L is for LATE (and Lentils) !!

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Sometimes LIFE gets in the way of posting to the blog, ya know.  But the craziness here has simmered down and I should be back on track in no time.  

Lentils are high in protein - supposed more than even beef!  They have more protein & fiber than quinoa, too.  High fiber & protein help keep you full longer. 

 Ta-da!

Serving size is 1/4 dry beans

70 calories

0g fat

19g carbs

9g fiber

8g protein

That comes to 2 WW PointsPlus. 

I made the pan below with 1/2 c lentils and 2 cups chicken broth - it made a decent amount!

 Like it says one the package, I sorted them & rinsed them.  I didn't see any stems or odd items, so I picked out the odd colored ones, like that bright red one up there!

The package said to just used plain, unsalted water, but I was rebellious and used chicken broth.  Toward the end, about 5 minutes before I turned the burner off, I stirred in a tsp or so of minced garlic & some salt & pepper.  

I think they're pretty good !  The family hasn't tried them yet, but they will soon 

(muahahahaha!) 

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K is for Kelp

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  I found Kelp (seaweed) at the health food store.  I was extremely interested.

Interesting that it says to "please check for occasional tiny hidden pebbles or shells in the fronds" .

I tried eating it straight out of the package.

It was very chewy & salty & had an aftertaste of how a bale of hay smells.
There are instructions to use it in soups, salads, in beans and as a snack or garnish.

Looking at the back of the package...
Service size is 1/3 of a cup.
17 calories
0 fat
3g carbs
3g fiber
1 g protein

A whopping 0 Weight Watchers Points Plus !

and if it's important to anyone - 2110% of your daily allowance of iodine!!

The only issue I have is that it gets stuck in my teeth, blargh.

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Random weird food that fits the letter of the day...

 Karela

The sign at the store said it is extremely bitter & crisp, is a good source of magnesium and zinc and you grind it up for soups & stews. 

Ummm, no. 

J is for Jicama

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I confess that this is the only food I did not personally go out to purchase and consume in order to write my post. I couldn't find the darn things!!

Jicamas (Jicami?? Jicamus??) originally come from South & Central America. They are sweet & crunchy and can be eaten raw or cooked like a potato. Sounds like something I'd like to try!

*they have a lot of vitamin C.

*they are low sodium and very little fat. 

*they have few calories and lots of fiber.

*they contain soluable fiber, so it can lower cholesterol and stabilizes blood sugar levels. 

*they contain 4 mg of iron - that's about 22% of the daily recommeded allowance. 

*they full of potassium, calcium & magnesium

*they contain B-6 for brain functions

Has anyone had these before??

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I is for Ice Water

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OK, it's not the first healthy thing that pops into one's mind, but there's nothing healthier or more refreshing than good ol' water!

both from Pinterest - no sites attached  :(

I personally drink easily 100 oz of liquid a day, and I can tell if I don't get as much as I need.  My gums will feel odd and I'll have a metallic taste in my mouth - yuck!  

I start out with a 16 oz glass of water with strawberry Crystal Lite.  Once I get to work, I have a can of Coke Zero (Weight Watchers counts it as a liquid!!) Then over the course of the day, I'll refill a 20 oz bottle at least 3 times from the drinking fountain.  Once I get home, I'll have at least another 2 - 16 oz glasses, sometimes with Crystal Lite, sometimes with sweet tea Mio (good stuff!!) and maybe another can of Coke Zero at dinner.  

Do YOU get enough to drink??

H is for Hemp

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I personally thought hemp was stuff you made rope out of, I never thought it was something edible.

This bag cost $11.50.
I'm not sure if that'a a good price or not.
I went into the health food store with the thought everything would be more expensive anyway.

As I attempted to find recipes using this stuff, I found Here that "Hemp protein powder works best in savory recipes or in sweet recipes using strong-tasting ingredients like cocoa -to ‘counterbalance’ hemp’s natural taste."  

Oh man. 

At least there seems to be a selection of recipes I can choose from to use this stuff. I'm curious to try the Microwave Chocolate Sponge Cake, that also uses flaxseed (see my "F" post), but I'm going to keep it simple this time so I can get the true flavor of the stuff. 

First impression - when I opened the bag it smelled like dirt.

Mix it with yogurt. 

What I thought it tasted like was dried leaves, but oddly - not offensive.  It has a very strong flavor so I can see where mixing it with chocolate would be a good idea.

Serving size is 2 tbsp.  I barely had a teaspoon in the dish up there & because it's powdered, it looked like a LOT!

Oh look - a recipe for hemp cinnamon muffins on the bag!

1.5 g  of fat.
4g of carbs
3g of fiber
6g of protein

This is equivalent to 1 Weight Watchers PointPlus.  Awesome.

The front of package says hemp seeds are one of nature's best sources for plant-based protein.  Contains all the essential amino acids the body needs, hemp protein powder is a perfect boost to your morning.

I shall have to try this is a smoothie, too!

Have you ever tried hemp?