Heavenly Hummus Wrap

I discovered hummus about two years ago and I have been obsessed every since!  I use it on so much stuff (my boyfriend thinks I'm such a weirdo).  Check out this wrap recipe I found courtesy of The Pioneer Woman's website! I can't wait to try it! Yummm!

First step is to get your tortilla ready!  You can use the tortilla of your choice, if you're trying to eat healthy, I would look for the one with the fewest ingredients and highest amounts of fiber & protein.  Now, this is totally optional but if you want to add a little warmth & twist to your wrap, warm up a grill pan (or a foreman grill) and heat the tortilla over medium high heat for a minute or so, just until there are some nice grill marks on one side. However, it is IMPORTANT, do not crisp the tortilla, it needs to be soft & pliable! (you could also throw it into a skillet for 30-45 seconds, same thing!) :)  Once warm, set it aside and let it cool.

When picking your tortilla, look for high fiber, high protein & the fewest ingredients possible!

Next, slice up a medium red onion.  Melt a teaspoon of organic coconut oil (the original recipe called for butter, I'm changing this up to make it healtified!) over medium-low heat & toss the onion in!!  Cook these babies LOW and SLOWWWW, stirring occasionally for about 10 to 15 minutes, until they are soft & slightly carmelized.  Set them aside to cool.

Step 3, grab your jar of roasted red peppers (yes you could make these at home, but it just sounds like wayyy to much work to me!).  Take one pepper out and slice it into strips.

Next grab a can of artichoke hearts, slice 2 or 3 hears in half. (you can also use a paper towel to gently squeeze the excess liquid out of the hearts because I think they taste better if you do!)

NOW, grab some low fat feta cheese and use a fork to crumble it, if you didn't buy the already crumbled kind.

  

You're also going to need some mixed greens blend of some sort!  The darker the better! More vitamins.:)  Add a couple of cups of greens to a bowl and drizzle with 1 tbsp of whatever dressing you'd like. Obviously try to avoid any overly creamy dressings that are packed with fat & calories. A low fat vinaigrette of some sort would be best! :)  Then toss the greens until they are well coated.

And the last thing you need, the STAR INGREDIENT, is HUMMUS (mouth begins to water!).  You can choose whatever flavor you'd like, my favorite by far is Roasted Red Pepper! <3  Grab a big ole spoonful and spread it down the middle of your tortilla.

Now, it's time to ASSEMBLE this masterpiece!
Sprinkle your red onions down.
Then your roasted red pepper strips.
Next, the artichoke hearts!

om....meeee...gosshhhh, I want to eat it!

Now, it's time to add some greens to this beauty. And the feta!

Wrap it up, slice it in half and bam, if that isn't a darn good looking, HEALTHY wrap, I don't know what is!

 Enjoy! :)

You can find more amazing recipes like this at The Pioneer Woman!

Oil Pulling ~ What is IT?!

First you’re probably thinking, what the HECK is “oil pulling”?  At least, that was my thought that first time I saw the term posted somewhere!  “Oil pulling…?  Is that something you do to your car?” (yes, that was REALLY the first thing that came to my mind! hahaha!)

To answer my own question, NO, it’s not something you do to your car! J  Actually, oil pulling is a great healthy habit that I plan to adopt starting tomorrow morning!  So what is it EXACTLY?

Well… Oil pulling is an age-old remedy that uses natural substances to clean and detoxify teeth & gums.  And BONUS, it whitens your teeth too, NATURALLY.  (I don’t know about you, but those crest white strips make my teeth super sensitive, ouchy!).  Evidence shows that it is beneficial in improving gums and removing harmful bacteria & toxins. In addition to increased oral health, less sensitive and whiter teeth, people have reported improvements in areas of their health not related to their mouths!  Included on the list is help with skin conditions such as eczema and acne, arthritis, asthma, headaches, hormone imbalances, infections, liver problems and more. The list just goes on! J  Oh and did I mention, supposedly this is a GREAT hangover cure, so they say at least!

Now, I know each person will have different results and different experiences with oil pulling, after all, every body is different. But I’m really excited to see what this does for me!

If you’re interested in trying it with me, here’s how you oil pull:

**Note: you can oil pull at any time of the day BUT it is most beneficial in the morning when you first wake up!**

1. Put 1-2 tsp of oil into mouth (this can be extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil or coconut oil.  Most people prefer coconut because of the taste. That’s what I’ll be using!).  Scoop it out when it’s still solid and let it melt in your mouth (obviously, sesame and olive will already be a liquid).
2. Once melted, swish in your mouth for 20 minutes.  TIMING IS KEY!!  20 minutes is just long enough to break through plaque and bacteria but not long enough that the body starts to re-absorb the toxins & bacteria.  The oil will get thicker & milky as it mixes with saliva and it should be creamy white when you spit it out.
3. After 20 minutes, spit the oil out!  *TWO important notes: DO NOT SWALLOW (it will be loaded with the bacteria and toxins you just removed from your mouth) and make sure to spit it into a TRASH CAN.  Do not spit it into any drains as it will harden once it cools down and can clog them up!*
4. Rinse mouth well with warm water.  (I’ve also read salt water…? ).  I’ll test this and see which I like best and let ya’ll know!
5.  Brush well! 

~~~~~~~~~~~ POOF!! You’re an experienced oil puller! J

There are a couple of side notes that I want to share.  Some people have claimed to notice a “detox reaction” for the first few days of using oil pulling.  It can include mild congestion, headache, mucous drainage, breakouts and other side effects.  However, this is really a good sign, this is your body getting RID of that stuff (BU-BYE JUNK!)

So like I said, I’m starting this tomorrow.  I’ll be doing weekly updates on how I’m feeling and any side effects I’ve felt or seen! J

If you’ve already tried oil pulling, please share your experiences, I’d love to hear how you liked it!

How To Avoid Office Weight Gain!

 

So you work at an office?  (Like me!!!)  Eight am to five pm, Monday through Friday, most of your time spent SITTING and staring a computer screen?!  Well, I feel your pain! It is VERY easy to gain weight in our occupation!

So, how do we avoid gaining weight while working a desk job?  Perhaps even lose some of the weight we've gained? 

Here are a few easy changes you can make! 

1.)    Drink & snack responsibly!  This is a huge one.  Offices always seem to have a surplus of pop, candy, chips, donuts... the list goes on and on. (why can't someone bring in a veggie tray instead of a box of donuts?!)  These treats can be tempting but they really do nothing for you, it’s just empty calories.  If you’re feeling the need for caffeine, try a coffee with 1 packet of Stevia and some almond milk instead of pop.  If you’re craving something sweet, munch on some strawberries or raspberries (or other fruit of your choice).  *If your work doesn’t provide healthy snack alternatives, BRING YOUR OWN.  Meal prepping will be a HUGE help to you if you’re watching what you’re eating*

 

 

2.)    Drink LOTS of water!  Now only does your body NEED water to function properly, it will keep your tummy feeling full and it will keep your mind off from coffee, pop & treats!  You’ll also have to make a few additional trips to the bathroom and burn a few extra calories walking there and back. (hehe!) 

 

~Tip: Set a goal for yourself!!  You should be drinking AT LEAST half of your body weight in water (in ounces of course).  My goal is 100 ounces per day, so I put 4 rubber bands on my water cup (holding 25 ounces) and I remove a band each time I finish. :) This helps me keep track of how much I've drank, and how much more I have to go!~

 



3.)    Walk around the office as much as possible!  Now, don’t take this the wrong way, I’m not telling you to be a slacker! J  I’m just telling you to go out of your way to move as much as you can.  Don’t wait for someone else to bring your faxes to your desk, WALK to the fax machine and get them yourself.  Use the printer that is farthest from your desk. Instead of emailing someone a quick question, walk to their office and ask them.  All of these little things get you out of your seat and make a difference throughout the day.  Don’t be lazy! ;)

4.)    Exercise while you’re on your chair! 

a.       “Magic Carpet Ride” works your core and arms. Sit in your chair with your legs crossed and your feet on the seat. Then place your hands on the armrests, suck in your gut and raise yourself a few inches above the seat, using your belly, muscles and hands. Hold for 10 to 20 seconds. Rest for 30 seconds. Repeat five times.

b.      “Wooden Leg.” Sit in your chair. Extend one leg out straight in front of you. Hold for two seconds. Then raise it up as high as you can, and hold it again for two seconds. Repeat with each leg 15 times.

c.       “Neck stretch.” Touch your ear to your shoulder and hold it there. For a chest opener, stretch your arms back as if you were trying to grab a pencil between your shoulder blades.

 

~Also, if you have the option, they make balance ball chairs (genius inventions!) to sit on instead of your regular office chair.  It keeps your core engaged throughout the day and also encourages movement.  (I don't know about you, but when I sit on one of these I just have to bounce!)  If you're interested, here's a link!~
Balance Ball Chair

5.)    Take the stairs instead of the elevator!  Simple & effective!  I don't think this needs much explanation. :)

6.)    Take walks on lunch!  Go outside and walk around the building or around the block.  Get some natural sunlight (HELLOOO VITAMIN D!) and maybe a little tan! J  Bring your friends, it's the perfect opportunity for a little chat!

7.)    Pack your own meals!  Restaurant & cafeteria options almost always include large portions with high calories & extremely high sodium content.  Not only will you save money by preparing & bringing your own meals, your waist line will thank you for it!  What is my secret to making sure I have healthy options for work each week?  MEAL PLAN & MEAL PREP!  I take one day (usually on the weekend) to plan my meals for the week, do my grocery shopping and prep my food so I always have healthy grab-and-go options availabile.  The easier you make it for yourself to eat healthy, the less likely you are to cave for unhealthy options when you’re away from home.

 

 

Do you have secrets to staying healthy & fit at work? I'd love to hear them! :)