Thursday, May 16, 2013

Free Yourself, Eat Clean


Summer Love Recipe: Dale's Roasted Veggies

One of my favorite lunches is a bunch of roasted veggies and handful of cashews. That really makes me feel good till supper! After my lunch, I feel light, full, energetic, and clear-minded. The worst thing for me while I'm working is to eat a heavy lunch and start thinking about the napping. I really wanted to share this super easy recipe because of the benefits. The best thing you can do for your body is consume vegetables of all different colors to take in all the special vitamins and minerals. Not to mention broccoli is a SUPER FOOD!

 



Dale's Roasted Veggies:
1 small bunch of broccoli
1 medium zucchini
1 medium summer squash
1 small bell pepper
2 T Grapeseed oil
3 T Dale's seasoning (I prefer the low-sodium version)
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Don't forget to spray your foil so your veggies don't stick. Next, cut all your vegetables to your preference and toss them into a large mixing bowl. In the large mixing bowl, add your Grapeseed oil and dale's seasoning and salt/pepper to your veggies. Lightly coat your veggies with the oil and seasonings by mixing them all together in your bowl. Add the veggies to your baking sheet and roast for about 15-20 minutes or until your veggies are roasted to your preference! Enjoy!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Foods for Thought: Skinny Pop Popcorn

I am definitely a snacker! If I could eat snacks all day and never gain weight, that would be the life! However, that is just not the case. I really resist eating snacks, but sometimes I just have to have a snack. When I really crave a salty treat like chips, I grab a bag of Skinny Pop popcorn! Skinny Pop popcorn is cholesterol free, all natural, trans fat free, dairy free, peanut free, tree nut free, gluten free, preservative free and non GMO. What Skinny Pop does has is a great taste and fiber to keep me full!



What's great is at night, when I crave chips, I can swap my Doritos for 4 cups of Skinny Pop popcorn which has only 155 Calories, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein and only 15 grams of total carbohydrates.

Are you a fan of Skinny Pop popcorn? We would love the hear your thoughts!

Fabulous Finds: Trader Joe's Chia Seeds

Would you love to stay full during the day? Hate being hungry? ME TOO! It is so important to meet your daily fiber requirements not only to avoid issues, but to also feel full in between meals. A few years ago I found a great ally that has become a daily staple in my current diet - CHIA SEEDS.


 


If your unfamiliar with chia seeds, they are power seed that is full of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and protein. In just one tablespoon of chia seeds, you get six grams of fiber, three grams of protein and almost three grams of Omega-3 fatty acids. Great right? What's even better about chia seeds is you can add them to almost any food! Add chia seeds to yogurt, baked goods, salads, smoothies, stir fry, rice, dips and much more! Chia seeds are tasteless so sky's the limit! The only limitation to chia seeds is the recommended daily serving of chia seeds is 15 grams/1 tablespoon.

Try chia seeds with your next meal and see how you like it! Let us know what foods and recipes you like to add chia seeds!

Pinteresting Finds: Avocado Sashimi

I love sushi rolls and sashimi! Lately, I have been searching for something I can make at home that satisfies my sushi cravings without busting my wallet. Folks, I think I found the perfect recipe!


I just pinned this great recipe, Avocado Sashimi by La Fuji Mama! I have made avocado sashimi before, but this recipe adds a nice touch to the avocado with the addition of Shichimi Togarashi. Avocado is a fabulous substitution for tuna, salmon or any other fish because of its creamy, firm texture. If your a vegetarian or vegan this is a fabulous swap for fish based sashimi. This recipe is also great because its so quick and easy to make. All you have to do is peel the avocado and cut into slices. Squeeze lemon juice over the slices. Sprinkle with shichimi togarashi and serve with soy sauce! Pretty easy right?





Pinteresting Finds: Healthy Portion Control Chart


Overeating is extremely easy when foods are served or bought in large quantities. How often do you actually eat just ONE serving of almonds? If your like me, I end up eating 2-3 servings of nuts before I realize I should stop. So 500 calories later, I just realized HEY that wasn't as healthy as you thought! What about peanut butter? How often do you only eat just ONE serving of peanut butter? It's so easy to get carried away and spread 2 servings of peanut butter instead of one. Another scenario is when I'm out to eat, it's so easy to forget that my steak is larger than a recommended portion. Three to four ounces of steak goes quick when your hungry and its sitting in front of you on your plate.

So what's the answer to better and healthier food portion control? Measure, measure, measure. The best thing you can do is to predetermine your serving size before you take your first bite of anything - what is one serving? If your eating almonds, measure a handful and put the jar away before you take a bite. If your sitting in a restaurant and your chicken arrives, cut 3 ounces of chicken and save the rest for a to-go box. Portion control is all about taking control.

Today, I was browsing Pinterest (My FAVORITE site by far!) and came across this awesome portion control chart by Prevention! This chart would be great in your kitchen for an easy reminder to use portion control. Prevention did a great study which you can find here! See my pin here to add it to your Pinterest boards!