Edible Garden Ideas ~ Food Pairings for Healthy Living

   Yes, we are trying to eat healthy & optimize the benefits of the foods we do eat. If you are getting ready to plan/plant your edible garden, here are some food pairings that are so healthful and with one easy to grow component each! These simple pairing are featured in the April issue of Redbook:

Red Bell Peppers & Black Beans ~ Beans are an excellent source of iron & (protein & fiber). All that iron is more readily absorbed with the pairing of high in Vitamin C bell peppers (Peppers contain the most Vitamin C of all vegetables!). Bell peppers are easy to grow. Just wait until frost danger has passed in your area & give your plants plenty of sun. Suggested recipe: Simply mix chopped raw peppers, black beans, quinoa & lime juice.

Meat & Rosemary ~ Marinate is the key word here. We are aware by now that grilling at high temperatures can lead to harmful carcinogenic compounds (HCAs) forming. To protect your meats ~ marinate! Rosemary contains multiple antioxidants that keep HCAs from forming. Add 2 T. to your favorite marinate for at least 30 minutes before grilling/cooking. The wonderful thing about growing an herb like rosemary is that it is easy and can happen year round by keeping your plant inside in a sunny location during the winter months.

Spinach & Olive Oil ~ Vitamin A packed spinach leaves when paired with small amounts of healthy fat olive oil will help it be better absorbed by your intestinal cells. Mix the olive oil with fresh lemon juice & drizzle away. Spinach is a cold weather veggie so the time to grow is now (and again in the fall) It is also easy to grow & so much better when picked fresh from the garden!

Eggs & Cheese ~ My Brother and Sister-in-Law do have a fresh supply of eggs with their chickens but most of us do not have the room to 'grow' eggs. No matter. We all know that Vitamin D & Calcium work hand in hand for maximum absorption of Vitamin D in the body. I am including this pairing because it is a delicious twosome but also the above spinach, peppers, rosemary all would taste amazing with your cheesy egg recipe of choice. (and hopefully you are considering growing additional herbs & tomatoes too!) YUM, and happy growing!

What Do the Skinny Bitches in your Life Eat?

   I will be writing this blog about the eating habits of a curious and interesting creature ~ the Skinny Bitch (SB moving forward).  I am saying this with the utmost affection for the SB; (and yes, I happen to sort of be one). My friends affectionately 'hate' me at times ~ "Really...I need to stand next to her?" I love them & they love me. Many SB's have much to offer the general population in the way of desirable eating habits. I'm not saying we always eat healthy, but we do watch our portions & always take home leftovers.

   In one of my magazine reads the past few months, they were featuring a woman on a successful weight loss mission. One of the 'out in the field' observations was the way her friends ate in restaurants. She has a group of friends in an more ideal BMI (Body Mass Index) category. Also, a group of friends in a closer to obese BMI situation. She observed the eating habits of both groups & LIGHT BULB! Once she began to follow the choices of her healthy weight friends, she began to lose weight herself. AHA MOMENT. So simple... (in the same vein as follow a three year old around all day and mimic every move and you WILL lose weight & WILL be exhausted!)

    So that got me thinking about writing this blog. I am not a true SB but I am thin and I do practice portion control naturally - all my life. I am suggesting in the social situations to begin your observations. Seeing first hand will be your best teacher, because the proof is your friend & these good habits can be easily learned and adapted. And no, I do not consume diet beverages. I do not skip meals or snacks, I do not deprive myself of anything. I do not skip out on social events because of the food temptations. I do not eat out much. When I do, I have been known to order off the appetizer menu if there is something delicious. I don't exercise for hours a day, just yoga or walking a few times a week. I do take home leftovers if I am ordering an entree. I do like to cook simple fare from scratch at home. Am I textbook healthy eater 24/7? ~ absolutely not. Do I feel lessons could be learned from me if one observed my eating habits ~ yes. Think of your meals over a one week span of time. The majority of that time I am making dietary choices worth mimicking. That's all we can ask for from ourselves in the real (SB) world.

    So next time you are in a situation, just ask yourself, "what would my SB Bestie eat?"