Recipe of the Month: Mexican Bell Peppers

I saw a picture of what looked like a DELICIOUS stuffed pepper, and decided I would try to make my own.

I used:

• 3 big red peppers (or 6 small)
• 2 cups brown rice
• 2 cans corn
• 1 can black beans
• 2 cans diced tomatoes with juice – I like Rotel … it’s a bit spicy!
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 red onion
• Mexican cheese, shredded
• 1-1.5 lbs lean ground turkey
• Spices – chili powder, oregano, salt, pepper

First I cooked the turkey in a big pan. At the same time I boiled my rice. When the turkey was done I added the corn (drained), onion, garlic, and beans (drained and rinsed). I let those stew for about 5 minutes before adding the rice, tomatoes, and spices. I just eyeballed my spices, so if you like your food bland, don’t add as much spice… Or if you like spicy, put more chili powder. It’s your food 🙂

I let the mixture cook for 10 minutes. In the meantime, I cut my peppers in half and gutted them. I microwaved them in a dish with water for a few minutes to soften them up.

Once done, I set the peppers in a glass baking dish and generously spooned the finished mixture from the pan into the shells. I topped them off with the Mexican cheese and put them in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. 

They were perfect!! It was delicious. I ate the leftover mixture on bean chips with guacamole and salsa and it was also super good. This is a meal you definitely should try, as it’s pretty darn healthy!

Woe is Wheat

It has been a pain learning about my new wheat allergy. So many easy to grab foods contain wheat, and if they don’t contain wheat, I’ve discovered they likely contain nuts or something else I’m allergic to. And after agonizingly watching my family enjoy a cheesy pizza last Friday night without me, I was determined to do my research and find healthy snacks and meal recipes that…

• A) aren’t super expensive
• B) aren’t crazy complicated 
• C) don’t taste like dirt, and 
• D) actually keep me full!

…So that I don’t have to miss out on enjoying my food!

Here’s a list of foods and brands that I’ve purchased recently that have helped me transition to a diet that excludes all wheat, nuts and white potatoes.

• SunButter and Quaker Oats Chocolate Rice Cakes (the big ones) have been my favorite breakfast. 2 cakes generously covered in the sun butter is delicious. Dare I say I actually enjoy the SunButter more than peanut butter because it’s not quite as dry….!?
• Quaker Oats (flavored) Rice Cakes (the small crisps). I particularly like the cheddar and barbecue chip flavors. I love sour cream & onion, but the Quaker ones don’t quite get the job done for me.
• Bean Chips are my new go to after work snack with some cheese and salsa. As the article image shows, I threw chili on them for dinner one night and it was so good! Yummm….
• Chex Rice Cereal, raisins, and semi-sweet chocolate morsels make for one big stash of homemade trail mix that definitely gets the job done.
• Kind Bars! This one flavor – chocolate quinoa and flax seed is absolutely AMAZING! I found boxes at Walmart for super cheap.

Of course I still enjoy my usual go-to’s like yogurt, oatmeal, bananas, and homemade smoothies, as well as normal dinner foods like grilled chicken, rice, and broccoli or other meats and veggies… But these few brands have proved worthy of my grocery cart and can remain in my kitchen for now.

Unfortunately, I’m still experimenting with different brands of Gluten free bread. So far all the ones I’ve tasted are very bland and it’s a whopping $6 for a half loaf of slices that are barely the size of my palm. Stay tuned.

I’ll be sure to add to this list as I continue to grocery shop and test my taste buds on my new wheat free life!

Recipe of the Month! [Tuna]

Tuna Salad

There once was a time I couldn’t even stand the smell of tuna once the can was cracked, but those days are long gone. Now, I love tuna. Tuna melts, tuna salad, plain tuna, you name it.

I grew up eating whatever type of tuna my dad mixed up, which typically consisted of white tuna, celery and a whole bunch of mayonnaise.

Now that I’ve been to school, studied nutrition, and been focused on a healthier lifestyle, I can’t stomach mayonnaise on anything.

So I substitute his 2 tbsp of mayonnaise for 3 tbsp of Greek yogurt instead! It tastes, in my opinion, even better. Instead of making the tuna taste too sweet, it gives it a little tang which goes nicely with the celery.

• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 3 tbsp Greek yogurt – I typically use plain Oikos or Chobani
• 1 can of tuna – I typically go for white, dolphin safe tuna

*Note: I make the entire can at once and eat it over the course of a few days, as it lasts just fine in the refrigerator!

Looking for more nutrition facts on this recipe:

*For nutrition information, just look at the labels! Or, this website is super helpful in helping calculate calories and macros. [CalorieCount.com]

So all in all, this is a pretty light snack. Throw it on some whole wheat bread if you want with a slice of Swiss cheese for a more satisfying tuna melt. Or do it like I do – straight from the tupperware container with a little bit of pepper!

Hope you like this substitution. It’s healthier and just as delicious. If you don’t like tuna, give it a try anyway to mix up your diet. Enjoy!