Yes, I’m just saying again. Of course we want to be in the very cool group/not the just plain cool group, so let’s learn the new “IN” word. The new word is atheleisure. It is a combo of athlete and leisure, and has nothing to do with either one, of course. With people staying home more from events and gatherings, and working from home, and just plain vegging out, we need a description of what we have on, right? So there it is. We are not working out, nor are we at leisure. It is all something completely different, hence the new word. Our clothing, even though it may be old sneakers and sweats, has a name. Now we can relax and not worry about words like sloppy or grubby. We are dressed in our atheleisure wear! Thank me later, very cool friends!
The BIG new thing now is to open your fridge door and see COLOR! We have all known about leafy greens and fresh fruits, but let’s go even a step further. Pictures of blueberries, colorful labels, a red, green, orange, purple veggie drawer, fruits that are fresh and bright-red apples and strawberries, blue blueberries, Halo oranges, bananas, and so on. You get the idea. Think of a bouquet of flowers in your fridge-Yum, Yum!
How many times have we read that cross word puzzles, jig saw puzzles, Sudoku, jelly fish supplements and coloring with colored pencils will keep us sharp and on the ball? Mental decline is one of the most feared aspects of the aging process. Well, I have read several articles recently that sort of put those theories to rest. No, I do not mean that those things are wrong or not productive, I only mean that there is a lot more to it than that. Surprise, Surprise. It is never easy is it?
As it turns out, and to keep it simple, the best way to keep your brain sharp is the same way you keep your heart healthy and the same way you prevent stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and just about everything else. So, let’s talk Risk Factors!
I just read an article by Laura Williamson on USA Today Network that made me really stop and think about health advice. It all seems to sound the same, right? Well, maybe there is a reason-maybe we should all be doing the same things! Get ready for a not surprise-eat healthy foods and watch your weight, exercise regularly, don’t smoke, drink only in moderation, watch your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, etc. What is good for body health is also good for brain health-who knew?
Ok, I JUST read the latest research on coffee in the medical section of Readers Digest. The science on coffee has been all over the place, and now the latest thinking is that there are many health benefits to coffee. Recommended intake-No more than 3 cups. If you are a big coffee drinker, think about it and check out some of the research and maybe consider a cup of decaf instead of that fourth cup.
Okay, so you are not going to believe this, but some mean, horrible person actually sent pornography to my comment section. Why in the world do people do this? People who want/need that kind of thing certainly would not come to a BLOG that deals with health, insight, and decor, would they? Am I missing something? I guess I just don’t get it. Don’t do that any more-OK?
I know that free advice is worth what you pay for it, but I am going to give you some anyway. We all do, right? So, here goes.
We are in different and difficult times. Don’t let it beat you. Get up, take a shower, and get dressed. Yes, just do it. This is not hard. I will also add that you can/should/might want to have a cup of coffee or tea and eat some breakfast. Read the paper or some on line news. Good or bad, the news is there and it is good to be informed.
I could go on and on about taking each day as it is given to us, but for now just do it-get up, take a shower, get dressed and get on with it!!
Okay, so I was just kidding. We are not going to actually eat Bread, Rolls, Pies, or Pastry. Well, just a little bit maybe. We are not fat shaming either folks. I think we have all been here and this lady is very dear to me. I have her posted in my bathroom near the scale. My dog actually watches me weigh every morning and I somehow think he is laughing.
The point of this entry is to offer 3 days of very easy eating as a trial for you to see just how simple it is and how rewarding. Just try for 3 days.
Day 1
Breakfast-Overnight Oats-Have a big serving. (Recipe at the end.)
Lunch-Big veggie salad with any meat you like added to it. Pescatarians add salmon or tuna. My husband likes ham.
Dinner-Grilled Salmon on your grill or on a George Forman. Add rice and any veg. choice to this dinner. (Not too much rice and lots of veg. raw or cooked.
Day 2
Breakfast-Cereal-Yes, cold cereal. You can have it any time for any meal or sprinkled on top of anything. Read the labels to get a fortified cereal with not too much fat, add 2% milk, and at least 1 cup of fruit.
Lunch-Tuna or anything else (no cheese) sandwich. Use a high fiber bread, only a dab of V and O or any low cal salad dressing-yes, on a sandwich, no mayo..
Dinner-Great Big Salad
Day 3
Breakfast-2 boiled eggs and a piece of high fiber toast with a bit of butter-not marg.
Lunch-Pita or Naan bread with melted cheese in the microwave and a veg. salad.
Dinner-French Toast with a fruit salad. (I LOVE breakfast for dinner and I highly recommend it!)
Overnight Oats-Pour a packet of any type of instant oats into a medium sized bowl. (I use a salad bowl from my china set.) Pour in one of those little chopped fruit cups-I like chopped peaches with the juice. 60 cal from Del Monte, sold in 4 packs) Add a layer of unflavored yogurt. Drizzle honey over the yogurt. Add fresh fruit-I like sliced strawberries, blueberries, and grapes. Add another layer of yogurt and top with chopped nuts-your favorite kind. I like walnuts, the friend who gave me this recipe likes almonds, her daughter likes peanuts! Put in the fridge overnight. Have this for a meal with a fruit salad or just for a snack. Also anytime, have a smoothie with protein powder.
Give it 3 days. Honestly, almost nothing special to buy which is a big criteria for me and no big baking or cooking or prep time. Let me know how you do.
2. “Which part of the Bible explains how to change water into wine? Asking for a friend!”
3. “You know you are old when you go to an antique show and people start to bid on you!”
4. “I Read-I Know Things.”
5. “Irony-The Complete Opposite of Wrinkly.”
These are great-Send me some more!!
How, you may ask, can soup actually be sneaky? Well, I am an “add too” fan so stay tuned and I will share with you some really neat ways to make wonderful homemade soup to warm your little heart on a cold winter day.
Start with 2 cans of potato soup. I use Campbell’s Cream of Potato. Add 2 1/2 soup cans of 2% milk. Add the extra 1/2 can to create more liquid. Bake 2 red potatoes in the microwave. Clean and finely chop all of the white part of a big leek. Chop your potatoes finely leaving on the skin. Put 1 Tbls. of butter or marg. in a medium saucepan and saute the leek and chopped potato. Put all ingredients in the pan and cook at a low simmer until all combined and hot. I like to add salt, pepper, a bit of garlic salt and a little dried parsley. If this seems too thick, add just a bit of vegetable broth. Remember, homemade soup is soup that you made at home!
2. Vegetable Soup
Start with 2 cans of any kind of vegetable soup you like. I like Progresso. If you buy the kind that does not take extra water, add 1/2 cup of vegetable broth. Now, get creative. Chop fresh vegetables and microwave until al dente, use froxen peas and carrots, add a bit of corn to all of this, add any other veg. you like. Final sneaky trick-add a couple of hands full of cooked pasta and you have Minestrone.
3. Tomato Bisque-Same formula-Start with 2 cans of soup and add an extra 1/2 can of liquid. (I always add milk even if the can calls for water.) Add a can of drained chopped or finely diced canned tomatoes. This may sound icky, but I like Bisque of Tomato slightly sweet so I add a packet of Sweet and Lo. (Family secret.)
4. Make your own “Chicken” Noodle Soup-I am a vegetarian so all of my recipes are either vegetarian or pescaterian, so I start this with 4 cups of vegetable broth. Cook 2 QUORN ‘chicken’ breasts in the microwave and chop one finely and put the other in your food processer and almost puree. Add this to the broth. Next just use your own taste buds. I add some sauted green onion, and the usual salt, pepper, garlic salt and dried parsley. Finally add any pasta you like. My grandson likes the little stars so I buy them at Trader Joes. He also likes spirals. I like flat cut noodles. What do you like?
It is very easy to make any of these soups your won or to devise other sneaky ways to make canned soups seem like homemade-which they are, right? Last but not least-add some warm French bread with butter. I have tried garlic bread with these soups, but just the regular warm slice French bread is the best. Mmmmmm!
PS-QUORN is the #1 selling vegetarian product in England. You can usually find in most stores with the other veg. products in the freezer. They make all sorts of products. I like them and I also really like Morning Star Farms.