Secret Tips To Eating Healthy In Colorado Springs

Yahtzee

 

Vitali-T Had The Honor Of Interviewing Yaitza Bueno, creator of ahealthierfitterme.com 

 

Yaitza Bueno is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and the blogger behind ahealthierfitterme.com. Yaitza is also a mother, a military wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, who loves sharing healthy recipes and enjoys working out. She believes there is a better version of ourselves hiding inside all of us waiting to exhale.

Yaitza’s Top Tips For Eating Healthy In Colorado Springs:

1. What are the top health food stores in Colorado Springs?

One thing I love about Colorado Springs is that there are so many healthy and organic options available at pretty much any grocery store. However, my favorite places to shop at are Sprouts, Costco, Natural Grocers, WholeFoods and my new favorite, Trader Joe’s.

2. How can Colorado Springs locals eat healthier on a limited budget? 

I love creating weekly menus and lists before heading to the store and I would highly recommend this to anyone shopping on a limited budget. I recommend looking for online coupons and in-store coupons for products on your grocery list. Shop around at multiple grocery stores to make sure you get the best value for your money. Take advantage of in season produce pricing, or getting all of your produce from Farmers Market (when in season.) Buying from the bulk aisle at Sprouts for grains and other dried goods for the week.

Tip: I love having a snack with me when I shop for groceries; I tend to buy a lot more unnecessary things when I shop hungry.

3. What advice would you give busy people who have trouble planning out meals?

I recommend planning your meals at the beginning of the week. Find healthy recipes you love and make them a staple in your weekly menu. Cooking extra on those nights you are able to cook so that you have left-overs for lunches throughout the week. I personally cannot live without my crockpot for those days where I know I do not have time to cook. I have a few crockpot healthy recipes on the blog that are fool proof.

I would suggest making time for meal prepping on Sundays. I love cooking my grains and some proteins in advance, this will save you a lot of time during the week. I also love prepping different variations of “Overnight Oats” on Sundays to have for breakfast for the week.

4. What is your go to meal for entertaining a small group?

My favorite thing to make when entertaining is some sort of quinoa salad and a quiche. I have a few recipes on the blog. Veggie trays with hummus are always a staple.

5. Healthy snack choices to get through the day?

You can never go wrong with natures fast foods; fruits, nuts and raw veggies are my favorite. If I am out and about, I love keeping healthy bars in my car or purse for me and my family. My favorites are LaraBars, Quest Bars, and ThinkThin bars.

6. What dish can I bring to the SuperBowl Party this year to make sure that the Bronco’s win?

I would definitely skip PapaJohns! We are lovers of nuts, olives, sprouted crackers and cheese platters. You can never go wrong with chips, salsa and guacamole. I also love making my Vegan Chili on Football Sundays.

7. What are your favorite local healthy restaurants?

Gosh I have so many… Again, one of the things I love about this city is all the healthy foodie places there are. If I am craving Mexican food, I love Salsa Brava (specifically their hidden menu) and La Hacienda Colorado for their lettuce wraps fajitas. If we are feeling healthy foodie fancy we love the 2South & Broadmoor Natural Epicurean restaurants; they specialize in local and farm to table dining.

For a quick lunch, I love the salad bar from WholeFoods. I also love Panera (particularly their hidden menu), Chipotle, and my new favorite lunch spot; Shuga’s in Old Colorado Springs. If I am craving a vegan lunch, a juice or a smoothie I go to Ola Juice Bar in Old Colorado Springs. On Friday nights we love to go for a glass of wine or tea at the Peaks Place Coffee house, they offer delicious paleo treats as well as live music.

8. Do you have a favorite CS farmers market?

I love, love the University Village Center Mall Farmer’s Market, very sad that farmer’s market season is coming to an end. I religiously go every Saturday.

9. Anything else locals should know about eating better around CS?

Out of all the cities I have traveled, Colorado Springs seems to be one of the healthiest. It has a great assortment of outdoor activities, and unique healthy food restaurants that offer natural organic foods which is ideal if you are seeking a healthier lifestyle. Whatever your goal, whether is to begin or maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can definitely attain it in this city. I always recommend choosing good quality foods where ever you go, and you are sure to find that here in Colorado Springs.