Pages

Showing posts with label Healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Healthy. Show all posts

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Recipes!

We tried a couple of new things over here the last 2 nights. They all turned out really good, so of course I'll be nice and share.

Broccoli and Kale Soup:

Thanks to Lacy for modifying and sharing this recipe! And only 2 weight watchers point per cup!

Ingredients:
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 stalks celery, chopped
  • 10 baby carrots, chopped
  • 4 cups fresh broccoli, including stems, chopped
  • 2 cups kale, chopped
  • 2 cups low-sodium, fat free chicken broth
  • 3 cups unsweetened almond milk
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Instructions:

Heat oil in medium pot, (I actually just used my large skillet). Saute garlic, onion and celery for 3-4 minutes. Onions should be soft. (I could have sworn I bought a bulb of garlic, but couldn't find it anywhere. Luckily I had my Tastefully Simple Garlic Garlic to substitute).


Add the carrots, broccoli, and kale, followed by the broth and almond milk.


Season with salt and pepper and stir. Bring to boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until vegetables are tender.

Allow soup to cool slightly then pour into a blender. (I have a hand held kitchen aid blender so I just used that). Blend until smooth. If eating right away, return soup to pot and heat gently until ready to serve.


I made this the night before, so I let my soup cool completely, blended it in the container I was storing it in, covered it, and stuck it in the fridge. Easy peasy.


Next time I make it, I might just mash it with my potato masher and leave it kind of chunky.



Stuffed Zuchinni:

Here is the original recipe I found on pinterest.  Let me tell you. It would have been to die for with bacon. But  I was whipping this up last minute, and just used things I had on hand. So no bacon. But it was still yummy.

Here is what I used (again just because I wanted to use things I had in the refrigerator).

  • 2 zucchinis cut length wise
  • 1 dollop light sour cream
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 2 TB onion, finely chopped
  • 2 TB red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/4 C sharp cheddar, grated 
  • 1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • Dash of curry
2 weight watchers points per boat for my variation.

Preheat your oven to 400.

In a small skillet, saute your onion and bell pepper in the olive oil. About 4 minutes.

Scoop the insides of the zucchini out on your cutting board and chop it up.

EDIT: I already got some feedback on these that theirs turned out watery.  Mine did have a little "juice" in the them, but not much.  To avoid this, you might try squeezing the scooped out zucchini with paper towels to get out some of the moisture. I'm assuming it was from that.  It may just be the sour cream though.

Put zucchini, onion and bell pepper in a small mixing bowl.  Add sour cream, cheddar, salt, pepper and curry. Mix well.

Scoop back into your zucchini boats.


Bake for 20 minutes, then put under the broiler until tops are deep golden brown.



Asparagus:
 
I've made this several times and absolutely love it. Prosciutto is a very lean ham. Lots of flavor like bacon, but mucho healthier. However, no prosciutto on hand, so I just went with the vinaigrette part.

Snap your asparagus. Hold each end and bend until it breaks.  Each piece will break in a different place; basically where the chewy stuff ends and the crisp stuff begins. I let my girls do that. They had a blast.

Wrap in foil, and bake along side whatever else you may be cooking (for me it was the stuffed zucchini). The 20 minutes was perfect.
 

While those are cooking, mix together 1 TB balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp dijon mustard and a pink of garlic salt. (much smaller amount than the linked recipe. Perfect for just me and the hubs).

Brush the vinaigrette on the asparagus before serving.


Salmon:

Nothing special here, other than, DO NOT OVER COOK! It should be light pink, not white, and should fall apart in chunks, not be flaky.  I dust the top of mine with salt and pepper and then cover with parmasan cheese.


Bake covered in foil for 10-12 minutes, then pop this in the broiler for 1 minute until the top is crispy.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Kefir

Have you heard of it? Neither had I until a few months ago.

What is Kefir?
(copied from www.kefir.net)


Kefir’s tart and refreshing flavor is similar to a drinking-style yogurt, but it contains beneficial yeast as well as friendly ‘probiotic’ bacteria found in yogurt. The naturally occurring bacteria and yeast in kefir combine symbiotically to give superior health benefits when consumed regularly. It is loaded with valuable vitamins and minerals and contains easily digestible complete proteins.

For the lactose intolerant, kefir’s abundance of beneficial yeast and bacteria provide lactase, an enzyme which consumes most of the lactose left after the culturing process
 ...

Around Christmas time, my mom was trying to encourage Sundee and I to try this 17 day "diet" with her to help us jump start the new year more healthy.  It included adding probitocs to our diet.  Well, 2 months later, I finally gave it a whirl.

I bought some plain/unsweetened Kefir at Trader Joe's. ($2.99). In 1 cup it has 120 calories, 2.5g fat, 11g carbs, 3g fiber, 8g sugar, and 14g protein. Along with the beneficial probiotic bacteria mentioned above.
Here is the recipe for the smoothie I made. It was sooooo delicious.

In blender add:
  • 1/2 cup Kefir
  • 3/4 cup frozen blueberries
  • 1/2 frozen banana
  • 1 tsp splenda
Blend until smooth.

I dare you to try it!

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Weight Watchers Treat


These are soooo good. I dare you to try them! Let me know what you think :) 

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Softies: 2 points each

1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup natural PB (I used Laura Scudder's Reduced Fat Natural PB)
4 TB unsalted butter softened
1/3 C packed brown sugar
1/3 C granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups old fashion oats
1/2 cup raisins (I don't like raisins in things, so I left them out)
1 med apple (I used granny smith) peeled, cored and chopped

1. Preheat oven to 325.

2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside. Beat PB, butter and sugars in large bowl until light and fluffly, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture and beat until just blended. Stir in oats, raisins and chopped apple.

3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake until light golden brown, 12 - 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Friday, April 8, 2011

The Flu

I've had conversations with several people in the last few months regarding "the flu". It has come to my realization that there are a lot of confused people out there...So I'm taking the liberty of sharing the correct information with all of you :)

True or False: The "flu shot" protects you against the "stomach flu"?

FALSE. The flu shot protects against influenza, which is NOT the same thing as the stomach flu (gastroenteritis).
  • The Flu aka Influenza:
    • This is what you get the "flu shot" for.
Influenza (flu), is a viral infection that mimics a cold except that it starts forcefully with symptoms of fatigue, fever, and respiratory congestion. While more than 100 different virus types can cause a common cold, only influenza virus types A, B, and C cause flu. More severe cases of influenza can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia.

In addition, while antibiotics can treat a bacterial infection, antibiotics cannot treat influenza because flu is caused by a virus.

The flu shot is a weaker version of the actual flu virus. That is why you should NOT get the flu shot if you are at all sick. Getting the flu shot will allow your body to build up it's own immune system to the viruses.

  • The Stomach Flu aka Gastroenteritis:
    • The "flu shot" does NOT protect you from this. This is entirely different.
Gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses, including rotaviruses and noroviruses. Although it is often called the stomach flu, it is not caused by influenza viruses. 

Symptoms of gastroenteritis or stomach flu include abdominal cramps, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. You may also have fever, headache, and swollen lymph glands, depending on the type of bug that causes it.

In severe cases of gastroenteritis, loss of bodily fluid can result in dehydration, a life-threatening condition that needs medical attention. Signs of dehydration include sunken eyes, light-headedness, increased thirst, dry or sticky mucous membranes in the mouth, lack of normal elasticity of the skin, decreased urine output, and decreased tears.

You can avoid dehydration by continuing to drink fluids and gradually eating a bland diet such as the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and dry toast). A bland diet is easily digested and is unlikely to irritate your sensitive gastrointestinal system.


References:
http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/flu-guide/stomach-flu-not-influenza
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flu-shot/AN01778
http://coldflu.about.com/od/flumisconceptions/f/stomachflu.htm

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Weight Loss Wednesday

Weight Loss Wednesday is back and I am so excited!!

So I just had a baby...10 months ago... and was super proud that I only gained 23 pounds! (thanks to getting the flu once, stomach flu twice, and pregnancy barfing until about 20 weeks). I almost immediately dropped about 15 of that, and the last 8 came off just in time for Christmas. So excited. So proud.

THEN... I started eating more, and eating more, and eating more. Then I started making dessert every other night, then every night, and I craved sugar non stop! I had no desire, no motivation to change my sugary eating habits. Then about 4 weeks ago, I stepped on the scale... drum roll... I had gained 16 pounds!!! Seriously? Who does that? I mean fluctuating 5 pounds, okay, but 16!  You would have thought my "fat" pants being skin tight and my desire to wear flowing dresses every day would be motivation enough. Nope. I had to dig myself into this horrible hole before I found the motivation to change.

Well, now I have the motivation. I joined Weight Watchers (I LOVE WW) 3 weeks ago, and have lost 8.2 pounds. Another 7.8 to get back to my pre-Boston weight, and another 10 or so to be at my ultimate goal weight. I have a 17 week pass, so I should be able to make my goal by then and become a life-time member. (Your membership is free once you reach your goal and maintain your weight for a few weeks).

Here's what I've been doing:

  • Saying no. A lot.
  • Still giving myself small treats so I don't feel deprived.
  • Eating lots of fruits and veggies. (They're 0 points now!)
  • Eating more whole grains, and cutting out some carbs.

Here are a few things I love:

  • Mission Extra Thin Tortillas. You know I love my mexican food. These are 1 point vs. 2 for a regular corn tortilla. I actually like them better. They have a stronger corn flavor, and crisp up easier for taquitos and such.
  • Avocado Sauce. (My families recipe) This is virtually 0 points. It does have avocado in it, but such a small amount per serving, I'm not sure how to calculate it. I guess you could add a point for it if you used a ton. I use it on everything that needs a little spice.
  • Weight Watchers 2 point treats. You can buy these at the WW center. I love the dark chocolate turtle, and the peanut butter bliss. Perfect for a sugar craving fix.
  • Kellogg's All-Bran Crackers. 18 for 3 points, and they're delicious.
  • Fat Free Cream Cheese. 2 TB for 1 point.
    • I spoon in 2 TB of cream cheese in a bowl, put about a teaspoon of my favorite jelly (Mixed Pepper from Stephanie Calderon is my favorite right now) and dip my bran crackers in it. So good.
  • Laura Scudder's Reduced Fat Natural Peanut Butter. 2 TB for 5 points. Get you some ice cold crisp celery and you have a delicious snack that you can snack on forever.

I have a few recipes that I really like that I'll share in another post.

I am so excited to get healthy. I already feel soooo much better. I have so much more energy, I'm not as tired and my clothes are fitting much better.

I have a weight loss blog if anyone is interested in sharing. It's nodietsallowed.blogspot.com. It's private right now, so leave a comment or email me if you want to be added.

ALSO! WW is having a "Walk-It Challenge". They are encouraging everyone to get out a walk/run a 5K on or before May 22nd. Not like a sign up and pay 5K, just going out and doing it. I WANT TO DO IT! Who's in?  I'm going to pick a day, time and place and let everyone know, and then whoever wants to, we'll do it and then maybe go out for a healthy lunch/dinner afterward. It's 3.1 miles. Totally doable for anyone. I'll be posting when I'm working out too so if anyone wants to join me, that would be great!

Until next week...