​How are we all doing out there during this COVID-19 lockdown?! It's touch and go for me. One day goes well and then the next I'm really struggling.

I love Valentine's Day. Not the romantic aspect with candlelit dinners and roses (although I'm not opposed to that), but just the atmosphere of love and giving and showing the people you love that, well, you love them! I always assume that at any holiday, most people are getting plenty of sweets and chocolate, so they probably don't need more from me.

My name is Kate, I am a Registered Dietitian, and I am a Chocoholic. I always have been. Remember the restaurant Bennigan's (does that still exist somewhere)? When I was a kid and my family would go there, we would order a dessert called Death By Chocolate to share, which was something like this... chocolate cookie crust with chocolate ice cream, hard chocolate coating over it, and hot fudge. OMG.

I dread a counter full of dishes. After a long day, shuttling the kids around, helping with homework, and cooking dinner, the last thing I want to do is stand at the sink and wash a ton of lunchboxes, water bottles, tupperware and all other items I don't put in the dishwasher. The other night, though, as I was finishing the clean-up, I felt a real sense of accomplishment.

Today Galter LifeCenter hosted it's 26th annual celebration of National Senior Health & Fitness Day. I had the privilege of hosting a nutrition talk with a great group of seniors this morning. I presented Easy Summertime Meals, demonstrating the preparation of four easy, plant-based, favorite recipes of mine.

Galter LifeCenter recently held Fitness Fest, an event for members to come try some classes and discover how Galter is here to help you reach your health and fitness goals for 2019. The event was a great success, and because I have had several follow up requests for the recipes that were offered at the crock pot stop, I decided to post them here.

I have spent a lot of time with my family over this holiday break while the kids have been home from school and my husband has had an extended break from work. We have had lots of “togetherness,” if you will.

I want to encourage you, all of us, to live life fully, enjoy what we do and the people we have in our lives. Enjoy healthy foods and the life they promote, don't focus on the negative. Life's too short.