It's time! Time for me to rein myself in, and get back on track with some healthy eating. Like so many other folks this time of year, we're committing ourselves to a new diet that's lower in empty calories and higher in nutrition.
After a month of snacking on chips, and cupcakes, and fudge, and just about every other fattening treat, I'm feeling sluggish and snug. In my clothes, that is. We splurged New Year's night with a decadent meal of grilled lobster tails, butter-drenched pasta and garlic bread, and that's the last of that type of food we'll be having for awhile! But with so many great healthy recipes to be found, I don't think we'll be feeling deprived.
I have always favored a lower-carb diet, for some reason I just respond better to that type of eating. I don't plan on being too crazy about this diet, just cutting out the non-nutritive junk that's bringing my energy level down. I certainly think that eating vegetables rather than cookies and cake has got to be a major improvement in nutrition! I used to eat this way every day, and had the energy to run 3 miles, take care of a toddler, and fulfill and demanding part-time job. All while we were renovating this 80 year old house of ours. And did I mention that I was a size 4? Yeah . . .
Over the next few weeks I'll share some of my recipes as well as recipes I have been wanting to try from other bloggers. We decided to start out this week by eating only natural poultry and vegetables. I have been glued to Kalyn's Kitchen for days, and have a wealth of her recipes bookmarked for our dinners this month. Not only are her recipes healthful and low-carb, they're really good!
Tuesday we had my version of Lettuce Wraps and a simple coconut milk soup. Made with lowfat ground turkey and plenty of fresh veggies, it's a fulfilling meal that's also full of nutrition. The soup is made with just a bit of lowfat coconut milk and fresh, homemade chicken broth, and seasoned with a few simple spices. I have posted both recipes on Tasty Kitchen, I'll include those links as soon as the recipes are published.
Wednesday I made Kalyn's Chicken with Roasted Lemons, Green Olives and Capers, and it was really good. Maurie did declare that eating the roasted lemons, rind and all, would definitely be an acquired taste. Our lemons were pretty bitter. You could certainly just add some lemon zest, and squeeze the lemon juice into the sauce like I do in my Chicken Piccata. The olives and capers were a hit in this dish, though.
I served the chicken with a huge bowl of cole slaw, made by combining shredded cabbage, 2 T of mayo, 1/4 cup lowfat sour cream, 2 T of Bragg's apple cider vinegar, and a few dashes of powdered stevia. I also made a batch of Kalyn's Farinata (all recipe links will be italicized and bold), which is a pancake made from chickpea flour, eaten in place of bread or crackers. If you haven't tried Farinata before, I really recommend it over plain white bread anyday. Low in calories and high in fiber, it could be a meal on its own, with a bit of goat cheese and some fresh sliced tomatoes.
Thursday's dinnner was a simple stir-fry of some chicken Italian sausage, peppers and onions and a huge Italian Salad.
Our snacks this week were Roasted Garbanzo Beans, string cheese with fresh tomatoes, and peanut butter with celery. I don't really need a snack most of the time, but Abby and Maurie are usually pretty hungry by mid-afternoon. I try to cook enough dinner each night to have plenty to pack in lunches for them the next day. I treated myself to a lunch of my Ten-Minute Miso Soup this week, also. It really reminded me that there's no need to eat junk food when a healthy meal can be made in 10 minutes!
Who else out there is committed to healthier eating in the new year? I would love to hear what you're eating, and share some recipes. It's always easier to "stay on the wagon" when you're doing it with friends!
I'm joining Foodie Friday at Designs By Gollum, and trying not to look at all the delicious treats. Well, I may look, and save some recipes for a special treat on Valentine's Day!
Your soup looks fabulous! Congratulations on your commitment to eat healthier this year. I am firmly convinced that our health is GREATLY influenced by two things within our control: what we eat (and don't eat), and exercise. Good luck to you!
Blessings, Beth
Posted by: Beth | January 06, 2011 at 06:39 PM
Thanks for the extra recipes to add to our lowcarb eating. They look good.
Posted by: Donnie | January 07, 2011 at 08:08 AM
Sounds like you have a healthy tasty plan in place. We are committed to eating healthier this year too. No artifical ingredients, no fillers, buying local organic produce and meats etc. I need to lose about 15 pounds, husband about 40 pounds. So as soon as my shoulder is healed, we will also add hiking, treadmill and weight exercises to the healthier eating plan.
Happy New Year.
Penny
Posted by: Penny @ The Comforts of Home and Lavender Hill Studio | January 07, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Look tasty and healthy! I absolutely don't mind this kind of diet! :)
Posted by: Amy | January 07, 2011 at 05:40 PM