Monday, November 14, 2016

Quinoa and Kale Pattiies

Quinoa and Kale Patties

 
 
Did you know that quinoa is nature's super food? It's fast-cooking, highly nutritious and protein packed. It contains a ton of fiber, is rich in magnesium and contains iron. It also helps to prevent heart disease by reducing high blood pressure and diabetes. It's also totally fool proof and it cooks in less than 15 minutes... Wow!

Ingredients:

2 1/2cups cooked quinoa
4 cups of kale
1/2 cup of chives
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp. of sea salt
2 Tbs of olive oil
3/4 cups of bread crumbs
3 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup of grated  Parmesan cheese
1/2 yellow onion



Directions:


Combine quinoa, eggs Parmesan, chives and salt in a medium mixing bowl.

Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in skillet on medium heat then cook onions and garlic approximately 3 minutes. Add kale to the skillet and cook until kale is bight green and soft.


Add kale mixture to quinoa mixture, then add bread crumbs and stir to combine. Place clean skillet on medium heat and add enough oil to coat bottom of pan.

 Form patties using about 1/2 cup of quinoa mixture and place patties in skillet being careful not to overcrowd the pan.


Fry until golden brown on each side, about 5 minutes on each side. Remove patties and serve.



I usually add a little mustard on the top of my patties just to give them a little more flavor.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Day 43



That's me at the salad bar helping myself to a generous portion of edamame beans. That was during a day that I hadn't packed anything for lunch. So on my lunch break I headed for the salad bar at a nearby grocery store.

The pics below are from one of the days that was able to I pack a healthy, satisfying and nutritious lunch.


This is one of my favorite veggie sandwiches that I really enjoy. I use hummus, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and sprouts.


On this particular day, I added 2 Nectarines for an afternoon snack and 1 Hard boiled egg and Blackberries for an afternoon snack.
 
 
It may seem like a lot of food, but when you're only eating fruits and vegetables, it's surprising how hungry you actually get. Until next time... 

Saturday, August 27, 2016

My Week So Far




My oldest daughter surprised me with these containers that she bought from Ikea. For the past couple of months, I had been talking about buying a Bento box to pack my lunches for work. Once my daughter saw the $5.00 price tag, she figured these containers would work just as well. I couldn't agree more, especially since I now have 17 new containers to store not only my lunches in, but left over from dinners as well. Not bad for $5.00, huh? Okay, I couldn't wait to get started.
 
 
I started off  by making a spring mix salad with berries and pecans. I used romaine lettuce and a package of spring mix greens. To that I added strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges and pecans. During lunch, I topped it off with raspberry vinaigrette.
 
 
I also packed garlic hummus to dip the carrot sticks in which I planned to have for a midmorning snack. Then 2 fresh figs to snack on later in the day. Originally, I was also supposed to have boiled eggs with the salad, but I forgot to boil them. I already had some vegetables leftover in the fridge, so although I didn't have enough time to take a picture, I did end up having that with my salad instead. For me, the most important thing is to not still be hungry after meals. Better planning is certainly the key.
 
 
 And that's it! Lunch and snacks were packed and ready.
 
 

Daily Food Journal

Monday
Day 18


Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, cinnamon and walnuts
Snack - Hot cup of green tea with honey /Carrot sticks dipped in hummus
Lunch - Spring mix salad with berries and pecans / included romaine, arugula, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, pecans and raspberry vinaigrette / On the side, garden vegetable medley with roasted potatoes, peas, red peppers and herbs
Snack - 2 Figs
Dinner - 1 Veggie burger with cheese / Baked sweet potato with butter
 

Tuesday
Day 19
 
Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, cinnamon and walnuts
Snack - Hot cup of green tea with honey /Carrot sticks dipped in hummus
Lunch - Spring mix salad with berries and pecans / included romaine, arugula, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, pecans and raspberry vinaigrette / 2 Boiled eggs
Snack - 2 Fresh figs
Dinner - Leftover veggie stir fry on a tortilla wrap / 2 Oranges
 
Wednesday
Day 20
 
Breakfast - Oatmeal with blueberries, walnuts, honey and cinnamon
Snack - Strawberries / Hot cup of green tea with honey
Lunch - Tuna salad on whole wheat with romaine lettuce and tomatoes / pretzels
Snack - 2 fresh Figs
Dinner - Vegetable spring rolls, vegetable egg rolls /
vegetables on the side included carrots, snap peas, black beans and edamame in butter sauce  

Thursday
Day 21
 
Breakfast - Oatmeal with blueberries, walnuts, honey and cinnamon
Snack - 2 Hard boiled eggs
Lunch - Tuna salad on whole wheat with romaine lettuce and tomatoes / side of watermelon
Snack - 2 Fresh figs
Dinner - 1 Veggie burger on whole wheat bun with romaine lettuce, tomatoes and mozzarella.
Garden salad with mixed greens, romaine, spinach leaves, carrots, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, peas and broccoli  
 
  
Friday
Day 22
 
Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon
Snack - Hot cup of green tea with honey / 2 Fresh figs
Lunch - Tuna salad on whole wheat with romaine lettuce and tomatoes / Pretzels
Dinner - Baked haddock, western fries and chocolate cake. This was the first time that I went off my new eating pattern in 22 days so I don't feel guilty at all. I read once that it's okay to give in to a craving once in a while, that's why they call it 'treats.' Treats were never intended to eat on a daily basis, but to enjoy occasionally.   

Sunday, August 21, 2016

A Heart Healthy Walk


This morning, I got up early and drove to a nearby park, It was before 7:00 and I was ready to walk. It's been at least a month since I laced up my sneakers and followed my favorite walking path and I can't tell you how much I missed it. I couldn't exercise when I was first released from the hospital because I was ordered to rest. Now that I'm feeling better, it's important that I start to get back into a regular exercise routine. I know that it's going to take more than just eating healthy to reverse these illnesses and I want to begin working out on a regular basis.

My schedule is a little crazy right now so I'll need to get creative. Oh and as far as my work out, well let's just say... I have to work my way to getting back to where I was before everything happened. And that's perfectly okay because I'm up for the challenge. Besides, next month is the walkathon and I really need to be prepared.


I took the above picture while I was walking. It was really cloudy and I was hoping that it wouldn't start to rain during the walk. Thankfully, it didn't actually start raining until a little later that morning. Thank you Lord!


Daily /Food Journal
 
Day 17
SONday
 
Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, cinnamon and walnuts,
and a Hot cup of green tea with honey
Lunch - 1 Veggie burger with cheese / Vegetarian baked beans
Snack - 1 Blueberry muffin
Dinner - Stir fry veggie wraps with broccoli, carrots, spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms /

and a side of watermelon

Fruits - 1
Veggies - 4 
Grains - Yes, Oatmeal
Beans - Yes
Daily Exercise - Walked around the park for over 1 mile - 40 minutes.

Notes - I'm just glad that I got out there and moved. Woohoo!!!

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Update

I didn't have the chance to do a full post today, but I will journal what I ate today.  
 
Saturday - Day 16

Breakfast - Scrambled eggs with green peppers / 1  Slice of buttered toast
Hot cup of green tea with honey
Lunch - Green drink with Kale, pineapples, carrots and apples /
1 Slice of Arugula and tomato pizza


Snack- Pecans and fresh strawberries
Dinner - Baked sweet potato, vegetarian baked beans and fresh pineapple slices.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Are Fig Leaves Really A Natural Cure For Diabetes?

Image result for images of kadota fig leaves

I've been doing a lot of research regarding my health and today, I'd like to share an article from Barbi Trejo. Barbi is a natural hygiene foodist and loves the medicine of the earth. After being diagnosed with MS and early onset dementia last year, she cured herself using herbs and juicing from the earth. She now spends her time helping others.

 Image result for images of kadota fig

Fig Leaves Provide a Natural Health Remedy for Diabetes

Fig leaves are best known for treating diabetes, but there are many other uses for the fig leaves. There are many homemade remedies from treating diabetes to treating bronchitis, genital warts, liver cirrhosis, high blood pressure, skin problems and ulcers. Fig leaves are not used as much as they should be. Most of the remedies for the fig leaves use the sap or the milk of the sacred tree. Fig tinctures or poultices should be used immediately and fresh batches made daily.

The big news with the use of fig leaves is that they have anti-diabetic properties. The diabetic needs less insulin when on a treatment of using the fig leaf extract. The diabetic should take the extract with breakfast, first thing in the morning. An additional remedy is to boil the leaves of the fig in some freshly filtered waster and drink this as a tea.

Figs and Health:According to the USDA, figs are one of the highest sources of fiber and calcium. Figs have antioxidants and a laxative effect on the body. Figs contain fiber, magnesium, copper, manganese, calcium and vitamins A,B,C and K. Besides these vitamins, the figs also contain folic acid, sodium and zinc.

Benefits of the figs:

- Figs are rich in potassium and fiber, helping to stabilize the blood pressure of the body. The figs contain anti-diabetic and anti-tumor properties. They have calcium, potassium, and soluble fiber, which aids in the reduction of cholesterol.

- Figs promote good sleeping habits and protect the person against insomnia. They increase your energy, promote stronger bones, and are helpful in treating constipation, due to their laxative effect. If the leaves are mashed, they can be used as a skin cleanser for acne and pimples.

- Figs lessen the acids in the stomach and therefore are great for pregnant women. Figs also increase sexual desire and promote overall longevity and good health.

There are many varieties of figs and here are a few available in the market:The Calimyrna Fig has a nut like flavor and a golden skin. The Mission fig is dark purple and eventually will turn black when sun dried. The Kadota fig is the American type fig, which is nearly seedless and most often dried and canned. The Brown Turkey fig is seen most of the time in the fresh markets. This fig is copper colored in color with small streaks of purple and a white flesh.

Home Remedies using fig leaves:

- Bronchitis - Place two to three fig leaves in a half liter of water with some piloncillo and bring to boil. Let the water boil for 15 minutes and then remove the leaves and drink the tea.

- Cardiovascular and Cancer patients: Try drinking some freshly made fig leaf tea. Also, eat some fresh figs daily.

- Genital warts - Take one of the fig leaves and apply the milk or sap from the leaf to the affected areas.

- Hemorrhoid - Place two or three of the leaves in one liter of water and bring to boil. Boil for at least 15 minutes. Remove from the fire and let the pot cool. Remove the leaves from the tea and use as a sitz bath or apply to the affected areas.

- Liver cirrhosis - Take 4 leaves, wash them thoroughly and pound them with any type of sugar candy. Fill a medium glass with water and drink this twice a day.

- Lower blood pressure - Place 3 fig leaves in half liter of water. Boil for 15 minutes and drink daily.

- Ringworm - Cut open a leaf and take the milk or sap. Rub on the ringworm. This procedure works immediately.

- Scalp fungal infections, warts and boils - Follow the above directions.

- Shingles: Place three to four fig leaves in 2 cups of water. Boil for a few minutes, let cool and remove the leaves. Take a wash cloth and dip in the water and apply to the affected area.

- Ulcers - Every day chew two fig leaves and swallow the whole leaf. People with advanced ulcers should do this in the morning on an empty stomach.

Daily Food Journal

Day 15 / Friday, The Start of Week 3


Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, cinnamon and walnuts
Snack - Strawberries / Hot cup of green tea with honey


I tried something different for lunch today.



Lunch - Rice bowl - included tofu, brown rice and broccoli
Snack - Cheese nips - Okay, the rice bowl didn't exactly fill me up. (Better planning is needed.)
Dinner - My dinner was very similar to the lunch that I had... only better. I tried stir fry for the first time and I really liked it. I used rice, spinach, broccoli, carrots, cherry tomatoes, garlic and mushrooms.


Daily Exercise -  My youngest bought me a new mop since I let her borrow the old one. You know, other than washing dishes, I haven't done any housework since I left the hospital two weeks ago. Well, that kind gesture inspired me to push myself off of the couch and clean the kitchen and bathroom. I kept taking breaks and cleaned in spurts, but I finally got it done.

Notes - Yup, you guessed it. I just added figs to my grocery list.

Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Week So Far

fruit health benefits:


Daily Food Journal

Day 11 - Monday
Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, cinnamon and walnuts
Snack - Hot cup of green tea with honey / 1/2 a bag of pretzels from the vending machine
Lunch - Garden salad from the salad bar at the grocery store with mixed greens, spinach, carrots,
cherry tomatoes, edamame and mozarella  


Snack - The other 1/2 of the pretzels
Dinner - Veggie pizza on a tortilla wrap with spinach, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and mozzarella cheese / Side of watermelon

Day 12 Tuesday
Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, cinnamon and walnuts
Snack - 1 Nectarine / Hot cup of green tea with honey
Lunch - Garden salad (salad bar at the grocery store)


Snack - 1 Nectarine
Dinner - Green drink with beets, collard greens, pineapple, apples, carrots and a little honey./
And 1 plain Garden veggie burger (no bun, cheese or condiments)
Snack - 1 Plum

Day 13 Wednesday
Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, cinnamon, raisins and walnuts
Snack - 1 Plum
Dinner - Green drink with Beets, kale, carrots, apples and pineapple /
1 Plain Veggie burger, (No cheese, bun or condiments)

Day 14 Thursday
Breakfast - Oatmeal with honey, raisins, cinnamon and walnuts
Snack -1 Boiled egg / Hot cup of green tea with honey
Lunch - Barley and Azuki beans (frozen vegetables that included edamame, sweet potatoes, yellow carrots and cranberries) and also 1 plain Veggie burger (No bun, cheese or condiments)
Snack - 1 Boiled egg
Dinner - Green drink with Beets, kale, carrots, apples and pineapples / 2 Oranges on the side

Notes - Well, this is the end of my first  two weeks as a pescatarian. Shockingly, I don't even miss eating meat, although I know I'm really just getting started. However, one problem that I'm having is sometimes, when I'm searching the really small organic section at the grocery store for snacks, the fruit just doesn't look good. It brings me down a little because I just don't know what else to pack for work. I don't want to keep hitting the vending machine to get pretzels, which has already happened 4 times during this 2 week period. Granted, pretzels aren't as bad as the M&M's that I used to go for before this healthy lifestyle change, but eating them still isn't doing me any favors. Anyway, I headed to Pinterest for help and I've put together a few great ideas. I'm happy to say that next week the lunches and snacks that I pack for work will look a whole lot different. With better planning I won't have to worry making unhealthy choices and... no pretzels.Image result for images of healthy foods