Healthy Living Challenge

2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 cup chopped onion
1 sliced carrot
1/2 cup rice (I've also used barley instead of rice)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 1/2 cup water
2 (14 oz.) cans stewed tomatoes
1 garlic clove minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 medium sliced zucchini
10 oz. can chicken broth
15 oz. can white beans
8 oz. can tomato sauce
10 oz. frozen chopped spinach
2/3 cup grated parmesan

Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add onion, carrot and garlic. Saute 3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and boil. Cover. Reduce heat. Simmer until done, 20 minutes. Serve with cheese on top. I also add a can of kidney beans for more beans! When I make this, after I'm done with the onions/carrot sauting, I dump everything into the crockpot and cook it that way.

This is a really good recipe.

1T margarine
1 onion, chopped
2 tsp chili powder
2 T mustard
Chicken breasts - or we've also used a pork loin - it's really good with pork
1/4 cup salsa
1/2 cup honey
1T soy sauce

Combine all ingredients in a casserole dish coated with cooking spray. Add meat and stir to coat meat. Bake at 450 for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Baste occasionally. Serve over rice. I like to make double the sauce cause it's really yummy. You can make this in a crockpot also.

OK, so no one seems to be doing the update thing on the blog. This idea is failing. I'm going to send an email. If you really want to do this and keep updates on the blog, then everyone has to at least try.

Here is a great soup that we LOVE over here: From our champion of 30 minute meals, Rachel Ray!

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of pan
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 large onion, chopped
3 ribs celery, chopped with greens
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and pepper
1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro or flat-leaf parsley

Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan and the jalapenos, bell pepper, onions, celery and garlic. Season with salt and pepper then saute veggies 5 minutes, add tomatoes, crushed tomatoes and stock and bring soup to a bubble. Reduce heat to a simmer and stir in cilantro. Let simmer for about 15-20 minutes and eat up. This is great stuff!

Enjoy.

I can't believe it's almost been 4 weeks since I had Emery, it's gone by so fast. I think I have lost all my pregnancy weight and am now holding steady at 160-161 lbs. I need to do my BMI (Paul is there a time when I can go to Golds and do that?) and also do the run. We haven't been doing too great with eating healthy, but I am finally getting used to less sleep and have more energy to make dinner, so that should change. I have yet to start any exercise, but plan on starting light stuff this week, I think I am healed enough to do that. Old Navy had a HUGE pants sale a while ago and I bought a size 10 pair of jeans and my small goal is to fit into them by Christmas, well see if that happens. I am looking for good/easy/healthy crockpot meals, so if you have any, please post.

Driving by Artic Circle the other day I noticed that their pumpkin pie shake is back. Yummmmm! I LOVE that shake! Not very healthy though.....So Paul and I decided to try a pumpkin pie smoothie instead. We did a bit of searching on the internet, and Paul tweaked one of the recipes so it tastes just right to us! And as you can see, it is soooo good; Zander even likes it! 1/2 C pumpkin
1/2 C soy milk (or skim milk)
1/2 C ice (sonic ice works the best)
1 T honey
1/2 t pumpkin pie spice
1/2 t cinnamon
(optional - banana)
Blend all together and enjoy!

Paul liked the banana, I didn't so much... I'm a flavor purist...

I also must note that it is not quite as good as a pumpkin shake, but it does fill the craving!

When Jayson got his body fat percentage done, he was given a sheet that had a range of body fat percentages and what is healthy and normal. I thought I'd post this and share for everyone - my way of contributing to the "Arrington Healthy Living Challenge"!! - megan

At Risk: Women = Below 10% Men = Below 3%
Essential Fat: Women = 10-12% Men = 3-5%
Athletes: Women = 21-24% Men = 14-17%
Acceptable: Women = 25-31% Men = 18-25%
Potential Health Risk: Women = 32% and higher Men = 25% and higher

Essential fat is considered the lowest percentage of fat that is necessary for normal daily functioning. Dropping below the essential fat level has been associated with adverse health conditions. There are also risks associated with too much body fat. Some of these include increase risk of heart disease, diabetes and other diseases, increased sedentary lifestyle, and decreased mobility.

I'm also a big fan of Dr. Oz and his emphasis is waist size. He says to measure the waist at the point of your belly button and also measure the same way each time you measure. For optimum health, the ideal waist size for women is 32.5 inches and the dangers to your health increase once you hit 37 inches. (this excludes pregant or recently pregnant women!!)
For men, an ideal waist size is 35 inches, and dangers increase once you hit 40 inches.

Just thought I'd share this info as a way contribute and hope everyone is doing GREEEAAAATT!

This bar cookie helps me get through a sugar craving. They very filling, so I have used them as a snack also. They freeze well, and travel well.

Walnut Maple cookies (I don't like walnuts so I make them with pecans - either is fine)

2 1/2 cups walnuts (pecan), ground in food processor
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup flaxseed meal
1/3 cup carob chips (I don't like carob chips, I use chocolate chips)
1/2 cup pure maple syrup + 2 tsp
2 tsp vanilla

Combine ingredients in order given, and mix well.
You can make individual cookies, just drop dough on cookie sheet with a spoon and flatten with a fork. I put mine on a bar pan and make bar cookies.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.

Pizza Crust.
1/2 cup Fiber One cereal
1/2 cup oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 cup egg substitute.

Combine cereal and oat in food processor and grind to a fine flour. Add egg substitute and mix well. Heat a pan on the stove and spray with pan. Place cereal mixture in pan and flatten into a round, thicker if you like thick crust, thinner if your like thin. Lightly brown on one side, turn and brown on other side. Remove from pan, and place on cookie sheet or pizza pan. Top with your favorite toppings and pizza sauce. Bake until cheese melts. I didn't time this, so i don't know how long it will take. I made a veggie pizza with my home made pizza sauce. It was different, but good.

On your quest to eat healthy I recommend cutting out High Frutouse Corn Syrup. Unfortunately this is found in so many products you really have to read lables. It is especially in crackers, processed foods ect. I am trying to cut it out completely, that includes the snacks I have here for the kids. I look for crackers with out HFCS, and I am not going to buy fruit snacks either due to the artificile color and HFCS in them. I still have some candy for them, but I haven't reached prefection yet!

I have really enjoy using my bread machine to make fresh bread without HFCS (which is in most breads, even healthy ones). The trick is not to bake it in the machine, then why have a machine you may ask??? Making the dough in it is wonderful, you put it all together, push a button, it beeps when it is time to take it out, you put it in you pan, and let it rise and bake.

Here is one recipe i use. Two pound loaf.
Add in order given, select dough setting. When done, shape dough into loaf, place in pan, let rise until double, bake at 400 for 20 - 25 minutes.

Seven Grain Bread
1 1/3 cups warm water
2 TLBs Honey
2 TLBS. oil
1 egg
2 1/2 cups Whole wheat flour
1 cup bread flour (you can use all wheat flour, make sure you use the gluten)
3 tps vital wheat gluten
2 tps. salt
3 TLB dry milk powder
3/4 cup 7-grain cereal
1 TLB active dry yeast.

Good luck, remember small changes add up to big things.
Mom

Weekly update ...

I don't think I am that out of shape. I exercise regularly and try to eat "healthy." However, I have net yet been able to achieve the promised boost of energy and lack of exhaustion that is supposed to attend those who eat "healthy" and exercise regularly. In short, I am tired. Sure, I get up at 4:19 every morning and go to the gym for an hour or so. Most normal people would cite that as the source of my exhaustion. However, even on those weeks when I don't go to the gym, I can't seem to shake this exhaustion.

I began my own vision quest to see what is going on. Sure, when I say that I eat "healthy," I mean that I eat reduced portions and more vegetables and fruits. I try to eat lower fat meats and steer clear of the sweets. I struggle with the sweets.

My journey took me to the book "Eat to Live" by Joel Furhman and "The China Study" by T. Colin Campbell. I've come to the decision that it is time to change my life - not go on a diet. These books basically say that same things that mom has been saying to us for years. Of course, however, as her child, I am genetically unable to take her at her word and had to hear it from another source before I believed it. Sorry Mom!!!

In short, these books discuss how we are unhealthy because of the crap that we eat - or should I say $#!@ that we eat. As we fill ourselves with process foods and animal products, we drive our health into the ground. It's quite fascinating really. I read "Eat to Live" and am starting "The China Study." If you want to read these, I would recommend "The China Study" first.

Here's is what I am doing. First, I am going through a 6-week "cleanse" process. During that time I will eat nothing but whole foods and grains - I.e. tons of salad, beans, grains, fruits, etc. I will also steer clear of all processed foods and animal products. Basically, I will be a vegetarian for a few weeks. According to these books, that is the only way to achieve your optimal health. However, I don't think I could ever give up BBQ, cheese or ice cream forever.

I've been doing this since Monday and already feel a difference. That's right! I can already tell a difference. I FEEL LIKE CRAP!!! It's like my body knew what was coming and started to fight back. I have a headache like you wouldn't believe, my nose is running and so is my ... well, let's just say I'm feeling the effects. Let's just say, I'm no socially acceptable right now. I'm promised that I will feel better and then will feel better than I have ever felt in my life. We'll see.

Here are a few recipes that I have tried and like. They are great for dipping veggies or as a lubricant on pita stuffed with beans and veggies.

Spicy Bean Dip

• 1 15 oz can of beans
• 1 T of salsa or some chili powder (to taste NOT 1 T, that would be too much)
• pinch of cumin
• pinch of garlic powder (mom, you can leave this out).

Blend together and EAT EAT EAT

Yummy Hummus Dip

• 1 can of Garbanzo Beans
• 2 T of Lemon Juice
• 1 T of Tahini (we actually used Peanut Butter)
• 1 clove garlic (again, mom, you can leave this out)

Blend together and EAT EAT EAT

This is a HUGE step in my life. I must say that I am exteremly greatful to Michelle for her support. She is even including some of my veggie meals into our family menu. SHE RULES!!! That's the most important part of this entire process - spousal support. Of course, Michelle does think I am crazy. But, after 10-years, she's used to it.

More to follow ...