Healthy Enchilada Grains

I made the best concoction for my lunch this week. I had to share it because it tastes so good I almost forgot how healthy it was. the bonus is that it makes enough that I had a nice big helping for lunch, and was able to freeze some for future meals. It's so good, I may even use it to fill whole grain tortillas for some incredible veggie enchiladas.

(In a crockpot) Just take a large can of Enchilada sauce, a cup of wild rice and a half cup of Bulgar wheat (all wild rice if you're avoiding gluten) put enough water in it to make the measurements of liquid correct according to your rice and wheat packages...chop up an onion in there, and cook on low overnight. Shred a little cheddar cheese over the top, or you could use fat free...and it is so delish. it's like eating beefy enchilada filling...Yum! You can make the enchilada sauce from scratch if you want to, that way you avoid the sodium too. The great thing is, a whole cup and a half of this filling meal only has 400 calories...and they are all whole grain, dairy and veggie.

Enchilada Sauce

* 3 tablespoons olive oil
* 1 tablespoon rice flour
* 1/4 cup chili powder
* 2 cups vegetable stock
* 10 ounces tomato paste
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Directions

In a medium saucepan heat oil, add rice flour, smoothing and stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook for 1 minute. Add chili powder and cook for 30 seconds. Add stock, tomato paste, oregano, and cumin. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. The sauce will thicken and smooth out. Adjust the seasonings. Serve atop your favorite enchiladas.

Celebrating day 42 with a great recipe

Hi my name is Pamela and I am addicted to processed, unhealthy foods.

Wow, hard to believe it has been 42 days since I realized food addiction was the primary cause of my weight issues and was leading me toward health problems and aches and pains as each day passed.

42 days in, I am happy to say, as of this morning, I have lost 29 pounds. This is amazing to me because I am not counting calories, I'm not on any specific plan, I'm not writing down every morsel I put in my mouth. I am simply saying no to any foods that are processed, packaged or made specifically for the fast food industry. I have consumed cheese, red meat and even a small slice of homemade apple pie. Yes, those things are limited in my daily routine and I would not eat them every day, but none of those foods are triggers for binges on large amounts of calorie laden, unhealthy foods. It was very freeing to discover that foods made from scratch without preservatives, even if they contain some sugar or a little bit of fat, are not triggers. Of course this convinces me even more of the dangers/problems with processed foods. I am still researching that and when I feel like I know what I am talking about a little more, I will post the results of my study. In the mean time, I'm celebrating the freedom of walking each day in food sobriety. I don't have a weight loss goal set because as I wrote previously, it isn't as much about losing weight as it is about being healthy. But, just so that none of the readers get concerned about the weight loss, I could easily lose another 70 to 80 pounds without being in danger of being under weight. ;) I don't know if my body will shed that much or not. Wherever the number lands I will still work out my food-sobriety each day, sometimes each hour. Just like a alcoholic or drug addict, this will not go away and no matter what my body weight or BMI I must be committed to food sobriety for the rest of my life.

This morning I made a wonderful wild rice dish. In celebration of 42 days of food-sobriety, here is the recipe.

Wild Spanish Rice

4 cups cooked wild rice
1 cup chopped green onion
1 cup enchilada sauce
1 large can, chopped green chiles
1 cup shredded cheddar/jack cheese

Stir all ingredients into rice over medium heat. Keep stirring as mixture heats. (to avoid scorching) If you want to add some lean protein to this dish, add 1 cup of diced, cooked chicken breast. Serve as a side dish or as a wonderful lunch. It's great served with a side of fruit or stuffed in a tomato or bell pepper. This will serve 6 to 8 adults as a side dish, or at least 4 as a main dish.

Enjoy!

Keep coming back, It works if you work it!

Choosing Healthy Fare on the Run.

One of my biggest excuses for failure in the quest for better health is my schedule. Many days I am on the go from sunrise until well after dark. My cuisine on those days is often far from a priority. It's super easy to go through a drive through, or into a convenience store and grab something. For me that something is like to be a bag of Munchos or a king sized candy bar and a pop...or some combination of items that come off of a rolling grill or rotating pizza warmer. It's all in the name of fast paced busyness. I always tell myself I will just skip the next meal, or do better the next day.

In a society of "no guilt allowed" it seems reasonable that I can just have a do-over the next day. Or the next, or the next. "Don't beat yourself up," the experts say. "Just start again." -- "Pick up where you left off." -- "Don't worry about it." Easy for them to say. Their guilt-free mouthful of carbs and fat isn't sticking to MY hips.

Of course there is nothing rational to do about the carmel oozing through my veins as a "source of energy". However, I can supply myself with the tools to make great choices on the go. I have proven that many times. I just need to use those tools and think before I bite.

Today is one of those crazy busy days. Thursdays always are. I leave my house around 5:30 a.m. to head to town for my television segment. If you haven't seen it, it is a Healthy Cooking Segment...okay stop laughing and keep reading. From the station I run errands, meet with clients, meet with potential clients, work on my most recent writing project, sort through my 100 plus emails for that day, and prepare to teach my night class at the local University's Community Arts program. When all is said and done, I usually hit the wall, and my pillow around midnight. Somewhere in all of the rushing around and getting things done, I have to eat. You would think that someone of my stature could just skip a few meals, but logic tells us that we have to put good fuel into our bodies if we want them to get rid of the bad fat. So, good fuel, here I come.

With a little homework it's pretty easy in todays market to find healthy, lower fat, lower calorie options at almost every restaurant. I am hesitant to say that would apply to any fast food venue because of the chemicals and preservatives that give their food a long enough shelf-life that they can make money at $2 a burger. Other than fast food venues, there are lots of options. If you don't have time to eat at a restaurant, order your food to go. Another great option is to go to a grocery store, pick up an apple, pear, banana or whatever fruit you like, a bag of almonds, and a bottle of water. If the store has a deli section you can easily grab 2 oz of turkey and 1 oz of cheese, grab a premade salad in produce and a water near the register, in less than 5 min. you have lunch on the run.

My personal favorite by far though, is Panera. Yes, the place with the amazing bagels, great pastries, sandwiches and other fattening fare. But, they also have tons of healthy choices on their menu. Do your home work. Visit their website http://www.panera.com/ and visit the nutrition information section. It's a great tool to build your meal from their selections and have a preplanned order before you walk in, face to face with muffins and bear claws.

My busy day dinner this Thursday? A bowl of Low Fat Garden Vegetable Soup with Pesto and a whole grain bagette, with an iced tea. 300 calories, lots of nutrients, fiber and flavor. No wonder they call it MY Panera.

What is your favorite, healthy, restaurant food? I'd love to hear your suggestions.

Healthy Eating everyone!