Well, the Healthy Living Summit sessions came and went like *that,* but they were nothing short of pure awesomeness. Let’s start with a recap of the eats, shall we?
breakfast.
Breakfast at HLS was very impressive. The spread included a Quaker oatmeal bar, tons of Stonyfield yogurt, muffins, croissants, Thomas’ Bagel Thins, and a massive amount of fresh fruit.
I kind of just grabbed whatever looked good…
…and it turned into a yogurt + fruit bowl and a almond butter topped bagel thin.
I also sipped on some coffee and ate an Adora disc.
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snackage.
Snacks throughout the day included some sliced apple from Subway…
…an unpictured muffin I stole from breakfast, a venti iced coffee:
Who doesn’t love a Starbucks run? 
Atheno’s provided an absolutely delicious snack spread during the afternoon. There’s no denying that feta really does make it betta. My plate:
lunch.
Lunch at the Summit was just as impressive as breakfast! It was hosted by Arnold/Orowheat, and the spread included cold cuts, salad, a quinoa dish, roasted veggies, and assorted Arnold breads. My plate:
I was especially loving my roasted veggie + ham sandwich:
YUM!
session one.
After a word from the Keynote speaker and visiting some of the sponsor stands, I headed to the first session: Fueling For Fitness, which was headed by RD’s Heather and Rebecca.
Some highlights of the session:
- Carbohydrates are king when it comes to fueling for athletes
- Protein is the “body tissue” nutrient. It’s used in the body primarily for structure – *not* energy
- Fat is the “energy reserve” nutrient. It protects organs and aids in hormone function. Omega 3 fats are especially crucial as they are anti inflammatory. This is important because exercise causes inflammation.
- The three key roles of sports nutrition: provide energy, avoid dehydration, optimize recovery
There were many tips provided for endurance athletes, but as a casual exerciser (workouts last 20-60 minutes), my recommendations are:
- meal/snack 1-2 hours before workout
- water 15 minutes before workout and during workout
- meal or snack within one hour is a good idea
Some interesting new ways to hydrate and fuel workouts are: tart cherry juice, coconut water, chocolate milk.
Rebecca touched on (the supposedly controversial) topic of Metabolic Efficiency Training, which is essentially teaching the body to burn more fat by cutting down on grains/starchy carbs sources at a particular point in the training process. This was definitely something I’m interesting in learning more about!
session two.
The second session I went to was Healthy Entertaining with Sabrina from Rhodey Girl Tests. Can I just mention how much I LOVE this fellow Philly native? And, after hearing her tips for hosting parties/get togethers, I seriously want to attend one of hers 
Some highlights for (healthy) entertaining:
- consider your theme (occasion, season, guest list, amount of time/space)
- don’t be afraif to utilize a “beginner” menu (appetizer, main entree, veggie side dish, starch, salad, bakery dessert, drinks)
- don’t try a new recipe when hosting a party!
- keep it healthy by always having a veggie side dish and a salad
- ask guests if they have any dietary restrictions and provide options for them, or suggest they bring something
- when it comes to decor, use food as the centerpiece, i.e. a bowl of fruit or vegetables in the center of the table is easy and aesthetically pleasing.
- do as much as you can ahead of time
- random fact: bread plate is always to the left!
- make the house feel comfy with things like flowers and lit candles
session three.
I must admit that I was definitely looking forward to this session the most – The Up’s and Down’s of Blogging. My favorite lady Anne was the moderator, and the panelists were Heather, Julie, Sana, and Andrea (links below!!)
Highlights:
- What I loved the most about this session is that it was a discussion – tons of audience Q&A and interaction took place.
- How to deal with negative comments.
- The importance of participating in the blogging community.
- How to use your own unique voice and story to impact others.
session four.
To finish out the day, the last session was all about How to Avoid the Social Comparison Trap. I think everyone at the conference would agree that Katie’s story was incredibly moving and inspiring. Blogging has seriously helped to change Katie’s life for the better, so I highly suggest checking out her blog Sweet Tater to read her story.
Other topics that were discussed:
- Why it’s important to not compare yourself to other bloggers because everybody is different.
- More specifically, everybody’s body is different and has different needs – whether it’s related to nutrition, fitness, lifestyle, etc.
All in all I’d say it was a great day full of good company, learning, and of course…good eats
I spent this afternoon/evening on a foodie tour around Chicago, which I’ll be sure to post about tomorrow. But for now…gotta run! Time for one last night on the town Buh bye lovebugs. xoxo G
- Which of the sessions I attended sound the most interesting to you?
I love entertaining and am always looking for great new tips. Thanks!
Great recap – thanks for the tips! I wish I was there so the pearls I’ve been reading from other bloggers (along with the fun photos) are the next best thing.
Thanks for the recap and including our sports nutrition session!
We are all different and it is easy to forget that. Sounds like a blast!
I love the recap. All the sessions seem so interesting and all offer different health aspects! I would be most interested in the fueling for fitness session because I’m training for a marathon and am working hard on finding the balance and eating foods that fuel me. Thanks for all the great recaps!
Great recap! I really like that. All of the sessions sound VERY interesting, and they are totally different! I’m very jealous, I hope they put up the video of the sessions soon!
is almond butter healthier than peanut butter?
Excellent recap – I’m glad I decided to check out your blog as to be honest I haven’t been reading everyones since your all doing similar stuff. Very useful and informative – thanks!
I heard there was a photography session, I need serious help in that department
Those sessions all sound so interesting! I’m especially interested in the Fueling for Fitness one! I’ve been wanting to buy some books so I can read up on that topic.
The Ups and Downs of blogging sounds like it was good too! I feel like comparing ourselves to each other has been such a big topic in the blog world lately!
I’m loving your blog and the HLS recaps! The Ups and Downs of blogging session and the fuelling for fitness session sound great. I particularly love that as bloggers we all have a unique voice and place in the blogging world. As bloggers I think we can put too much emphasis on the number of comments we recieve, for example, but that’s not what blogging’s about nor is it a measurement of success. We can touch someone’s life by what we write, even though they may not comment. Ok, i’ve babbled on. Sorry!
Hey I just found your blog! I love it! The Healthy Living Summit seems so much fun! How do you get invited to those kind of things?? I’m really interested.
sounds awesome!! love the lunch spread- so many delicious & healthy options for you bloggers
i think the ups & downs of blogging sounds really interesting!
It’s so awesome that there were healthy options. I mean, for someone who’s living with IBS, it’s important that I have options when I go out somewhere. And that food? Looks like a great spread.
How is the Okios Greek Yogurt?
Thanks for all the session details. I wanted to know more about all that was discussed. Great info.
i.am.so.jealous!! Thanks for the details on the discussion!
The session recaps are perfect, definitely some of my top takeaways as well.
The next time you do a Starbucks run without me, you’re in big trouble, lol.
Great recap! Should’ve joined in on that Starbucks run
Thanks for including our tips!! Glad it was a helpful session!
Had a blast meeting you and your fellow roomies, hopefully it’ll be a big HLS reunion next year!
yes there was – I didn’t go to it, though (mainly because I only have a point and shoot – not much to learn with that!). A couple of my roommates went, so they might be posting some info from it! balancedfoodie.com and fannetasticfood.com
Hi Lauren! I’m not an expert, but I think the reason that almond butter is generally considered to be healthier than peanut butter is that it’s often more natural. For example, most almond butters have very few ingredients whereas peanut butter these days is loaded with sugar and other ingredients.
I’m also *pretty* sure that almonds have more vitamins/minerals than peanut butter, but not by much. But calorie and nutrition-wise, natural almond butter and *natural* peanut butter are very similar!! So if you’re going to go with peanut butter, opt for a natural variety
Hi Katie!! The HLS and most similar conferences don’t require an invite…just a ticket!
You should look into Fit Bloggin’! It takes place next May. http://fitbloggin.com/
The Oikos Greek yogurt is delicious!! Probably my favorite brand