Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Healthy eating.

Chels is one of my favorite new blog friends. We 'met' last month through the Cara Box Exchange, and I am so thankful for her. She is seriously the sweetest. She's recently decided to go back to school for nutrition and I so admire her drive to go back to school to do what she really loves!

Hi, I'm Chelsea and I blog over at Freckles In Our Eyes. I blog about food, crafts, our beagle, travel, life as a newlywed, military life and life in general! I'm headed back to school this year to pursue a degree in Nutrition to become a Registered Dietitian. It's been something I've considered for years, but finally have decided it's what I need to do for me. I'm excited and nervous, but I know it's where my heart is! I'm here today to talk about food and nutrition. (Note: I am not an expert. I'm just sharing what has worked for me.)

I have a lot of food allergies, so I have to live gluten free. I've been gluten free for nearly 5 years, so I've learned a lot. Last year, my husband and I started a vegan diet after watching Forks Over Knives. That was a new challenge, but really enjoyable. I stick to a vegan diet about 6 days a week. I still enjoy meat and fish occasionally, but tend to avoid dairy for intolerance issues. I do still eat dairy at times, but in very small amounts.

I go about a gluten free and vegan diet in the way a lot of people go about any healthy diet. I stick to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and lean protein. It's incredibly healthy. I do splurge occasionally because I don't think you should deprive yourself of food you enjoy. It's about moderation with anything. So, I wanted to share some ways to cut out processed food from your diet.

Some of my favorite snacks during the workday are:
  • Apple with peanut butter
  • Mixed Nuts (I prefer Planters Nut-rition Men's Health Recommended Mix)
  • Quinoa (cooked and cooled) with coconut milk yogurt (tons of protein, so it's filling)
  • Popcorn (I pop kernels in olive oil on the stove top and bag it to take to work)
  • KIND Bars and Larabars (these are pricey, so I only keep an emergency stash in my desk)
  • Carrots, Snap peas, cucumbers, bell peppers with homemade hummus
  • A waffle (Van's organic gluten free blueberry are my favorite) with peanut butter or coconut oil
For lunch and dinner, we have a lot of bean and/or vegetable based soups or salads (with beans or chickpeas) drizzled with a tiny amount of balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Some of my weekly staples:
  • Mixed greens
  • Tomatoes
  • Apples
  • Avocados
  • Garbanzo beans
  • Quinoa
  • Black Beans
  • Oatmeal
  • Berries/Oranges/Pears
  • Cucumbers/Bell Peppers/Carrots/Snap Peas
  • Brussels Sprouts (sauteed in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper)
  • Sweet potatoes
    I choose to eat more natural, minimally processed foods. This is also an incredibly affordable diet. Because I'm not buying expensive prepackaged meals or gluten free replacement products, we save money. I also buy dry beans rather than canned. I'm allergic to soy, so we don't eat any soy products. After we cut out meat, we saved hundreds of dollars each month on groceries, and I have more money to buy organic produce. This minimally processed diet keeps me feeling really healthy and light. I used to feel bloated often and now I hardly ever do! I've lost a few pounds from eating this way, and maintain a really healthy weight. I do eat junk food sometimes, but it's a special treat. I've gotten to the point that greasy, fatty food doesn't make me feel well, so I hardly ever eat unhealthy food (which I never thought would happen)!

    Hop over to my blog and check out some recipes or ask me questions!
     

    2 comments:

    Legally Lovely said...

    Wow! I'm impressed by the willpower to follow this meal plan. I try to eat well, but always give in to a crazy craving. This has to be good for you -- all those fruits and veggies and beans. Yum!

    TwoFourFive said...

    I love larabars! I feel like we should be able to figure out how to make them, though, since they are all natural ingredients. They are a bit pricey!