Share What You Learn With Others

I have found that ever since I have started learning more about "whole food" eating, at times I have been overwhelmed with the amount of information I have. Part of the reason why I started this blog, is not only to journal my thoughts, recipes and write down info I learn, but to share with others the knowledge I am gaining every day. I have learned that it is important to share your information with others...whether it is a blog, sending an email to your loved ones with a great recipe you like, trying to convince your significant other to read a great part of your book (not very likely with a busy hubby like me) or getting together with other people that are on the same journey you are. I have found a few other women who are also on their own quest and we have decided to get together a few times each month to share what we are learning, to talk about the things that work and the things that don't, to laugh, to eat beautiful whole foods, and to give each other encouragement along the way..

Last week, Cody and Marie (both girls that are doing the half-ironman with me in June) came over to talk about our little adventure, to talk about our week, and to of course, eat yummy food.

Cody, finishing our fabulous meal...thanks for the menu ideas!

Here is what we made:

Spinach Soup
(from Cooking Light..fresh, fast food: weeknight meals)

2 t. olive oil

1 1/2 C. chopped onion

2 C. organic veggie broth

1 C. diced Yukon Gold potato

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. black pepper

1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach

1/2 C. real sour cream

1 t. grated lemon rind

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in pan and saute onion. Add broth and next three ingredients.

2. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat and simmer 8 minutes until potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally. Add spinach; cover and cook 2 minutes or until spinach wilts

3. Place soup in high powered blender (if not high powered, divide it up). Add sour cream and blend.

4. Pour soup into four bowls. Top with grated lemon rind and a sprinkle of some raw cheese!

5. Smile and savor every delicious bite

(119 Calories per bowl, 4.7 grams fat)

Orange and Bulgar Salad (Didn't have beets so we used a different root vegetable)

1 3/4 C. water
1 C. uncooked Bulgar
1 Medium beet, peeled
2 navel oranges
parsley vinaigrette:

2 T. chopped parsley, 2 T. red wine vinegar, 2 T. olive oil, 1/2 t. salt, 1/4 t. pepper

Top with crumbled feta or goat cheese

Instructions:

1. Bring water to a boil; stir in Bulgar. Cover, remove from heat; let stand 10 minutes.

2. Roast beet in over (or microwave if you are short on time. You can do this by covering beet with three damp paper towels and put in on a plate. Microwave for 6 minutes or until tender)

3. While beet cooks, peel oranges, cutting crosswise to make wagon wheel slices. Cut beet into moon shaped sliced.

4. Place Bulgar on four plates, top with oranges, beets, crumbled cheese and parsley vinaigrette

(301 Calories, 13.6 g. fat for salad. 63 Calories for salad, 7 g. healthy fat!)

Marie, Me and Cody

To keep on your "healthy" path:

1. share something you learned with someone else

2. tell youself it is worth the journey, even when it is hard

3. write down your impressions about what you read and learn from others

4. share something yummy you make with a friend and laugh throughout your meal

5. realize you are doing something amazing for yourself and your family

6. become an expert about one thing at a time...take it slow

7. if you get frustrated, don't go buy a costco pizza, take a break, pick yourself up and try again

8. remember you aren't alone....EVER!

9. smile everytime you try something new that works

10. accept the statement "I AM WORTH IT!" and more importantly live like you are!