Giada's Chia Seed Breakfast Pudding

I have promised several people over the last couple of weeks this recipe would be posted.  I am sorry to be so slow.  This recipe comes from the Food Network web site and the link is posted following the recipe.  After doing yoga, Giada De Laurentiis eats this protein rich breakfast.  Chia seeds are packed with fiber, protein and antioxidants.
 

Giada's Chia Seed Pudding (4 servings)

Ingredients

1 cup vanilla flavored unsweetened almond milk
1 cup plain low fat (2 per cent) Greek yogurt
2 Tablespoons pure maple syrup (preferably grade B), plus 4 teaspoons for serving
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Kosher salt
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 pint strawberries, hulled and chopped
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

Directions

In a medium bowl, gently whisk the almond milk, yogurt, 2 Tablespoons maple syrup, vanilla, 1/8 treaspoon salt until just blended.  Whisk in the chia seeds, let stand 30 minutes.  Stir to distribute the seeds if they have settled.  Cover and refrigerate over night.

The next day, in a medium bowl, toss the berries with remaining 4 teaspoons maple syrup.  Mix in the almonds.

Spoon the pudding into 4 bowls or glasses, mound the berry mixture on top and serve.

http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2014/01/15/giadas-chia-seed-breakfast-pudding/

LOL

100 Easy Ways to Cut 50 Calories

As I have said before and will probably say again, I am not a registered dietitian or any such professional, I am just an average guy that has a weight problem and that is working on it.  The things I post on this blog are things I have read and don't necessarily endorse them, I just pass them along for you to read and make up your own mind to do what is best for you.

This post comes from an article I read in Reader's Digest.  It is loaded with common sense ways to cut calories.  But then, every calorie saved helps.  The link to the article is:  http://bit.ly/1dHSnHB

Eggs Baked in Avocado

                                                                                                                                   

This recipe comes from fitsugar.com  I am fond of eggs and avocado. The two togther are really good.  I don't eggs often, mostly egg whites. The thing I like is the recipe has a lot of protein and for two eggs and a whole avocado the calorie count is pretty good.      

INGREDIENTS:

2 ripe avocados
4 fresh eggs
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 Tablespoon chopped chives

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Slice avocados in half, and take out the pit.  Scoop out about two Tablespoons of flesh from the center of the avocado, just enough so the egg will fit in the center.   Place the avocados in a small baking dis, making sure they fit tightly.  Crack an egg into each avocado half. Try to crack the yolk in first.   Place in the oven and bake 15-20 minutes.  Time will depend on the size of the avocados and eggs.  Make sure the egg whites have enough time to set.  Remove from the oven, season with pepper, chives and garnish of your choice.  Makes two servings.

449 calories, 38.2 g fat, 137 mg sodium, 2 g sugars, 13.6 g fiber and 15.2 g protein.                  

Nature's Skittles

Random Thoughts

Just in case you couldn't tell this post is about the Golden Arches or Mickey D's or McDonald's or anything it may be known as.  I have several friends that can't stand the Golden Arches but personally I love the place.  I could eat there three times a day and not get tired of the place but I would end up looking like the guy in Super Size Me  http://www.hulu.com/watch/63283  So to that end and the cost, I don't eat there.

But along the same vane I read an article the first of the year that science teacher, John Cisna, lost 37 pounds in three months eating nothing but McDonald's.  His students planned his menus using daily recommended daily allowances of calories, etc. http://usat.ly/19aMyAW  But just as quick an article ran stating it is a bad idea to eat at McDonald's everyday  http://read.bi/1eKSUoC  I don't know to many people that would actually eat at Mickey D's everyday but I guess there are some who would.

There was another article on why the fountain Diet Coke tastes better at McDonald's.  http://bit.ly/1dgQk7S  I am not a Diet Coke drinker but I do enjoy the other fountain beverages and I always thought they tasted better at the Golden Arches and now I know they do and why.

I know with the fact that I am  trying to change my lifestyle as far as what I eat goes my trips to McDonald's will be severely cut back but that is okay because actually I would rather go to Burger Bar.  Burger Bar was even on the Food Network Show: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives   http://bit.ly/1cJgFLf

No matter where you where you get your burger, enjoy it.

Mediterranean Carrot Salad

This recipe comes from Spry Living.  It is very good and quick, too.  It is called  Mediterranean Carrot Salad.


INGREDIENTS:

1/2 pound carrots, peeled
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh mint
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:

With a box grater, coarsely grate carrots.  Combine with remaining ingredients and toss to caot.  Serve chilled or at room temp.  Enjoy.  Makes four servings.

Each serving contains 90 calories, 7 g of fat, 2 g of fiber, 3 g of sugar and 150 mg of sodium.

Walking

I started wearing a pedometer last week.  I found that I was averaged just over 6000 steps a day.  My goal is to get it over 10,000 in the next week.  I was felling pretty good about how much I was walking until I heard some of the teachers, in the district weight management class say they did over 10,000 and one was even over 16,000.  I guess I have a long way to go.  On Saturday I walk at the Newgate mall and three trips around the mall is about 4500 steps.  Now I just need to do about six plus laps, that plus the walking I do the rest of the day should get me over the 10,000 number.  At the school my boss has me walk around the commons during our slack time.  Thanks Carri for pushing me.  That helps because when I get out of work I don't feel like going to the gym, in fact I may cancel my gym membership and save some money since I have other ways to get walking in.  On the other hand, doing weights a couple of days a week would be good for me, so we will have to see.  Maybe Tuesday's and Thursday's I will do the circuit training at Planet Fitness along with getting in my 10,000 steps.  Here is good read for tips to help lose weight while walking:  http://bit.ly/1f0zJrn

Random Thoughts

I am working this year at continuing my weight loss.  I am part of a 28 day challenge through the encouragement of a good friend of mine.  She is concerned about peoples health and the company she works for (Medi-Fast) has organized a 28 day challenge.  At first I thought about getting back as radical as i was earlier last year to lose a bunch of weight and win a $1000.  But then common sense kicked in and I decided I need to do something that is sustainable for the rest of my life.  I am thankful to Sheila for helping me get back on track and get back to eating healthy and smart.  My goal is to lose between 1 1/2 - 3 pounds a week.  I eating smarter by watching portions, walking more, drinking more water and trying to get more sleep.  When I do these things I feel better and maybe this old dog can be taught some new tricks.

Another part of what I am doing to help me with eating smarter is being part of a weight management class offered through my employer.  I figure you can never have enough help as long as you stay focused and your help is teaching basically the same thing.  Last week I lost 4 lbs and hope to go at least another 3 or so this week.  The weigh in on Wednesday will tell.

Even though I am being a little more sensible this time I am still very thankful for Dr. Scott and the program I went through with him because He gave me my life back and going through his program showed me how much better I feel when I eat right and lose weight.

I will admit it is hard to be good when I stopped at 7-11 this morning to get a newspaper and they are selling their chocolate donuts 2 for $1.50 and the chocolate donuts from 7-11 are out of this world.  They are from Dunford Bakeries.  I am tempting myself right now and I am sitting at my computer.  Better reach for my water bottle and some celery.  Okay, not as good as a donut but it will due. LOL. Off to do other things for awhile.

Weight Loss Cycle