Friday, July 16, 2010

Another Summer salad

I'm excited that I've found so many healthy recipes lately in very unlikely places. Randy our trainer today was talking about being healthy. His philosophy is exercise, eat simple food and drink water.
I have to mention one more benefit of higher intensity workouts. My resting heart rate has dropped almost 20 points. So my heart is getting more rest in the down time, so I recover quicker from any workout. I've mentioned before that every workout is fun even though it's high intensity but he is also working the entire body in each workout.
Anyway you're here for the salad recipe.

Mediterranean Garbanzo Salad
5 cherry or grape tomatoes halved
1 small zucchini or yellow squash chopped
1/2 can of garbanzos drained and rinsed
4 olives halved
1 TBS chopped parsley
1TBS olive oil
1TBS lemon juice.
2 or 3 lettuce leaves chopped.
Toss and either eat as a salad or use as a pita stuffing.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Beat the heat

I read an article the other day that said to eat Thai food when it was hot to get your sweat reflex going. Much as I love Thai food I have a hard time eating it when it's hot.

The other school of thought is to eat cooling foods: cucumbers, watermelon anything light on the stomach. One of my favorite salads is from The Pioneer Woman web site. If you want to see the photos and step by step instructions. Go to http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/ and search for :Asian Noodle Salad.


Asian Noodle Salad
Ingredients
SALAD INGREDIENTS:
1 package Linguine Noodles, Cooked, Rinsed, And Cooled
½ heads Sliced Napa Cabbage, Or More To Taste
½ heads Sliced Purple Cabbage, Or More To Taste
½ bags Baby Spinach, Or More To Taste
1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Sliced Thin
1 whole Yellow Bell Pepper, Sliced Thin
1 whole Orange Bell Pepper, Thinly Sliced
1 bag Bean Sprouts (also Called Mung Bean Sprouts)
Chopped Cilantro, Up To 1 Bunch, To Taste
3 whole Scallions, Sliced
3 whole Cucumbers Peeled And Sliced
1 can (about 10 Oz.) Whole Cashews, Lightly Toasted In Skillet
_____
FOR THE DRESSING:
1 whole Lime, Juiced
8 Tablespoons Olive Oil
8 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
2 Tablespoons (up To 3 Tablespoons) Sesame Oil
⅓ cups Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons Fresh Ginger Chopped
2 cloves Garlic Chopped
2 whole Hot Peppers Or Jalapenos, Chopped
Chopped Cilantro
Preparation Instructions
Mix salad ingredients together. Whisk dressing ingredients together and pour over salad. Mix with tongs or hands and serve on a platter.
Note: dressing keeps for up to three days before serving, without cilantro.


Also if you go to the www.pioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/ you can find a nice selection of vegan and vegetarian recipes. Just look under the special dietary needs section.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

P90X is for wimps

Just a little update on my personal group training. We're in week 3 and I've lost 5 lbs. This training has been just the thing to get my body out of it's rut.

I mentioned before there is an element of fun to each of the exercises. Also we haven't done the same workout twice.

Today we paired up, one person put a stretchy band around their hips and ran the length of the waterfront while their partner held them back. Try this with your kids.
Then we did the same thing backwards, then with weights.
Next get in plank position and start walking backwards kids would love this one too.

It's just fun. If anyone wants to learn more about the exercises and try them let me know and we can get a group together.

Tom and I did P90X last year and I felt good but it's nothing to this training.

I am so thankful to work for a company that promotes a healthy lifestyle. They understand how beneficial exercise is for stress relief , productivity as well as the monetary benefits for the company.

It's a huge contrast to my last company that offered first time cancer insurance. It was so difficult to sit in the open enrollment meetings while they talked about how wonderful this benefit was. "When you get cancer you immediately will receive a check for $1000 and you can do anything you want with it". HUH?

God is so good.

I've found some really great summer recipes and I'll start posting them for you.

Have a safe and blessed holiday.