Let's Celebrate July

Y'all I LOVE celebrations! I love birthdays, holidays, Tuesdays, and Fridays! I love celebrating achievements: graduations, babies, marriage, or just being an amazing human being. Give me a reason, and I'll celebrate with you! So, this is a new feature that I thought would be fun! 

In this series, I provide an overview of the food celebrations and holidays in the month, so you can celebrate! For me, this list is helpful for menu planning or throwing themed dinners. These food holidays are a great way to have a themed meal and invite people over to your home. 

I feel like inviting people into your home is a great way to build community. There's something about breaking bread, cooking, sharing recipes, and food that sparks conversation. I love talking and celebrating around a table. So, here are some food celebrations in July.

July has several celebrations throughout the month. July is:

• National Picnic Month
• National Baked Bean Month
• National Culinary Arts Month
• National Hot Dog Month
• National Ice Cream Month

There are also many celebrations on days throughout July. 

• July 4 is National Barbecue Day & Caesar Salad Day
• July 5 is National Turnover Day
• July 6 is National Fried Chicken Day
• July 7 is National Macaroni Day
• July 9 is National Sugar Cookie Day

• July 10 is "Pick Blueberries' Day
• I have several recipes that use fresh blueberries. Check out my homemade granola and make a parfait. Drink a peach and blueberry breakfast smoothie. Or, create a fresh Summer salad to enjoy for lunch or dinner.

• July 11 is National Blueberry Muffin Day

• July 12 is National Pecan Pie Day

• July 17 is National Peach Ice Cream Day
• July 20 is National Ice-cream Sundae Day
• July 21 is National Creme Brûlée Day 
• July 23 is National Vanilla Ice Cream and National Hot Dog Day
• July 25 is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day

• July 28 is National Hamburger Day
• July 29 is National Lasagna Day
• July 30 is National Cheesecake Day

I thought this list would be inspiring for your meal plan for July and would encourage some party and entertaining ideas. So, let's celebrate. If you participate in these monthly celebrations, tag me, @RDtipoftheday, and use the hashtag #RDTODcelebrate for a chance to be featured. 

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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Easy Entertaining: 5 Breakfast Entrees for Entertaining

I love breakfast! I love to eat breakfast foods any time of the day. Breakfast allows you to serve sweet foods, savory foods, or both! I think that makes breakfast especially great for entertaining. Breakfast has an ease about it. It can be very informal but still feel special. Breakfast is approachable.

If I'm eating breakfast at a restaurant, my toughest decision is whether to choose something sweet or something savory. If that's the hardest decision of the day, you know that's a great day! So, I would encourage you to offer something sweet and savory when hosting a breakfast or brunch.

Here are some ideas for a great breakfast options that can be prepared ahead of time.

Quiche or Frittata
These easy entrees only differ by one ingredient. A quiche has a pasty crust with an egg-based filling. A frittata is simply a crust-less quiche. Quiche and frittatas are easy ways to use up leftovers. This frittata features mushrooms, asparagus, and cheese. It is delicious!

French Toast Casserole or Bread Pudding
I was making a French toast casserole recently, and I thought to myself "I'm making bread pudding for  breakfast." Dessert for breakfast; what a meal! I like the idea of a bread pudding because it can be sweet or savory. My RDtip would be to use skim or nonfat milk for the custard for a lighter French toast casserole. This French toast is peach and pecan. Peach is one of my husband's favorite flavors, and I love pecans. What a great marriage of flavors!

Pancakes or Waffles
Make a large batch of pancakes and waffles. Freeze the extra. Frozen pancakes and waffles reheat easily and are ready whenever you need them.

Parfaits with Homemade Granola
I love making homemade granola. It makes the house smell fantastic! I make granola about once a month with old fashioned oats, pecans, almonds, brown sugar, honey, and warming spices. I'll post my recipe soon. Parfaits are like a healthier breakfast sundae. A parfait elevates humble granola, yogurt, and fruit to a fancy layered breakfast treat. Add fresh herbs for a flavorful garnish to further elevate your parfait.

Breakfast Sandwiches
This is a great way to use leftovers from the week. Think about what breads you have leftover: biscuits, wheat bread, rolls, tortillas. Then, fill them with leftover protein: ham, turkey, egg, etc. Add cheese, veggies, and enjoy! Leftovers never tasted so good!

I would love to see how you are entertaining, so tag your entertaining pictures with #EasyEntree and #EasyEntertaining. And tag me @RDtipoftheday, so I can see what you do and maybe even feature you on the blog or Instagram.

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter. 

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7 Quick Breakfast Ideas to Jumpstart Your Healthy Day

Breakfast: My Favorite Time of Day

I am what you would call a morning person. My internal alarm usually wakes me before my alarm clock. I love getting a head start on the day while the world is still asleep.

Most of the time, I wake up because I am hungry for my favorite meal, breakfast! I have a preference for sweet things or a 'sweet tooth' and breakfast usually incorporates something sweet. Breads, fruit, and (sweet) coffee - oh my!

Breakfast is a great way to start the day. Breakfast is literally breaking the fast. We fast, or don't eat, while we sleep. Our bodies can fast for some time, but breaking the fast is a healthy, jump-start to the day and to your metabolism. Many of my clients that are trying to lose weight inadvertently sabotage themselves by skipping meals. Most often breakfast is the meal that is skipped. This is a problem. One, you aren't breaking the fast. This can trick your body into thinking you are starving - on a desert-island somewhere. I digress. Over time, your body will become accustom to this skipping of meals and decrease your metabolism (the base energy your body need to stay alive). So, eat your breakfast! Ok?

If you need more incentive, here are some quick, easy breakfast ideas to start your day.

1) Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a delicious whole grain. It can be topped with different fruits, spices, and nuts to mix up the flavor. I especially like hot oatmeal on a cold morning. Oatmeal is a great

2) Cereal to go
Many people say time is the barrier to eat breakfast. I understand mornings are busy. So, pack your cereal in a zip top bag. Pour milk into a to-go cup. And, you are ready to take your breakfast to go!

3) Parfait
Parfaits are a visually appealing layered dish. Let's make this treat for breakfast! Add layers of your favorite yogurt, cereal, granola, nuts, and fruit. Repeat the layers. Top with fruit and mint. And enjoy! This can be assembled the night before, so it is a quick breakfast.

4) Smoothies
Smoothies are a great on-the-go breakfast drink. You can prepare a "smoothie pack" by washing the fruits or vegetables you want to include and putting them in zip top bags or in mason jars. Then, everything is ready to blend with yogurt, milk, or your favorite non-dairy option.

I prefer smoothies to juicing because juicing will pull out fiber which helps you feel full and can help lower cholesterol.
 

5) Breakfast Burritos
Take a whole grain tortilla, fill with scrambled eggs or egg whites, add your favorite veggies (tomatoes, mushrooms, onions), top with cheese, roll, and enjoy!

6) Paninis
Some people prefer savory to sweet. If you like savory breakfasts, this breakfast panini is for you! Toast whole wheat bread, add egg or egg whites, spinach, cheese and tomato.

7) Breakfast Bruscetta
I like to think of this as Italian-inspired toast. Toast bread and add a spread. (Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, olive oil, or mozzarella). Then top with tomatoes and basil for a savory delicious start to your day.

Start your day with any of these filling breakfasts, and you will be fueled for success. I hope these seven breakfast ideas will encourage you to eat seven days of the week!

For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me, RDtipoftheday, on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter for more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating. You can subscribe to this blog, RDtipoftheday.blogspot.com, through BlogLovin.