Attune Foods' LinksSix years ago when I first embarked on my online journey, I had no idea what a profound effect it would have on my health. Diet and fitness have always been great interests of mine; I read any and all nutrition books that I could get my hands on. But from the moment I typed my first sentence on Go Dairy Free, I was no longer simply taking in the various concepts of health, I was sharing my own. The ability to talk outwardly has opened my mind to new concepts, enabled me to help others, and held me accountable. It has furthered the health of my family in ways I never thought possible, which is why I do believe in making resolutions. Whether it is the first of the year, or ten months in, the idea of setting goals makes a statement that you can reference and grow from.
To keep it realistic and specific, I’ve set three healthy living goals for myself to kick off 2011:
1) Walk Daily – This is actually a goal I’ve made and accomplished every year for the past five years, but it is so important to me that I want to keep making it. As a rule, if it is within a one-mile radius of our home (or even 2 miles), we walk. I log 2 to 3 miles a day at a minimum (often with groceries in tow). It definitely helps my health in so many ways, including getting in some quality relaxation time with my husband. Who says you can’t resolve to continue doing something that makes you feel great?
2) Wake Up More Slowly – My daily routine goes something like this: roll out of bed, turn on my computer, put some tea on, and dive into my emails. This head-first approach not only limits my accomplishments during the day, but also throws me into the stress before I’ve even had time to wake up and plan my day. As of today, my new routine will hopefully go something like this: roll out of bed, make the bed, do 5 to 10 minutes of light yoga or stretching, put on some tea, sit down with a pen and paper to make my plan for the day and then get to work (which may or may not require jumping on the computer!) I have no doubt that taking some time each morning to fully wake-up and get organized will improve my productivity and my sanity by leaps and bounds.
3) Recreate Favorite Meals at Home – I’m not going to lie, I work from home so I love eating out. It is not only a treat, but a much needed break. Nonetheless, sometimes our “treat” of once or twice per week balloons to four or even five dinners out. Nothing at home sounds good or I’m simply too frazzled to cook. Sound familiar? I actually want to rid myself of the notion that home-cooked meals must be uber-healthy and complicated. Sometimes simple and satisfying is the best way to go, and still much healthier (and friendlier to the wallet) than eating out. If we have a burger craving, why pay $10 at a restaurant and wonder where the meat came from and if the bun has high fructose corn syrup? It is easy enough to make at home, and at the very least, I can ensure better quality ingredients. To get started, I’ve referenced back to some of the comfort food recipes I’ve posted on my blog over the years, and the recipe below popped out as an easy old favorite that I made after I spotted fish and chips on a local restaurant menu.
Oven “Fried” Fish Filets
This recipe is Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Soy-Free, Sugar-Free, Low Fat, and optionally Gluten-Free. Did I mention it is positively delicious too? Recipe from www.alisacooks.com.
- 10 Ounces Fish Fillets (I used Hoki, but any thin white fish filet should work well)
- 1 Tablespoon Dairy-Free Margarine (I used Earth Balance Soy-Free)
- 1/4 to 1/3 Cup All-Purpose, Whole Wheat, Spelt, Chickpea, or other Gluten-Free Flour (I actually used oat flour – oats ground in my spice grinder to a powder)
- 1 Egg (feel free to substitute one “flax egg” if eggs are a problem for you)
- 1 Cup Cornflakes, crushed or whizzed into crumbs (I used Erewhon Organic Corn Flakes)
- 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
- 1/4 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper (black or white)
- 1/8 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
Preheat your oven to 400ºF.
Baste both sides of your fish fillets with the margarine, and sprinkle them with the flour until lightly coated.
Beat the egg in a shallow dish, and briefly set it aside.
Combine the corn flakes and all of the remaining ingredients (I actually combined the flakes and spices / salt in my spice grinder and gave them a few good pulses to turn the corn flakes into crumbs and combine everything), and place them in a large zip-top baggie.
Dredge one of the fish fillets through the egg (both sides), place it in the zip-top baggie and give it a good shake to coat, remove and place it on a baking sheet. Repeat with remaining fillets.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the filets. You may opt to flip them midway, but mine worked well without the flip.
Yields 2 healthy “fried” entrees
Be well!
Alisa
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