Spicy Tuna Seaweed Rolls

Ok, so here is the quick and easy recipe I wanted to originally post last week. You know, before I got distracted by my new blender and the protein shakes I've been hooked on...

You will need:
1/2 can tuna (in water, not oil)
Roasted seaweed snacks
Hot sauce
Jalapeño juice
1/2 jalapeño (optional)
Miracle Whip Lite (about 1 tbsp)

Prep time:
Less than 3 minutes

Directions -

Open and drain tuna (save un-used portion for later use in a salad or sandwich.) Stir in just enough Miracle Whip until tuna sticks together, add generous splash of jalapeño juice and hot sauce to taste. Cut up small pieces of jalapeños (if desired) and mix together. That's it- you're done! I simply make the wraps as I eat them, stuffing about a spoonful of the tuna salad into each seaweed snack. Makes about 6.

Hint:

The roasted seaweed (available at Trader Joe's for just $0.99 a package) is great on it's own too, so it makes a great snack or addition to soups or salads!

Shake it up!

Hey everybody,

So I had another recipe all ready to post today, but I simply have to write about my latest obsession instead. It's a little kitchen appliance I am now ready to recommend that every solo diner invest in. What is it, you ask? It's a personal size blender/smoothie maker! There are several options out there but I purchased mine for around $20 off of Groupon Goods and it came with a one year warranty. The model I have is made by Better Chef and is a one touch 16oz individual serving blender. The blending tumbler even doubles as the drinking cup and also comes with a separate lid for storage. If you have a full size blender by all means just use that, but if not this personal blender is the perfect size for a kitchen of one and clean up is a snap. Now on to the good part... protein shakes!
These would make a great pre or post-work out snack or a mid-morning boost, but I primarily have been using them as a simple breakfast on the go.

The best part about making your own smoothies and shakes is that you control the ingredients. You can avoid processed products with fillers, eliminate cross contamination from allergens, and customize to your specific tastes. Since this blender is a very recent purchase for me I haven't been able to try out that many recipes yet but I can say I have very much enjoyed each combination I have tried.

I've discovered a protein powder that is especially formulated for women. It's a half whey, half soy protein with a light vanilla flavor. It's only 80 calories per serving, low in sugar and has extra calcium added in. This particular powder, which is made by Aria and sold at Trader Joe's, has 14g of protein and blends smoother (less gritty) than some other protein supplements I have tried (namely, hemp protein). You can use whatever protein you like, according to your tastes and dietary needs. But let's be honest, while the supplement is a very important part, it's the extras that you add that make these yummy shakes something to look forward to in the morning.

So far I have tried a tropic vanilla blend made with 8oz. plain soy milk, 2 scoops protein powder, a few chunks of mango and a splash of OJ.
And a choco-staw-banana twist made with 8oz chocolate almond milk, 2 scoops protein powder, banana slices, and strawberries. I have found that it works best to blend the milk and powder first, then add fruit and blend again. Also, by using frozen fruit I have eliminated the need for adding any ice to thicken the mixture. I am looking forward to testing other combos using mixed berries and pineapple. What flavors will you be trying?

Why I choose to eat the way I do

One of the reasons I decided to start this blog was because so many people ask questions about my eating habits. Once people find out my dietary restrictions the most common questions usually go something like this, "what CAN you eat?" "you live off of that?" "you can't eat... (insert common food/drink here)?" These questions are quickly followed by the comment, "I could never do it!" Here's the thing... You never know what you can do until you're in the situation, or until you put your mind to it. In my case my decision to eliminate gluten, and eat a clean, primarily vegetarian diet is based upon how certain foods affect me. It wasn't a choice I made to limit myself, or to lose weight. It was not a temporary restriction I used as a punishment or a trend I wanted to follow. It is not for religious or social reasons. It is not a fad diet that will inevitably fail. It is a lifestyle change that I have made for my health. I was fed up with not knowing what was going on with my body and I decided to do something about it. I started doing my research and decided that maybe the benefits of a healthier diet would outweigh the things I would be "missing out on". It's amazing how the human body adjusts to what we give it! Once I eliminated certain items (such as gluten) from my diet I started noticing changes right away. But more shocking to me was how my cravings changed. While I still occasionally allow myself a treat of some sort I often don't find myself tempted by sweets or processed foods like I did before. When reintroduced into the system after a period of absence foods take on a whole new affect. It really makes me wonder what what other tolerances my body has built up over a lifetime.
So why do I eat the way I do? The answer is simple, it's for me. Because it makes me feel better about myself. Because I am learning that I don't have to live with side affects. It also gives me a whole new perspective on discipline. I can choose to feel better, I can make healthier decisions and see results, and I can feel good that I am taking care of myself.

Soup and scallops

Happy Friday everyone!

Today I'm going to share a simple meal suggestion that I made for my own lunch just the other day.

Start to finish this meal takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.

You will need: 1 single serving of frozen scallops (available for $1/ package at Albertsons) a handful of fresh baby spinach, yellow mustard, Tamari (gluten free soy sauce), black pepper, parsley, and organic tomato soup. I like the roasted red pepper one from Trader Joe's. (yes, it is gluten free!)

Directions: Heat small skillet to med-high temp, spray pan with non-stick cooking spray, toss in frozen scallops (cooking for about 4-5 mins). While the scallops are starting to cook, heat 1 cup of soup in a microwave safe bowl or mug (high power 2 mins.) Drizzle mustard and Tamari directly into the pan with the scallops, stirring occasionally. Season with ground black pepper. Once soup is finished heating, remove from microwave and sprinkle with a dash of dried parsley. Rinse one generous handful of fresh spinach and have it waiting on a plate nearby. When the scallops have finished cooking immediately remove from pan and spoon onto the bed of spinach.

Hope you enjoy this deliciously simple idea as much as I did :)





Disclaimer: I am in no way an expert in nutrition, fitness or any other dietary science. My suggestions should be taken as such and are not meant to replace medical advice. If you have a serious condition or severe allergies please do your own research and/or consult a doctor or other professional.
That said, I am giving you real examples from my personal journey. I am happy to pass along what I am discovering and maybe someone out there, who is going thru a similar process, will benefit from one of my stories or tips. For the sake of this blog I will assume that anyone reading and attempting to prepare meals for themselves has at least a very basic knowledge of cooking and can find their way around a kitchen without every step being spelled out. I feel like this is a reasonable pre-requisite so please don't send me any angry letters if you attempt to burn down your own kitchen while deep frying pancakes or the like (don't laugh - a former roommate nearly accomplished just such a feat... I could not make this stuff up!) :p