Time to start the New Year on the right foot with healthy eating! The first step is to know your weakness. My biggest problem is that I love salty, starchy foods. Another problem I have is I get busy and don’t eat and then by late afternoon I am starving and craving bad things so I tear into some unhealthy stuff.
The answer is to find solutions for your weaknesses or problems. So I have on hand healthy whole grain and rice snacks that help with my snacky, bread and salt cravings. Secondly, I have begun to eat a good breakfast and lunch so I do not get so hungry that I go after all the bad stuff late in the day.
Of course, all these weaknesses fall under one BIG weakness – LACK OF SELF CONTROL. (Also known as DISCIPLINE – a derivative of the root word “Disciple.”) As much as we may believe and say temperance is a good thing, I don’t see us living that way – we always want more, the fact that the stores open at 6:00 am, the day after Christmas says we are not satisfied with the out of control over-consumption of the previous day.
Practicing temperance and being happy about doing good things for my health may be the best way to fight my weaknesses. Of course, knowing it is the right and good thing to do should be enough, but life is full of easy temptations so we don’t “stick to our guns” very well when we are surrounded by chips and dip. We have to be aware of our natural tendencies to desire more and more and make an intentional effort to foster what our better nature tells us. Of course this goes for more than just eating habits.
So this year surround yourself with good things – foods that are good for you, good friends who love you, good books, (especially The Good Book!) good times that are meant to be cherished and your good family that God put before you.
Shopping for the right foods and making healthy recipes for your family can be something exciting and new to discover. Have fun with it – and know that it is a great and rewarding challenge!
Try out this healthy wrap, it is a wonderful and delicious lunch or dinner option.
2 large tomatillos
1/2 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 pound boneless pork cutlets, cut into thin strips
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Cooking spray
2 medium poblano chiles, stemmed, seeded, and cut into thin strips
1 medium onion, vertically sliced
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream stemmed, seeded, and cut into thin strips
1 medium onion, vertically sliced
4 (8-inch) fat-free flour tortillas
1/2 cup low-fat sour cream
-Discard husks and stems from tomatillos. Combine tomatillos, cucumber, cilantro, lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and garlic in a blender. Process until finely chopped, and set aside.
-Sprinkle pork with cumin. Place a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add pork; cook 3 minutes or until no longer pink in center, stirring occasionally. Remove from pan; keep warm.
-Coat pan with cooking spray; add chiles and onion. Coat vegetables with cooking spray; cook 4 minutes or until onion begins to brown, stirring frequently.
-Meanwhile, heat tortillas according to package directions.
-Return pork to pan; add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook 30 seconds or until the pork mixture is thoroughly heated, stirring constantly.
-Divide pork mixture evenly among tortillas. Top each with about 1/3 cup salsa; roll up. Serve with sour cream.