You know when you have that taste for something, and you let it go but it is still in the back of your mind? That was me this week. While I loved my prep from last week, I could not get fried rice out of my head. I love it, could eat it every day but when I get it, I don’t often feel great after. I have made various recipes before but wanted a healthier version.
Searching for fun and better ways to make a favorite meal is fun. It is great to try new combinations for sure, but it is also satisfying to know exactly what is going in the food, where it comes from and the fact that my own hands made it. It is an added bonus to try to keep me on a healthier track.
After searching around I found two recipes of interest so combined them a bit. One was for garlic shrimp from Little Spice Jar and the other is quick and easy healthy fried rice from Kale Junkie. I used the shrimp recipe from the one and added that shrimp to the fried rice from the other. I have to say it is Simply Yum!
What is your favorite take-out food? Have you tried to make it yourself? How did it turn out?
This week’s menu:
- Breakfast: Dark Berry Smoothie
- Lunch: Fruit Salad
- Dinner: Healthy Fried Rice
- Snack: Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Water: YES
Dark Betty Smoothie: I used some of what I learned in last week’s anti-inflammatory smoothie for this week. Since I had frozen cherries left over, I wanted to use them again. Learned too those dark cherries are “stand outs” for being an anti-inflammatory food. According to Healthline.com, cherries are a good source of vitamin C, potassium, fiber, manganese, and vitamin K. WebMD says these little fruits “pack a healthful punch,” including antioxidants, like beta-carotene and the essential nutrient choline.”
Last week I learned about the gut-healthy properties of Kefir but didn’t love it. This week I did a three to one mix of unsweetened almond milk and kefir. To that I added kale and spinach, chia seeds, fresh ginger, collagen powder and psyllium. To that was added, one avocado, some broccoli florets, pineapple chunks, and a small bit of blackberries. To that I added the frozen dark cherries, half a frozen banana and a dollop of frozen cranberries. Very tasty I am happy to report.
Fruit Salad: I will make a fresh fruit salad most week’s this time of year. It is good for me, super simple to do, fresh and gives me that taste of sweet I often crave. This week it contains watermelon, red and green grapes, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, cantaloupe and green melon. While you want to be careful depending on your health status, of eating too much fruit…I think that is true when eating anything…more is not always better so check with your doctor, but in general, you get good fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants with fresh fruits. It tastes great and is so super simple to “make.” Chop, dice, scoop and poof…. all done.
Healthy Fried Rice: The garlicy shrimp part of this recipe I got from Little Spice Jar. While I used parts of it, I fully intend to use it in full soon to make more of a linguine and garlic shrimp meal. You can find that here: https://littlespicejar.com/15-minute-garlic-shrimp-lemon-butter-sauce/
The Healthy Fried Rice is from Kale Junkie and as stated is quick and easy and very good. The full recipe is here: https://kalejunkie.com/quick-and-easy-healthy-fried-rice/
I used a combo rice mixture for this recipe and shrimp instead of sausage. Ingredients include onion, ginger, low sodium soy sauce, sesame oil and green onion. Very little time involved and a full and delicious meal.
Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: I do have a sweet tooth and I think desert is important – remember, always look at a dessert menu before you order your meal…you have to know in order to pace yourself. Anyway, this is a more-healthy version of the chocolate chip cookie from Kale Junkie was super simple – as all the Simply Yum entrants are – to make. Almond flour, oats, but butter, maple syrup and dark chocolate chips all combine for a delicious chewy and tasty treat…one I don’t feel bad eating. Mine do not look as pretty has hers, but still yummy – Full recipe is here: https://kalejunkie.com/chewy-oatmeal-chocolate-chip-cookies/
Water: This week’s water is full of goodness. Fresh ginger, pineapple chunks, lemon, lime and cucumber. It looks pretty, tastes good and is good for me.
Have a great week!
KINDNESS is FREE!
