Ohhh, my hubby made this for our family this past Sunday. We've been trying to use up pantry and freezer contents and so he modified a pumpkin soup recipe to include some of our frozen mango, too. This soup is thick, and has a little tangy taste and is excellent, in my opinion. By using low sodium broth you create a healthier soup. I hope you enjoy it.
Curried Pumpkin and Mango Soup
1 onion
4 peeled chopped cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 can chicken broth and 1 can of water
1 can pure pumpkin
2 cups mango chunks (frozen or fresh)
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 1/2 cups skim milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
In large stockpot, cook the onion and garlic in the oil until translucent, about 10 minutes. Add chicken broth and curry powder. Bring to boil. Add pumpkin and mango, stir constantly, bring to boil again. Turn heat down to very low and cover and simmer about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
In very small batches transfer the hot soup to your blender. Be sure to hold the lid on top of the blender and even cover it with a towel to prevent blowouts. Puree the mixture until totally smooth. Transfer the newly smooth blended soup into a fresh clean pan. After all the soup has been pureed, slowly blend in the skim milk and brown sugar. Reheat the soup gently and serve immediately.
Try it! I hope you like it.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
My, my, it's been awhile...
Sorry, guys! I've had a roller coaster of a life for the last while and have been offline for a lot of it.
I believe I left off with the water challenge. Can't remember if I met that challenge or not. If I didn't, I know I came close to the eight glasses each day as I'm still coming close to getting that in me regularly. It really is an amazing help to losing and maintaining weight loss. Not so much fun with the frequency of bathroom breaks required, though. Thankfully our basement bathroom is once again in working order since my office is down here, too.
How are we all doing with eating lots of greens and fresh fruits and other colourful vegetables? I hope, in this season of plenty, that you all are gravitating to those 'healthy' choices of salads and undoctored fresh fruits and veges. The nectarines have been awesome around here lately.
Let's all really try for those five to eight servings of vege's and fruit daily. Romaine salads are a great way to hike the vege intake, just forego the croutons, bacon bits and high-calorie dressings. Be creative, add sprouts, mushrooms, grated carrots, boiled eggs, grape tomatoes, etc. to add flavour, and just a little oil and vinegar dressing to top it all off.
Here's to healthy eating!
Blessings,
Eileen
I believe I left off with the water challenge. Can't remember if I met that challenge or not. If I didn't, I know I came close to the eight glasses each day as I'm still coming close to getting that in me regularly. It really is an amazing help to losing and maintaining weight loss. Not so much fun with the frequency of bathroom breaks required, though. Thankfully our basement bathroom is once again in working order since my office is down here, too.
How are we all doing with eating lots of greens and fresh fruits and other colourful vegetables? I hope, in this season of plenty, that you all are gravitating to those 'healthy' choices of salads and undoctored fresh fruits and veges. The nectarines have been awesome around here lately.
Let's all really try for those five to eight servings of vege's and fruit daily. Romaine salads are a great way to hike the vege intake, just forego the croutons, bacon bits and high-calorie dressings. Be creative, add sprouts, mushrooms, grated carrots, boiled eggs, grape tomatoes, etc. to add flavour, and just a little oil and vinegar dressing to top it all off.
Here's to healthy eating!
Blessings,
Eileen
Friday, June 27, 2008
Summer swelling means more water intake.
Hi, Everyone:
I've been busy weeding gardens, and all the rest of summer-time duties and have discovered swelling in my fingers as a result, I guess. Some of it is arthritis, I'm sure, but I believe the humidity and heat are a factor to my swelling, as well. So, I started upping my water intake again and I think it's helping.
It reminded me of how important it is to keep up with drinking that clear, fresh life-sustaining substance and so I thought I'd remind us about it here.
We should be taking in about eight cups of water a day, and I'll admit, I haven't been lately. But I'm getting back on track. With the summer heat, it is even more important that we get enough fluids into us.
So, please, join my challenge of keeping track of your daily pure water intake. Let's see who can reach the goal of eight cups a day for four days in a row. I'll check back in on Tuesday and report my water intake. I hope you will, too!
Blessings to all and may you all have a wonderful Canada Day weekend!
Eileen
I've been busy weeding gardens, and all the rest of summer-time duties and have discovered swelling in my fingers as a result, I guess. Some of it is arthritis, I'm sure, but I believe the humidity and heat are a factor to my swelling, as well. So, I started upping my water intake again and I think it's helping.
It reminded me of how important it is to keep up with drinking that clear, fresh life-sustaining substance and so I thought I'd remind us about it here.
We should be taking in about eight cups of water a day, and I'll admit, I haven't been lately. But I'm getting back on track. With the summer heat, it is even more important that we get enough fluids into us.
So, please, join my challenge of keeping track of your daily pure water intake. Let's see who can reach the goal of eight cups a day for four days in a row. I'll check back in on Tuesday and report my water intake. I hope you will, too!
Blessings to all and may you all have a wonderful Canada Day weekend!
Eileen
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tired and Frustrated...
...is giving me cravings for what I ought not to have right now.
Luckily I hadn't taken my yummy calcium chocolate supplement, so that took care of the urge. It's just a little rectangle of a chewy chocolatey morsel, but it did the trick.
What do you guys do to ward off unwanted cravings when you don't have time to run, walk, or occupy yourself in something that won't allow you to eat the forbidden?
Blessings,
Eileen
Luckily I hadn't taken my yummy calcium chocolate supplement, so that took care of the urge. It's just a little rectangle of a chewy chocolatey morsel, but it did the trick.
What do you guys do to ward off unwanted cravings when you don't have time to run, walk, or occupy yourself in something that won't allow you to eat the forbidden?
Blessings,
Eileen
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Sorry, It's been a while.
How is everyone doing? Battling the junk food desire, I hope. Working out efficiently, I trust.
As for me, I haven't been getting near the amount of vege's into me as I ought to be. So I made popcorn tonight. Hey, does popcorn count as a vege? I don't think so, but I sure enjoyed it, anyway. Our farmer's market up the road is open again and I love their gourmet white popping corn. Hardly needs any butter to season it, certainly no salt. It just a nice light snack and I quite enjoyed it.
Salsa is another great snack I've been enjoying lately. You just have to watch the amount of tortilla chips or crackers that you use for dipping when eating this healthy snack.
So, tell me, what healthy snacks are you eating lately? I would love to know.
Blessings,
Eileen
As for me, I haven't been getting near the amount of vege's into me as I ought to be. So I made popcorn tonight. Hey, does popcorn count as a vege? I don't think so, but I sure enjoyed it, anyway. Our farmer's market up the road is open again and I love their gourmet white popping corn. Hardly needs any butter to season it, certainly no salt. It just a nice light snack and I quite enjoyed it.
Salsa is another great snack I've been enjoying lately. You just have to watch the amount of tortilla chips or crackers that you use for dipping when eating this healthy snack.
So, tell me, what healthy snacks are you eating lately? I would love to know.
Blessings,
Eileen
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Carb/Starch Portioning
Hi, All:
I thought I'd continue on with the portioning lists to share. Today we'll take a look at my favorite list of foods. The portions are downright cruel to people like me who crave carbs, but here is where I really get show self-discipline. You up for the challenge?
Breads:
Regular brown or rye bread -- 1 serving = 1 slice
Diet bread -- 1 serving = 2 slices
Bagels (the diet kind ie. Weight Watchers) -- 1 serving = 1/2 bagel
English muffins (the diet kind ie. Weight Watchers) -- 1 serving = 1/2 muffin
Hamburger buns (diet kind again) -- 1 serving = 1 bun (Yeah, we can have a whole lean hamburger with the bun and only use 1 starch and 1 protein)
Melba Toast -- 1 serving = 3 slices
Flat Bread -- 1 serving = 2 slices
Cereals:
The cooked ones like Cream of Wheat, rolled oats, red river-- 1 serving = 1/4 cup, uncooked (Thankfully these over double in quantity when cooked, usually)
Cold Cereals, such as all bran, cheerios, corn flakes, rice krispies, etc. (No, don't include the high-sugar kid's favorite cereals in this list, please) -- 1 serving = 1/2 cup
Some Miscellaneous Starches I frequently consume:
Couscous 1/2 cup precooked
Crackers (unsalted--remember the sodium intake watch) 3 squares
Pasta -- 1/2 cup Cooked (Lucky for us, this packs in quite tight when measuring soft noodles)
Popcorn, unsalted, microwave kind (Love this for a snack) 3 cups, popped
Potato (I'm a meat and potato girl) 1 small
Rice 1/4 cup, Cooked (spread it on the plate so it looks like more)
Wheat germ (I often mix this in with my low-fat yogurt to get a different texture) 1 tbsp.
There are lots of other healthy starch choices out there, check out the package for serving size and stick with it to help you lose or maintain your weight.
Keep up the fight and grab those measuring cups before you fill your plate!
Blessings,
Eileen
I thought I'd continue on with the portioning lists to share. Today we'll take a look at my favorite list of foods. The portions are downright cruel to people like me who crave carbs, but here is where I really get show self-discipline. You up for the challenge?
Breads:
Regular brown or rye bread -- 1 serving = 1 slice
Diet bread -- 1 serving = 2 slices
Bagels (the diet kind ie. Weight Watchers) -- 1 serving = 1/2 bagel
English muffins (the diet kind ie. Weight Watchers) -- 1 serving = 1/2 muffin
Hamburger buns (diet kind again) -- 1 serving = 1 bun (Yeah, we can have a whole lean hamburger with the bun and only use 1 starch and 1 protein)
Melba Toast -- 1 serving = 3 slices
Flat Bread -- 1 serving = 2 slices
Cereals:
The cooked ones like Cream of Wheat, rolled oats, red river-- 1 serving = 1/4 cup, uncooked (Thankfully these over double in quantity when cooked, usually)
Cold Cereals, such as all bran, cheerios, corn flakes, rice krispies, etc. (No, don't include the high-sugar kid's favorite cereals in this list, please) -- 1 serving = 1/2 cup
Some Miscellaneous Starches I frequently consume:
Couscous 1/2 cup precooked
Crackers (unsalted--remember the sodium intake watch) 3 squares
Pasta -- 1/2 cup Cooked (Lucky for us, this packs in quite tight when measuring soft noodles)
Popcorn, unsalted, microwave kind (Love this for a snack) 3 cups, popped
Potato (I'm a meat and potato girl) 1 small
Rice 1/4 cup, Cooked (spread it on the plate so it looks like more)
Wheat germ (I often mix this in with my low-fat yogurt to get a different texture) 1 tbsp.
There are lots of other healthy starch choices out there, check out the package for serving size and stick with it to help you lose or maintain your weight.
Keep up the fight and grab those measuring cups before you fill your plate!
Blessings,
Eileen
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Portion Control
Hi, All:
I've decided to switch to Tuesday and Thursday posting here as life is crazy busy for me.
I thought today I'd offer a few "recommended" portion sizes from the Protein selection. Now these aren't what we tend to eat in terms of quantity, it's what we should count as a single serving that I'm offering here.
I know, we don't like thinking of that, but reality is, if we want to lose weight or keep it off, we need to deal with portion control! Keep in mind that these amounts are all measured in the raw state, prior to cooking. There's no allowance allotted for shrinkage, sorry, guys! And I'm also referring to the leanest, lowest fat options as well. So choose wisely.
Beef: 4 oz. (And, yes, I do use a little kitchen scale and weigh my food.)
Poultry (dark meat): 4 oz.
Poultry (white meat): 5 oz.
Fish: 5 oz.
Pork: 4 oz.
Veal: 4 oz.
Lamb: 4 oz.
Liver (beef, calf, chicken): 4 oz.
Wild Game: 4 oz.
Deli Slices (remember to look for low-sodium as well as fat-free): 125 g
Salmon (Canned, water-packed): 4 oz.
Tuna (Canned, water-packed): 4 oz.
Egg Whites: 4 large
Eggs (Whole): 2 large
Cottage Cheese: 1 cup
Beans are another great source of protein, but they contain a high amount of starch, so keep that in mind while calculating your daily intake. For a 1/2 cup of the following beans you should count the serving as 1/2 protein plus 1 full starch.
Black beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
Soybeans
Happy weighing and measuring everyone!
Blessings,
Eileen
I've decided to switch to Tuesday and Thursday posting here as life is crazy busy for me.
I thought today I'd offer a few "recommended" portion sizes from the Protein selection. Now these aren't what we tend to eat in terms of quantity, it's what we should count as a single serving that I'm offering here.
I know, we don't like thinking of that, but reality is, if we want to lose weight or keep it off, we need to deal with portion control! Keep in mind that these amounts are all measured in the raw state, prior to cooking. There's no allowance allotted for shrinkage, sorry, guys! And I'm also referring to the leanest, lowest fat options as well. So choose wisely.
Beef: 4 oz. (And, yes, I do use a little kitchen scale and weigh my food.)
Poultry (dark meat): 4 oz.
Poultry (white meat): 5 oz.
Fish: 5 oz.
Pork: 4 oz.
Veal: 4 oz.
Lamb: 4 oz.
Liver (beef, calf, chicken): 4 oz.
Wild Game: 4 oz.
Deli Slices (remember to look for low-sodium as well as fat-free): 125 g
Salmon (Canned, water-packed): 4 oz.
Tuna (Canned, water-packed): 4 oz.
Egg Whites: 4 large
Eggs (Whole): 2 large
Cottage Cheese: 1 cup
Beans are another great source of protein, but they contain a high amount of starch, so keep that in mind while calculating your daily intake. For a 1/2 cup of the following beans you should count the serving as 1/2 protein plus 1 full starch.
Black beans
Kidney beans
Lentils
Soybeans
Happy weighing and measuring everyone!
Blessings,
Eileen
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