Day 16 Sugar Detox

Day 16 Sugar Detox

BREAKFAST

"Banana Bread" Oatmeal

*1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats

*3/4 green tipped banana chopped

*2 tsp chia seeds

*2 tsp ground flax

*dash of cinnamon

*1 oz raisins

*2 TBSP chopped walnuts

*filtered water and coconut milk (unmeasured) to moisten/cook

LUNCH

Mash and Veggies 

*1/2 cup Mashed Potatoes

*1 cup carrots

*1 cup green beans

Dinner

Salmon and Cashew Cabbage 

*4 oz sockeye salmon seasoned to taste (i used salt, pepper, parsley, garlic, red pepper corns)

*1/2 avocado

*Cashew Cabbage (red/green cabbage chopped sautéed with shredded garlic, sesame seeds, salt, pepper and ACV) TASTE just like pad thai 

ENJOY:)

Day 7 Sugar Detox

Day 7 Sugar Detox

BREAKFAST

Skillet Scrambled Eggs, Onions, Peppers and Potatoes

Breakfast was out this am...pretty simplistic. 

*2 eggs scrambled

*green peppers

*onions

*cubed potatoes

*topped with shredded cheese

LUNCH

Homemade Pasta e Fagioli Soup

*see Day 6 Sugar Detox for recipe

SUPPER

Almond Crusted Salmon with Cauliflower "fried" Rice

*4 oz wild caught sockeye salmon baked at 350 for 15 minutes (will be topped with the below 1st)

TOPPED with:

*1 tsp chopped parsley

*1/4 tsp sea salt

*1/4 tsp black pepper

*1 TBSP shredded almonds

*fresh squeezed lemon (1/2)

For the Cauliflower "fried" Rice:
*coat the "frying" pan with 2 TBSP coconut oil
*1 head cauliflower chopped (can use a food processor if you have one) dumped in the pan
Add in:
*2 TBSP parsley
*2 tsp sea salt
*2 tsp black pepper
*fresh squeezed lemon (1/2)
*2 tsp terragon
Cook for about 10-12 minutes (or until softened and browning) on medium/low heat, let cool and serve.

ABSOLUTELY YUMMY.

ENJOY:)

Day 2 Sugar Detox

Day 2 Sugar Detox

Feeling pretty GOOD today minus the cravings, BUT that is every day before today anyhow. I will definitely be having leftovers tomorrow. 

Breakfast

OATMEAL

*2/3 cup gluten free rolled oats

*coconut milk (i do not measure...however I would say 1/2 cup?)

*1 small green tipped banana (that is a banana that is still a little green...)

*1/8 cup slivered almonds

*1 TBSP chia seeds

*1/2 tsp cinnamon

*1/8 cup raisins

*splash of water (filtered)

I do not add any sweetener to my oatmeal because I feel like what I put in it is sweet enough (plus I am on a sugar detox), BUT if you need to add some sweetener I would suggest one of the following based on your dietary needs and taste: molasses, raw honey, coconut sugar.

LUNCH

Cheddar Broccoli Soup

SOOOO...I cannot tell a lie...I did not make the soup (I know, I know)...this is from the cafeteria at the hospital that I work at. I did read the ingredients and nutritional content. It has broccoli, onion and cheddar cheese as well as some other things I would not normally ingest BUT not sugary and far better than the other options I could have made. 

SUPPER

*25 spears of asparagus chopped

*3 carrots (most of the carrot) shredded

*2 TBSP EVOO 

*1 tsp pink himalayan salt

*1 tsp black pepper

* alaskan wild caught sockeye salmon (skin on)

divided amongst each 4 oz piece....

*2 tsp pink himalayan salt

*2 tsp black pepper

*2 tsp parsley

*2 tsp basil

*2 tsp rosemary

*2 tsp terragon

FOR THE RICE:

*2 cups basmati white rice (amazing with fish)

*1 TBSP grass fed butter (I use Kerrygold)

*1TBSP cilantro

*1TBSP parsley

*1 TBSP turmeric

*1/4 cup coconut milk

AND OF COURSE ... an Avocado. Because as you get to know me more and see more of what I eat...I eat ALOT of avocados. Honduras would be proud of me!

MY FAMILY EATS TOO

My family gets all the same things I get and things they like they I do not eat. I have a teenager who dislikes ANY kind of fish at the moment (although I can sneak it in here and there unknowingly...) BUT she loves shrimp so, she gets SHRIMP....cooked and tossed with old bay seasoning. Plus, since she is on hiatus from fruits and veggies (a teen diet consists of everything BUT fruits and veggies)....I add them to the plate in hopes I can get her to eat them again soon....tangerines! It does work sometimes.

ENJOY :)

Day 1 Sugar Detox

21 Day Sugar Detox:

sooooo...last month I was diagnosed with SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and any time I indulge in a sugary ANYTHING ... I feel the pain, bloat and feel like my insides are fighting to get outside. 

SIBO is an ugly little monster. This is more common in a lot of Americans (due to poor diet and GMO foods, pesticides) and they don't even know it sadly. 

For those of you whom don't know, you can get tested at for GI (gastrointestinal) MD. The test is simple, last 3 hours and you should have results within the next 24 hours. 

Some symptoms include, but are not limited to: (you can have one....or none) nausea, bloating (most common), vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition, weight loss/gain, joint pain, fatigue (also very common), rashes, acne, eczema, depression, rosacea. 

Some of the following medical diagnoses can be causes: Diabetes, diverticulitis, fistula, injury to intestine, structural defect in intestine, intestinal lymphoma, scleroderma, celiac, rosacea, aging, certain medications (MD says the overuse or misuse of antibiotics is common cause). 

OKAY, back to the Sugar Detox

I do know that I love sugary things so this challenge will help me get back on track and hopefully start to feel even better. 

Every day for 21 days I will post my meals for the day. NOTE: I am not a chef nor will I ever be, BUT I do try to be creative. Most of my "fine china" is a paper plate. Some days I will eat what I had "yesterday"because I work 5 days a week and go to college 2 days a week....and I'm a mother, wife, etc....I also do not know how to cook small portions, so I have plenty for the next day.

All of the ingredients, foods and such will be organic unless otherwise noted.

BREAKFAST 

*2 farm fresh eggs hard boiled

* 1 medium avocado (not organic)

* 3/4 cup kale sautéed

*1 cup mushrooms (not organic) sautéed

LUNCH (Baked Stuffed Sweet Potato)

NOTE: I was so hungry, I ate the darn thing and did not get a photo so I took one from the recipe I made it from. 

*1medium sweet potato baked in the oven for 1 hour

*1/2 cup black beans

*1/2 cup spinach sautéed

*2 TBSP feta cheese (not organic)

*1 medium tomato chopped

Supper (this is what New England people call Dinner)

Twice Baked Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash

See my other post for the recipe on this one....YUMMMMY. 

ENJOY:)

Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash

Twice Baked Stuffed Spaghetti Squash 

Spaghetti squash i one of my favorite things to bake since you can make it ANY way and it will taste amazing.

As you can see there are 2 different ones shown. I bake one vegetarian style for myself since I have diet restrictions and certain foods i just plain old won't eat. BOTH are delicious (my hubby and daughter told me the meat one was). 

Just an FYI: I use all organic ingredients as readily available. 

RECIPE: Vegetarian Style

*Spaghetti Squash baked for 45-60 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees (can be cooked in the microwave for 10 minutes...5 each side...BUT I do not use this method).

*1 cup Kale chopped and sautéed

*2 garlic cloves chopped and sauteed 

*1/2 red onion chopped and sautéed 

*2 TBSP feta cheese

*2 TBSP real parmesan cheese grated

*1 tsp black pepper

*1 tsp pink himalayan salt

*1 tsp fresh parsley chopped

*1 tsp fresh basil chopped 

*1 tsp fresh rosemary

Sauté the onion, garlic and kale in a pan with a dash of coconut oil. Scrape the insides out of the spaghetti squash. Mix all ingredients in a bowl together, then return all ingredients back to the spaghetti squash shell. Voila .... DONE ... for now. 

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. 

RECIPE: Carnivore Style (yup....I went there)

*Spaghetti Squash baked for 45-60 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees (can be cooked in the microwave for 10 minutes...5 each side...BUT I do not use this method).

*2 garlic cloves chopped and sauteed 

*1/2 red onion chopped and sautéed 

*2 TBSP feta cheese

*2 TBSP real parmesan cheese grated

*1 tsp black pepper

*1 tsp pink himalayan salt

*1 tsp fresh parsley chopped

*1 tsp fresh basil chopped 

*1 tsp fresh rosemary

* 1 pound organic grass fed bison

* handful of Kraft 2% grated parmesan cheese

Brown the bison thoroughly in a skillet on the stovetop. Sauté the onion, garlic and kale in a pan with a dash of coconut oil. Scrape the insides out of the spaghetti squash. Mix all ingredients in a bowl together, then return all ingredients back to the spaghetti squash shell. Top with grated parmesan Cheese.

Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. 

ENJOY :) 

NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS 2016

NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS, SAME OLD ME

Ringing in 2016 I noted all the New Year's resolutions out there today. With 2015 out and 2016 in...We know there has to be some changes made...as we do with any other year that passes.

The way we showed up for life in the past year is VERY necessary for growth. Take some time to reflect, learn, create with intention to make 2016 the best year ever.

We all know what a  resolution is... Right??? A resolution is to "resolve" or find a solution to a problem. Well...I say what happened,what we created, what we achieved and failed at in the past year was not a PROBLEM, but yet a learning experience.

So this year...ditch he resolutions and set some goals. Goals seem to sound far more achievable than fixing a problem that never was. Make sure your goals are realistic, attainable, fun and something you  will find pleasure in achieving.

My 2016 Goals

1. 21 Day Sugar Detox (Jan 2016)

2. Start a running routine again

3. Take care of my body 

4. Sit less

5. Worry less

6. Finish Pre-req at LFCC (May 2016)   

7. Start ADN at ACM (May 2016)

8. Start planning BSN program for 2017

9. Pay off credit card debt by June 2016

10. Build up emergency fund

11. Plan AD/Will/POA

12. Increase retirement contributions

13. House hunt/start buying process/move by August 2016

14. Live more simply

15. Be present/more attentive to family

16. Plant a Tree

17. Create a larger garden spring 2016

18. Remain vegetarian/pescatarian 

19. Blog more frequently

20. Do what makes me happy

Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is my semi-healthier version of tuna noodle casserole. Everybody loves comfort food especially in the cold month. This is one of my favs. 

Ingredients:

-12oz bag Ronzoni whole wheat wide noodles

- 2 small cans Campbell's reduced fat cream of mushroom soup 

- 1 cup Mexican blend cheese

- 1 large carrot grated

- 1 celery stick chopped thin 

- 1/2 bag frozen sweet peas

- 1-2 Cups milk 

- 3   8 oz cans of solid white albacore tuna

- 1 pkg of Ritz crackers crushed

Supplies:

Large pot 

Mixing spoon

Strainer

Heavy duty casserole dish 

Grater

Knife 

Can opener

Oven/stovetop

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Cook noodles on stovetop in boiling water for 4 minutes. Once cooked, mix ALL ingredients together in the pot except crushed Ritz. Once mixed, place in casserole dish and top with crushed Ritz. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Enjoy