Trying to Get Healthier

While in Florida our daughter talked several times about a Whole Life Challenge she and her husband had done shortly before (and during) their trip to Israel. She was signed up for the next one and talked me into signing up also. The challenge involves six areas of your life, with the aim of improving in each area. Those areas are nutrition, exercise, mobilization, sleep, hydration, and well-being. There are three levels. I’m doing the beginner level, called kickstart.

Of course, I’d thought I was already doing pretty well nutritionally, but I’m not. There are food restrictions, the main ones being no sugar and no refined flours. This is to get you reading the labels and finding out just how many foods we purchase have unnecessary sugars added. It is amazing to find added sugar in things that don’t need it.

I’ll be spending the next six weeks avoiding both sugar and wheat products. Being a wheat farmer I find this rather ironic. It goes without saying that Dennis isn’t signed up. I won’t be making any wheatberry salads, whole what breads, or anything with pasta (Dennis rejoices at that one!).

I’d already begun easing into this new way of life before the start date of Jan. 19. I’ve been using the treadmill, logging two miles per day. The time to cover that distance is decreasing as my stamina builds. The lifestyle wants ten minutes per day of exercise that ups your heartbeat as well as ten minutes per day of stretching exercises (the mobilization part). I need to up my game there.

You set your own goal for sleep, as they realize some people don’t seem to require as much as others. I’m shooting for seven hours, and mostly exceeding that. You are to consume plenty of liquids each day, but no beer or soda (not a problem for me). I can have one serving of either wine or spirits each day (also not a problem for me).

As far as the well-being part, you’re to have what they call a “golden hour” each day. For that hour, you’re to have no electronic distractions: no phone, no computers, no tv. You can mediate, read, or, as I’m doing, paint kindness rocks or crochet. Listening to background music is ok.

Part of my easing into this involved cooking healthier meals. I made a spinach and rice soup (recipe ripped from a magazine) as well as a broccoli salad (recipe found online). They were both tasty enough that I’m happy to share the recipes.

Spinach & Rice Soup

1 Tbl olive oil

1 shallot, minced

1 C jasmine rice

8 C chicken broth

1 bay leaf

1/4 tsp salt

3 eggs

3 Tbl lemon juice

3 C chopped, cooked chicken

10 oz chopped fresh spinach

1 Tbl fresh dill

1 tsp lemon zest

Lemon wedges

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute the onion, stirring, 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook and stir another minute. Add the broth, leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, 8-10 minutes. Rice should be nearly tender. Meanwhile, whisk together the eggs and juice in a bowl. Slowly whisk a cup of the soup into the eggs in the bowl, then whisk the egg mixture back into the soup. Cook and stir two minutes until thickened. Remove leaf. Add the chicken, spinach, dill, and zest. Cook and stir until spinach wilts. Serve with lemon wedges.

I used a container of liquid chicken broth, then added a cup of water and a chicken bouillon cube. I also found a can of turkey meat in the cabinet, so used that instead of chicken. And of course I used a scant teaspoon of dried dill from last summer’s garden. My package of spinach was 10 oz and I used it all.

Healthy Broccoli Salad

Dressing:

1/2 C plain Greek yogurt

2 Tbl cider vinegar

1 tsp raw honey

1 tsp lemon zest (or 1 Tbl juice)

1/4 tsp sea salt

Whisk all together and pour over salad.

Salad

2 heads broccoli, cut up

1 C red cabbage, chopped

1/4 C red onion, diced

1/4 C golden raisins

1/2 C sliced almonds

3 green onions, sliced

3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

Mix all together. This keeps 4-5 days in an air tight container in the fridge.

You can add grapes, craisons, tart apple, sunflower seeds, and/or cheese.

I slipped when making the dressing, and added a tablespoon of honey. And I used both zest and lemon juice. I only used one large stalk of broccoli, but I did peel and use the entire stem, chopped up. I added more than a cup of red cabbage, having two very small heads in the fridge from last summer’s garden. And of course I used regular dark raisins. My bacon was purchased crumbled.

I was surprised to find bacon was on the okay to eat list, but I should be looking for sugar-free bacon. Cheese is also on the verboten list, so I guess between that and the crust, I won’t be having pizza for six weeks. And any burgers I have will be wrapped in lettuce, not a bun. I’ll survive this. I’m focusing on what’s on my list of okay foods (meats, all veggies, all fruits, nuts and seeds, butter(!), most oils, corn tortillas, and cottage cheese) instead of what I can’t have.

Be prepared for more healthy recipes in the next several weeks.