NOM NOM NOM :)

Hey Ya'll! It has been WAY too long since I have written a post, I guess I have taken advantage of what little summer vacation I have. A few updates: finished my first semester of nursing school off with a B and could not be prouder! Nursing school is the definition of hard work and my roomies are pretty glad to have me back to normal as well :) I have worked the past three weekends at the hospital...blah but operation earn and save money has started for the summer. I have to have a big lump sum saved up for when I go back to school in the fall. Next Monday I start my summer classes: world mythology, Introduction to Computers and Public Speaking. All of these classes are online and "fillers" to get my degree. They shouldn't be too hard and I enjoy learning new things ;) Can you guess what all my topics will be for public speaking? hahah my passion for good SATISFYING healthy food! My workouts with my trainer, Scott, have still been kicking my butt, although I can tell I am getting stronger and he mentioned I was getting faster! I also started couch to 5K so I run on my days off from him. My stomach still gives me good days and bad days buuttt I am currently reading a book about a diet specifically tailored to IBS problems. (more on that after I finish reading it) Ok now for the delicious recipes I have been enjoying.

First up: OATMEAL and EGG WHITES
As mentioned in an earlier post, I cut way back on meat but still need my protein so I substitute with egg whites for breakfast! And Oatmeal, I LOVE OATMEAL. Oatmeal can be very boring and plain so it all depends what you put in it :) I use Bob Red Mill's Gluten Free Instant Rolled Oats. I have seriously eaten oatmeal and egg whites for breakfast for the past two weeks. I LOVE IT.  Here is my recipe of oatmeal goodness

Morning Oatmeal
1/2 cup GF rolled oats
2 packets of stevia
several good shakes of cinnamon
1 cup water
( mix the dry ingredients together, add water and microwave for 1 min)
2 TBSP Rasins
2 TBSP sliced almonds or pecans
1 TBSP golden flax seeds
Mix in the toppings and you have a delicious easy breakfast. You can also use fruits like strawberries and blueberries and add a nut butter to make an even creamier delicious bowl :)

Egg White Omelet
Egg Whites
Nutritional Yeast (vegan cheese choice for my lactose sensitive belly)
raw spinach
salsa
salt and pepper
YUMMY

 close up of the goodness inside my omelet :)

Next up is easy lunch ideas. For me, I usually want something light and easy to make. I love Amy's Texas style veggie burgers with some veganaise and whole wheat bread! (sorry no pic) I also love quinoa! Quinoa is such a power food! It is wheat, gluten, dairy free and vegan. It also has tons of protein in it and you can make it however you like! It takes on the flavor of whatever liquid you cook it in: vegetable/ chicken broth, almond milk, cranberry juice etc. You can make breakfast versions with almond milk and bananas or some for lunch with a broth. It's very easy to make, you take one part quinoa to two parts liquid, boil and then simmer for 15 min or until the liquid is gone. Make sure you buy pre washed quinoa or rinse it in a strainer really well before you cook it because it can have a bitter taste if not. Here is what I put in mine:

Quinoa Salad (i use chicken broth to make mine)

Diced red peppers

sunflower seeds

diced zucchini 

sliced carrots

red onions

-You can make a big batch and keep it in the fridge and reheat it. I always add a little chicken stock to mine before heating so it's not dried out from the fridge. I add diced chicken or salmon to it for a little extra protein sometimes. You can also eat it chilled!

 So so good!

I have a secret to making vegetables taste so so yummy! Matt loves this as well, we always get seconds when we make dinner at my house! My favorite is asparagus but you can do this with virtually any vegetable! 

Seasoned Veggies:

Place veggies in a skillet with some spray olive oil

Seasonings-

Garlic Pepper

Nutritional Yeast

Hemp Seeds

Himalayan sea salt

Cook until warmed through and BOOM best veggies ever

There is something about that mixture of spices that is sooooo good together and sooo good for you! Hemp seeds are amazing for you and add extra protein to the veggies!

 

Ok saved the best for last! Baked sweet potato curly fries!!! UMMM best healthy dessert ever! I got a spiralizer (finally) and started experimenting right away! First the recipe and then the pictures of the process:

Sweet Potato Fries

Preheat oven to 450

2 Sweet Potatoes (spiralized with the skin on for extra nutrients)

Lay on aluminum foil and spray olive oil (misto sprayer pictured below is a pressurized can that I fill with real olive oil. Pump it and spray with no added chemicals!)

Sprinkle on the Following-

Cinnamon

Stevia

Sea Salt

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Toss all together on pan and spray once more with oil

Bake for 15 min and take out and toss and put back in for 10. I also put the oven on the broiler for the last few min to get them crispier. 

 Spiralizer makin fries :)

 Fries before going into oven (ps I only had room

for one potato at a time. I made two batches, they shrink up after cooked)

 Fries after cooked. Crispy, cinnamony, and sweet :)

I ate these two nights in a row they were so good! 

There ya have it! My latest yummy eats! I am going to be doing a few more posts on the ingredients I use in my food that aren't common house hold finds: nutritional yeast, hemp seeds, stevia, himalayan sea salt ect. Just want to explain the nutritional value and benefits of these. Before doing my research I had no idea what these little heaven on earth ingredients were and I want to share that with everyone! Also coming soon: a post on wheat grass and aloe juice with a special guest and coworker, Miss Veda Little :)