Veggie stir fry

I get ask for healthy fast dinner ideas by friends. Here is one that is one of my favorites. Its great to have it on hand and I can have it thrown together and ready to eat in minutes.
I cook my brown rice in advance. Cook up a cup or two and put in the fridge. I will last about 4-5 days. One thing I have learned is that it is best to use the short grain brown rice. Not the 10 minute. Which I have used for years. So take some time on a Sunday or Monday and cook up the old fashion style rice and then put up for the week.
I also go ahead and wash and cut my broccoli and carrots. And any veggies you want! This is a great dish to use those vegetables that might be getting ready to go bad.
Get a pan that has a lid. Throw in your rice. Couple of spoon full and your veggies. And I use this stuff called Braggs Liquid Aminos. Its a natural non gmo soy sauce alternative. It still has sodium like that lovely soy sauce, but you don't need much at all. I use about 2-3 big splashes for the whole dish. You can find this at Ingles. Garners in Spartanburg has small bottles if you dont want to invest in such a big bottle This one was about 8 or 9 bucks. But is a huge bottle and will last a while!

Now stir lightly and cover and this will allow your veggies to steam. I would say medium heat for about 10  minutes? I am bad at measuring, degrees and timing when I am cooking. I just look and smell! lol
Soon you will have a simple, healthy FAST food! :)

Notice I am eating on Miles' kid plate. This also helps in portion size. I eat on smaller plates and my eyes and stomach just think I have a plate FULL of food! Sounds crazy, but really helps! Try it out!

Easter Dinner

Here we are almost in April! I'm at 214!!! I cant wait to knock off the next 14 lbs and get out of the 200's! I cant remember when I wasn't in the 200's. This is huge for me!

I met with my health coach yesterday ( I love our sessions!) and she ask me what was one positive change I have had since we last met. Out of the top of my head I thought about how I hadn't really been thinking about what we were going to eat for Easter dinner on Sunday. I actually had to stop and think about it the other day when my husband mentioned it. This is HUGE for me. Normally a week or 2 in advance I would be thinking about it daily. Thinking about eating, and what all we were going to have. From the mac and cheese to the coconut cake. But wow, I hadn't gave it much thought. This proves again this is life changing for me. I don't wake up to eat and then start thinking about lunch and dinner. I am not living to eat anymore, I am eating to stay alive! To be healthy! To actually LIVE!

So you may be wondering what I will be having for Easter dinner. We are having a mexican dinner. So I will enjoy mostly everything, but in small amounts. Its ok to enjoy family dinners, but just not seconds and thirds. And maybe pick one rich food to indulge in and not ALL of them.

Say NO to an Empty Stomach!

An empty stomach is the devil deli!

Having an empty stomach leads to unhealthy snacking. If you find yourself hunger between meals be sure to have healthy snacks on hand. Drink a couple glasses of water, eat and an apple or a small hand full of nuts.
I keep apples clean and ready to eat on the table. I always have almonds on hand too. Most important is to drink water! Water , water and more water. Water helps you stay full, oh it helps with tons of things!

If you see you are hunger almost all the time, re-evaluate what you are eating. Are you getting enough fiber. Fiber helps you stay full longer. Not protein, as I was grown up to think. Get your fiber from fresh fruits and veggies and you will see a difference!

Made to Crave Action Plan/ Session 1

So excited about starting my sessions on Made to Crave. The first one was a real eye opener to me. I have been so lucky as to go and share this information with others and had wonderful responses!

Each week we are rotating between Beauty Detox and Made to Crave. I am going to try to blog on each.

This past week was our first in the Made to Crave series and here are a few things that really stuck out for me.

The Lord made me to consume food, not for food to consume me. This goes all the way back to Eve in the garden of Eden. It was food that she was tempted with. And of course we all know she gave in. How strange that something over half of our nation battles with, is the very thing that brought sin down on all of us.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

The Greek work for "seek" is zeteo. It means to Crave. Now say Matthew 6:33 again using the work Crave.  That is where our cravings need to be geared.

Not only is this study about my spiritually needs, but its based on scientific studies as well. Not just someones opinions. God created us with hunter/gatherer genes that would enable us to survive famine. Meaning that our 1st thoughts when we see food is to EAT. EAT now! There may be none later. But that's not true with most of us. Even us that work and make it week to week always have some type of food to eat. It may not be high quality food, but food. Packaged food industry has changed ingredients to cheaper and lesser quality ingredients and our bodies are paying the price.  We are talking high-fructose corn syrup, refined oils and less or no whole grains. The impact its having?

• Obesity
• Inflammatory Diseases
• Damaged self-esteem

All the above can severely impact our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are sickly, in bed, not able to get out and serve. We are having to depend on others to take care of us. Our self esteem can keep up from sharing Gods word with someone. So its more than being just overweight, or more than having that second helping. I have often said to myself while eating junk or my second helping, "who cares, its only me its affecting?. Have you said that too?

One thing I need to remember, God loves me no matter what I weigh. He loved me at 300 and he loves me now. He will love me when I lose all my weight and he will love me if I never lose another pound. That is one thing I must remember and hide in my heart.
1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us!

Five principles for healthy eating and weight loss

1. Add fish ( omega-3s)
2. Increase fiber ( Women 25 grams a day and men 35 grams a day) 
3. Exercise
4. Reduce Calories
5. Increase nutrient-rich fruits and veggies 

Fiber,  NOT PROTEIN, signals satiety gens that tell you you are full! Add that fiber! Where can you find fiber, fruits and veggies. Not meats! 

Water, water, water, water, water, water!! Drink that water. This should go with out saying, but I don't think we understand how important this is.

A food journey! This for me is hard! I have taped a sheet of paper on the fridge and always have a pen close by. I write down what I have, and this really helps me to see when I end up in the kitchen and THINK I need something. 

In closing there is a chapter about seeing your doctor. Being aware of your body, its most important. If you know you have high sugar or blood pressure, please talk to your doctor. Most ailments can be controlled through diet, hopefully your doctor is on board with this. I have have high blood pressure and had to take medication. With the understanding between me and my doctor that I was going to make changes and hope to come off of it completely. So far I am half the dose and only take it every other day. I am praying and with my continue weight loss I will be off of it completely in the next several months. But I have to be smart and know that I just cant stop taking it until its time. 

Remember God loves you no matter what. Being over weight is not your fault but you can take charge and make a change inside and out! 

Carol's  Pancakes!

Grind organic oats, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds in a vitamix ( could use coffee grinder in small amounts) 

Then mix in raw organic sunflower seeds, 1/4 c of additional whole oats, 1/2 tsp aluminum free baking powder, see salt. 

Mix this and you can store it in an air tight container and then add the last 2 ingredients ( Well ripe and mashed banana and almond milk) when its time to eat! 

You just have to judge how much milk and banana you want to use, depending on how thick you like.

I made these this morning and me and my husband LOVED them!!! Its like a banana bread pancake! So healthy and so good at the same time! 

Thank you Carol Nees  for sharing! Be sure to check out her FB page for me great recipes like these!