What the Heck are You Eating - Microwave Popcorn

Quinoa and Roasted Vegetables

from the Talking Kitchen

Ingredients - makes 4-6 servings

Quinoa

1 c. RINSED quinoa

2 c. chicken stock or broth

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 tsp sea salt

Roasted Vegetables

2 bell peppers, cubed

1 zucchini, cubed

1 squash, cubed

1 red onion, cubed

1 fennel bulb, cubed

4 garlic cloves, whole

1 Tbsp Herbs de Provence

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp smoked salt

Dressing

1/2 lemon, juiced and zested

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

fresh herbs

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees, or fire up the grill.

In a bowl, combine all the cubed veggies and toss with the Herbs de Provence, oil and salt. Place in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, flipping half way through. (or grill the veggies to your liking)

In a small saucepan, heat the oil over low heat and add the garlic, saute for 1 minute, then add the rinsed quinoa and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 20 minutes. Turn off heat, let sit for 5 minutes and fluff with a fork.

In a serving bowl, combine cooked quinoa with roasted veggies. Add dressing, toss and enjoy hot, room temperature or cold!

A Good Motto to Follow

Spring Clean Your Core Training

 

Try out this workout and train your core upright. 

Works your core as well as the rest of your body!

 

 

 

 

As with any exercise progrom, consult your physician prior to starting.  This workout is intended for intermediate ability and as always, listen to your body.

Reasons to Give Meditation a Try

Chewing Gum Does Not Help in Weight Loss

A recent study breaks the myth that chewing gum helps in weight loss. The study states that chewing gum does not help in weight loss, nor does it reduce the intake of calories, reports Live Science.

According to scientists, the presence of the chemical menthol that gives the minty fresh flavor to chewing gum makes people binge on foods that are rich in calories such as cookies, candy, and chips instead of fruits or vegetables. This is because menthol gives a very unpleasant taste that is similar to the taste you receive on drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth.

The study was conducted by study co-author Christine Swoboda, a doctoral candidate in nutrition at Ohio State University, and Jennifer Temple of the University at Buffalo.

The study included 14 volunteers who were asked to play a game in exchange for food.  A few of the volunteers played for fruits while the others played for chips or candy.

Prior to the experiment, the volunteers were given either fruit or mint gum.

The researchers noticed that those who chewed mint gum were less likely to play for fruits and also noticed a reduction of motivation in them. Those who chewed fruity gum had a similar but smaller effect. They also showed a reduced interest in fruits, reports LiveScience.

The second bit of the experiment demanded the volunteers to maintain a food journal in which they recorded what they ate. For a week, a few of the volunteers were asked to chew a mint prior to each meal and snack, while the others had to just enter the food the consumed.

Though the participants who chewed gum ate fewer meals, they didn't necessarily consume less calories.

The researchers state that it is the menthol in mint that mixes with nutrients in fruits that gives a bitter flavor.

The details of the study were published in the April edition of the journal Eating Behaviors.

From Science World Report