Oh dear me – dinner was a serendipitous masterpiece tonight! My original intent was to make some Margarita Pasta (pasta with tomatoes & basil) but I utilized some other ingredients in the house to make Creamy Bean and Vegetable Pasta!
I started by boiling some pasta in a pot and sautéing some garlic and onions in a skillet. After the onions were soft, I added in ~1/2 cup great northern beans (drained & rinsed) and some baby spinach leaves. While those warmed & wilted, I drained the pasta, added it to the skillet, tossed in some chopped campari tomatoes, a little bit of olive oil and vegetable seasoning. I sprinkled some fresh basil over the whole thing – and CHOWED down!
Oh.my.gosh. The warmed beans made the whole dish silky smooth. Beans are such a great ingredient to add to a lot of meals. They’re inexpensive, full of fiber and very filling!
BTW, did you know that Campari tomatoes are known for their lack of mealiness? Is there anything worse than a mealy tomato?
This dsih has definitely made it’s way into the kitchen hall of fame – minimal ingredients with maximum flavor. What more could you ask for?!
As a side dish…yep…I did it. I polished off the raspberries 
So much for being stingy with them!! These are the most sweet, luscious, melt-in-your-mouth raspberries I’ve ever eaten though! I wish I had about 14 other containers!
Mmmm, I am so satisfied right now – that was a booooomb dinner!! After I digest a little, I’m going to hit up the gym. I’m feeling the personal need to redeem myself from yesterdays running debacle and I’m feeling very optimistic tonight!
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So I read this article today that I thought was really great. I always see stories like "What to Eat to Lose Weight" or "10 Foods You’re Not Eating that You Should," but I feel like I’ve read them all and the information isn’t that new or relevant to me anymore. The article I read today, and really liked, was called "20 Ways to Eat Healthier Right Now." While a lot of the information wasn’t new I thought the whole package of tips is great! Of all the ideas on how to eat healthier, here are my favorites:
1. The crunchier, the better.
Snacks that offer a big, satisfying crunch when you bite into them—we mean apples, celery, snap peas and nuts, not chips—keep your mouth busy longer than food you slurp.
2. You can always have more.
Tomorrow. A food shortage is not imminent. Besides, anything you eat after you’re full doesn’t even taste as good. “There is a toning down of taste buds after the first few bites,” says Linda Bacon, Ph.D., professor of nutrition at City College of San Francisco. And no one loves feeling stuffed.
3. Don’t drink dessert.
Brimming with vitamins! Bursting with energy! Store shelves are exploding with colorful, cleverly named drinks that sound healthy but are actually just sweetened water. Don’t let the labels fool you, Berman says. If it’s not skim milk, plain H2O or regular coffee or tea, it’s a treat.
4. Fuel up in the morning, not at night.
A car needs gas when it’s hitting the road, not when it’s sitting in the garage—so why do we have our biggest meal when the only energy burner on the agenda is working the remote? Instead, aim for a 550-calorie breakfast, a 500-calorie lunch, a 450-calorie dinner and a 100-calorie snack.
5. Cut yourself a break!
If you follow these rules most of the time but occasionally crave a fast food fix, a slice of pizza or a brownie, go for it. You can happily resume your healthy plan once you satisfy the urge. “We all have to relax a bit,” Drewnowski says. “If you want fried chicken now and then, enjoy it!”
I particularly like numbers 2 and 4. I tend to have a problem with #2 – when I taste something that is SO delicious, I gobble, gobble, gobble. I need to slow down and remind myself that this isn’t the last time I’m going to have the particular item. That it’s not going to disappear off the face of the planet – there will be a next time!
As far as #4 goes – I definitely follow the fuel up in the morning plan. If I don’t have an adequate breakfast, I tend to be less motivated at work and get super hungry and cranky way too early in the day. Not good for a working woman!
Anyways – I thought this was good information and that you might enjoy it…I know I did!
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What’s your favorite "eat healthy" tip? Whether it be from the list above, or from your own practices!
My favorite tip is to use herbs and spices in dishes, in the place of oils and fats. There is definitely a place in cooking for healthy fats such as olive oil, but in general – there is SO much flavor to be had in simple additions like garlic, thyme, cumin, chili powder, etc., etc.. The list goes on and on!
That looks amazing! I love beans, but for some reason haven’t tried adding them to pasta. Adding that to the grocery list now.
My favorite “eat healthy” tip is to eat every 2.5 hours to keep the metabolism up (to have 6 “meals” a day). My inbetween “meals” are usually yogurt or fruit or nuts or even a Larabar, but I feel they help me not get revenous (usually).
Oh and my other “eat healthy” tip is water. Water, water, water.
Mmmm, dinner looks wonderful as always.
Great tips! I think my best healthy living tip would be to always go for balance. I go with the 80-20 rule, 80% whole and natural foods and 20% of everything else.
They have actually done reseach that this 80-20 rule works brilliantaly in so many other aspects of life, not just eating.
Hope you had a lovely day girly!
I’ve never thought of adding beans to pasta – great idea to up the protein!!
I really also like #2 & 4 on your list – both things I’m trying really hard to work on. Food will ALWAYS be there!!
When I was in the process of losing weight, I would think of huge splurges in terms of miles ran. That frozen yogurt is like a 6 mile run – is it worth it? If it really wasn’t worth it to me, comparing the two definitely kept me from eating it! But of course it’s not great to deny goods foods like that ALL the time! What’s the point of living, right?!
That pasta looks so summery and delicious! I love those fresh berries, too. My eat healthy tips are to have a big salad with some protein on it as a meal–and make sure to add lots of different veggies! They’re delicious and take forever to eat, which I love! I also like big, healthy breakfasts to give me a great start to the day.
This is such an awesome post! I have been lurking your blog for way too long now, and this one made me want to come to the rooftop and shout out, “YUM!” That dinner is way up my alley, and THANK YOU for the sweet advice. That’s a decent article. I’ll remember that one.
Again, awesome information tonight.
Thanks
-Courtney
http://peacelovehealthiness.wordpress.com
Wow. I was pondering what to do with the contents of my fridge because of the unexpectedly cool weather and I ran across this post! I was going to make pasta salad but I did a hot version based on yours instead. It was quite tasty and very satisfying! We had homemade chocolate cake for dessert, though. But those berries look amazing!
I think #2 is the one I need to work on the most, but as I said earlier, I am going to try #4. Steel cut oats are waiting for me in the morning!
Anyway, I have learned that sweets are like a gateway drug for me; if I have a little, I can’t stop. Lately, I have been trying to not eat something sweet everyday so that I don’t overdo it. Hard right now, but I think it will be worth it!
I’d say an eat healthy tip is not to obsesses
Having a clear mind is so important for the body.
My eat healthy tip?… Carbs. Carbs. Carbs. I used to try to eat as few as possible, and finally I said screw it. My body wants them. Now, I eat whole grains only and I don’t restrict any veggies (even potatoes), and you know what? I dropped 15 pounds doing it!!!
Gotta say that my fave eating healthy tip/my mantra is “Eat by color!” I am not satisfied until I have a full spectrum on my plate:)
I find a lot of bloggers do the heavier earlier meals, I have a problem with it as I have grown up always having a calorie dense dinner, and I am so much hungrier in the evening!
what great tips! thanks!
That
Your dinner is gorgeous as always!
This may not be the ‘healthiest’ option, but I find that popping a piece of gum after a meal keeps me from going back for seconds. Works like a charm!
Great tips for starting out the day with less stress! I hate it when people in this house put away the toaster. We use it so much, it should just be installed into the counter and that’s that.
Eat slowly and savor everything. Let each bite sit in your mouth for a few seconds before chomping away. If you’re eating it, you must like it, and if you like it you should want the euphoria to last as long as possible, right? So take your time with your meal. Unless you’re in a rush there’s no excuse to hurry.
I like that recipe. I make dishes similar to that and throw some balsamic vinegar on it too for an extra kick. I bet the leftovers would make a great pasta salad!
Do you have a “menu” for the week to help you decide on meals and grocery shopping? I do every once in a while but am trying to get into the habit.
This post is too funny. I read these articles all the time as well. I agree completely about #2….that has been my problem to. It does help to remember that we aren’t in a food shortage here…especially with Halloween being tomorrow!
Mmm you’re so right on the balsam vin…I was going to add a splash but we were all out!
Oh, I didn’t answer your question! Yes, on Sundays before I go grocery shopping I look at the online ads for my grocery store, see what is on sale and make a menu for the week based on those items!