Almost gluten free month is over!

I completed one month (almost) gluten free! I cheated a couple of times and I could totally tell the difference the next day. I felt yucky. I don't think I will go completely gluten free, but I am going to try and cut out as much gluten as possible from now on. If I just stick to fruits, veggies, chicken, and turkey, then I will be good. And if I feel the need for a sandwich every once in a while, I'm gonna do it. Everything in moderation, right? 

Bon Appetit! 

Missy Picky Pants

Day 16..post gluten...

I am over half way through my gluten free month and it's going pretty great!  I have been having less stomach issues and feeling good all the way around.  Unfortunately, I did accidentally cheat, so I can't say it's been entirely gluten free.  It was stupid really.  I decided to treat myself to a small ice cream cone and halfway through the cone part of the ice cream cone I realized I'm an idiot.  I actually did feel a difference too.  I felt bloated and gross.  I'm going to go ahead and pretend the ice cream had nothing to do with it.  SO, after 16 days, this is what I've learned so far:

1.  Gluten free DOESN'T mean healthy.  Sometimes it can mean more calories and fat.  Not good.  If you stick to fruits and veggies and more whole foods, you'll probably be good.

2.  Gluten is in things I would never even think of!  I thought I would have to avoid bread and pasta, but a lot of sauces (like soy sauce) have gluten in it.  I found a couple really cool apps that I love though!  One is called Find Me GF and the other is called ShopWell.  The ShopWell app let me put in things that I want to avoid in foods (like gluten, sugar, etc.) and then I can scan a bar code on a product and it will tell me how good of a match it is to what I want to eat.  It will also tell me to avoid it completely if it has gluten in it.  Pretty cool!  The Find Me GF app lets you search for restaurants in your area that offer gluten free items on their menu.  They have both definitely come in handy.

3.  Eating breakfast has become a challenge.  I have never been a breakfast person, but I finally found something quick and easy that I would have pretty much every morning.  I would toast a whole wheat bagel thin and eat it with peanut or almond butter and usually have fruit on the side.  I still have fruit in the morning, but haven't found something to replace my whole wheat bagel.  I've done egg whites a few times, but I'm not a big egg eater.  I'm still working it out and I'll get back to you!

4.  Being gluten free gives you a reason to be picky! :)  I have always felt bad about being a picky eater.  I'm getting better and eat more things now than I ever have, but I still feel like a 5 year old some of the time.  Being gluten free is more accepted than just being picky.  I know it's silly, but I like it! :)

So...I have 14 days to go!  I'm trying out a new recipe tomorrow so hopefully I'll have something yummy to share with you.  What are your recommendations for an easy gluten free breakfast?

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants

Turkey Tacos!

I am on day 6 of gluten free month and I was craving tacos for dinner.  Don't you HATE it when you have a craving and can't think of anything else until you finally get to chow down?!  Luckily for me, I've been craving fairly healthy things lately. :)  I have done turkey tacos, as apposed to beef tacos, for a long time and they are SO good!  You can do chicken tacos too, but turkey meat is a little cheaper than the chicken breasts I buy and there's always left overs for lunch the next day.  It was super easy to make my recipe gluten free too!  Let's break it down:

The Meat:

1.  Brown 1 pound of ground turkey.  (Well...you don't really brown it.  It turns kinda white-ish)

2.  Add a few tablespoons of salsa.  You can add as much as you want really.  I usually buy fresh medium salsa and put it in my food processor and then put it back in the container to use when I need it.  I love the taste of salsa but can't stand it to be too chunky, so blending it up a bit makes it perfect!  I still get the taste I love without all the chunkiness. (Is that a word?)

3.  (Optional) Add about a half a pack of chicken taco seasoning and about 1/3 cup of water.  You can add an entire pack of seasoning and the 1/2 or so of water that it calls for (depending on the brand you use) but you really don't need that much.  It tastes just as good with only a half a packet and you get less sodium.  Plus, the salsa you added gives it a lot of flavor, so feel free to use less than half a packet or none at all!

The Tortillas:

1.  I used corn tortillas that I found at Target because I'm on my gluten free month.  Feel free to use any kind you like!

2.  Spray a pan with some sort of cooking spray or add just a little of your favorite oil.  I bet coconut oil would be good, but I was out.

3.  Heat the pan on medium heat.

4.  Add tortilla and heat a few seconds on each side.

The Guacamole:

1.  Use 1-2 (or more) avocados.  I used one large one for Matt and I and it was just enough.  Guacamole doesn't keep well in the fridge, so you really shouldn't make more than you're going to eat right away.

2.  Add the fresh salsa of your choice (see the meat step 2)

3.  Mash with a potato masher or a fork

4.  Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and lime to taste.  I don't measure exactly how much I use, so I can't be super helpful with that.  I just add a little of each and taste and add more as needed.  You can also add a little cilantro if you have it.  I add more garlic than most people probably would, but I LOVE GARLIC!  So, sue me.

Assembly:

1.  Spread a little guac on the tortilla

2.  Add a little of the fresh salsa

3.  Add meat

4.  Load it up with whatever greens you like!  I normally use romaine lettuce, but I was out so I used kale instead!  It was just as good.

5. (Optional)  Add shredded cheese!  I was out of cheese so I didn't use any tonight, but I normally add a little.

Dinner was SO good!  I also had a little chips and guacamole and salsa with my meal.  I found some amazing organic blue corn (gluten free) chips at Target that we inexpensive and super yummy! 

I love that I can still get my Mexican food fix without being super unhealthy! 

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants

Before and After....so far!

Here are a couple side by side before and after pictures!  I I still have a long way to go, but it's awesome to see the progress so far.  It helps keep me motivated to keep going!

 

Day 1 of 30: Gluten Free!

I started my gluten free month today and it's been pretty easy so far!  I know it will be challenging at some point, but today was great.  I had a super yummy lunch and Matt enjoyed it too!  I made a batch of quinoa.  It's super delicious!  Here's how I make my quinoa.  It's super easy! Super, super, super!Let's break it down:

1.  Use 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of liquid.  I used low sodium chicken broth.  You can use veggie broth too!

  2.  Combine the quinoa and liquid, and add any seasonings.  I use a lot of garlic and herb and a little garlic salt.  Go crazy and add whatever sounds good to you!

3.  Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.  (Sometimes it needs a minute or two longer)

4.  Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.

5.  Serve and eat!

The quinoa I made today is a combo of red and white.  I had red and bought white so I just mixed them together.  I can't taste a difference between the two.  Today, I ate some on it's own with roasted asparagus and also added some to my creamy tomato soup.  SO good!

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants

Asparagus is delicious!

One vegetable that I now enjoy that use to make me gag is..ASPARAGUS!  It's actually really good if you cook it right.  I'm sure most "normal" people would like it steamed or plain or some weird way, but I found a way to cook it so that it tastes super yummy for all the picky eaters!  Let's break it down:

1.  I like to find skinny ones because they cook faster and get more crunchy.  I like them to be extra crunchy.  If you don't, don't cook them as long.

2.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

3.  Rinse the asparagus and cut off the bottom part.

4.  Place them on a foil lined baking sheet.

5.  Drizzle with olive oil (or any oil that you prefer).  I rub them around in the oil to make sure they are completely covered.  You don't have to use a ton of oil.  A little goes a long way.

6.  Sprinkle with whatever seasoning you want.  I used a salt free garlic and herb and then a little garlic salt.

7.  Place in oven and cook for 15-20 minutes.  It really depends how crunchy you want them and how thin they are.  I would check after 15 min and then put them back in for 5 minutes at a time.

8.  EAT!  I love them with a piece of grilled chicken.  I use the same seasonings on the chicken and cook it on the Foreman grill.  Delicious!

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants 

Crock Pot Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal!

I purchased steel cut oats a while back and finally decided to attempt to cook them.  I found a crock pot recipe online and did my own variation of it. Maybe I should have stuck to the original recipe!  It didn't taste horrible, but it definitely was off.  Here's what I did and I'll let you know what I would change.  Let's break it down:

Here's what I used the first time around:

Ingredients
3 cups steel cut oats (also called Irish oats) 

1/3 cup brown sugar
8 cups water

4 cups fat free milk

2 tsps cinnamon
1 apple peeled and diced

Honey for drizzling



1.  Spray the crock pot with cooking spray to avoid a disaster clean up later.
2.  Throw everything except the honey in the crock pot, stir, and cook on low or warm for 8-12 hours.

3.  Drizzle with honey.  That's it!

So, that is what I did last night.  I woke up this morning to some beautiful looking oatmeal!  It wasn't gross, but it could definitely use some tweaking.  Here's what I would change:

1.  I would add a little more brown sugar.  Maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of a cup instead of 1/3.  The original recipe called for 1 full cup and I was trying to be healthy.  If it's still not sweet enough, add a little Truvia (Stevia).  That's what a did this morning and it was fine. 

2.  Get rid of the honey.  It made it taste weird.  I enjoy honey, so this surprised me.  If you're into honey, maybe try a little and see what you think!

3.  Add more apples!  I only used one because I only had one.  I would add like 3 or 4.  The more the merrier!  The original recipe said to add the apples about an hour before it's done and I made the mistake of adding them in the beginning, but it didn't matter.  So, you can do it either way.

4.  It had too much cinnamon.  That's all I could taste.  I would do just 1 tsp.  I think it would be more than enough.

SO..here is my revised recipe.  I haven't tried it this way yet, but like I said..the first way wasn't horrible either, so I don't think you can really go wrong. 

Revised recipe:

Ingredients
3 cups steel cut oats (also called Irish oats)
1/2-3/4 cup brown sugar (It's your call. You can use up to 1 cup)
8 cups water
4 cups fat free milk
1 tsp cinnamon
3-4 apple peeled and diced


1. Spray the crock pot with cooking spray to avoid a disaster clean up later.
2. Throw everything in the crock pot, stir, and cook on low for 8 hours. That's it!

Also, if you don't want or need this much, you can cut the recipe in half.  I wanted to make enough to last Matt and I all week.  Do you have a good steel cut oatmeal recipe you'd like to share?

Bon Appetit!
Missy Picky Pants

Gluten!

I know many people who have gone gluten free for one reason or another and I have been considering trying it to see if I could live without it.  It seems super hard, but I think I can do it.  I have always been told to use whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, whole wheat EVERYTHING!  But maybe that hasn't been very good for me.  I could be sabotaging myself even though I think I'm eating healthy.  I did a little research online and I didn't realize how many items contain gluten!  Who knew that my mouthwash or medication could have gluten?  Craziness!  I will definitely have to check those labels.  I think those little things will be easy.  I was thinking that giving up bread and pasta would be super hard, but I feel like gluten free items are more readily available at the grocery store than they have been in the past and they're really not that expensive.  I've even seen gluten free pasta and bread at Walmart at a decent price.  SO...I'm going to try one month gluten free!  I don't know if my husband will be on board, but we'll see!  I am going to start next week on Monday, June 17th.  That will give me time to get rid of the whole wheat pasta and bread I already have and do a little shopping!  Anyone have any tips?!  Want to join me?! 

Zumba!

Being healthy isn't just about eating right.  It's also involves getting off your butt and shaking it!  Until recently, I hadn't been to the gym in a really long time.  Like really, really long.  Embarrassingly long.  Anyway, now that I've lost a little weight, I'm feeling better, moving more, doing more, and I was ready to get back in the gym.  I found a local gym that is super cheap and they have free classes too.  I took my first Zumba class today!  It was actually a Zumba toning class, which is apparently just Zumba with weights.  I was really nervous because I've never really done a group class. Also, I don't have a lot of rhythm and I totally didn't want to make an idiot out of myself.  I just had to say screw it and go for it!  It wasn't that bad actually.  Let's break it down:

 

1.  I wasn't the only one in the class without rhythm, so that made me feel better about my crazy arm flailing.

 

2.  It was very fast paced.  I would just about get one move down and we would switch to something else.  I was moving though, and that's all that counts.  Plus, once I've been several times I should know more and then it will be easier and more fun!

 

3.  After about 30 minutes, I was ready to give up.  BUT  I stuck it out and just kept moving!  I couldn't do a few of the moves, so I just did my own thing until we switched to something I could do again.  Whatever you do, don't give up! 

 

This picture pretty much sums up my first (and probably all future) Zumba experience:

 

 

What's your favorite group class?

 

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants

 



Kale Chips!

One of my weaknesses is salty, crunchy snack foods...mainly chips.  I had seen several recipes on Pinterest for different veggie chips, but I didn't like any veggies so I never tried them.  I had no idea what I was missing out on!  I have tried zucchini, kale, and sweet potato so far and kale is definitely my fav!  It's super quick and easy.  Zucchini and sweet potato take a while to cook and I usually want it now.  Plus, kale is pretty inexpensive and super yummy! Who knew?!  Let's break it down:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Wash the kale thoroughly in a strainer and let it dry a bit.  Make sure you move the leaves apart and get all of the dirt off of it.

3.  Pull the leaves off the side and break them into smallish pieces.  You don't use the middle stalk.

4.  Throw the pieces in a bowl and grab some olive oil and your favorite seasonings.  I use a salt free garlic and herb because I can use a lot of it for extra flavor without it getting super salty.  Then, I add a tiny bit of garlic salt.  Seriously, add only a little salt.  A little goes a long way...trust me.

5.  Move the kale aside and drizzle a little olive oil in the bottom of the bowl. (You don't need a ton of this either)  Then toss the kale around with your hands until it's cover with oil.  Sprinkle with whatever seasoning you want to use.  I use the salt free seasoning first and then just a tad of the garlic salt.

6.  Spread the kale pieces out on a foil lined baking sheet.  If you see any pieces that look too big, break them in half.  The smaller the pieces, the quicker they'll cook.  Place them in the oven and cook for 10-12 min depending on the size of the pieces.  I usually check them after 10 min and put them back in for a minute or two if they need it.

7.  They shrink up while cooking, so definitely make more than you think you want.  It won't be as much as you think.  When they're done, they will be just a little crunchy, but shouldn't look burned.  If you taste one and it's still chewy, they need a minute or two longer.

8.  Eat and enjoy!  They are an awesome healthy snack that take very little time to prep and bake so it'll stop you from grabbing something else out of convenience.  What's your go to healthy snack?

Healthy eating, made cheaper!

One big issue that has stopped me from eating healthy in the past (besides dry heaving at the thought of cauliflower) is that it is SO expensive!  Eating crap is so much cheaper.  You eat crap?  Not anymore!  Well..occasionally I still have lapses in judgement, but I digress.  For those of you who don't know me, I'm kind of into couponing.  OK..I'm really into couponing.  It's my drug!  It feels so good to get a ton of stuff for free!  I love being able to pay with coupons instead of cash!  It's the best. ever. in. life.  The problem is most of the food items I've been getting were super processed, bad for you food.  I made it my mission the last time our grocery store ran a promotion to get only healthy-ish foods.  I still got a couple items that aren't the best, but they aren't super terrible either.  It wasn't that hard!  If you look, you can find coupons for items that are good for you.  One website that I subscribe to that sends me a new coupon each week is Earthbound Farm Organic.  Yes...ORGANIC.  First of all, it is rare to find a coupon for produce, but it is even more rare that is it for organic produce.  I don't purchase organic everything..yet...but I try to whenever I can.  This coupon is awesome because it allows me to save money each week on a couple of organic produce items.  They even have frozen veggies, which are even better because they last longer.  Here is the link to sign up for the coupon.  They will email you each week with tips on healthy eating and to let you know your new coupon is ready to print!  It will say it's for a specific product that goes with whatever they are talking about that week, but you can use it on ANY Earthbound Farms product.  You can print 2 coupons per computer, so print it as many times as you can!  Here are a couple of websites that I use to find other coupon deals:  www.thekrazycouponlady.com and www.couponstl.blogspot.com (this one is local for the St. Louis area.  If you don't live in the St. Louis area, definitely search for a local blog of your own!)  Do you have any coupon sites for healthy food?  Share!!

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants 

H2O!

 

I haven't had any pop in about 2 months now.  I had tried to cut back for a while and would only have one or two a week, so it wasn't too hard to stop completely.  I just realized it was stupid to continue to drink something that wasn't doing anything good for me AND I had fallen in love with something way better...water!  I used to feel obligated to drink a least a little water each day.  I really didn't like it.  I would make myself drink it, but it definitely wasn't my fav.  I think my body had gotten so addicted to diet pop that I just couldn't enjoy anything else.  Now..I'm sure you've heard all of the reasons that you shouldn't drink pop (specifically diet pop), so I'm won't tell you again.  What I will do is tell you the benefits of adding more water to your diet!  First off, you should know how much water you need to drink each day.  Take your weight and multiply it by .65 oz.  That will tell you how many ounces of water you should be having each day.  You should also add 12 oz for each 30 min that you work out.  By making sure you have an adequate amount of water each day, you will:

1.  Avoid dehydration during initial weight loss. 
2.  Help yourself feel full more quickly.
3.  Help flush out toxins.
4.  Lubricate your joints and help maintain muscle tone.
5.  Keep your skin moisturized which will help you stay looking younger, longer.  Score!
6.  Help raise your metabolism!  Water raises your metabolism because it helps digestion.

And so much more!  Just search benefits of water and you could read for days.  If you're not a big water fan, like me, it will take a bit before you want to drink it.  But it will happen!  Try buying some sort of water filter that you can keep in the fridge and a refillable water bottle.  We have a Culligan water cooler.  We just refill water bottles from it and keep them in the fridge.  Ice cold filtered water is the best.  You will feel so much better on the inside and it will start showing on the outside too!  So..starting making water your new best friend!  It's one of the best decisions I made! 

Also!  If it's caffeine you're looking for, then I recommend Spark!  It has about as much caffeine as a small cup of coffee AND 21 vitamins and minerals.  It's amazing!  I'm not big on caffeine and stopped drinking coffee over a year ago.  I wanted something to help get me going in the morning, but didn't want any caffeine side effects.  Spark does just that!  It doesn't make me feel jittery and gives me the pick-me-up and mental focus I'm looking for.  You mix it in 8 oz of water and it comes in a bunch of flavors.  My fav are fruit punch and strawberry mango...and they just came out with watermelon which I've heard is amazing.  It's my new favorite thing to help me get going in the morning!

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants 

Ch...ch...ch...chia!

An awesome little thing I recently discovered is the chia seed. When you think of chia, you probably think of those weird clay animals with sprouted chia seeds covering their bodies. If you hear chia and don't immediately sing the jingle..ch-ch-ch-chia...then you must have lived under a rock your whole life. So sad! Well, chia seeds actually have another purpose. They are super healthy for you to EAT! They are a plant-based source of protein, a rich source of calcium, are the richest plant-source of Omega-3, and so much more. It can absorb more than 12 times its weight in water, so it helps you feel fuller longer. It works to help balance blood sugar too! Both the gelling action(add them to a glass of water and it turns into a gel as it absorbs the water) and combination of soluble and insoluble fiber slow down the conversion of starches to sugar. It's seriously amazing! I could go on and on. So...what does that mean to us picky eaters? Cause who cares how good it is if it's gross, right? Good news! It's yummy! It actually doesn't really have a taste, which is a super score for the picky people! You can put it in or on pretty much anything! I add it in whenever I can. The only bad part is they get stuck in your teeth, so keep the floss handy!  Here's what they look like:

 

 

 Today for breakfast I added them to my bagel and tried something new..almond butter! Lets break it down:

1. I use 100% whole wheat bagel thins. They are yummy and only 110 calories!

2. I normally use a natural peanut butter, but have heard that almond butter is so much better for you. They are both good sources of protein and have about the same calorie count, but almond butter has less saturated fat, more iron, more vitamin E, and twice as much fiber as peanut butter. Peanut butter isn't bad for you, but if I can find something a little better, why not?!

3. Obviously, toast the bagel and spread with almond butter. If you actually needed this step, you have worse problems than healthy eating.

4. Chia time! I sprinkled 1/2 a teaspoon over the almond butter. You can use as much as you'd like!

5. Some people might like bananas with almond(or peanut) butter, but I say eww. I like bananas though and it's always a good idea to add some fruit in for breakfast! 

Now that's what I call a happy meal!

So, what's the verdict on the almond butter?!  Delicious!  It tasted just slightly different than peanut butter, but pretty much the same.  I couldn't taste the chia seeds and had only a few in my teeth.  Yay!  So..what are you waiting for?!  Go get some chia and start sprinkling that crap on EVERYTHING! 

Bon Appetit!

Missy Picky Pants

Lunch!

What's that green stuff on my plate, you ask?  It's kale!  Hold your groans...  I recently discovered kale when I saw a recipe for kale chips and decided to try them...and SCORE!  They are really good.  My adventures in making veggie chips will be a different post.  Anyway, since I liked them so much in chip form, I thought they might be good on a sandwich.  One important thing for healthy picky eating is to try and hide healthy stuff in things that you already like.  So, I decided to try it on my turkey sandwich for lunch!  Let's break it down: 

1.  I use Sandwich Thins because they are totally enough bread, only 100 calories, and yummy!
2.  Don't skimp on the turkey!  I get it from the deli cause that pre-packaged stuff is just gross.
3.  If you're gonna use mayo, go with light mayo, and measure it out!  I used a teaspoon.
4.  One stalk of kale was more than enough.  Make sure you wash it really good!

5. You only use the leafy part of the kale. Tear it off the stalk and use as much as you want!

6.  This is optional, but I'm a weirdo (shocking..I know) and I love to put chips on my sandwich.  I use to put a bunch on there and eat a couple handfuls on the side.  Not anymore!  First, I found some yummy veggie chips.  I don't really like them on their own, but they're good on the sandwich.  I only use 4.  I would normally put them on top, but since my kale is there, I put them on the bottom.

7.  Every picky person has to have some veggie or fruit that they like.  If the sandwich isn't enough, add that healthy fav on the side!  I chose carrot sticks.  I really like the petite baby ones.  I don't know why, but they just taste better!



So..what's the verdict?!  Delicious!  This is honestly the first time I've eaten kale in non chip form and I was a little nervous.  I tasted a piece on it's own before I put it on the sandwich and it wasn't very good.  I considered scrapping this whole idea.  I'm glad I sucked it up and tried it because it was really good!  I honestly couldn't even taste it!  I think next time, I'll save some kale chips and use those instead of the veggie chips.  Hopefully that'll give me the crunch that I'm looking for with a little flavor.  What are your weird sandwich ideas?

Bon Appetit!
Missy Picky Pants

Welcome!

Hey there!  Welcome to my adventures in healthy eating..with a picky pallet!  I have always eaten like a 5 year old.  Well, except when I was 5.  Then, I ate like I was 2.  Terrible.  It's difficult to eat healthy when all you like is pizza and chicken nuggets.  You feel me?  Good.  Recently, I've made it my mission to find things that are good for me AND taste good.  I'm by no means an amazing chef or anything.  I'm just discovering ways to prepare the foods that I normally don't like so they taste yummy!  Never did I think I would be excited to have some asparagus for dinner.  Never.  BUT..now I am!  Insanity.  It's actually really good!  Anyway, I decided that I should blog about it and maybe I'll help the 5 year old in all of us!  I'm just a girl...standing in front of some broccoli...asking it to taste good. Bon Appetit!

~Missy Picky Pants