My Food Revolution: Gorgonzola Salad

The wider variety of food we eat the better off we are; diversification is good for us and that includes changing up the veggies we eat. Different foods give us different nutrients but more importantly changing it up hopefully means you won't get sick of the good stuff and head back for the unhealthy foods. Here's another salad recipe I love eating.

Gorgonzola Salad:
Hearts of Romaine
Purple Onion - 2 slices of the onion then chopped to desired size
Cherub Tomatoes
Gorgonzola Crumbles
Pepper to taste
Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinaigrette to taste

I threw this together for my family one time and ever since then I'm in charge of making the salad when we get together for holidays. It's easy, light, simple and even healthier for you than my favorite salad.

My Food Revolution: Simple Salad

Who doesn't need an easy, healthy salad in their recipe book that is easy on the budget? Here's a great one for just that.

Simple Salad:

Mixed Baby Greens

Cherub Tomatoes

Salt and Pepper to taste

Homemade Croutons
Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinaigrette to taste

I called this my 'Simple Salad' but it's also known as my 'running low on ingredients' salad or maybe 'running low on cash' salad. Fewer ingredients, easier to make, it's a good alternative if you're a little lazy but still want a good salad to eat. It's a good idea to only have Ranch (or whatever your naughty salad dressing is) once a day. If possible, once every few days. The more often you can use Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinaigrette the better.

My Food Revolution: Terminology is Tricky

One of the reasons participating in a Food Revolution is so difficult is because of the language surrounding food. It seems every way you turn the food industry is trying to trick the consumer into believing they are making healthy choices when they may not be. Maybe you're not into reading labels like I am, I know a lot of people avoid labels for their own reasons and I respect their decision to do that. Then there are the more neurotic types like me who want to know every ingredient that is in their food before they buy it. I'm sure the average person out there is a happy medium of the two, checking some of the food typically called 'junk food' and reaching for the 'healthy food' without even a second glance. But they come up to the egg aisle and they see all these different labels on the carton and thinking they're picking the right thing grab a cage free, all natural egg. It costs more, it makes them feel good, and yet it does nothing to ensure the chicken lives in a way that is beneficial to you or it. This article was sent to me by a friend and it deciphers the jargon written on your egg cartons.

So don't just buy the brown eggs because you think they're better; make sure they're pasture raised if possible and organic. If you can't find pasture raised eggs (as I'm having a difficult time doing) make sure you're getting free range not cage free. Most chickens live in a hut but that doesn't mean the hut is sanitary or safe but it's still sans cage. Make sure you know what things mean, otherwise you might as well just get the regular eggs rather than paying 50% more for something that isn't that much better for you.

Chanel's Food Revolution: Blue Buffalo

Long before I switched over to eating healthy my dog Chanel has been on the 'Organic Food' regimen. Part of the reason for her switch was the trouble she was having with regular dog food. I had two options: Pay more for dog food or spend a good deal of time cleaning up stains on the carpet. I choose the former, opting to give my pup what her digestive system clearly needed and save myself from gagging at the ruminants of bad dog food. In the search for finding what suited her particular dietary needs I tried a few foods, and some where downright awful whereas others were pretty good. I came across Blue Buffalo at the suggestion of a friend who had the same breed of dog, in fact she got her dog from the same breeder I got Chanel. Once I gave Chanel Blue Buffalo, she was hooked; clearly this was a match made in heaven! She's been on Blue Buffalo for over two years now, and we haven't had a 'digestive issue' since!

Last week I was picking up dog food for her and noticed that Blue Buffalo had two other types of recipes. They had their usual diet which Chanel had been eating as well as a 'Limited Ingredients' diet and the new 'Wolf Diet' - both were on sale for $5-$10 off. The newest 'Wolf Diet' caught my eye, not only did it offer food with Duck in it, the food was also 100% grain free. I dragged that 40 lb bag to the counter and didn't turn back.

Dogs only live for so long, shouldn't every moment of their life be healthy, happy, and chemical free? For a special treat I add water to Chanel's food. It softens the food and creates a gravy if you swirl it. No chemicals, no preservatives, no subsequent digestive issue. It's a win-win-win.

My Food Revolution: More of What I'm Eating

Earlier this month I told you what I was eating, and I thought two weeks later might be a good time to share some more recipes I've been using with you. The more I learn about what I'm eating the easier it is to keep eating healthy. I found that many homemade dinners can be easily altered with a healthy substitute that tastes fabulous and isn't processed. Here's a few pointers.

Ditch the Texas Toast:

Ever look at the back of your garlic toast box and look up the ingredients? It's not pretty and what's even worse is how coated in yellow the toast is. It's probably not even butter but whatever it is, it sure is delicious. How are you supposed to cut that out of your diet? Easy enough if you have the right tools.

Garlic Ciabatta Bread

Healthy Snacking:
Every good intention can be undermined by buying pre-made snacks. Forget the calories, count the ingredients. If there are more ingredients than the number of fingers or toes you have it's probably not the best thing for you. The best snacks are ones that are simple and delicious. It's not always so easy to bring fruit with you so grab something else that's great for you! For a great on the go alternative make your own trail mix.

Courtney's Trail Mix

When I told you about LARABAR I didn't tell you they were about $1.50 - $2.00 each. For some people that's just not doable. The other recipe I was given is a little more putzy than this one which I found on Prevention.com so I share it with you now.

Prevention's Granola Bars
When I was little I used to call asparagus ass-per-gas and refused to eat it. Then one day a friend's mom made a quiche with bacon and asparagus in it. I cut a small slice and was determined to eat it to be polite. After the first bite I was hooked, I loved asparagus. While I've had asparagus in the quiche several times since, I've only recently ventured out to eating it in a healthier way.

Asparagus

Change is CONSTANT:
Even after two weeks I continually change what I'm eating. I've replaced Lay's Potato Chips with homemade Popcorn, an apple and string cheese at lunch. For an after dinner treat I eat organic strawberries and blueberries OR I hanker down with Haagen Daz Chocolate Ice Cream and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Why Haagen Daz? Each ice cream previously mentioned has five to six ingredients without compromising taste. This is old fashioned style ice cream, the kind that even your grandmother's grandmother would recognize as ice cream when reading the ingredients. It's so rich and heavenly you can eat less and feel satisfied. It's a win-win.

My Food Revolution: Asparagus

Asparagus:
Asparagus Tips
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic Salt
Black Pepper

To make this in oven place the asparagus on some aluminum foil over a cookie sheet. Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees. Drizzle the olive oil, garlic salt and black pepper over the asparagus. Bake for fifteen minutes.

*To make this on the grill combine the asparagus, olive oil, garlic salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well. Place on the grill, turning over once one side has browned. Average cook time is five minutes.

My Food Revolution: Prevention's Granola Bars

Prevention's Granola Bars:


2 C Granola
3/4 C Almonds
3/4 C Chopped Dried Fruit
1/2 to 3/4 C Dark Chocolate Chips
1/3 C Sugar (half brown, half white)
2 Egg Whites
2 TB Whole Wheat Flour

Pre-heat the oven for 300 degrees. Mix all of the ingredients together before placing on aluminum foil covered cookie sheet. Bake for 45 minutes, let cool before cutting into bars.

*Make on Sunday to enjoy the following week for breakfast while running out the door to work.
**Try mixing and matching as shown in the picture.

Check out the video from Prevention.com here.