with the coffee and gives it a better “mouth feel.” In other words, it makes it a bit thicker and smoother. The proteins in the cream softens the bitterness of coffee.

The reason I refuse to use skim milk in my coffee is that there’s no fat in skim milk. That means it has much fewer calories but it does nothing for the coffee but turn it an ugly mud color.

Now that I’ve written this, I realize why I abandoned sugar in my coffee without much difficulty but really struggle to move to drinking my coffee black. I like that smooth taste that I get with coffee with cream.

So, here’s the dilemma I’m pondering. Everyone is down on half and half in coffee (and I mean that in the way that 50+ people mean down—it’s not considered to be good.)

The keto people say don’t use half and half because it has too many carbs from the milk. Instead, switch to heavy whipping cream (HWC). HWC is about 36 percent milk fat, still has protein, but apparently has fewer carbs.

Dave Asprey, the inventor of Bulletproof Coffee, suggests that we abandon all dairy products except for grass-fed butter. So, he makes coffee with grass-fed butter and MCT oil. If you look online, you’ll find many variations on this coffee but almost always made with butter and coconut oil. I’ve tried this coffee and I admit, it’s pretty tasty. The fat in this gives you that good “mouth feel” and it’s filling. You can’t drink multiple cups of this stuff all day long. Well, if you did, you’d be consuming huge amounts of calories and even if you’re not a calorie-counting kind of person, trust me, it wouldn’t be good.

Oh, there are the non-dairy flavored creamers, like hazelnut and French Vanilla creamers. I don’t drink these because they’re usually full of sugar and the kinds of fats that I avoid. They are just not particularly good for you.

A lot of the functional medicine doctors suggest we move away from dairy and those flavored creamers so they often suggest using coconut milk or almond milk in coffee. I think almond milk doesn’t do much to enhance coffee. In my mind, it’s the skim milk of non-dairy creamers. Coconut milk isn’t too bad but it does have an odd taste for coffee.

Vegan coffee tends also to be almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. A lot of the manufacturers of these milks make thicker versions that they sell as creamers. You have to be sure to check the ingredients of these to make sure that the sweeteners and thickening agents are things you want to consume.

So, I’ve tried all of these different creamers. Heavy whipping cream overwhelms the taste of coffee. The almond and coconut creamers are expensive and don’t really cut it. They don’t have the same flavor or “mouth feel” for me. Adding butter and coconut oil to coffee actually tastes ok but it’s more work than I like when it’s first thing in the morning. To be honest, nothing beats regular half and half cream so that’s what I use.

My mother who always drinks her coffee black used to tell me, “it’s a lot easier to drink black coffee.” As usual, my mother was right.

Feel free to let me know how you drink your coffee. Coffee with cream? Black? I’d really love to know how someone went from drinking coffee with cream to drinking it black.

Ten Tips for Fall Fitness

October 25, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 4 Comments

Here in Ohio, it’s finally becoming fall-like and so it’s time to think about fall fitness. The temperature has dropped and the leaves are finally starting to turn color. Autumn is a gorgeous time of year. Pumpkins are out on display, candy is on sale in the grocery store (yikes!), and there’s a sense of change in the air.

Fall Fitness

Fall is a favorite season for many people. It’s a good time to shake things up and rethink what we’re doing for our fitness.

Don’t eat the Halloween candy

I realize that Halloween is more of an American holiday but for many of us it’s the start of the holiday binge eating season. I enjoy participating in the holiday even though I have no children out trick-or-treating anymore. And yes, I give out candy. I’ve not turned into the crabby old woman who gives out toothpaste samples. However, I wait until almost the last minute to buy the candy because I hate having it in my house for too long a time. Candy is one of those things that if I start to sample it, I won’t stop.

Some people suggest buying candy that you dislike so you won’t be tempted to eat it. I guess that works but I‘m not fond of this idea. Probably because there’s little candy that I dislike.

Enjoy the Weather

Fall is often cooler temperatures, which makes outdoor activities more enjoyable. Running, hiking, and biking are all great things to enjoy when the temperatures are lower than the heat of the summer. The local park system by me holds an annual fall hiking spree. It’s great to see families out walking the different park trails.

Those of you who live in places with super-hot summers can begin to venture out of the air conditioning and begin to enjoy the outdoors again. If you live in a place where you move right into winter, start your snow activities now. Cross country skiing or snow shoeing are great activities.

Run a Race

There are a lot of races in the fall so consider signing up for a fun 5K. I’ve noticed that Halloween is a favorite race theme and many areas have a turkey trot race. Last year, Chris and I ran a local 5-mile turkey trot and then I ran another one while out of town.

Look around for something that appeals to you and sign up. You can of course walk a race too.

Dress in Layers

The temperature dropped enough here that when I went running last weekend, I had to break out the hat and gloves. I was glad to have them too. You don’t have to dress as warmly as you do if you decide to run in the winter but you still want to have layers on. It’s often chilly and then you begin to exercise and warm up and you may want to remove a layer.

It’s still important to wear clothes that wick next to your skin. You don’t want to trap moisture next to your body.

Rake Leaves

OK, my yard has about 60 trees on it so raking leaves at my house is not really a good time. But doing some of the leaf removal is great exercise. I look at yard work as a great chance to put on my headphones and listen to some podcasts. (Don’t forget to check out the latest episode of the Becoming Elli podcast!) Leaf raking is strenuous so be careful not to overdo it.

This is also the time to attack weeds for the last time and take down dead flower stems. I end up chopping down the peonies this time of year. Check with a gardening expert for advice on pruning shrubs and trees. Pruning in the fall can destroy next spring’s blooms.

Don’t become a couch potato

The fall is still the time when many TV series start the next season. We tend to begin to watch more TV as the days get shorter and the new episodes appear on the DVR. Don’t let this be the time that you just become a couch potato. Maybe do exercises during commercials or walk around your house while watching.

Light up the night

Because the days are shorter, you may end up doing things outside in the dark. I know I walk in my neightborhood in the evenings and sometimes go for a run even when it’s dark. Be careful, however. Make sure drivers can see you. Wear reflective clothing and maybe take a flashlight with you. I often have my phone with me and will turn on the flashlight option so that I’m visible in the dark.

If you’ve gone out bicycling, be sure that your bike has a light on it and reflectors. If you’re caught out after dark, you really want to be visible to others.

Play a Sport

Many sports start up in the fall for children. Soccer and football are two sports that often have a fall season. If you’re spectating, consider walking around while the kids play.

If you have family around, suggest a friendly game of soccer or tag football. You’ll be surprised how fun playing a sport can be.

I saw an ad recently for an indoor tennis court. If you’re a tennis player, that might be a great addition to the fall activities. It would probably be fun to take some tennis lessons too.

Return to the Gym

Many of us abandon the gym when the weather gets nice in the spring. Now that it’s cooling off, perhaps it’s time to return to the gym. Sign up for a class or maybe have a couple of personal training sessions.

Many rec departments start exercise classes in the fall. Check them out and sign up for something that sounds fun.

Begin to plan for winter and the next year

As you participate in these autumn fitness activities, I know your mind is going to turn to winter and then what you want to do next spring and summer. Someone said to me recently, “I can’t wait to get this last race over with so I can get back to the gym and lift. As Chris pointed out, winter becomes our strength season. Also, if you do races, many of the next year races have lower registration rates as we head into the last few months of the year.

Begin to think about what you hope to accomplish this winter and next year. This is a good time to reflect on what you achieved this year fitness-wise and to plan on the next set of goals. Don’t wait for the last minute to make resolutions. Have a plan.

Janet Palcko: Pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago

October 23, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 5 Comments

In the spring of 2018, Janet Palcko took the epic journey of her lifetime when she walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain. The Camino is a pilgrimage to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, where it is said that the remains of Saint James the Apostle are buried.

In episode 20 of the Becoming Elli Podcast, Jill and Chris talk with Janet Palcko about her incredible journey. Janet hiked for at least 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) in about six weeks.

The Camino de Santiago is not just one route. Thousands of pilgrims left their homes throughout the Middle Ages and followed roads all across southern Europe. Those paths all come together like branches of a tree and arrive at Santiago. Today, thousands more people walk those same routes each year. Some walk for spiritual reasons, others for physical or adventure challenges. They are all considered Pilgrims along The Way.

Janet reminds us that people have been making this pilgrimage for several centuries and today’s pilgrims follow the path of earlier ones.

One of the longest and most traveled routes is the Camino Frances, so named for the starting point in Northwestern France. Janet started her hike in France, crossed over the Pyrenees and then hiked across all of northern Spain. She did this while carrying everything she needed in her backpack.

Janet describes the different places she saw and the variety of people she met. She tells how she managed to sleep along the way, eat meals, and enjoy her pilgrimage. She also shares how she trained for this trip of a lifetime and how she prepared for it.

Janet Palcko certainly embodies the Becoming Elli spirit. She’ll make you think that hiking for six weeks is a great idea and that we should all go on this pilgrimage.

You can check out the whole trip and over 600 photos at www.polarsteps.com. Create an account (I used my Facebook account for a quick and easy login) and then search for Janet Palcko. It’s definitely worth checking out. You can also install the polarsteps app on your phone and check it out that way.

Pilates Reformer: Checking Out an Old Favorite

October 18, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 0 Comments

I spun the wheel at the Club Pilates booth at a local festival and won a free one-on-one lesson. After some back and forth, we got this session on the calendar and I went to check the new Pilates studio in town.

So, a quick review of the studio. Club Pilates is a chain that appears to be growing quickly. There are a number of new studios in my area and the one in my hometown just had its grand opening.

The new Club Pilates studio seems to be well equipped. There are lots of reformers in the class area. Each reformer also has a Bosu ball, TRX straps, and other equipment. The area is set up to handle multiple students in a class.

Because my session was an individual one, I had my session in the private area with a fancier reformer. I enjoyed the session a lot and it made me remember why I liked doing Pilates years ago. The staff was friendly and the instructor I had was very encouraging and great at explaining. I would definitely consider going again.

The only negatives that I could see was the pricing. It’s rather expensive and what stopped me from signing up was that the membership was by the month. So, you could buy four sessions a month on a recurring schedule but you couldn’t carry over any sessions. Since I tend to have to go out of town periodically, I don’t want to worry about not using Pilates sessions that I’ve paid for. I decided that if I want to return, I’ll just pay the drop-in fee.

Pilates is a workout that focuses on core strength. It is a whole body workout but the emphasis is on the core. I remember originally being told that Pilates is similar to yoga. Perhaps mat Pilates is similar in that you do some of the same poses. Pilates does have an emphasis on breath but it does not have the meditative side of yoga. In my individual session, we did do some balance work which is always a challenge to me. We did some planking on the Bosu ball too. According to the Club Pilates website,

Pilates creates a strong foundation of balance, strength, mobility and flexibility. The full-body, low-impact workouts offered at Club Pilates provide a high-impact challenge to the stabilizing muscles of the core.

I struggle with getting in core work so I think I might try to attend some Pilates Reformer classes again. I did leave there and call my gym to confirm that they still offer Pilates Reformer classes. They do and their price was lower so that’s probably my option.

If you’re wondering, a Pilates Reformer is a contraption that looks a bit like a bed frame with a sliding board and springs and pulleys. It’s intimidating to look at. Most Pilates instructors will help you figure out how to use a Reformer and once you get the hang of it, it’s not so scary.

Another option for Pilates is mat Pilates. This is more of a typical gym class where you do a great workout that really focuses on your core. This is obviously a less expensive way to do Pilates.

Let me know if you’re a Pilates pro or even a novice. This is an exercise that seems to go in and out of fashion but never completely goes away.

Review of The Obesity Code

October 4, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 3 Comments

The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss by Jason Fung, MD answers a lot of questions we’ve all had about both weight loss and weight gain. It’s a well-written, easy-to-follow book that explains why so many of us are overweight or obese and why when we lose weight, we’re likely to regain what we’ve lost.

The Obesity Code begins with a look at the past few decades and how obesity has become an epidemic. Fung does a great job of explaining the science in terms that we can understand. I rarely felt like I needed to start skimming because I couldn’t understand.

Basically, according to Fung, we can pretty much pick a diet and we can work hard at losing weight and eventually we can take off the weight. Most of us then begin to slowly put the weight back on and sometimes put even more weight on. This is because our weight is really the result of hormones, especially insulin.

Because we’ve eaten so many simple carbs and processed foods and eat so many meals and snacks, many of us have become insulin resistant. That makes our bodies release more insulin and it’s insulin that makes us gain weight.

The Obesity Code covers why we’re so overweight and why “eating less and moving more” doesn’t work. Eating less makes us tired and often slows down our metabolism. Moving more makes us eat more. Basically, the body wants to weight what it wants to weight. Unfortunately, our unhealthy food choices makes our bodies want to be overweight.

Fung does come up with five basic steps of weight loss. This is not a diet book, however. It does not give you menus or recipes. Instead it discusses what to eat and what not to eat.

Interestingly, Dr. Fung points out that we all worry about what to eat but we don’t think much about when to eat. He says the advice to eat small meals every two or three hours is disastrous. Also, he dismisses the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. He says, if you’re hungry, eat when you get up. Otherwise, wait until you’re hungry.

He ends the book by discussing fasting as a way to reset your body’s set point for weight. There are various different ways of doing intermittent fasting and he covers most of them. I just recently wrote about intermittent fasting so was glad to read about it.

I thought The Obesity Code was fascinating. It’s easy to read and understand and really makes sense of the weight problems most of us deal with. I wished there was a bit more information about fasting in this book.

Because the book has been around for a couple years, there’s a lot of information online about it so you can find more advice on the fasting that way. Oh, and Timothy Hoakes wrote the foreword, which I thought was great.

The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss
Disclosure: this review links to the Amazon affiliate program, where a portion of a purchase might help offset the expenses associated with the podcast and website.

Roasted Squash Seeds

September 29, 2018 / Jill McCauslin / 1 Comment

It’s fall and winter squash is showing up in the produce section. Pumpkins are also making an appearance. That means it’s time for roasted squash seeds.

Chris shared a great recipe for pumpkin pie spice squash soup the other day. The first step is to cook the squash. Wait! Don’t throw those seeds away. You can roast them and make a delicious snack.

Roasted Squash Seeds

I’m sure you’ve had pumpkin seeds and you may have even roasted your own. But most of the winter squashes have seeds that can be roasted. It doesn’t matter if you’re using an acorn, butternut, spaghetti, or carnival squash.

I’ve bought squash just because I wanted the seeds to snack on. I end up making soup or roasted vegetables with the squash but I really want to scoop out those seeds and roast them.

My process of roasting squash seeds is a little convoluted but is worth it.

Directions for Roasted Squash Seeds

Preheat the oven to 325.

Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds and stringy flesh and put into a bowl.

Separate the seeds from the flesh. I run water into the bowl, which helps clean the seeds. Get as much of the goopy stuff off that you can. You might want to dump the seeds into a colander and run more water over them to get the last bits of squash off the seeds.

Put the seeds into a small saucepan and fill with water. Bring to a boil and cook for about ten minutes.

Drain the seeds and then dry them as thoroughly as you can. I often end up wrapping them in a towel to dry them. Be sure to get all of the seeds that stick to the towel.

Put the seeds into a bowl and add about a tablespoon of oil. You can use olive oil, melted coconut oil, avocado oil, or whatever you prefer.

Salt the seeds and add any spices you like. You can use Try curry or a taco seasoning or go with this pumpkin pie spice to stick with the fall pumpkin theme.

Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and spread the seeds out in the pan. Try to spread them out and not have them clumped in the middle.

Roast for 10 minutes and then stir and return to the oven. Check the seeds about every five minutes. The seeds are ready when the outsides are crispy and the insides are tender. If you hear the seeds popping, they’re definitely ready to come out.

Let the seeds cool and then serve. Store any uneaten seeds in a air tight container. These are good as snacks, toppings for salads, or as a garnishment for your squash soup.