Clean eating at its finest!

When you switch from processed foods to more raw foods you do see an increase in your grocery bill! Those who say eating healthy costs more, are right. It does cost more to buy raw veggies and fruits. But eating processed foods will cost you long term. Bountiful baskets is a great way to eat clean and get adorable veggies and fruit. Here is my loot from this weeks basket. I spent 45.00 and got all this...

Here are the majority of my veggies. I did add on to the basket and got the California pack that had 3 heads of cauliflower, 15 ginormous carrots, and a bag full of broccoli heads! I also added on the Asian pack that had napa cabbage, bok choy, celery, limes, snow peas, and herbs. We store our veggies in our garage as it is cool and dark. They life of our veggies has increased greatly! Hello yummy veggies! 

Here are my fruits and this week I did not add on anything to the basket because we still have leftover fruits from last week...

Our kids know right where to go for a snack as the fruits are within reach and veggie snacks are already prepared! The best part is that grocery shopping is done! We add in our elk meat, chicken and pork from the freezer. We stalked up on milk and dairy last week, so we are good to go! I always try to keep beans and grains (rice and quinoa) on hand in the pantry/freezer to add to any meal. We eat a lot of beans so I cook a roaster full of dried beans and then store in the freezer to cut the sodium from eating the canned beans! 

Eating clean does cost more, but feeling better about what are putting into your body is worth it! 

Measurements

I live and die by my scale. I know it's not good but I am addicted to weighing myself. I used to feel complete chaos and out of control when away from my scale for a weekend. I like knowing where I am with my weight throughout the day. This behavior is not healthy! I know this but it is my personality to be a bit obsessive  about the scale. I started tracking my measurements in 2012 and haven't tracked as much as I should but I did today, and I love looking at this data! Here are the pics from my app that tracks my measurements. 

The goods from Quinoa

I ran into this crazy named, lovely rice like food after seeing recipes on Pinterest. I was excited to try it after reading about how good Quinoa is for you. So I found some in the store and started experimenting with it. The first time we ate it as a side instead of rice and we liked it. The next time, we cooked it with some salsa added to it and ate it with tacos as a sort of Spanish Rice. Ever since, we have been lovers of the this fabulous food. Here are a couple of recipes I have tried with this super food.


Breakfast Blueberry Quinoa

http://www.marthastewart.com/314453/breakfast-quinoa?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/quick-and-easy-breakfasts#slide_12

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups whole or low-fat milk, plus more for serving
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 3 tablespoons light-brown sugar, plus more for serving
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for serving
• 1 cup (1/2 pint) fresh blueberries, plus more for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. STEP 1

   Bring milk to a boil in a small saucepan. Add quinoa, and return to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, covered, until three-quarters of the milk has been absorbed, about 15 minutes.

2. STEP 2

   Stir in sugar and cinnamon. Cook, covered, until almost all the milk has been absorbed, about 8 minutes. Stir in blueberries, and cook for 30 seconds. Serve with additional milk, sugar, cinnamon, and blueberries.

http://www.closetcooking.com/2014/01/mediterranean-quinoa-salad.html#_a5y_p=1163528

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 25 minutesServings: 6

A Mediterranean inspired quinoa salad with juicy tomatoes and cucumbers along with tangy red onions and salty kalamata olives and feta.

ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup tomato, sliced
• 1 cup cucumber, sliced
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives
• 1/4 cup feta, crumbled
• 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice (~1 lemon) or red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• salt and pepper to taste

directions

1. Bring the quinoa and water to a boil, reduce the temperature to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the liquid has been absorbed, about 15 minutes, and let sit covered for 5 minutes before letting it cool.
2. Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients.
3. Mix the quinoa, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, feta and chickpeas and toss in the mixture of the lemon juice, oil, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper.

Note: I like my quinoa to be al-dente and not mushy so I use a little less than the commonly called for 2 cups for 1 cup of quinoa; I use 1 1/2 cups of water when I rinse the quinoa and 1 3/4 cups when the quinoa is pre-rinsed.
Tip: Cook the quinoa a day ahead to save time.
Option: Add other Mediterranean inspired ingredients like roasted red peppers, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts or even avocados.

http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=1720177093&blog=3902220&link=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRwcm94eS5nb29nbGUuY29tL35yL2Jsb2dzcG90L0JmYVhXL34zL0d5OVh2amtLNEprLw&frame_type=fb

Honey-Lime Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 4 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed and rinsed then pierced several times with a fork
• 1 cup uncooked quinoa
• 1 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups grilled or frozen corn
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground paprika
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1/8 tsp caynenne pepper
• 3 1/2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• 3 1/2 Tbsp honey
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
• 2 oz shredded Monterey Jack cheese (1/2 cup)
• Sour cream for serving, optional

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven until tender, about 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring quinoa and broth to a boil, then reduce heat to low and cover and simmer 15 minutes, or until fluffy.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onion and saute until tender, about 4 minutes, adding in garlic during last 30 seconds of sauting. Add onion mixture to cooked quinoa, along with black beans, corn, cumin, paprika, coriander, cayenne, lime juice and honey, 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro and toss mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cut cooked sweet potatoes in half and scoop out some of the sweet potato flesh to create a bowl shape, while leaving about 1/3 to 1/2-inch of sweet potato intact (reserve scooped out potato in refrigerator for another use). Fill sweet potatoes with quinoa mixture, then sprinkle tops evenly with cheese. Transfer to oven and broil until cheese has melted. Serve warm garnished with cilantro and sour cream if desired.
• Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Buddy up

One of the easiest ways to get into the grove of starting to eat better or work out is to do it with others. When I first started this journey, I was asked by a friend at work to join her and a bunch of other people in training for a sprint triathlon. I always said that first year that I would train with them, but I didn't think I would be able to do the triathlon. I had never done a sporting event like that as an adult and I was so out of shape and didn't think that I could do it. Without those girls pushing me, scheduling workouts around me, encouraging me, and motivating me, I never would have thought that I could accomplish it, but I did.

My husband was not on board with my lifestyle for over 2 years. It made eating at home very difficult! I hated not eating what my family did and began to over eat. When he decided to get on board with me, our eating became 10 times better. I love the relationship that we have with each other and how we check and balance each other. We split meals at restaurants, which helps our budget in more than one way. One thing we also do is check each other when we are about to make a bad eating choice. The other day, my husband totally checked me as I was getting ready to eat a mini bag of skittles. It seemed like a total asshole move to most, but to me he knows what my goals are and knows how mad I would be to waste calories on that. I was so thankful he did it!

I was reminiscing tonight with my friend Bel about our 150 mile bike race we did this summer. We talked about how much we loved the time in the saddle, out on the open road, talking to each other, cheering each other on up and down hills, stopping for breaks, and discussing life. It wasn't just a work out, you cleanse much more when you surround yourself with others who are wanting the very best for you. There is nothing better than a big group run, an impromptu walk around the neighborhood, or big race shared with others.

There are crappy moments when you are eating like crap and you don't feel like working out.  You need someone who will tell you to get your ass in the gym and meet her there. You need someone to tell you to put the cookie down. You need someone telling you to do 10 more reps even though you want to give up. These people are essential. These people will help you in achieving your goals. Find these people, don't let go, and then return to the favor and be that person for someone else.
Here are a couple pics of these people!

 

Feeling full??

I love this reference about how different foods make you feel full!

It gives a great picture on how different foods will make you feel....full or still starving.