New Years Day

Well, another year has come and gone, and with that usually comes reflection on the past year and promises for the coming year.I am one for reflection, not just on New Years but often throught the year.

Last night I went to see a movie and then spent the rest of the night alone. Being alone on a night like that forced me to look back on my year. It was a long one; a rough one; and at times it was a painful one, but, I survived it, I learned from it and I grew because of it.

My eating was top notch yesterday.

Started my morning with... Clean Protein Pancakes and Tea

Clean Protein Pancakes
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 cup 1% cottage cheese
1/2 cup egg whites
Blitz all ingredients in a blender (I used my Magic Bullet)
Pour into hot pan like regular pancake batter.

I got about 6, nice sized pancakes. They were quite thin but very pancake like. I think next time I will add some ground flax seeds and wheat germ to the batter.

For Lunch I had Clean Veg Curry over Quinoa (a recipe I got from EatCleanDiet.com)

Ingredients

• 1 15 oz can No Added Salt chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
• 2 15oz cans No Added Salt/Sugar chopped tomatoes
• 1 onion finely diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• 8 - 10 green beans, chopped into segments
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 cup cauliflower florets
• 1 - 2 tbsp curry powder (I doubled this...as it just wasn't enough)
• 2 gloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• Sea salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
• To serve: Steamed potatoes or brown rice (I used Quinoa)
• Optional add ins: 2 tbsp raisins & 1 tbsp shredded coconut (I opted out)

Instructions

1. Heat a non-stick pan with cooking spray. Saute the onion and garlic until translucent. About 5 mins.

2. Add the curry powder, and continue to saute until spices are lightly toasted and aromatic (it should start to smell really yummy right about now).

3. Add the tomatoes, carrot, celery, green beans, zucchini, cauliflower, raisins and coconut (if using) to the pan. Cover pan with a lid and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, boil a pot of water, and cook potatoes OR brown rice. Both go excellently with this meal.

5. After 15 minutes add the chickpeas, and tomato paste to the pan. If mixture seems too thick, add a little veg stock or water. Cover and simmer for a further 10 minutes.


MY mid afternoon snack was just a salad with whatever i had thrown in...

I didn't have dinner since I was heading to the movies and I wanted a little treat. I normally go for the nachos with extra cheese and some kind of diet drink but last night I kept my new lifestyle in mind and ordered a bottle of water and M&M Peanuts. Not at all clean but better than usual and was a totally satisfying treat!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year. And I pray 2012 is kind to you. Just remember, you may not always choose your path but how you choose to walk it is all you!