Monday, December 31, 2012

Faisal's 1 week food schedule


My brother is over for a visit, and while he was here, I got to watch his diet and eating habits. After seeing how conscious I have become about my own health and eating habits, he asked for some advice regarding his. After some observation and consideration, I have put together the schedule below.

The point of it is not loosing weight per say, but to get him to eat more often, less quantities, and 'healthier' (in comparison to his current diet) foods. He currently lives on his own and is always on the run, so I know that he does not have the luxury of preparing meals. As a result, I tried to make it as simple and 'on the go' kind of schedule as possible. 

The idea behind is is to get him to realize that eating healthier does not mean he has to starve, eat boring stuff, or live off of celery sticks! Just make sure to focus on eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and having one portion (preferably not more) of animal or dairy protein a day. 

If you are like him, and in need for a rather 'healthier' eating schedule (than your current one at least), try this and let me know what you think...  :)

Day1: Make sure you start your day with 1-2 cups of water as soon as you open your eyes. Remember, your body has been water deprived for the last 8 hours!
Breakfast: cereal with milk or (a low fat energy bar if necessary… read ingredients, many brands are deceiving… and to be honest, I would rather you not rely on them at all, this is in case of emergency…)
Snack 1: fruit (apple, banana, mango… etc).
NOTE: cut down on coffee to one cup a day. Max, and never have it after 5 p.m. at the latest.
Lunch: Green salad, a source of carbs (brown/ wild rice, potato, quinoa..etc), and a source of protein (meat, fish, or chicken).
Snack 2: another fruit (different type than snack 1).
Dinner: vegetables (any non-starchy veg) with a tiny portion of protein if necessary! (Leftovers from lunch for example)
Snack 3 (if necessary): green salad, or snack on carrots… etc..

Day 2
Breakfast: Eggs with whole wheat or multi grain bread. You could always include tomatoes or mushrooms with it.
NOTE: always opt for brown/ whole wheat or multi grain bread instead of white bread.
Snack 1: Milk smoothie a little organic honey and 2 types of fruit (max).
Lunch: Green salad (add some nuts to it), a plant based protein (any legume; chickpeas, any type of bean, lentil… etc). 
Snack 2:  Greek yogurt with berries/ mangos… etc
Early Dinner: Green salad with a source of carbs (brown/ wild rice, potato, quinoa..etc), and a source of protein (meat, fish, or chicken).
Snack 3: green salad, or snack on carrots, or non-microwavable popcorn… etc..

Day 3.
Breakfast: Green smoothie, if not possible, have a fruit salad or 2 separate ripe fruits.
Snack 1: nibble on a variety of vegetables with a light dip (carrots, celery, broccoli, cherry tomatoes…etc).
Lunch: Green salad, a small source of carbs (brown/ wild rice, potato, quinoa..etc), and a source of protein (meat, fish, or chicken).
NOTE: do not mix dairy and animal protein together on the same meal, your body is dealing enough with one of them as is…
Snack 2: fruit
Dinner: Green salad.
Note: your salads do not have to be boring. Change them up a little every day. I will attached different salad recipes at a later stage so you could get an idea of how yummy they can be!
Snack 3: Mixed raw vegetables.

Day 4.
Breakfast: cereal and milk
Snack 1: fruit
Lunch: Green salad, a small source of carbs (brown/ wild rice, potato, quinoa..etc)/
NOTE: Snack 2: mixed vegetables (non starchy).
Dinner: brown bread pizza with one type of protein.
Note: once a week, you could change up the routine a little, but remember, stick to fruits and vegetables, and small portions but multiple portions.
Snack 3: another type of fruit.

Day 5
Breakfast: fruit
Snack 1: turkey or beef sandwich with veggies in brown or multi grain bread.
Lunch: Green salad
NOTE: if you have a heavy breakfast (with protein) skip a big lunch
Snack 2: fruit
Dinner: Green salad with grilled chicken breast.
Note: avoid Caesar or ranch dressings at night (though you like them), the dressing would have tons of calories on it’s own!
Snack 3: Mixed raw vegetables with a light dip.

Day 6
Breakfast: Labaneh with olives, tomatoes, and thyme.
OR: cheese with honey, grapes, apple, or berries.
Snack 1: fruit
Note: you already had a portion of animal protein in the morning. Avoid having it again at lunch.
Lunch: A BIG green salad.
Snack 2: baked potatoes or another starchy plant based snack like brown rice.
Dinner: a small grilled chicken breast or fish with vegetables.  
Snack 3:  a fruit (if necessary).

Day 7: You now get the hang of it. Design your meals for this day on your own and show me ;)
Breakfast:
Snack 1:
Lunch:
NOTE:
Snack 2:
Dinner:
Note:
Snack 3:  


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Raw Chickpea-Less Hummus Recipe...

(by )

I found this intriguing in concept. But what is wrong with adding a little amount of chickpeas in the mix? Im going to try it and let you know...

Untitled

Raw Chickpea-Less Hummus  Yields6-8+ servings

This yummy dip has been a crowd-pleaser at many events and parties I’ve hosted. Football fans- try making it to snack on while watching the games today and/or tomorrow. Or make a batch to last the work week ahea- it holds up for about 5 days.
Because it has a zucchini base instead of a chickpea base, it is lighter and easier to digest. Unsprouted chickpeas can make us gassy and bloated since they inherently contain a mix of protein and starch. I’ve even been known to use this dip as a salad dressing!
  • 2 organic zucchinis, chopped
  • ¾ cup tahini (raw if you can find it)
  • 2 Tbs. nutritional yeast
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  •  2 medium or 3 small garlic cloves, minced
  • High quality sea salt, to tasteBlend all ingredients in the blender together until smooth.
Dip celery, carrots red peppers, and cucumbers for a great snack or appetizer- or toss some into salad as a a dressing!




Foods to eat for a healthy balance of minerals and vitamins...


Silicon: Silicon has incredible beautifying properties. It makes our hair thick, our nails strong and it strengthens connective tissues and bones to improve flexibility. Silicon can improve the appearance of wrinkles, and increase the resilience of your skin. It makes the skin glow and the eyes bright by targeting the connective tissue in your body. This beautifying mineral is essential for radiant vitality and health.
Foods: Cucumber, Bell peppers, Radish, Light leafy greens (cabbage, romaine lettuce), Tomatoes, Apples, Onions, Unrefined grains.

Calcium:
Calcium is a strengthening mineral in that it helps keep our bones strong and it prevents osteoporosis. Calcium maintains healthy teeth, keeps our posture upright, and it enables us to move with poise. In addition to bone benefits, calcium cleans our digestive tract and eases premenstrual syndrome. 
Foods: Dark leafy greens (such as collard greens, turnips, kale, dandelion greens and spinach), Dried herbs, Sesame seeds, Flax seeds.
Zinc: Zinc is a powerful mineral that works with the skin to keep it healthy by reducing acne and quickening the healing process for cuts or burns. It plays an important role in rebuilding collagen to make skin radiant, smooth and healthy. Zinc is known to prevent signs of aging and skin damage such as wrinkles and stretch marks. 
Foods: Dried watermelon seeds, Organic raw dark chocolate, Raw pumpkin seeds, Pine nuts, Sesame seeds, Pecans, Rolled oats
Magnesium: Magnesium is an important mineral for human nutrition in that it serves the body in several metabolic processes. Over 300 different enzymes in the body rely on magnesium to keep your bowels regular and to cleanse and detoxify the body. It is found in your bones, muscles and bodily fluids and is not made naturally in our bodies.  Along with the beauty value, magnesium relaxes and calms you while keeping your blood circulating smoothly.
Foods: Raw broccoli, Plantain, Spinach, Sea vegetables, Banana, Cooked lentils, Avocado, Squash, Arugula, Swiss chard
Potassium: The essence of Potassium is all about balance. This mineral is integral in balancing pH levels, maintaining proper fluid levels and the balancing of other minerals, like sodium- which in excess amounts can dry out your skin or make it look puffy. Potassium-rich foods are important for good health because healthy levels of potassium encourage responsible waste elimination from the body and the assimilation of glucose for muscle energy.
Foods: Dried apricots, Brussels sprouts, Cantaloupe, Kiwi, Pear, Dried dates, Dried figs, Banana
Iron: Iron oxygenates blood, stimulating healthy blood circulation and resulting in a highly attractive glow in the skin. Iron also energizes you because it is responsible for transporting oxygen, (our cells’ “gasoline”) throughout the body. If iron levels are low, our body is not operating at the optimal level, resulting in a lagged and tired feeling.
Foods: Spinach, Artichoke, Squash Seeds, Dried Apricots, Pistachios, Raisins, Walnuts, Asparagus, Quinoa, Mushrooms, Beans


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

The first step on the way to becoming healthy

If you are one of those people who believe in the "Flatten your belly in 7 days!" kind of ads.... I am here to tell you, don't!

After reading much about it and committing to the gym 5 days a week, I can safely tell you, there is no such thing. However, do not despair. It is doable, just not in a week. It could take you up to 6 months. But, if  you commit to eating right and exercising, you will not be disappointed.
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your body toning up and hearing people comment on how much better you look over time. Only two month after starting the gym, one of my friends asked me 'how I was loosing weight'. I wasn't. Still weighed 137 pounds, but my waist line was getting smaller, my calves thinner...etc, you get the point.

Now, to get to the 'how' do you achieve this.

Obviously, you need to eat right. But what does that actually mean? swear off junk and only eat organic? Not really, while I do recommend you swear off junk, for now, I would just suggest you increase your intake of fruits and vegetables per day. Try eating a small salad everyday, and if you can... make it a BIG one. Add an apple, dried cranberries, prunes... etc to your salad. I also like throwing in pumpkin seeds, pecans, or pine nuts....

Make sure to put in it a large spoon of apple cider vinegar, not only does it bring out the flavours, but its  healthy for you too...

Enjoy!

PS: please send me pics and recipes of your salads to add them to my recipe book!

Monday, December 24, 2012

An introduction to me, and my blog...


The point of my blog is not to tell people not what to eat. I just want to keep it simple and unstructured through blogging about my own eating habits, and including research or information that I have read/ found which either supports or discourages certain eating beliefs, foods, and ideas.


I was reading Vogue the other day, and yes I am a fashionista, but I do not obsses about my figure nor do I watch every bite I eat... when I came across the name of a nutritionist and a yoga instructor by the name of Kimberly Snyder. I followed her for a while online, then bought her book.  I will be posting a few ideas from her book and another bunch of my own, commenting and asking you to pitch your own opinion in...


Also, I love to cook and have tons of recipes that are simple, fast, and healthy... believe me, food preparation could be a lot easier and a lot more fun than you think. Take it from a working housewife (who is currently juggling 2 jobs by the way...) and still has time to make a home cooked meal and go to the gym everyday.



Looking forward to posting, and reading your comments...