A Quick Thought...

In an attempt to eat more fruits and veggies this week I have a quick suggestion for you...

Make a plan before you just go to the store and buy the whole produce section.

This last month I have had the best of intentions to make Ratatouille. I have even bought an eggplant twice. Both of them have ended up in the garbage after hanging out in my fridge for weeks on end. I don't have a recipe that I know i want to use, and I never am able to get all the ingredients I need. Or truth be told I am a little intimidating by it because I have never made it (it is probably the easiest thing, who knows). Anyway, the moral of the story is, have a plan set in place. Be willing to try new things, but stick to recipes that only have a few new items. If you have to go out and buy ten new ingredients the chances of you actually making the recipe are slim.

Oh and make sure to check out the recipe I just posted. It looks delicious! I will work on getting the nutrition info for you.

Spaghetti Squash at its finest!

Spaghetti Squash Tossed with Olive Oil, Avocado and Parmesan

makes 2-4 servings

I am really excited about this one!!!

1 medium spaghetti squash
1 or 2 avocados
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
4 fresh basil leaves, sliced
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat the oven to 375.

2. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. (I prefer to cook the squash whole and cut it afterwards.)

3. Lay squash cut side down in a baking dish and add 1/4 inch of water to the pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until tender. For an even quicker meal you can microwave the squash whole if you pierce the skin a few times with a knife and nuke on high, 12-15 minutes.

4. When squash is close to done, put olive oil in a pan over low heat and add the smashed clove of garlic. Cook until it sizzles just to flavor the oil, turn off the heat, and remove the clove.

5. Cut the avocado and squeeze the fresh lemon juice on it to keep it from turning brown and slice up the fresh basil.

6. Remove the squash from the oven and place cut side up on a cutting board. Use a fork to separate the spaghetti-like strands.

7. Scoop a serving into a bowl, drizzle with the warm oil, top with chunks of avocado, and add the parmesan, basil, and salt and pepper to taste.

You could add more veggies to the mix and make it a complete meal, or serve it as a delicious side dish.

Tip #1- Easy fruit serving suggestion

This is a rather simple solution, but it got my husband to eat the oatmeal with less sugar in it without complaints. That is what I call success!

All it takes is putting blueberries in the oatmeal before you cook it in the microwave, and you have yourself a delicious and nutritious way start to your day. Especially if you choose oatmeal with low sugar content, or go for the gold and get the good old fashion oats with out any sugar at all.

Enjoy!

Weekly Challenge #3-

This week the challenge is going to be to eat your fruits and veggies!!! I could give you lots of information as to why you should eat your fruits and veggies, but you already know all of that. So I hope to provide you with ways to actually add the fruits and veggies, or at least give you the motivation to do it!!!

Join me in the challenge to eat the recommended amount of Fruits and Veggies everyday this week.

Click on the link below to find out how many servings you need.

How Many Fruits and Veggies Do You Need-
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/form.html

How to Use Fruits and Veggies to Help Manage Your Weight-
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/fruits_vegetables.html

Fruit and Veggie Nutrition-
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/benefits/nutrient_guide.html

Add More Fruits and Veggies to Your Family Dinner-
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/downloads/Get_Smart_Family_Dinner.pdf

I will search to find as many delicious and easy ways to add the fruits and veggies to your diet.

Enjoy!!!