Meatless Monday- I heart quinoa!!

A few months ago, if you had said the word 'quinoa' (KEEN-wa), I would have thought you were speaking in a foreign language. But in our pursuit of a healthier eating choices, I came across this amazing grain!! Quinoa is very popular in South America, and for good reason!! Not only is it full of B vitamins, protein (yes some grains have protein in them!), and iron- to mention a few, it also is gluten-free! So if you're one of those increasing numbers of families going G-free, try putting some quinoa in your diet.  It's pretty much like cooking rice, and has a similar texture. While quinoa is a little more expensive than rice, it's cheaper than many other health foods.  The cheapest place I've found it is at Trader Joe's for $4.50/16oz and it doesn't take much to fill you up! Here are few recipes to get you started.

Mexican Quinoa

Quinoa salad with black beans

Meatless Burrito with Quinoa

Happy Meatless Monday to all!!

Meatless Monday- YUMMY!

While doing the food overhaul in our home, we for sure have been taking part in Meatless Monday!!  When I first heard of Meatless Monday, it was probably a year ago on an episode of Ellen (one of my favorite daytime shows).  If every American went without meat and cheese just one day a week then it would be equal to "91 billion fewer miles driven each year".

So what does a family eat for Meatless Monday? While I still need to remove cheese from our menu on this day here are meatless things we ate today--

• Breakfast
• pancakes topped with peanut butter and applesauce, milk and orange juice
• Lunch
• For toddler
• grilled cheese sandwich made one whole grain sourdough bread and Swiss cheese (less fat that other cheeses and more calcium), carrot sticks and banana
• For Mommy
• hummus with horseradish spread on organic whole grain sourdough bread, sliced avocado and fresh mozzarella (better for you that 'regularly' process mozzarella cheese).
• Supper
• Here's a yummy link to what I'm cooking right now. :)

Happy eating!!