Health Is Wealth

My mom came to spend the morning with me and do a little shopping the other day. It began as any other normal day, me on a mission and a long day ahead. My days start really early and I work late hours; plus I'm wearing many hats these days so needless to say, my stress can build up. I try to find healthy ways to deal with daily stressors. I try to regularly add fruit and veggies to my meals and I find time for some exercise or reading/leisure... -basically whatever feeds my soul and allows me to smile when I'm done.😊 So, after only a few short hours with my mom, I noticed that her presence alone enhanced me. Suddenly my mood was elevated, I was smiling more and I even felt inspired to cook a hearty meal for myself and a friend to enjoy together! -I wanted something that would fill our bellies and fill our souls. Health isn't just about your physique or what you put in your  body; it's also about what you put into your soul. Find time do some of the things that bring you joy. Find peace in doing those things alone or bring along someone special. The point is to enjoy every single day. You may not enjoy the entire day or everything about that day but steal yourself 20 or 30 minutes to do something you enjoy, and you can at least have that! Maybe if you have your lunch in the park near your job, you can enjoy a beautiful view with flowers and maybe have some friendly visitors like a butterfly or two! If you don't have a view maybe a good book will bring you tranquility, or a photo album with pleasant memories and even if  you have none of those things, I know that if you're reading this then you still have sound mind...some people don't even have that! Use each day and spend it with people you care about, spend it people who care about YOU and do something you love and enjoy! Here are some photos of the food I cooked after visiting with my mom. I was in a really peaceful place. I hope you find your peaceful place. Be grateful, Be thankful and Be well!
                                         
                                              Spaghetti w/ Turkey Sausage and Broccoli

                                                                 Zucchini Bread

Starbucks Run

Love coffee but could live without the extra calories, sugar and fat...? Well then check out this video and let me help you with that! With only 4 months left in this year, I hope everyone has been able to stick their goals but when the going gets tough, we all look for a little something extra to help supply our energy needs. When you're stopping to get your coffee, try to be mindful of these tips! Enjoy! 😊

Shopping On A Budget Pt. 2

The photos featured here are to show how much more food you yield when you buy and prepare whole foods. Buy Less, Spend less and get more meals! Look below at how few items you'll need to make 3 full meals for lunch and/or dinner for the week. Stick to budget, stick to prepping and conquer your healthy eating goals! Take away: You don't have to spend a lot of money to eat healthy; you just need to Plan and Prepare. 😃

Shopping On A Budget Pt. 1

This title says it all! Everything featured here is from Dollar Tree. I have used the fruit featured here in my protein smoothies and they are so delicious and a great way to help me stick to my healthy-ish lifestyle. The mixed and frozen veggies are good time savers for quick stir fry meals and weekly meal prepping. Instead of using butter, which is high in Saturated Fat, use heart healthy fats like Olive Oil or Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO). Also, try some low fat protein with options like; name brand turkey bacon, turkey burgers and even Tilapia. There are many places you can shop and still meet your budget but this is just showcasing another way to make your dollar stretch even more if you need to! Try making a list before you go shopping -at any store and stick to the essentials. On the other hand, if Dollar Tree is one of your guilty pleasures (like me) and you frequent often, why not grab some frozen fruit and veggies to help you stick to your healthy eating goals! 

Breakfast done Healthy-Ish: Fast-food & Eating out

So many people have a love/hate relationship with eating out due to fear of not knowing what foods to order that align with their healthy lifestyle goals. We all want to enjoy eating out with friends and family but also want make food choices that we can be proud of. So, as promised, I'm back to share a few of my favorite healthy-ish fast-food or dine-in breakfast stops. I know a lot of us are busy during the week with little or no time for cooking, so here you have it. Hopefully, this helps you on your journey to  making some small/practical lifestyle changes and lessen the fast food guilt.

Tips for eating out: Try something new and explore the menu... look for meals labeled "Under 500 calories" or "Light Meals". Look for protein options other than bacon, pork sausage/links and ham....look for Chicken or Turkey sausage instead. Instead of white bread, ask for wheat or multi-grain, if you're ordering eggs, -ask for half/half (half with yolk to reduce fat). Also, add fruit to a  meal instead of hash browns or any other form of potato that may be loaded with extra fat from butter and oils. Ask the waiter to hold gravy and cheese sauce as these items can be loaded with extra fat and salt...but if you must have it, order it on the side and use sparingly! Also, try skillet meals or scramblers/bowls; you can add and subtract food items as you wish to fit your ideal breakfast. For example, try adding spinach, diced tomato, mushroom or fresh peppers for more fiber and fullness! And if you're having my favorite...the breakfast taco -go with a corn tortilla instead of flour to ensure you get some whole grains :) Enjoy!

 

Cabbage Y Chorizo Soup

**Note: the items listed made TWO pots, so if you're not needing a lot, cut the recipe in half**
-One pot made 5 hefty servings...

Ingredients:

Bread: Whole Wheat Italian Loaf
Garlic Spread -optional
One med. sized yellow onion -chopped. 
One bag of fresh celery stalk -chopped. 
2 Tsp. Minced Garlic. 
One bag of carrots -chopped evenly. 
Russet potato -6-8 -peeled/chopped (small/medium size). 
One head of Cabbage -sliced. 
1 pound of ground Turkey Sausage w/ Chorizo seasonings. 
Chicken broth/stock -two 32 oz. cartons or just enough to barely cover the contents of the pot, whatever the size. 
Olive Oil 4 Tbs. 
Salt and Pepper to taste. 
Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese: Mexican 4 Cheese Style -1/2 cup-ish 😉 


Preparation:

Add 2 Tbs.Olive Oil to skillet on med. heat. Add Garlic, Onion and Celery to skillet and cook slowly on med heat until tender -Not soft/mushy, then set aside. Add Carrots and Potato to pot with stock of your choice and cook on moderately high temp -7//8 for about 15-20 mins. Add 2 Tbs. of Olive Oil to skillet and thoroughly cook/brown your ground turkey chorizo and set aside. Add celery and onion mixture to pot with potato and carrots, add salt and pepper and let simmer on med. temp for 20-25 mins. Lastly, add sliced Cabbage and Turkey Sausage to pot with all other ingredients; place lid and allow ingredients to cook together for another 15-20 mins. **Sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over soup, place lid -allow to melt then enjoy!

**Do Not heavily salt your veggies, the chorizo is well seasoned and packs a little punch. Jazz it up as you wish after it's totally done and you've tasted it.**

Healthy Eating on a Budget...

No money, No problem! Too often I hear: "it's too expensive to cook healthy foods". Well, take a look at this very low maintenance easy on the budget healthy-ish mash up! This meal is quick, inexpensive and balanced in nutrition too! And besides that, who doesn't love Ramen Noodles?? Using only half the pack of noodles, you can control your carb portion, chicken breast for low-fat protein and fresh-frozen veggies for added fiber and nutrition. Feel free to add spices like Turmeric, crushed red pepper, Low Sodium Soy Sauce and Ginger for a more savory homemade taste and Enjoy!

 #Ramen #GuiltFreeRamen #StirFry #Asian