New Recipes!

This winter one of my favorite new recipes has been Veggie Gumbo.  You can add and subtract things to tailor it to your likes, but this has been my favorite combo so far!

Veggie Gumbo
1 can black beans (rinsed, no salt added)
1.5 cups frozen cut okra
2/3 cup frozen sweet corn
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
1/2 medium sweet potato, chopped
1 large carrot, sliced
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1 can petite diced tomatoes (low sodium)
1 celery stalk, sliced
1 TBS Cajun/creole seasoning
*I also added some pepper and garlic powder

1 cup cooked brown rice

Makes ~3 servings with 220 calories, 1g fat, 8g protein, 44g carbs, tons of Vitamin A & C.

I use my slow cooker and add all ingredients and seasoning.  I cooked on med-high for about 4 hours.  You can also make it in large skillet in about 30 minutes, but the flavor just isn't the same.  I cook the rice in a rice maker about 45 minutes before the gumbo is done when slow cooking, then serve gumbo over 1/3 of it.

New Start

I officially started working out regularly and tracking my nutrition on December 30th.  My "before" picture was taken a couple weeks before that and I actually looked a lot worse that it shows.  My weight was roughly 148lbs.  I have yet to take measurements, it's on my to do list!
I am excited to be taking a Nutrition course this semester to help motivate me further to stay on track.  I am so frustrated that I let myself get to this point.  My pants don't fit, my sports bras are too tight, and overall I was just feeling yucky.   Increasing my exercise and changing my diet back to mainly vegan has helped already.

Before 12/2013

Upcoming goals for my blog include tracking measurements, new recipes to share, and other fun motivational stuff!

Here are some links to my favorite new food ideas via Pinterest:

Amazing Edibles

Snackin