A large part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not only about the activities we do with our bodies but what we put in our bodies too. Keeping our bodies nourished between meals can take a little planning. When cravings hit, we might reach for our favorite sweet or salty snacks for a quick fix, which could leave us still looking for the fuel our bodies need to make it through the day.
Finding healthy snack alternatives is a delicate balance between feeling satisfied without the guilt of overindulgence. While it's important to make sure you're getting the right foods for your body, it's also okay to have a little fun with your meals and snacks, because eating shouldn’t leave us feeling intimidated or ashamed. Snacking on your favorite foods should be just as fun as incorporating physical activity into your day,
Discovering what fruits and veggies your body likes, gives you energy, and satisfies you is an act of self-care that keeps you motivated to hit your goals and give your body the love it deserves. To help you get to snacking and eating your colors, we’ve put together a list of fun and flavorful snack combinations that will kick your cravings to the curb.
1.Dates + Peanut Butter + Semi-Sweet Chocolate
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When you combine dates, peanut butter, and semi-sweet chocolate, you get a sweet and savory treat that is both filling and nutritious. Dates provide natural sweetness, along with peanut butter that adds protein and healthy fats, and the semi-sweet chocolate gives it a delicious chocolate flavor. This bite-size snack is best served frozen.
2.Tomatoes + Avocados + Lime
Tomatoes and avocados with lime juice is a snack combo that feels like a fiesta to your taste buds. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C and are a powerful antioxidant, with avocados providing a great source of healthy fats and fiber to keep you fuller for longer. Add a hint of lime to bring the snack together and enjoy with plantain or low-sodium tortilla chips.
3.Cucumbers + Carrots + Hummus
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This crunchy snack is one you won’t be able to put down. Cucumbers and carrots are low in calories, making them a great snack option for those who are watching their calorie intake. Hummus pairs perfectly with these veggies and can act as a delicious dip and savory spread.
4.Boiled Eggs + Everything Bagels Seasoning + Slice of Toast
No need to fear going over your bread intake when you have this tasty combo by your side. When combined, boiled eggs, a sprinkle of Everything Bagel seasoning, and a slice of whole-grain toast make for a well-rounded and balanced meal or snack.
5.Greek Yogurt + Berries + Granola
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Sweet, crunchy, and fruity, what else could you ask for in a snack? This delicious pairing is perfect when you're looking for a quick midday snack or breakfast option that’s versatile and easy to prepare.
6.Fresh Apple Slices + Almond Butter
Looking for a nutrient-rich treat? Apples and almond butter are always going to come through. With apples being a great source of fiber coupled with almond butter‘s packed-in protein and healthy fats, together you’ll have a nutrient-dense snack that will keep your tummy happy and body energized.
7.Green Smoothie + Almond/Cashews/Pistachios
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Take a sip (and bite) of the yummy snack. Green smoothies made with almonds, cashews, or pistachios can be a great way to start your day or provide a healthy energy boost. With this snack combo, you’ll be getting your dose of vitamins and iron in smoothie form along with bites of protein from your assortment of nuts. How can you lose?
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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
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“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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When I came across a way to maximize the pleasure I receive from cunnilingus (already), I had no choice but to tap in. Who knew the key to taking oral sex to new heights was giving it a sideways twist? For those of you who might also be interested in ways to spice up the way you do oral, experience faster and stronger orgasms, or simply want to indulge in something new with your partner, the Kivin Method could definitely be the oral sex technique for you, too.
Keep reading to learn about the method that is sure to have you writhing in ecstasy in no time at all.
What Is The Kivin Method?
For the uninitiated, the Kivin Method is an oral sex technique that focuses on stimulating the clitoris from a different angle. Dubbed “sideways oral” by some, this method involves the action of giving head from a side-to-side movement as opposed to the up-and-down motion that people typically perform when giving head. (If you need a visual, this illustration is helpful.)
The difference in approach as you’re receiving head can be a game-changer in how you receive pleasure. Not only does the giving partner have access to the clitoris, but they can also access more easily the vulva and the labia, which are objectively a bigger focus in this version of cunnilingus. More access means wider coverage, and that, plus the new sensation of oral from a different angle, can heighten the way you experience oral sex that much more.
Where more pleasure flows, intense orgasms are sure to follow.
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How To Do The Kivin Method
If you want to know how to do the Kivin Method, it’s actually pretty straightforward. The receiver lays on their back while the giver positions themselves perpendicular to the receiver. Their head will be facing the vulva, but instead of vertical, their face will be horizontal to the vulva.
From there, the giver can get to business, ensuring that they keep their head perpendicular to the receiver’s vulva while working on their craft. Because this technique can be more intense for some receivers, start slowly by stroking the vulva and clitoris sideways with the tongue, and allow sensations and communication from the receiver to be a guide of what you need more or less of with the Kivin Method.
Ultimately, the Kivin Method allows experimentation and unlocking what pressure, rhythm, and tricks work best for the giver and the receiver. Try implementing a finger or two, or adding a sex toy to the mix to intensify the act even further.
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