The summertime has been catching up to me, and after several nights of drinking too much, snacking too much... I have decided to do a little re-set on myself. It's definitely time to refocus on a healthier diet, 80% of the time. Here is what I have been doing to get a kick-start in the right direction...First of all, I really had to re-cut out the sugar that I was starting to sneak back into my diet. Those Iced Capps, darn you! It is so true that eating sugar and refined carbs increases your appetite and just leaves you wanting more! I made the decision after a weekend of eating too much crap and feeling gross. So this past Monday, I woke up and had a "Cleansing Drink" consisting of water, lemon juice and a dash of apple cider vinegar. I had this drink 2 times that morning.
Next I made a Vega shake. I bought it recently after being quite impressed with the ingredients and what it does for your body and health. These shakes have protein, greens, vitamins, minerals, fibre, omegas, antioxidants, probiotics, are 100% vegan... so I was sold. I figured this would be a good place to start after the cleansing drink. I bought 3 flavours, the first I made was the Tropical Tango, with my own twist:
2 Tbsp Tropical Tango Vega Smoothie powder
1/3 of a frozen banana
1/4 of a frozen peach
1 teaspoon of unsweetened coconut flakes
4 large ice cubes
3/4 cup almond milk
3/4 cup cold water
... blend. I think that this would also taste good with pineapple!
Next I made a soup. I like how easy soup is on your system, especially if it's a healthy one! This is the recipe I tried this time (where I just threw everything I could think of in a pot)
4 chicken breasts (bone in, skin on)
garlic/fresh ginger/salt
chicken broth and water to cover
1/2 cup dry lentils
1/4 cup dry barley (brown rice or whole wheat pasta works as well)
Combo of the following veggies: yams, celery, carrots, fennel, onions
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 fresh mint leaves, sliced
I fried the chicken breasts with some salt on them, added the ginger a garlic to lightly brown. Next I covered in broth (about 2 of those tetra containers), plus a little water if needed. Then throw in the rest of the ingredients, add or omit any you wish. Bring to a boil and let it simmer.
I ate this soup for lunch and dinner (actually I made such a large pot that I have been eating it for 3 days LOL). I like to add chili flakes or Tabasco sauce for some heat as well. I left the chicken breasts in tact, but shred some each time I prepare a bowl. This soup would also be great for vegetarians by omiting the chicken, using a veggie broth and adding protein such as tofu, tempeh, chick peas or various beans.
I really did feel that a day of eating like this did help get me on the right track. I followed up by drinking a cleansing tea in the evening, by using ginger, honey, lemon, mint tea bag as well as lemon ginger tea bags. It was so refreshing! You can make a large batch to keep in the fridge to drink hot or cold anytime.
Here are some of the other ways I am trying to get my "sweets" in without going crazy on the sugar:
- Fruit platters: berries, melon, grapes... summer is such a great time for fresh fruit. I find preparing a little variety on a plate makes it more fun!
- Larabars: they are very basic, all natural and good for when you are craving something sweet (the base is made of dates and peanuts).
- Raisins: organic are best
- Popsicles: I was thinking about blending brewed fruit teas with fruit... I have to make these
- Sugar-free Jello/Juicy Gels: I limit these because they have artificial sweetener
- Iced coffee: leftover coffee, blended with almond milk and stevia, sometimes with a dash of cocoa
- Protein Pancakes: I make these differently all the time, I can now make them without measuring anything! Here is the basic recipe: 1/2 cup oats, 6 egg whites, 1/2 cup cottage cheese. I like to add cinnamon, 1/2 a banana, 1/2 cup of almond milk and 2 tsp's of chia seeds. Sometimes I add cocoa and stevia when I am craving something chocolately.
Hope that helps, I will continue checking in on health and wellness. I did find that looking back at my older blog posts also helps me remember what I was trying at different times and what was working for me. Let me know if you have any ideas or recipes you would like to share!
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