November - Week 1 - Your Body Is Your Temple - Dine With Pizazz!!

Happy November!!!

The holidays are just around the corner, and during this time of year many of us are more tempted than any other time to continue or increase a pattern of unhealthy eating habits. Energy drinks, dietary supplements, coffee, sugar, and fast food are just some of the secrets behind how some of us are able to juggle the endless demands of our every day lives. As we struggle to cram more into an already over booked schedule, instead of re prioritizing our calendars, we negotiate our diets. It's no wonder why so many of us are always tired, overweight, and moody. the answers to many of our health concerns lies within our diet.


We tell ourselves, "I'll eat healthier tomorrow," as we pull up to the quickest drive thru window, or "I'll develop a work-out regimen next year," as we slide quarters into the office vending machine. And who needs sleep with all of the energy drinks and energy-boosting dietary supplements on the market? Most of us have routines and styles of eating and cooking that can be traced back to childhood that are being passed down to future generations as we continue the legacy of unhealthy diets. As the saying goes "when we know better, we should do better."


Just as bad-decision making eventually catches up with us, so do bad eating habits. This week I challenge us to eliminate at least one unhealthy dietary habit from our routines. Trade in that soda for a bottle of water, substitute your chocolate fix with some fruit. Pack a lunch instead of dining out for lunch. It's time that we begin to model healthy habits not only to maximize our lives today but the lives of tomorrow. Please check out the below low calorie recipe, "Spicy Shrimp Stew." Have a great week!!!


Spicy Shrimp Stew

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup sliced onion
1 cup sliced green bell pepper
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup water
1 tablespoon Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cubed, peeled potato
2 cups diced tomato
One 10-ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 to 4 cups cooked brown rice


1. In a 6-quart pot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, for 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Stir in the flour until absorbed. Stir in the water, seafood seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper; bring to a boil. Add the potato, tomato, and mixed vegetables. Return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

3. Add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are cooked, for about 5 minutes. Serve over cooked rice.