I want something new! I am
tired of the same t-shirts, sweaters, jeans and shoes. I want to spruce up my wardrobe
without breaking the bank!
I realize that this form of
complaining sounds ridiculously vain and shallow, but haven’t you felt this way
at least once in your life? Haven’t you combed the stores to find just the
right pair of jeans only to end up home empty handed?
What about food? Do you ever
feel sick and tired of your same old meal? Do you want to find something new to
eat that is healthy and will keep you lean?
Well, I am here to tell you
what I found out this weekend. I went on a binge of sorts. I wanted something
new and different! I wasn’t skydiving or NASCAR racing. I went shopping! I went
to a bunch of stores that were right in my neighborhood. But I was disappointed.
It seemed to me that the clothes, shoes and accessories in the store don’t look
any different than what I already own! And so I went back home with a new
attitude! Right in front of me (well, I had to dig a bit!), in my very own
closet was right what I had been looking for!
What’s old is new again! Try
it for yourself! Dig deep into your closet and take out your jeans. Maybe
instead of wearing them the usual way with your usual shoes, roll them up a bit
and add a small heal or fancy flat. I rolled my jeans up with low cowboy boots,
layered and a tank and t-shirt , found a light spring jacket that had been
collecting dust during the long cold winter, added some jewelry that I hadn’t
worn in a while and voila, I felt like had gone shopping! And the best part was
it hadn’t cost me a thing.
I feel the same way about the
food I eat. Take a look at what you eat. Bored by it? See what’s in your pantry
and fridge. Don’t be afraid of leftovers (unless something is growing!). Don’t
be afraid to experiment with spices and herbs. Instead of having your eggs for
breakfast the same ol way, add some fresh veggies, some spice and some low-fat
cheese and make a western omelet.
Tired of fruit salad? Throw
the fruit in the blender with some yogurt and ice and you have a yummy anytime
smoothie. Or if you want to splurge you can add your favorite low fat ice cream
and make a milkshake.
Tired of spaghetti and
meatballs for dinner? Try the meatballs right on top of sautéed spinach or any
other veggies that can be sautéed with a bit of oil and garlic!
Blueberry-Banana Smoothie:
Ingredients:
2 bananas, cut into 2 in.
chunks and frozen
½ c. skim milk
2¼ c. frozen blueberries
1 Tbsp. honey
½ c. Greek yogurt
Instructions:
1.
Place frozen banana chunks and ¼ c. skim milk into blender
and blend until only a few small chunks remain.
2.
Add blueberries, honey, Greek yogurt, and remaining milk.
Blend again until smooth or desired consistency, scraping sides occasionally.
3.
Pour into glasses, top with a few more berries and serve!
Makes about 3 c.
Egg White Western Omelet:
Ingredients:
1-tablespoon green pepper
chopped
1 tablespoon red bell pepper
chopped
1-tablespoon scallion chopped
2 eggs or ½ cup liquid egg
whites
3 tablespoons low fat
shredded cheese
Directions:
Lightly
coat a medium skillet with cooking spray.
Sautee
the peppers and scallions until they are tender-crisp. Crack the eggs or pour the liquid egg white over the
vegetables.
When
partially set, spread the cheese over 1/2 the eggs, and fold the omelet in half
over the filling.
Continue
cooking until cooked through.
Think outside the box!!! It
feels good to see that what you are looking for is very often right under your
nose! It’s ok to be creative and
reinvent what you already have to make it feel and look like new!
