Making It Easy to Eat Right

 

I was super excited to receive a package from Precise Portions a couple of weeks ago! 

If you’re not familiar with this company and you’re a busy mom struggling to eat right, then let this be your introduction to a really cool concept that makes it easy to eat right!

I was pleasantly surprised to open the box and find such a high quality product.  These are quality porcelain dishes and glass!  Not the gimmicky plastic ware that is typical to health/diet related eating ware. 

Here is a little bit more about this company’s products and how they work:

I received the 9” Focus Plate, which is imprinted with reminders of which food groups go where and examples of foods from those groups:

Two servings of non-starchy veggies go at the top, two servings of starchy veggies or grains to the left and 1 serving of meats or substitutes to the right.  Pretty easy, huh?

You can also purchase from the Lifestyle line, which includes a non-imprinted 10” version of this plate without the reminders, which are excellent for using with company. 

I also received the glass and bowl featured in the video.  You fill the glass to the bottom set of leaves for fruit juices and to the top set of leaves for veggie juices, milk or water. The bowl you fill to the first leaf for 1/2 c fruit or cooked cereal, the second leaf for 1 c low fat milk (for cereal) or raw veggies or and the third leaf for 1 1/2 c servings.

 

And as a bonus, I also got a 4 oz metal serving ladle, a quick-starter guide and some cool placements with reminders like these:

What I like:

These are easy to use and incorporate into your life.  It’s a natural way to eat well, lose weight and enjoy a healthy lifestyle by “staying within the lines.”  As with any habit, it’s the little lifestyle changes that make a lasting impact.

You can visit www.PrecisePortions.com to view health information such as an interactive tool how to use the Plate Method, videos and articles. 

You can also visit www.TypeFreeDiabetes.com their Diabetes Supplies Super Store.

Connect:

On Facebook

On Twitter and also follow #eatprecise for chats and other tweets!

^{Disclaimer:  I was sent a review package from Precise Portions for the purposes of this review. The opinions and thought expressed here are my own.}

Pure Indian Foods Review

 

The folks over at Pure Indian Foods were kind enough to send me this variety pack of their Organic Ghee from Grass-fed & Pasture-raised Cow’s Milk.  (You know, REAL milk.)  I received 6 jars of Ghee infused with herbs and spices.  I KNOW, right?

I’m not going to split hairs here, my ONLY complaint is that the jars were an ounce in size.  I really had to get creative in thinking of everyday ideas to use these in recipes since I had such a small amount.

Yes, small amounts of pure, buttery, gold. I really cannot complain.

I love this product and have used the plain variety in the past. It was fun to add the herb-infused flavors to my cooking. I will purchase it again and again.

So…what is Ghee? 

In short, it is clarified butter.  From their site:

Golden colored Ghee (pronounce it with hard G as in Go and a long E as in Glee) is prepared by melting and simmering unsalted butter until all the water evaporates and the milk solids settle at the bottom. The remaining butter oil is very stable, giving it a high smoke point which makes it an excellent choice to use for frying and sautéing and it can be stored without refrigeration for several months. Ghee is also known as Indian Clarified Butter, Seafood Butter, Drawn Butter, Butter Oil, Ghee Butter or Anhydrous Milk Fat (AMF). In India and other South Asian countries, it is also known as Desi Ghee, Pure Ghee, Asli Ghee or Ghritam. Ghee is a dairy product and as such it is gluten-free.

Ghee has a very long and rich history. It has been used in Indian cooking for thousands of years. According to an article published in the journal Nature, traces of ghee and cheese were found in pottery from 6,500 BC. The following quote from the ancient text "Charvak Darshan" by an Indian philosopher Charvak (3000 BCE) shows the importance of ghee:

In Sanskrit (click here to see this text in Sanskrit):
Yaavat Jeevet, Sukham Jeevet
    Rinam Kritva, Ghritam Pibet
which means:
    As long as you live, live happily
    Beg, borrow or steal, but relish ghee

I also thought this Ghee vs. Butter section was extremely informative. During the clarification process, milk solids, lactose and caseins are removed, so it’s great for those who want that rich taste in cooking, but are concerned with allergies.

How I used it:

Digestive Ghee

Contains Organic Cardamom, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Ginger. The flavor has a similar hint of spices used in Chai Tea; it is subtle but definitely adds depth.

I put a small amount in Baby Girl’s Oatmeal Bowl and in my coffee. We both have tummy troubles, so I thought this would be a great way to start the day!

Garlic Ghee

Contains Organic Garlic. Perfect garlic tone – not too overpowering, but definitely mouth-watering.

I fried up some bacon for sautéing some frozen fresh garden Green Beans, but it was a little lean, so I added this ghee to the mix. Fantastic!

Herbes de Provence Ghee

Contains Organic Savory, Organic Thyme, Organic Rosemary, Organic Basil, Organic Tarragon, Organic Lavender Flowers. The flavor is similar to the fragrance of fresh herbs you find in the French countryside – Fresh thyme and lavender.

I used this ghee to mix into a quick shrimp and broccoli stir-fry for Baby Girl & I’s daily lunch.  Added a bit of salt and lemon & pepper seasoning.  We were good to go!

Indian Dessert Ghee

Contains Organic Fennel, Organic Cardamom, Organic Saffron. Flavor has a slight hint of fennel and is subtly reminiscent of licorice with just a touch of cardamom and saffron.

I used this entire jar to create a quick, healthy, homemade chocolate by combining it with a cup of melted semi-dark chocolate chips and 1/2 c. shredded coconut.  Pour into molds (or in my case, mini-muffin tin) and freeze for a couple of hours.  These are the perfect size for satisfying a craving.  Honestly…I still have about 1/2 of the batch left and that is pretty amazing!  You can add dried fruit and nuts to this recipe, too.

Italian Ghee

Contains Organic Oregano, Organic Rosemary, Organic Thyme. The flavor is reminiscent of sautéing fresh Italian herbs from garden.

I used this ghee to fry up some potatoes. Very tasty!

Niter Kebbeh

Contains Organic Cardamom, Organic Cinnamon, Organic Coriander, Organic Cumin, Organic Turmeric & Organic Nutmeg. Subtle curry flavor and aroma with just a hint of cumin.

This went into a spaghetti squash bake.  I also added additional Turmeric spice, salt and pepper over it. Baked for an hour at 350 F.

More info:

Ideas for using Ghee

Connect on Facebook

Follow on Twitter

Ghee & Grass-fed Articles & Recipes

^{Disclaimer:  I was sent a review package from Pure Indian Foods for the purposes of this review. The opinions and thought expressed here are my own.}

The Girl Effect 2011

 

I went through a lot of things that I felt were unfair when I was young.  But, imagine that the fate of your entire life was set for you at 13 and your parents didn’t think life included hopes, dreams and abilities. 

I’m struggling to imagine a world where I would value cattle over my daughter’s future.

Please watch Kidan’s story

Her mother’s response to school: “There is no time for rest.”

Girls are at a Crossroads.

Girls living in poverty are uniquely capable of creating a better future. But when a girl reaches adolescence, she comes to a crossroads.

Things can go one of two ways for her and for everyone around her.

FACT: Today, more than 600 million girls live in the developing world. The total global population of girls ages 10 to 24 — already the largest in history — is expected to peak in the next decade.

FACT: One girl in seven in developing countries marries before age 15. 38 percent marry before age 18.

FACT: Pregnancy is the world’s leading cause of death for girls 15 to 19 years old.

More sobering facts available here.

You can watch Anita’s story in my previous post – the domino effect that happens in a village when a girl does go to school.

What can you do to help?

Watch the videos here and find out more about the girl effect.

Write a blog post to educate your friends and family about it.

Donate at Global Giving for Girl Effect in general or a special project that touches your heart.

To Die For Blueberry Muffins

 

Last week when I tried to make a Blueberry Flaugnarde, but it was a huge fail. So, I found a muffin recipe to hide the results in.  Below is the recipe I followed other than the blueberries were no longer fresh and also contained some cream, honey, egg and vanilla.

Alas, during the last 5 minutes of the bake my “new” oven suddenly sparked inside and when I took a peek, the coil in the bottom of the oven was on fire (a small one) and broken apart. 

Determined not to lose these muffins, I blew the fire out and continued to let them bake.  The result, amazingly, was delicious!  I can’t guarantee you’ll have the same results.  I encourage you NOT to emulate my process!

The recipe:

1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/3 c. virgin coconut oil
2 t. baking powder
1 egg
1/3 c. milk
1 c. fresh blueberries
1/2 c sugar
1/3 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. butter, cubed
1-1/2 t. ground cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Grease muffin cups or tine with muffin liners.

Combine 1-1/2 c. flour, 3/4 c. sugar, salt and baking power. Place virgin coconut oil into a 1 cup measuring cup, add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup.  Mix this with flour mixture.  Fold in blueberries.  Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.

To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 c. sugar, 1/3 c. flour, 1/4 c. butter, and 1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon.  Mix with fork and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

Original Recipe sourced from AllRecipes.com

29 Ways to Stay Creative

 

29 WAYS TO STAY CREATIVE from TO-FU on Vimeo.

Time Management Tips from a Work-At-Home-Mom (or How to Say No)

 

This past year, I have really analyzed my time, who/what I give it to and how I continue to manage it.  I’d like to share what I’ve learned as a busy, active, full-time work-at-home mom of 2 young kids in a single parent home. 

Let me begin by saying, I LIKE to be busy and involved.  I like being part of ideas and then implementing them into action.  But, I like to say YES a lot, because I get passionate about things I believe in and find myself feeling a bit over taxed.  So, really, I think this post is also about learning to say NO in a way that allows me time to think it through.  It’s not just me, after all, that feels the affects of my decisions.

These DO’s and DON’T’s might seem small, but have had life changing side-effects for me.  I feel in control of my time now.

DO NOT ever, under any circumstance, unless I feel it with every bone in my body, make an on-the-spot commitment or plan that may require a schedule adjustment.  (It’s critical with kids.)

DO say, “Thanks for thinking of me, let me check my schedule/calendar and get back to you on this.” (Stick to your guns, people are often shocked by this.)

DO NOT let someone else’s emergency become my emergency.  Whether it’s poor planning on their part or just a fluke.

DO say, “I’m sorry I can’t help” or simply “No” if helping them out is going to cause a strain on my family.

DO NOT Let anyone drag me into a schedule comparing contest.  Everyone’s calendar is full.   I feel allowed to have a different comfort level and priority level of activity in my life. 

DO feel it’s ok to say, “I’m too busy” or “This isn’t something that is going to fit into my schedule.”

One Golden Rule that will make it to 2012:

I do NOTHING extra on Mondays.  The busiest day of my week (isn’t it everyone’s?!).  I devote this day solely to my main job. I take no extra calls, no personal calls, no personal emails, no meetings, no lunches, nothing extra on Mondays.  This includes just having a nice normal Monday night at home with my kids, having a nice normal meal that I cooked on the table, nice normal baths, nice normal bedtime routine.  I calculated that if I let distractions side-step me on Mondays, I would waste 4 hours  of work time and most likely return to work after the kids went to bed. Nose to the grindstone.

Bottom Line: We all must do what is right for ourselves.

I would love to hear other time management tips!

The Girl Effect

Girls are at a Crossroads.

Girls living in poverty are uniquely capable of creating a better future. But when a girl reaches adolescence, she comes to a crossroads.

Things can go one of two ways for her and for everyone around her.

FACT: Today, more than 600 million girls live in the
developing world. The total global population of girls ages 10 to 24 —
already the largest in history — is expected to peak in
the next decade.

FACT: When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more
years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2
fewer children.

FACT: One girl in seven in developing countries marries before
age 15. 38 percent marry before age 18.

More sobering facts available here.

On October 4th, I am participating in the Girl Effect Blogging Event.



I understand and believe in why we must invest in girls. And my initial reaction to watching this video was a little sobering and a feeling of ignorance. Not totally ignorant, because I know this is an issue even in our own country with impoverished adolescent girls. But, it was amazing to think about it all in context of what an effect educating and speaking to girls before they are 12 years old can have.

Take a moment, if you would, to learn more. Please share your reactions and please sign up to join us!

[Note: You do NOT have to be an expert to participate in the campaign. The campaign is about bloggers from all different fields writing about The Girl Effect ideas- sharing personal reactions, stories from your own experiences, questions, reflections. You do not need to be an expert on these issues!]

girleffect's Channel - YouTube

Where are your feet taking you?

Where are you planning for your feet to take you this year?

I continue to strive to get back up to 4 miles/day walking outdoors while the weather lasts!  

I don’t have any training plans or races that I am planning to participate in.  I’m mostly just planning on keeping a diverse exercise routine a part of my life.  

Whether it’s bare feet during my yoga practice

^{(Note: Actual photo from @SoundMethodYoga photo shoot! A pleasure to be part of this experience & get to snap a quick picture of her atop a hay bale in a cornfield in Nebraska. Gorgeous!)}

fast & furious feet for Zumba

or steady & quick feet for walking,

I just want to be sure to keep them moving and daily!

“This post was sponsored by Omron Fitness and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation (update: I won!!) – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women“”

Wild Alaskan Blue Hake with Pan Fried Asparagus

This recipe is a great example of how cooking healthy, nutrient dense foods at home is actually just as easy, if not easier, than using processed foods or going out to eat.

Due to my location, “organic” isn’t always available.  But, I can still be selective and have sources that I trust.  Sometimes they amaze me. 

For example, I can purchase frozen wild-caught Alaskan Blue Hake right off a truck that comes to my door.  The asparagus is also not organic or even fresh, but nutritious and chock full of vitamins (pronounced vee-tah-mins a-la Molly Shannon) for my kiddos. It’s also just pennies per serving, took less than a half an hour to make, and gluten free!

I threw some of the frozen fish fillets in a glass pan and drizzled a bit of Virgin Coconut Oil over the top. Sprinkled Lemon & Pepper Seasoning, Turmeric, Minced Onion and Himalayan Salt over it as well. Baked at 350 F for about 20-30 min.

Then in a hot wok, I pan fried the frozen asparagus spears and sun-dried tomatoes.  The tomatoes were marinated in a little bit of olive oil that I used for frying. Maybe 8 minutes total.

Here’s something fancy that I tried to do for the kids and it was an epic fail.

It didn’t even photograph well! It was supposed to be this tasty Flaugnarde with roasted berries.  It was mostly that.

But, I got all cocky thinking I could make a substitution on something I have NEVER tried to make.  As you can see, I got out some cute ramekins and put fresh whip cream on it.  But, the kids knew it sucked.  

As they say, two out of three ain’t bad.  I did end up taking what was left of the berries and transforming them into these last night. (A small kitchen fire ensued...)

Also shared on:
Real Food Wednesdays
Simple Lives Thursdays
Traditional Tuesdays

Two Week Challenge

 

So, I made it! Sort of…

I made it through 12 days of the 2 week challenge.  I didn’t miss a workout, I was devoted, dedicated and overcame my fears of how much it was going to suck.  And, in the immortal words of Nike, “Just Do It.”

The last two days fell on an extremely busy weekend, with no personal time to set aside. (Working on that…)  I even got the double workout in after an extremely late girls night, before I had to work a full day on Saturday, then rush off out of town for a dear friend’s wedding.  This is something I would have never done in the past, I would have forfeited the workout to pamper myself because I was oh, so tired.

But, as it turned out, I had commitments the entire day on Sunday.  Earlier in the day, I volunteered at Nebraska’s largest car show in my hometown.  The theatre board I serve on was hosting a margarita (and beer) garden.  As well as, some extra travel I was not expecting.  I snagged up my kids, then home for all of us to collapse in our beds late Sunday night. 

I’m pretty proud of myself that Sunday was what stood in my way.  I was very aware of the fact I was not going to get my workout in and I noticed that even though I was surrounded by poor food and drink choices, I kept pretty well in check because of that fact.

Did I mention this 2 Week Challenge Workout was developed by Grunt Style, a U.S. Army Drill Sargent?!  That in itself blows my mind, I have NEVER ever done anything like this.

This week’s question: How are you planning to change up your workout as summer ends?

I’d like to pick back up to 4 miles per day with walking again, now that I am finished with this challenge.  I never tire of it and I challenge myself each time.  I’m aware that the weather allowing for this in Nebraska will be very short-lived, so I’ve got myself signed up for a second round of Zumba (fun, fun, fun) and I have a line on two yoga studios that I love, Blue Yoga and Sound Method.

I’m looking forward to changing it up a bit, getting back to enjoying it and get over this grueling hump! I consistently have trouble keeping to a set routine, so I’m constantly finding ways to “trick” myself at the spur of the moment and creating more of those opportunities for myself.

So, the results of the challenge…

I don’t have a toes on the scale photo of my weight, but I will say that I lost a total of 5 inches overall throughout the course of those 12 days and that is pretty freaking awesome! 

Hope you all have a great week!  Would love to hear some tips, ideas, or best practices on how you fit those opportunities into your day, without weighing down a full schedule. 

This post is sponsored by Mamavation