Easy Breakfast: Spinach & Eggs

I think I've said before, I'm a visual eater. And unlike when I first started this blog, I'm sort of a lazy cook now. These days I LOVE meals that don't take long to make. This is a quick throw-together IF you are the sort of person who preps veggies weekly (I am!).

Spinach & Eggs (and a few other things)

Ingredients:

• Red pepper strips (I cut up peppers each week and stow them away for easy access)
• Sliced onion (I used a regular yellow onion)
• Sliced mushrooms
• Spinach (I used about 1.5 c. since it cooks down but go with your instinct on the amount)
• 1 small clove garlic, minced (or 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. already minced garlic)
• Nonstick cooking spray (or olive oil, about a teaspoon is enough)
• salt, pepper, Paremesan cheese
• 1 egg (I used a large, again go with what's right for you!)

Directions:

Spray a pan down with nonstick cooking spray and set it over medium heat. If you're using olive oil put the pan on the heat and let it get hot before adding oil. 

Add peppers and onions and sautee 2-ish minutes or until they are softened. Add mushrooms and sautee an additional minute followed by the spinach and any seasonings you are using.

I like to just toss the spinach with a pair of tongs until it's soft, but not completely limp. Transfer to a plate.

In the same pan, cook an egg any way you like it (obviously I like mine sunny-side up!). Place egg atop veggie mixture and sprinkle with Paremesan cheese. NOM!

Throwback Thursday: Nik Takes the Hunger Challenge

So...three years ago this summer I decided to do something a little radical. Now to understand why I did this you have to know a few things about me:

1. By day I work as a writer for a non-profit that deals with global hunger (among other things).
2. My mother had just died.
3. My kids live with their father during the summer and so I was all alone (this was before I acquired my Bassett Hound, who now ensures I never truly feel alone!)

I decided to take the Hunger Challenge. That link gives you an example of a Hunger Challenge but the basic gist is that I spent five days eating on $1.25/day, which is about the amount of money people living in extreme poverty around the world have to feed their entire families, not just theirselves.

It was an interesting exercise to say the least. I was 4 years post-op at the time so I wasn't that concerned about physical implications (that is to say, don't try this at home, kids!) and I learned a lot about what hunger really is.

If you want you can peruse my daily videos as I went through the challenge. Some of them are long-ish, but all of them share the insight from what I was actually going through at the time. 

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five (sorta...)

Single Serve Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower

Yesterday I posted the above picture on Facebook of my beautiful little lunch: about 2.5 oz. grilled salmon, along with a spear of brocolli (both leftover from a trip to TGI Friday's) along with a side of cheesy mashed cauliflower I made that morning.

Since I only wanted it that day, I made a single serving. I know some of you either live alone or have family who won't touch veggies with a ten-foot pole, so I though this recipe might be useful to you as well.

Nik's Single Serve Cheesy Mashed Cauliflower
Makes about 1/2 c. (ish) of mashed cauliflower. Divide that into as many portions as you see fit!

Ingredients:

• 4-6 frozen cauliflower florets 
• 1/4 c. (ish) of water
• 1 wedge of Laughing Cow Light spreadable cheese (any flavor you like - I use Garlic & Herb)
• 1 tbsp. shredded cheese of your choice
• 1 heaping tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Place florets and water in a bowl. Microwave on high for about 2 minutes. This should leave your florets pretty soft. If not, keep microwaving in 15 second increments until they are!

Drain the water and mash the florets (this can be done with a sturdy fork although for me any excuse to use my potato masher is a good one!).

While the florets are still hot, mix in your cheeses (Laughing Cow, shredded and parmesan), along with your salt and pepper. Mix in well.

I personally like to add parsely to the top (I'm a visual eater) but that's not necessary. If it's not hot enough for you, pop it back in the microwave about 30 seconds to reheat it through. 

Enjoy!

The 2014 Bariatric Foodie "Play With My Food" Recipe Contest Cookbook (Free Download!)

So...yesterday we say what happens when Nik gets "trigger finger." For those of you who follow BF on Facebook and Twitter, this cookbook was the "surprise" I'd been alluding to since last weekend. (So there will be no surprise tomorrow...sorry!) I really and truly did not mean to publish it until tomorrow, but hey...stuff happens.

In the end I'm glad I did because it gave me a glimpse into how easy/hard it is for you all to download things from various sources! I think I've got the bugs worked out (think being the operative word here). We shall see!

Anyhoo...let's try this again, shall we?  I'm happy to present the 2014 recipe contest cookbook, which looks WORLD'S better than the 2013 cookbook (shout out to my chief branding consultant, Pam Tremble).

What the heck is the "Play With My Food" recipe contest?

So background: Each fall I do a recipe contest called the Bariatric Foodie "Play With My Food" recipe contest. Why? Because you all cook awesome stuff and you should share it! So I pick a theme and invite folks to submit a recipe. Fellow Foodies serve as judges. This year's theme was "Play With Your Food - All Day Long!" Foodies were invited to submit recipes in one of five categories:

1. Breakfast
2. Lunch
3. Dinner
4. Dessert
5. Snacks

Download the cookbook!

Each of the categories above had a winning recipe and all winners received a prize, but all recipes are published in this FREE e-book (did I mention that it's free?).

Download the Free Cookbook

IMPORTANT: I decided to ditch my shopping cart. It was giving too many folks problems. The above link is to a version of the cookbook housed on my Google Drive. You should be able to both view and download it from there. To download it, you'd go to the icon of the downward arrow with a line underneath that looks like this:

You'll also see an icon that looks like three dots in a vertical line. If you click that, "Download" is one of the options. From my both my iPhone and my Android-based tablet, this let me open the document and from there I had some options on saving it (for example, on Apple products you can save it to iBooks).  Your mileage may vary, which is why you should keep reading if you're using a mobile device!

Mobile Phone & Tablet Users

You can download this e-book to your mobile phone or tablet the same way but keep in mind that your phone or tablet may or may not have the appropriate app to actually open it. If that's the case you should get a message (either from Google or your phone) asking you how you'd like to open the document. Here's the important part to note:

What happens after you click that button, I have no control over! 

If you have trouble, leave a blog comment and I can try to help but I'm not a mobile tech expert (I'm not an any tech expert!) so I may not be much help.

Bottom line...and I say this with love...if you are tech challenged (like me!) wait until you can open this from a laptop or desktop computer and save it there. 

I hope you enjoy this cookbook! It was written by Foodies, for Foodies, so feel free to share the download link far and wide!

Low-Carb Ramekin Shepherd's Pie

So...St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow. And some of you already have your corned beef and cabbage cooking. Yum!

Here's another idea to throw onto the heap. I love cooking with ramekins. It's so fun! You can make a perfect portion (by purchasing the ramekin size that suits you), it's easy to ditch starches (like pie crust in this instance) and they are just darn cute, don't you agree? (TIP: For another St. Patrick's Day ramekin idea, check out my Reuben Ramekins!) 

I love Shepherd's Pie. And I even love it without any modifications! In moderation I have absolutely no problem eating the full fledged version. But since I also want to enjoy a piece of Soda Bread with this meal, I gotta make a swap somewhere. (Why? Because Nik's blood sugar will sink like an anvil if I have more than one source of starch at a sitting!) This swap I can live with as a weeknight meal. I'm more inclined to use a more traditional recipe for weekends.

Here's how it goes.

Nik's (Version of) Lil Baby Shepherd's Pies

(Makes about 4 six ounce ramekins)

***For Shepherd's Pie purists, please read the recipe notes!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 of a yellow onion, finely diced
• 1/2 lb. lean ground meat (I used turkey)
• 8 oz. can peas and carrots, drained
• 1/2 bag frozen cauliflower florets (or about 2 c. fresh ones)
• 4 oz. (or approximately half a can) low-fat, low-sodium Cream of Mushroom soup
• 2-3 Laughing Cow style cheese wedges (any flavor)
• 1/3 c. shredded cheese for topping
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Put a small pot of water on to boil.

Set a skillet over medium heat and let it get hot. Spray it with nonstick cooking spray and add onions. Sautee about 2 minutes.

Add ground meat, browning and mixing in the onions until meat is fully cooked. Drain if necessary. Your pot of water should be boiling so drop cauliflower florets into it.

Add peas and carrots and stir. Then add soup and stir. If soup doesn't sufficiently coat the meat mixture, add about 1/4 c. milk. Allow the mixture to warm through then set aside.

When cauliflower florets are tender (about 4-5 minutes after returning them to a boil), drain and mash them (I use a basic potato masher). Add the Laughing Cow wedges while the florets are still hot. Mix with spoon until mixture becomes a mash (won't look exactly like mashed potatoes but will bond together and won't look like grated cauliflower anymore either).

Place your ramekins on a baking sheet. Ladle in about 1/4 c. meat/veggie mixture. Top with about 1/4 c. of the cauliflower mixture and top with a sprinkle of shredded cheese.

Bake ramekins for about 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and, if you like, browned.

A few notes:

• If you are a Shepherd's Pie purist perhaps the soup shortcut just won't do. That's fine! Use whatever you like to make the gravy for the pie. Play with your food! (And if you come up with something good, let us know!)
• If you are a Shepherd's Pie purist you might also prefer a potato topping. Don't let me stand in your way!
• Every time I use canned soup in a recipe I seem to get scoffs from folks. I will say this. I have low blood pressure and therefore have been advised against a low-sodium diet. I know that's not the case for many of you. Use your best discretion with regards to canned soups. There are great low-sodium varieties out there!
• Finally, if a 6 oz. ramekin is too much for you, feel free to make them smaller! They freeze beautifully when you wrap them properly and are a great, comforting meal to reheat!

Here are a few other photos of this delicious dish!

The addition of parsely in food pictures can make a real difference to the visual appeal in my honest opinion. Check out this dish before I added parsely. Doesn't it look more appealing with it? 

The Winner of the 2015 Bariatric Foodie Pledge Grand Prize

I know you all so well. Want to know how well I know you? I know that most of you are going to scroll right past the next few paragraphs. It's ok. I understand. But come back afterward!

I just wanted to extend my personal thanks and congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2015 Bariatric Foodie Pledge. No matter how many weeks you participated, you did a good thing for yourself by making healthy goals and holding yourself accountable!

For that reason, I hope you'll check your inboxes because I've sent a little token of my thanks to everyone who signed up for Bariatric Foodie Pledge reminders. If you don't see the email, check your spam folder and if it's still not there, email me at bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com and I can send it to you.

I'd also like to thank our sponsors one more time! Starting from week one, thank you CLICK Espresso Protein. Thanks to our week two sponsors BariMelts and Squeak Cheeks. For week three, I thank Celebrate Vitamins and BiProUSA. For week four, thanks to Quest Nutrition and Torani. And of course thanks to Livliga Home and Nutri-Ninja for providing bonus prizes for the grand prize!

You'll remember that the grand prize consists of items from each of these sponsors.

The Grand Prize Winner

The grand prize winner was randomly selected from the grand prize contestants who completed Grand Prize Check-In last weekend. All entries were verified (and all were done correctly - thank you!). The list of contestants was then sent to the winner of the 2014 Bariatric Foodie Pledge - Ronnie Sommerville Hasty - who drew the winner and sent that winner's name to me (Thanks, Ronnie!).

Please join me in congratulating the 2015 Bariatric Foodie Pledge Grand Prize winner:

Kim Tres.!!!

Kim is a long-time Foodie who currently lives in Qatar (I will humble myself and admit that, yes, I did have to Wikipedia Qatar). She's participated in past Bariatric Foodie pledges but this is her first time winning anything! Kim says she was proud that this year was the first that she was able to pledge and check-in all four weeks.

Her pledges:

• Week One: Walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes/4 days each week.
• Week Two: Same as week one!
• Week Three: To remember to take her midday calcium supplement.
• Week Four: Eat breakfast every day during the week.

When asked what she got out of participating in the Bariatric Foodie Pledge, here's what she had to say:

"At more than three and a half years out, I think I’d forgotten how disciplined I was when I started this journey. The Pledge helped me realize that I need to stay disciplined and remove some of the bad habits that have crept in so I can STAY healthy. 

My biggest need is for exercise and my proudest moment was walking 19,500 steps in one day this past week. I NEVER thought I could, much less would, do that. Thanks for giving me a good, swift kick in the butt, Pledge! I’m soooooo glad I did it!"

Congratulations once again, Kim! And thank you for claiming your prize! 

A few reminders for the Foodie Nation:

• Check your e-mail if you signed up for Pledge reminders. I've sent you a token of my thanks and congratulations!
• As you can see, Bariatric Foodie contests truly are open to Foodies worldwide! This is made possible through your orders of Quest Bars or to Amazon or Netrition through this site. If you'd like to contribute to the cause, use the right menu to order Quest Bars (through the ad), or to order on Amazon or Netrition (through the search boxes). Thank you!
• I can't give too much away, but I'm already hard at work on a Summer Challenge. I hope it'll make a "big splash" this summer! (hint, hint)

Thanks once again to everyone who participated and keep playing with your food!!!

Bariatric Foodie Grand Prize Check-In

Four weeks. Four pledges. Four check-ins. Five last tasks. And here we are at the Grand Prize Check-In for the Bariatric Foodie Pledge!

I don't need to remind our grand prize pledgers what's at stake here. Our grand prize winner will receive every prize from every weekly drawing from the entire Pledge (from CLICK Espresso Protein, BariMelts, Squeaky Cheeks, Celebrate Vitamins, BiPro USA, Quest Nutrition and Torani) PLUS four bonus prizes from Livliga Home, Ninja Kitchen and Bariatric Foodie.

Here's how to do Grand Prize Check-In

This probably goes without saying but I'm going to say it anyway. Please don't enter this drawing if you are not a grand prize pledger! If you don't know if you are one, you're probably not but here's the grand prize pledger list just the same.

Grand Prize Pledgers:

1. Fill out ALL items on this form. You should have been collecting the information you needed to turn in so it's at easy reach. If you didn't, get it before check-in closes tomorrow at noon EST!
2. Press Submit. You may get a confirmation message. You may not. At this stage, you know the deal on that one. One note though: Since this is a longer than normal form, you may have to scroll up after pressing submit to see the confirmation message.
3. Make sure your entry went through by visiting the entry list. ONLY your name will be visible on this list. If you see your name, I got your entire entry. The rest is hidden for your privacy.

IMPORTANT: Please submit your entry when you have time to do it carefully. While I will be around to monitor grand prize check in, I will not alter or edit your entry for you. If you are at a device that allows you to see the confirmation page after you press "submit" you'll notice that I have enabled you to edit your entry, should you need to, by clicking the "edit entry" link.

What Happens Next?

• Sunday, March 8, 12 p.m. EST - Grand Prize Check-in Closes. No submissions will be taken after this time.
• Tuesday, March 10 - The Bariatric Foodie Pledge Grand Prize Winner will be announced!

Good luck, Grand Prize Pledgers. And congrats on making it this far in the Bariatric Foodie Pledge! 

The Bariatric Foodie Pledge Grand Prize Competition

Looking for where to report for the "Level Up" Challenge?

I goofed! In editing the instructions I took out the part where I said the day to report back is THURSDAY, March 5. Look for the post on Facebook and Twitter THURSDAY. My apologies for any inconvenience!

Before we get to the Grand Prize Competition, I just want to congratulate EVERYONE who took part in this year's Pledge. You all worked on your goals, you reflected on your process and you held yourselves accountable. You are all STARS in my book!

But there can only be one grand prize winner. And it will be one of the people in the following grand prize pledger list.

Take Me to The Grand Prize Pledger List!

A word about this list. It is final. You might remember I asked folks to:

1. Check the Standing list each week and get back to me in a timely manner with corrections.
2. Check the check-in list this week (especially if you hoped to compete for the grand prize) and email me before the check-in period closed.

If you are missing something, it's probably because one of those things did not happen. If you'd like to see what you're missing, here is the final standings list for the entire 2015 Bariatric Foodie Pledge, but again, the above list is final. 

How the Grand Prize Competition Works

To compete for the grand prize, you’ll have to perform a series of tasks over the next week. You must complete ALL tasks in order to be eligible to win the prize. Failure to complete tasks will result in being eliminated from the grand prize competition. In addition, you must complete “grand prize check-in” next weekend, March 7-8 (see below). 

Take me to the competition instructions!

PLEASE NOTE: Participating in the grand prize competition is optional. You don't have to if you don't want to or your schedule does not permit. You also don't have to notify me if you are not participating. Just simply don't check-in and you'll be auto-eliminated. I hope that makes things easier for folks!

Grand Prize Check-In

Grand prize check-in opens Sunday, March 7 at 12 p.m. EST and closes Sunday, March 8 at 12 p.m. EST. This is when you will affirm that you completed all tasks on the task list and you will submit your final entry into the grand prize drawing. I marked items on the list where you'll be required to give information at check-in. Please make sure you're keeping track! (In fact, just read the document really well...it's the key to winning!)

Like the weekly check-ins, the grand prize check-in will be a form you’ll need to fill out and submit here on the blog. It is your responsibility to find the best device to ensure you can submit your grand prize check-in. For your convenience, the device test is still available at http://bit.ly/BFPledge2015.

Please note that entries will be verified and that you’ll only have one opportunity to enter the drawing. So please make sure you've complete all your tasks before checking in.

This may seem like I'm stating the obvious, but please do not check-in during grand prize week unless your name appears on the grand prize pledger list.

Winner Announcement

After grand prize check-in closes on Sunday, March 8, 12 pm EST, entries will be verified. Please remember that if you have not completed all the tasks you will be automatically eliminated from the competition. 

The actual prize drawing will be done by a person who has not participated in the Bariatric Foodie Pledge. The winner will be selected from all qualified grand prize pledgers (meaning all pledgers with completed their tasks and checked in on time). The winning name will be drawn by a random name generator.

The winner will be notified by email by 7 p.m. EST, Monday, March 9. The winner will be publicly announced by 3 p.m. EST Monday, Tuesday March 10. The winner has until 11:59 p.m. EST, Wednesday, March 11 to claim the grand prize or a new name will be drawn. No exceptions.

Questions?

You may leave them in the comments or you may email me at any time at bariatricfoodie@yahoo.com. Congratulations to the grand prize pledgers and good luck!