Why hello my Fall Foodie Friends! I can not believe I haven't blogged since the start of the summer! But, but, but!!! In my defense, it has been a whirlwind of busy-ness. All good, I can assure you- Thank God :] A quick snip of Amazing news I'd like to share is that I got engaged in August! I'm feeling really happy and overly blessed and wishing you the same. I hope you guys had a Great Summer and that you were able to stay on track or not fall too off of track or perhaps even make some progress* in the Health Department :]
Now! I'm thinking since my last post was about Summer, lets talk
Fall. This season makes me Tired & HUNGRY! There I said it. You know
you were thinking it, blame me. I can take the heat. But really there is Something about the chilly air, darker
days/longer nights that make me think that the bears are
onto something when they close up shop for the Winter. But since we're
not in Winter yet, I won't get ahead of myself. So back to Fall
Harvests and all the Natural Beauties Mother Nature provides us this time of year. Ahhh.
Love it. Not to mention the food: Warm, Hearty meals also known as Comfort food. Mmmm. So good & surprisingly super- healthy, making it easy to keep on track this time
of year, believe it or not. Let me explain...
The bountiful vegetables of the season provide us with a base for our meals. Think about it. We are gifted Pumpkin, Zucchini, Eggplant, Tons of delectable squashes: Yellow, Acorn, Butternut, Spaghetti- & I'm sure I'm missing a few more- The point is, these gifts from the Gods are Delicious, Filling and Extremely Healthy!! Combine them with Light or fat-free cheeses or Lean meats, Fish, Nuts, Beans, or even one of my favorites Scrambled Eggs for an Outstanding Meal.
Here are some ideas. Make a Stir-fry with Ground Turkey Onions and Zucchini over some whole wheat pasta or brown rice. Have a hearty lasagna with Sliced Eggplant in place of noodles and use Fat-free ricotta and light mozzarella. Freeze the left overs! How about making a delicious Sunday Sauce (buying a jar is okay too- aim for Organic) with Turkey and Chicken Meatballs and serve it over Spaghetti Squash for a low-cal, low-carb filling meal. Try replacing potatoes by baking Butternut Squash slices tossed in a drop of EVOO & Salt for some sweet yummy homemade french fries. Or smash up a Butternut Squash and add some Smart Balance for an awesome side dish with a piece of Grilled Chicken & some greens. Bake an Acorn squash and then stuff the core with some Healthy Tuna Salad for a Meal with no dishes! It's genius!
And now to my favorite part: THE PUMPKIN! It's not even close to sane the Pumpkin kick I go on when it's in season (Sorry I'm not sorry). However, I'm going to be honest with you guys when I say I am lazy as F&^k and cannot be bothered with gutting out pumpkins. It's too much work and at the rate I'm going, I'd be doing it all do every day. So this is where I cheat. I buy plain (Trader Joe's or Libby's brand) Organic Pumpkin Puree in a can (not to be confused with pumpkin pie in a can). I like to add a few spoons to almost everything. I'll mix it into my Oatmeal and my Yogurt with some Pumpkin Pie Spice and a little bit of Stevia. I like to sometimes put a smidge of it on a sandwich with Turkey or Almondbutter or dare I even say on a slice of bread with Nutella (just a bit!). It's just that good. Add some into your (healthy, of course) pancake or waffle batter with dark chocolate chips and top with a little whipped cream for a decadent breakfast. Wow! And speaking of breakfast, mix a tnlspn of Pumpkin puree with a tblspn of light Cream-cheese & Stevia to put on a piece of Multi-grain toast- mm delish! Maybe even add some Apple-butter for a real Fall Festivity!
While we're on Apples, let me mention that they too are in season now. Meaning you can get them super cheap and also add them to your meals for fun. Not to mention, obviously enjoy a simple juicy Apple as a snack. For more creativity, Apples can be chopped and added to your oatmeal with some walnuts and cinnamon for a Harvest Breakfast or baked and served with some light fro-yo and light maple syrup for a Decadent Dessert (guilt-free). Add apple slices to a sandwich for a little crunch and some tart. Crazy!
The possibilities are really endless- So take advantage! If you're pressed for time make some hearty meals one or two days a week and store them in Tupperware. There's definitely no excuse to fall off of the wagon this season. Yes, it may be harder to get to the gym in this cold weather and we do have some holidays, but there are many days in between when there's no excuse not to at least keep your diet clean. You will be happy you did. We all know time flies, don't give yourself regrets when that warm weather returns. And remember slip-ups are okay. So long as you get back on the horse and you will be fine. One bad meal does not make you fat, just like one good meal does not make you fit. It's what we do on a constant basis that determines where we stand.
God bless xoxo
Hungry Model's Stuffed Butternut Squash Dinner
1/2 Butternut Squash (or double ingredients for two)
2 tspn Smart Balance
1/2 Cup Eggwhites
1/4 Cup Black beans
1 Cup Steamed Broccoli & Cauliflour
1/3 Cup Light Mozzarella Cheese
Cut Butternut Squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds/guts. Place face up in 350 oven 35 minutes or until tender. Remove, cool and scoop out some flesh with spoon and set shell aside for later use. Add Squash to frying pan with Smart Balanace, beans & veggies over medium light. Add in Eggwhites and scramble. When eggs are thoroughly cooked (approx 3 minutes). Remove from light and stuff into Squash shell. Top with cheese and place back into oven five more minutes or until cheese melts. Enjoy!!!
Cals:412, Carbs:59, Fat:9, Protein:28