Zest for Life

For Mother’s Day, I experimented with two cuisines and...

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:42:22 -0400

For Mother’s Day, I experimented with two cuisines and made Yakisoba and Chicken curry with asparagus. For the chicken curry, I baked chicken and steamed the asparagus. Then, I mixed the two with Trader Joe’s yellow curry sauce.

For the Yakisoba, I followed this recipe:

http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2012/03/chicken-yakisoba-563-recipe-094-serving.html

Crustless quiche cups- healthy breakfast or snack! Just combine...

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:41:37 -0400

Crustless quiche cups- healthy breakfast or snack! Just combine eggs, veggies, a little milk, herbs, & spices. Bake at 375 for 20 min.

http://www.manilaspoon.com/2012/08/spinach-quiche-cups.html

Teriyaki...

Wed, 08 May 2013 02:36:40 -0400

Teriyaki Meatballs

http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2012/01/teriyaki-meatball-bowls-789-recipe-132.html

Vegetable & Dumpling Soup

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Asian-Dumpling-Soup-232979

Quinoa...

Wed, 08 May 2013 02:34:05 -0400

Quinoa Tabbouleh

http://budgetbytes.blogspot.com/2012/04/quinoa-tabbouleh-811-recipe-101.html

Mediterranean Chicken Wrap

http://www.emilybites.com/2012/04/mediterranean-chicken-wraps.html

I am happy to say that I survived the 3 day cleanse! I already...

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:31:00 -0400

I am happy to say that I survived the 3 day cleanse! I already posted the dinner drink in the previous post. The first drink here is the delicious breakfast drink and the second is the lunch smoothie. Here is my review of the experience:

Taste: I honestly enjoyed the taste of all three smoothies! My favorite was the dinner smoothie. I sometimes would add a little less or a little more of the recommended ingredients while not changing anything major. For example, I added half an avocado instead of just a quarter to the dinner drink because I love avocado and added slightly LESS cayenne pepper because I did not want my mouth to be on fire while sipping on my beverage! For lunch, I added LESS celery because 4 stalks of celery just does not sound appealing for a smoothie and will take away from the fruit flavors.

Hunger: Surprisingly, I hardly ever was hungry because the smoothies were pretty substantial (about 300 to 400 calories each for a total of about 1350 calories a day). However, I still craved solid food because I love food. I missed the feeling of chewing a warm meal and the feeling after. Instead of having that warm fuzzy feeling, I was full but my body was really cold from drinking smoothies! It was especially difficult to see others around me chowing down. For example, I went with my family to a great smelling dim sum place and was surrounded with tasty pork buns & pot stickers galore. I am proud that I was able to resist to make the most of my cleanse.

Weight Loss: I did not weigh myself since I do not have a scale around, but I definitely feel lighter and lost an inch in my waist.

Energy/Well Being: On the first day and a half or so, I did not feel much different. In fact, I felt a little bloated from consuming so much blended beverage. However, by the end of the second day, I had a feeling of lightness and felt energized. I also slept well. The cleanse was also great for my mind and overall well being. Preparing nothing but healthy, nutrient-rich smoothies made me feel better about myself since the body is the temple to the soul, after all.

Concluding Thoughts: I felt great after finishing the cleanse and would definitely do this again to give my body a boost!

Dinner smoothie, Dr. Oz’s 3 day detox cleanse. I am on...

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:07:54 -0400

Dinner smoothie, Dr. Oz’s 3 day detox cleanse.

I am on day 2 of this 3 day cleanse in hopes to eliminate harmful toxins and restore my system. I also wanted to give my body a dose of health by eating natural, whole foods to balance back after indulging in quite a bit of heavy food and sweets in Miami. So far, it has been great. It is not easy resisting delicious food around me, but the smoothies taste great and are actually really satisfying. It has been a great test on my discipline. The cleanse has been mental as much as physical. It has taught me that it is possible to make healthy choices even when there are so many tempting unhealthy food everywhere.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-ozs-3-day-detox-cleanse-one-sheet

Today both started and ended right! These meals are ideal staple...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:34:00 -0400

Today both started and ended right! These meals are ideal staple meals to have on a regular basis.

Breakfast: SS omelette from Juice and Java. I will miss this place when I leave Miami.

Dinner: Mediterranean vegetables & chicken stir fry

This is great to keep in mind before grocery...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:43:00 -0400

This is great to keep in mind before grocery shopping!

http://www.rawforbeauty.com/blog.html

#Cleanse and #Detox your body naturally. This is an important...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:45:32 -0400

#Cleanse and #Detox your body naturally. This is an important post because we’ve all experienced some of the following:

(1) bloating and feeling a little “clogged” (don’t be shy!);
(2) extra water weight around abs; or
(3) intense cravings for a soda (or something sweet). So, before you starve yourself, buy some “Super Fast-Acting Detox Tea” or grab a soda from the vending machine, here are 4 great infused vitamin waters to help cleanse your system naturally.

**TIP: add these to your water bottle in the morning and drink an hour later.**

(1) Orange & Lemon water: Citrus fruits help digestion especially in room temp (or warm) water. This water can help heartburn, indigestion, gas, bloating, loss of appetite, vomiting & constipation.

(2) Cucumber, lime & mint (ginger optional): Good water for water-weight management, hydration, cleansing, controlling appetite, improving mood & energy.

(3) Lemon, orange and lime water: Same benefits as number one.

(4) Strawberry, orange & mint water: protects immune system, vitamin rich, prevents wrinkles. Remember mint also helps with bad breath and digestion. Hydration is just as important as the food you eat daily - water helps spread nutrients from food throughout your body. Do NOT let fruit sit in the water for more than 48 hours. Thanks

https://www.facebook.com/LoveToLose

I guess you can say I have been satisfying my sweet tooth around...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 02:48:00 -0400

I guess you can say I have been satisfying my sweet tooth around Miami Beach lately! Uh-oh, someone call the model police!

Top left: Acai Berry Bowl from Juice and Java (healthiest sweet treat, delicious for breakfast). Top right: Lookie lookie gimme cookie sundae from Serendipity 3. Bottom left: chocolate mousse from Charlotte Bakery. Bottom right: mint chocolate chip sundae (tastes just like mint chip even thought it’s blue!)

Definitely one of the best meals I have made! Tilapia with...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:17:35 -0400

Definitely one of the best meals I have made!

Tilapia with tomato-olive sauce, jalapeño for zest!

Inspired by this recipe, but switched out grouper for tilapia.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-recipes/NU00320

:)

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:54:44 -0400

Soup Fantastico! This basically consists of onions, mushrooms,...

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:00:00 -0400

Soup Fantastico! This basically consists of onions, mushrooms, and frozen vegetables thrown into chicken broth. I seasoned the soup with basil, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, and Goya hot sauce. You know I love me some spiciness and flavor! In the end I threw a few pieces of pre-cooked grilled chicken in the mix for protein. Finishing touch=goldfish crackers!

Zestalicious omelette. Ingredients before and after!

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:41:07 -0400

Zestalicious omelette. Ingredients before and after!

Tilapia Piccata and Mediterranean Vegetables. I got the tilapia...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:11:00 -0400

Tilapia Piccata and Mediterranean Vegetables.

I got the tilapia recipe here:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/tilapia-piccata-50400000118129/

One step I did before putting flour on the fish was dipping it in an egg. The flour stays better and also the egg gives more flavor.

As for the vegetables, I can’t take credit for this one. My roommate, Iris, put together this tasty concoction and froze a few servings, which I reheated.

Brunch on a HUGE yacht. I am so lucky to have experienced this!

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:22:56 -0400

Brunch on a HUGE yacht. I am so lucky to have experienced this!

HELLO DOLLY! Also known as magic bars & coconut chocolate...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 07:12:00 -0400

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Hello-dolly-bars-306871

HELLO DOLLY! Also known as magic bars & coconut chocolate bars. These are like heaven in your mouth.

Here is the recipe: http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/Hello-dolly-bars-306871

Tonight I decided to try something different. I have been...

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:03:38 -0400

Tonight I decided to try something different. I have been hearing that quinoa is a great grain with more protein than rice. I had it with beans, olives, and salad. It turned out so tasty! The rosemary and spice seasonings made the dish flavorful enough so I did not need to add anything!

Grocery shopping for one person means having a lot of one food...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:11:53 -0400

Grocery shopping for one person means having a lot of one food item to consume all to yourself. Such was the case with my bag of 24 mini quesadillas. I made many quesadillas with these, but was itching to try something different since I had so many darn tortillas to use. This led me to look up a recipe for healthy enchiladas. I found a great recipe here: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/cheesy-chicken-enchiladas-10000001891956/

I didn’t have green onions, so I used black olives on top. This was delicious and lasted me 3 meals!

Pacman-shaped quesadilla haha!

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:07:30 -0500

Pacman-shaped quesadilla haha!