Healthy Pesto Ingredients

May 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Being creative with pesto.

Pesto is an easy way to spice up any meal from hotdogs to pizza or even seafood. So why not make it an easy way to add some healthy fats, herbs and nuts to any diet plan.

Healthy Ingredients

Nuts - Besides pine nuts, walnuts are a good alternative, but, be a little creative. I like to include sesame or flax seeds lightly chopped or crunchy almond butter. Tahini is very healthy but too smooth so use just a little otherwise the pesto will turn out too pasty.

Herbs - Fresh Basil is not always accessible, parsley is a healthy alternative. If you include dry herbs, like oregano give them about a day to soften up or the texture will be too grainy.

Oils - Virgin Olive Oil add its' own special flavor. Not sure if any thing could replace it. If you have any suggestion please include them below.

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Filed Under: Snacks, Uncategorized

kitchen Appliances

May 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment

 

Crock Pot

Travel Crock Pots

Easy to travel with, no slip lid. This is great for soups and if you make your own broth or stock this is the easiest and least expensive way to cook these and not to mention whole chickens and turkey breast or thighs.

Travel Crock Pots

 

Stainless Steel Pan

Calphalon Stainless Steel 10-Inch Everyday Pan with Glass Lid

It´s my everyday pan for almost everything, Stainless steel, has a strong thick bottom for good heat disbursement and the glass lid makes it easy to poach an egg or 2.

Stainless Steel Everyday Pan

 

2 Piece Santoku Knife

2 Piece Santoku Knife

The Santoku style has plenty of versatility for slicing meat or dicing apples. This is a good knife for plenty of uses and should be in any minimalist kitchen. You’ll wonder why anyone would have a large block of knives.

2 Piece Santoku Knife

 

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Filed Under: Minimalist Healthy Kitchen Store

Diet Chart and Journal for Healthy Weight Loss

March 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Waist and Weight
Chart and Journal
March 10, 2013
Weight
& Waist		 Weight loss chart

Measuring my waist for weight loss chart.

This week started out really good, dropped to 224 and then went and bought some ice cream as a reward. And as you can see everything turned north. I've did pretty well with the soup diet, starting off with the fat burning soup that is similar to chili.

February 24, 2013
Weight

This has been a crazy week; Just came back from a 2 week trip and I'm still playing catchup. Did start the soup diet and hopefully will start a yoga retinue this week.

Waist

I've been tied to the desk this week So I'm surprised I didn't balloon out. The soup diet has helped

Weight

Starting a yoga retinue and next week I'll be starting the Soup Diet.

February 17, 2013
Waist

During the last football game of the season I did a session of sets made up of:
Every first down: 3 chin up or 5 leg lifts from the chin up bar.
Every touch down: 2 Sun Salutations.

Turning the next 2 days I lost more than an inch and a half and 5 pounds, can't waite to do this again.
Heart Rate & Measurements Progress Chart
Date Heart Rate
at Rest		 Maximum
Heart Rate		 Weight Waist Chest
12/20/2011 - - 236 43 44.5

Again, this is my lowest weight for the year and late last month's lowest weight in was 229, WOW under 230.

Cutting back on the starches and sugar really makes a difference. Oatmeal and barley are still my grain of choice, and I can load a bowl of oatmeal up with plenty of blueberries and bananas and other fruit.

Last month my hrm watch needed a new battery and after replacing it the beats per minute did not match up so I got a new watch and will start listing the heart rates again next month.

OK the Holiday parties are almost over and I've done a pretty good job of staying away from the bad (fatty) hor dourves. There's a few more to go to and has much as I enjoy eating, I've done pretty good sticking with protein and veggies and not so much from the desert table.

I'm following Mike's Daily Apple online, his blog is a little pedantic for me, but ideas on diet match up with with my Blood Type, ANDI and my views of eating for high nitration and balance. Mike also has a free fitness ebook. I think it was made for anyone including someone like myself that's been starring into a computer screen for years. The ebook is not about getting you into unbelievable shape, but to get you healthy.

I'm slowing down my eating time, adding a glass of water before a meal, it helps in digestion and it makes fill up faster.
Date Heart Rate
at Rest		 Maximum
Heart Rate		 Weight Waist Chest
7/22/2011 71 134 241.4 44 44.5

This is my lowest weight for the year and finally starting to see my waist starting to shrink.

After reviewing my blood type in Cook for your Blood Type, I've cut way back on starches - carbs and increased the amount of nutrients with veggies and protein with meat. I've started a weekly food journal that will start posting this weekend.

Another big change in my diet has been cutting out or slowing down the amount of chocolate and health food bars. Because of my blood type and Ayurveda types chocolate and processed soy isn't really healthy for me.

Maybe one of the most valuable lessons I've learned is not to eat while being distracted (like eating in front of the TV), instead I'm sitting quietly with all my attention on what I'm eating and making sure the food is chewed thoroughly experiencing all the food, chewing and the whole eating process has to offer. By doing this I notice when I'm full and consequently I don't eat so much.

Next month I'll start adding volumetric to my diet plan.
4/18/2011 73 133 246.6 48 45

OK, It´s been a long time, and I've seen my all time heaviest weight 2 weeks ago, 248bls., UN-believable.

Just started a course at Learnable.com about the 4 Elements of food, that's about balancing the different tastes (sweet, sour, bitter and salty). By adding sweet foods, like dates, figs and not so much sour foods, I've curbed my ice cream binging. There are still several weeks left in the course and I'm so impressed with the class, I've added this to my over all diet plan.

Spring is here and most of the pollen is gone and this year´s experience with pollen has not been bad. Maybe just 2 bouts of sinus problems lasting about 20 minutes each, as apposed to last year that lasted almost a full month of sinus headaches and problems. I attribute my good fortune to cutting out almost all process foods, but that's just speculation.

6/06/2010 73 135 243.6 45 44.5
Last week I toped out at my all time highest weight, 245, so I'm have a big incentive to start exercising and eating right. I'm starting a new diet, Nutrition Rich Diet, I'll have more about that later.
4/11/2010 82 147 243.2 45 45.5

This is mostly a weight loss chart and heart rate chart. I think the most important column is the heart at rest (measuring how hard the heart is working at rest). The measurements for the heart rate are in beats per minute and my goal is to get it down into the 50s and this year is to get it into the 60s or low 70s.

This is mostly a weight loss chart and heart rate chart. I think the most important column is the heart at rest (measuring how hard the heart is working at rest). The measurements for the heart rate are in beats per minute and my goal is to get it down into the 50s and this year is to get it into the 60s or low 70s.

This is mostly a weight loss chart and heart rate chart. I think the most important column is the heart at rest (measuring how hard the heart is working at rest). The measurements for the heart rate are in beats per minute and my goal is to get it down into the 50s and this year is to get it into the 60s or low 70s.

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Filed Under: Journal

Frey Red Organic Table Wine

December 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Frey organic red table wine.
Frey Natural Red

Location
Mendocino Ca.

Year
none

Price
About $ 9.00

Store / date bought
Whole Foods / September 2012
Unique Qualities:
Organic Grapes and no sulfites added

Date Tasted
12/30/2012

Where / food pairing / etc.
Home / Juicy hamburger with grilled onions & mushrooms and brussel sprouts

Appearance:
Dark dark red

Bouquet:
flowery

Body
Light and smooth and hot in the mouth

Sweet to Dry
Goes down a little dry

Harsh to Soft

Soft while in the mouth, then harsh going down

Acid

nice big acids

Flavors

Nice aroma - pretty big in the mouth - a little bitter going down.

Finish
Starts silky and then acidity

After Taste
A fresh taste

Comments
Over all I would buy this again. For under $10 this is a great everyday wine.
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Filed Under: Wine Tagged With:

Brewing Teavana White Ayurvedic Chai Tea

December 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Brewing Chai Tea.

This chai tea includes a base of white tea and plenty of healthy Ayurvedic ingredients including - ginger, coriander, cardamom and cinnamon.

Nice aroma, there are strong ginger and cardamon flavors on the tongue, almost like a Marsala chi.

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Filed Under: Tea Tagged With:

Plantains a healthy sweet desert

October 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Plantains with yogurt and fruit

Fried plantains with yogurt and dried berries.

Plantains are simple to cook and can have a diverse taste (see the video).  In the image above I cooked these in coconut oil for a sweet flavor and clarified butter for a nutty flavor, just enough to cover the bottom of the pan.  The yogurt adds a nice texture and the berries add their own flavor. A little maple syrup goes a long way and can add another level sweetness and flavor.

This is a simple way to have a sweet desert with no sugar added.

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Filed Under: Deserts

Grilled Salmon with Sesame Seeds

October 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Grilled Salmon with Sesame Seeds

Wild Salmon grilled with Sesame Seeds

Wild Salmon just came into season (September) and went on sale this week, and yes there is nothing like fresh salmon. In Alaska they are always looking for new salmon recipes so I wanted to experiment a little.

This is a simple recipe: just add butter and dill. On the last turn add some sesames seeds.

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Filed Under: Fish Tagged With: ,

Green Tea Mints

October 7, 2012 by 2 Comments

I’ve been eating these green tea breath mints for the last 6 months or so, and really like them. No sugar, I don’t think there’s too much caffeine and they taste good. The label says 3 drops equals about 1 cup of green tea.

Breath Mint Flavors
The 3 flavors are light no menthol. Not what you would expect from a breath mint.

  1. Lemongrass:
  2. Orginal:
  3. Pear: This is lght and delacate but refreshing

No sugar: The two sweeteners for this product are sorbitol and xylitol.

What others are saying:

Sencha Naturals Green Tea Mints contain a unique blend of organically grown teas, botanicals and mint oils to leave your mouth feeling refreshed and clean.

The benefits of green tea have long been know: slows aging reduced cancer risk and even helps with weight loss.

Love Green Tea and don’t have time to brew a cup? Sencha Green Tea Mint is for you. Tried one and could not forget the refreshing taste that made me feel like a mountain springs in Japan soothing my soul.

Each loose-leaf mint imparts a fresh, nuanced taste created with organically grown, certified Fair Trade green tea. Sencha Naturals products help inhibit bad breath, boost the immune system, reduce cancer risk, slow the aging process, and help prevent heart disease.

These irresistible pastel mints strongly infused with organic sencha, a green tea, are shaped like tea leaves. Sencha Naturals in Los Angeles makes them in three flavors: plain, cooling lemon grass and sweet pear, all sugar-free.

Mints in the shape of tea leaves and taste great and are refreshing. Made from a blend of organic green tea are known to help inhibit the root causes of bad breath.

And they taste very good. They’re a all-natural, so you get that benefit. It goes along with the organic trend.

Unlike mints that merely mask bad breath, these inhibit oral bacteria with their blend of green tea and other supporting herbal extracts.

Ingredients

Blend – Organic Green Tea Extract, Organic Jasmine, Sweet Fennel, Tea Tree Oil,
Natural Flavors, Turmeric, Lo Han Guo. Other Ingredients – Sorbitol, Xylitol, Calcium Stearate.

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Filed Under: Tea Tagged With: ,

Everyday Stainless Steel with Glass Lid Calphalon

October 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Frittata an easy and tasty way to add eggs and veggies in to your diet.

Why I like it:

This is my everyday go to pan for almost everything from searing, poaching, paella, warming up leftovers, omelets, frittatas and any 1 pot anything.  It´s stainless steel, has a strong thick bottom for good heat disbursement and the glass lid makes it easy to poach an egg or 2.

The price is right too. The same size pan with a long handle is almost twice as much. Without the long handle it fits easily in the counter top oven and sink for cleaning.

The glass lid makes it easy to watch the food as an example when poaching eggs on top of vegetables you can see exactly when to pull the pan off the burner and serve.

Cons:
The pan doesn´t have a long handle, so a towel or gloves are needed when the pan is tilted to move food to a plate or container. I have heard some like the 2 handle method better than the 1 long handle for this size pan.

What I've learned:
Because this is not a non stick pan it´s important to coat the pan with butter or oil to create a thin layer between the food and the pan. I learned the best way to do this from the Frugal Gourmet: Hot pan add oil, hot oil add food.

Maybe the biggest thing I've learned is the correct temperature (med or a little less) to use and when to use a little water to help heat the food.

How to clean

Every once in awhile clean the pan or anything stainless steel with baking soda.

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Filed Under: Kitchen Tagged With:

Rules for a Weight Loss plan

October 7, 2012 by 6 Comments

We all know there are certain things to do and not do that will help us with our weight loss goals. Sometimes we make exceptions and sometimes we just forget to be healthy. I am setting up these rules more as a guide-line than laws to stay healthy. Most of these are reminders.

  1. Exercise Everyday Try to get the heart rate above 135 for at least 5 minutes twice a day.
  2. Drink a glass of water before each meal.
  3. Don't over eat Take time between each bite to breath or take a sip of water.
  4. Protein with each meal Have a least a little protein, and it can be a non meat.
  5. 5 servings of fruit or veggies a day.
  6. Don't eat after 7 pm
  7. Use dinner to set up a night time fasting 3 or 4 times a week. Go to bed a little hungry. Eat just a little protein, and wake up to tea with lemon and later a healthy breakfast with lots of protein.
  8. Stay away from starch and sugar.
  9. Carry some healthy food around so if there is a temptation you´re covered.
  10. Set up long term goals and make them happen.

OK so these rules are not so hard. And should be easy to follow.

Do you have a rule that helps you lose weight? Please share it.

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Filed Under: Diet Tagged With: , , , , ,
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