Frozen Omelet? (Dinner 9.22.10)

I went to the grocery store this afternoon to pick up a few things I needed, and as I was checking out the frozen foods in the organic & natural foods area, I spotted a new product. It was a pre-made, frozen omelet. There were three different kinds, I picked up the Spinach & Mushroom Egg White Omelet & read the ingredients. It didn't seem bad & the box said it was made with all natural ingredients. I've never been able to make a good omelet. I always end up messing it up & turning it into scrambled eggs with some mix ins. This meant I could finally have an omelet without going through the trouble of making it! So I decided to give it a try and have it for dinner tonight. To be completely honest, I probably wouldn't buy this product again. Even though it tasted good, it didn't taste like a homemade omelet. As weird as it sounds, if I buy a frozen meal, I don't want it to taste like one. I want it to taste as much like a homemade meal as possible so it doesn't feel like I'm eating a quick microwave meal out of the freezer. Even though this product was "all natural" and really wasn't considerably unhealthy, it just wasn't what I had anticipated and wasn't what I want from a frozen entree. I guess there's no beating around the bush with this one, next time I'll just have to risk it and try and make my own omelet, as bad as it may end up! The kind that i bought was filled with Spinach, Mushroom, Mozzarella and Feta cheese. On the side, I had a whole wheat English muffin with a little butter, and some Lima beans.

Product Worth Mentioning- Almond Milk (9.22.10)

I'm sure you've seen it on the shelves, but have never even considered buying it. How could they make milk from almonds, right? Well, Almond Milk is not really milk in a literal sense, it's basically a milky drink made from ground almonds and water. It sounded weird to me at first too, I was very skeptical when I first heard of it. But I can say from personal experience, that Almond Milk is actually really good, and in my opinion is the best cow's milk alternative out there.
I used to be a vegan, so I couldn't drink cow's milk. I tried Rice Milk first, it was too watery and way to sweet. Then came Soy Milk, which tasted good, but too much soy can cause hormone imbalances, so I passed on that too. Finally, I came across Almond Milk. I had read about it and heard that it was good for you, so I decided to try it. To me it tasted very similar to the fortified skim milk (Skim Plus) I had been drinking for years, and was in fact even a little bit creamier. So far it has been a great cow's milk substitute in just about everything. The only time I don't like Almond Milk is in my coffee. It doesn't mix well with coffee for some reason.
Apart from it's great taste, Almond Milk has a lot of nutritional benefits. I'm sure you've heard all about how great almonds are for you. For instance, they contain healthy unsaturated fats, and are great for weight loss & maintenance, lowering cholesterol, and contain lots of necessary vitamins and minerals (vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, potassium, & more). Not to mention that 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk has only 40 calories! It's also a good option for lactose intolerant people because it is lactose free. I am no longer a vegan, so I do use cow's milk again, but I like to switch it up with my Almond Milk. With such a great taste and a number of health benefits, why stop using it?
I would definitely recommend that you try Almond Milk. It doesn't mean you have to give up cow's milk, you can use both! Although if you're going to buy Almond Milk, it's best to buy fortified brands so that you still get your calcium and vitamin D. You can buy sweetened or unsweetened, and it even comes in Vanilla & Chocolate flavors!

Almond Butter (Lunch 9.22.10)

It's the first day of autumn and it's 80 degrees! I feel like it's the middle of August, not almost October. Just last week I was waking up to frost on my car, now it's back to air conditioning! Today for lunch I had packed an almond butter & jelly sandwich on 10 grain bread with an apple. I noticed this morning when I was making my lunch that I had run out of peanut butter, so I switched it up and used the organic almond butter I had in the fridge. It does taste different than peanut butter, but I like it every so often. Plus it's really good for you and peanut butter gets old sometimes. When I got home this afternoon I had one of my Trader Joe's healthy whole wheat blueberry bran muffins (which are actually quite large) and a strawberry Greek yogurt. I have a lot of work to do tonight so dinner will probably be something simple.

Raisin bran (Breakfast 9.22.10)

Summer is unfortunately, officially over! Today is the first day of fall and I can already see some changes in the weather. For breakfast this morning I had a bowl of raisin bran cereal with unsweetened almond milk and a banana. The Raisin Bran I buy, is Nature's Path Organic Flax Plus Raisin Bran Cereal. It's basically the same as the commercial brands of raisin bran, but with some flax thrown in there for a nutritional boost! The flakes have the same delightfully nutty flavor as the regular Flax Plus cereal, though this time it's accompanied by sweet, plump raisins. This cereal is also Organic, which I strive to buy as often as possible to avoid preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. Later this morning I will have a reduced-fat string cheese in which I packed to hold me over until lunch. That's all for now, have a good day everyone!

Pasta e Fagioli (Dinner 9.21.10)

Tonight for dinner I made one of my all time favorites, Pasta e Fagioli. It's a pasta and bean classic Italian soup that brings you the tastes of Italy alongside good nutrition. My mom used to make it when I was a kid and it has always been my favorite. I only made it for myself tonight, so my recipe only makes one big serving. You can double or triple the recipe as needed to make more. I had some Kashi Fire Roasted Vegetable whole grain crackers with mine as well.

Pasta e Fagioli

 Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup white cannelini beans
• About 2 1/2 cups water
• 1/3 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes or 1 small tomato, diced
• 3 tbsp. onion, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 5 large baby carrots
• 1/4 cup (dry) whole wheat elbows (1/2 serving)
• 1 tsp parsley
• 1/8 tsp basil
• Dash of salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Add beans to the pot & cover with the water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Meanwhile, chop all the needed ingredients & add all ingredients (except pasta) to the pot.
3. Boil for about 15 minutes, then lower the heat & let simmer 1-2 hours until thickens.
4. When it's almost ready to be served, make pasta as usual, drain & add to soup. 
5. Serve & Enjoy! 

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Serving Size: 1 recipe
Calories: 341, Total Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 906 mg, Carbohydrates: 66g, Dietary Fiber: 13g, Sugar: 11g, Protein: 17g

Sesame Chicken (dinner 9.20.10)

This evening, as I was rummaging through the cabinets trying to figure out what I could make for dinner, I came across toasted sesame seeds. It reminded me of my favorite sesame chicken recipe, and since I hadn't had it in so long, I decided to make it. It's quick and simple, but has a lot of flavor. Now when I say sesame chicken, I don't mean the saucy kind you get at Chinese restaurants. This is a more basic recipe with a unique toasted sesame flavor, rather than a deep fried sweet & sour flavor.

• To start, I cut a chicken breast into small bite size cubes. I then poured a small amount of olive oil into a non stick skillet and turned the heat to medium-high. Next I added the chicken pieces to the skillet and mixed them around until they were coated in the oil. Then I poured some toasted sesame seeds on top of the chicken and again mixed it around until the chicken was coated and the seeds were sticking. I also added some salt. After that I let it cook for a couple of minutes on high heat, adding a very small amount of water when needed (If the pan got too dry). Adding water also helped spread the browning flavors and cooked the chicken in it's own juices, giving it more flavor. Cook the chicken until they are lightly golden brown & cooked through. Cooking the chicken on high heat (so that it sizzles) helps the browning process. I like to then use the chicken to scrape the bottom of the pan to collect any extra flavor or sesame seeds, and then enjoy!

With the chicken I had Uncle Ben's Whole Grain Vegetable Harvest Ready Rice. This flavor was a mixture of brown rice, carrots, barley, bell pepper, lentils, herbs & spices. I would normally make brown rice the naturally long way, rather than in the microwave for 90 seconds, but I had it in the cabinet and I wanted to try it. I also had some Rancho Fiesta frozen mixed vegetables which is a blend of broccoli, carrots, white beans, red beans, garbanzo beans, green beans and red bell pepper. I would've preferred fresh vegetables, but all I had in the fridge was broccoli and I had that last night. For such an easy, quick meal, it was quite flavorful!

Mahi Mahi Burger (Dinner 9.19.10)

So I didn't get to bake anything, but I did buy some baked goods from Trader Joe's, if that counts! I love Trader Joe's because not only do they have a lot of healthy baked goods, but they also have their own line of organic foods & not to mention, everything in the store is pretty much healthy. They don't sell junk so it's hard to go wrong! For my snack this afternoon I had a small strawberry-banana flavored Greek yogurt with raisins, and half of a whole wheat blueberry bran muffin that I got at the store. Dinner ended up being better than I expected also. I had planned to make some homemade soup, which is good but not exciting. But, instead I tried something new that I picked up today, Trader Joe's Mahi Mahi Burgers. I was skeptical at first because I'm a very picky seafood eater. I don't eat much fish, but I know it's supposed to be great for you, so I gave it a try. I cooked it in the oven instead of starting the grill, and then put it on a whole wheat sandwich thin with some lettuce. It was actually really good! Definitely did not taste like frozen fish. It was juicy and very flavorful so I didn't even need to add any sauce! With it I made roasted potatoes and roasted broccoli with garlic salt. It was a yummy, healthy, filling meal!

Fried Rice (Lunch 9.19.10)

Lunch today was a simple stir-fry. There was leftover brown rice in the fridge so I used it up and made my own fried rice. I used brown rice, an egg, onion, peas, and soy sauce. Simple & tasty! I also had some apple slices with peanut butter. Now I'm heading to Trader Joe's to do some grocery shopping. Maybe I'll find something interesting for dinner tonight.

Bora Bora Superfood Bar (Breakfast 9.19.10)

Good morning everyone! Thank god for Sundays, I'm wiped! Last night was a really late night and I only slept about 5 hours. Hopefully that means I'll sleep extra good tonight. Breakfast this morning was a bowl of cereal (again, a mixture of Nature's Path Smart Bran & Flax Plus cereals) and a banana. I don't have much to do today so I'm going to try & do some baking at some point, so I'll probably be posting a new recipe for you to try later! I also had a Bora Bora Exotic Coconut Almond Superfood Bar mid-morning. It was a new product I saw at CVS yesterday that looked good. It's made with only a few select ingredients, all of which were organic, so I gave it a try. On a taste level, it wasn't all that good. It had an odd texture and was quite chewy due to the coconut. But on a nutritional level it scores high. According to the Bora Bora website, this bar is considered a super food because it contains almonds; which have been shown to promote healthy cholesterol levels, are rich in antioxidants and have properties to support weight loss. Coconut; which studies have shown may be helpful in boosting the immune system and even promoting weight loss. And honey; which contains a wide array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. That's all for now, have a great day everyone!

Nature's Path Cereals (Breakfast 9.16.10)

Only one more day until the weekend! Thank god! This has been a long, busy week. For breakfast this morning I had a bowl of cereal and a banana. I had a mixture of Nature's Path Organic Smart Bran (similar to All Bran or Fiber One) and Nature's Path Organic Flax Plus Multi-bran Flakes. I know, it sounds really healthy and grose but it actually tastes good, especially together! When I first saw the boxes in the store a while back, they looked really boring, so that's exactly how I expected them to taste. But boy was I wrong! The names can fool you, someone would read that and say "ew." But they taste a lot like other commercial cereals, actually even better. With a great nutritional profile and organic and minimally processed whole grains, these cereals are definitely winners. Check out this awesome review of the Flax Plus cereal if you don't believe me. Nature's Path makes a lot of good organic products, check them out on their website.

Cheesy Mediterranean Pasta (Dinner 9.15.10)

Tonight for dinner I wanted to try something new. I looked through a bunch of recipes & couldn't find anything I really felt like cooking. So I mixed together a couple of recipes and came up with a pasta dish using eggplant, tomatoes, spinach and cheese.

Cheesy Mediterranean Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 serving (1 cup cooked) whole wheat pasta
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 cup raw spinach
• 1 small tomato, chopped
• 1 cup eggplant, cubed
• 1 tbsp red onion, chopped
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a small non stick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant and lightly browned.
3. Add the spinach, onion, tomato, eggplant, salt, and oregano. Cook until spinach wilts & all vegetables are cooked through. 
4. When the pasta is finished cooking, drain & add to the mixture. Cook 1-2 minutes, until well combined.
5. Right before removing from heat, add the cheese and mix through until melted.

This recipe serves 1. To make for more, simply just double, triple, etc.

*For a cheesier taste, try adding some more cheese after removing from heat.

Nutrition Facts:

Calories: 354, Total Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 10mg, Sodium: 534mg, Carbohydrates: 53g, Fiber: 10g, Sugars: 5g, Protein: 18g

Whole wheat ravioli (9.13.10)

So I got home late because I had some things to do today, and unfortunately didn't get to use my browning avocado. I did however throw a meal together in literally 10 minutes. I made whole wheat spinach ravioli from whole foods, in tomato sauce with meatless meatballs and a side of steamed broccoli. The sauce wasn't so good because I didn't really have time to make it how I like it, but it wasn't bad for such short timing. I would definitely like to try these ravioli again in another recipe. Maybe with some garlic & butter!? Yum!

Product Worth Mentioning- Earth Balance Butter (9.13.10)

Earth Balance All Natural Buttery Spread in plain context, is a healthy alternative to butter. It's all-natural and is made with a proprietary blend of expeller-pressed oils. It contains absolutely no chemicals and no animal bi products, so it's good for vegans and people who avoid dairy for other reasons. According to their website, Earth Balance Butter not only "delivers superior flavor and consistency, but uniquely beneficial nutrition as well." These butters are nutritional in the way that they do not contain trans fats, and that they possess Omega 3's, which are great for our health. Also, because they're made with all natural expeller-pressed oils, they support healthy cholesterol levels. Yes, they still contain fat, but the healthy, essential kind of fat that our bodies need. As you know, all fats are not created equal, and these products contain the good-for-you fats, like that of nuts, seeds, and olive oil. These butters look like butter, melt like butter, and even possesses the same great taste as butter. Infact, an even better taste than typical butters. Earth Balance Butters are very versatile, so they can be used for anything from a piece of toast or bagel, to your favorite recipes or desserts. Earth Balance butters can, and should, be enjoyed by anybody looking to improve their health. To learn more about their products, check out their website here.

PB&J (Breakfast & Lunch 9.13.10)

It's Monday, that means back to work =( This will be my first 5-day week of the new school year, it's going to be long! For breakfast this morning I had a bowl of Kashi Go Lean Cereal with Unsweetened Almond Milk, and a banana. I use Almond Milk sometimes as a healthy alternative to cow's milk. I've found that it tastes very similar to the regular skim milk (Skim Plus) that I buy. It's good for you obviously for the reason that it is made from almonds, which I'm sure you've heard can be very beneficial to your health. It's also a good option for lactose intolerant people because it is lactose free. Although if you're going to buy Almond Milk, it's best to buy fortified brands so that you still get your calcium and vitamin D. For a mid-morning snack I had a reduced-fat string cheese (not pictured) that I had brought with me from home. I eat breakfast at 6 and lunch at 12 on school days, so I usually need a little something in between to keep me going. For lunch I packed a peanut butter & jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread with an apple (not pictured). I don't have a fridge at school so I usually have to make simple brown bag lunches that won't go bad by lunchtime. Then, when I got home I had two slices of whole wheat cinnamon raisin toast with a little butter & a Dr. Praegar's California Veggie Burger for some protein. I'm not sure yet what I'll be making for dinner, but I think it might have something to do with avocado being that I have one starting to brown and I'd like to use it before it's too late!

Vegetarian Chili (Dinner 9.12.10)

It's been a little chilly out, so I decided to make some chili for dinner, get it? HA! I made my own version of Vegetarian Chili using whatever I had in the house, which happened to only be Pinto beans and Black beans. I had it with some corn tortilla chips & a little cheese. Very filling, but satisfying meal!
Here's the recipe I used:

Vegetarian Pinto & Black Bean Chili
Serves: 1 (Double or Triple recipe as needed to serve more)
 
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup black beans
• 1/2 cup pinto beans
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp chopped onion
• 1 large garlic clove
• 1 small tomato, diced
• 4 medium baby carrots
• 1 large celery stalk
• 1 1/2 tbsp chopped red pepper
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1/8 tsp spanish paprika
• 1/8 tsp cumin
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a small non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery, red pepper and carrots. Cook for 5-10 minutes, until lightly browned.
2. In a pot combine all other ingredients and bring to a light boil. Once it reaches a boil, lower the heat to low.
3. Add the sauteed vegetables to the pot, mix all ingredients & cover. Let simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Nutrition Information: (Not including cheese & chips)
Serves 1
Calories: 312, Total Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 477mg, Carbohydrates: 53g, Fiber: 16g, Sugar: 7g, Protein: 15g

Quick quesadilla (Breakfast & Lunch 9.12.10)

Happy Sunday! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend (or long weekend, like me). It's such a gloomy day I'm glad I can just stay home and relax today. Maybe I'll throw on some sweatpants and watch a movie! For breakfast this morning I had 2 slices of whole wheat toast with peanut butter and a banana. It was simple but hit the spot. Later on in the morning I had a Larabar Jocalat Bar as a snack. I like these bars because they have no added sugar and are made with just a few natural ingredients. I don't think I've ever mentioned it, but you'll notice that I eat a lot of snacks. This is because I try and eat something every 2-3 hours. Eating often keeps your metabolism constantly going and supplies sufficient energy throughout the day. This doesn't mean I eat huge meals every 2-3 hours, just sometimes something small and well-balanced to keep me going. Here is a link that can explain this further. For lunch I made a quick quesadilla. I used a multi-grain wrap, folded it in half, filled it with chicken and cheese and cooked it on the stove. I used soy mozzarella cheese because I think it melts better, but regular cheese tastes just as great. I also cut up some apple slices to go with it. Then in the afternoon I had a packet of organic oatmeal with raisins to hold me over until dinner.

Homemade Zucchini Bread 9.11.10

So today I had some extra time on my hands, and being that I have TONS of huge zucchinis from my garden that need to be eaten, I decided to make some Zucchini Bread. I've only made Zucchini Bread once before and it didn't turn out the best, so I used a different recipe this time. It turned out pretty good, much better than last time. I used a recipe I found on the Whole Foods website, and then edited it a little to make it healthier:

Zucchini Bread

Ingredients: 

• Natural cooking spray
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3/4 cup sugar (I used Rapunzel Organic Raw Cane Sugar)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 cup grated zucchini
• 1/3 cup oil (I used Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• 2 tablespoons milk (I used unsweetened Almond Milk)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix dry ingredients.
3. Mix wet ingredients.
4. Combine.
5. Add to greased 8-inch loaf pan.
6. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until risen, golden brown & toothpick comes out clean.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:

Serving Size: 1 slice 

Servings Per Recipe: 10

Calories: 230, Total Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 22mg, Sodium: 200mg, Carbohydrates: 30g, Dietary Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 16g, Protein: 4g

Bacon & egg sandwich (Breakfast 9.10.10)

This morning I woke up and would've sworn it turned to winter over night! It was freezing and the grass looked like it had frost on it ALREADY! I was just at the beach at the beginning of the week, how could it have gotten so cold already? I will admit the cold did help me sleep well last night, but waking up was tough. For breakfast I wanted something warm instead of a usual cold bowl of cereal. I decided to make myself a turkey bacon & egg sandwich on whole wheat bread. I used one fried egg & 3 slices of turkey bacon (Butterball makes good turkey bacon that has a lot of flavor) and put it on 2 slices of toast. I also had a banana and a cup of coffee with skim milk. Then I went for a nice walk on the trails at Rockefeller Park, it was such a beautiful morning!

Product Worth Mentioning- Vitalicious (9.9.10)

So today I went to the grocery store to stock up on healthy foods for the coming week, and I came across a new product, Vitalicious Apple Crumb Vita-Tops. I'm a huge fan of all the Vitalicious muffin, brownie and muffin top products, so I decided to try the new flavor instead of buying my usual favorite, Chocolate Vita Muffins. I came home and couldn't wait to try one. Just as I had anticipated, it was great! I expected it to be good because their products usually are, and just like always it tasted like the "real thing" -which in this case was crumb cake. Because Vitalicious products are such a staple in my house, you'll probably be seeing them a lot on the blog, so I thought I should explain them further. Vitalicious describes their products as "healthy and delicious baked goods that are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals." Vitalicious products have never let me down. I've been eating them for years and could never get tired of them. They're the answer to your sweet tooth, without wrecking your diet. They're products always manage to taste like the real deal, but with only 100 calories! Don't think that those 100 calories are empty calories, though. Just one muffin, muffin top, or brownie packs lots fiber and protein as well as vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, calcium, iron, folic acid, biotin and zinc. They're also made with whole wheat flour and are moist, dense and delicious. Not what you'd expect from a vitamin packed treat. They have so many different flavors too. Ranging from the usual Raisin Bran, Corn, Banana Nut and Chocolate to exotic Fudgey Peanut Butter Cup, Dark Chocolate Pomegranate and so much more. If you've never tried these products you should definitely get yourself a box, and if you're familiar with it, check out some of the other flavors! With such variety you're bound to find a favorite. Finally, you can indulge without the guilt! Vitalicious products can be found in the frozen food or natural & organic section at you're grocery store. I'm not lying when I say their delicious!
To check out their products you can visit the Vitalicious Website.

 

Brown rice & veggie stir-fry (Dinner 9.8.10)

It's been a long two days with school starting Tuesday, and I'm already wiped! Thank god I have the next two days off so I get a long, relaxing four day weekend! I wish Wednesdays could always feel like Fridays! I'm still not really on my toes or back on schedule so I haven't been posting much, but starting Sunday I will post a lot more often so it will be easier to follow. Tonight for dinner I made a Brown rice & Vegetable Stir-fry using brown rice, mushrooms, onion, asparagus, peas, edamame, and soy sauce. Instead of using regular soy sauce, I use San-J Organic Tamari Sauce. It's basically the same thing as soy sauce, but doesn't contain wheat, and is organic & made from whole soy beans. It tastes almost exactly the same as soy sauce, because it almost is the same thing, just a tad better for you. Enjoy your long weekend and Happy Holidays to anyone who celebrates!