Eating Healthier

I know that this is old news for all of you... but for me are new, Pinterest have open a world for me, every time a pin something and take me to a blog I realize that I'm not crazy or lazy or who knows what... I'm normal! ... Hahaha...

But returning to the subject... all this new information takes me to know about the Clean 15, the No to GMO's, Aldi supermarkets, local Farmers Markets, etc. ... And the other day I heard of a book and luckily they had it at the library (one trip that the kids and I love to do almost once a week!)... It's Super Immunity by  Dr. Joel Fuhrman ...(See the book here)

He can assures that "we all have the ability to live healthier, stronger and longer"... just watching what we eat!!!... And it's not a diet or a shake or anything, he simple explains how certain foods have certain nutrients and how each nutrient affects our immune system and all the illnesses that are related to that misuse of food (mostly process food)... There is a lot of information there for you to think and decide and even recipes!, and I say "decide" because a lot of the change implies a more vegan or semi-vegan diet and we ( I ) are not ready to that jump yet, so I'll do the best I can... 

A little pick (with a couple of comments) below... and this is after he has explains how each food affects your immune system... you have to read it...

"At first  simply make sure that both lunch and dinner include either a salad or a cooked green vegetable (this we do everyday!) and add mushroom and onions to that vegetable most days." (trying to... )

"Within two weeks you could accomplish these basics:

A salad every day, a bowl of veggie-bean soup with mushrooms and onions most days and cooked greens everyday."

"You can simply enjoy fruits and nuts for breakfast, a big salad with beans and a healthly dressing for lunch and then a nice bowl of soup with dinner. Soups can lasts up to five days on the fridge, salad dressing will last 3 days...A small amount of animal products can be added to any vegetable or bean dish if desires." ... again the book is here

I've just starting to apply it in my house, the kids already had a diet very close to what it should be, so I'm trying is to disappear slowly but steadily the processed food and add more nuts and seeds (as my budget permitted it) and mushrooms and beans!... Oh those beans, only the little one has always liked them... so I've discover a way to introduce them in my daily meals without them notice them!... I almost laugh when I saw how they ate them and compliment the food "Mmmm Mommy, delicious!" Ha ha!!!... Triumph :)

So now my red sauce and my meatballs have kidney beans in it!!!... 

Meatballs / Red Sauce with Kidney Beans...

I just saute a couple of garlic, some chopped red onions and pour half can of kidney beans... I think if I put the hole can they will notice something different in the flavor... 

After a few minutes I put it in the blender until I have this smooth cream and this I add it to a tomato sauce on the pan... (the tomato sauce being from a can or plain tomatoes, I know that I have to let go my cans too little by little) or for the meatballs I add this smooth sauce to the ground meat with some salt and pepper and an egg to the meatballs... if you need, add some ground bread or almond flour or whatever you use to give a harder consistency to the meatballs and just do them your regular way ... 

And just make your meatballs your regular way... I serve them with quinoa and a salad with spinach, peppers and sunflower seeds in the above picture...My kids love them and I'm glad they don't read this! :)

I've also heard of white beans added to cakes or cupcakes and you might frown at the idea but apparently they taste perfectly NORMAL!... if you are not told you'd never suspect it!... I've found a couple of recipes at Chocolate-Covered Katie and Pin them... they substitute the white or all purpose flour with white beans and oats or ground almonds, I don't have any idea how much can cost ground almonds, sounds expensive for my budget, but look forward to try it someday... here and then here are the recipes  ... But here is a pick...

Black Bean brownies!!!... 

Yes, instead of flour she uses bean and oats :)...

1 (15oz) can Black beans drained and rinsed, 

2 tbsp cocoa powder, 

1/2 cup quick oats, 

1/4 tsp salt, 

1/3 cup agave or maple syrup, 

2 tbsp sugar or stevia, 

1/4 cup coconut or vegetable oil, 

2 tsp vanilla extract, 

1/2 tsp baking powder, 

2/3 chocolate chips...

Genius Chocolate-Chip Blondies

This one has white beans and oats!

1 1/2 cups chickpeas or white beans (1 can, drained and rinsed) (250g after draining)

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda level 

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup brown sugar or coconut sugar 

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup ground flax or quick oats (20g)

1/4 cup peanut butter (or other fat source) 

optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips .

But getting on the subject... I think If you try to follow the rules of nutrition for a super immune system, plus cut the processed foods, drink plenty of water during the day and exercise at least a bit 3 times a week, I think we should be doing fine! (Happy face).

Feel free to leave a comment!