Easy Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

I have had an interesting few months and I am ready to drop some weight. So, it is back to eating as healthy as I can and remembering why it feels so good.

Here is the recipe I had for dinner tonight.

1.5-2 cups cooked quinoa
1 can black beans (drained)
1 cup canned corn (drained) or frozen corn(cooked)
1/4 c. olive oil
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tbs chili powder
1 tbsp garlic salt

Directions
1. cook and cool quinoa (or use leftover)
2. Add black beans, corn, oil, vinegar, chili powder, and garlic salt
3. Mix well.
4. Serve chilled.


That's it. I thought it was good. I will have it for lunch tomorrow. :-)  Any new ideas for simple, healthy meals?

I did get a lot of my garden planted. So, away we go!

I'm back...

I had such a yummy dinner tonight that it inspired me to get back on board with my healthy eating (again!). I finally feel like myself and I am up for cooking. I saw my friend making Asparagus Pasta at her house, so I called her for the recipe. It is a Body for Life recipe that she modified. I am also soaking beans to make a 15 bean soup tomorrow. Back to Meatless Mondays!!

I also picked up a Square Foot Gardening Book. Always looking for more ideas!!

Quinoa Sweet Potato Spinach Salad

I made this super easy and really delicious meal tonight.  I've been trying to load up on veggies this week and bought the 3lb bag of fresh spinach from Costco, in addition to their huge bag of Bob's Red Mill organic quinoa.  I had some sweet potatoes leftover from a meal earlier this week so I googled sweet potatoes, spinach and quinoa.  This amazing recipe from easy vegan meals appeared.  I want to make it again tomorrow.  That's how yummy it was.

the spiralizer

 

zucchini  noodles

sweet potato fries

When my sister-in-law raved about her new kitchen gadget, I just knew I had to have one, too.  Aren't all foods just a little more yummy when cut into fun shapes??   

my salad needs help!

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to eat more salad.  As a vegetarian/vegan, you'd think I eat salad all the time but I don't.  My goal was to eat salad three times a week.  The year started out great and I was having salad either as a meal or with a meal several times a week (often more than three!).  However, lately I've fallen out of the rhythm.  I got into a rut of a plain salad, sometimes dressed up with extras but often not, and I've quickly gotten bored with it.  I need to get back into having salad more often.  Today I threw some gorgeous raspberries onto the salad.  It was yummy but now I'm out of raspberries so what do I do tomorrow?  Do you have suggestions to make salad more exciting?  What are your favorite toppings and/or additions?   

pesto-based pizza

Everyone loves pizza and my family is no exception.  My kids' favorite meal is make-your-own pizza.  They load theirs up with cheese and "pepperoni" and it's always a meal they'll actually eat.  While they are creating their masterpieces, I create my own vegan version.  Today's pizza (for lunch) included fresh walnut-basil pesto, sundried tomatoes, red onion, artichoke hearts, broccoli and "pepperoni".  I always throw on whatever is around but this particular combination was especially delicious!

Back to sugar free

So, it's been a while since I updated. P90x went out the window once I went on vacation. That is kind of how I work- all or nothing! I had only missed one day and then when I missed 2 in a row it just made it too easy to stop altogether. I have been running off and on, but not too consistent with that either. It is time to get motivated again! So, here I go with no (added)sugar for 30 days. It always works to jump start my metabolism and help me feel great! It's been 3 days and I have lost 3.5 lbs- woo hoo!

Sample Eating Plan

Breakfast- oatmeal, skim milk, blueberries

Lunch-HUGE salad with beans or some type of meat, no grain, apple

Dinner- HUGE salad and lean meat or a meatless soup, rice

I can't wait to feel good again and I know it will help my running too!

Thanks for all the inspiration Cherl! Any more ideas would be great. Although, I am a much simpler cook than you are so I am impressed with the recipes you make!