Health and the Writer by Camy Tang

Whether you’re a writer who also works a full-time job or are a busy stay-at-home-mom, it’s hard to stay healthy. I researched and figured out a bunch of tips and tricks to help me stay in shape without carving out of my precious writing time. I also found some tips to help me have just general better health. Pick and choose which of these will work for you.

Eat fiber

I have to confess, I’m a snacker.

I have found that I write better when there’s something around for me to eat.

I’ve tried everything, but the brain just doesn’t function without food in my mouth. Even gum doesn’t cut it for me.

I’ve discovered it’s because my creative side is tactile-activated. If I have something in my mouth or if I’m doing something with my hands, then my creative left-brain side kicks into high gear. Or maybe it’s just the sugar rush. LOL

I’ve started knitting, which is a nice tactile and foodless way of activating my creativity, but sometimes even that isn’t enough.

Hence, the snacks.

But I don’t have to eat unhealthy things, and neither do you. High-fiber foods are actually an extremely important part of your diet, so why not ingest some fiber while writing?

The high fiber content of my snacks also help me feel full faster than something higher in fat or sugar. I’ll end up snacking for a while, then stopping because I’m full.

Veggies with dip is one of my favs. The deli section of my supermarket has some really neat, unusual dips too—parmesan and artichoke, cheese and jalapeno, the list goes on and on.

Fresh fruit is another good snack that’s also high in fiber. Pick what’s in season, cheap, and looks fresh. In the summer, my favorite is berries—strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries—and plums and peaches. Other months, apples and oranges are always on sale.

Beans are also high in fiber, so I’ll often have some whole wheat tortillas with fat-free refried beans smeared inside. A great snack as long as you’re not going out in company for a few hours...

Speaking of whole wheat, now there are lots of high fiber crackers that are low in fat.

I also enjoy high fiber cereals like Frosted Mini Wheats! Yum!

So be creative and go high fiber!

Camy Tang is a novelist also fighting the battle of the bulge. She previously worked in biology research, and she is a staff worker for her church youth group. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, and her Asian chick lit novel, Sushi for One?, releases in September. Enjoy the read on her blog at http://camys-loft.blogspot.com/.