Hello there, I hope you have had a good week so far. I have been getting so many messages from you about dinner and what to eat. Since so many of you are asking what I eat every day, I am going to start posting more meal ideas for you.
I eat very healthy and I don’t really eat anything that comes in a box, if I do, it’s pretty rare. Of course, I have my moments and allow for some fun splurges, but as a general rule I keep the foods clean that go into my body. It’s my fuel.
As a recovering sugar addict, I also know that I gotta get in my meals because skipping them or snacking on small stuff (because I didn’t prepare) is what drives up sweet and carb cravings. Plus, I get pretty cranky and tend to feel cloudy when I don’t feed myself good meals, so I make it a priority. I choose a ton on “healthy fat” foods, because I know I won’t crave sweets as much this way and it works!
I eat 3 meals a day and sometimes 4 and I know that for me, eating something for breakfast that gives me some of that healthy fat and protein is essential.
Healthy fats are things like avocado, nuts and seeds, nut butters (like almond butter, sunflower butter or cashew butter with no sugar added), olive oil, salmon, sardines, coconut oil, chia seeds, hemp seeds, eggs.
I love quinoa for a little extra oomph when I eat salads because sometimes a salad just doesn’t fill me up. Quinoa is pronounced (Keen-Wa) and it’s actually a seed and super high in protein and nutrients. I think it makes things more lively, especially salads.
Here is the thing though, although breakfast is that “most important meal”, dinner tends to be where people go off the rails a bit. So maybe dinner is more important to focus on if that is you… I actually met with a new client this morning who said to me, “Renee, dinner is my nightmare!” I could relate to her. If I don’t plan ahead for dinner, then that’s when ordering out happens or we throw something together that isn’t quite what the body needs. This is not the worst thing to do now and then, but when it becomes a habit to order pizza, eat out , eat popcorn for dinner or eat frozen meals, that’s when our bodies start getting unhealthy.
One of the reasons I want to share this salad is because it is the “left-over salad” – I made it with everything left in the fridge and it took very little time.
In another blog, I will talk about healthy dessert ideas for those who have a sweet tooth, but for today, I want to share this salad I just made – use it for lunch or dinner. It feels hardy and filling and because it’s full of good healthy fats and nutrients, you are far less likely to crave after it.
Lunch or Dinner Salad
1 handful of spinach
1 handful of arugula
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup shredded cucumber
Tablespoon pumpkin seeds
I egg (optional or sub in salmon)
1/3 cup quinoa
1/4 of an avocado
1 fig, sliced (I happened to have this in my fridge and it sounded yummy to add a little sweet)
1 teaspoon tahini sauce (crushed sesame seeds, garlic, lemon juice and water) – make your own or buy at Trader Joe’s
1 tablespoon olive oil
lemon (one squeeze)
¼ tsp himalayan pink salt
Options: Again, I call this the Left-Over-Salad. Add any nuts, seeds, veggies that you like.
Instructions:
Build the salad – add all of the veggie ingredients (make it look pretty – that helps!)
Cook the egg or add the salmon
Sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top
Add the fig or fruit (optional)
Add the sea salt to the top of the salad
Add the squeeze of lemon
Add olive oil and tahini sauce and mix everything together.
Enjoy!
This salad can be a full meal and has a bunch of healthy fats and flavors in it. It’s wonderful for satisfying deep cravings.
Renee
