Last week it snowed. A record 29 inches!
Although, I don’t like to be cold and winter is not my favorite time of year, I’m embracing the beauty of slowing down.
During #blizzard2016, I read books, Netflixed, cuddled with my cute little family, and got a break from life.
Lately I’ve been working and working and working. I love, love, my business and I’m constantly thinking about ways I can support you. Creating, developing, coaching, teaching, writing, I’m so lucky to do things I enjoy every day.
But I’ve been bogged down lately with lots of busy work that takes me away from creating. Plus my ego likes to work overtime which makes me tired (the inner-critic likes to push and push sometimes!). So taking a mini-vacay was just what I needed.
Granted nature forced me to take a break, but just stepping away for a bit rejuvenated my spirit and provided me the EASE I crave.
Your body also needs that EASE, too; from pushing, striving, feeling drained and bloated (especially in the tummy)… from sugar, processed foods, sodas, fast food. In fact, your body may want to give up this stuff for good.
Clearing the clutter in your cells with real, whole, anti-inflammatory foods like veggies, fruits, dark leafy greens, gluten-free grains, etc… can provide the EASE you need to feel:
• light and less bloated
• all-day energy
• looking younger (yep, eating clean will do that!)
• the GLOW… the more plants, whole foods, and cooking at home you do, the more you shine!
And eating clean and healthy doesn’t mean you have to spend a ton of money or time in the kitchen.
In fact, this Zesty Quinoa Soup is a perfect example (and I’m pretty proud of this one!) of EASE.
It cost $2.65 to make and I had leftovers.
AND time spent cooking, almost nada.
Seriously.
I threw everything in the crock pot. (This beauty was a wedding gift. In my younger days, I was like, what the hell do I do with this thing, and now, I can’t live without it! You can cook EVERYTHING in one of these!).
If you are looking for a warm soup that is cheap and easy to make, I got your covered. In fact, I made Zesty Quinoa Soup twice this week!
It’s packed with a good carb (veggies), protein (quinoa, the only complete protein in the plant world), and fat (avocado).
Wanna make it?!
Zesty Quinoa Soup
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa (one bag is $4.72 so 1 cup is appr. $. 32)
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil ( 12.7 oz. Spectrum bottle is $10.23, so 1 Tbsp. is appr. $.10)
1 garlic clove, minced (or use garlic powder, Simply Organic for $4.76 for 3.64 oz. OR 1 garlic bulb $.50)
½ onion, chopped (1/4 cup) (a 1 lb. bag onions is $2.00 so 1/2 of one onion is appr. $.12)
2 cups vegetable broth (1 carton is $3.45 so 2 cups $1.22 )
1 Tbsp. lemon juice (I used 1/4 a lemon (1 lemon was $.52 so quarter lemon is $.13)
1 tomato, chopped (1/2 cup) (usually $1.29 per pound so 1 tomato is $.23)
1/2 avocado, peeled, pitted, and cubed ( $.86 for one avocado)
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Directions: Throw all ingredients except avocado in the crock pot and cook on Hi for 3-4 hours.
When ready to serve, pour soup in bowl and top with avocado cubes. Season with salt and pepper.
Serves 2
*Double ingredients and make extra!
When you add up the math for this meal:
A lot of the ingredients I had to buy in bulk/pounds so it was rather challenging to price out just 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Th
$.10 (oil)
$.10 (garlic)
$.12 (onion)
$1.22 (veggie broth)
$.13 (lemon)
$.23 (tomato)
$.43 (avocado)
TOTAL: $2.65 appr.
You can have the oil, bag of onions, garlic, lemon, quinoa and the veggie broth for a few more meals.
It was challenging to calculate because the ingredients are bought in bulk or priced so low. All ingredients except avocado and lemon are organic. Those two items are on the Clean 15 list and no need to worry about pesticides. Always check your Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 chart to save even more money!
EASE, that is the name of the game!
Do you have an EASE-y crock pot recipe? Do share below!
PS. Eat Clean 21 Day Challenge starts on Monday! (Feb. 1st)
If you haven’t gotten into a rhythm with eating healthy yet for the New Year, it’s not too late. Join me and a group of AWESOME women, getting clean and sexy for 21 days.
I will be coaching along with providing accountability and consistency with menu plans, recipes and shopping lists. Once you start building your snacks and meals with clean, healthy ingredients, you begin to form habits that are long-term and you’ll score:
• more energy
• a flatter tummy
• room in your jeans
• a sparkle in your eye
• glowing skin
• less guilt since you will be feeding your family healthy food
• and more money in your wallet (it costs more to eat out)
Everything is ready for you to download asap. Join us if you aren’t signed up yet!
Click to join Eat Clean 21 >>>