A Lovely Millet Mash


Life is busy -- work, class, clients, love, the ups and downs and the ins and outs of everyday life. Does it ever slow down? I guess it depends, but when you really think about it, life is busy AND life is good!   One struggle I deal with daily in this hectic and busy life is finding time to cook the healthy meals I love and enjoy.  When it comes to finding the time, it usually boils down to Sunday evening.  Sunday, with a little bit of planning, can be the best day to fit in cooking for a week's worth of eating. 

This weekend I bought Andrea Beaman's The Whole Truth, a healthy eating and recipe guide. I bought her book after completing her in person cooking class:  Eating for Sexual Vitality & Fertility.  Yup, that's right.  It was such a fun class! But that is a story for another time.  Anyway, I was thumbing through her book and found a recipe that made its way onto my table last night, with enough leftovers to last 2-3 more meals...now that is time and money well saved! The dish (or side, depending on how you want to eat it) is called MILLET MASH, which was perfect because millet has been on my "to try" list for some time.  Millet is considered the 6th most important grain, so being a health coach, it's simply something I must know about! And it is pretty good by the way...

Andrea Beaman's MILLET MASH
(with some additions)

1 Cup Millet
3 Cups Water
1/2 - 3/4 Head of Cauliflower
1 Onion
2 Tbsp EVOO
1 Tbsp Butter
Sea Salt to taste

Add-ons: Chopped Parsley & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

The recipe is simple...Cook the millet in water for 25-35 minutes. Saute the onions in the olive oil until translucent. Add the cauliflower florets w/ 3 Tbsp of water and cover for 10 minutes, until they are soft. Once the millet and the cauliflower are done, combine in a large bowl, sprinkle with some salt, add 1 Tbsp of butter and mash away!  Add on the parsley (2-3 Tbsp) and sun-dried tomatoes (about 3 Tbsp) and mash a little more.  Voila.  Delicious and healthy.

Just a little more on millet, wonderful millet.  As I mentioned it is considered the 6th most important grain in the world.  It has been around forever, and it is even referenced in the Bible. Millet, along with rice is a traditional grain of Asia. It is gluten-free, high in fiber and protein, and has a plethora of important minerals like manganese, phosphorus and magnesium.  It even has tryptophan, an essential amino acid that is needed to synthesize protein.  Besides synthesizing protein, we all recognize tryptophan as a Turkey Day special.  Tryptophan helps us to sleep better, it regulates our eating, and it enhances our moods (www.whfoods.com).  Ahhh, isn't millet wonderful?

These are some great links to check out if you would like to learn more about millet:





Pizza & Yoga & On the Go!



Pizza and then some yoga...that is how the night progressed.  I wouldn't recommend it in that order necessarily, but nonetheless, it happened and it was very pleasing. First there was the pizza, but not just any pizza -- it was healthy pizza.  Of course it was. I only had an hour to eat, change for yoga, and then drive to yoga....so the eating as well as the prep time had to be fast.  For the quick and healthy pizza, I reached for a spinach wrap...and then put to use whatever veggies I could find -- minced garlic, arugula, and fresh tomatoes...

Quick, Easy & Cheese-Free Pizza

Wrap of any kind
Veggies of any kind
Tomato sauce of any kind
Salt & Pepper or spice of any kind
An oven at a high temp

I had the oven at about 475 degrees. I toasted the pita on both sides for about 2 minutes. Then I spread out the sauce and decorated the pie.  Then popped it back in the oven for about 5 -8 minutes. Voila.  


And then there was yoga...
My sister and I went to Yogaworks for a "Yoga Basics" class and it was fantabulous.  We got some great stretching in and some very nice (and slow) instruction.  When we arrived for class the lights were dimmed and there was tranquil spa-like music playing.  The lights came on for class and then as class ended they dimmed again and the music came on to close out the evening.  It was lovely and relaxing and oh so enjoyable.  And now...with the eleven o'clock hour fast approaching, it is time to get some shut eye.

I'd love to know...what are some quick and healthy meals that you turn to when you are on the go?  I think a lot of people struggle to eat healthy foods when the the clock is ticking against them.  It would be so great to have options that are 1) healthy 2) easy and 3) tasty....



The End of the Eating Season...

So Long, Farewell...

As the Easter holiday comes to a close, it is time to celebrate or mourn the end of the eating season. The weather is getting warmer, the birds are chirping and it is time for the animals and us humans to emerge from hibernation.  It is time to shed our winter coats and the extra pounds our bodies embraced in the colder months.  As we spend more time outdoors under the sun, our natural inclination for heavy, hot and filling meals declines. Thank God. Our bodies now crave lighter, cooling foods, like fruits, vegetables and of course the dreadfully irresistible ice cream.  


This is the time of year to embrace our bodies natural tendencies to want to lighten up --both physically and mentally.  Take advantage of the great outdoors -- soak up some of the sun's mood-enhancing vitamin-D. Go for a run, go for a bike ride, plant a vegetable garden.  Enjoy lighter foods like fresh pineapple, cantaloupe, mango and strawberries. Eat more salads.  Drink more water!  And yes, maybe, just maybe, an occasional bowl of ice-cream.  Now is the time when the body and mind actually work in our favor...


So let today be the day you eat your last jelly bean or chocolate bunny or Robin's Egg.  It's time to shape up, ship out and shed some layers...


What is one food that you will say farewell to this month?  What is one new food you cannot wait to enjoy in the warmer months?



About Me

Christine
New York City
Welcome! My name is Christine and I have landed here to share my love of healthy living and eating. I live in NYC where I am currently enrolled in the School of Integrative Nutrition. I am already certified as a holistic health coach and I have started seeing clients to help them reach their wellness goals. I started hot mama health to share the idea that it is fun to be healthy! Health is an adventure with endless foods to taste, exercises to explore, and challenges to meet! If you do not already feel this way, I hope that I can bring you into the light or at least stir a little inspiration here and there.
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