~MY WAY~ day #2

Today was a cold rainy day. As I sat in one of my patients room looking out the window I decided I wanted to make something warm and home-y for dinner. Then i decided to ask my patient for her recipe of chicken soup, or as us mexicans call it: Caldo de pollo. MMMmm! So I wrote down her recipe on the back of a paper, and told her I'd bring her some the next day so she can taste it :)

2 things id like to point out:
thing one- eating well is NOT expensive. All it took was a squash, 1 carrot, celeray, cabbage, garlic, onion, and chicken. I stopped by the grocery store on my way home and paid: $0.14 for carrot, $0.19-squash, $0.97 chicken etc etc.

thing two- ive come to learn that traditional aka "ethnic" foods as they like to call'em a lot of times make great "paleo" or whole food dishes. Because back in the day, before the time of processed foods, people actually ate REAL food, the things our bodies were made to consume. So i plan to explore and blog about many many foods rich in culture, history, and flavor! recipes dont always have to come from a book, or a website... people are walking recipe books, and there is so much to learn from them! so dont be afraid to ask its a great way to learn little tips & secrets for great (and never boring!) cookin!

The soup turned out delicious! and cant wait to let her try it and see what she thinks.

- Ingredients:
3 cloves garlice
1/2 onion
chicken
.......all put to boil with sal and pepper to taste.

-add slices carrots, celery, mexican squash and cabbage then let cook at a lower temperature.
-Towards the end of cooking ingredients in pot add mexican calabaza (squash) because it cooks quicker, and its important not to overcook veggeatbles ;)

Perfect for a rainy day!


OH! and one more thing, I usually cook for ~2-4 servings at a time! i eat, and then use ziplock freezer bags for the additional food. I mark the baggie with the name of food and the date it was made. put it in the freezer and take it out in the morning, quick , early, and ready to take to work for lunch.

Whatever YOUR meal consists of...
BON a PETIT!

~ MY WAY ~ day 1

Last night (before even knowing about the challenge!) I made my luch for today. I was in a hurry and super tired ( i just got back from a 10 day trip, and major jetlag. So i wanted to do something easy!

I turned the broiler on, and literally threw 3 boneless chicken thighs in some bakeware. cut one brown onion into rings. threw that on. threw in about 1/4 cup of grape tomatoes, along with some salt, pepper and paprika.

whoala!

this morning I was also in a hurry, but I wanted to accompany it with some greens so I threw in some green beens into my tupperware with a piece of chicken.

It was delicious!
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~Kale Shrimp Wraps~

After work I went home and made a modified version of a recipe I saw on food network a couple weeks ago. The recipe was for shrimp/pork wraps, but I only had shrip at home so it became shrimp wraps. And I only had kale instead of lettuce, so they became Kale Wraps, which is a.o.k with me because Kale is an amazing see vegetable LOADED with vitamins and minerals! most sea vegetables are :)

The recipe asked to begin with sauteeing Shallots and garlic in pan. I only had mexican onions and garlic...so ...thats what I used! then seasoned with paprika, cumin and pepper. DUring the show I learned a tip: Add salt last because salt keeps meats from searing andmakes meat dry and boil instead.

after sauteeing those ingredients added shrimp, waited for it all to sautee, then added salt to taste, and chopped cillantro along with water chesnuts.

Dont have all the ingredients at home to follow a recipe? its OK! get creative. have fun! work with what you got;)

day #1, two delicious meals!

(ps I make 2-4 servings whenever I cook so I can use for lunch/dinner later on in the week :)

Cooking and journaling. two things that make me happy. how can i go wrong with this!?! great form of creative expression {edible Art!}

~Paleo~ MY WAY!

I just spent the last 30 days traveling to different cities in the U.S. and island hopping. On my travels I tried and experienced soooo many different local/traditional dishes, desserts, fruits, drinks! AMAZING!

I am SO thankful to be in a place in my life where I can truly enjoy so many beautiful tastes and share them with loved ones without guilt, shame, or remorse! and also without making food (over eating!) my life. So COMPLETELY satisfied by LIFE and LIVING! that food doesn't need to fill that role anymore :)

For many years, practically my whole life....my weight, food, dieting,were a battle. A battle I never seemed to win. There were points in my life when my "diet" consisted of all protein shakes. all day, everyday, and nothing else, until i reached that magic number. There was also the grilled chicken and brown rice phase ... no salt! gross. i might as well have been eating cardboard! i remember literally feeling like the meal would never end as I chewed the tasteless chicken. chewing my meal felt like a laboring act! there was the fruits and almonds phase or "diet". and many more! and of course, after each phase of such extreme rigidity came the binging. trying to satisfy for all the deprivation that was experienced. and what did this lead to? Lose weight, gain weight. again, and again. exhausting cycle. and such an immense sense of failure :(

at this point in my life I will not invest any moment or effort in doing (or eating!) something that doesn't bring life to me! enjoyment. happiness. energy.richness. strength!

DO (and eat) WHAT YOU LOVE!
at every moment.
because seriously, we only live once.

Anyway, As a result of my journey with weight, Through the years I've educated myself, reading tons of books, getting certified as a holistic nutritionist, and have learned sooo much about nutrition and cooking taking many fun & whole foods cooking classes! And (in my opinion) most importantly, acquired many perspectives and insights for finding and developing a beautiful healthy relationship with food and body image. {LOVE & Self acceptance is at the root of it all!}

Why am I talking about all this?
This morning at my crossfit gym they started the "90 day paleo challenge". So im gonna do it! AND IM EXCITED!

BUT im def gonna do it MY WAY!

I pretty much follow a paleo "diet" already, And I have for about 2 years (god i hate the word diet!!!! grrr!) except I prefer to refer to it as WHOLE FOODS :) think natural, nourishing, fresh foods! (fruits, vegetables, meats, etc etc) ..but I must state for the record that I currently intake things that don't fall under this descriptions: alcohol, diet coke, and desserts (cheeese cake!) when i feel like it. yum! haha )

MY MISSION:
I am on a mission to cook a new and delicious "paleo"/WHOLE FOODS meal each day! To prove ( because I completely believe!) that food can be both GOOD FOR YOU and just plain GOOOOOOD!

people (friends & Fam) are always asking me what I eat, and want me to tell them what to eat. (I hate to answer the question because I don't like to tell people what to eat.think about it....would you let someone tell you what to wear everyday? how to do your hair? how to raise your child? what religion to follow? Hopefully not! well, in that same manner no one should tell them what you what to eat! Everyone is different, and every body has different needs!

So Here, for the next 90 days. Im going to share recipes, my daily "paleo" meals, different perspectives/insights on nutrition and well being, and things that I have found work for ME. Please take what I share, then take what you like and make it YOUR own. Because this is YOUR life, you have to be true to YOU, your preferences, your priorities, your lifestyle, and live it YOUR way :)


Hope my sharing helps!