Stop to give thanks...

Ok, really I am thankful most days, but today I am going to bed with a full heart.  I am thankful for my job where I get to spend each and every day with children who make me smile, who make me proud, and who make me push myself to make school better for them.  I am thankful for my girls who fill my heart until it spills over, who make me more proud than they should and who frustrate me because I see so much of myself in them!  I am thankful for my loving husband who sees me for who I am, and still loves me.  I am thankful for my dog- she's something...  I'm a pretty blessed lady.

I'm also thankful for Advocare.  What a difference this amazing company has made for us.  We are healthier, fitter, and feeling great!  Now we are starting to share this with people we care about.  It's fun and humbling to see our friends become fitter, healthier and feel better than they have.  I am so proud of many of the people who are taking control of their health and seeing great results! 

But anyway...  what did you eat today?  I ate some kick-butt quinoa salad.  Quinoa is a grain that is used like rice in many ways.  It can be a side dish, a salad base or a casserole base, but it's light and round.  Quinoa grains contain essential amino acids like lysine and good quantities of calcium, phosphorus, and iron.  There are a few different types, but I just bought the plain old organic version (at Kroger).  It's important to soak the grain for a bit prior to eating.  I've been advised to soak it with a capful of vinegar (I prefer Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar) and covered in water for a few hours prior to cooking.  This helps rid the grain of the bitter outer coating that sometimes exists in its organic state.  It helps with digestion of the grain and also helps it fluff better when cooked!  If you don't have a few hours, use your sprayer and spray it well. 

So, I cooked my quinoa in water and while it was cooking (according to package directions) I peeled and chopped a cucumber, about  10 cherry tomatoes, a quarter of an onion (finely chopped), and I boiled two ears of corn.  When the corn was done I cut the kernels off and mixed that with everything.  I chopped an orange bell pepper, too.  Usually I would add a can of drained and rinsed organic black beans, but I didn't have any!  The dressing is made from 3 Tbs olive oil, 2 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg's), 1/2 a packet of Stevia, 1 clove minced garlic, a pinch of sea salt and black pepper.  Whisk these and mix with the rest of the ingredients.  It yields about four to six cups.
I have been eating it all week!

Tonight we grilled some chicken tenderloins with a lemon pepper rub.  I cut two strips into small bites and then chopped half an avocado to put in.  YUMMO!!!!!

Try some quinoa.  I think you will like it.  Very light and quite versatile.    Have a recipe you could share?  Let's hear it!

Regardless of what you eat, how you stay healthy, or where you are in your journey- be thankful.  Find one thing in each day and give thanks.

See you later.