Goji Chili Stew

I made Dr. Fuhrman's Goji Chili Stew tonight and it was actually pretty good. The goji berries turned an orange color and didn't taste like much of anything, but probably added some nutritional benefit. I don't know if this really was a chili or a stew...definitely not a soup...well, it was better than expected, whatever it was. On Dr Fuhrman's website some of the reviewers mentioned putting the chili/stew over lettuce with some added avocado and salsa. Maybe I'll try that with the leftovers.

Changes to the recipe: I cut the recipe in half, used fire roasted tomatoes, canned corn (what I had on hand), black and pinto beans, but no kidney beans, and fresh veggies for the rest.

Dr. Fuhrman's Goji Chili Stew
Serves 6

Ingredients
3 cups diced plum tomatoes or 1 (28-oz) can no-salt-added or low-sodium plum tomatoes
1 lb frozen broccoli, thawed and chopped
10 oz frozen chopped onions, thawed
2 1/2 cups corn, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup goji berries
2 large zucchini, diced
4 oz chopped mild green chilies
4 tsp chili powder, or more to taste
2 tsp cumin
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans or 1 (15-oz) can no-salt-added or low-sodium pinto beans, drained
1 1/2 cups cooked black beans or 1 (15-oz) can no-salt-added or low-sodium black beans, drained
1 1/2 cups cooked red beans or 1 (15-oz) can no-salt-added or low-sodium red beans, drained

Directions
Cover and simmer all ingredients, except precooked (or canned) beans, for 20 minutes. Add beans and heat through.

vegetarian

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Holiday Challenge Second Week+

Here is what I ate this week. Well, I guess it's technically a week plus two days... but who's counting (obviously me). Didn't do well with the Holiday Challenge Do's, but I did avoid white flour, sugar and excess oils.

Thoughts for the week: I'm addicted to cheese! I need to cut it out and maybe cut out dairy all together.  There were a lot of nights that I couldn't sleep. Luckily I'm not prone to late night binges. Went to the gym three times. Went out to eat three times, once with Andrew (made a good choice - healthy salad with lots of veggies), and twice with Kendra (not so healthy Kneaders breakfast and lunch, and a semi-healthy salad at Carraba's). Non-food related news: Got our Christmas shopping done, yea!

(BTW an * means that an ingredient list is located at the bottom of the post)

Monday, Nov. 28th

Wheat Thins (reduced fat variety) with pepper jack and aged provolone cheese (no picture).

Hot Pink Smoothie*

Black Bean Soup*

Tuesday, Nov. 29th

Berry Smoothie*

Kashi Roasted Vegetable Pizza with Whole Wheat Crust

Chipolte Seasoned Sweet Potato Fries

Romaine & Boston Lettuce with Italian Caesar

Wednesday, Nov. 30th

Half a banana (do you really need a picture?)

Cheese quesadilla (no picture)

Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter "cookie" Shake *

Added Banana to Shake - better without i

Salsa Verde Fajitas - added garlic, soy sauce, and fajita seasoning to rest of salsa verde, then marinated chicken in jar

Thursday, Dec 1st

Three whole wheat tortillas with leftover vegetable fajita mix, lime, cilantro, and Valentinas (see above).

Art City Trolley restaurant: Spring veggie salad (no picture).

Friday, Dec 2nd

Kneader's bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese breakfast on whole wheat bread (no picture).

Kneader's loaded baked potato soup (no picture) and 1 1/2 clementines.

Ate a ton of original sweet potato fries
with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce

Saturday, Dec 3rd

Leftover black bean soup (see Nov 28th) and orange juice (yes, soup for breakfast).

Strawberry Honey Smoothie*

Whole Wheat Gnocchi with Pasta Sauce
and grated Parmesan Cheese

Sunday, Dec 4th

Black Bean Tacos

Green Smoothie (no picture)*.

Quesadilla (no picture).

Monday, Dec 5th

Quesadilla (no picture) and a banana.

Plain Greek Yogurt with Frozen Blueberries

Roasted pineapple, sweet onions, red and yellow peppers with
 Aidells chicken meatballs and teriyaki sauce made with honey
on Jasmine rice

Tuesday, Dec 6th

Multi-Grain and Flax Wheat Toast with
Homemade Peanut Butter (peanuts blended in Vitamix)

Carrabba's Insalata Fiorucci - Romaine, spinach,
artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, grilled eggplant,
Parmesan, and a hazelnut goat cheese medallion

Mixed Berry Smoothie*

Whole wheat thin spaghetti with marinara sauce and some shredded cheese (no picture).

 *Ingredient lists:

soup

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The Good, the Bad, and the Soon to be Ugly if I Don't Stop

Thanksgiving weekend came and went without posting a description of what I ate. Since I decided to reveal my noshing habits here, I really need to post in a timely manner. It is amazing how many things you can eat in a week! I messed up a few times (like eating turkey noodle soup with white flour noodles - I wasn't thinking). Overall I did okay. At least I was able to avoid sugar. My mom told me about an article that she read yesterday about some of the effects of sugar on our bodies. Here is a snippet from it:

So, as my eyes fall upon the plate of cookies or candy, I actually flash the image in my mind of myself eating it, and simultaneously think, “This is a chunk of sugar in my hand. This stuff ages me. It makes my skin crack, my arteries stiff, and it leads me towards frailty and Alzheimer’s disease. Do I really want to eat it? Is it really worth it?”

I don't want sugar to be part of my beauty regimen... better stop it.

So, here it is, a synopsis, with pictures, of the 2011 Holiday Challenge: Week 1 (minus day one, I already told you all about that)...

smoothies

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Holiday Challenge Day The First (of many)

Yesterday was the first day of the challenge and I actually did it! Here is what I ate (Reduced Fat Wheat Thins not shown):

Cinnamon, Vanilla Oatmeal with Cranberries

Sauteed Vidalia Onion and Bell Pepper Salad with Black Beans

Green Beans with Salt and Pepper

Cashew Vegetable Korma

I love this 3 Month Food Tracker by Weight Watchers
I've never done weight watchers, but this thing is great!

vegan

1

I can do it, I can do it... Can I do it?

Mom called me last week and asked if I wanted to participate in Dr. Fuhrman's Holiday Challenge with her. My first thought was of all the yummy food I would miss out on at Thanksgiving. I love pumpkin pie! Then I thought about Christmas and New Years Eve. The Challenge requirements go like this:

The 2011 Holiday Challenge

Dr. Fuhrman's Holiday Challenge is dedicated to helping you make the best choices which will allow you to achieve overall health and quality of life. Take the pledge and join us in the Holiday Challenge.

I am committed to my health and I am taking Dr. Fuhrman's Holiday Challenge! This year, as I celebrate the holidays and enjoy the company of my family and friends, I will make food choices that support my health.

For the next 6 weeks, I promise to:

      

Eat a large salad everyday

Enjoy a generous serving of steamed
greens with mushrooms and onions  

Satisfy my sweet tooth with three fruits a day

  

Have at least one fulfilling serving of beans
each day

For the next 6 weeks, I promise to:

Avoid white flour

Avoid sugars & artificial
sweeteners

Use oils sparingly

I will not allow peer pressure or tempting toxic foods to derail me from my health goals.
I will not compromise my health to please others.
I will set an example of health-mindedness for those around me.

holiday challenge

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