Food Addict

Hello Friends, I will warn you that this post is not about food or exercise...it's not even about Christmas or a suggestion that you buy something from my clothing store this Holiday Season.  No, this post is about the heart, my heart, a heavy heart because of what happened in Newtown,Connecticut.  A sentiment I'm sure you all share because you are parents, and even if you are not, you are human. I don't want to talk about gun control, or de-ranged people...I want to talk about EVIL...that vile presence that we try to keep out of our daily existence...yet sometimes it is just too big and powerful to block out. What is it's purpose? I am struggling to find some sense in the slaughter of children.  I find myself awake in the early morning hours with terrifying images in my mind.  More than once I've had to get out of bed to 'walk them off'. We have seen the pictures of the beautiful children, the moving tributes but many people are very far away from

Hello Friends, This one is so simple...but so darn good and a great as lunch leftovers.  I love a good stir fry...lot's of delicious veggies, meat and of course flavour, flavour, flavour!  Garlic, ginger whatever your heart desires.  It's been a busy day and while I wanted to make a stir fry, I didn't relish the idea of standing over a wok cooking everything in stages.  I though about throwing it all in together, but it would still require me to stand and watch...so why not bake my stir fry? I still like to brown the chicken, I like that carmalized flavour.  To make extra sure the chicken was tasty, I quickly sauteed my onions in the pan first.  In went the chicken and some Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper.  When it was browned and mostly cooked I added a some black bean sauce.  (So full of flavour, but full of sodium too, so use a light hand!) ...about this much While that finished cooking, I chopped veggies I had in the fridge.  Red, yellow and orange peppers, a bag

Hello Friends, Just dropping in quickly to answer a question that I've been asked more than once in recent days.  What do you eat on the run? Let me start by saying I really am the Queen of food prep and planned leftovers.  I practice what I preach, so it's not very often I find myself without chicken, hard boiled eggs or some other protein to eat. Today, however, I find myself in this very predicament.  My daughter had a Band Concert at school, from there I was off on a quick trip to the grocery store and then had literally 20 minutes to eat some lunch before heading back to school to pick up the girls.  I have to admit I was starving while grocery shopping (not recommended)...and a box of Dark Chocolate Mint Oreos may or may not have found their way into my cart!!  Here's the lunch I came out with... This Western Family Chicken Soup is a pretty good choice, actually.    Calorie, fat and carb wise it fits the bill.  It's ingredient list reads like a

Hello Friends! Looking for something to keep that sweet tooth satisfied?  This is the time of year when temptation is everywhere...baking, candy,  hors'deurves...a little treat can quickly turn in to an all out binge event! Here's an easy recipe for a protein packed treat that will leave you satisfied.  Whip it up and enjoy before you head out to a party...it will actually have you 'passing' on the most decadent of treats.  A few bites also puts those 'sweet cravings' to bed after dinner when you just need a little something! Here's what you need... 1TBSP Natural Peanut or Almond Butter 1 Scoop Chocolate Protein Powder 1TBSP Cocoa Powder 1tsp Stevia (agave or honey work too - adjust amounts to taste) 2 TBSP + of Almond Milk (skim milk or water) Mix the first four ingredients to disperse the peanut butter...it's powdery, don't worry!  Add milk and mix into a thick batter.  You may need more liquid but 2 TBSP is a good place to st

Hello Friends! As we head into a weekend and the potential for social gatherings, snack foods enter the equation.  Just wanted to share a snack that I love...introduced to me by my beautiful Sister-in-Law, Vanessa. They're called CheeChas. They're a great alternative to potato chips in that they are crunchy, potato-based and come in several flavours as well as a 'gluten free' option.  I love Salt & Vinegar, Dill Pickle and Cheddar! Check out the ingredients... Chemical free!  They are big on flavour and small on calories.  Two cups, 90 calories...seriously worth it.   Compare that to the calories, fat, and carbs in regular chips and you can see there's no comparison. Sodium a little higher than the Whole Grain Tortilla example below...but these CheeChas are  the SALT & Vinegar variety! They are a bit tricky to find in Kelowna.  Save On Foods has the Salt & Vinegar flavour only. I believe Safeway has a a better selection! I&

Hello Friends! Ok, time for a little rah rah.  We are now into the busiest season of the year (for most of us!)  Celebrations, shopping, lot's of tempting treats that find their way into our diets. IMO the most imporatant way to stay on track both physically and mentally when you're overwhelmed is to cut yourself some serious slack, and that starts with the little voice in your head. The way you talk to yourself, when your mouth isn't moving, has a big impact on your mood, the way you treat others and the choices you make about food and exercise. None of us can get behind each other's eyes. How I see the world is not how you see it, and vice versa...but we can all do the  same thing to give ourselves a fighting chance at having a 'good' day!  Keep your 'self talk' positive.  Starting right now, take notice of what runs through your mind when you look in the mirror, or make a mistake...chances are it's not how you would talk to a good frien

Happy Friday! Just want to pass along a couple of kitchen experiments that have gone very well.  Of course I am talking about baked oatmeal, because it's my favourite thing! First up...Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal! Start with the basic recipe...(can be found in the 'Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal' post) omit the pumpkin and coconut oil, and I used chocolate protein powder in place of the vanilla protein powder. Mix all the wet ingredients, and protein powder, plus a scoop of PB2 Chocolate Peanut Butter Powder. (you can find it at www.lowcarbcanada.ca ) It's OK if you don't have this...it's still delicious! Add in the oats, mix, and transer to you greased (PAM or Coconut Oil) ramekin dish.  Now the best part.  A teaspoon of natural peanut butter dolloped right on the top.  Bake 15-17 min at 375. Add a splash of milk (or not) and enjoy the gooey goodness!! **Another delicious take on this, is to make the Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal...but instead of pump

Hello Friends. Here's one that will have you proudly ringing the dinner bell. It doesn't even have a name--just a big mish mash of flavours! Let's call it Veggie Italiano with Chicken and Bacon!  ha ha I love a good comfort meal, but don't always love what goes into it!  (fat, sodium, starch)  Here's one that's Italian in nature, free of all the 'guck', boasting only fresh, quality ingredients and best of all, it's so darn easy! You can use pasta, I used spaghetti squash. Slice them in half, scoop the seeds out, cook rind side up (not like the picture) in a dish with some water for 40-45 min at 375. Fry up the meat of your choice.  I chose chicken breast. (red onions in there too!) Now, the sauce.  I used a fresh jar from the local Italian Market, it was just pureed tomatoes.  I added some chopped fresh basil... ...chopped veggies (mushrooms and zucchini)... ...and my 'go to' Club House Seasoning...Parme

Hello Friends! I'm about to reveal a weakness to you...something that shouldn't bother me, but it does.  Every time I put on a bathing suit...stretch marks are staring back at me.  I know why they are there (my last baby was a 10 pounder and breach), I know that stretch marks don't define who I am, but rightly or wrongly they do suck a little bit of the joy out of my life. I prefer a life full of joy, so when I was offered the opportunity to deal with them...by that I mean, virtually erase the stretch marks...I jumped at it!  It's Fractional Laser Technology (kind of a big deal) and it's available at Advantage Body Clinic in Kelowna.  I won't pretend to know exactly how it works...but Karen Pettinger sure does.  You can contact her here.  www.advantagebody.ca Hi Karen!   After a consultation, where Karen explained the process and the discomfort I could expect (!) today was the first treatment.  Treatments will span the next few months...and

Good morning! Just a quick update to share something exciting...well, exciting to me because I get very happy when an experiment in the kitchen goes well! You know I love baked oatmeal...now I've taken to making two varieties each morning. One with my beloved pumpkin for breakfast...and the other without, so it bakes up like a muffin. Perfect for post workout! (see earlier post for recipes) This morning, while prepping that post workout muffin, inspiration struck!  I was adding some raspberries and thought....wouldn't lemon be devine?  Out came the lemon, and the zester...just a few shavings and a new favourite was born!   Post Workout Lemon Raspberry Muffin.  I omit the coconut oil for this one and up the amount of protein powder to a full scoop.  Fat (even though it's good fat) slows down the absorption of nutrients.  Great for keeping you satisfied after a meal, but you want your muscles to absorb protein and carbs as fast as possible rig

Pizza can be more than just a standby Friday night dinner, or something you throw in the oven for 'the kids' while you serve up something for the 'adults'. With such an assortment of thin, healthier crusts on the market, it's easy to stay 'clean' and enjoy a favourite food that's gotten a bit of a bad rap.  Just avoid piling on the fatty meats and lighten up the cheese load for a dinner that's perfect any night of the week.  Here's my current fav! Red Pear, Prosciutto and Rosemary with a honey drizzle This is seriously so easy to make.  I buy my crusts from a local Italian Market, they are thin, homemade and contain only like five, real ingredients and no perservatives! First things first...you need some crispy prosciutto. 10-12 pieces.  I cook them at 450 degrees on a foil lined baking sheet.  10 minutes to perfection.  Remove from sheet and let them cool so you can crumble. Reduce oven heat to 425 degrees. I like a cris

This just hits the spot for me these days...hopefully you will enjoy it too! Here's what you need...(forgot to put the coconut oil in the picture...you need that too!) Preheat oven to 375.  Mash half a banana in a bowl, add a splash of vanilla, 1 tsp coconut oil, half a scoop of protein powder, a heaping spoonful (or two) of canned pumpkin, cinnamon to taste (or pumpkin pie spice) and about 1/4 c. egg whites.  Mix it all up and dump in 1/2 c of dry oatmeal, stir and if you want sprinkle in some raisins. Transfer to a ramekin cup or small baking dish that has been sprayed with PAM, or if you prefer rub with coconut oil. Bake for 17 min. Here is the finished product.  The pumpkin keeps it so soft!  I like to break it up a bit and add a splash of almond milk.... ...pair it with a steaming cup of coffee or tea...oh I can hardly wait for morning! ***NOTE*** If you omit the pumpkin it bakes up just like a giant muffin.  Slice it in half

This one is so simple...yet so satisfying. Take a medium to large spaghetti squash, slice it lengthwise, scoop out the pits and place rind side up in a pan with some water in it.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. While that's in the oven, brown onion and ground chicken over medium heat. When fully cooked add your sauce of choice. **NOTE** Use a thicker sauce in this recipe.  I used a thinner, organic sauce and a can of diced tomatoes with the juice. I ended up pouring off more than a cup of liquid after baking.  Next time I will use a large can of organic crushed tomatoes (no salt added) and then season with garlic, oregano and my favourite parmesan herb seasoning from Club House. So, mix your sauce with the chicken and let it simmer over low heat while your squash cooks.  When it's done, remove from the oven and let it sit for about ten minutes, (seriously let it cool a bit I can't feel the tips of my fingers tonight!) When cool, scrap the flesh with a fork and pi

Hello Friends! 2012 has been a year of the challenges for me...or rather I chose to challenge myself over the past 11 months by competing in three figure competitions this year.  Western Canadians - May 2012  Sandra Wickham Fall Classic - November 2012 It means I've spent most of the past 300 or so days on a competition diet and am just now re-entering a daily regime that many would call 'normal'.  The problem is, I don't really remember what normal is.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner and all meals in between!    For months, most of my meals have consisted of chicken breast or tilapia or lean beef, broccoli, spinach or asparagus and sometimes some steamed yams.  Other than natural peanut butter and chocolate protein powder there haven't been many treats. The up side to this, is that wine, cheese and even the teensiest treat are now so rewarding... Ok, this one is not teensy! I can't even tell you how great it feels to be able to pou