Healthy Food for a Healthy Mood

You all have seriously overwhelmed me with love these past few days.  I can’t thank you enough!

I took another rest day yesterday, so I have a lot to say tonight… buckle up… here we go!

During times of stress or when I am upset, I tend to stress eat.   I do this in mass amounts of granola, starchy foods, peanut butter and jelly, and most recently no bake cookies.  :)  All of these foods aren’t “bad” for you… they just aren’t good for you in the mass amounts that I eat them in.  It ends up making me feel worse, because not only an I upset but I also get a belly ache!

I think that eating well can not only make you feel better physically, but I think it does wonders for you mentally as well.  So, these past few days, I have been trying to eat really well… with some comfort food thrown in.

First things first… BREAKFAST.  I can’t tell y’all how important it is to eat something for breakfast.  I don’t have a problem with that, because it is my favorite meal of the day.

I started out with a Protein Black and Blueberry Muffin with lots of peanut butter on top.

Protein Black and Blueberry Muffin

• 3 Tbsp buckwheat flour
• 1/2 scoop protein powder (I used Sunwarrior)
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds (can sub 1 egg)
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1/4 cup milk (I used hemp milk)
• 1/2 cup blueberries and/or blackberries (I used frozen)

Mix flour, protein powder, chia seeds, and baking powder in bowl.  Add in applesauce and milk.  You may need more milk if the mix is too dry.  This depends on your protein powder.  Plus, the chia seeds will absorb a lot of the milk.  Add in berries and microwave on high for 3 1/2 minutes.

Top with nut butter and fresh berries.

Look at that yummy goodness!

For lunch, I made Luvy and I Happy Herbivore’s Mexican Cabbage.

It was delicious!  Plus it gave me a reason to eat a ton of hot sauce, blue corn chips, and avocado!  Double score.

You all should try out these two recipes.  They are definitely healthy “comfort foods”.

For dinner, the other night I made split pea soup.  

This may be my favorite soup.  Plus it is great for spring and Easter.  Stay tuned for the recipe this week!

Anyone else out there stress or emotional eaters??

Green

I love green.  My eyes are green, my favorite color is green, I love to dress my husband in green…

I’ve been looking forward to tomorrow for a long time.  I always loved St. Patrick’s Day in school, because it gave me an excuse to wear all kinds of green.  No one was pinching me!!!

There is absolutely no Irish in my blood (that I know of), but I love the day anyway.  I’m gearing up to eat my cabbage and potatoes tomorrow, but tonight I made sure that our meal had plenty of green!

Just okra, corn, and beans over spinach and topped with salsa and hot sauce.  Yum.

I’m so thankful it is Friday, and Luvy and I get to relax for a bit.  Today, I gave the house a good scrubbing and now I feel all clean and relaxed.  Doesn’t it feel great to have a clean house?!?

Soon, it will be spring cleaning time.  I am going to make out a schedule to help us get it all done this year.  Last year, I only got to a few of the rooms… not this year!  My kitchen is in serious need of the stove being pulled out and all the rogue veggies, beans, GRANOLA, etc. getting cleaned out.  I’m scared to know what’s under there…

How do you all feel about St. Patty’s Day?  You better wear green or I WILL pinch you. 

Enjoy your weekend!  It is supposed to be pretty, so get out and walk/garden/ or just be outside and enjoy God’s beautiful creation.  It is good for the mind and body!

Chowda

These cold, gloomy, rainy winter days make me want soup.  I don’t think Luvy and I have had a meal that isn’t eaten out of a bowl in weeks!

When it is cold out, I want warm soups or stews.  I love comfort foods!  A while back, I saw Emily make Quinoa and Bean Corn Chowder, and I knew that I wanted to make it!

Since I am crazy and have a ton of allergies, I changed up her recipe a bit.  However, it has turned into Luvy and my’s favorite soup!  It is wonderful.

Quinoa and Corn Chowder (based off of Emily’s Quinoa and Bean Corn Chowder)

• 3/4 cup of quinoa
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 large parsnips, chopped (can sub carrot)
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 cup sweet white corn (mine was frozen)
• 1 1/2 cups roasted corn (or just sub yellow corn)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
• 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Start by toasting your quinoa and cumin seed in a dry pan over medium heat.  Don’t allow to burn.  You just want them to get fragrant.  Should take 4-5 minutes.  Set this aside once done.

Spray a large dutch oven or use a bit of olive oil to sauté your onion, carrot, parsnip, and corn.  Sauté for about 5 minutes or until they start to soften.  Add in garlic and sauté another 2-3 minutes.

Add in the broth and almond milk.  Bring it to a boil and add in beans, quinoa, and nutritional yeast.  I also added in 1/2 tsp of salt here as well.

Cover and simmer on low for 15-20 minutes.  Stir in 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro.  Taste and add salt as needed.

Serve.  

YUM!

Hope you all have a wonderful Friday tomorrow!  Stay dry!