Day 267- Spicy Tomato Egg Pappardelle Pasta

Here is a new pasta recipe...but I have to admit the pappardelle noodles are not gluten-free :(

Ingredients:

• 1 bag pappardelle noodles from Trader Joe's
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 jalapenos, diced
• 1/2 red bell pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, diced
• 1 jar or tomato sauce
• cayenne pepper, to taste
• 2 teaspoons oregano
• 2 teaspoons basil
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 8 large shrimp

Directions:

1. Cook noodles according to directions
2. In a sauce pan saute onion and garlic
3. Add bell pepper and jalapeno
4. Add tomato sauce and spices, cook until it starts to bubble
5. Brush shrimp with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper, place on hot grill until cooked
6. Place sauce and shrimp on top of noodles, and enjoy!

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 266- Holiday Recipes- Pomegranate & Mandarin Salad

Pomegranate & Mandarin Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 cups spinach
• 2 cups spring greens
• 1 pomegranate
• 4 mandarin oranges
• 1 cup walnuts, crushed
• 1/4 cup poppy seed dressing (I like Brianna's Brand)

Directions:

• Remove all the seeds from the pomegranate and place in large bowl
• Peel the mandarins and dissect them and then place in bowl with the pomegranate seeds
• Add the walnuts and greens to bowl
• Toss with poppy seed dressing

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 265- Workout of the Week

• Jump squats, 20x
• Alternating jumping lunges, 10x each side
• Push-ups, 20x
• Bicycle crunches, 20x each side
• Side plank hold, 1 minute each side
• Skaters, 1 minute

Repeat each exercise three times through

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 264- Sugar Beets Bakery

Need lessons on how to cook delicious gluten-free or vegan meals? The Sugar Beets Bakery offers cooking classes twice a month. For $20 the bakery will provide all the ingredients, equipment, and lesson, and you get to enjoy the end-product.

The upcoming classes that are on the schedule are:

• December 4th~ A class for children that teaches them how to bake and decorate gluten-free and vegan sugar cookies
• December 18th~ A gluten-free and vegan holiday meal planning class

Sugar beets bakery was founded after the owner Gina was diagnosed with Celiac disease. She claims that being diagnosed with Celiac disease was a blessing in disguise; allowing her to learn about a whole new healthy life-style. She uses beets as a healthier option to sweeten her baked goods.

"Beets are low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Sodium. They are high in Fiber, Folate, Potassium, Manganese, Vitamin C, Iron, and Magnesium. They aid in maintaining proper health and assist with weight loss. They add density and sweetness to my line of Organic Cakes, Cookies, Donuts, Cupcakes, Cobblers, Muffins and Brownies. In addition to the nutrients from beets, our baked goods are made with organic fruits, high protein nuts, raw antioxidant chocolate, organic vegetables, and fiber rich flours. These desserts won’t blow your healthy eating habits or leave you feeling super guilty."

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 263-Article: What does your husband really think about your wobbly bits?

An online UK magazine, The Daily Mail, featured an article where they interviewed 5 couples to see what they really thought about each other's bodies. What the interviewer, Jill Foster, found out was that women are much more vocal on their feelings of their spouses bodies, whereas men on the other hand where more satisfied with everything about their wives; including all their imperfections.

So women, relax! Even though all you see when you look in the mirror is the little pudge in the belly or the larger than twiggy thighs, your men may be seeing just how beautiful you are. So relax and enjoy your body and all the imperfections that make you, "you" and your husband just that much more attracted to you.

Here is my favorite interview from the magazine, but if you want to check out them all, visit the Daily Mail website, here.

MARK ON KAREN

Karen has a very curvaceous body and I’ve always found her very sexy. I don’t like skinny women, I like something to get hold of. She likes Jennifer Aniston’s physique, but for me, someone curvy like Kate Winslet is much more beautiful.

I know Karen is not particularly happy with her B-cup breasts, but there’s nothing wrong with them. Yes, they’ve dropped a bit because she’s had kids, but so what? I wouldn’t want them any bigger or smaller — they’re just right. She has a nice nipped-in waist and curvy hips. And I love her bottom. She says she hates her thighs, but her legs are very toned.

FAVOURITE BIT: Her bottom.

LEAST FAVOURITE BIT: I can’t think of one — she’s gorgeous and wish she’d stop worrying.

KAREN ON MARK

Mark has a great physique. His pert bottom was one of the things that first attracted me to him when we met at work. That and his gorgeous dark eyes.

He’s ageing really well. His hairline hasn’t receded. He’s thinning a bit on top — like his father — but you’d hardly notice. When we first got married and had the kids, he stopped working out for a while and got a little pot belly which I’d tease him about. It never put me off him, but now he’s back to playing more sport and looking fitter again, I’m not complaining!

FAVOURITE BIT: His bottom.

LEAST FAVOURITE BIT: When he’s put weight on his belly.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 262- Pizza is a Vegetable??

Congress believes that pizza should be considered a vegetable since one slice of pizza contains 2 tablespoons of tomato paste. Whereas the U.S Department of Agriculture believes that in order for it to be considered a vegetable it should contain one-half cup of tomato paste, which would mean that the pizza would literally be swimming in tomato paste. Making it less appetizing to children in the long run.

The campaign to make school lunches healthier by reducing french fries and adding more fruits and vegetables was denied by congress. Although even McDonalds heard the message and have worked to make their children's menu somewhat healthier (I guess a little bit of a oxymoron).

In the NPR health blog, "The Salt" Allison Aubrey wrote:

"It's a shame that Congress seems more interested in protecting industry than in protecting children's health," wrote Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest in a statement today.

"This [nutrition regulation proposed by Congress] may go down as the biggest nutritional blunder since Reagan tried to declare ketchup as a vegetable," Wootan tells The Salt. "It's ridiculous to call pizza a vegetable."

But she argues that pizza should be served with a vegetable. The nutrition standards, she argues, were intended to reinforce the2010 Dietary Guidelines that say it's important for people to eat whole fruits and vegetables.

The AFFI's Corey Henry argues that even a little tomato paste on a slice of pizza packs in a lot of the nutrients kids need.

"Tomato paste is almost unique in its ability to provide a very significant amount of critical nutrients and vitamins," says Henry. And he argues that any comparison to the 1980s ketchup-as-a-vegetable controversy is just unfair.

Here is a news report on MSNBC about the issue:

It's a little disturbing that congress is taking the side of the food industry rather than the health of the students. Hopefully they will get it together soon and realize that pizza really is not a vegetable.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP

Day 261- More Motivation

Happy Wednesday! Here is a little motivation to keep you going for the rest of the week.

Pura Vida!

Alica Ryan, NTP