Rebel With a Fork Blog

Archive for the ‘healthy eating’ Category

I have to say, January is my least favorite month of the year. Its cold and gray, and just unmotivating. I am having real trouble accomplishing much.

So, I’ve been puttering.

I do the bulk of my spring cleaning when I take the Christmas tree down. There’s not a lot to be done in that respect. I do have some projects, like finding the right window treatments, and starting the bathroom – but I’m just not up to projects right now.

I did manage to get a new ebook up on Kindle.

My taxes are half done.

I seriously am working on Shuffling. Everyday I’m shufflin….I’m at half speed. Its gonna take a lot of practice. At least I’m getting some exercise! Now, I have to motivate myself to pick up the resistance band that is hanging right next to my desk…

I’ve been cooking. I made split pea soup last weekend. Tonight on the way home from work I was thinking about dinner. I had taken a pork chop out of the freezer. I was pondering, “What can I do different?’  By the time I got home, I had a plan. I sauted the pork chop with some garlic and onions. While that cooked, I made some brown rice. During the last 5 minutes, I threw some broccoli into the rice and some bbq sauce on the pork chop. It took all of 15 minutes total, and it was pretty darned good.

It was easy because I had a plan. Always have a food plan. Its the only way to stay thin & healthy, and not succumb to temptations.

So then I had leftover brown rice. I tried making rice pudding with it. That didn’t turn out. Oh well.

I’m just going to take the hint that maybe I need a little mental down time. I just hope this doesn’t last too much longer. I feel so guilty if I’m not accomplishing something.

But you’ll notice that even being unmotivated, I still take care of my diet and exercise.

How about you? Are you making self care a priority? No matter what?

 

 

Related articles

• Spring Cleaning For The Soul. (elephantjournal.com)

I’ve been immersed in my goals, resolutions, whatever you choose to call them.

One of my ‘resolutions’ is to get back to my normal eating habits. I have gotten a little lazy – which is really stupid since making food my way is so easy and fast. But, managing life with my new schedule has been a little bit of a challenge. It became apparent that I needed to establish a new habit.

When I get home at 7 or later, I don’t really feel like cooking. Imagine that.

And I’m starving by that time. Its the perfect breeding ground for eating crap.

Here’s my new habit – I make and eat my salad first thing. OK, second thing. I have to feed the cat first or he won’t shut up.

Sometimes that’s all I eat. I’ve started making my salads bigger – dark green lettuce, broccoli, tomato, onions, croutons, cheese, maybe chicken or something if I have it. At least I’ve gotten my veggies and I’ve avoided the bad binge. Its a simple solution that works for me.

You might be tempted to make your salad ahead of time. The problem with that is the veggies lose their nutrients within a short time of being cut. They’ve already lost nutrients from the time they were picked. So for the most part, I don’t cut my vegetables until I’m ready to use them.

I also find I’m more likely to eat something else if I have it ready to cook. Just having something defrosted and seasoned takes away your excuses.

That’s really what its all about, isn’t it? Removing the excuses….

Related articles

• The Hungry Programmer (jstorimer.com)

Its the time of year when everyone has big ideas for what they want to accomplish this year – and it usually involves something that they have been struggling with for years.

And then 2 weeks into the new year, the resolution is all but forgotten.

I have a simple resolution that will help give you better health, make your skin look better, give you more energy, help ward off disease, and help you lose weight. Its really that powerful.

Resolve to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Thats it.

Even if you change nothing else, the benefits of this one little resolution are amazing.

I like to have a big salad (dark green, not iceberg)  at dinner. I can knock off 2-3 servings of vegetables right there. Have some green beans, a sweet potato and a glass of juice (with no added sugars), and you’ve knocked out your requirement in just one meal.

Plan your fruits and vegetables with as much importance as you give your entree’

Every day, think about how you are going to get your 5 servings in.

Make it important.

You will feel and see a difference.

Happy New Year!

 

“Carole, I see you on the site all the time lately?”

That’s right. We baked cookies on Saturday.

I made banana bread today.

I’m making sweet and sour chicken tomorrow night with pineapple, tomatoes, and broccoli. I like broccoli in sweet and sour sauce. Weird, I know. 

I have a Christmas Dinner to plan.

Yeah, I need to be here a lot! All my best recipes are here.

Don’ think that I felt like making banana bread, or cooking up a couple extra chicken breasts. But it will make my week go a whole lot easier.

I have banana bread for my morning snacks.

Tomorrow night’s dinner will be a breeze, and so will the barbeque chicken sandwiches with a big tossed salad on Tuesday. Wed. is dinner out – department Christmas party. Thursday is pork chops with sweet potatoes and green beans.

My sister is having outpatient surgery on Wed. She made a ham and a turkey so they have food for the week. That’s crazy! I am so proud of her. She has come a long way!

 

We’ll be eating great all week.

How about you? Do you have a plan? You know what happens when you don’t have a plan? Its right to the drive thru lane or frozen pizza, right? Login and start picking some great fast food to eat this week.

 

Related articles

• Our Menu (Week of December 4, 2011) (cozycakescottage.com)
• For the love of God, stay out of my kitchen!! (jeanneifeellikeblogging.wordpress.com)

Tis the season for an over abundance of sweets and fats. The biggest holiday pitfalls are all things white and creamy. Here’s a few things to think about when you indulge –

Cream Cheese

1 serving of cream cheese is a 1 inch cube. Yeah, right.

Each 1 inch cube contains 100 calories. Not so bad, except that 80 of those calories are saturated fat.

The other shocker is the 105 mg. of sodium. Ouch! Skip the bagels and cream cheese, and eat only a little piece of cheesecake.

 

Ranch Dressing

Calories in 2 Tablespoons – 150. Calories from fat – 140.

Sodium – 300 mg.

Contains soy.

No nutritional value at all. I would put this on the ‘never eat’ list.

 

Mayonnaise

Calories in 1 Tablespoon – 90. Calories from fat – 90.

Sodium 70 mg.

Top ingredient in store bought mayonnaise – soybean oil.

Not the worst choice. Homemade would be best. Use sparingly. Most recipes call for too much. You can cut down without sacrificing flavor. Your recipes don’t have to be dripping in it.

 

Egg Nog

One of my holiday favorites.

Calories in ½ cup – 180. Calories from fat – 70.

20 grams of sugar in the form of high fructose corn syrup. UGH!

At least you get some calcium and protein.

 

Whipping Cream -

52 calories in a 1 Tablespoon sized serving. Yeah, right.

The chart I read said that there are 414 calories in a cup. That would mean 104 calories in a quarter cup, which I think is probably more like what we normally eat for a serving.

Almost all of the calories are from fat.

Does contain very small amounts of vitamin A, potassium, calcium, and protein. Its a whole lot better than the so called healthy alternative which is made of chemicals resembling plastic, with a lot of corn syrup. Ick.

Definitely skip the fake whip.

Now don’t go getting all crazy. If you eat healthy most of the time, a few times a year is not going to hurt you. So what if you pig out? Just go back to your healthy habits the next day – and maybe add some extra exercise for good measure.

Of course I’ll be real proud of you if you eat more vegetables

Related articles

• Denny’s Newest Holiday Monsters (friendseat.com)
• Homemade Almond Milk – Easy, Stunningly Delicious, and Completely Gluten Free (ingredientswechoose.wordpress.com)
• Paula’s Recipes: Dessert Cheese Ball (wncx.radio.com)

I’ve been getting tired of the same old same old stuff I’ve been eating simply because I tell myself I’m too tired to cook after working 10 or 11 hours a day.

OK, I really am too tired to cook, but I’m too tired not to cook. I can’t afford to let my immune system down. So I cook. For the last few weeks its been a piece of meat and a salad.  That’s good to a point, but gee wiz…

So I’ve started breaking out some of my favorite recipes -

Chicken with zucchini and tomatoes

Sweet and Sour Chicken – that was heaven!

Jambalaya for tomorrow!

Makes me think of that old Lean Cuisine commercial where the girl is talking about the great dinner she ate last night. Except mine is way better than anything you can get in a package

So how do you manage to make great meals after working a long long day?

Planning.

I’ve started cooking up a couple of extra chicken breasts on Sunday. Then I can make all kinds of things during the week. Make sure to have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand and you can make all kinds of creations.

Of course, having hundreds of quick, easy delicious recipes on hand doesn’t hurt either, does it?

Are you using them? I sure am!

 

 

Related articles

• Fake-Out Take-Out: Sweet and Sour Chicken (eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com)
• Takeaway colouring levels ‘high’ (bbc.co.uk)
• Do women who know how to cook have an advantage over those who don’t? (whimck.wordpress.com)

One of the most beautiful women in the world turned 77 today – and she’s still a knock out!

Sophia Loren is my idol.

Who doesn’t want to look that great at any age?

Did you know that she still eats pasta everyday?  But its certainly not out of a jar.

Real food, salad, chicken, and yes – pasta.

Getting enough sleep. Sophia gets at least 8 hours every night, and usually more.

Getting some exercise everyday. Sophia walks everyday.

That’s pretty much it.

If its so simple, Why don’t more people do it?

I guess because it doesn’t come out of a box. How many people do you know that make their own fresh food almost everyday, get 7-8 hours of sleep, and take a walk everyday?

Like none, right?

Even I fall short. But the older I get, the more dedicated I get to taking care of myself.

I’ll never look as good as Sophia. But we all can look good for our age.

Happy Birthday Sophia. May you continue to inspire us for many years to come.

Related articles

• Curio: Happy Birthday Sophia (thefilmexperience.net)
• The Indomitable Sophia Loren (buzzfeed.com)