notjusthealthnuts

I miss Italian food.  Watching all these food shoes makes it worse, unless it's the one where the "f" word guy goes back into the kitchen.  It's kinda like finding out what's in spam or hot dogs, wish you had never known.  Being in the GF life has severely limited our gluten free Italian options.  Finding a non crunch lasagna noodle takes a trek across town.  I am a label reading fool.  I have found some GF penne and rotini made with ancient grains- brown rice and quinoa.  Jumping up and down giggling my friends.  If it has corn in the ingredients, it's crunchy pasta. Gross. Lasagna was my go to comfort meal.  Other than the gluten issue, lasagna tends to be high in fat and calories. Not good for your waist line or brain power.  What's  health foodie to do for comfort food? Make a redo.  The difference in my creation from other recipes are the switch outs.  Still easy with the Italian comfort; yet, no meat/more veggies ...

Healthy food and meals can loose their excitement.  Especially when you take away the fats, sugar, and salt.  Wait, I am to entice you to eat healthy. Hang with me.  Decades ago salt was left by the way side as a  primary means to flavor food for me.   We are in deep with spices and herbs.  By this I mean I get way too excited when they go on sale and enjoy picking them out.  I am in deep.  I love the choices, options, and various ways to can make different flavor profiles.  I love that my food doesn't taste bland and doesn't cause me to bloat (salt does! bastard).  Even better, this is a friends with benefits relationship.  Most spices reduce inflammation which benefits your digestive system, joints, muscles, heart, and brain.  Brain and body love.  Certain herbs aid in memory and concentration, are rich in vitamins (some even have iron!), boost immune systems, and fight free radicals with antioxidants.  If you ...

Warning: make sure you have access to a bathroom for the next couple of hours.  Do not drink then get in the car for a grocery pick up for more than thirty minutes. It. Is. Torture. 

AND it's not a salad.  I happen to like salads, but when the temps don't get above freezing for two weeks I want warmth.  I want it fast.  Mid day can be a hurdle to get through which leads to bad food relationship choices.  Suddenly you are abusing your body and brain in desperation of sustenance.  With some effort, like opening packages and dumping them, we have three meal options to beat this.  The last recipe takes a bit more commitment but the reward is bountiful.  Allot thirty minutes (at most) in prep to set a weeks worth of "throw in the microwave" food love. Vegetarian Chili Throw this in a 8 quart stock pot or  8 quart crock pot: 46 fl oz can of tomato juice 28 oz can of diced tomatoes 15.5 oz can of  light kidney beans 15.5 oz of darn kidney beans or black beans 12 oz frozen corn or mixed vegetables 2 packets of choice chili seasoning Throw it in a pot and cook on medium for 30 minutes. If it starts to boil reduce heat...

It's about as Mexican as in you're driving down the road hungry craving "Mexican" and you stop at some taco place. As much as I love cooking, there are times when I want something quick that stops just short of drive through. This is less sketchy and healthier- A "not a drive through, satisfies my spiciness, throw it in a pan" creation. What you need Pre cooked chicken diced * cook it your self (1 lbs) , rotisseries, or packaged. No judgement zone Brown Rice 1 dry cup cooked * get the "it takes 5 minutes kind" Diced Tomatoes   1 14.5 oz can * no salt added, machinery may be involved Corn 1 14.5 oz can, no salt added Onions  1/2 cup diced Cilantro 1 Tbsp Garlic  2 Tbsp or 2 cloves diced Cumin 2 Tbsp Cayenne 2  Tbsp Shredded Cheddar Cheese 4 oz, reduced fat * separate into half - 2 oz and 2 oz Reduced Fat Cream Cheese 8 oz Turn oven on to 350 to preheat Making it Step one- get it prepped and together.  If your chick...

Cooler weather should be the interlude of busyness- a reminder to be still.  This health foodie is ready to root into warmth and a major cuisine shift.  I immerse myself blankets (largely so my children can't find me) while I am on the hunt for one pot, crock pot, and soup inspirations.    I am not one for following a recipe exactly or even remotely close.  I like jumping off points that I hope to land like a cat and not on my face.  The recent flurry of pinning sessions has produced a couple of simple, nourishing recipes that I love. As far as soups go, I am either a vegetarian purist or a shameless meatarian.  No in between.  This recipe has ingredient options/switch outs for either preference for you or in my case which mood I am in.  Some prep is required, but it is mostly dumping into the crock pot. Chicken Stew /Veggie Stew Ingredients 4-5 skinless chicken thighs (cooked) or opt out for vegetarian preference Beef broth or Vege...

         As soon as Starbucks gives the pumpkin spice latte signal I am ready for soups, pumpkin, root veggies, and twice the banana.  Unfortunately, this summer held on with its fierce grip and autumn flavor had to wait.  Now oven is on and so are the baking experiments.  The start of this tale was a girl (me!) seriously craving some banana bread of the gluten free kind. Anything of the baking variety with me becomes an experiment.  Cooking is more my thing, but baking is becoming a necessary skill to acquire.  After emptying my cabinets and pulling a basic recipe, this deliciousness was created-   It's mix of grains with protein, omegas, fiber. Good stuff.  But it taste bad.  Like you wanna be bad. Gluten free Banana Bread What you need: Brown or white rice flour 1/2 cup Flaxseed 1/4 cup Oats   3/4 cup, ground (gluten free for GF challenged) Large egg with 1/3 cup of melted butter OR...

I am a girl who loves to eat.  Protein shakes are great for on the fly and nutrition punch in the gut/ for the gut. However, I want real food.  For so long I either mindlessly ate and neglected the attention it deserved or hated food because we didn't understand each other and how to work together.  From leechy junk food who hangs around- in undesirable places- to that empty feeling calorie, I struggled.  After years of the love/hate tango we have finally come to healthy terms.   Our arrangements go like this:  I sit to eat and no longer eat on the run.  I was horrible about not taking my time and being thoughtless.   Now we have a time to be present in choices and time to be present at the meal.  This gives me the power to keep negative and unhealthy foods are under my control.   I have the right to be choosy in who shows up to dinner, lunch, breakfast, and in between. Especially salt and fats. I can say no and send them packing....