You didn't think I meant we were moving, right? Nope, not moving ... we are settled in our comfy home with little intention to make a change. I mean GET UP and MOVE! Netflix be damned! No more binge-watching for me! Do I need to cancel Netflix or can I control myself? Hmmmm ... time will tell! (UPDATE: Netflix is cancelled.)
The only way I can justify binge- watching is if I'm riding, not just sitting, on my recumbent bike! Yeah, that didn't happen.

So, all the experts say to MOVE, MOVE, MOVE ... so hard when the television beckons with new seasons, fabulous movies and series, and even DIY shows, the History Channel, and the list goes on and on. We have Dish so it records all our shows to watch at our leisure ... hmmm ... workout or watch TV ... too many choices!

I have to trick myself into walking and moving more. I have a television in my kitchen and that is where I often land. I have to say, my kitchen is cleaner and more organized that it's been for a while! I've cleaned out and rearranged my pantry, all my shelves, put down new cabinet liners, scoured the dishwasher edges (YUK!), cleaned out the registers, and cleaned the oven and microwave ... and made all my DIY Young Living cleaning products and all while I watch TV! There was a lot of bending, lifting, straining, groaning, and MOVING! Now, I can't do the kitchen every day, but I also cook. 

Then, once I was tired of all those kitchen chores, I Googled "exercises in your kitchen" and found this wonderful gal. Check out her video below!
#getmoving #cleaningthekitchen #cleanwithYoungLiving #workoutinyourkitchen

Why do American restaurants give you so much food? Granted, there are those restaurants who serve reasonable sizes, but even my husband feels 'cheated' with so little on his plate.

Recently my DOH and I went to dinner at an Italian restaurant. The Italian part really doesn't matter because it happens EVERYWHERE ... well, just about. I ordered a kale - quinoa salad with a lemon vinaigrette and it was amazing ... sadly, more than 1/2 of it was wasted.  This salad was piled high on a large dinner plate. Honestly, it was enough for six. And it was NOT a dinner salad, but one you would order with your entree. Seriously? I was full before I even reached the bottom!

More and more I see restaurants serving way more than our bodies need. From pizza to spaghetti, from steak to hamburgers! Granted, they are likely working hard to get your business to get more for your money. And, they'd be right. We Americans love a bargain and if we get more for the money, so be it, regardless of the toll it takes on our bodies.

What are we to do?

• Someone suggested sharing an entree ... great idea, if you eat the same foods! My husband and I don't. 
  
• Order from the children's menu? Seriously? Grilled cheese? Hot dogs? PB&J? Not.

Recently, we ate our go to pizza place - Mellow Mushroom. We usually order a small salad and one small vegetarian pizza, which we split. Did you know a serving size is 1/3! There are eight pieces ... you do the math. I'll guarantee, it's way less than you'd expect!

Learning and remember what a serving size is for you body and caloric / fat / sodium/ etc. intake and you'll think you're about to starve! 

How about ice cream ... yep, 1/2 cup is a serving in most cases. I'll have to put my serving spoon away and opt for a teaspoon when I eat ice cream! I have no restraint when it comes to ice cream. Better, for me, to forgo ice cream. Period.

How about that sandwich ... one slice or bread or two? ONE is a serving. Bummer.

Many of us are walking around with extra inches around our middle. We really shouldn't be surprised, should we?

​Next up ... moving!

A new docu-series is available ... it's all about brain health. Check it out.

 ... we are not perfect clean eaters. Is anyone, really? If one is honest I think some "not so great" foods would happen. For instance, every week Tom and I go to Waffle House for our usual breakfast before we head to our beloved Publix ... mine is: one poached egg with hash browns, a cup of decaf with 1/2 and 1/2. Tom also has his usual: a small tomato juice, two eggs over easy, white toast, and hash browns. Is it a terrible thing to do? That's is a question only you can answer for yourself. I don't intend to justify our actions at all, and you don't have to either. We all make choices all the time. No one is perfect. And, if you know someone who is ... well ... 

​Lunch today is the Moroheiya Noodles or Healthy Ramen Noodle Salad. It is one of our favorite salads. I was unable to find the GreeNoodles locally ... so here's the link for GreeNoodles Amazon.

This was a surprise for me as my husband, Tom, is not a huge fan of beans. Granted he loves chili, but when it literally replaces meat, it's a challenge. This recipe calls for lentils - a powerhouse little gem - so imagine my surprise when he asked for seconds!

​Ingredients:

• 4 medium sweet potatoes
• 1/2 cup diced onions
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 4 1/2 cups prepared lentils
• 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon basil + more for garnish
• 1/2 cup chopped spinach
• 2+ tablespoons non-dairy milk
• Sea salt

Directions:

1. ​Before anything else, peel and chop the sweet potatoes into small chunks. Get them in a pot of water and let them boil for at least 15-20 minutes, depending on size.
2. Meanwhile, chop the carrots, onion, and celery (mirepoix) into small chunks.
3. Add this to a large skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of water and allow them to soften.
4. Once the veggies are softened, add the prepared lentils to the pan. Allow these to cook for several minutes with the mirepoix.
5. Preheat the oven to 350º F
6. Open the cans of diced tomatoes (but do not drain them) and add these along with a tablespoon of chopped (or dried) basil leaves, a handful of chopped spinach, and a splash of soy sauce.
7. Let this filling simmer for 10-15 minutes for the flavors to mingle.
8. When the sweet potatoes are soft all the way through, remove them from the heat and drain the water. Mash with a little salt and a splash of non-dairy milk until the consistency is perfect.
9. Add the lentil filling to a 9 x 13 pan and top with a layer of sweet potatoes. Or, like pictured, you can add to individual oven-safe bowls. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes until the topping becomes slightly browned.
10. Allow cooling before serving. 
11. This recipe yields about 6 servings and makes excellent leftovers the next evening for a 2-for-1 dinner.