Staple Food Forgotten: Quinoa

Quinoa (keen-wah) is another diet essential that is constantly stocked in my cabinets and fridge. Every week I cook up a batch to use with various meals. Quinoa is a seed that cooks up similarly to rice but is unique in that it is a complete source of protein! Loaded with essential amino acids. Gluten free. Basically an all around great option.

I first learned of Quinoa’s existence through a vegetarian friend of mine. She mixes Quinoa with various cooked veggies as a source of protein in her diet. Karena and Katrina from Tone It Up also love using Quinoa in their recipes.

Typically, I get my Quinoa from Giant Eagle but I think most grocery stores sell it.

Try it out. Let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Food, Glorious Food

I am officially back from winter break, which also means back to my routines! Although the holiday season (Thanksgiving through New Years) is one of my favorite times of the year, it is also one of the most indulgent. Try as I might, a second slice of pumpkin pie after my Thanksgiving feast is just too hard to resist and don’t even get me started on seconds of pasta with calamari sauce on Christmas Eve! Luckily for my diet, the holiday season is now over and a new semester of school has begun.

New semester, new groceries! Thought I would share with you what I typically stock my cabinets and fridge with, including specific staple food items (stuff that I always have in the house).

Shopping cart snapshot!

Who can guess where this was taken? Anyone? Yep, you guessed right, Walmart! I have a feeling the Great Value brand gave me away. Like most college students the word ‘budget’ is one that plagues my every impulse purchase but also makes my bank account very happy. So, can’t complain. Some of my groceries can’t be found at Walmart, so I make a quick stop at Giant Eagle for the rest (fuel perks!).

Always in my fridge/freezer:

• Chicken
• Tilapia
• Veggies
• Brown Eggs (18 pack!)
• Egg Whites
• Mixed Greens
• Baby Spinach
• Dannon Light and Fit Vanilla Yogurt (non-fat)
• Blueberries (Superfood!)
• Grapefruit
• Grapes
• Mushrooms
• Onions (pre-chopped)
• Flaxseed (ground)
• Donut Shop Coffee (Light Roast and Hazelnut)
• Tahini Paste
• Garlic
• Lemon/Lime Juice
• Almond Milk
• Skim Milk
• Brita Pitcher (filled to the top with H2O!)

Always in my cabinets:

• Chick Peas
• Canned Chicken
• Back to Nature Nantucket Blend Trail Mix
• Sun-Maid Raisins
• Clif Bars
• Quaker Oats
• Olive Oil (EVOO)
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Sea Salt
• Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps
• Wasa Bread
• Mrs. Dash Original

Obviously, I have more items in my kitchen than just the ones mentioned above. These are just the staple items that I am almost NEVER without.

Food Friday. What is it? Ever friday I will blog about food. I will always feature a new healthy recipe along with a list of ingredients and a picture. Occasionally, along with my Food Friday healthy recipe post, I will blog about other food related things. My typical breakfast, lunch and dinner, Superfoods, protein shakes, healthy alternatives, etc.

Don’t forget to check out the Tone It Up Fat Burning System! Truly changed my life, for the better. Worth every penny.

Remember, establish healthy eating habits now so that they stay with you forever.

Back It Up: Fitness Background Story

Background on me: I am 5’3″ and currently about 115 lbs (give or take). I just finished the fall semester of my senior year at university and am 22 years old. By the middle of my sophomore year I weighed about 157 lbs and at the beginning of my junior year I was 141 lbs. For someone my height, 141 lbs is the start of being considered over weight. My junior year was when I decided to actively make a change, by the end I had lost about 8 lbs to bring my weight to 132 lbs. With the start of summer came the discovery of my secret weapon, Tone It Up! I stumbled upon the Tone It Up workout videos on YouTube and from there found their website. After purchasing their diet plan and becoming an official TIU member, I began my transformation. In one summer I dropped 12 lbs and since then have continued to slim down to what I believe is a healthy weight for myself.

Now, my goal is to truly tone my body. I am what the TIU trainers, Karena and Katrina, would consider “skinny fat”; slim but no visible lean muscle tone. That is one of my goals for this year, to truly Tone It Up! You can find the TIU diet plan by clicking here >>NEW YOU!

Fingers crossed that I can accomplish my fitness goal and start rediscovering who I am as a young woman. Here I come 2012!