I'm craving crunchy!

I'm on day 12 of my 6 week challenge and I am craving CRUNCH big time!!!!  I have tried nuts, celery, water chestnuts....but I am NOT satisfied.  I gave in and had a handful of organic pumpkin granola.  Ugh!!!  I knew if I didn't just give in and have that little bit, I would possibly lose it and have way more than I should of something else!  Sometimes giving in IS a good thing.  I can stop at one handful.  It worked- my craving is gone!  Thanks for keeping me honest friends!


This has been a bit harder than I thought it would be.  It is the crunch that got me.  I am still eating every three hours- all whole foods.  I am having stevia in my morning apple cider vinegar cocktail.  I know I said I wouldn't have any sugar but seriously friends, I can not do the drink without it.  I believe I am better off with the drink than without. So one pack of stevia a day but I am not having any other sugar. 


 I was at a baby shower yesterday and I chose not to eat any cake.  Thank goodness there was a veggie tray there!!!  Someone questioned why wasn't I eating cake and my friend pipped in saying "she is on a diet".  I am NOT on a diet friends!  I'm eating healthy!   Diets don't last- eating healthy for a lifetime does!

I posted about these Ziploc- zip n steam bags in a previous blog.  These are awesome!!!  If you have not tried these, put them on your shopping list!  There is cooking times on the back of each bag!  I can cook my fish in 3 minutes and my sweet potatoes in 4 minutes.  You can cook shrimp, chicken, veggies and even hot dogs in these fancy bags.  (I don't recommend eating hot dogs, ha!)  If you need convenience and speed, these are for you!

Here are a few of my recent meals-

Stuffed red peppers with quinoa, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes topped with pine nuts and spinach!

Egg whites (oops part of the yolk snuck in there), spinach, mushrooms, sweet peppers and tomatoes!

I have been eating a lot of fish, shrimp, eggs and tons of veggies!  I am eating greek yogurt with fruit and oatmeal with cherry juice!  I have been crazy busy so I have not been able to try any new recipes these last couple weeks.  Tosca Reno just published a Clean Eating book for vegetarians.  I have ordered it and will share the recipes in the future.  I am very excited to get it!!

Blessings,

j

Another sweet treat.

These cookie are THE BOMB!!!  As you can see from my beautiful model!  I tried taking pictures of them but....well....the pictures didn't turn out the greatest.  I tried putting them on a plate and well, they looked like blobs of ........chocolate...yeah that's it.  Then I tried stacking them and they looked like....... delicious cookies...right?!  Ha!!  

Almond fudge cookies

2/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder

3 egg whites

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup dark choc chips

1 tsp vanilla (no imitation here folks, use the real stuff!)

You could use peanut butter if you don't have almond butter.  Try for as high cacoa content you can find.  I found 60% cacoa chips at Kroger.

Wisk all ingredients together and put on baking sheet covered with parchment paper.  Bake for 8-10 min. at 350 degrees.  Allow time to cool and don't let your family know you made them because you will want them all for yourself!!!!

Trust me,

j

Banana coco-nutty bars...

It's true friends!!  If you want to get rid of that spare tire around your middle, what you put in your mouth matters.  I wish  more things were made with ingredients like these below.  

It says it is made with a LOT of LOVE!!!!  Isn't that adorable?!  This is a couscous salad I found at Costco a while back.  Ok, time for a pop quiz......

 Can you tell me what 24 ounces of broccoli and 8 Hershey Kisses have in common?  I took a picture of the broccoli in the pan because it can be deceiving in the package. Answer at the bottom of the blog....wait for it.....wait for it.......

 I am on day 5 of my one ingredient eating.  It's going pretty well.  I need to be prepared at all times.  This is truly key, as always-right?! I had a late breakfast and I had to eat on the run, so I ate an apple and 10 almonds.  Not my normal, but it was an "on the road breakfast".  For my morning snack, I had a delicious home-made banana coco-nutty bar.  I will share the recipe!!!


I just had lunch-Yumm!  Steamed Tilapia, sweet potato and green beans.  I use the steam fresh ziploc bags a lot!  I can cook my fish in two minutes and my sweet potato in 4 min.  The sweet potatoes are HUGE, so I cut it in four servings.  Remember protein should be about 3-4 ounces or the size and thickness of our palm.  Complex carbs should be the size of one fist and veggies equal two fists.  I never put a limit on my veggies.  I cut the tilapia in half and will eat the other half for a snack with berries.  Tonight, I plan on having stuffed peppers with quinoa and mushrooms on the grill.

This may seem boring to some, but not to me -I love eating healthy foods.  I did not put anything on my potato.  I don't think sweet potatoes need anything; they are perfect without all that butter and brown sugar!!!  I did put some cajun seasoning on my fish but nothing on the green beans, which I ate one at a time!  I am eating to LIVE not living to EAT.  

Here is the ingredients for the recipe I made last night- 

 Banana Coco-Nutty Bars.

 2 ripe bananas

1/2 cup oats

1/4 cup peanut butter 

1/3 cup unsweetened coconut

1 square 100% cacoa chocolate, melted

Mash bananas in bowl with fork then add all other ingredients.    Place in small container and place in freezer for 20 minutes or so.  Cut in squares and enjoy!!!  I was going to make these into balls then roll in coconut but then changed my mind and mixed it all together.  So feel free to switch it up!  

I usually make my own peanut butter but my daughter likes this brand.  I like crunchy peanut butter and this one offers the crunch with just one ingredient, peanuts.  You can find this brand at Wal-Mart along with the 100% Cacoa chocolate.   You cannot find unsweetened coconut at Wal-Mart however.  Kroger carries that!

Have you missed me?

It's been a couple weeks since I posted and I have heard some of you are upset.  Hmmmm, does this mean you missed me?  I have completed my 12 week eating challenge and this is what I gained from it.

• energy
• clearer skin
• happy energy- good moods
• longer eyelashes (weird right?)
• better sleep
• woke up more rested
• digestive tract working better (TMI I know)
• flatter stomach
• thinner thighs YEAH!

This is what I lost-

• 13 pounds
• almost daily headaches
• stomach aches
• stomach bloat
• daily water weight gain
• achy joints
• restless nights
• sugar shakes - blood sugar getting too low
• my favorite creamer and kettle korn- both of which are no longer my favorite!!
• I lost inches in my THIGHS- oh I already mentioned that!

I know there has to be more to add to the list but you get the idea!  I feel SO much better friends.  I am so glad to have all of you supporting me through this.  So what's next?!  

I have a new challenge!  I am going to eat only single ingredient items for 6 weeks.  Yep, I started yesterday.  My friend B, is going to do this with me too!  I am very excited!!  

I will be able to eat lean protein, beans, legumes, all veggies, all fruits and whole grains with some dairy.   I will be able to mix single ingredient items but I cannot buy anything that is already mixed.  For instance, I can make a stir fry but it has to be from all single item ingredients.  Am I making this harder than it sounds?  I will post my meals for you to see!

Why am I doing this?  For you of course...all in the name of health.   Oh and I will not be eating any SUGAR.  Not in any form!!!  No honey, no stevia in the raw, no nuthin!  

I have a favorite recipe to share with you.  Since I don't eat meat, I eat a lot  black beans.  These are a great substitute for a hamburger, even if you are not a vegetarian.  I will be able to make this recipe during this 6 week challenge except I can't use the whole wheat bread because it is more than one ingredient.  I am going to try to make it without.  

Black Bean Burgers:

·         1/2 onion, diced

·         1 can black beans, well drained

·         1/2 cup whole wheat Flour

·         2 slices whole wheat bread toasted and crumbled

·         1 tsp garlic powder

·         1 tsp onion powder

·         1/2 tsp seasoned salt

·         2 TBSP Ground Flax Seed

·         salt and pepper to taste

·         olive oil for frying

Add one egg white if mixture too thick

Preparation:

Saute the onions till soft, about 3-5 minutes.

In a large bowl, drain and mash the beans until almost smooth. Add sauteed onions and the rest of the ingredients, except the oil, adding the wheat flour a few tablespoons at a time to combine well. If you need, add an egg white to the mixture.  Mixture will be thick.

Form bean mixture into patties, approximately ½ inch thick and fry patties in a small amount of oil until slightly firm. Make veggie burgers and enjoy! Can even be cooked on the grill.  You can even make these up ahead of time and put in the freezer for a quick meal later!

I like to make two small patties and put some laughing cow swiss cheese in the center....mold the two patties into one.  When you take a bite, you have a delicious surprise in the center.  

This is how they look once they are cooked and the picture below is how I prepared it!!  I put it on a bed of spinach surrounded by baby carrots and tomatoes.  I also put jalapeno dip on it!  

I have a dessert for you too.  Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies straight from the Clean Eating cook book! I made these a few weeks back and they are YUMMY!!  

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup unsalted almond butter, stirred well
• 3/4 cup Sucanat- you can find at health food store Type of sugar- like raw brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 3 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa or greater), broken into small pieces

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a medium bowl, stir together first 5 ingredients until blended. Stir in chocolate.
2. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool for 15 more minutes.  Look for smiling faces- unlike when they eat brussel sprouts =0)

Lots of Love,

j

My obsession with coconut continues.

These are a great snack to not only help curb that sweet tooth but nourishing as well.  High in protein and only natural sweetness from the dates make for a hard to resist treat. 

Almond Joy bites

1 cup almond meal/flour
2 cups chopped dates
1/2 cup slivered or chopped almonds
1-1/2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes (add more or less to taste)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c melted coconut oil
1/4 cup coffee or water (I prefer coffee YUMM)
2 scoops whey vanilla protein powder

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse 15-20 times.  I had to take out and use my hands to mix it as it was very thick.  Roll in balls.  I made 32 coconut bites.  You can make them as big or as small as you like. If you would prefer, you can put them into a glass dish and cut in squares.  For a complete snack, I eat two or three.

I'm on week 11 of my challenge.  I'm happy to announce that my hip is healing and feeling great.  I am back to teaching jazzercise and I even ran two miles today!!  I am sleeping better and my head is clear! I am not nearly as cranky!!  Yay!!!     I am down to 135 pounds, (up one pound pre-hip injury) 12 pounds from when I started my challenge.  I have had so many positive changes!!  I am so glad I didn't wait another day to start.  What are you waiting for?  Don't wait til next month or next week. Start your positive changes now.  I will be with you every step of the way.

Happy, happy, joy, joy....
j

"It's better to regret something that you did, than something you didn't."

80% of obese kids end up as obese adults…

I had to post this video to share with you friends.  It gave me the chills watching it.  It is SO true and it makes me so sad because so many people think this is the only way it can be.  Only we can change it friends.  How?  One meal at a time.

With love,
j

Butternut Squash Lasagna and Roasted Brussel Sprouts.

I've been trying to stay away from Pasta because I tend to lose my portion control with pasta.  I tried using butternut squash in place of lasagna noodles and I was quite pleased with the results.

Home made Marinara Sauce   

 2 cans crushed tomatoes

1 can tomato paste

1tbsp oregano

1 tsp basil

2tbsp minced garlic

2 tsp honey (more honey can be added if you want a sweeter sauce)

1 cup onion (optional)

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

salt to taste 

Put all ingredients into crock pot and cook on low for 3-4 hours.  If time is an issue, you can cook on stove and simmer...taste better the longer it can simmer!

Butternut Squash Lasagna

1 Red Onion chopped

3 cloves of garlic

1 red or yellow pepper, diced or sliced

1 container of fresh portabello mushrooms, sliced

 extra virgin olive oil

1 butternut squash, cut in planks

Home made Marinara sauce (I probably used about 3 to 4 cups.)

Preheat over to 400 degrees.  Saute onions, pepper, mushrooms and minced garlic in olive oil.  But the top and ends off squash and peel it.  Cut it in half, then cut each half in half, lengthwise.  Pull out the seeds and then cut the squash into planks.  

Using a 9x9 or 8x8 baking dish- cover bottom of pan with marinara sauce, next add squash (do not overlap) then sauteed veggie and marinara.....  Repeat until all ingredients are used.  Reserve enough sauce to cover top of lasagna.  Bake for 45 minutes.  Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan.   I didn't add any cheese or meat.  If you so choose you can add any veggie or sausage if you prefer!

Here is the end result!!

Roasted Brussel Sprouts..

I also made some Roasted Brussel Sprouts.  I took 2 pounds of fresh sprouts and put into a gallon size bag. I added 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted, 1tsp each of salt and pepper and shook that bag good!  I cooked in oven at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  I pulled the pan out and shook every 10 minutes or so to cook them evenly.

  This is my daughter Cari, trying brussel sprouts for the first time.

She is being a good sport and trying foods that I could NEVER get her to eat before.  This is what she said "Sorry but it tasted like feet, then broccoli.  I'm not sure what to think anymore!"  She has a thing with food tasting like "feet."  I don't know about you, but I've never tasted feet before.


Step out of your comfort zone friends.  Try a vegetable that you have never tried or didn't like in the past.  Sometimes, it's all about the way you cook it that makes or breaks the taste.

With positive thoughts,

love j