Bok to you!

When my blogs were on the sporadic weeks my hubby and I tried an interesting veggie that should not be overlooked. I have previously mentioned my taste for yummy Chinese cuisine. So we set out to fix ourselves a healthier version at home. We pulled out our trusty wok and threw in some bok choy. Oh yummy! How do I describe this intriguing vegetable? If I was limited to one word I would choose "rich". The flavor is very mild which matches well with its light color. Be on the look-out for this vegetable next time you are out shopping for produce, especially if you are a fan of celery or cabbage. I am not a big fan of celery and appreciate that in some instances that bok choy could easily stand as a replacement. Bok Choy is the chubby celery except it is actually part of the cabbage family. Bok Choy is tall like celery. Its base is a silky white bulb and then the white stalks stand thick and tall. Gorgeous green leaves cover the stalks. The leaves are a deep rich green tone offset by the silky white stalks. Simply divine darlin'. Simply Divine! The richness factor does not simply stop at the appearance. The flavor is delightfully mild. It blends into the meal as subtle as a broth. The subtle flavor allows it to blend really well with almost any other ingredient, especially spices. The stalk and the leaves are completely edible. You can choose to eat it raw or cooked in a variety of ways. We created a bok choy stir fry. Its texture upheld really well in the heat. Depending on the method of cooking will greatly determine the texture of this vegetable. In most instances the stalk will remain firm with a meaty texture. The leaves also have a strength that can handle the heat. The texture almost melts into your bites which adds to the richness of bok choy. Each bite includes a reminder of the comforts of home. I build up this vegetable because I was pleasantly surprised. I was under the impression that the vegetable would lack any sweetness and for some reason I thought it was going to be just bitter. And bitter it was not. Some of the nutritional facts I could find about bok choy were quick to mention that it is very low calorie. It is also a great source of Vitamin A and Vitamin C according to www.essortment.com. Also Bok Choy is a high source of calcium. So I encourage you to continue to stretch your meals with nutrition and new flavors. I highly recommend this versatile vegetable that will could add richness to any menu. I continue to travel on this scenic route of my HealthFULL Journey with my eyes wide open and have experienced a ride I could never imagine. 'Til we meet again. . . .

Tradition or Habit?

Oh the holiday season brings so many wonderful "traditions" forward as we celebrate the season. But what really qualifies as tradition instead of habit? Don't the two words play power games in your head? "Tradition" to me needs to be honored for the sentimental factor, the coziness of past honored every year because of the good memories it holds. "Habit" kind of is blah. Habits tend to run on the negative side of the spectrum. Yes, good habits exist but bad habits persist. It is bad habits that lead us to destructive paths and run parallel to addiction. Habits can be boring and when we start to fall in a rut. Traditions are noble and habits are everyday. Habits can be changed and Traditions are to be upheld. I am playing with this word choice because though I am a fan of traditions I am aware of how I use my friendly term as another excuse. It is okay to try everything at Thanksgiving dinner because it is Thanksgiving. What is wrong with one more, two more, or the honest five more cookies that are Christmas themed? It is holiday season only once a year right? It is tradition to enjoy the holiday sweets dressed up in green and red colors. The treats of limited flavors like cinnamon, mint, or egg nog deserve a taste before they disappear. These bonuses just encourage us to feel the spirit more, right? Even though we know these holiday items are not exempt from the everyday calories or offer little nutritional value to our bodies that we have to carry with us all year round. Traditions allow for splurges on a habitual basis. And habits? They are boring because we are not powerless to their sentiment factor. We use the good habits to establish routines that help minimize the hassles and allow for most rewards. Bad habits are to be discarded when found non-helpful. Eating constant sweets in the everyday world and as a habit is not looked upon as the healthy choice. Skipping the gym under the guise of tradition during the holidays to focus on family and friends again seen as noble and caring. Skipping the gym for extra treats is a horrible habit. So though I am all about traditions I am going to try to honor the true roots of the tradition and not substitute it with its horrible imitation. If baking pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread with my dad is the tradition. Then spending time with my dad is the tradition. Remembering what kitchen duties I was assigned and joking about memories is how to revive the tradition or even throwing on the apron and pulling out the recipe. Polishing off a store pie is not the memory to cherish and relive. May true traditions abound on your HealthFULL Journey. For I truly do believe to Fully Understand Life by Living we need to honor the memories and that the magical spirit of Christmas is rooted in true traditions. Just beware of those cleverly disguised habits that offer little substance for your health or memories. 'Til we meet again. . .

The Little Things

Happy Thanksgiving!!! Today is the day we choose to celebrate the little and big moments we cherish with gratitude. Do you know what I am thankful for? A working toilet. Was that a thank-you at the top of your list too? If it wasn't; I am gonna guess you haven't had plumbing problems of recent weeks. Then you need to be thankful because our bathroom is slowly draining our patience *wink*. It is having one issue after another. We tried to ignore the initial problems or at least downplay them. But the toilet that one got our attention and a plumber on their way. The plumber was happy to give us an estimate for all of our troubles, but notice I am grateful for the toilet. One issue down and many more to address down the line. It was a slight problem. We would flush the toilet and it would do its thing. Empty the water and then fill back up. Keep filling the back tank. And keep filling. And not stopping. Do you know where the water went? Out the handle!!!! Like Niagra Falls. I am not a handy-person. But that, that was wrong and kind of gross. I know I know. It's just water. But ewwww!!! My husband and I both became scared of the toilet. It was a rough roulette. Because sometimes it worked and more often it did not. The toilet was winning the war because we were running halfway around the house to use the non-issue bathroom. When the plumber came for his first visit of what might sadly turn into many he quickly fixed our first issue. And as mentioned gave us an overview of what events have sadly played out in the bathroom and what could be done to remedy them. We've all been there. Those moments that need to be addressed but that we just want to ignore. Weight is that way for many people. One pound, Two pounds, five pounds, who is really going to notice. No one really, twenty pounds might get an extra look, fifty there is gossip or at least chatter, and then hundred piles on within a nanosecond it feels. But it doesn't happen in a nanosecond, probably not even a week, possibly a month, but most likely a year's plus of looking away choosing to ignore the current moment. Life is complicated there is no doubt. But life is full of choices. Do we fight or take flight? Sometimes we can't do it all. It would be nice to roll over and go back to sleep and ignore everything like: the pets that need to be fed, comforting the sick child, balancing the impossible check-book, sorting the mountain of laundry, washing the never-ending dishes and the list goes on and on for all of us. It is in the moments of chaos we need to focus on the little things. We can't fix the whole picture in one stroke. But, we can fix a little thing one stroke at a time. By realizing with each little step we are choosing to improve the whole picture. I like to rush the masterpiece and try to paint everything with one stroke. It doesn't work and then I try to ignore everything. But that also doesn't work. Nothing gets done. So we pick a small project and focus. Because each step forward may be a little thing, but it tends to be a little thing worth our gratitude. So thank you plumber for fixing the niagara falls toilet. On this day and everyday I hope you have the people in your life that help you either enjoy or laugh at the little things from your daily life. May your HealthFULL Journey be FULL of choices and focus and gratitude. 'Til we meet again. . .

Touchdown!!!

It is football season people and I am caught in the middle of all the excitement. GEAUX SAINTS and Yay Vikings! Isn't it fun to cheer for the winners? Especially, if you feel you were there for the long run regardless of the good and the bad and week after week they pile on the wins? There is something about watching this American pastime. There is a sense of camaraderie I hadn't really grasped until this year. I have watched games in the past, but this year I feel invested. Watching a game is kind of an emotional experience. I cheer, I scream, I get frustrated, I feel sad, I laugh, I cry, I tense up, I explode, I comment, I criticize, and at the end feel a little bit emotionally drained. American Football is a true outlet for almost every athlete. There is a place for runners, catchers, throwers, kickers, blockers, tacklers, punters, coaches, cheerleaders, tumblers, and fans. Fans who go all out and dedicate themselves for the betterment of the team. Which makes me ponder? Who would I be on the football team? Would I be benched because I can't face the opposing team? Could I coach in all situations and devise the best strategy on the drop of a dime? Would I cheer in all circumstances even when morale is down and encouragement is most needed? Could I catch under duress while all eyes looked upon me? Would I block and/or tackle to save the ball risking my own health in hopes of saving my quarterback? Where do you think you would best perform in the world of American Football? I am having trouble imagining where I would best fit in the Football Family. But, I do know that I would like to be the type of player who completes The successful Hail Mary. A person that you can trust regardless of all situations, a person who trusts them self. I would hope I could protect my teammate even if the end result could cause me pain. My point is regardless of your role, couch potato to Head Coach. You matter on the field and off. Because we all have a role to choose to cause optimum results. Our daily routines include game plays. We tend to forget that we choose our schedule everyday. If the end result isn't working then call a different play. Because only when we choose to change do we choose to explore our options, to build a better team, and to grow confidence in the ever-dramatic Hail Mary. For every bad toss is a chance to improve and increase the probability of scoring when all eyes are on you to save the big day. May your HealthFull Journey include a team that cares. I thank you all for helping me to establish and reach this goal. Til we meet again. . .

New Staples

When changing a lifestyle the pantry goes through a makeover of its own. Slowly and surely old standbys are traded out for healthier alternatives. Some of the big changes in our pantry is that "kiddie" cereal is traded up for adult breakfasts, like oatmeal and Kashi brand. Good-bye Lucky Charms and Corn Pops. *sad wave* (Though I will confess it is nice to invite my precious nieces and nephews over so that I HAVE to buy the magically delicious cereal.) What can I say? I am truly like a child ;) Though oatmeal with a small scoop of raisins and topped with a splash of almond milk and on "special" days I stir in a spoonful of peanut butter. Mmmm, satisfying and comforting, what a great way to start the day and of course a banana. I kind of have a meltdown when I can't start the day with my banana. If you were paying attention you might have noticed almond milk. Have you had the chance or taken the time to try a milk other than dairy (cow's) milk? There are some great choices worth tasting. There seems to be an increase in findings that more and more of us have trouble tolerating lactose (the dairy's milk sugars). We might not all have as much trouble as a person formally diagnosed as lactose - intolerant, but it still might help some of our stomachaches, digestive troubles, and headaches by eliminating or at least cutting down on the lactose we consume. Even if you don't want to trade out the milk you regularly consume it is worth checking out your choices. The flavors, the textures, and the added nutritional benefits makes these beverages a great option. I regularly keep almond milk in our fridge. It has a great consistency and flavor that I find useful for most of my needs. I found Coconut Milk to have a rich thick texture. It would probably be great for a milkshake base. It was a bit pricey and I didn't find it quite as tasty as the Almond Milk. I found Soy Milk to leave a bit of a chalky aftertaste for me when drunk by itself. However, mixed in something like coffee or used for cereal I didn't notice the aftertaste. Also, the consistency reminded me of Skim Milk. Which I like, though others might find that they miss the rich heaviness like some dairy milk. The other additions would include beans. Which I have gone kind of nuts about. Do you get in buying habits? Where you like to have a huge variety available? I get in these a lot. I would say cereals, chips, and yogurts were my old variety buys. Now I would have to say my new shopping compulsion is buying beans. I pick up the canned and the bagged, little and big, and the array of colors. Another pantry staple we quickly adapted into our routine is quinoa. Oh fantastic grain. The Incas according to www.Wikipedia.org referred to quinoa as the mother grain. This teeny tiny pellet packs a heck of a nutritional punch. Quinoa has great protein value with all of the amino acids. Great fiber source and remains gluten-free. We have also found it to be quite tasty and pretty easy to swap it for rice in most recipes. Quinoa cooks in less time than white rice. So you can have the health benefits and save time. Love that!!! The other big change is that tofu makes regular appearances in our dinners as we learn how to use it in a variety of ways. Don't let the word tofu intimidate you. Tofu can be bland but then so is most meat/entrees until you add the spices and flavors. I slowly am learning how the textures really effect the overall meal. And that's why practice makes perfect. I hope your HealthFULL Journey brings you a wealth of nutrition as you stock your pantry. 'Til we meet again. . .

The stalks of many Colors

Have you ever seen rainbow Swiss chard? G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S ! Honestly if you need a showstopper of a vegetable side as we move into this holiday season, I highly suggest you figure out how you can make use of this interesting and beautiful vegetable. The beauty in my opinion comes from the brightly colored stalks. The colors can range from bright flamingo pink, orangy, and sunny yellow. Then sprouting off these pretty stalks is the dark fluttery greens. Both the stalks and the leafy part are both edible. The cooking of this vegetable could not be easier. And trust me on this as I still haven't quite lived up to my name as Suzy Homemaker. The leafy greens are very similar to the richness of spinach and you can sub in the Swiss chard for spinach in most recipes. I do warn you the bright colors will mix into any cooking liquid. Which can be pretty, but to those who don't know what you were cooking could be slightly alarming. For instance tonight for dinner we had PINK tofu scrambled eggs. Interesting and tasted pretty good. I sauteed (look at me using the cooking vocab) up the greens on my second attempt. The first attempt may or may not have included burning the garlic. Let me tell you garlic turns from golden brown to STINKY black in less than three seconds in way too hot olive oil. I am just sayin'. The second attempt yielded a flavorful wilted green with some sweet heat. Then I chopped up the stalks and sweated them in a frying pan before adding the scrambled tofu and eggs. Which wasn't the recipe I had planned, but what are you going to do when the tofu and you enter a battle and the tofu wins? Tofu won the battle, but I won the war :) Tofu entered the battle pale and sinister and left as a pink yummy entree. The stalks could taste a little more bitter than celery but with a little heat and a splash of flavor they become tender and mild. Like most greens ,Swiss Chard (which is a huge family that includes Rainbow Swiss Chard) is a nutritional powerhouse. If someone mentions Vitamin C most of us know to reach for the citrus fruits, but leafy greens also tend to be a great source. Swiss Chard also includes Vitamin K and Vitamin A (according to www.whfoods.com ). Plus to round out the nutritional lowdown the vegetable also includes magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, copper, calcium, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, and protein. There are even more nutritional benefits to be found, but I don't want to overload you with too much information. May your holiday side dishes be loaded with personality, nutritional benefits, and yumminess. I encourage you to find out where your rainbow leads (and hopefully, not just to a bag of colorful candy that rhymes with vittles) on your HealthFULL Journey. FULL means to Fully Understand Life by Living. 'Til we meet again. . .

Celebrating the Small Victories

And the crowd goes wild!!! Or at least a part of you shouts out in joy and hears your inner cheerleader. We all do this, don't we? Well if you don't I give you permission to celebrate your own personal victories. If professional athletes can do a celebration dance, a business CEO can high-five and pets receive praise for just not being bad, then we can hoot and holler for ourselves. My small victory might not make sense to you or register on your scale of victories but for me was a giant leap. I have committed myself to taking my health journey in a stricter direction, (not crazy strict but with the hope of losing at least some "physical" weight). One of my goals or big efforts towards health is to limit one of my greatest vices. I feel I need to hang my head and maybe cover my heart in reverence. But I love me a good Chinese buffet. I know I know - buffet and HealthFULL Journey don't really walk hand in hand. But the sign to a good Chinese buffet is like a beacon in the night or a siren of the vast ocean. It calls to me. And though we have had a good selection before in our area we have an incredible one with tons of value. The buffet is HUGE and the price isn't bad. Less than seven dollars for a lunch buffet (since I am drinking water vs soda. ) Seven dollars for a super-filling, tasty lunch. GREAT!!! But that is my problem with this vice I lose my mind at a Chinese Buffet. It is all the yummy unhealthy foods on display with no effort to attain. It includes foods that are fried, layered in sauce, and sweetened. Ahhhhhhh, I am licking my lips. I know I know I know!!!! My plan is to not to visit one until next year (it helps make my commitment sound dramatic). But I hope to avoid eating at any Chinese buffet until after January 1st, 2010. This is kind of dramatic as we were frequenting one almost every two weeks and getting closer and closer to once a week. I am hoping that by avoiding them for two months; the cravings will die down. That I will have trained my palate and fullness scale to enjoy myself and not to lose control or sight of my BIGGER goals. The victory occurred Thursday night. We had ran some errands during the evening. We were very close to my favorite buffet, literally driving by its sign advertising their yumminess. We were hungry and definitely wanted a quick dinner with no fuss. The night that sets up a visit to the Chinese buffet. However, I had voiced my choice previously when I was in a rational mood. And knew I couldn't let myself down. So, as we drove by the temptation we stayed on course and visited a sub shop that we had never frequented previously. I told my husband that I was in the mood for a satisfying veggie wrap or a close alternative. What did they sale? A grilled veggie wrap which I found delicious. Now I think the deliciousness factor included the flavor of the tasty wrap (which I will be enjoying again in the future, most definitely). But I also think some of the deliciousness I enjoyed was the taste of a small victory. So, I encourage you on this HealthFULL Journey to fully enjoy your taste of success by celebrating those moments you choose to resist your personal temptation in lieu of the choice that betters you. No victory is too small to celebrate because every win is a win regardless of the margin. Celebrate you and your win when you choose to Fully Understand Life by Living on your HealthFULL Journey. I am cheering for you and myself 'til we meet again. . .

Ridding the Excess Baggage!

Well Howdy, did you notice something? I didn't get three blogs out last week. I didn't even get two :( But, I did make a choice for what would be best for my health in the moment. I chose sleep over blogging late Saturday night. So the big news! Well not so great of news, actually, I am kind of sad, but not shocked; that I haven't lost a pound! Though if I wanted to look at the other side, the good news is I haven't gained a pound either. So this HealthFULL Journey is quite the adventurous experiment. I did say that this effort was to find my way into a healthy life. I sure was hoping to get rid of the extra weight physically, but I am learning there is quite a bit more emotional and mental baggage that needed handling first. I have to say I am not shocked as I haven't found the consistent rhythm for my life, yet. But I am working out kinks everyday. I went into this gung-ho and they say ignorance is bliss. I like to wear the rosy color glasses when starting a project and then I quit when the hue is not so pretty. But this journey I am seeing through, it's life, so it's not really an option. I was excited when picturing the cute outfits I could wear for the holidays and knowing when New Year's hit I would not have to state the same old resolutions because I would already be living them. And though those dates are still in the future. Time is continually speeding up. And I have to start being real. Yes there will be perks when I hit certain milestones. But I have to focus on the task at hand instead of celebrating 3 months to a year in the future. I need to be aware of the big benefits (and risks) and not the "perks". I forget the view from the other side of gaining weight. There was a time when I gained 60 - 70 pounds in a year and I didn't know if it was going to stop. There was four years I couldn't take off my wedding ring. So though I am "disappointed" that I haven't lost more physically. In these last three months I have started to polish off the rosy hue on some memories and polished off the tarnish of others. And slowly, but surely, as some of us tend to spring clean. I am becoming more balanced. I am sorting through the emotional and mental baggage that STILL serves a purpose and the baggage that has overstayed its welcome. Though, I continue to sort through some hang-ups I am growing a bit stronger as a whole person who looks forward to the days where I will enjoy not only the big benefits, but some of the "perks" :) May your HealthFULL Journey be made easier with the good baggage and never hindered by excess baggage. 'Til we meet again. . .

A Cramming Pack-rat

That's me!!! I am a certifiable pack-rat and I cram the uncrammable. I have this overwhelming fear that I am going to miss out on. . . something, Everything! I pretty much have allowed chaos in all areas of my life so that I have the chance to cram just that extra bit in every nook and cranny. I really can't remember a time in my life that didn't include a little overloading. We own a DVR (which is entirely too addictive!) and I run the memory full. If there are twenty-four hours in a day I like to "schedule" all twenty-four as active hours. If a room has two feet of empty wall space...I must fill it! I have closets filled full of memory items and interesting, but useless objects. These items fit in the categories of I don't want to forget that moment and I don't want to be without the miscellaneous object. Because I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to save the day. I like limits so that I can establish the teetering point of drama and see if I fail or accomplish an amazing feat. What does being a pack-rat have to do with my HealthFULL Journey? A lot more than I wanted to admit. I have trouble limiting my choices. By taking responsibility of choosing a restaurant or activity I am cutting out the chance of doing it all! I am trying to figure out why I have this great fear. I am in the early stages of my brainstorming, but let's see if we can muddle through this together. It is safe to say we all fear failure on some type of scale. We are afraid we can't pay our bills or that we won't meet others' expectations. We might be afraid that we only will get one chance of lifetime especially those moments concerning the subjects of love, success, or happiness. We tend to build towards celebrations and milestones that become stressful events because we feared that the event itself wouldn't register as perfect and/or memorable. I think all the previous things mentioned and worry about so much more. I hate to disappoint and carry that guilt and shame everywhere. I believe that I cram so much into everything so that no stone is unturned. I think deep down that at some point in life; there is going to be this huge pop quiz and I for one want to be caught ready! And as many times as I tell myself that no pop quiz exists I still try to cram just a little more experience into the nooks and crannies. I don't want to "fail" when it comes to life, so I take it all. All or nothing is probably the closest phrase to my daily mantra. But isn't the truth that when we seek all; we end up with nothing. For example, have you ever filled your laundry a little too full? Okay, have you ever overloaded your laundry to the point where the washer fills with water, but can't spin the clothes dry. The weight exceeds the washer's spinning limits. Instead of having freshly clean clothes you end up with soggy laundry. That is how most of my life has become a crammed pack-ratted day. I am so worried about experiencing it all, that I end up with bupkus!!! So instead of enjoying a day full of fun and leisure, I overfill everything and start to over feel EVERYTHING. I try every flavor so that I don't miss that one lifetime experience. Sometimes, we just don't have to try it all. A couple of years ago I found Bertie Bott's Jelly beans, the candy described in the "Harry Potter" series as the candy of every flavor. They truly included the yummy and the disgusting. They had flavors such as grass, smoke, and vomit. And could I just leave well enough alone? Oh no! I had to try the whole box to not miss out! Does anyone really need to eat a grass-flavored jellybean? Noo!!!! And I think the other flavors go without saying ;) While on this HealthFULL Journey I am learning that less is more and not every experience truly enhances "The Life Experience". While I continue to embrace the philosophy to Fully Understand Life by Living I encourage you to also check out what are you cramming into your mouth, your schedule, and your closets. May you cram less and enjoy more! 'Til we meet again. . .

Oh, to be a Puppy!

I've mentioned my dear puppy Belle who loves to go for walks. She loves them so much she knows how to watch for certain signs that indicate a walk is in her near future. And when she can't go on a walk she shows her disappointment in various ways. I would like to put forth that no Miss Belle and I have not had our time to reflect and exercise together as I have been sick and the weather quite rainy. Alone these options are not fun, but together the postponement of our walks was inevitable. Belle doesn't quite see it that way. She understands that she has a lot of "energy". She understands that she wants attention. And she understands that she would like to be outside. When we skip walks, her happiness goes down; which has to be shared with the household. Our dachsund/german shepherd/bassett hound mix (we're guessing) one - year - old does not accept the excuse we are skipping our walk/workout for the day. Oh no, she answers back with a full-fledge kickboxing chew-out. No loose item is safe and Miss Belle will get her aggression out. Hats, books, magazines, shoes, cables, our steps, carpet, paper, and more should not expect safety. Belle is going to vent her displeasure, get in a work-out, and just let us know how much she values "family" time during her walks. We all could learn a thing or two from Belle's passion to maintain an active lifestyle. That we need to find a way to burn calories and keep our heart pumping even when the rain overshadows our plans. We also need to express our feelings so that we can communicate to those we hold dear. Now if we could only teach Belle a more constructive and less destructive way to demonstrate her displeasure. May your HealthFULL journey include less destruction and more energy. 'Til we meet again. . .