A Day of Happy eating

Today I woke up over the moon , unreasonably happy and felt like I could take on anything! ,So I thought it a good opportunity to have a super Healthy Happy Feel Good Eating Day.

So I started the day with some exercise – I did some physical activity for 30 minutes – my kids have a trampoline – GREAT so I just jumped up and down frantically for 30 minutes , I even managed some somersaults (Yeahhh!!!) and yes ONE MID air somersault (WOOO HOOO!!!) If your child does not own a trampoline ( GET THEM ONE) , in the meantime in the absence of it just put some music on and dance around the house.

So after working up a sweat (Feeling great – Super proud of my trampoline skills but not sure if I will be able to walk tomorrow) I had a shower and proceeded to make a Green smoothie. (Yes I know some may be tempted to say that it resembles slimy frog pond water) But it does taste SOO MUUCHHH better ( Not that Ive ever tried frog pond water!!!) OK so I threw the following in the blender:

1 frozen banana
½ cup frozen mango
1 cup apple juice ( Fresh is best)
½ teaspoon spirulina
handful on spinach
I Blended like crazy until it was silky smooth , poured it into a fancy glass and BOTTOMS UP!!

For my mid morning snack I had a crisp apple with some peanut butter ( Make sure you get the good stuff – Our Healthy Delicious peanut butter has only freshly roasted peanuts and a touch of sea salt as the ingredient). To make it fancy I sliced the apple into rings, scooped out the middle bit and then smeared them with the peanut butter and sprinkled with chia seeds and coconut shreds. If you are at work you can tell everyone you are having donuts. MMMMM ( make sure you keep away from the workplace kitchen just in case there is a birthday and there is some disgusting chocolate cream cake staring up at you , screaming EAT ME! (Exception to this is if they have ordered a Healthy Delicious Birthday cake – then you can GO Crazy!!!)

For lunch:
A delicious green garden salad with almonds and sunflower seed pate. No its not bird food! But in saying that I am sure the birds will happily peck at any leftover seed pate.

Ingredients
Leafy greens of choice (Spinach, lettuce , baby beet leaves . parsley, coriander,etc.
Pate :
½ cup Soaked almonds
½ cup Soaked sunflower seeds
½ cup soaked pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoons fresh dill
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
½ teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Blend all ingredients for pate to form a course pate.
Arrange leafy greens on a plate top with a few spoons of pate and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
Any leftover seed pate can be stored in an airtight jar in the fridge. It should last for a week or so..

Afternoon snack
So I was tempted to have that pick me up coconut latte coffee. BUT I reasoned with myself that it will give me a migraine so in order to stay in my Happy, Happy Happy mood I settled for a green tea ( Hot – sweetened with a little honey as I can't really  stand the taste of cigarette ash- Don't know if anyone shares the same views with me on that one, would be great to know if you do). As I drank it I kept thinking of all those anti-oxidants and cancer fighting properties I was consuming. MMM Yummy!!

DINNER TIME
Steamed brown basmati rice with coconut creamed curry lentils.
Although it sounds long and fancy this dish is really quick and simple and truly delicious.You can substitute white basmati rice if desired but do note that there is more fiber and nutritional goodness in the brown stuff.

RECIPE
Ingredients:
Brown Basmati rice
1 cup Brown lentils
1 Onion diced
1 can (400 gms) Coconut milk
3 tablespoons Coconut oil
2 cloves Garlic minced
2 inches Fresh ginger
3 tablespoons Mild curry powder or HOT if you can handle it
1 teaspoon Sea salt
2 cups Grilled broccoli
2 cups grilled cauliflower florets

Directions
Firstly cook the lentils. Its best if you soak them overnight. Discard the water and rinse them well. Put them in a pot with 3 cups of water and cook for about 25 to 30 minutes on medium heat until they are soft but not mushy. Once cooked – rinse and keep aside.

To grill veggies , cut them into florets , toss with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil a touch of salt and lay on an oven tray. Cook on oven grill on 220 degrees for about 15 minutes.

In a frying pan heat a couple tablespoons of coconut oil. Add the onion and sauté for a couple minutes. Then add the garlic, ginger, spices and salt. Cook for a couple minutes then add the cooked lentils. Stir in order to ensure well coated and then add the coconut milk . Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Add the cooked broccoli and cauliflower florets and turn off the heat.

To serve place some rice on a plate top with curry and then garnish with chopped cilantro.

ENJOY!!

So after my Healthy eating day , I decided to have a bath , read a funny book and have an early night.

If anyone out there is up for the challenge of replicating my eating day it would be great to hear your comments if it made you feel GREAT!!

But in saying that, I would also like to hear from those of you who didn't do the whole day but selected a recipe they liked.

Happy Happy Eating !!!!