Eat Better, Look Better, Feel Better REPEAT

August 25, 2012

Eating better is becoming fun! The challenge of making delicious food but with low calories and eating more whole grains, fruits, veggies, lean proteins, fish, and less processed foods is really making me look and feel better. I have to say besides the obvious outcome of losing weight, eating right makes my body FEEL good. I actually have energy and I don't remember the last time I had stomach pains from 1. eating too much or 2. eating overly fatty foods

Healthy options are much more appealing when you realize how much your body will reward you for your better choices.

When you think about going to get fast food or indulging in that giant slice of pizza etc. remember:

While junk food offers a pleasurable experience, the longer-term impacts on our body are not pretty. By its very nature and the lack of quality nutrients, junk food delivers empty calories, little nutritional value, and ingredients that create biochemical reactions that are harmful to our bodies and ultimately lead to disease, obesity, and other serious health concerns.

Lets get happy!

Honey Sesame Salmon with Pineapple Almond Rice

Salmon
Brown Rice
Onion
Sesame Oil
Honey
Sesame Seeds
Pineapple
Green Onion
Olive Oil Spray
Sliced Almonds
Spices - salt, pepper, spice mix such as my favorite special shit

Cook minute rice according to box directions (I also add seasonings to the rice before it cooks)

Brown rice is seriously so much better than white. It has a different texture but its so nutty and adds flavor in my opinion.

Next get your salmon in the oven. I put a small drizzle of sesame oil and honey on top and then covered it in roasted sesame seeds. Put it in the oven at 350. I didn't time it but watch it carefully because you don't want dry salmon.

While the salmon is baking put olive oil spray in a pot and add a TINY amount of sesame oil.

Add onions and saute

Then add pineapple and rice and stir until its kind of crispy like a fried rice

When its done toast some almonds and stir into the rice with a little green onion

Serve it up with your moist delicious salmon and smile at how awesome this healthy meal tastes

As always I have to have dessert. I give up the afternoon snack every time for a delicious dessert at night! I cut up a banana, topped it with sugar free jello, FREE cool whip, and a few dark chocolate chips. YUMMMM

This morning I made some seriously awesome muffins.

OATMEAL BANANA FLAX MUFFINS

I found this via a health food blog called PB FINGERS written by a woman my age named Julie. She has some great recipes and ideas and this one sounded too good not to try.

Ingredients:

¾ c. whole wheat flour
½ c. old fashioned oats
¼ c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 tbsp. ground flax seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
1 egg white
2 ½ tbsp. canola oil
¼ tsp. vanilla extract
1 small banana, mashed
½ c. milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine whole wheat flour, oats, brown sugar, flax seeds, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt
In a separate bowl, mix together egg white, oil, vanilla, banana and milk
Gradually mix flour mixture into egg mixture until batter is combined
Divide the batter into the six muffin cups
Bake for 15 – 18 minutes

I actually subbed coconut oil

I also added a few walnuts - not too much - I literally added like 2 tbs.

And for my love of dark chocolate and my husbands FAVORITE chocolate chip muffins-

I did half with 7 scrumptious chocolate chips on top.

* Notice it only makes 6 muffins so if you have company double the recipe

Can you see the moist deliciousness that is HEAVENLY healthy whole wheat muffins with chunks of banana and random bites of walnut? Its so good it doesn't even seem like health food.

Eat with a few sprays of fake butter ... MMMM haha no really its GOOD and a great calorie saver

THEN resist the urge to eat all the muffins!

TURKEY LETTUCE TACOS

Ground Turkey
Onion
Spicy seasoning mix (such as AW SHIT! or Slap Your Momma)
Chili Powder
Cumin Powder
Romaine Hearts
Non fat greek yogurt
Salsa

Brown the turkey and onions then add spicy seasoning, chili powder, and cumin

Mix yogurt and salsa for a creamy fat free SPICY dressing

SPINACH ARTICHOKE AND TURKEY LASAGNA

fresh spinach
Canned artichokes
onion
garlic
garlic powder
red pepper
fat free cottage cheese
ground turkey
low calorie light spaghetti sauce
whole what lasagna noodles
part skim mozzarella

I pureed the onion so it would be really fine - this made it JUICY which isn't so bad I just didn't use any oil in the pan so calorie save! Saute garlic and onion

Add in artichokes and saute until browned slightly then add in spinach

Puree cottage cheese - MMM creamy

Add the cottage cheese puree and garlic powder and red pepper to taste. Set this to the side for layering later.

Brown turkey and add seasonings to taste (again I use Special Shit! on everything)

Then pour in the jar of your low calorie spaghetti sauce. PREGO Light Smart is my favorite

Now put a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of your pan and top with whole wheat lasagna noodles. I don't boil mine first I put them in straight from the box.