Light Ways to Love Food

Stacy's Bold Lunch

2009-04-23T12:19:00.006-04:00

POW! IN YOUR MOUTH. I am trying to pair a salad with lunch and dinner, and a fruit with breakfast and snacks...For lunch today I decided to have lots of flavor. I made a delicious small salad and baked three Black Bean and Cheese Taquitos from Trader Joe's. YUM. (They are packed with Protein and lots of Fiber! And only 310 calories for four!)

Salad w/ 1tsp of Parmesan cheese, trail mix, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil

1 dollop of HOT salsa with a pinch of sour cream

3 Trader Joe's Bean and Cheese Taquitos (Baked in the oven on 425 for 15min!)

Stacy's Honey Happy Breakfast

2009-04-23T09:12:00.008-04:00

BREAKFAST FOR CHAMPIONS! I woke up this morning with only one thing in mind, and of course, it was my cereal. I decided to have a fun combination with a variety of different things.

1 c and 1/3 c of Trader Joe's High Fiber O's
1/2 of a Banana
Vanilla Soy Milk
1 tbsp of Trail Mix: Raw Almonds, Raisins, and Sunflower Seeds
1 tsp of Honey
Strawberries

So I realized last night that I'm addicted to fiber. I just love it, it's so good for me, why not? I read an article last night that a woman is supposed to get at least 25 g of Fiber in a day, which most of us to do not get. It's difficult, but so many things have lots of fiber. There are two things that I am going to try for next week, one: no refined flours and two: no dairy or eggs....That's right, I'm thinking of going Vegan. I realized that I already do it because I eat alot of beans and veggies and fruit, but the eggs are going to be pretty tough. Right now I'm going to take it a little at a time, if I don't like it, I'll stop it.

Sophia's Vegan Taco Lunch

2009-04-19T17:31:00.007-04:00

VEGAN TACOS!!!!!

I've been getting bored with my meals, so today I wanted something new that I hadn't had before. I went to Heritage Health Foods and instead of getting my usual Raw Trio I purchased Soul Gourmet Vegan Cuisine VEGAN TACO SALAD. It was delicious!!

ingredients- bulgar wheat, soy milk, salsa, green bell pepper, onion, lettuce, tomato, cumin, chili powder, taco seasoning, seasoned salt, mustard, lemon juice.

nutritional info- 2 servings, pers serving 160 cals, carbs 23g, fiber 6g, protein 5g.

Sophia's Sun Sun Sun and Breakfast

2009-04-18T11:24:00.008-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STACY

Today is Stacy's Birthday!! YAY!! She's turning 22. LOVE U LADY!! Have a GREAT DAY!! :)

It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL today. I cant wait to go out for a jog. It was super sunny when I up, and the weather is mid 60's-70's.

For Breakfast I had...
Kashi Go Lean (High Protein & High Fiber Cereal) with some Banana (instead of milk I used: "Rice Dream" unsweetened Vanilla)
1 cup -140 Calories, 13g Protein, 10g Fiber (I had about a cup and a half)

1 Boca Original Vegan Burger
70 Calories, 13g Protein, 4g Fiber

It's really good to have protein in the morning (eggs are a great source) because Protein keeps you full longer and it gives you that morning boost for a long day.

KASHI GO LEAN CEREAL

BOCA VEGAN BURGER

Sophia's Protein Dinner Overdose.

2009-04-16T21:39:00.005-04:00

PROTEIN- (sorry these pictures are terrible.)

Today I had a massive craving for protein. This happens sporadically, it's good and bad. #1, it shows I'm in tune with my body and I know what I need, #2 it's bad because it shows that I am lacking in nutrients that are crucial for good health.

Tonight for Dinner I had Scrambled Tofu with Avocado, Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Onions!!!
A Salad with Avocado, Boca Vegan Burger, Onions

Stacy's Salads

2009-04-15T18:40:00.007-04:00

I THINK SALAD IS THE CAT'S MEOW.

I decided to make a delicious salad. I cooked tofu on the stove and mixed it in the bowl with my own special dressing and raw almonds. I had a dried pineapple on the side. Yum. This meal is over 3 servings of vegetables that I need for the day. Ain't life grand...?

Why eating salad keeps you healthy www.ext.colostate.ed

Lettuce, spinach and other salad greens are an important part of a healthful diet.
Salad greens are year-round sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, and other nutrients.
Red and dark green leafy vegetables are generally higher in nutrients than light-colored greens.
Safe handling of leafy greens helps to reduce the risk of illness.

Stacy's Positive Instead

2009-04-15T18:24:00.004-04:00

Hello All. I have been away for a little bit to think my food life over. And as I was thinking about the new thing I should give up, or the new way to lose weight, or the new workout I should try. I realized, nothing of those things really matter. They have nothing to do with me. They are what I think I should be thinking about or what I think I should want to think about. I'm turning 22 on Saturday and I am extremely excited. But I felt myself becoming scared because I still have some of the same eating issues and weight problems that I had when I was 12. But I realized in many ways I have changed and grown, and in the other ways I have not because I have not overcome my life problems yet. Whatever is going on with me, I know what it takes to eat healthy and to be healthy and for right now, that's going to have to be good enough. Perhaps if I think positive thoughts instead of negative, my actions will be positive instead of negative. And I can enjoy chocolate because I want it, not because turning 22 is a big step.

Sophia's Fresh and Warm Breakfast

2009-04-13T10:19:00.006-04:00

Good Morning!!!

Well this past weekend in the Chicago Suburbs it was absolutely beautiful, but this morning it's dark and looks like it might rain. Uggh. I just want it to be summer!

For Breakfast I had strawberries and oatmeal.

I added a little organic brown sugar to dip my strawberries in.
For my oatmeal I added mixed nuts and brown sugar.

HAVE A GOOD DAY!!

Sophia's Dinner and a Book (Friday Night)

2009-04-11T00:29:00.017-04:00

A Day of SPEND, SPEND and MORE SPEND-
I splurged today because I'd been reading about this excellent Vegan book online and I really wanted to get it. Becoming Vegan by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina, discusses the history of veganism, health benefits, how to be a healthy vegan, vitamins and minerals you'll need, a food guide, raising vegan kids, the pregnant vegan, how to deal with a non-vegan world, getting calcium without using dairy etc...

So far I really enjoy it, so I'll be sure to post about my reading as I get more into the book!

Then I went to Heritage Health Foods and got some old and some new for dinner. I purchased the Raw Trio I had before (its in an earlier post) and I also got Sweet and Sour Tofu to go with it.

Kale Salad, Carrot Salad, Spicy Sunflower Seed Pate, Sweet and Sour Tofu

SWEET AND SOUR TOFU- (Vegan) - ingredients: organic tofu, celery, carrot, onions, garlic, toasted sesame seed oil, apple cider vinegar, water, organic cane sugar, organic corn starch.

RAW TRIO- Raw Kale Salad, Carrot Salad, Spicy Sunflower Seed Pate

DESSERT

Chocolate Walnut Cookies

Vegan- all natural

http://www.brunosorganics.com/

(real food the way God Intended)- as printed on their packages

For any of the Totally Vegan meals go to

http://www.totally-vegan.com/

to find a location that sells them if you live in Illinois.

Note: This is Friday night dinner (4/10/09)

Sophia Goes to Trader Joe's

2009-04-06T20:29:00.010-04:00

VEGAN GROCERIES

As stated in a previous post I was completely out of groceries, so fortunately I had time to make a TRADER JOE'S run today!!!

I wanted to try some new cereal, and all my old favorites have some sort of milk product in them.

Organic Heritage Heirloom Whole Grain (a multi grain cereal) 3/4 serving is 110 calories, 6g dietary fiber and 4g protein. (this cereal does use organic honey)
Vanilla Soy Milk
Indian Fare Punjab Eggplant

Roasted Vegetable Pizza- this pizza is delicious. Its covered in sweet onions which gives it such a wonderful taste and its dairy free, no cheese at all!!
Veggie Smart Dogs- 1 link is 45 calories, 8g protein
Vegan Morning Star- 1 burger is 100calories, 12g protein, 4g fiber.

Firm Tofu
Sliced Baby Bella Mushrooms
Ezekiel Bread

Green Beans
Strawberries
Bananas
Sun Dried Tomato & Basil Hummus
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Tabbouli

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
NOT PICTURED- ALMONDS

Sophia's Scrambled Tofu Breakfast

2009-04-06T10:30:00.009-04:00

SCRAMBLED TOFU w/ Mushrooms & Onions

If I don't go grocery shopping today I wont have any food to eat. So that's what I'll be doing this evening. Thankfully I bought a safety pack of tofu yesterday from a health food store until I can make it to Trader Joe's (I like TJ's tofu more, they have better prices)

To Make Scrambled Tofu:

Drain Tofu (make sure it's dry)
on a paper towel Season the Tofu will all but the Teriyaki sauce
In a skillet cook onions and mushrooms
Once the Mushrooms and Onions have started cooking, crumble tofu into skillet.
Drizzle just a small amount of Teriyaki sauce (about a teaspoon) over tofu.
Scramble like you would eggs and enjoy!!

Scrambled Tofu with one slice of Bread (nothing on the bread)

SEASONINGS: Liquid Aminos, Seasoning Salt, Seafood Grill and Broil, Black Pepper & Low Sodium Teriyaki Sauce.

Sophia's Totally Vegan Raw Trio Lunch

2009-04-05T19:52:00.006-04:00

Raw Kale Salad

Carrot Salad & Spicy Sunflower Seed Pate

I am completely out of Vegan foods so I had to buy a pre-made vegan lunch today but I knew exactly what I wanted. I went to Heritage Health Foods and purchased the "Totally Vegan" Raw Trio.

I actually spoke with the (cook, or husband to the cook:he had one of those titles) about a few weeks back at school when they did a "healthy foods demonstration".

I was able to sample this meal and found out the guy who was hosting the demonstration works at this amazing restaurant in Chicago called "Vegetarian Soul"( its all vegan soul food!!) and his wife cooks all their raw/vegan meals. He praised his Vegan lifestyle, sharing how its made him loose weight and its an extremely healthy diet.

This meal is absolutely delicious, natural and healthy.

TOTALLY VEGAN - Raw Trio (includes)

Raw Kale Salad- raw kale greens, cilantro garlic, sesame seed oil, onion, red peppers, nutritional yeast.
Carrot Salad- raw organic carrots, soy butter, cucumber relish, celery, green and red peppers.
Spicy Sunflower Seed Pate- raw organic sunflower seed, red and green peppers, jalapeno peppers, garlic, spike seasoning.
about 6 tortilla chips

Here's The Website- http://www.totally-vegan.com/

Sophia's Shunshine Filled Salad

2009-04-04T16:44:00.004-04:00

PANERA BREAD CLASSIC SALAD w/ my Tofu

It is an absolutely beautiful day here in Chicago (the suburbs) so I wanted something fresh and light to eat, especially since I had a healthy breakfast and a nice jog this morning.

I went to Panera Bread and got their Classic Salad - 150 calories (and it's a pretty decent size)

Mixed field greens & romaine lettuce topped with
Vine-Ripened Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Red Onions
Reduced Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette
Protein 3g, Fiber 4g

Then I made my own tofu and added it to the salad. I had a Sierra Mist and always get an apple instead of the bread as my side order.

I'm headed out to a surprise party for a friend, but on the way I'm making a stop at Starbucks to pick up some soy foods a co-worker brought for me. I'm excited to see what they are, and I'll definitely take pictures and post them!! Have a good rest of the day!

Stacy's Protein Breakfast

2009-04-04T10:53:00.003-04:00

NO KASHI? SAY IT AIN'T SO... I was craving cereal more than anything else this morning but I knew I needed some spinach and protein...So I decided to have eggs and spinach. It was delicious! I paired it with one slice of Ezekiel bread with honey and a tbsp of trail mix. This meal had lots of protein, from the eggs, the feta I added, the bread even has some protein, and the trail mix. The main reason why protein is so important is because it keeps you full longer. And if you're full, you're less inclined to eat more and want to eat more.

Stacy's Protein Breakfast

2 Eggs scrambled with 1 tbsp of fat-free feta cheese
Black pepper
1 c of Spinach

1 Slice of Ezekiel bread with honey
1 Tiny cup of Silk Soy Fiber Plus Milk
1 Tbsp of Trail mix: Sunflower Seeds and Raw Almonds

LIFE CHALLENGE...My life challenge so far has been going really well. The first thing I realized within two days is without refined sugar and loaded salt I feel more awake and alive. Even my friend Dominique admitted to me that I seemed like a new person. (This week I realized I'm happier, I have more patience...but my cravings are out of control. But I keep reminding myself: CRAVINGS GO WHERE THEY AREN'T FED)

I realize that my body responds to sugars in a negative way. My mood becomes depressed and I feel sluggish and lazy. And when I feel that way, I'm less inclined to care about what I eat and I NEVER want to workout when I feel this way...NEVER. At times, it is a vicious cycle. To be honest...I've had a couple treats here and there...I had two tiny date cookies that Dominique made (That were wonderful) and yesterday night I had some Kettle Corn Popcorn. But treating myself at times is important and vital.

Yesterday... brownies were shoved in my face and I declined. But they were at the table where we were all talking so I stared hard at them and watched everyone else eat them. At first I thought, "I don't need these. That's okay. I'm fine." But then I thought, "I have to have one of these. If I don't have a brownie right now I'll die." And then...as the night wore on I realized, "I don't even like brownies that much. I'm fine. I just don't need them and it's okay." My nutritionist told me to treat myself when the dessert is my favorite. That way it will make the dessert more special and me less inclined to reach for every sweet treat opportunity I'm given. So I thought of her at that moment when I declined those delicious looking brownies. And look! I'm still alive.

Sophia's Sunny Day Breakfast

2009-04-04T10:31:00.005-04:00

Ohh the comfort of a healthy breakfast!! Knowing you've started the day off right and you gain such an excitement to keep eating healthy throughout the rest of the day!!

I haven't had oatmeal in a while and just started back yesterday. It's such a great breakfast with so many health benefits.

Healthy Benefits of a bowl of oatmeal (plain, original, not the instant one with flavors)

Lower Cholesterol Levels
Fiber from Whole Grains and Fruit Protective against Breast Cancer
Unique Oat Antioxidants Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Prevent Heart Failure with a Whole Grains Breakfast
Significant Cardiovascular Benefits for Postmenopausal Women
Enhance Immune Response to Infection
Stabilize Blood Sugar
Oats and Other Whole Grains Substantially Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Antioxidant Benefits (a very good source of selenium- which is helpful in decreasing asthma symptoms and in the prevention of heart disease. In addition, selenium is involved in DNA repair and is associated with a reduced risk for cancer, especially colon cancer. )

all information from http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=54#healthbenefits

I ended up not eating the banana because the oatmeal filled me up so quickly. So I'll have it later for a snack maybe.

In my oatmeal 1/2 cup =150 calories

-1 pack brown sugar (50 calories)

-1 pack raw almonds, walnuts, pecans (100 calories, 2g protein, 1 g fiber)

-A little bit of West Soy's Unsweetened Almond Soymilk (9g Protein, 4g Fiber, and only 90 cals per 1cup serving, but i only had about a tablespoon serving of soymilk)

Stacy's Saucy Pizza

2009-04-02T20:09:00.007-04:00

SAUCY, SAUCY....
My friend Margaux came over for Pizza and we both had a few pieces...a few large pieces. It was delicious. This was definitely Margaux's creation, she liked it saucier and crunchier than what I'm use to...but it was a nice change! We paired it with Sangria and reruns of Project Runway.

1. Trader Joe's Whole-Wheat Pizza Dough, thaw dough in warm water, spread out on lightly oiled pan, put in oven on 400 degrees for 6 minutes.

2. Trader Joe's Fat Free Pizza Sauce: Oregano, Italian Seasoning, Onion Power, Black Pepper

3. Take out dough, Spread Sauce, add Spinach, then top with cheese

3. Raw Spinach

4. Fat-Free Mozzarella Cheese

Stacy's Delicious Meals

2009-04-01T18:57:00.004-04:00

Stacy's Mexican Dinner
My roommate Danielle and I decided to do a Mexican Dinner a couple a nights ago...as we watched Dancing with the Stars. We had spicy Tofu and a paired it with green and red peppers, Mexican rice and black beans, and Tortilla Chips with a hint of Lime. Yum.

Stacy's Tofu Salad
For lunch today I wanted something small because I had a big meal last night for dinner. I cooked Tofu with some spices and paired it with Spinach, Balsamic Vinegar, and Raw Almonds. It was very delicious. I also had a banana for a sweet treat. WONDERFUL.

Stacy's Life Challenge

2009-04-01T11:59:00.012-04:00

This morning I was craving cereal so I decided to go to the nearby market and get some delicious Kashi. I like Fiber One products but the reason I always opt for Kashi is because their cereals are also packed with Protein, which I am realizing is just as essential (as Fiber and Fruit) in the morning. I paired my cereal with some Soy Silk Fiber Plus Milk and a Fresh Banana.

Last night I decided that I want to eat fresh and delicious foods, which I do already but I have been feeling tired often and sluggish and I know it is because of how often I eat packaged foods. I remember a while back I was watching the BBC Hit Show, You Are What You Eat and the host and founder Jillian was saying to an overweight woman that if she died it would take her body months to decompose because all she ate was packaged foods which stayed in the body for months and months. Opposed to fresh foods that only stay in the body that day...It definitely got me thinking then. And I found myself thinking of that this morning as I was deciding what to eat.

I'm tired of being tired. I want fresh foods and I want my body to be happier and healthier. Though I am already healthy I think it is important to be the healthiest you can be. And right now that is what I want to focus on. I guess I am doing a two-week challenge of no junk food because I feel I have been reaching for it a lot lately. I have been overeating and still abusing food. I haven't binged in about two weeks...which is really good for me. But whenever I eat sweet, sugary foods (or very salty foods like tortilla chips) I can't get enough of them. I just want more and more and more. It's really difficult for me to admit that I have a problem with food but I do. Actually, it's not difficult to admit. That's the easy part. The difficulty is admitting that it isn't about the food, but about me. I need to be mind healthy first before I do anything, which is also a part of my two-week challenge. (But obviously it will take longer than two-weeks. This is a life challenge.)

To be completely honest, about a week ago I went to a Overeaters Anonymus Meeting here in New York. It was after I went to Yoga to the People. I went because I felt I was having a difficult time with food and still abusing it and I wanted to talk about it among people who had the same issues. It was good for me to go. I felt very supported and was really taken care of. I have not been back but it is definitely something I am thinking about returning to. They have books and step-by-step packets to help you on your journey to a better and healthier you.

I have a fear of food. I fear that there won't be enough of it for me, I fear I'll be lost without it, I fear it will make me overweight, I fear giving up sweets and fattening snacks especially because I'm scared I can't live without it. But I can. And when I realized that I have a fear of giving up fattening foods, it made me realize that I should. I'm addicted to it. And I don't want to be addicted to anything, especially things that are unhealthy for me. So right now I am distancing myself from unhealthy, overloaded snacks. It needs to be done.

It's just like when someone is in an abusive relationship, you need to cut it off immediately and find new people and activities that take the place of it. If not, you will probably go back to that relationship because it is all you know. So, I have other activities I can do besides eat and abuse food. We all do. But if I do not watch it extremely carefully, of course I will go back to my abusive relationship because it was what I am comfortable with, it is all I know.

It is all about loving yourself and living for yourself. As my friend told me: It's about you. It isn't about other people. So, I'm putting me first and loving me first. This is my life challenge.

If you are interested in attending Overeaters Anonymous Meetings just go to the website at www.oa.org/. Click on Find a Meeting and type in your city and they will find a meeting near you. It's really great.

Sophia's Not Anti Pasta Dinner

2009-04-01T00:22:00.005-04:00

I seriously cannot remember the last time I had pasta. Its become one of those "anti-weight loss foods" women seem to cut out. But certain carbs are not bad, they provide energy and if they aren't consumed excessively they are perfectly fine.

Well in all honesty I'm not that big of a pasta fan but I wanted something different tonight and I'm running out of food and have to go shopping.

I used Newman's Own pasta sauce (tomato), cooked some mushrooms of my own and threw them on top and then steamed some veggies.

Stacy's Granola Bars

2009-03-30T15:19:00.009-04:00

GRANOLA BARS. I was craving something delicious and sweet today and wanted it to be healthy, hearty, full of fiber, and of course, delicious. So I made some lovely granola bars.

GRANOLA BARS.

Ingredients:
Oatmeal
Raw Almonds
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Raisins
Dried Cranberries
Cinnamon and Sugar Almonds
Cinnamon
Honey
Sugar
Canola Oil
Salt

GRANOLA BARS

How to:
Mix dry ingredients and roast in oven for 10 minutes on 350
While that roasts, make the glue: honey, oil, and sugar on the stove
Take the dry mix out and mix it with the glue
Let this combination sit in the fridge for an hour or the freezer for 10 min
Eat and enjoy

These delicious treats are Vegan Friendly too! Which Sophia would love.

Stacy's Love of Black Beans

2009-03-30T13:56:00.006-04:00

BEANS BEANS THEY HELP THE HEART THE MORE YOU EAT THE MORE...
For lunch and dinner I was feeling a little uneventful so I decided to to use Black Beans for both meals. It was delicious. I still have more that I plan to use tonight for dinner. Yummy.

Chart is from Whfoods.com

Stacy's Huevos Rancheros

2009-03-29T16:36:00.005-04:00

HUEVOS RACHEROS

Gold Street Diner
2 Gold St. New York, NY 10038 (At Platt Street)

For my sister's last day in New York City we had a delicious brunch at Gold Street Diner. I decided to be risky and get Huevos Racheros which I've always wanted to get but have feared...this time I went in for the kill. It was so delicious! It was packed with beans, salsa, and eggs...and cheese! It came with some delicious sweet plaintains on the side. Yum. I stayed full for hours. I'm about to go running along the misty Hudson River to clear my head and work off some of the Magnolia Cupcakes I kept hostage in my stomach this weekend...

Huevos rancheros

from Wikipedia.com

(Ranch Eggs) is a classic Mexican breakfast dish similar to Huevos motuleños which has become popular throughout much of the Americas.

Huevos rancheros means "eggs ranch-style" or "eggs country-style" in Spanish. The dish traditionally was served at the large mid-morning breakfast, or almuerzo, on rural farms where workers had a much smaller meal at dawn.

The basic version of huevos rancheros consists of corn tortillas fried lightly, and fried eggs with a tomato-chili sauce. Refried beans (frijoles refritos), slices of avocado, fried potatoes, and extra chili peppers are common accompaniments. Scrambled eggs can be used instead of fried eggs.

Stacy's Red Dinner

2009-03-26T22:42:00.009-04:00

RED.
19 Fulton St, New York 10038
Btwn Front and Water St

My sister is visiting from Chicago and tonight we went to a very classy and wonderful Mexican place called RED. There we shared Chips and Salsa and got quesadillas. I got veggie quesadillas and black beans on the side (for protein.) It was delicious!

Sophia's Spicy Indian Dinner and... Broccoli!! & Vegan Chocolate

2009-03-25T21:54:00.009-04:00

I felt like Spicing things up tonight, and decided to make one of the many Indian dishes I have from Trader Joe's. But I wasn't too excited to find out most of them contained cheese and milk, so I had to put those back away, never to be touched again.

Fortunately my ultimate favorite Indian Dish is Dairy Free!! PUNJAB EGGPLANT.

Punjab Eggplant consist of

eggplant, tomatoes, onions, sunflower oil, pumpkin, garlic, salt, coriander, chilies, cumin, ginger, turmeric and cloves.
It's all natural and all the ingredients are extremely healthy.

With my Punjab Eggplant I had Brown Rice and I wanted something green so I steamed some Broccoli.

I had a major major sweet tooth today. I am a Chocoholic!! but now that I'm vegan I have to get "special chocolate treats" lol. Fortunately I discovered (today on a vegan website) that one of my favorite chocolate health bars was Vegan Friendly.

Luna- S'mores!!!-10g protein, 3g fiber, low glycemic, high in calcium and folic acid, rich in antioxidants and only 180calories!!!

Sophia's Veg'd out Sandwich

2009-03-25T13:47:00.009-04:00

~VEG'D OUT SANDWICH~

Am I overdosing on Tofu? Just in case I am I wont have any for dinner and I'll work on being more creative.

For lunch I had a super veggie packed sandwich.

My sandwich consisted of - (used Ezekiel Bread)

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Olive Tapenade
Onions
Avocado
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Soy Cheese
Tofu

Wow, I just realized everything is all natural!!- I'm really happy my taste buds have matured and I don't need mayonnaise on a sandwich, and love vegetables.

Stacy's Spaghetti Lunch

2009-03-25T09:45:00.007-04:00

LADY AND THE TRAMP. I can't remember the last time I had spaghetti. And when I think about spaghetti, I immediately am reminded of Lady and the Tramp and that wonderful scene when they're slurping up the noodles together. I decided to be romantic with myself and pack a spaghetti creation for my lunch. I tend to get very hungry on Wednesdays because I have my internship from 12pm to 6pm and by 5pm I'm always ready to eat a bear (a vegetarian bear that is...) So I decided to pack an apple and a nice helping of trail mix. Yum.

Stacy's Spaghetti

1 soy Sun-dried Tomato Italian Sausage from Trader Joes (Protein!)
Whole Wheat Spaghetti from Trader Joes (Fiber and Protein!) Spaghetti Sauce from Trader Joes
About 6 Asparagus
Fat Free Feta
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
Black Pepper

Stacy's Snack

1 Fuji Apple
Trail Mix: Sunflower Seeds, Cranberries, Raw Almonds

Stacy's Simple Chili Meal

2009-03-25T00:29:00.004-04:00

FEELING BLUE. I'm feeling a little under the weather tonight so I had chili for dinner with a dollop of sour cream and a pinch of cheddar cheese. It was Ann's Vegetarian Chili. I like her meals but they tend to be a bit too high in sodium. My roommate got this for me though so I was too happy to complain.

Sophia's Dinner and a Movie

2009-03-24T23:15:00.006-04:00

DINNER AND A MOVIE!!! I rented Twilight tonight and enjoyed my salad while watching it!

I was inspired to have a salad because I didn't really want anything heavy tonight and after looking at Fitness Magazines "Best Salads" I was eager to create my own.

Unfortunately I'm using Iceberg Salad, not my favorite, I normally like eating the dark and leafy greens but this will have to do.

In my salad!!!

avocado (1/2 of one)
chicken-less stuffed cutlet (stuffed with black bean and corn in a smoky tomato sauce)
walnuts (glazed)
light reduced fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing (1 package)

Sophia's Cloudy Day Lunch and Snack

2009-03-24T18:15:00.007-04:00

It is extremely warm outside but getting very dark and only 5pm. I hope the sun is out tomorrow b/c I'm on my Spring Break and it would be nice to have some cheerful bright days!!

For Lunch I had my Teriyaki Tofu with onions (didn't use mushrooms today) and Tabbouli again. Then I went for a nice and long jog/walk. About a 1/2 hour later I was feeling a little hungry so I decided to have some of my High Fiber Cereal from Trader Joe's with Soy Milk for a snack.

This High Fiber cereal is great. It's only 80 calories per 2/3 cup serving. It has 3g protein, 9g Dietary Fiber (Soluble- less than 1g, Insoluble- 8g)

I like to use vanilla flavored soy when i eat this cereal b/c it will be a little bland otherwise.

Other snacks i had today which aren't pictured- some pita with hummus, an orange and almonds.

Stacy's Quiet Brunch

2009-03-24T12:28:00.006-04:00

BRUNCH. I was up late last night working on a project for class so I woke up at noon craving something sweet. I was headed to fix some cereal or oatmeal when I remembered what my nutritionist told me: increase protein, increase protein. Having cereal at noon wouldn't really keep me full and going until three...and then I would end up having something convenient like a granola bar or pretzels from a vending machine, which again, is more carbs. So I decided to have my carbs (which I love) and my protein. Yes.

Ezekiel Bread, 2 slices, covered in honey (80 calories each, rich in Protein and Fiber)

2 Eggs with fat free Feta Cheese and Black Pepper

1 helping of Salad with Balsamic Vinegar

1 tiny cup of Silk Fiber Soy Milk

When my nutritionist saw my food diary she realized that I wasn't eating enough protein and eating too many carbs. So I try to stick with 4 carb servings a day and more protein. But if I go over, I go over and if I don't, I don't. What is great now is that I am aware of it. And I'm going to continue to eat delicious, healthy meals.

Sophia's LOOK AT ALL THESE SALADS!!!

2009-03-24T11:54:00.009-04:00

I love looking at self.com, fitnessmagazine.com, and shape.com. They give great recipes, exercising, health and beauty tips! so here are some great Salad recipes I found on fitnessmagazine.com

INTERESTING & DELICIOUS SALADS

~for Spring Time~

It seems young adults (especially college students) don't eat enough living foods, especially salads. And to make it worse they are so unadventurous in their salad creations, and pile tons of fattening salad dressing on them.

That is something I always have to remember. A salad can be delicious with light dressing (try making your with a vinaigrette or olive oil), and I don't have to drown my lettuce in thick dressing which defeats the point of eating a salad. The dressing is crucial b/c some have from 40 cals per serving - 120 calories per serving

With Spring Time in the air, here are some light and delicious salad recipes I found on fitnessmagazine.com - what I like about this link is they give you the recipes and all the nutritional information.

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/nutrition/our-healthy-and-creative-salad-recipes/?page=1

Which one was my favorite... I really think I'm going to try either the (#11) Romaine and Avocado Salad with Lemon-Tarragon Vinaigrette or the (#5) Arugula-Fennel Salad with Pear Vinaigrette (minus the cheese in the salad dressing recipe.)

!!ENJOY!!

Stacy's Wholesome Dinner

2009-03-23T20:37:00.010-04:00

EATING WHOLESOME FOODS. I decided to have a real dinner tonight. With a nice sweet potato, a salad, and some salmon. It was truly delicious. I couldn't finish the other half of the potato but it will be delicious for lunch tomorrow. Yoga was not as bad as I thought. I am definitely in love with it now. And I can't wait to go again. I was sweating so much I nearly slipped of the mat though, which made this dinner even more special for me.

1 Sweet Potato Baked with light butter
1 Salad with fat free feta and Lisa's March Mustard Dressing
1 Salmon Patty from Trader Joes

Stacy's Spicy Tofu Lunch

2009-03-23T15:28:00.005-04:00

FULL OF FIRE AND FLAVOR. I am on my way to yoga and I wanted a lunch that was going to keep me full throughout the class. And I have a meeting after so I had a nice smoothie after my lunch. I decided to have Spicy Tofu with just half a pita. It was packed with spice.

2 tbsp of Black Pepper
1/4 c of Tofu cubes
5 asparagus
a pinch of fat free feta
Half a whole-wheat pita
a bit of Hummus
1 tbsp of Teriyaki Sauce
a dash of salt

I haven't been to Yoga in about a year so I'm scared. But I've been running a feel a little sore in places that I can't seem to get with my own simple stretching. So I'm on my way to Yoga to the People. Eeek!

Sophia's Middle Eastern and Tofu Lunch!!

2009-03-23T13:02:00.005-04:00

~MIDDLE EASTERN AND TOFU LUNCH~

Tabbouli and my Teriyaki Tofu w/ mushrooms and onions.

Some of you are probably wondering what is Tabbouli and what is in it. Well Tabbouli is a Traditional Middle Eastern Salad that you can find at any health food store (trader joes, whole foods) or middle eastern restaurant.

Ingredients- Whole Wheat Bulger ( i feel like it should be Bulgar, but my package says Bulg'e'r), Tomatoes, Parsley, Lemon Juice, Onion, Canola/Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Granulated Garlic, Dried Mint, Black Pepper.
its all natural ingredients, healthy and Delicious!!

My Teriyaki Tofu

sauteed mushrooms in a pan of light olive oil
sauteed my tofu in liquid aminos and seasoning salts.
In a separate mixing bowl I sauteed my sliced onions in a Teriyaki sauce.

Sophia's Light Breakfast

2009-03-23T12:59:00.004-04:00

!!!WAKE UP!!!

Breakfast is my all time favorite meal, but now that I've decided to go Vegan, I think lunch will probably become my favorite because I'll be able to experiment more. (yet there are still so many exciting foods to have for breakfast.)

For Breakfast I had some Soy Pita Bread with Roasted Red Pepper and Hummus Dip, and a Strawberry Smoothie!!

Sophia went VEGAN Grocery Shopping!!!

2009-03-22T19:45:00.005-04:00

First, just let me say sorry my pictures are so blurry. I need to get batteries for my camera and until then I'll be using my phone.

!!!VEGAN!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! so far my body just feels clear, and uncluttered. So why is it I've failed when I've tried to go vegan before?? Because I didn't do the proper shopping needed to make such a drastic lifestyle change.

Tabbouli (middle eastern salad), Olive Tapenade, Raw Almonds, and the Red Pepper Hummus accidently got cut out of the picture.
High Fiber Cereal, Mushrooms, Ezekiel Bread (original, flourless and low glycemic), Strawberry Smoothies.

Soy Pita, Soy Cheddar Cheese, Tofu, Chicken-less Stuffed Cutlets (stuffed with black beans and corn in a smoky tomato sauce.)

All of my foods are high in protein, which is something im really going to need at the moment. Im so excited. I feel so good about this change and am deteremined to stick with it.

Sophia's Snack/Lunch?

2009-03-22T19:42:00.005-04:00

You know when you wake up late and it kind of messes with your eating schedule? Well that's what happened to me. I got up at a time that was too late for breakfast yet a little to early for lunch. So after eating a late (pb&j) breakfast I wasn't that hungry for lunch.
Grande Decaf Soy Latte and Mixed Nuts and Fruit, both from Starbucks

PINEAPPLE!!! and 1/2 of an apple not pictured.

Stacy's Egg Salad

2009-03-22T17:43:00.011-04:00

THE INCREDIBLE EDIBLE EGG. I decided to have a protein packed lunch with a small piece of the whole-wheat pizza I made last night with Micheal. I love Egg Salad! I mean, I love salad with eggs. Any egg combination for me right now, is just delicious.

1/2 c of Spinach
1/2 c of Salad Mix
A couple of Banana Chips
A couple of Cinnamon Sugar Almonds
A dash of Sunflower Seeds
Balsamic Vinegar and Olive Oil
A small dollop of Hummus

10 Egg Facts:

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

From www.healthdiaries.com

Stacy's Lovely Day

2009-03-22T17:22:00.007-04:00

LOVELY DAY. I woke up late in the morning not really itching for breakfast but a healthy smoothie. My friend Dominique brought over some delicious trail mix and I added cranberries to it. We both needed fiber so I decided to make us a fiber packed smoothie and a nice trail mix snack to go with it. I was so full after this that I did not have lunch until about 5pm.

Fit Fiber Full Smoothie

1/2 of a Gala Apple
1 small Banana
1 tbsp of Honey
4 large frozen Strawberries
1 c of Fiber Soy Milk
1/4 c of Metamucil Orange Fiber
3 large cubes of Ice

Sweet Caribbean Trail Mix

Banana Chips
Cranberries
Raw Cashews
Sunflower Seeds
Almonds
Raw Pistachios

Stacy's Last Meals in New Orleans

2009-03-22T14:18:00.007-04:00

RED BEANS AND RICE.
These are some pictures of my rice and bean meals the night before I was leaving New Orleans.

Stacy's Love of Salad

2009-03-22T14:03:00.007-04:00

AFTERNOON VEGGIE DELIGHT.

I am beginning to realize that salads are the best way to get fiber, protein, and a good fat in one meal. You can do this by adding a wide range of ingredients. For me I usually have plenty of spinach in my salads and then also color them with lots of beans, a protein, cranberries, feta, and sunflower seeds. My friend Lisa taught me how to make this delicious salad dressing. The base is mustard which made me a little worried because the taste of mustard makes me run in the opposite direction. But this recipe is quite good and tasty.

Lisa's March Mustard Dressing
3 tablespoons of mustard
a pinch of salt
5 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of pepper

Try it! It's delightful!

Stacy's Love of Cereal

2009-03-22T13:49:00.004-04:00

EAT BREAKFAST.

I have been trying to increase my fiber intake in a delicious way. I have done this by getting certain fun fiber cereals and finding new recipes online. With these breakfasts I used two fiber cereals: Fiber One (caramel delight) 35% of fiber and Trader Joe's High Fiber O's, 9g of fiber in 1 cup. I love crunch and sweetness in the morning. But at least twice a week I have a protein based breakfast. Yum.

Sophia's VEGAN Dinner and Dessert

2009-03-21T20:35:00.009-04:00

YAY!!! I figured out how to upload the photos from my phone!!
Ok, Here's the Whole Foods VEGAN MEAL I had, (as stated in the previous post I'm switching to Vegan!!!)

I'm a little bit upset with myself for not writing down everything i ate, next time i promise i will, but I'll try to remember the best i can.

This is a main shot of everything, Tofu, Teriyaki Sweet Potatoes, Kale, Mushrooms, Cauliflower

The Teriyaki Sweet Potatoes and Tofu

again the kale

DESSERT!!! VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE

what type of ingredients did they use? here are some, just to name a few.

granola, maple syrup, vegetable margarine
vegan cream cheese, silken tofu, organic turbinado sugar, lemon juice
vegan chocolate chips, organic soy milk vegetable margarine...

Overall, i absolutely love the Vegan diet. It's challenging b/c yes, its pricey and takes more preparation but the health benefits of eating close to a natural diet are great, and the clarity of mind and a closer connection with nature and life.

SOPHIA'S GOING VEGAN!!!

2009-03-21T20:17:00.003-04:00

It's been a long time since i've posted on this blog, my apologies. But I am glad to be back.

I've made the decision to go Vegan (again, lol) but this time i know i'll stick with it b/c its a personal, spiritual, physical and mental choice. Im so excited. Today i had a great Vegan Dinner from WHOLE FOODS!!! and a Vegan Dessert!!!

Im trying to figure out how to get the pictures from my phone onto the computer, and im working on that. so give me some time and i'll have the pics up as soon as i can.

How do i enjoy Vegan so far?- I love it!!!

ok, i'll be back with Health Benefits of Going Vegan and to post my Vegan Meal.

Stacy's Catfish Munch Lunch

2009-03-16T16:45:00.007-04:00

A REAL, HOME-COOKED MEAL! After our run, Maura and I met up with Molly and her friend Emma for a delicious lunch at Cafe Reconcile. IT WAS DELICIOUS! The premise of Cafe Reconcile is that they take in troubled or at risk kids from the community and allow them to work in the restaurant to better there resume and to set them on the right track. Which personally, I think is amazing because the kids become better people while learning how to make delicious southern foods! For lunch I decided on Fried Catfish with 2 sides: Baked mac and cheese and Mashed sweet potatoes! It was delicious! We also all shared Jalapeno Cornbread! Who even knew that existed? But...Maura and I will be running before dinner tonight. It's red beans and rice night at her friend's house. YUM!

Stacy's Calm Breakfast

2009-03-16T16:39:00.003-04:00

REVITALIZE AND RELOAD. After Mexican last night I was feeling in the need for fruit and veggies. I had a Green Machine Drink packed with broccoli, apples, and kiwi. It actually tastes delicious! I had half of this red delicious apple with a little trail mix, and a small cup of fiber cereal with soy milk. Then Maura and I went on a fast 15 minute run around New Orleans. We actually stumbled on a movie set for the new HBO tv show, Treme. Which was pretty cool!

Stacy's Soul Food Adventure

2009-03-15T19:30:00.011-04:00

FOOD FOR THE SOUL. Maura was busy today so I set out to go on a New Orleans food and flavor adventure by myself. I woke up this morning and had some fiber cereal with a banana and then snuck back in bed. After a couple of hours I made myself get up and went on a 30 minute run around the neighborhood. Yesterday it was rainy and a bit chilly so Maura and I only went on a couple of walks. After my run I decided to go biking to the French Quarter. Maura's boyfriend Andy told me it was only a 15 minute ride but because I got lost it turned into about an hour. But it was a nice exercise to prepare me for the delicious food I was about to devour.

I first went to the this place called BUSTER'S Soul Food. Which was a joke! I ordered mac and cheese with corn bread but both were mediocre. The only good thing about the corn bread was it tasted like a sweet cake...actually it was pretty amazing. I took back the mac and cheese though. I figure...if I'm gonna do it...I gotta do it right.

Then I headed to the French Quarter where I got a veggie sandwich on marble rye with tomatoes and lettuce...

At the same place I got an order of the New Orleans speciality. BEIGNETS!
They are delicious creations covered in sugar and happiness and I was only too happy to devour them. After this, I walked around talking pictures of the city and then headed back on Maura's bike for another 40 minute ride.

It started raining so Maura came and picked me up...after some Green Tea we decided to run and have some Mexican tonight...yum.

Stacy's First New Orleans Meal

2009-03-15T00:47:00.004-04:00

SHRIMP ETOUFFE. I'm here in New Orleans and it's hot and rainy and wonderful. Maura made this delicious New Orleans meal called Shrimp Etouffe. She even made the roue! We had it over fluffy white rice and sat around in the darkness eating it silently, which means we were really enjoying the meal. Yum. We all decided it could have used more spice so Maura and I added some redhot sauce to it.

The ingredients...as far as I could see:

Frozen Shrimp
Onions
White Rice
Worschire sauce
Tomato Paste
Scallions
Flour
Butter
Love

Stacy's Soy Delicious Treat

2009-03-11T19:44:00.003-04:00

MY DESSERT!!!

MANGO RASPBERRY SWIRL
SOY JOY. I had just 1/3c of this treat. I wanted something sweet! I have this thanks to Lisa...Ahhh. It was wonderful.

1/2 c is 110 calories and only 1.5g of fat!

Stacy's Black Bean and Rice

2009-03-11T19:29:00.003-04:00

BLACK BEANS AND RICE IN...NEW ORLEANS? Well, I will be there on Friday. And I plan to take lots of pictures of the delicious and probably not so nutritious foods. But I will try to find as many light and soulful foods as I can. I was going to have a sweet potato but I wanted rice and beans and....so I dropped the potato. After meeting a nutritionist, I realized I wasn't eating enough protein. And then I had the strongest craving for chicken today. So I just might be hanging in the towel on my vegetarian diet. Luckily for lunch I had two boiled eggs with a nice spinach salad. But it still wasn't enough protein for me. I was still a little hungry. I'm bumping up the protein at every meal!

1/2 c of Black Beans
1/4 c of Brown Rice
2 c of Raw Spinach
1 dollop of hummus
1/2 tsp of Olive Oil
1 tbsp of Cranberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

Stacy's Granola Soy Dessert

2009-03-09T00:41:00.007-04:00

SWEET & CRUNCHY. After the delicious Granola Bars Lisa and I made I tried to make them again and ended up making weird granola. But it turned out to be delicious and it's lasted a lot longer than the bars. My roommate said she even topped some on her yogurt. I decided to have this with some Vanilla Soy Milk for dessert. I realized this was in a shape of a beautiful granola heart. Awww how cute.

3 1/2 c of old-fashioned oats
2 dried pineapple rings
1/4 c of salted and roasted peanuts
1 c of cinnamon and sugar almonds
4 tbsp of canola oil
1/2 of sugar
a drizzle of honey
1 tbsp of vanilla extract
1 tsp of salt
1/4 c of cinnamon puffins cereal
3 tbsp of Vanilla Soy Milk

I first roasted the oats, nuts, dried fruit, and cereal in the oven for 10 minutes, and sprinkled it with some Soy Milk first. I added puffins cereal to the mix because I thought it would add a nice cinnamon crunchiness. (And because I have yet to buy my own cinnamon)

While that was roasting, I heated all the other ingredients on the stove for 5 minutes. I think why this turned into granola and not granola bars is because I didn't have enough honey to grip it all together and perhaps I used too much oil. I'm not sure why actually. But I think honey is the key. Honey is the glue that holds it all together. Anyway, it turned out to be great. YUM.

Stacy's Chick Pea and Veggies

2009-03-09T00:27:00.005-04:00

FAST AND DELICIOUS. I've been so busy I haven't been able to make myself a delicious meal. I went to a Spanish grocery store around Ave A today because veggies tend to be a little cheaper. I got a huge case of Spinach for only 6 bucks. That beats Trader Joes! I also got some cheap Chick Peas and some delicious Pineapple Juice. I fell in love with Pineapple Juice after I saw the movie A Patch of Blue starring my favorite actor Sidney Poitier. He falls in love with this blind girl who only drinks Pineapple Juice....it's a long story. Anywho, this was wonderful. I cooked the Chick Peas, Feta, and Tomato on the stove and put it over fresh spinach because I've been cooking my spinach a little too much lately. I even had room for dessert. Yes.

1/2 c of raw spinach
1/4th of a fresh tomato
1 c of Chick Peas
1 Black Bean Patty
1 tbsp of balsamic vinaigrette
2 tbsp of Sundried Tomato Feta
2 tbsp of Sundried Tomato Hummus

Stacy's Simple Breakfast

2009-03-06T09:57:00.005-05:00

FEEL PRETTY. I woke up this morning hungry for one thing: my granola bars. But I decided to make myself a pretty breakfast with eggs and spinach and a little bit of soy milk. It was wonderful. I watched the West Wing as I devoured this. I actually realize that now I take my mornings very seriously. I use to rush to fit in a workout and then breakfast became an afterthought. Now, I try to relax as much as possible in the morning and workout in the afternoons or at night if I do not have time. It's better to relax in the morning, breakfast is the most important part of the day, and I know I feel better and that my food digests better anyway.

2 eggs, scrambled
1/4 c of spinach
1 dollop of hummus
3 pieces of Cinna-love Granola bars (from last night)
1 tiny cup of Vanilla Soy Milk

Stacy and Lisa's Cinna-love Granola Bars

2009-03-05T23:45:00.008-05:00

LOVE BARS. I have been dying to make these granola bars ever since I stumbled onto the recipe on JOYFUL ABODE which is a wonderful food blog. I finally made it tonight with my lovely friend Lisa and we had a wonderful time. We sang, we danced, we ATE. Lisa and I decided to make a couple of changes to the original recipe. Since she's allergic to dairy we omitted the butter and used canola oil instead. The original recipe calls for no cinnamon...but Lisa decided we needed as much as possible. Ahhh...it was wonderful.

First we roasted the oats and nuts together in the oven on 400 degrees for 10 minutes
Then (while that combination roasted) we cooked the honey, sugars, and salt on the stove until it made a nice glue.
After the oat combo was done, we put it in a bowl and added the 'glue' and put it in a pan.
Then we put the pan in the freezer because we wanted them right away. But the original recipe called for 3 hours in the fridge! Ah! We could not wait. This was wonderful and delicious. After we tried these they seemed a little sweet so we added a little salt.

2 1/2 c of old fashioned oats

4 tbsp of canola oil

1/4 c of honey

1 tbsp brown sugar

1/4 c white sugar (we ran out of brown...)

1 c of dried nuts and fruits, crushed

3 dashes of salt

2 tbsp of cinnamon

The original recipe can be found at www.joyfulabode.com/blog under Homemade Granola Bar Recipe.

Stacy's Brunch Burrito

2009-03-05T23:32:00.004-05:00

PROTEIN. PROTEIN. With my breakfasts so high in protein I'm not running my way to lunch, but now I have to make sure I get fiber in other ways throughout my day. I had a delicious breakfast/lunch burrito this afternoon. Woke around 11am and was in the mood. I just used a couple of eggs, spinach, and some of my left over veggie soup...and some sundried tomato hummus. I know...it sounds strange. But it was FLAVORFUL AND DELICIOUS.

2 eggs, scrambled
1 c of fresh spinach
1/2 of veggie soup
1 tbsp of sundried tomato hummus
1 whole wheat wrap

Stacy's Sundried Tomato Pita Pizza

2009-03-03T12:14:00.005-05:00

MINI PIZZA WITH A BIG TASTE. My sister is the Queen of these. She seasons them and makes them just right. She calls them, Weight Watcher Pizzas because that's where she learned to do it originally. It is a quick and low fat way to satisfy that craving of pizza but with less bread and less cheese. I went to the store and got some necessities for my Weight Watcher Pizza. To get some more protein besides the cheese, I added half a cube of tofu and mixed it in the sauce so it would have lots of flavor.

1 whole wheat pita
1/3 c of fat-free Trader Joe's Pizza Sauce
2 tbsp of Sundried Tomato Feta Cheese
1 tbsp of Sundried Tomato Hummus
1 1/2 c of Spinach
2 tsp of Italian Seasoning
1 tsp of Oregano
1 tsp of Onion Powder
1 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar

I put down the hummus first, then the sauce with the tofu that I cooked on the stove for 2 minutes, then I added the spinach, and then the cheese! I put in in the oven on 350 degrees for 8 minutes and it was done and ready to be eaten! I LOVE that my sister introduced me to these. I was nice and full and not stuffed when I finished. YUM.

Stacy's Blueberry Oatmeal Breakfast

2009-03-03T08:20:00.006-05:00

CREAMY AND BLUE. Just like how the clouds look outside this morning. My stomach woke me at 6 am this morning and I tried to go back to sleep but it would not hear no for an answer. So I crawled out of bed and fixed myself some oatmeal. Last night I went out to the nearby grocery and got a huge 42 ounce box of Quaker Oats. Only to realize I bought the old fashioned oats and not the quick oats, which I prefer. Oh well. No matter what I got lots of fiber and a nice serving of fruit. I have been realizing that I have been adding Splenda to my cereal and other breakfasts. I'm not sure why but no matter how much salt or sugar I add to my foods I do not seem to taste it. Maybe it is because I am sick right now but next week I am going to do more protein based breakfasts and less cereals. I'm going back to my original Soy Milk as well. I do not like the Vanilla, it is just more sugar than I need in the morning, especially with the cereal I am eating and the dried fruits I am adding. Now that my stomach is satisfied, I'm off to bed again.

1/2 c of Old Fashioned Quaker Oats
1/2 c of water
1 c of Vanilla Soy Milk
1 healthy handful of blueberries
1/2 package of splenda

Oat Facts, according to the American Cancer Society:

from health.learninginfo.org

1. Insoluble fiber's cancer-fighting properties are due to the fact that it attacks certain bile acids, reducing their toxicity.

2. Soluble fiber may reduce LDL cholesterol without lowering HDL cholesterol. LDL is bad; HDL is good.

3. Soluble fiber slows down the digestion of starch. This may be beneficial to diabetics because, when you slow down the digestion of starch, you avoid the sharp rises in your blood sugar level that usually occur following a meal.

4. It has been found that those who eat more oats are less likely to develop heart disease, a disease that is currently widespread in the United States.

5. The phytochemicals in oat may also have cancer-fighting properties.

6. Oats are a good source of many nutrients including vitamin E, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oats are also a good source of protein.

~Sophia's No Hassle and Natural Dinner~

2009-03-03T00:02:00.005-05:00

Eating Animals is WRONG!!!!

TOFU

Tonight I made teriyaki tofu, steamed veggies (carrots, broccoli and cauliflower) and brown rice.

Step by Step Guide...

- Steam Brown Rice

- Drain Tofu, cut into squares and sprinkle with seasonings (added a bit of low sodium teriyaki sauce.)

- Sliced onions and put them in a separate mixing bowl with a little teriyaki sauce

- Combined Tofu and Sauteed onions in skillet

- Steamed my veggies

- Mix Rice with Tofu and Veggies

Stacy's Snowed In Dinner

2009-03-02T21:26:00.006-05:00

VEGETABLE SOUP. I'm feeling a little sick tonight. Maybe I ran outside too much this week. Oh well. It's nice to be sick because it's the only time you're allowed to be selfish. So I'm being selfish by watching Vanilla Sky on Bravo and sleeping through the commercials. Nice. I was so chilly all day that I decided Vegetable Soup for dinner would be perfect, I put in some fresh spinach too.

1 c of fresh spinach
1 1/4 c of Vegetable Soup
2 slices of Wheat Bread with 2 dabs of butter

Stacy's Blueberry-Banana Pancakes

2009-02-28T19:51:00.013-05:00

AUNT JEMIMA TIME! Mmmmm. Pancakes for dinner is all I needed. We added all the ingredients we wanted to make this as delicious as possible. We were just going to have banana pancakes but then Mike surprised me with fresh blueberries...so I had to put that in as well. YUM.

First we added in all the dry ingredients and made a nice well.
Second we put in the soy milk and eggs and then the melted butter.
Third we added the fresh blueberries and the chopped pieces of banana and cinnamon.

Then we sprayed the pan with lowfat Canola Oil spray and went to town.

2 c of flour
3 1/2 teaspoons of baking bowder
1/4 c malted milk
1/2 c of vanilla soy milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons of sugar
3 tablespoons of butter (melted)
1 teaspoon of salt
1/3 c of fresh blueberries
1 banana, chopped

We lightly added powder sugar and lots and lots of Aunt Jemima Syrup.

Stacy's Interesting Findings from THE DIET CURE

2009-02-28T13:47:00.006-05:00

THE DIET DOWNFALL? I have been reading the THE DIET CURE by Julia Ross off and on for a while. I got it from Borders when I was home in Chicago over Winter Break. I decided to begin reading it again because I felt myself going into DIET mode and trying to DIET again...and I think this book has lots of interesting facts to keep me out of the desire to restrict. I know for some people, my friend Margaux included, dieting works and does not make her go crazy. Whereas my other friend Lisa, does not diet but she eats only healthy foods. I think I am a cross between both of them. I like watching what I eat and indulging at times like Margaux and I love eating healthy foods and cooking healthy foods like Lisa...who knows. No matter what, it's always important to do what is right for you. I just think this book raises some interesting points which might help the in-betweens like myself.

A section that I thought was interesting to share was
HOW TO UNDIET
according to THE DIET CURE by Julia Cross

1. Do not Skip Meals. Eat three substantial, balanced meals (containing protein, fat, and carbs) per day. Skipping breakfast automatically slows the metab and induces afternoon and evening food cravings...as well as overeating.

2. Eat at least 25% of the day's cals at breakfast. Breakfast is the only meal that spees up calorie burning. You may be able to stop all compulsive eating simply by adding a solid breakfast that emphasizes protien, at least 20 grams. I was shocked by this. WOW.

3. Do not undereat. A study done by Dr. Wayne Calloway, an expert in Third World malnutrition as well as eating disorders discovered that people actually gained weight when eating a diet of 700 calories per day. And when he raised their intake above 1,500 calories (with 25% taken in at breakfast) they finally began to loose weith. WOW.

4. Start your meals with plenty of protein. (fish, chicken, beef, tofu, turkey, eegs, etc.) 20 grams or more of protien will reduce your interest in empty carbs making you alert and strong.

5. Eat unlimited amounts of green veggies with your protein. Eat some red adn yellow ones too.

6. For snacking, eat fruit or veggies with protein. For example, nuts, seeds, or cheese.

7. Be sure to include some good fats in each meal for optimal health and to trigger your appetite to turn off. Eat nuts, seeds, salad oil, olives, and avocados.

8. Stop counting calories and fat grams. You don't have to worry about crunching numbers to be healthy.

I thought this was interesting...and valuable information. I think I'm going to try to do more variety in the morning rather than just breakfast cereals because I am hungry at night most of the time and that is when I have an extra bowl of cereal or desire cookies or chips. Hmm...we will see.

Stacy's Banana Cereal Delight

2009-02-28T10:48:00.006-05:00

Cereal Combinations are splendid. My dad was always adding five different cereals when my sister and I were little and we thought he was gross. Of course, parents are always right. And I'm proud to say, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. YUM.

I was starving this morning because I took a nice run along the Hudson River last night and then wetn back out at 12 in the morning for a nice walk and quick sprint race with my roommate...she won.

1/4 c of Trader Joe's High Fiber O's
1 small banana
1/3 c of Cinnamon Puffins
1/2 c of vanilla soy milk
1 tbsp of raisins and dried cranberries
1 generous drizzle of honey

To be honest, I don't really like this Cinnamon Puffins cereal. But I wanted to try a high fiber cereal that was wheat free because wheat makes me really tired when I have too much of it, which I always do because I love cereal. Why the Puffins cereal is a miss for me is because it just has too much cinnamon and not other spices. But when I add it in a mix, and it can soak in the soy milk, I forget all about the mistakes...YUMMY.

Stacy's Banana Blonde Smoothies

2009-02-28T10:33:00.006-05:00

SMOOTH. I love smoothies. And I got up yesterday morning and decided to make a fun combination. I wanted to make it citrusy and add orange juice...but after the look my roommate Danielle gave me, I decided to just stick with the basics. And it came out as smooth and creamy as a wedding cake.

First I put in all the ingredients, the bananas and yogurt first, and the honey and soy milk last. And then after trying a little I realized it could have been a little colder...so I added to cubes of ice. And it was so nice. I'm a pro now. YES and YUM.

2 large bananas
1 light and fit vanilla small yogurt
1/2 c of vanilla soy milk
2 squirts of honey
2 large cubes of ice

These were quite delicious and it kept me full for a couple of hours! Definitely going to try this again...but with the orange juice...it'll be like a dreamsicle !

Sophia's Tofu and Hummus Stuffed Soy Pita LUNCH

2009-02-27T16:55:00.008-05:00

Yesterday I went to Trader Joe's and found SOY PITA!!! I was really excited. I also purchased some Firm Tofu and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.

So for lunch I really wanted, hummus, tofu and some pita...creating the Tofu and Hummus Stuffed Soy Pita!!

I cooked my tofu in olive oil and put a little Cesar vinaigrette dressing on it (I'm out of liquid amino's) then I threw some onions in the skillet with the tofu.

INSIDE THE SOY PITA!!

~Lettuce~

~Onions~

~Spicy Mustard~

~Red Pepper Hummus~

~Tofu~

~Avocado~

now I wish I'd added tomatoes, but next time!!

~All From Trader Joe's~

*Soy Pita
*Tofu- Firm and Organic
*Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dip

Stacy's PBJ and B Lunch

2009-02-27T01:53:00.013-05:00

HERE. WE. GO. I have a long day tomorrow. I have class from noon to three...and I normally do not get hungry until about one...right in the middle of my teacher's main argument. Then after class I'm working out and then going straight to THE NEW GROUP theater to help out with the new show. So I decided to create a very fun and filling lunch. I am so excited! And there is nothing like being excited to eat a lunch you've prepared the night before...

2 tbsp of crunchy trader joe's PB, 9 g of protein, 2 grams of fiber
2 slices of Pepperidge Farm Carb Style Bread, 10 g of protein, 6 g of fiber
2 tbsp of grape jelly
1 large ripe banana, about 11 g of fiber
1 tbsp of raisins and cranberries, I topped the jelly side of the bread with these...
2 tsp of honey, I decided to drizzle some honey on the bread....devine!

From this meal, I get 19 g of protein and 19 g of fiber. GO ME!

Just to have something living (besides my beautiful banana), I'm going to pair this sandwich with some baby carrots. Which will be nice and crunchy and help me forget my tortilla chips for a while.

This new bread that I finally decided to get (I was under the weird impression that having bread in the house would make me gain weight...a weird diet myth that I decided to DEBUNK...because I'm not on a diet) is so delicious. AND ONLY 60 CALORIES A SLICE! YES and YUM.

Healthy facts about Bananas from www.whfoods.com

Stacy's PB&J Lunch

2009-02-27T00:00:00.004-05:00

I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER. And I'm sooo glad it's back in my life. I was afraid to eat any but when I went to trader joe's they told me they had tested all their products, so I got some crunchy peanut butter and had it on soft whole-wheat bread.

I decided to pair it with some crunched up tortilla chips and carrots...YUM.

Stacy's Teriyaki Stir-fryi

2009-02-26T23:35:00.005-05:00

I LOVE TERIYAKI! When I came home I was starving but decided I had to be patient to make myself a delicious dinner. (I ate it a little to fast but...it was so packed with flavor I didn't care.)

1/3 c of Trader Joe's tofu
2 soy chicken nuggets, chopped
1/4 c of brown rice
1/4 c of vegetable medley rice
3 tbsp of Teriyaki sauce
1 c of spinach
1/2 c of grape tomatoes

This was the most delicious meal I had ever had. I'm so glad I added two different types of protein in this meal because the soy nuggets added alot of crunch to it. YUM!

Stacy's Blue-Banana Smoothies and Banana Bread

2009-02-26T23:22:00.006-05:00

DON'T BE BLUE! YUM. Late night my friend Dominique and I decided to make some low-fat smoothies. I had already made the banana bread the night before. It was very interesting...as a friend of mine said...it was afraid to touch the edges of the pan...but not my mouth! It was delicious!

DON'T BE BLUE SMOOTHIES

1c of frozen blueberries for Trader Joes
1 very, very ripe and lonely banana
1/2 c of Trader Joes regular soy milk
1/4 c of Trader Joes honey

YUM.

BARELY THERE BANANA BREAD

1 1/2 c of all purpose flour
2 very ripe bananas
1 dash of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 c of brown sugar
1/4 c of honey
1 c of trail mix: cranberries, raisins, cinnamon sugar almonds, raw almonds

We heated up the bread and added just a touch of butter. HEAVEN.

Stacy's Packed Veggie Creation

2009-02-26T23:16:00.003-05:00

CHICK PEAS AND SPINACH MAKE LOVE. So I was at my internship all day and I wanted something healthy...loaded with veggies but delicious. So I put it all the veggies I could find in one container and added some Balsamic Vinegar for juiciness. The night before my roommate made a chick pea, tomato, spinach, and feta creation...so of course being greedy I added that ontop of my already loaded lunch. I had this with a side of trail mix for a sweet dessert treat.

1/2 c of chick pea, tomato, spinach and feta salad
2 cups of spinach
1/2 c of grape tomatoes
2 tbsp of Balsamic Vingegar
1 trader joes Italian soy Sausage

I added in the soy Sausage for more protein and they are so delicious! I was sooo happy and satisfied. YUM.

From this lunch, I got 3 servings of veggies and 12 grams of protein...not even counting the chick peas. YES.

Sophia's "OUT TO EAT AT A BURGER JOINT??? What To Order???!!!

2009-02-25T23:34:00.009-05:00

IM STILL A VEGETARIAN!!!

- So I went to Red Robins with my boyfriend because he's been wanting to taste their burgers for sooo long. But when I looked at the menu everything was for carnivorous monsters.

Fortunately our sever told us we could substitute any burger with a BOCA patty (vegetarian) So that is exactly what I did!!!

I was munching on some of my guys garlic fries and tortilla chips earlier so I knew I had to be easy on the carbohydrates for my actually mean, which is why I chose the Lettuce Wrap Boca Burger and Side Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing.

Lettuce Wrap Boca Burger

SIDE SALAD W/ Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

When I got home I went to the restaurants website which provides the nutritional value for my entire meal!!

CALORIES- 508

TOTAL FAT- 26 g

SODIUM- 1247g (way too high- but at least I know now)

Carbohydrates- 31 g

DIETARY FIBER- 12g

PROTEIN- 44g

Sophia's Veggie Packed Salad and Cheese Pizza

2009-02-24T00:29:00.009-05:00

PIZZA

Now Pizza is my guilty pleasure- I seriously believe I could enter a pizza contest and come pretty close to first place if not first, lol. I've been wanting to make a pizza from scratch for the longest time and unfortunately this is still now my own creation. Just a four cheese pizza you pop in the oven. But it was delicious!!

Veggie Packed SALAD STEP I

I started with a simple salad, added Tomatoes and Avocados. YUM

Yet I was craving a lot of veggies today so I steamed some mixed vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower and carrots) and threw them on top of the salad.

Veggie Packed Salad STEP II

I love vegetables on a salad. Once you start adding exciting things to a salad you never want to eat a plain one again!!

Sophia- Snacks are not just for kids!!!

2009-02-24T00:21:00.004-05:00

!!!SNACK TIME IS HERE!!!

I LOVE SMOOTHIES!!! I never try anything exciting when it comes to smoothies, i always stick with the classic banana and strawberry mix, lol. I got this one from Sunrise Health Food Market. Its all natural, just a banana, strawberry's and apple juice!! i love how sometimes at the bottom there are chunks of fruit, it reminds me its all natural and its a fun little surprise. !!

When Days get busy you need snacks to keep you going, but healthy snacks!!

I had an all natural Vegan Mixed Nut Bar- they are really good!! and they provide a good amount of protein and are under 200 calories. Then i had a banana to go along with that!!

Yes i had two bananas today but i love bananas. Alot of people don't like to have to many in one day because they are high in calories, but this will not affect me in anyway today!!!

Stacy's Lowfat Nachos

2009-02-23T13:42:00.003-05:00

FIESTA? I really love Nachos but it's always difficult to get ones that aren't loaded with cheese and beef. And since I'm not crazy about either I decided to make my own low-fat nachos. It was pretty simple. The only thing I realized was I could have had more veggies and less chips. But who am I kidding? What's nachos without chips. This was the best thing I've made in a while.

First I heated the Mushroom Patty in the microwave for about 2 minutes, cut it up and let it cool
Then I put chips in the bowl, put the cheese on top, with the beans and put it the microwave to melt for about 2 minutes.
Then I added the veggies and salsa.

YUMMY.

1c of Santinos Tortilla Chips
2 pinches of part-skim Sargento shredded Cheese
4 grape tomatoes
a handful of Spinach
1 Portabella Mushroom Patty
1 tbsp of salsa
2 tbsp of black and pinto beans

The chips do have alot of calories, about 130cals for 1oz but I made sure to go easy on them as well as the cheese. I had veggies, and a low-fat veggie patty! I'm satisfied, because I ate what I wanted and made sure to make it healthy. YES. In a couple of hours I'm going to run along the Hudson River, I did it last night even though it was raining, and it was amazing. Hopefully later I can make some lowfat banana bread....yum.

Stacy's Blueberry Loaf Cake

2009-02-22T16:26:00.004-05:00

BEAUTIFUL BLUEBERRY CAKE. My friend Dominique has been dying to do this recipe for weeks...so we finally did late last night. It had a very special name but all I can remember is that it was delicious. We added flour, sugar, 1 egg, baking powder...and just a bit of milk....and of course...lots of frozen blueberries. This was DIVINE.

BLUEBERRY BENEFITS
from msucares.com

1. Blueberries are low in calories, high in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins C and E.
2. Eating blueberries may help us fight cancer, diabetes, reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease and lower bad cholesterol levels.
3. Consumption of blueberries may also improve eyesight, sharpen memory and help prevent Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
4. These tasty berries have also been proven effective against urinary tract infections, reversing skin wrinkling and shows positive results in children with ADD.

Stacy's Tofu Stir-fry

2009-02-22T16:16:00.006-05:00

I have been craving Stir-fry for days. So I went to Trader Joes and got some tofu...happily cheap and waiting for me. YES and YUM.

I first cooked the tofu on the stove, spraying the pan with Canola Oil.
I then added the spinach, ripping it first with my hands.
Then I added the grape tomatoes, trail mix, and beans...and the delicious teriyaki sauce.

1/3 c of tofu (chopped)
1 1/2 c of spinach
1/2 c of grape tomatoes
1/4 c of black and pinto beans
2 tbsp of trail mix (raisins, almonds, dried cranberries)
1 dollop of hummus
1/4 c of brown rice
2 tbsp of teriyaki sauce

From this meal I got 3 servings of veggies, lots of protein, and lots of fiber. I LOVE EATING HEALTHY.

Stacy's Trail Mix Breakfast

2009-02-22T16:11:00.003-05:00

CEREAL IS MY PASSION. I wanted a big-man's breakfast this morning, so packed everything into the bowl that I could find...

1 c of Special K with berries
1 c of Cinnamon Puffins Cereal
1 tbsp of trail mix (Raisins, Almonds, Dried Cranberries)
1/2 c of Silk Soy Milk
1 spoonful of pb (not shown)

This was so delicious and filling. And full of fiber!!!

Stacy's Left-Over Pizza Lunch

2009-02-22T16:02:00.004-05:00

ITALIAN FOOD IS THE BEST THE NEXT DAY....Since we had so much Pizza left over I had 3 slices for lunch and a nice salad.

3 pieces of left over spinach&chesse whole wheat pizza
2 c of spinach
1 handful of grape tomatoes
2 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar (not shown)

And then...I had the last 3 pieces at 2am...I didn't need it...but everything tastes better at night. YUM.

Stacy's Pizza Party

2009-02-22T15:50:00.004-05:00

I LOVE HEALTHY PIZZA. But what I don't love is the oil and grease that most times comes along with it when you deliver. So my roommate Danielle and I decided to make our own Pizza...Trader Joes style. OF COURSE. My sister and I do this all the time...it's best to thaw the dough first (we're always too hungry to do this...but luckily I had just gotten back from Trader Joes so the dough was already soft and ready to go in)

First we preheated the oven, 425, then we sprayed the pan with Canola Oil Spray, spread out the Whole Wheat dough, and put it in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes...
Then we made the sauce on the stove. Adding any spice we could find:
A dash of salt, garlic powder, onion power, Italian seasoning, pepper, thyme, oregano, and my favorite secret ingredient from good friend Dominique....2 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar
After the sauce was done, we took out the Whole Wheat dough and topped it with sauce, adding 3 cups of Spinach and 4 cups of part-skim Shredded Mozzarella Cheese and a dash of pepper.

It baked for about 10 minutes in the oven, or until the cheese bubbled.

1 package of Trader Joes Whole Wheat Dough
1/2 jar of Trader Joes fat-free Pizza Sauce
3 c of Trader Joes organic Spinach
4 c of Sargento Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

After about 4 pieces, I was happily full. DE-LIC-IOUS

Stacy's Mushroom Indulgence

2009-02-22T15:29:00.005-05:00

Mushrooms may be a fungus...but they taste good to me!!!
I bought some delicious Portabella Mushroom Patties and topped it with beans, raisins, and of course...hummus. I decided it would be nice to have it with mushrooms as well. Yummy.

First I heated the Mushroom Patty on the Stove, first spraying the pan with some Canola Oil Spray (no added ingredients, no fat....) instead of Olive Oil to save calories.
Then I added black beans, raisins, and cranberries to the Patty on the Stove.
Finally I put all of this on top 2 c of Spinach...I was going to cook the Spinach but I try to eat at least 5 servings of raw veggies a week.

1 Garden Burger Portabella Mushroom Patty (6 grams of Protein...5 grams of Fiber...who knew)
2 c of Spinach
1/2 c of Mushrooms (sliced)
1 dollop of hummus
1 tbsp of raisins
1 tbsp of cranberries
2 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar

From this meal, I got 3 servings of veggies and 6 grams of Protein to keep me nice and full.

Interesting Facts About Mushrooms
from 5 Foods that should have a place in your diet on CNN.COM

"Most people might be surprised to learn that while orange juice is touted as one of the highest potassium foods, one medium portobello mushroom actually has more potassium. And five white button mushrooms have more potassium than an orange," says Clare Hasler, Ph.D

-Compounds in mushrooms may do everything from bolster immune function to suppress breast and prostate cancers to decrease tumor size.

Sophia's HEALHY TAKE OUT!!!

2009-02-16T21:55:00.004-05:00

One word...

PF CHANG'S!!! (ok two words) .
I love PF Chang's because their Chinese food is a little bit healthier than the average Chinese food restaurant.

Tonight I had my favorite meal from PF's... MA PO TOFU with BROWN RICE and SICHUAN STYLE ASPARAGUS!!

What I also like about PF Chang's is you can go on their website and look at the nutritional facts.

I split everything with my mom, but here are the nutrition facts from the website.

Brown Rice- 1/2 cup = 109 calories
Ma Po Tofu (with Broccoli) - 8oz (2.5 servings) 391 calories
Sichuan Style Asparagus (spicy) - 107 calories.

Stacy's Meatless Chicken Dinner

2009-02-13T19:29:00.003-05:00

Hmmmm. If you want it done right...you better do it yourself. I have been craving meatless chicken nuggets for the past two weeks. And I finally got some by Morning Star. Umm...they weren't too yummy. They were a little too buttery, oily, and just tasted weird. I have had delicious meatless nuggets from Morning Star before...but these were not up to my standards. And when I looked in the ingredients section, it looked like the next American novel....YUCK! Oh well, now I know. I paired this with some sauteed spinach and cucumbers and had a few Tortilla chips...with a hint of lime.

5 meatless chicken nuggets
2 tbsp of ketchup
8 Tortilla chips with a hint of lime (not shown)
1 c of Spinach
some cumcumbers with teriyaki sauce

At least the spincah was good...that's because it wasn't prepacked though. This makes me sad...

Stacy's VEG-Packed Lunch

2009-02-13T19:24:00.004-05:00

BUSY. BUSY. I had to take my lunch today so I packed it full of protein and vegetables. I used a Vegetable from Trader Joes....of course and added in some almonds for crunchiness and raisins for sweetness.

1 Vegetable Patty
1 handful of cherry tomatoes
1 c of Spinach
1 tbsp of almonds
1 tbsp of raisins
1 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar for a juicy kick
From this meal, I get 3 servings of veggies! Lite and healthy even if I'm on the go!

Stacy's Veggie Masala Patty with Hummus

2009-02-12T20:08:00.004-05:00

LITE LUNCH. Because I was so busy today and my breakfast filled me up so fine...I decided on a lite lunch. Just a veggie patty with hummus and a few tomatoes....I was still hungry after this...Obviously enough. So I had some trail mix and a handful of strawberry oat bites for dessert.

1 Veggie Masala Patty
1 dollop of Humus
5 grape tomatoes, I love my tomatoes!

Sophia's Protien and Magnesium, Vitamin C, Iron, Potassium Lunch

2009-02-12T16:23:00.004-05:00

~LUNCH~

LUNCH!!! well, I was lazy and didn't feel like making anything so I just heated up some fish (salmon) and green beans.

Earlier today I had a vegan health bar for a snack and I'm sooo mad I didn't have my camera. It was the Nut Mix, which provides a nice little boost of Protein. "ORGANIC NATURE BAR- Gluten Free, Vegan"!

Green Bean Health nutrients. (From Trader Joes, French Green Beans)

- i have to put the direct quote of what this website says about green beans because I love it. "Green beans, while quite low in calories (just 43.75 calories in a whole cup), are loaded with enough nutrients to not only power up the Jolly Green Giant, but to put a big smile on his face" (http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=134)

Green Beans

Great source of magnesium (strengthen the formation of bones and teeth. Promotes a healthy heart)
Vitamin K (good for the blood, prevents excess loss of blood during injuries)
Vitamin C (protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and skin wrinkling)
Potassium (Potassium helps carry oxygen to the brain, good for your muscles)
Iron (prevents anemia, improves depression, stabilizes mood, boost stamina, stimulate immunity).

Stacy's Strawberry Banana-Oat Breakfast

2009-02-12T13:19:00.005-05:00

YUM. YUM. YUM. I wanted something sweet and full of fiber this morning. And lately I have been looking on how to add more real fruit to my breakfast...so I added a banana and a new tasty cereal.

1/2 c of Kashi Go Lean!
1/4 c of Smart Start Strawberry Oat bites (These are growing on me...)
1 banana, sliced
1/2 c of Regular Silk Soy Milk
1 tbsp of raisins

High Fiber. High Delicious-ness. Keeps me full for hours!!

Stacy's Big Veggie Wrap

2009-02-11T19:45:00.006-05:00

CHIPOTLE? Not Quite. I got a large Veggie Wrap....courtesy of a good friend....that made me feel like I was eating Chipotle. But it's much more healthy and still as fulling. To put it simply: It was delicious! The only downfall was...it was little bit too salty, but perhaps that's because I paired it with half a bag of Salt and Vinegar Chips. Mmmmm. Oh well. It was too good and healthy for me to worry.

1 flat spinach wrap
sliced red onions
spinach
tomatoes
broccoli
squash
peppers
soy sauce

Yummy!

Stacy's Mix and Match Plate

2009-02-11T11:08:00.004-05:00

MIX AND MATCH YOUR PLATE!
I worked out twice this day and was as hungry as a linebacker. Luckily...I had a dinner date!
My friend Dominique and I had a dinner to date because she wanted to recreate the egg and spinach meal I made a couple of weeks ago. But it turned into how many healthy dishes we could fit on one plate. YUM. We even had a couple of pieces of pizza to go with this. It was a non-stop eating session. And we enjoyed every minute of it. However, my stomach was feeling the blues because of the cheese on my veggie pizza slices. I think I'm done with real cheese. I'm going to stick to soy. It's healthier anyway.

1 small serving of egg, spinach, and grape tomatoes
1 small serving of cranberry and apricot cous cous (Dominique's creation that was de-licious!)
5 falafels
1/4 c of hummus 2 slices of veggie pizza (not shown)

From this meal, I had a little too many carbs. But lots of veggies! And I worked out twice. So I quickly brushed it off and was full and happy. Yum.

Sophia's trying to be healthy and eat.

2009-02-09T21:00:00.006-05:00

Finally finishing the dinner I had when I went out on Saturday night. It was a shrimp pasta but there are no more shrimp. Pictured is just Pasta, Tomatoes, Asparagus and I put 2 Soy Sausages in there for the protein.

Morning Star Soy Links
Per 2 Links
Calories- 70
Protein- 9g
What is healthy about this meal

Tomato health benefits

- Calories- 37

- lycopene (antioxidant and cancer-preventing

properties)

- fights prostate cancer

- potassium (lower high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease)

Asparagus health benefits

- Calories- 43
- a good source of potassium
- great for your heart
- helps treat depression

So, as stated in my last post I just haven't had an appetite. I know I need to eat but when I do I get queasy. So the reason for this (sorry of no relation to the blog) I have a boyfriend now and the butterflies and happiness just makes me forget about food and not crave it. Tonight I "made" myself eat a little dinner but became a little queasy again afterwards. I promise I will be back to normal soon. Sorry Everyone.

Stacy's Chocolate Covered Oreos

2009-02-09T14:33:00.013-05:00

MMmmmmmmmm. I got tired of paying so much money to get my favorite cookie dipped in chocolate. So I decided, Why not do it myself? I made these late last night to put in the Valentine's day package.

My Oreo Galore:
1. First I heated the Hershey's Kisses in the microwave in a small bowl.

2. Then I quickly put the Oreos in the bowl and covered them with the liquid chocolate quickly before the chocolate dried. (Chocolate dries extremely fast, especially when it's been heated so it's best to act fast)

3. And then I put the Oreos on wax paper and put them in the fridge to cool for about 15 minutes. After that...they were ready to go. Delicious!

Stacy's Teriyaki Tofu

2009-02-09T14:16:00.005-05:00

TOFU? Mmmmm. I was afraid of Tofu for a long, long time. And then I ate it finally at this Vegetarian Restaurant about two years ago... where they flipped it, dipped it, fried it, and had it tasting fine! But when I brought some tofu home and tried to recreate that perfection myself...it tasted like seasoned water! So I stayed away from cooking it for about a year. But I'm sick of my packaged protein patties... so I decided to get some Tofu from Trader Joes...and it was only $1.29! To make it delicious and keep it nutritious, I added lots and lots of Pepper, Balsamic Vinegar, and just a bit of Teriyaki Sauce (just a tbsp because of the sodium) and it was delicious....Tofu is back in my life. Yes!

3oz of Trader Joe's Medium Firm Tofu, only 60 calories and 8g of Protein! Whoa!
1 handful of Cherry Tomatoes
1 c of Spinach (Not cooked. I try to have some raw veggies everyday. It's so good for me!)
1 tbsp of Island Teriyaki Sauce
1 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar (My friend Dominique added this to pasta sauce once and I was shocked and appalled. Now I put in in everything. It' so good. It adds an interesting flavor to the unexpected.)
1 tsp of raisins
1 tsp of almonds
1 dollop of Hummus.

From this meal, I got 8g of Protien, and 2 servings of Vegetables. Yummy!

Stacy's Late-Night Baking Loves

2009-02-09T00:39:00.010-05:00

I LOVE TO BAKE!
Okay yes....I'm not supposed to be eating late. But I had to make sure it tasted okay before I sent this to a special someone for their Valentine's Day Package. I had one of the small hearts...only 77 calories! And it was good. It could have been a little sweeter. But it was yummy. I had to watch these like a hawk to ensure they came out nice and soft.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS

Cream the margarine and add the sugar gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt gradually to the creamed mixture, stirring in by hand. Cover and chill dough overnight.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and cut into your favorite shapes. Place cookies onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 6 to 8 minutes or until cookie has a golden appearance.

I got this recipe from Allrecipes.com it's called Michelle's Soft Sugar Cookies....Yum. Okay...so I had two. I'm going to work-out tomorrow...So I'm over it.

Nutritional Information

Michelle's Soft Sugar Cookies

Calories: 77

Total Fat: 3.3g
Cholesterol: 11mg
Sodium: 79mg
Total Carbs: 10.7g
Dietary Fiber: 0.2g
Protein: 1.1g

Stacy's Veggie Rice Medley Dinner

2009-02-08T22:21:00.009-05:00

I LOVE RICE! Especially with lots of butter and salt...which is why I use this Vegetable Rice Medley from Trader Joes because it's so creamy and tastes like it has all the butter and salt I want. (Of course I add a couple of shakes too...) I had this with a my favorite Morning Star Bean Burger and a side salad. Yum. I wish I had some tomatoes...tomorrow I have no class so I'm off to Trader Joes for some vegetable and fruit necessities!

1 Morning Star Bean Burger Patty, 11 g of Protein
1 Romaine and Spinach side salad with Balsamic Vinegar
1 c of Vegetable Medley Rice, 3 g of Fiber

My roommate does not eat after 9pm. I was astounded when she told me this. Probably because it was a Friday, at 12 in the morning, and I had already consumed 2 full bowls of Teddy Grahams. So I decided, I wanted to join her. I had this meal tonight around 7pm and made sure to pack it with Protein so my stomach would not be growling during the Godfathers....um, too late. We will see how this goes. I am doing it for a week. No eating after 9pm! Here we go.

Stacy's Bangin Big Bowl Salad

2009-02-08T21:58:00.007-05:00

I love salads! Since this is the week of Valentine's Day, I am focusing on all the things I just LOVE to eat!! I went out for a run along the Hudson River because it was only 58 degrees this afternoon! I had a great 45 minute workout. Everyone kept pointing and staring at me and I figured I just looked great in the sleek running outfit (Gray leggings, a black spandex turtle neck, and a black vest. Yes Ms. Sexy!) But to my surprise, when I got back home I realized a Pigeon had excused itself all down my back. Oh well. The breakfast as well as the compliments I THOUGHT they were giving, kept me going fast.

I was a hungry hippo when I got back and was bare of necessities, so I made a veggie stir-fry on top of a large salad. I used some sausage-less soy hot-dogs. I did not even know these were good and could exist well in Stir-Fry but my friend Lisa introduced me to this when we were in London when she put some in our stir-fry one night. I love it. The ones I used are from trader joes and I like them a lot. They have 13 g of Protein and are only 140 calories. The other ones that are Tomato and Basil have as much Protein but are 230 calories, so I opted for these more nutritional ones instead....though I miss my other ones...

1 Italian Sausage-Less Hot-Dog, cut up
1/2 c of Broccoli
1 c of Spinach
1 tbsp of Tomato Chutney
1 tbsp of Raw Almonds
1 tbsp of Raisins
This was cooked on the stove, mixed, and added to:
1 large bowl of Romaine Lettuce.
and a dollop of Hummus.
Yummy!

From this meal, I got 3 servings of Veggies. And 13 g of Protein. I also had an Oreo for dessert. It was delicious and I had to turn off the lights in my kitchen to ensure I would sneak 5 more...I didn't. But I dreamed about it.

Stacy's Go Lean Breakfast

2009-02-08T21:45:00.011-05:00

BE IN LOVE
WITH KASHI GO LEAN!
I used to make fun of my good friend Jamison for bringing a large box of Kashi cereal to a Cereal Party I had some time ago. But then, amongst all my old sugary favorites (That I still look at longingly when I shop for cereal), I could not imagine eating a cereal that was "healthy". Now, I crave it in the morning! Kashi Go Lean not only has in 10 grams of Fiber one cup but also, 13 grams of Protein. Yes!
1 c of Kashi Go Lean!
1 tbsp of Raisins
1 tbsp of Raw Almonds
1/2 c of Light Silk Soy Milk
Yum.

Sophia's- Out to Eat Healthy- but where's my Appetite :(

2009-02-07T23:15:00.009-05:00

So tonight I went out to dinner with my aunt, uncle and mom to this great restaurant in Chicago called "McCormick and Schmick's Seafood"- but honestly I haven't had an appetite all day- Really I haven't. But here is what I ordered, and seriously couldn't finish even half of each dish.

Sorry the pictures are backwards, the cake is last and the appetizer is first.

A CHOCOLATE MOOUSE CAKE with Vanilla Ice Cream- it was twice this size, so I shared it with my mom , and then only ate half of this portion.
Main Dish- SHRIMP BELLA (shrimp, roma tomatoes, penne pasta and goat cheese, asparagus)
I chose this dish because #1 i love shrimp, #2 I didnt want anything with a heavy sauce, and #3 all the veggies in it, well the tomatoes and asparagus, lol.) I ate like 1/4 of this, if even that much.

The Before Dinner Salad!!!- i just got the house salad- it was between the cesar and the house, and because I was having pasta I didn't want heavy cesar- the House Salad had a delicious light vinaigrette dressing, with onions, goat cheese, walnuts and spinach leaves.

The Appetizer- ok, this is weird, but cool. At dinner we kind of got VIP service b/c my uncle was really nice over the phone when making the reservations and my aunt knew a woman who worked at the restaurant in Pittsburgh. So this was a special and new appetizer.

- Shrimp, Oyster, and i have no idea what the other two items were. But YUM :)

Stacy's Spicy Stir-Fry

2009-02-05T18:57:00.007-05:00

LOVE EATING HEALTHY WHEN I CANNOT TELL I'M EATING HEALTHY. That's why a vegetable Stir-Fry is perfect for me! Because when I'm craving a Chipotle Burrito, I can have my rice and veggies instead and have it taste like a Chipolte Burrito with literally none of the fat and more than half of the calories.

I boiled my rice with 1/2 tsp of olive oil and a few dashes of salt then I added in 1 bowl of spinach (about 3 cups) and then I added 1/2 c broccoli and then some tomato chutney for seasoning and a black bean burger patty for protein. with 1 tsp of hummus. Yum.

1/4 of Vegetable Medley Rice
2 tbsp of Tomato chutney
3 cups of Spinach (chopped)
1/2 c of Broccoli
1 tsp of Hummus
1 tsp of Salt
3 tsp of Pepper
1 Black Bean Burger (chopped)

Sophia's Dont Eat This on a Date SALAD!!!

2009-02-05T17:48:00.004-05:00

ONIONS!!! and FISH!!! eww, this pic doesn't look to appetizing, lol. but i like it.

I'm not that hungry but I have to work late so it's smart to eat. I don't want to starve later at work and end up eating sweets at the job or come home and scarf down a meal. By having a salad i'll make it through the night and probably wont need anything later on tonight.

SALAD

- broiled fish, provides protein

- avocado

- onions

- Tastee salad dressing (Stacy hates this dressing, lol. Its not the healthiest choice, its heavy and sweet.

In my hand i have some left over chips from the cookies i made Doc and Afam. I had a tiny chocolate craving

Stacy's Sweet Barcelona Indulgence

2009-02-04T23:46:00.005-05:00

Vicky Cristina....M&M's? Okay...So I already had a slither of cake today...but that doesn't mean I can't have a few large handfuls of popcorn and three handfuls of some chocolate...RIGHT? Right. Well...at least that's what I told myself. My good friend Margaux and I went to go see Vicky Cristina Barcelona tonight...and the whole experience was just wonderful. We shared everything we had..because it was ginormous.
I had the other half of my Falafel for lunch and a Spinach salad...and I made sure dinner was light and healthy too. And...I didn't have TOO MANY goodies! At least that's what I keep telling myself. But no matter what...I wanted it. I had it. And I ENJOYED IT! And that's all that matters. On the way back home from the Subway I did a light jog to my place...and tomorrow morning it's 30 minutes of cardio. But I enjoyed my sweet day! Yum. Yum. And before I go to bed I'm having some hot Green Tea. Ahhh.

Stacy's Sweet Tooth

2009-02-04T23:33:00.006-05:00

COLD STONE
COOKIE DOUGH ICE-CREAM CAKE!
What a mouth full. And it was!
At my internship it was someone's birthday today. I actually went out to get this decadent dessert in the icy cold! Was it worth it? Who knows. It was sweet...but I could have declined...but I didn't. I saw on the back that one slice of this cream filled disaster is a whopping 530 Calories!

So I had a slither and ate around the chocolate pieces that I've always hated in Cookie Dough Ice Cream. It was still delicious and good to know for next time. I even heated it up to let some of the ice-cream melt onto the cake part. Mmmmm. Happy Birthday to me.

Sophia's Beyond Packed Lunch

2009-02-04T19:17:00.011-05:00

WOW. Never again will I eat this, ever. When I feel kind of sick I realize my appetite is a little heavier than it would be normally. So for lunch I wanted something heavy and warm. It you are going to eat a big meal its better to eat it earlier in the day because your body will burn it off, but still, nothing can prepare you for how many calories are in this sandwich. (not pictured but i ate the other half too) I had no idea until now.

Because of today, expect to see a light load tomorrow. I really should have stuck with the veggie sandwich, but ohh well. I enjoyed it , I just know to cut down the calories tomorrow.

Panera Bread's Tomato Mozzarella Panini- Fresh mozzarella, roasted & fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and all-natural sun-dried tomato pesto on Ciabatta.

LEMONADE- so refreshing!!

SALAD- I just used romaine lettuce with avocado and onions. Avocado's are high in potassium and monounsaturated fatty acids which protect against breast cancer.

SANDWICH INFO

Nutrition - 780 cals, wow- good thing i had a low calorie breakfast.

Protein- 30g (that's really good!)

Dietary Fiber -7g

Total Carbohydrate- 99g (way to many grams)

Even though it was a lot of calories dont forget, as long as all of your meals are not high in calorie and its not everyday, you'll be ok. The average woman is supposed to consume about 1500 cals a day, just from this meal alone I've had more than half.