thankful Thursday: health

Last week, I wrote a little about my daily routine. I like to start my day with prayer and Bible study then a workout before tackling my to do list. I am so so so thankful that my body is healthy enough to exercise. This winter was the worst for sickness, and I missed working out when I was sick. It made me even more thankful for my overall health and each day that I get to work out. 

Pure barre has truly changed my body, and I recommend to it anyone! I was a competitive cheerleader for many years, I've worked out in gyms (treadmill, elliptical, weight machines), run (5k--tough, I know), walked, done water aerobics, and even tried a crossfit type workout, and pure barre beats them ALL for me. I still like to mix it up, though. My body has been in its best shape the last few years, better even that when I was nineteen years old, jogged every day, and practiced seven hours a week as a college cheerleader. Motivation has a lot to do with that. I can't totally control my health, but I want to do what I can to stay healthy and offer my body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1). I'm thankful for each day that I'm able to exercise. 

I am also thankful that I can afford to buy healthy food and that I have access to information to educate myself on how to eat healthy. I've been following a paleo diet for the last year--at times strictly, at times very, very loosely (what's a wedding diet?)--and I definitely feel my best when I eat paleo. I also just enjoy cooking and trying new recipes, and I'm thankful that I have time to cook these days.



Even in one of our marriage books, The Meaning of Marriage, I read about how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle. Staying healthy for my family is extra motivation, and I'm thankful that my fiancé supports my healthy lifestyle, even if we don't agree on which smoothie place is best ;)



How do you live a healthy lifestyle? 

protein pancakes

Why the lack of doughnuts and biscuits and food in general on my blog lately? Well, for the past month or so, I have changed my diet. My dad has improved his health by cutting carbohydrates, and my sister in law has been telling me about coconut oil, olive oil (don't cook it), grass fed meats, etc. for months, but it took me hearing a presentation on health and faith from an expert to finally get my thoughts organized and motivate me to make a change. The change is totally worth it as it's been over a month since I've taken medicine for a headache. It's been several years since I could say that. 

Also, low carb food does not photograph well. Below, I tried taking my first action shot of food as I drizzled way too much maple syrup on my low sugar pancakes. Still not that appetizing, but this is real. 

I was a little tired of protein smoothies and eggs for breakfast, and almost every "low carb" recipe I tried turned out disappointing, so I decided to remake some of my favorites with substitutions. So I made two versions of these protein pancakes within the last week, and I'm posting the second (better) version today. 

Coffee in a jar always makes me think of Pauline, my late family friend. She used to keep the leftover coffee in old pickle jars. When I go on my summer road trips, I make sure to bring some of my homemade cold brew along so I'm never without good coffee in the morning. 

Protein Pancakes

adapted from Martha Stewart's Basic Pancakes

1 c almond flour

1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I used tera's whey brand)

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

3/4 c organic whole milk

1 large egg

2 T coconut oil

I whisked together the dry ingredients, then added the wet ingredients and whisked again. I cooked the pancakes one at a time in an omelet pan on medium heat. They turned out fluffier and tastier than my first attempt.

Any great low carb recipes I should make next? 

cookout with the Kirks

I had a great lazy afternoon/evening at a cookout hosted by friends this weekend. LH carried out a picnic theme, using borrowed supplies from her mom. What a creative way to serve watermelon! It's a bug! 

They decorated with tissue flowers, which I didn't get a good picture of, jars, and pretty paper straws. 

Two of the guests brought three flavors of sangria they had made with homemade liqueurs. I didn't taste them, but they were beautiful! 

I didn't try the lawn games, either, though there was cornhole and a frisbee game. I tried for an action shot, instead. 

LH eats gluten free, which made for a fun baking challenge for those of us who decided to take desserts. I have been trying to eat healthier, especially cutting carbohydrates, so I was happy to have an event for which to give paleo cookies a go. 

By the way, could someone tell me what exactly paleo means? Between my best efforts to eat low carb and natural and having friends who don't tolerate gluten, I find myself making a lot of "paleo" recipes, but when my SIL asked me to define paleo, I couldn't. However, I do know what gluten is. (Thanks, LH, for this reference.)

LH's brother in law made these doughnuts using leftover coconut flour passed from Lindsay to LH to him. They passed on the flour because after using it to make gluten free foods, they decided they didn't like it. Well, he made doughnuts with it, and they were FABULOUS. I wanted the recipe but was scared to ask for fear that there's cups and cups of sugar. 

Lindsay made gluten free candy shaped cookies above and these Eiffel tower cookies. I sure do miss Paris! 

LH made pretty, pretty Pinterest-y dipped strawberries. 

Can you tell that sweet treats were the most photogenic aspects of the party? Isn't that always the case? The company was great, and the other food (hot dogs, pulled pork, salads, fruit) were delicious, too. I wish I had taken pictures of people and the gorgeous house! 

Thank you for including me, Kirks!

all day, every day kale

My dad's coworker has blessed me once again with produce from her awesome garden, and I have been eating kale for every meal. 

She sent my dad home with a grocery bag stuffed full of organic, homegrown kale. 

After several sessions of instruction from my dad, I filled a 5 gallon bucket about halfway with water, dumped the kale in, swished it around for a while, then pulled out each and every leaf, thoroughly inspecting it for bugs. I let it dry on paper towels and stored it in a sealed plastic container with more dry paper towels. My dad was very adamant that the kale was organic and would probably have dirt and bugs all over it, so I must wash it well. I found ONE bug; still, I recommend this method of washing kale. It has lasted well in the refrigerator. 

To use all of that kale, I though I might need to get creative, but it hasn't been difficult. I have kale salads for lunch every day. I made a one pot pasta dish (different than, but inspired by this one) with what I had on hand--whole wheat spaghetti, vegetable broth, grape tomatoes, mushrooms, kale, and basil. I seasoned it with crushed red pepper. 

I found out the hard way that you can only put so much kale in a smoothie before it tastes like you're drinking kale. It doesn't work like spinach.

So I tried kale in an omelet for breakfast. I wilted a handful of kale a bit, then I cracked two eggs in the pan and added salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper, plus a tablespoon or so of water. Thanks to my ninth grade foods and nutrition teacher for the omelet lessons. 

The green basil in my garden has taken off lately, so I picked a bunch and made a small batch of pesto. It was delicious on top of this omelet!

I will have to show Mrs. Wofford to see if she approves. Ninth grade was an eternity ago, but I learned useful skills! The skills that I've used, I haven't forgotten. 

Do you eat kale? Cooked or raw? How do you prepare it?

peaches and deer

The farmers market had plenty of peaches last week.  We ate lunch at the seafood restaurant while we were there, and it was great!  I will go there again and would recommend eating there to turn your produce buying trip into a real outing.

I enjoy eating a peach right by itself, but we had a few more than I could eat that way before they go bad.  My parents and grandparents go crazy over homemade ice cream in the summer, especially peach ice cream.  But of course I had to put a healthier twist on that.  I had seen some peach frozen yogurt recipes on Pinterest, so I looked up and adapted one of the recipes for the amount I wanted to make and the ingredients I had on hand.  

One fresh diced peach + Greek yogurt + sugar + milk + vanilla = peach frozen yogurt.

I spied some deer in the backyard while preparing the frozen yogurt.

After about 15 minutes in the ice cream maker, it was done.  

I think I'll be sticking to the froyo place down the road that I like . . . This frozen yogurt had nothing on real homemade peach ice cream.  Maybe the hand me down recipe is best after all.

Any good recipes for frozen yogurt?  Ideas for what to do with peaches?  

blueberry strawberry muffins

I picked up organic blueberries at the state farmer's market last week.  They are delicious in smoothies and salads, but I still had about a half pint left.  In an effort to eat healthier and use up a few things in the refrigerator, I made these muffins (see my pin); instead of 1 1/2 cups strawberries, I used about 1 cup of whole blueberries and 1/2 cup of diced strawberries.  And let's be honest, I bake with real sugar.  

Can you tell that I'm still enjoying patriotic color combinations?  I like almost anything blue and white (see: outfits), especially china.  My dad's mom loves china as well, and my mom's mom has a ton of Blue Canton on display in her house.  

What is your favorite muffin recipe?  Do you ever bake "healthy" foods?

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