Eat Smart Sunday

Well hellooo ‘der

How are we all??

As you know, one of my 2017 goals was to have one meal out of my Eat Smart cook book each week – even if I don’t think I’ll like it as you never know, I may surprise myself and find a new fave dish!

To help me try to stick to this, I want to start a little series called Eat Smart Sunday. Each Sunday I will post a little summary of the meal I have tested that week!

So first of all – I Started with the Mexican Chilli Bowl – I didn’t do the sour cream dip with it though but I made the main dish so it still counts! >.<

I told the guys at work that I was making a chilli without any meat and they were all disgusted with me and wanted to come and rescue my boyfriend haha! I actually quite enjoyed it though.

I’ve never had chilli before – so I guess I don’t know what I’m missing out on by not using any meat, but I can’t take a lot of spice so I’ve always been very very reluctant to try it. Surprisingly though this dish wasn’t very hot! I used all of the herbs and ingredients it said to. The only thing I can think of is instead of chilli powder my dad grows chillis and then mum dries them out and grinds them into little flakey things! They have a lot of kick to them so I used it sparingly – perhaps I should’ve used a little more but I may not have liked it as much!

It was pretty easy to make really and the ingredients were fairly easy to find – I didn’t find bay leaves in the shop and I admittedly did skip out the mushrooms as I don’t like those at all. You basically start by frying the onions and garlic, add in the peppers then bung in everything else and voila!! Quinoa is also very simple – basically similar to cooking rice so nothing very complex there.

Overall Rhys and I both quite enjoyed the meal! There was a bit too much there for me, it gets a little bit samey after a while too but it was pretty yummy and I would definitely make it again. I’d give it a 7.5/10

Here is the finished product:

Has anyone else tried some good recipes from this little gem of a cookbook?

 

Much Love xo

LJ

2017 Goals

Hi guys!

What’s that? I’m writing twice in one week! I know!!! Shock horror >.<

As the other day I gave a little (large) summary of my 2016 I thought I’d now have a natter about my goals for the next year. I have got quite a few – but some are like.. mini goals, so once I’ve achieved them I can step it up a notch!

• Complete PIIT28 – if you don’t know what this is, take a look at Blogilates. Cassey Ho basically has her own fitness channel, which is based around ‘pop pilates’ – a more upbeat version of pilates with an aim to improve your core, strength, muscles and your mood! Cassey is such a positive person and once you do her work out calendars with her upbeat personality.. and then see the awesome results after even just a couple of weeks sticking to it – you definitely get a boost! Exercise has helped me a lot through the dark times in my life so I would definitely recommend it for anyone that is struggling a little ❤
• Run 5km by March – this is one of my mini goals – Which I actually managed to complete today! That was quick hey! I managed it last year, then I stopped running for the winter months as it was too dark before and after work but I got a hivis jacket for christmas so now i’ve picked it up again. So far I’ve only been able to run 3km, but today I slowed my pace down (I usually try do it as quick as possible) and I totally surprised myself and managed the 5km!! My new goal is going to be to reach 7.5km by March! That’s going to be a bit more of a stretch!

• Embrace ‘me’ – this is an important one, so many people (including myself) alter themselves or judge themselves because of other people, I am constantly comparing myself to others and this is something that I need to stop because I am well aware that the person I am comparing myself too and that I think is beautiful or clever, talented etc.. is probably doing the exact same thing as everyone else and comparing themselves as well – and then it becomes a never ending cycle. So.. instead, I am going to embrace me and love me for who I am, what I am, what I look like, what I enjoy doing and just live life how I would like to!
• Blog more – well I think I’m doing pretty well with that one so far! Two posts in one week – look at me go!!
• Healthy body/muscle – I get a lot of physical pain, from joints to muscles, back, headaches, so I’m hoping to try live a healthier lifestyle with more stretching exercises and things to try and reduce / relieve that pain.
• Cook 1 clean meal per week – I basically have a shit’ton of cookbooks, yet I always cook the same meals from each ones because they’re ‘safe’. For Christmas I asked for Niomi Smart’s Eat Smart cook book – a plant based healthy eating book. Not necessarily a diet book but more of a lifestyle change! I am not going full on vegan / plant based however it would be good to get more of those veggies into my system! My aim is to pick one meal from this book each week – even if I don’t think I’ll like it and make it. I also have Fearne Cotton’s cook book – which I may also try if I run out of recipes before the end of the year!
• Complete 2017 medication free – this is a biggy for me! For years I struggled with depression and anxiety, probably from the age of about 13. in 2015 I got to the point where I couldn’t cope anymore and I was scared of what I might do – so I went to group therapy (pretty scary with social anxiety – but I did it!) and then went to the doctors where I was prescribed medication, I later met my lovely boyfriend and then in 2016 I left my job and started somewhere new where the atmosphere is a lot more positive and my mr and I bought our first house! So.. December 2016 I decided I didn’t want to continue the medication and I weaned myself off (With approval from my doctor). I have now started 2017 without any medication, I took my last tablet on the 20th December I think and It’s going ok so far – I have the odd moment where I feel low and I do get scared, thinking is it coming back? But then I Also thing – I could just be feeling low – which everyone does! Soooo yeah! My aim is to try and get through this year without my happy pills 🙂

Anyways, it’s nearly 8:30pm so my other half will be home any minute and I haven’t started cooking tea – oopsie! So I better go!

But first, what are your goals for 2017??

Much Love xo

LJ