a healthy balance

Morning Everyone!

This week, I’ve been having Almond Breeze’s Chocolate Almond Milk as part of my breakfast. I’ve been looking for low-calorie, no-added-sugar version of chocolate milk for a while so I’m glad I found this. It’s refreshing with just the right amount of cocoa to make you forget about any chocolate cravings! At just 45 calories a cup with 45% of your DVR of Calcium, it can easily be part of your daily diet. 

Some ideas for use:

1. Add to cereal for more flavor.
2. Mocha Latte 
3. Chocolate Banana “ice cream”

Washing all 5 lbs of strawberries from Costco so I’ll have something healthy for snacks and dessert all week! 

Just ate some celery with grapes on a whim… The refreshing flavors as crispness go great together. The grapes give celery sticks a boost in taste. I would prefer this over “ants on a log” because fresh fruit is healthier than dried ones and it doesn’t need any peanut butter or spread. Combining celery with grapes prevents me from eating way too many grapes and encourages me to have more celery!

Everyone, this was so amazing but I just ate my last avocado so can’t make it again to take my own picture. BUT, just so you can get a head start and try it out for yourself (if you haven’t all ready), I found a picture =) : 

Brown Rice and Avocado

1. 1/2 cup cooked brown rice 
2. 1/2 Hass avocado, cut and cubed
3. Season with sea salt and pepper to taste 

So easy and yet so tasty. Life is good. 

Simply Cooked tops this with a Vietnamese sauce with red pepper, ginger, fish sauce, and lime which sounds awesome and I’m definitely going to make it when I get another avocado…but if you want to keep this vegetarian and vegan, stick in the salt&pepper! 

Happy healthy eating  <3

My first time cooking eggplant!

I don’t really like eggplant but it’s so healthy that I am trying to acquire the taste. It’s skin has the phytonutrient, nasunin, which protects brain cell membranes! Also it’s fleshy and tastes like a starchy vegetable yet only has 20 calories per cup. This was the easiest way I found to prepare eggplant: 

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F 
• Brush sides with olive oil
• Season with salt and pepper 
• Bake for ~20 minutes or until tops are brown
• Season with lemon juice when done 

Baking or roasting vegetables is so simple, quick, and keeps your recipes clean =) Anyone else like eggplant and want to share a recipe? 

Holiday party! Love the vegetable platter =] easy way to get 5-a-day! Stay away from crackers, cheeses, and salami meat to keep healthy.

Sweet Baby Bell Peppers

Have you tried these yet?! They are crunchy, sweet, and of course delicious! I like to eat them as plain and fresh as possible because spreads and sauces will overwhelm their flavor. One serving of bell peppers has more Vitamin C than an orange! I have a bag at work today =) This should be helpful this winter when the flu is going around >.< 

Just had a Japanese Cucumber Salad and 1/2 grapefruit as starters for dinner! I loved the simple rice vinegar dressing. 

Our delectable Thanksgiving vegetable platter.

Butternut Breakfast!

• 1/2 cup canned butternut squash (or pumpkin)
• 1/2 cup of rolled oatmeal  
• pumpkin pie spice 
• 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 2 tablespoons of almond milk 
• toppings & mix-in’s: raisins, cashews, PB2 powder sounds like it would be good 

Cook the oatmeal with 1 cup of water and microwave for 2 minutes. Then, stir in butternut squash until blended. Add your spices, almond milk, and toppings! This is a great and tasty way to add a vegetable in during breakfast. It’s oh-so-filling and fluffy <333 makes me feel all warm & cozy inside =) 

PS: first time eating raw cashews! Definitely not as addicting as salted/roasted ones. 

That’s it! I’m taking real photos with my DSLR now! Sorry for the blurry picture, but I just wanted to share this with you ASAP. 

Cauliflower Rice 

• Chop cauliflower into small florets by hand
• Whiz in food processor until consistency resembles couscous/small rice 
• Spray frying pan with cooking oil and saute cauliflower for 3 minutes on high. 
• Add sea salt & pepper
• Optional: Other vegetables like onions and herbs

This is so good! You are replacing a grain with a vegetable and this may help you keep within your calorie budget. 1 cup of Cauliflower rice is about 90 calories where as a cup of rice is 300 cals! 

Great side-dish for dinner tonight! 

Sweet or Savory Spaghetti Squash Pancakes

A whole serving of vegetables in a pancake?!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cooked spaghetti squash (Microwave 15 minutes turning ever 5 minutes, or bake at 400 degrees F for 1 hour) (42 Calories) 
• 2-4 tablespoon whole wheat flour (50-100calories), however it may cook better with all-purpose flour. I used 2 tablespoons, but some recipes call for 1/4 cup.
• 1 egg white (17 calories) 
• Cooking Spray

Directions

• Combine squash and egg white in a large bowl.
• Separate the strands. 
• Add flour one tablespoon at a time and stir until the mixture becomes like dough. 
• Spray pan with cooking spray.
• Make thin pancakes and cook until golden brown on each side. 
• Optional: Can also bake in conventional oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F. 

Toppings: salt and pepper, sour cream, salsa, or applesauce. 

I’m getting tired of cleaning my food processor! aka no more banana ice cream for a while… -_- 

Helloooo Banana Truffles! 

• Chop up and freeze bananas for 4 hours 
• Spread 1 tablespoon of 100% Cacao powder unsweetened (15 calories yo) on parchment paper
• Roll bananas in the powder 
• Enjoy! 

Can also use PB2 or PB2 Chocolate from http://www.bellplantation.com/ which are also low calorie (23 calories per tablespoon).