brownies. kind of.
>> Monday, November 8, 2010
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making the most of twenty-two inches of faux granite
There's no time like the present.
After a summer of way too much ice cream, pizza, potato chips, and other junk, I decided a few weeks ago that it was finally time to pay more attention to what I'm putting into my body. The changes I've made include eliminating "white" foods (potatoes, pasta, bread) from my diet, cutting back on added sugar and carbs, upping my protein intake, buying organic eggs, drastically reducing the amount of dairy I consume, drinking tea instead of coffee, and taking vitamins on a daily basis. And it's working! With a week or two I noticed that I was sleeping better, had more energy and clearer skin, and was even losing a little bit of weight. Who knew it was so easy to feel great?
That said, though, I'm smart enough to realize that giving up all junk food--and chocolate in particular--is just not an option for me. Fortunately, dark chocolate is loaded with flavonoids (a naturally occurring plant compound that has antioxidant properties and can also aid in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol). Berries are also antioxidant-rich (and offer fiber and Vitamin C) and almonds are high-protein, heart-friendly, and contain more calcium than any other nuts. I'd been eating a square of dark chocolate with a handful of nuts and berries as a sweet snack anyway, so I decided to try combining them into one delicious bite. It's the perfect dessert or late-night snack, and it's (kinda-sorta) good for you!
Two recent additions to my soup repertoire. Both are simple and inexpensive to prepare, healthy, and delicious!
A few nights ago I was looking for a great main dish recipe to utilize all of the beautiful vegetables that are in my local market right now. This is bright and flavorful, and not too heavy for a summer supper. I followed the recipe pretty closely, but the few slight changes I made are in italics.