Tappy Holidays Veggie Ideas - share, share, share

[Teachnmy4]

Well, tomorrow's the big day, so we might as well start sharing ideas now.

Looking forward to a GREAT Tappy Holiday!



Cheryl in FL [8D]
"I press on toward the goal..."

[foxbay]

Is 1/2 cup of veggies a serving? I can never figure out what a serving of lettuce or spinach looks like. One leaf, two, three?

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.
~John C. Maxwell

[Olerica]

after it's chopped, it's about a handful. If you are using romaine, about 1 1/2 leaves (I don't eat iceburg, so I can't comment).

Yes, 1/2 c of veggies is 1 serving.

Olerica (Susan)
http://olerica.blogspot.com
"To be nobody-but-yourself—in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else—means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting." ee cummings

[foxbay]

Thanks, Susan. I, too, use romaine or green leaf.

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.
~John C. Maxwell

[gillmings]

1/2 cup is the serving size for cooked veggies. For raw, like lettuce, it's a full cup. I've also heard Bob Greene say that the amount of lettuce and tomato you would (generously) put on a sandwich counts as 1 serving.

I get 5 of my veggie servings by stuffing them all in my breakfast smoothie! I hate 'em and it's about the only way I can get them in, especially raw.

The October issue of Good Housekeeping had a great veggie soup recipe that makes 22 cups! You freeze it in 2-cup portions, and then they have 7 different recipes of add-ins for each serving, to make 7 completely different soups (like minestrone, red beans and rice, Thai shrimp, Greek fish stew, etc.) It's yummy, and I haven't tried the variations yet!

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[RacerWife7]

I only eat my veggies cooked (not cooked to death so that they have no nutrients left, but steamed). I don't really like salads at all, either. And, for anyone who might be hypothyroid like I am, I CANNOT eat raw broccoli at all because it has a negative affect on the thyroid. I can't remember the details of it. But, I was told not to EVER eat broccoli unless it's cooked - which I don't anyway.

I actually like to get a head start on my veggies in the morning with a veggie omelet. But, I don't always have the time to make one (with 2 young boys to get to school and me to work). So, on those days, I eat all my 6 servings later in the day.

___________________________________________
Janet :)
Ramsey, NJ
Me & Donnie ~ http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/djwsmom/03-14-98/DSCF3969.jpg
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"You'll see it when you believe it." Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
"There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way." Alfred D. Souza
"I ain't as good as I once was. But, I'm as good once as I ever was." ~ Toby Keith :D

[JeanM]

Moyne, how large is your breakfast smoothie with 5 veggie servings in it and can you tell us how you make it?

Thanks, kiddo!!!

Love, JeanM
Edited to say: Sorry, Moyne, I just went to the breakfast thread and found your ingredients! I'd still like to know what size glass of this stuff you are drinking!!!

[gillmings]

Okay, well, I did mention it's big, didn't I?! It's about 2 cups, and maybe a little runneth over! LOL

I've tweaked an old recipe over the years, and this is kinda what I do:

1 cup liquid (I use 1/2 kefir and 1/2 carrot juice)
1 "chunk" cucumber, peeled
1 whole lime, peeled
1/4 - 1/3 avocado (freezes really well without turning brown; toss in frozen)
some sprouts if I have them (usually broccoli or chia, sometimes alfalfa)
2 large leaves/stalks red kale OR large wedge of red cabbage
2 large handfuls spinach

I blend this until smooth, then add:
1 T greens powder (usually barley or wheat grass)
2 T hemp seed protein powder
1 T nutritional yeast
1 heaping T ground flax seed
1 T lecithin granules
1 tsp bee pollen
(I also usually add 1/2 tsp maca root and 1/2 Joan's calcium tea)
1 T flax oil
2 dropperfuls liquid stevia
(I measure out the dry ingredients in advance and keep packets in the freezer, so I just dump in one pre-mixed container each morning)

When that's blended smoothly, I add:
2/3 cup frozen berries

Blend until it's completely smooth, or the berry flavor won't get mixed throughout well enough and it won't taste as good.

I've also added straight, nasty, Noni Juice, and then an extra squirt of stevia and it was okay, too.

It's big and I've even gone up to 8 hours on this without being hungry, when I've needed to. It's totally balanced and I think you could probably live on the stuff! But you can tweak it any way you want. I just can't seem to make it any smaller and still get in everything I want in there. But it's got a pretty low glycemic index, which is why I use berries, but you could use other fruits, if you like the flavor better. I alternate between strawberries, wild blueberries, raspberries (my favorite!), and blackberries. I love that I start out my day with the perfect meal, with everything I need, and very alkalizing. With that and my W/O behind me, I feel more motivated to continue the healthy behaviors/eating throughout the day.

Editing to fix the measurement on the berries! Yikes! Don't know why I only put down 1/2 cup -- that would NOT be enough for taste!

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[JeanM]

Wow, Moyne!!!! Thanks so much! I'll have to give this a try, though several of your ingredients I don't keep on hand, so it will requite a trip to probably a hf store!

Thanks again, Moyne. So sweet of you to give us the recipe!

Love, Jean

[gillmings]

Just use what you have, Jean! Like I said, it evolved over several years -- almost doesn't look like the original recipe! Please note I corrected the measurement on the berries. Don't know what I was thinking!

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[JeanM]

Moyne, I am sorry, but I am so needy![:I] I want to make this drink and I have these questions:

How important is the bee pollen?

Greens powder and Hemp seed protein powder, can you get these from a health food store and is one kind any better than another?

Why do you need ground flax seed and flax seed oil?

How impt is maca root and Joan's (is that Joan from this forum?) calcium tea?

Is the kefir you buy from the hf store ok or is it necessary to make your own? Can you substitute another ingredient with the same benefits?

How long have you been drinking this <s>stuff</s>, I mean delicious power drink?;) And what does the rest of your eating look like in a typical day?

Are you at the size you want to be?

Sorry for all the questions! If you don't want to answer them, I won't be offended!!!!:)

I plan to make a trip to the hf store tomorrow to get some of this stuff, but I may have to take out a loan first!

Thanks, Moyne!

Jean
PS I have lecithin powder instead of granules.....use same amt.?

[JeanM]

Thanks so much, Asha and also thank you for your prayers! I love you for that![:X]

Love, Jean

[gillmings]

Okay, let's see if I catch everything! LOL

Bee pollen -- don't know. It was in the original recipe and is supposed to help with energy. It has seemed to help me a bit with allergies (although I've been NAET treated now, so probably don't need it for that). I wouldn't hold up the smoothie over the bee pollen.

Greens powder -- You can get this at the HFS. There are many types, some better than others, but I have so much other good stuff in there, I think the straight barley grass or wheat grass powder is fine. I use the NOW brand, as it's good quality, but less expensive than the others.

Hemp seed protein powder -- I think more and more HFS's are carrying it. I special order it from mine, but before that, I ordered it from www.azurestandard.com You can use any protein powder you like. I like this one because it's raw, relatively inexpensive, and not refined. It's a whole food, as opposed to soy and rice protein powders, which have certain parts isolated.

Flax seed/oil -- freshly ground is the only way to use flax seed (or immediately freeze freshly ground for several days). I add the oil to bring up fat content to a healthy balance. You could use another oil. I've used coconut oil, but because of the cold and frozen ingredients, it didn't blend very well, so I stick with flax. Or, you could use more avocado, but that's more expensive. The balanced level of healthy fat is crucial to the "staying power" of this meal, as well as the overall health benefits. (Eating more [healthy] fat has contributed to my recent weight loss.)

The maca root and calcium tea -- are extras. It's just easiest for me to toss them in there with everything else. The maca is helping me get over my fatigue issues and balance my hormones. The calcium tea is just how I'm making sure I get enough calcium. You can definitely leave them both out.

Kefir -- you can use whatever liquid you want. The kefir from the store is no better than yogurt, so use whatever you want. I choose to consume home-cultured kefir every day, and this is the best way for me to get it in. That's how I get all my pro-biotics (as well as extra protein). You could definitely use whole milk yogurt, or even milk, if that's something you use. The original recipe called for rice or soy milk. This is just a "two-fer" for me.

I have been drinking some form of this for several years, probably more than 7. Like I said, it has evolved, but I started adding all the extra veggies in July, when I made a goal to eat more raw food. I believe this has been instrumental in getting me closer to my goal. I hate veggies, so I could never get in as many as I should, and I usually got quickly sick of the ones I DID force down, which made things worse (and last year's Tappy Holiday a dismal failure in that department!).

I'm pretty much the size I want to be. My current goal is just to be as healthy as possible, and what I've been doing has been causing me to lose weight/inches. I'd like to get even more fit and lose a little more fat, but I feel so much better and could live the rest of my life where I am now, if this is where my body wants to stay.

The rest of my meals are, since July, exceptionally healthy. I'm pretty much GM all the time. It doesn't seem to work for me to eat anything fake/refined/chemicals/unhealthy fats/sugar, etc., at least not now while I've been healing my metabolism. I try to eat mostly raw (including cheeses), very little meat, and rotate the grains I eat. I make sure every meal is balanced with enough protein and healthy fat, and I follow the ML rules and The Schwarzbein Principle.

HTH! I don't mind sharing anything that might be helpful for you!

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[JeanM]

Moyne, you are too, too sweet! Thank you so much!!!

I just this minute got back from the hfs and I bought some of the things you mentioned for your smoothie. I've been collecting stuff for the last two days, so when I actually make the drink, I'll let you know what I put in it! It won't be exactly like yours, but maybe it will be close enough!

Thanks again, Moyne. You're very kind to go to all this trouble for me!

Love,
JeanM

[JeanM]

OK, Moyne, now for how I made my first one:

I juiced a bunch of carrots, celery, and some apple slices and I used 1 cup of that in the smoothie.

1 cup carrot/celery juice
3/4 + Kirby cucumber, peeled
1 whole lime, peeled
1/2 avocado
Maybe 1/4 to 1/3 cup alfalfa sprouts
Lots of spinach (did not have any red kale or red cabbage)
2 T Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein Powder*
1 T Nutritional yeast
(no flax seed....couldn't find it!)
1 T lecithin granules
1 t. Shiloh Farms bee pollen
(no flax oil)
1T Tupelo honey
1 banana
1 cup mango puree

Now Moyne, this made almost 5 cups of this stuff! *I have no idea if my Hemp Protein Powder falls under the category of whole food, not refined, but I can tell you it does not fall under the category of "not expensive!" I did not buy wheat or barley grass, because that stuff was expensive too and I was assured if I could only get hemp seed or wheat grass, I should go with the hemp seed. I have flax seed in my freezer, but I could not find it, so I'll dig that out Friday (be gone all day tomorrow) and use it in the future. I did not buy flax seed oil but I was talked into buying an omega 3 fish oil.....says you can take 3 tablets a day, but I'm thinking of taking 1.....will this take care of the oil I should have? I have coconut oil, so maybe I could spread that on something and eat it if I need to. I just happened upon the bee pollen in the hfs, so I went ahead and bought it. I bought some goats milk yogurt to use in it in place of the kefir, but ended up not using it. I thought I should probably make my own kefir and not use the store bought stuff. It will be awhile before I tackle that, because I think I'm trying to take on too much here at one time!

I tried to read the Schwarzbein Principle one time and just could not get through it.....I don't remember why. I've read many other books on nutrition, but that one didn't do it for me. I should probably try it again.

I am sure my drink is not balanced like yours is, but I hope it will pass until I can get it closer to yours. Do you drink it everyday? Would you drink the whole 4 cups for one meal based on the amts. and ingredients that I stated above or would you think it was closer to 2 meals or maybe 1 1/2, or maybe 2, supplemented with something else?

Thanks, Moyne!

Jean

[gillmings]

Well, yours probably made a lot more because of all the fruit. I think that's what pushed the amount so high. I could never drink 4 cups!!! The generous 2 cups I drink now is my max. The original smoothie recipe I started with used one banana and 3-4 strawberries. I switched from banana because of the sugar. I wouldn't add honey with that much banana, probably. You could cut back on the cucumber amount, too. I only use about 1/4 cup. Between that and the avocado I use, it turns out to be about 1/2 cup serving of veggies from those 2 veggies. You could maybe use half a banana and half the mango puree and try that. Maybe cut the carrot juice to accomodate the puree. Just keep playing with it!

You could also just double the supplement amounts and split it into 2 days. Looks pretty good, though. If you're going to use 1/2 an avocado, then you could get by with 1 fish oil cap. Otherwise, I'd take the whole amount. I actually take 1 cap WITH my smoothie, but didn't think I'd overwhelm you by throwing THAT in there. You could also try putting in the coconut oil with warmer ingredients and the lecithin until it's emulsified, THEN adding the colder ingredients and see if that works.

How much was your hemp protein powder? I think I pay just under $12 per canister (not sure the oz. size). Did you look at the Azure Standard link?

Re SP, the easiest read would be "The Schwarzbein Principle III -- The Program". That just explains what you're supposed to do, without all the background and explanations and whys and wherefores. Me, I gotta have all that, but The Program will give you the basics without having to slog through all the rest.

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[Lizzy Joy]

Wow! You gals are so encouraging... and motivating! :D

I must still be on "year one" of healthy eating. [:I] I want to learn!

I've done the same non-creative smoothies for nearly 20 years! Ha! Ha!

I think our stomachs are about the size of ONE FIST... so we drink 1-2 cup servings as a meal replacement or "snack".

Our local health food store is 45 minutes away, in the city! Ugh!

But you have me VERY motivated to "up" the ingredients in my smoothies.

I'd love some ON-LINE SUPPLIERS for the healthy add-ins! Suggestions?

Here's what I normally make for my big family of six:

[u]Fruit Smoothies</u> [:P] YUM!(Virgin Coconut Oil added recently!)

Carrot Juice (optional)
Orange Juice (any juice is good)
Ripe Bananas
Frozen Strawberries (or other berries)
Vanilla Whey Protein
Yogurt
Stevia (to taste)

I add natural Fiber to Mommy's serving. Also, the family rarely notices if I add Almonds, finely ground. I sprinkle Almond powder on their oatmeal, cereal, into muffins, etc. - I keep a separate "coffee" grinder for nuts and grains.

I FREEZE pineapple chunks, and any "leftover" fruit we don't eat up for smoothies.

[u]Veggie Juice</u>

V8 or Tomato Juice (canned is more affordable for a big family)
Carrots (juiced in a big pitcher weekly)
Cucumber (mild taste)
Apple Juice or Pineapple Juice (to sweeten)
Fiber Mix
Liquid Vitamins (added only to Mommy's - has a yucky taste!)

The rest of the family only likes the Carrot Cuke Apple juice combo.

Sometimes I include vanilla Slim Fast powder to add vitamins for the kids... but the sugar is pretty high. They like Pina Coladas like this.

Any "simple" recipes that are kid friendly???

Thank you for taking all the time to help others "get there" someday!
[^]

Jean... you go, girl!!!


Blessings,
Lizzy Joy

"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."

[gillmings]

Lizzy Joy, www.azurestandard.com is a great resource for anything you'd normally buy at a HFS. If you live in their delivery route, delivery is only like a few bucks and you go pick up once a month at a designated location. If not, they will ship UPS. Their online program will estimate the weight/UPS charges. The last time I did it, the actual charge came out lower. (I used to be in their delivery area, but now I have to ship UPS. They're still worth it for many items.)

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[MommyRose]

Wow! Smoothies to aspire too! [:0]:D Some day I'll get there...;)

I buy Nutiva's Organic Hemp protein (16 oz.) and was paying $13 a canister at the co-op. I now buy it off of Amazon. Two canisters(16 oz.)for $18 and free shipping over $25. It's not hard to go over $25...you can stock up on the protein. I bought two packs and some agave and saved a few bucks over all. :)

~Rose

"You are Mommy and you are Rose!" Zachariah age 3
Proud homeschooling mom of 4 very interesting boys!!!

[JeanM]

Rose, it sounds like I have the same thing as you.....My hemp/protein pdr. cost $15.00 for 16 oz. The wheat grass was the most expensive at $32.95.....don't know the size of the bottle but it didn't have as much powder as the hemp. I didn't get the wheat grass! Thanks for the tip about ordering from Amazon, Rose!:)

Lizzy Joy, thanks so much for your recipes! I'm juicing a lot now and making smoothies too, so it's good to have some new ideas! I'm printing all of them out! If I come up with anything delish on my own, I will post it. The smoothie I made using Moyne's as a guide is ok, but I can taste the extra powders and stuff I put in there.[xx(] Maybe I didn't blend it long enough. I also froze it, so maybe that caused it to separate or something, I don't know.

Moyne, I did look at the site....love it.....and I ordered their catalog.

Hubby wants computer, have to run. Have a great day, lovely ladies!

JeanM

[Lizzy Joy]

Thanks, everybody!

I got carried away with my "smoothie post"... but we do have them daily and I love how healthy they are for the family! [^]

As for VEGGIES... I usually load up on them when I'm counting calories.

We have a deep freezer, so I can buy all varieties of vegetables on sale and stock up! I love OKRA, and GUMBO MIX veggies for soups! I also buy black-eyed peas, chopped peppers and onions (great for omelettes). We love mashed cauliflower, cabbage au gratin, and more!

When I'm in "WEIGHT LOSS MODE" I often have a fruit smoothie for breakfast, and frozen entrees with extra vegetables (or a salad) for lunch and dinner.

My family gets jealous over all my "choices", so I buy them frozen dinners too... occasionally. My girls love Chicken Alfredo (I add extra broccoli) and the boys both love Spaghetti and Meatballs. If I don't serve these, my kids gravitate toward cereal or PBJ sandwiches.

The entrees make a quick, healthy after school snack! Yes... I have two microwaves! Ha! Ha! THEY ARE SO AFFORDABLE AND EASY TOO!!!

Last night I fixed Roast beef, with Mashed Potatoes, gravy and a veggie mix. Similar frozen entrees are often on sale for $1.00-2.00!

I added two whole cups of frozen mixed veggies "on the side" because I was really hungry! I use Parkay butter spray to make them taste even yummier. Often, I will add garlic, curry, and other spices to my entrees for variety.

This sure beat$ Jenny Craig or Nutri$ytem price$!

I found some delicious "Budget Gourmet" frozen entrees at the local Dollar Tree store last week [:0]. They had turkey noodle, chicken and rice, cheesy chicken, Schezwan chicken, and lots more! They were all YUMILICIOUS. [:P]

My grandmother is 91 yrs. old, and so I bought these for her to "mash up" and feed to her from the blender... keeping it balanced. She LOVED the meals and ate like a little piggy. :D

One of her favorite veggies that I make is CREAMED SPINACH.

I take frozen spinach, and egg, some milk (or buttermilk) grated cheese... and mix it all up in a microwavable dish.

Our family also loves HOMEMADE PIZZAS!!! With lots of veggie toppings.

Blessings,
Lizzy Joy

"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it."

[Shel]

Moyne - thanks so much for taking the time to share all of this. I HATE veggies. So after seeing your post, I actually bought spinach to add to my daily breakfast smoothie - WOW, I couldn't even taste it. After being good for about a year and making sure I got my 6 servings in, the last few months have been a miserable failure, but I think you've helped me find my answer. I'll be experimenting with various veggies. I'm LTL and have figured out over the years that the more veggies/fruits I eat, the easier to lose/keep weight off. Unfortunately even with knowing this, I have not been motivated recently to choke them down. Congratulations in all that you've achieved and thanks so much for all you give to others.

FYI, coconut oil works great after adding the dry ingredients and adding your frozen fruit at the end.

Shel

[MommyRose]

quote:Rose, it sounds like I have the same thing as you.....My hemp/protein pdr. cost $15.00 for 16 oz. The wheat grass was the most expensive at $32.95.....don't know the size of the bottle but it didn't have as much powder as the hemp. I didn't get the wheat grass! Thanks for the tip about ordering from Amazon, Rose!

Sure Jean! :) I've recently found them to ge a great source for quite a few items lately. Love the free shipping! ;) My dh uses that hemp protein in the mornings. As soon as I found he liked it I set off for a cheaper source. He really likes it mixed with a green powder he uses. Makes a good quick b-fast for him! :)

~Rose

"You are Mommy and you are Rose!" Zachariah age 3
Proud homeschooling mom of 4 very interesting boys!!!

[PennyS]

Can someone please post the Good Housekeeping vegetable soup recipe? Thanks.

[gillmings]

I finally found it online! Here's the link:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/soup-diet-basic-recipe-1007

Links for the variations are at the bottom. I also found previous year's versions, which are different, so you might want to check those out, too.

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[PennyS]

Moyne, thanks so much for posting it. I'll give it a try soon.

[gillmings]

Bumping for linda!:)

(I should probably edit my recipe again to say it may be closer to 3 cups....[:0])

-Moyne

"She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain." -Louisa May Alcott

[jennpleez]

Glad I found this thread...
Thanks for sharing your great recipes girls![:p]

Jenn
illumination is dawning new understanding; I will not look back