Wednesday, January 23, 2013

I'm Dreaming of Vegetables!

I've started exercise classes again and I am so thankful that the ladies come over so I can get my butt in gear!  I was actually quite lazy this past fall so it feels good to be back into a routine of exercising and eating healthy!
Sheesh, I actually fell off the bandwagon for awhile there!
But, don't worry if you've done the same! We'll just keep on trying!
So, every week when we have class, we try to add something beneficial to our week.
Last week was trying to get in 12 cups of water a day and this week it's veggies and I was thinking maybe some of you would like to get a little encouragement, too!
Here is the email I sent:
"Hi Everyone!
This week we will continue to drink our water & do our kegels (now is a good time :) and trying to incorporate 1-2 NEW vegetables into our weekly menu!
Here are a few ideas:

*Kale: tear bite size pieces off of the stem and put on baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake in 350* oven for approximately 15 minutes or until crispy.
~we love it this way! Also, great in soups, smoothies, and stirfrys.
*parsnips, Brussels sprouts, turnip, rutabaga are all great in roasts & stews.
*seaweed, kelp are easy to crush & sprinkle in soups, sauces, dips, stew, pizza etc.
*bok choy is delicious in stir fry
*eggplant and zuchini can be sliced & topped with tomato & mozzarella for mini veggie pizzas.
*pickled artichoke hearts are great on salad and pizza!
*all kinds of greens can be added to green smoothies
*sautee asparagus with olive oil and spices
*wrap partially cooked bacon around fresh blanched green beans or asparagus and finish baking in oven, drizzle with homemade dressing
*shred a variety of cabbage, beets, etc for a fresh cole slaw
*okra is great in jambalaya
Our local Meijer grocery store has signs above their produce that give suggestions for using the vegetables.
Also, try different ethnic recipes for great ideas for using different veggies and spices. One year around Easter, I made our whole dinner from middle eastern cuisine! It was so fun trying new recipes with 'exotic' ingredients and spices! I felt like quite the gourmet chef making baba ganoush and falafels!
Anyway, I didn't realize how fun it would be to try new veggies and recipes so go ahead and have some fun with YOUR new veggies!"
 
It really IS exciting! You might just want to go get yourself a new apron!
 

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Wellness Mama

I just wanted to share one of my favorite health sites that I stumbled across in my search for how grains can impact our dental health and found out grains have a huge impact on overall health.
It's been a very interesting learning experience for me and I have been slowly implementing a lot of what I learn to our everyday life.
The site is full of great homemade natural household & beauty recipes and wonderful recipes and menus for grain-free, sugar-free, nutrient-dense meals.
It's Wellness Mama and you can check it out at the link below.
I think you will enjoy it, too!

www.wellnessmama.com