Prepping for Spring

Spring is less than two months away.  March 20th can't come soon enough.  I usually love winter, but I think I speak for everyone when I say it was just too cold this year.  I am ready to be able to be outside, take the dog to the park, go on walks, sit out on the balcony, go to the farm and there's nothing like a cold drink on a warm or hot day.  I know I am more active and healthy in the warmer months too because there's more to do, more day light and just more motivation to move.  Not to mention the smaller clothes so usually people watch what they eat more.  There's a lot I want to do before spring comes around though.

Here is my list of spring cleaning for myself and my home:

-- Donate, donate, donate!  Get rid of clothes and anything else in the house or garage that I don't need anymore, that don't fit and never will again or that I haven't worn in many years.
-- Pack away some things I still want but just don't have room for where we live now or just don't use never often right now.
-- Organize the garage so things are easily accessible so instead of going out to buy the item again I can just grab it.  I have a problem with buying too many kitchen towels based on the season or holiday.  They are all packed away but every year I seem to buy more.
-- Fully clean the entire house, from head to toe, using all cleaning supplies and not doing it half ass.
-- Reorganize my dresser drawers and closet.
-- Try to keep the house this way or at least keep up with it from time to time instead of just letting it become a crazy disorganized mess.
-- And something for me, just to make me happy, buy a basil plant for the kitchen window and a nice spring wreath for the front door. :)

All these things are mainly for my home but they will all make me feel good and refreshed to start off the new season on the right foot.  It's not a small list either which is why it's good to start early.  Make your own list and let the spring cleaning begin!

But for today I leave you with this list of things to do...

Grilling Burgers In The Winter

Who says you can't grill a good burger during the cold months?  Not me!  Instead of freezing outside in the snow, use a grilling pan.  We have a cast iron grill pan that works great for this.

I try to stay away from beef and red meat so grilling chicken burgers is usually my go to.  Simply by adding a great spice to the chicken patty makes it more enjoyable and not bland.  Just add some to each side of the patty and grill it.  Here are some of the favorite spices used in my house:

 Healthier Options:  Skip the bun or the cheese, or both! :)

Homemade Granola Bars

This is an easy recipe and healthier than the processed granola bars at the store.  Try it out!  Great for people on the go.

The recipe calls for:
2 cups oats
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup of mixed nuts or anything of your choice

-- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-- Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl until moist.  Spread the mixture in a 8 x 8 inch baking dish.  Press the mixture down so it becomes compact in the dish.
-- Bake for 20 minutes.
-- The bars need to cool completely before cutting.

The mix used for the below was almonds, raisins, peanuts and cashews.  YUM!

 

Other options to add into the mix could be dark chocolate chips, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, etc.  You can also break up the granola bar and add it to yogurt as a nutritious breakfast or snack.

Cupcake Lasagna's

Great snack to make the kids instead of the processed frozen food like pizza bagels.  Pop them in the oven when they get home from school.  This is also a great party appetizer.

 

I kept the recipe simple because my husband doesn't like a lot of things, but it would be great with added ingredients.  Ground turkey meat to add some protein is a good option, then it's an easy dinner.  Also you could add chopped basil to the ricotta cheese mixture or your favorite spice/herb.

 

 

The recipe calls for:

wonton wrappers

marinara sauce

part skim ricotta cheese

part skim mozzarella cheese

garlic powder

 

-- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

-- Spray two cupcake pans with cooking oil.

-- Place two wonton wrappers in each cupcake hole, opposite of each other.

-- In a bowl, mix garlic powder and the ricotta cheese.

-- Add a little marinara sauce, a dabble of ricotta cheese, a little more sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.

-- Bake for about 15 minutes or until the wrappers become crispy.



Brand New Year

I have definitely been neglecting posting on here, sorry for that.  I have had a lot going on, but what better time to get back to updating you all on healthy recipes and healthy lifestyle tips than in a new year.  Everyone should do their best to make good choices all year though.  If you make resolutions try to stick to them, it will make you feel good about yourself.  Don't give up.  I personally don't really make resolutions exactly, but I have told myself I want to better me this year.  Each day to do my best to be the happiest and healthiest. Healthy isn't always what you eat, it's more than food.  It's more than just exercise.  It's how you see life and how you live it.  Less stress and worry is my main goal.  Life will happen no matter how much you worry so why not just live life and be content with what you have and who you have in your life.

Around the holidays my dad ended up in the hospital.  He has had heart attacks in the past and since has done a lot of good for his body, but in the past year or so didn't work as hard at it.  He didn't have another heart attack, but he needed open heart surgery, triple bypass.  My family history and the want to live a long life is what makes me want to be as healthy as possible.  It's not something that is easy for a lot of people, it's work and commitment.  One thing I do know though is once you become healthy and get into a routine you crave healthier things and it becomes a lot easier.  It's a lifestyle you need to make for yourself.  I'm not saying you can't indulge and enjoy amazing food because you can and I sure do, but it's doing that in moderation and making little substitutes in your every day to better what you are putting into your body.

Recipes and more posts to come, but today...

Baked Eggplant

The recipe calls for:
5 eggplant slices
1 can petite diced tomatoes, 14oz
1 can tomato sauce, 8oz
1 tbs olive oil
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta
3/4 whole wheat panko bread crumbs
1/2 egg substitute
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tbs garlic, minced
1/4 cup basil, chopped
1 tsp red pepper flakes
a dash of salt & pepper
cooking spray


-- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-- Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped basil, red pepper flakes and salt/ pepper to a small pot. Heat on the stove on medium for awhile so all the flavors are brought out in the sauce. Let it simmer.
-- While the sauce is simmering, dip the eggplant slices into the egg substitute then dip them into the bread crumbs.
-- Mix the ricotta cheese and garlic powder.
-- Spray a baking dish with cooking oil and place the breaded eggplant slices into the dish.
-- Top the eggplant with the homemade marinara sauce then spoon a little ricotta cheese mixture on top of each slice.
-- Bake the eggplant in the oven for about 35 minutes.

YUM!

Sushi Facts

Sushi used to scare me and I never wanted to try it.  Once I tried it though I have become addicted! I eat sushi at least once a week. It's fun trying different kinds and testing out all the restaurants.

There are many health benefits of sushi. Some are that it is low in fat and high in protein. To me sushi is very filling so you don't need a lot of it for your meal. I usually get two rolls for dinner and one roll for lunch with maybe a small salad.

I always forget about the brown rice option! There is always a dollar or two extra charge, but even if you don't get it with brown rice sushi is still healthier then a million other things you could be eating especially while eating out. Another tip is to always ask for the low sodium soy sauce. It tastes the same as the regular and it's better for you.

This was taken from www.sushiencyclopedia.com and is very interesting:

"It consists of mostly protein, a little less than half the amount of carbohydrates (compared to protein in grams), and beneficial fat to lower your cholesterol. This is a golden ratio of food components when dieting. Bodybuilders use similar ratios of each of these components to drop their body fat. (Yes, they take unsaturated fat pills to melt away fat in difficult areas) Weight gain can result from an imbalance of carbohydrate, protein and unhealthy fat. In many cases, people eat foods that contain too many carbohydrates, and saturated fat compared to protein."

Since I have started to become obsessed with sushi it has helped me with my dieting. It is so tasty yet beneficial to my body so it's a win win! I am eating sushi as we speak...

Healthy Hump Day

I really need to go food shopping and I have been running around a lot lately with little time to prep my daily food intake. Even with the hectic schedule I am managing to do my best with eating! Within the last two months I have lost 10+ pounds. I am happy and proud! I can feel a difference inside and out, seeing a difference is a huge plus too! The motivation I have is priceless and my temptations are so different now than they used to be. I tend to crave healthier foods now.

What I Consumed Today:

Breakfast:  Coffee & a piece of Pumpkin Bread...not the best option, but pumpkin is healthy for you.  Also, Bethenny Frankel is a huge inspiration and lives a healthy lifestyle while also not depriving herself.  Just don't go overboard and it works!

Lunch:  A half of a Veggie Whole Wheat Wrap. Didn't remember to bring something from home so grabbed the healthiest option off the tray at work, food leftover from a meeting.

Exercise:  1 hour of Cardio Mix, including weight lifting and many other exercise tools.

Dinner:  A large Salad with a Morning Star "Chicken" (Tofu) Pattie cut up and mixed in.

Snack:  To Be Determined...but a great snack option is an Apple with some Natural Peanut Butter.

Tomorrow's Goal:  Add more protein to my day and an afternoon snack!  I was super busy at work today which made that hard.

Stuffed Tomato

The recipe calls for:

8 plump tomatoes

2 eggs

1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

2 tbs + 4 tsp grated parmesan cheese

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup corn

1 cup zucchini, diced + 24 thin slices

-- Preheat over to 350 degrees.

-- Cut the tops off the tomatoes, scoop pulp out of the centers, set aside. Discard half of the pulp and remove seeds from the remaining, finely chop.

-- Whisk the eggs and ricotta cheese in a bowl. Stir in onion, basil, 2 tbs parmesan and garlic. Add the corn, diced zucchini and chopped tomato pulp. Stir well.

-- Fill the tomatoes with the mixture to the top of the tomato. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese on top of the mixture, add zucchini slices and then the tomato top.

-- Bake for 45 minutes. Let it cool for about 10 minutes.

Delicious Baked Sweet Potato

 

The recipe calls for:

1 sweet potato

cooking oil

salt/pepper

garlic powder

spray "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter"

olive oil

 

-- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

-- Spray cooking oil on a baking dish.

-- Thinly slice the potato, but not all the way through.

-- Place the potato into the baking dish and drizzle it with some olive oil.  Spray some butter on the potato as well and then add as much garlic powder as you like and a little salt/pepper.

-- Bake in the oven for 40 minutes.  The top of the potato will be a little crispy.

 

Let it cool for a little and enjoy!  It will melt in your mouth. :)

 

Other options could be like I made the sweet potato slices on the grill, instead of garlic powder, salt and pepper use some sugar substitute and cinnamon.  I wouldn't add the brown sugar until the last ten minutes in the oven to prevent it from burning.

Healthy Food Myth

A lot of people think that eating healthy is so expensive, but really it's not.  You go to a fast food restaurant and it's over $6 for a combo meal and that is just ONE meal.  So fast food being unhealthy isn't the only negative.

In this picture there is a bran/multi-gran muffin, apples, a bag of lettuce/veggies and a sweet potato.  

All this was only $4.85 and it makes up:

1 breakfast

2 snacks

a few lunches or dinner sides (salad)

1 side for dinner

Summer Deliciousness

Grilled Sweet Potatoes

The recipe calls for:

sweet potato

cooking spray

sugar substitute

cinnamon

brown sugar

-- Peel the sweet potato and and slice it into circles or wedges, whichever you prefer.

-- Spray each side of the potato slice with cooking spray then sprinkle them with the sugar substitute and cinnamon.

-- Place the potato slices on a grill pan, top with a little bit of brown sugar and grill.

-- Keep the potatoes on the grill until they look caramelized and they have softened.

Broccoli Slaw Salad

The recipe calls for:

1 bag of broccoli slaw

3 tbs light mayo

6 tbs cider vinegar

raisins

1/2 tbs sugar substitute

salt/pepper

-- Whisk the mayo, vinegar and sugar substitute.  Mix the sauce with the slaw.  Add the raisins then salt and pepper to taste.

Motivation In Full Gear

So I haven't updated lately, been pretty busy but I have been eating very good and started at a gym about three weeks ago.  My exercise motivation is back!  Eating healthy is easier for me than working out, but once I started at the gym I couldn't stop.  I have been feeling really good about myself and even better I can notice a different in my body and so can others.

I hope you all are keeping up with your healthy living!  I will have some new recipes posted soon!

• Baked/Grilled Sweet Potatoes
• Broccoli Slaw Salad
• And many more!

Keep focused.  Make smart choices.  You got this!

Are You A Dessert Lover?

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Just a few ingredients and about only 170 calories depending on how much fat-free cool whip you add to it.  To me it was just as satisfying as a restaurant dessert, but about 1,000 calories less.  I freeze the cool whip so it's kind of like ice cream which is something I crave very often especially with the warmer weather now.

 

Heat the fiber brownie (any flavor you like) in the microwave for about 15 seconds, scoop on some fat-free cool whip and indulge in this healthy dessert option!

 

 

 

Coconut Almond Bread

The recipe calls for:

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup stevia

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

2 cups flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

3/4 cup shredded coconut

sugar to sprinkle

-- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

-- In a large bowl mix together the butter and sugar until it is creamy.  Beat in the egg and extracts.

-- Combine the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add the mixed ingredients and milk slowly to the creamy mixture.  Mix well.

-- Fold in the shredded coconut.

-- Pour the batter into a greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.  Sprinkle with sugar.

-- Bake for 50 minutes.

I used some lighter alternatives to make this recipe a little healthier.  Instead of butter I used I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and I used 1% milk.  You could also use fat-free milk, but I just used what I had.  I used Stevia in the mixture, but I prefer regular sugar for sprinkling.  I liked it warmed up a little, but it's just as good served at room temperature.