6.24.2011
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5.07.2011
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4.14.2011
Eating and kids
Have you ever sat down to eat with a salad while you fed your kids pizza, canned foods, or a box of mac and cheese? I feel that I hear a lot of people complain that their children don't eat healthy. I hear them say "oh, he/she doesn't like that". I also see, and have been guilty myself of feeding them something they would rather have, than what is a healthy choice for them. Everyone tells me I am fortunate because my kids aren't picky, of course they would rather eat fruit loops or things in boxes with spongebob or smiling cheesy noodles, but they don't have a choice 98% of the time. Our house rule is that everyone eats what mom or dad has made, no exceptions. They will not starve overnight and I know they like at least one thing we've made. If you mention they don't like something they will start to believe it without even trying it! Just like the rule when they first started eating, it will take them more than one exposure to accept a new food. Just stick with it!!
If you do this for your family more than 1 or 2 meals a week, we need to have a little one on one. The truth is it will get a little harder, before it gets easy, but it needs to be done! You need to begin, even if slowly, to give your kids whole, natural foods. Americans are feeding their children a TON of extra sugar, sodium, and fat. Our kids as young as 3 are becoming overweight and being diagnosed with health complications like high blood pressure and cholesterol that were only seen in adults a decade ago.
Have you seen the packs of Naan bread in the grocery store? We use that to make our own healthy choices on our homemade pizza night! Here is a fun, healthy recipe for your family to try as an alternate to high calorie takeout pizza.
1 naan (is about 190-240 cal depending on brand)
Add sauce and your favorite toppings. Using turkey sausage and turkey pepperoni and low fat cheese will decrease the calories.
Bake @400 about 10min.
Eat half with a side of veggies or a salad for a healthier option. Depending on the toppings, you could eat the whole thing without the guilt of delivery.
Our version was homemade pesto as the sauce, garlic grilled shrimp, thin slices of tomatoes, and low fat fresh and shredded mozzarella. And YES, my kids loved it, Wilson even ate 1/2 of mine!
If you do this for your family more than 1 or 2 meals a week, we need to have a little one on one. The truth is it will get a little harder, before it gets easy, but it needs to be done! You need to begin, even if slowly, to give your kids whole, natural foods. Americans are feeding their children a TON of extra sugar, sodium, and fat. Our kids as young as 3 are becoming overweight and being diagnosed with health complications like high blood pressure and cholesterol that were only seen in adults a decade ago.
Have you seen the packs of Naan bread in the grocery store? We use that to make our own healthy choices on our homemade pizza night! Here is a fun, healthy recipe for your family to try as an alternate to high calorie takeout pizza.
1 naan (is about 190-240 cal depending on brand)
Add sauce and your favorite toppings. Using turkey sausage and turkey pepperoni and low fat cheese will decrease the calories.
Bake @400 about 10min.
Eat half with a side of veggies or a salad for a healthier option. Depending on the toppings, you could eat the whole thing without the guilt of delivery.
Our version was homemade pesto as the sauce, garlic grilled shrimp, thin slices of tomatoes, and low fat fresh and shredded mozzarella. And YES, my kids loved it, Wilson even ate 1/2 of mine!
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4.12.2011
Brown rice made easy
I have been passing around my easy way to make brown rice to family and clients for a while and it is the one thing my dad calls ME about. It has made converters of the clients that swear they hate brown rice. I think making it this way makes it a little less course. You can also soak the rice for about 6 hours, but not longer than overnight, to help make it "softer".
Here is an easy way to make some delicious brown rice with LITTLE effort.
1 cup brown rice
1 3/4 cup HOT water- when I boil water to add bouillon I start with closer to 2 cups
Put in a casserole dish, cover, and bake for 50-60 minutes at 350*
Make it with 1/2 broth for a fuller flavor. I like using the brand better than bouillon. It comes in a small jar as a paste that dissolves in hot water. No MSG and makes about 10 qts.
Make a double batch and use for lunches or future meals, like a quick stir-fry. It makes a great cold salad as well (recipe another day).
I have added sautéed mushrooms, scallions, peppers, you name it. Make it your own.
We eat it for breakfast with cinnamon and milk (don't do this if you have added broth!)
I hope you enjoy it and add it to your healthy lifestyle!
Tonight we are making easy homemade pizza...comeback tomorrow!
Here is an easy way to make some delicious brown rice with LITTLE effort.
1 cup brown rice
1 3/4 cup HOT water- when I boil water to add bouillon I start with closer to 2 cups
Put in a casserole dish, cover, and bake for 50-60 minutes at 350*
Make it with 1/2 broth for a fuller flavor. I like using the brand better than bouillon. It comes in a small jar as a paste that dissolves in hot water. No MSG and makes about 10 qts.
Make a double batch and use for lunches or future meals, like a quick stir-fry. It makes a great cold salad as well (recipe another day).
I have added sautéed mushrooms, scallions, peppers, you name it. Make it your own.
We eat it for breakfast with cinnamon and milk (don't do this if you have added broth!)
I hope you enjoy it and add it to your healthy lifestyle!
Tonight we are making easy homemade pizza...comeback tomorrow!
4.08.2011
Back on Track
Well I am back and plan on staying : ) I am in a friendly competition with my brother and I plan on winning!!!
Not sure if it is symbolic or just sad that it is almost a year to the day that I have finally decided to get this thing going!! I will try my hardest to stay focused and give you the best blog I can. That may be a little joke for those of you that know me : ), and I do have 3 kids to take care of so all I can do is promise my best...
I have done this process before so I know what to expect: A lot of hard work and patience with a great reward! Keeping an eye on the prize is difficult so let's keep the next few months positive and kick ass!
I would also LOVE some feedback and ideas. This is as much for others as it is to keep me on track. I will be doing a 12 week challenge Ending July 1st, please join in!
I love to revamp recipes into healthy, clean creations as well as find other great recipes others have already done. So any ideas will be welcomed. I will also try to post our workouts and give you challenges along the way. If you want anything let me know!!!
So I attempted to start yesterday and made a great stride forward. Nothing special.
We walked (with hills and a double stroller) and did some interval training at the PFT stations on base. Food was simple.
yogurt with cheerios
Salad with quinoa
beer butt chicken with sweet potatoes and zucchini
I did have a couple summer shandy's... it was hard to turn down in 75 degree weather hanging around the grill!
Here we go....
First challenge: How many push-ups can you do until failure (no resting)??
I did 7 regular and 22 modified (on knees) yesterday
Not sure if it is symbolic or just sad that it is almost a year to the day that I have finally decided to get this thing going!! I will try my hardest to stay focused and give you the best blog I can. That may be a little joke for those of you that know me : ), and I do have 3 kids to take care of so all I can do is promise my best...
I have done this process before so I know what to expect: A lot of hard work and patience with a great reward! Keeping an eye on the prize is difficult so let's keep the next few months positive and kick ass!
I would also LOVE some feedback and ideas. This is as much for others as it is to keep me on track. I will be doing a 12 week challenge Ending July 1st, please join in!
I love to revamp recipes into healthy, clean creations as well as find other great recipes others have already done. So any ideas will be welcomed. I will also try to post our workouts and give you challenges along the way. If you want anything let me know!!!
So I attempted to start yesterday and made a great stride forward. Nothing special.
We walked (with hills and a double stroller) and did some interval training at the PFT stations on base. Food was simple.
yogurt with cheerios
Salad with quinoa
beer butt chicken with sweet potatoes and zucchini
I did have a couple summer shandy's... it was hard to turn down in 75 degree weather hanging around the grill!
Here we go....
First challenge: How many push-ups can you do until failure (no resting)??
I did 7 regular and 22 modified (on knees) yesterday
4.08.2010
Feds pitch revamped school lunches to students | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ
Feds pitch revamped school lunches to students | Minnesota Public Radio NewsQ
'what makes this crazy is that they actually ask the kids! When did we allow our kids to make these big decisions? Of course they will pick pizza, burgers or cheetos, but they shouldn't be given the choice during lunch. What happened to the saying our parents used quite often "Don't eat that junk or you will ruin your dinner!"
If they are not hungry enough to eat a healthy lunch (or an apple) they aren't hungry!
And the poor girl who just NEEDS a snack sometimes, give fruits and veggies and dip for snack options...who made the rule that your snack has to come in a bag?
The pics of the ladies in MSP packaging sloppy joes for school is disgusting and wasteful. How many of those little trays get used in a day in the city of MSP?
3.05.2010
My recipe : )
http://www.jillianmichaels.com/members/blogs/jillian/check-it-out--get-the-winning-comfort-food-makeove.aspx
Hey all. My recipe was chosen as the best comfort food makeover by Jillian Michael's and her staff of the website : ) I wanted to share
I do use dehydrated shrooms to soak up some water from the veggies and add a couple TBL of whole grain flour in the cheese mixture...even if it's watery it's YUMMY!
In case the link takes you to the log-n page...here is her entry!
Makes 6 servings
Hey all. My recipe was chosen as the best comfort food makeover by Jillian Michael's and her staff of the website : ) I wanted to share
I do use dehydrated shrooms to soak up some water from the veggies and add a couple TBL of whole grain flour in the cheese mixture...even if it's watery it's YUMMY!
In case the link takes you to the log-n page...here is her entry!
CHECK IT OUT – GET THE WINNING COMFORT FOOD MAKEOVER RECIPE
Hey everybody, it’s Friday again and you know what that means — a new recipe for you to try! This week’s winning recipe is from Tara, aka indie,who wins bragging rights and a $100 American Express gift card! Lasagna is a classic comfort food and indie decided to make to make it healthier…here is her take on the classic recipe.
Lasagna
One of my husband's favorite recipes was his mother's lasagna, so I decided to attempt to master it so he would come along for the ride.
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey, 8% fat
1 small carrot, diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
3 Tbsp. water
2 garlic cloves, minced
15 ounces low-sodium, organic zesty tomato sauce
oregano and parsley to taste ( I use fresh when I can)
2 cups low-fat cottage cheese (plus one cheese cloth)
3/4 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese, 50% less fat plus 1/4 cup for top
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 - 1 1/2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 large zucchini (ends removed and thinly sliced lengthwise — use these as noodles)
2 cups fresh spinach
1 lb ground turkey, 8% fat
1 small carrot, diced
1/2 onion, diced
1 red pepper, diced
3 Tbsp. water
2 garlic cloves, minced
15 ounces low-sodium, organic zesty tomato sauce
oregano and parsley to taste ( I use fresh when I can)
2 cups low-fat cottage cheese (plus one cheese cloth)
3/4 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese, 50% less fat plus 1/4 cup for top
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 - 1 1/2 cups fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 large zucchini (ends removed and thinly sliced lengthwise — use these as noodles)
2 cups fresh spinach
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Add diced carrot and 3 tablespoons water to a sauté pan and cook over medium heat, about 3 min. Add onion, red pepper and a couple tablespoons of water if needed and cook for 3-5 additional minutes. Add turkey and cook until brown. Add garlic and seasonings as meat is getting done. Drain or squeeze out any excess fat.
Place cottage cheese in cheese cloth and squeeze out excess liquid. Add to a bowl with mozzarella and parmesan. Mix well.
Place fresh mushrooms on bottom of a sprayed 9x13 pan with 1/2 of the tomato sauce and 1/3 meat (you can now mix the remainder of sauce into meat). Layer zucchini as you would lasagna noodles followed by 1/2 of the cheese mixture and 1 cup spinach leaves. Repeat the zucchini, sauce/meat, cheese, spinach layers and end with zucchini and sauce (or just sauce if there is limited room.) Add the reserved 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese to top, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Uncover and allow to cook for an additional 15 minutes or until it’s heated all the way through and zucchini is tender. Let sit 15 minutes before serving.
Nutritional Information per serving
320 calories
35 g protein
21 g carbs
4 g fiber
11.5 g fat
5 g sat fat
76 mg cholesterol
550 mg sodium
320 calories
35 g protein
21 g carbs
4 g fiber
11.5 g fat
5 g sat fat
76 mg cholesterol
550 mg sodium
---
Thanks for this much healthier version of lasagna, indie! Do you also have a healthy spin on a delicious Italian dish? You’re in luck. Next week I'm calling for your healthy Italian recipes. Ciao my lovelies!
xo,
j
j
Published: Friday, March 05, 2010
2.19.2010
Simple
At class today I was hit with the realization that there is just too much information from too many outlets. I have a client, actually many clients, that have a big case of "I know it's my food that is making fat, but do I do and eat?" They struggle with the realization that eating right and exercise is extremely hard work and wish for that easy pill or lipo to make it all easy. If it's easy you should probably stay away!
I am a big fan of Michael Pollan and his food beliefs, but also have the "sheeple"(as Kelley calls it) instinct to follow what mainstream seems to be doing. Our household goes back and forth just like everyone else in what we are doing on a daily basis. It seems so easy for some people to just make up their mind and do it without second guessing or looking back.
What makes it so difficult for all us "sheeple" anyway? I know it is easy to heat up a boxed meal or pick one up on your way home, but give it up and put a little effort into it, you may be amazed at how good a meal is when you put some work into it. We have so many choices and so many people telling us the choices we should make it's hard to just step back and make a choice on our own. Advertising and labeling are just a few ways they bombard us with thoughts and promises on healthy packaged food. Have you noticed there are no labels screaming at you in the produce section? We KNOW they are healthy, but yet we would rather eat the shit that tastes that crack in hopes we get our Omega-3's in to help us concentrate at work and school. Funny thing with those Omegas in processed foods you are probably getting a dose of HFCS followed by a shot of red, yellow, and blue to make it look pretty.
Next time you are at the grocery store stay on the perimeter and if it has a label ask your self "Is this real food, or food parts pressed together to make it look like the meatloaf/cookies our grandma made?" It is as simple as that....
Get back to simple food.
Foods that are engineered to sell you on there added nutrients is really not about your health, it is about their pocketbooks. It may be as simple as a food addiction and ridding yourself of the food toxins that come along with those added nutrients. If it is a man made food you should probably steer clear.
What is the best way and how do we know that it is the best way?...come back : )
I am a big fan of Michael Pollan and his food beliefs, but also have the "sheeple"(as Kelley calls it) instinct to follow what mainstream seems to be doing. Our household goes back and forth just like everyone else in what we are doing on a daily basis. It seems so easy for some people to just make up their mind and do it without second guessing or looking back.
What makes it so difficult for all us "sheeple" anyway? I know it is easy to heat up a boxed meal or pick one up on your way home, but give it up and put a little effort into it, you may be amazed at how good a meal is when you put some work into it. We have so many choices and so many people telling us the choices we should make it's hard to just step back and make a choice on our own. Advertising and labeling are just a few ways they bombard us with thoughts and promises on healthy packaged food. Have you noticed there are no labels screaming at you in the produce section? We KNOW they are healthy, but yet we would rather eat the shit that tastes that crack in hopes we get our Omega-3's in to help us concentrate at work and school. Funny thing with those Omegas in processed foods you are probably getting a dose of HFCS followed by a shot of red, yellow, and blue to make it look pretty.
Next time you are at the grocery store stay on the perimeter and if it has a label ask your self "Is this real food, or food parts pressed together to make it look like the meatloaf/cookies our grandma made?" It is as simple as that....
Get back to simple food.
Foods that are engineered to sell you on there added nutrients is really not about your health, it is about their pocketbooks. It may be as simple as a food addiction and ridding yourself of the food toxins that come along with those added nutrients. If it is a man made food you should probably steer clear.
What is the best way and how do we know that it is the best way?...come back : )
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