Showing posts with label Whole Foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Whole Foods. Show all posts
Monday, October 28, 2013
Pecan Pie Larabars
Another great recipe from MyWholeFoodLife. Pecan Pie Larabars. These taste so delicious, it's hard to believe they are good for you! With just 3 ingredients, you can't go wrong. Go ahead, have 2 or 3 or 4...
1 cup raw almonds
1 cup pecans
12 medjool dates (or prunes)
Blend the pecans and the almonds in a food processor until they are fine. Then mix in the dates. The nuts will release their natural oils so there is no need for water. I was a little short on prunes, so I added just a little bit of maple syrup to help bring it together. Line an 8X8 pan with parchment, leaving enough room for some paper to stick out the sides. Press the dough evenly into the pan. Once it’s spread out, use the extra paper to press the dough down with your palms so it’s packed well. Stick in the fridge to firm up for about 2 hours. Remove, cut into slices, enjoy!
Friday, October 18, 2013
Day 19 of 30 Days of Cookies - No Bake Macaroons
Love Macaroons? Try these amazing, guilt free No Bake Macaroons. Recipe from MyWholeFoodLife (My favoritest blogger ever).
Ingredients
- 2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
- 10 medjool dates pitted (I used 15 prunes)
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1 T coconut oil melted
- 1 tsp ground vanilla bean or extract (I used extract)
- 1 T flax meal + 3 T warm water
Directions
- Combine the flax meal and warm water in a bowl. Whisk it and place in the fridge.
- In a food processor, pulse the coconut and almonds into a fine powder.
- Add the dates, flax mixture, vanilla and coconut oil.
- Pulse until the mixture starts to come together. Roll into balls.
- You can also roll the balls in some coconut.
- Enjoy! (And remember to share :) )
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Why It's Been So Quiet Lately And What's Coming Up
Ok, so I know since I lost my last 10lbs and hit the 4 week mark I've been awful quiet.
My husband and I went out for an early anniversary dinner Saturday night to our old favorite burger place. The last time I ate there, for my birthday and before I started this diet, the burgers were to die for! I mean, fabulous burgers. We went there on Saturday and surprisingly, were both pretty disappointed in the food. I realized why. Because we had been eating such great, wholesome food at home. The restaurant food just wasn't as good to us as it used to be. Don't get me wrong, it was good. And it was nice to not cook. But, I knew I could make a better burger at home. And better fries, too. The next couple days were extremely hot (85*-90*). Ok, it's not really THAT hot. But I live in Washington, in an upstairs apartment. So I took a couple nights off from cooking and we just kind of snacked on some things and had green smoothies. On top of that, my husband and son got sick. Boo.
So anyway, now that we're up to speed... I am going to continue with my mostly Whole Foods diet (because this isn't a "diet" but rather a lifestyle change, this IS my new lifestyle). I've got a pretty good handle on it now and am looking forward to finding some new foods and recipes to try out! I've decided that this month I am going to keep a daily Food Diary and post that at the end of each day so you can see exactly what I eat during the day.
I've lost 20lbs in 2 months for a total of 60lbs and am hoping to lose another 10lbs this month and reach my goal! And I'll be honest, I did not exercise like I had planned to last month. I just couldn't quite make it happen.
My husband and I went out for an early anniversary dinner Saturday night to our old favorite burger place. The last time I ate there, for my birthday and before I started this diet, the burgers were to die for! I mean, fabulous burgers. We went there on Saturday and surprisingly, were both pretty disappointed in the food. I realized why. Because we had been eating such great, wholesome food at home. The restaurant food just wasn't as good to us as it used to be. Don't get me wrong, it was good. And it was nice to not cook. But, I knew I could make a better burger at home. And better fries, too. The next couple days were extremely hot (85*-90*). Ok, it's not really THAT hot. But I live in Washington, in an upstairs apartment. So I took a couple nights off from cooking and we just kind of snacked on some things and had green smoothies. On top of that, my husband and son got sick. Boo.
So anyway, now that we're up to speed... I am going to continue with my mostly Whole Foods diet (because this isn't a "diet" but rather a lifestyle change, this IS my new lifestyle). I've got a pretty good handle on it now and am looking forward to finding some new foods and recipes to try out! I've decided that this month I am going to keep a daily Food Diary and post that at the end of each day so you can see exactly what I eat during the day.
I've lost 20lbs in 2 months for a total of 60lbs and am hoping to lose another 10lbs this month and reach my goal! And I'll be honest, I did not exercise like I had planned to last month. I just couldn't quite make it happen.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Week Four Done! 28 Days of 99% Whole Foods Eating. See How I Did...
Wow, June has gone by so fast! I can't believe it's almost July.
I gained over 60lbs while I was pregnant with my daughter (and I still had 10lbs of "baby weight" that I had never lost from when my son was born March 2011, I gained 60lbs with him too). She was born December 24, 2012. I had 70lbs I needed to lose. I immediately started eating a low(er) carb diet and by mid February had dropped 30lbs. I lost another 10lbs from mid February - end of March and then things stalled. I didn't lose any weight in April and May wasn't looking any better. I saw this picture of myself and knew I had to change something. Exercising is rarely an option for me, so the bulk of my weight loss has to come from my eating habits. I decided to try a Whole Foods diet. I took the rest of the month of May to start making small changes in my eating habits to prepare for the bigger change come June 1st. I ended up losing about 10lbs the month of May.
I gained over 60lbs while I was pregnant with my daughter (and I still had 10lbs of "baby weight" that I had never lost from when my son was born March 2011, I gained 60lbs with him too). She was born December 24, 2012. I had 70lbs I needed to lose. I immediately started eating a low(er) carb diet and by mid February had dropped 30lbs. I lost another 10lbs from mid February - end of March and then things stalled. I didn't lose any weight in April and May wasn't looking any better. I saw this picture of myself and knew I had to change something. Exercising is rarely an option for me, so the bulk of my weight loss has to come from my eating habits. I decided to try a Whole Foods diet. I took the rest of the month of May to start making small changes in my eating habits to prepare for the bigger change come June 1st. I ended up losing about 10lbs the month of May.
June 1st I began my (mostly) Whole Foods diet. After 28 days, I can confidently say I ate 99% Whole Foods.
I am now just 10lbs away from my never had a baby body weight! Honestly, I'm pretty happy with where I am right now. But, I am going to keep going for losing another 10lbs.
It's been easy, it's been tasty, I am rarely hungry, I am eating GOOD food, I feel GREAT, I feel HEALTHY. It's fabulous.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Why Eat Whole Foods and How To Start Eating Whole Foods
So, What is this Whole Foods thing all about? Eating Whole Foods is about eating food that is as fresh as possible, as unprocessed as possible. It's about going back to eating the foods we were made to eat and the way we were made to eat them, fresh. Not processed, not with added chemicals, additives, antibiotics and chemical experiments. Take a look at the ingredients on the back of your "food". What's in it? Is it food? Could you buy the ingredients yourself and make it at home? If not, it's safe to say it's not a Whole Food. Even something simple like canned corn has added sugar and added salt. Two things you don't need more of in your diet. Diabetes is on the rise ("...research showed that for every 150 additional calories of sugar available per person per day, the incidence of type 2 diabetes rose by one percent. That is equal to the amount of sugar in one 12-ounce can of soda") and also in children none the less. This is serious, but preventable, stuff! And there are more and more E. Coli outbreaks in simple things like "fresh" Spinach. Reading the story of a mother who lost her 5 year old son to E.Coli is enough for me to know it's becoming more important to know where your food is coming from, even "fresh" food. Get your meat from a butcher. Get your produce and eggs from a local farmer. It may not always be possible to do this, but the more you can the better. The more meals you prepare yourself, the better.
I don't recommend suddenly vowing off all processed foods and jumping to a Whole Foods diet overnight. You probably wont be able to stick with it and your body will be screaming at you. The thing is, this isn't a "diet". This is a lifestyle change. This is changing your eating habits, from here on out. Not a temporary diet to lose weight or to try and be healthier. If you want a diet to lose weight quick, do the Three Day Military Diet. It's not healthy, but it'll help you shed some quick pounds. But after that, come back to this. And if you want to try and be healthy, don't try, do. Be healthy. It's really easy, I promise.
Take a couple weeks to start adjusting the way you eat. Stop eating Fast Food. Period, just stop. Start transitioning processed foods for fresh foods. One meal a day, two meals a day, three... Stop drinking soda. I know, I'm sorry. But you gotta stop. Drink coffee, black coffee (Ok, you can have a little bit of creamer if you need to). Drink lots of water. Need to Spruce Up Your Water? Try this recipe. I will continue to post more ways to spruce up your water, making it easier to drink. Take 2-4 weeks to slowly start changing your eating habits. Then, do 30 days like me of getting yourself into the swing of it. No more processed foods or if you must, barely processed foods. It's not as hard at all.
I don't recommend suddenly vowing off all processed foods and jumping to a Whole Foods diet overnight. You probably wont be able to stick with it and your body will be screaming at you. The thing is, this isn't a "diet". This is a lifestyle change. This is changing your eating habits, from here on out. Not a temporary diet to lose weight or to try and be healthier. If you want a diet to lose weight quick, do the Three Day Military Diet. It's not healthy, but it'll help you shed some quick pounds. But after that, come back to this. And if you want to try and be healthy, don't try, do. Be healthy. It's really easy, I promise.
Take a couple weeks to start adjusting the way you eat. Stop eating Fast Food. Period, just stop. Start transitioning processed foods for fresh foods. One meal a day, two meals a day, three... Stop drinking soda. I know, I'm sorry. But you gotta stop. Drink coffee, black coffee (Ok, you can have a little bit of creamer if you need to). Drink lots of water. Need to Spruce Up Your Water? Try this recipe. I will continue to post more ways to spruce up your water, making it easier to drink. Take 2-4 weeks to slowly start changing your eating habits. Then, do 30 days like me of getting yourself into the swing of it. No more processed foods or if you must, barely processed foods. It's not as hard at all.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Salad is my Go To for lunch
There's nothing quite like a fresh salad for lunch. It's something you can make ahead of time and take to work with you or out to the park for a picnic lunch. I love salads (even though my husband says they look like I shook a tree on them). It's a great way to get your greens, eat only Whole Foods and they are so good. You can pretty much put anything on a salad.
Yesterday I had Red Leaf Lettuce, Black Beans, Fresh Corn, Tomatoes, Green Onion, Red Onion, Cilantro and Balsamic Vinegar. (Please stay away from salad dressing. If you make your salad right, you don't need it)
Today I made my salad with Red Leaf Lettuce, Chicken, Red and Green Onions, Cilantro and Lime Juice.
You can tell what I have in the kitchen based off what is on my salad. And salads are packed full of good stuff for you but have a low calorie count. You just can't go wrong. And because they are so versatile, it doesn't get to have a salad every day!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Butternut Squash Chicken Casserole
This was also an experiment, just throwing together some things I had around the kitchen... Turned out really delicious!
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Butternut Squash
- Olive Oil
- Salt
Peel and slice Butternut Squash into small pieces, toss with Olive Oil and salt. Bake in 425* for 30 minutes.
- Cooked Chicken
Slice into pieces or use cubbed chicken
- 1 Onion
- Olive Oil
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Tomoato
- 2-3 cups Spinach
- 2 TB water
Saute onion and garlic in Olive Oil. Add Tomato, Spinach and water, cover and cook until Spinach wilts
- 2 Tomatoes
- 1 cup Water
- 2 TB Cornstarch (or 1/2-1 TSP Guar Gum)
Puree Tomatoes and add to water with Cornstarch. Heat until thick. Add to Spinach mixture.
I kind of did layers, like Lasagna, in this 8x8 casserole dish. Bake in 425* for 25 minutes.
Spinach Salad with Fresh Corn, Eggs and Sunflower Seeds
Spinach Salad with Fresh Corn, Eggs and Sunflower Seeds
Ingredients:
- Spinach
- Hard Boiled Egg
- 1/2 Corn on the cob (cut off)
- Red Bell Pepper
- 1 - 2 TB Sunflower Seeds (raw)
- Balsamic Vinegar (use as dressing)
BBQ'd Chicken Burgers w/Sweet Potato Chips
BBQ'D Chicken Burgers w/Sweet Potato Chips
Ingredients:
Chicken Burgers - Mix ingredients and grill
Ingredients:
Chicken Burgers - Mix ingredients and grill
- 2 Chicken Breasts, ground (buy a meat grinder here. I've had mine 2 years and LOVE it)
- Garlic
- Fresh Ground Ginger Root
- Green Onion
Lime Mayo - Mix ingredients
- Mayo
- Lime Juice
- Lime Zest
Wrap in Lettuce and enjoy with a side of Sweet Potato chips!
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Ingredients:
- Sweet Potato (Yam)
- Olive Oil
- Sea Salt
Directions:
- Slice Sweet Potato into 1/8" pieces
- Drizzle with Olive Oil
- Sprinkle with Salt
- Toss to Coat
- Place on Baking Sheet
- Bake in 400* oven for 25-30 minutes
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Really cheap produce at Target
I went out again today in search of some cheap Healthy food. I do love coupons. :)
In Target's Mobile Coupons today there was a coupon for $1 off a $1 purchase of Fresh Vegetables and the same for Fresh Fruit. I also bring a reusable bag and get an extra $0.05 off and my Target Debit RedCard gets me an extra 5% off every time. So, I paid $0.51 for this:
Hey, $2 here and there adds up real quick. :)
In Target's Mobile Coupons today there was a coupon for $1 off a $1 purchase of Fresh Vegetables and the same for Fresh Fruit. I also bring a reusable bag and get an extra $0.05 off and my Target Debit RedCard gets me an extra 5% off every time. So, I paid $0.51 for this:
Hey, $2 here and there adds up real quick. :)
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Sweet Potato and Kale Hash
So I was SwagSearching this morning for some Whole Foods breakfast ideas and I came across this recipe for Sweet Potato and Kale Hash. I loved it! My husband, who loves his traditional bacon, eggs and hashbrowns breakfast said it was good but tasted more like a lunch or dinner. Either way, I thought it was fabulous and definitely worth a shot.
She has wonderful step by step pictures so I decided not to repost the recipe, but you can check it out here. :)
She has wonderful step by step pictures so I decided not to repost the recipe, but you can check it out here. :)
Week One Done. On To Week Two!
I have completed 7 days of (mostly) Whole Foods eating! Here's how we're looking...
Money Spent: $90.96 (Budget $75-$100) This is how much we spent total on groceries, including for my son and 6 cartons of Almond Milk and 3 packs of All Natural Nitrite Free Turkey Dogs which were 3/$5 which is an amazing deal because they are normally $4 a piece. Also, my husband joined in my lifestyle change starting on Day 2 and I think he's lost 5lbs already.
Calories: I averaged 300-500 calories a day less than my goal . I know that's low, but seriously... I ate so much food. I was never hungry. I was low on calories, but I made sure I was hitting the mark with Protein, Fiber, Iron and other Vitamins and staying under or close on Fat, Carbs and Sugar. All the Fat, Carbs and Sugar I was eating was GOOD for me, too. What matters is being healthy, it's not how much you do or don't eat.
How many calories a day should you shoot for? Good question! Here's a calculator that will tell you after just a few simple questions.
And how much protein do you need? Here's a calculator for that, too.
I think I may have overstocked myself for week 2... I've already spent $69.45. Here's how it breaks down:
Money Spent: $90.96 (Budget $75-$100) This is how much we spent total on groceries, including for my son and 6 cartons of Almond Milk and 3 packs of All Natural Nitrite Free Turkey Dogs which were 3/$5 which is an amazing deal because they are normally $4 a piece. Also, my husband joined in my lifestyle change starting on Day 2 and I think he's lost 5lbs already.
Calories: I averaged 300-500 calories a day less than my goal . I know that's low, but seriously... I ate so much food. I was never hungry. I was low on calories, but I made sure I was hitting the mark with Protein, Fiber, Iron and other Vitamins and staying under or close on Fat, Carbs and Sugar. All the Fat, Carbs and Sugar I was eating was GOOD for me, too. What matters is being healthy, it's not how much you do or don't eat.
How many calories a day should you shoot for? Good question! Here's a calculator that will tell you after just a few simple questions.
And how much protein do you need? Here's a calculator for that, too.
I think I may have overstocked myself for week 2... I've already spent $69.45. Here's how it breaks down:
$13.45 at Safeway for about 6.5lbs of chicken.
$11.56 with OlympiaLocalFoods.com
I found an awesome little produce stand and got all this for $7.12
And here's everything I got from my CSA share for $24.25 (Plus 3 doz Free Range Eggs for $8.50)
And $5.48 at Safeway.
Whew that's a lot of fresh food! My fridge is FULL!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
What are Whole Foods?
So what exactly are Whole Foods? Whole foods are raw, unrefined, unprocessed foods.
What are raw, unrefined, unprocessed foods?
Fresh fruits, fresh veggies, nuts (in shell), unprocessed meats (like chicken breasts, not bacon or sausage), raw milk and eggs (free range, organic or from your local farmer's market are best).
What is NOT a Whole Food?
Anything that has preservatives, artificial sweeteners/flavors and that is processed (processing robs food of it's nutrients).
How can you tell what is or is not a whole food?
Look at the ingredients, if you don't know what the ingredient is, if you can't pronounce it, if you can't make it yourself, it's probably not a Whole Food. Your best bet, is to buy food that doesn't have an ingredient label, because it is the ingredient (fruits, veggies, meats, nuts, etc).
A Whole Foods diet is not a Raw diet. On a Raw diet, people eat their food, you guessed it, raw.
Most grains are processed and some Whole Foods diets do not include them.
All sugar containing plants must be processed in order to extract the sugar as a separate product. Raw, unpasteurized honey is a source of unprocessed sugar.
What kind of things will you eat on a Whole Foods diet? Well, here's what I eat:
What are raw, unrefined, unprocessed foods?
Fresh fruits, fresh veggies, nuts (in shell), unprocessed meats (like chicken breasts, not bacon or sausage), raw milk and eggs (free range, organic or from your local farmer's market are best).
What is NOT a Whole Food?
Anything that has preservatives, artificial sweeteners/flavors and that is processed (processing robs food of it's nutrients).
How can you tell what is or is not a whole food?
Look at the ingredients, if you don't know what the ingredient is, if you can't pronounce it, if you can't make it yourself, it's probably not a Whole Food. Your best bet, is to buy food that doesn't have an ingredient label, because it is the ingredient (fruits, veggies, meats, nuts, etc).
A Whole Foods diet is not a Raw diet. On a Raw diet, people eat their food, you guessed it, raw.
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| Photo Source rawveganwarrior.com |
Most grains are processed and some Whole Foods diets do not include them.
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| Photo Source National Cancer Institute |
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| Photo Source webmd.com |
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