Eat Your Wellness: [RECIPE] Creamless New England Shrimp Chowder

I got a Dutch Oven from my Grandmother for Christmas and to say I love it would be an understatement! This sucker is a life saver... well, it's really a time saver, which, to me, is everythinggg!!

With it being winter, and me being a curry lover, I searched for curry recipes online and found one for Curried Cauliflower Soup - what? OK! And that's the thing... I made it, and it was just OK... I felt like I was eating a cream soup, like spoonfuls of New England Clam Chowder minus the clams and potatoes and all the chunks of flavor we love it for. That's when the lightbulb went off... I'll make a mock chowder! So I did. And it was bomb. Here's how I did it:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups chopped cauliflower
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped
  • 3 cups organic vegetable broth
  • 1 cup organic coconut milk
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 1/2 tsp turmeric
  • 2 large carrots, peeled
  • 2 medium potatoes, cut into large chunks
  • 2 cups of (thawed) shrimp, cut into small chunks

Instructions:

  • Heat oven to 375 F
  • Spread chopped cauliflower & onion over baking sheet, drizzle in Olive Oil, (I used a chili infused olive oil for extra heat), then sprinkle with a little bit of salt.
  • Roast these veggies in the oven for about 20 minutes. When you see the Cauliflower start to brown, they're done.
  • While they're roasting, mix the veggie broth, coconut milk, & spices, then throw them into the dutch oven.
  • When the cauliflower and onions are finished roasting, add them to the dutch oven, then bring it all to a boil.
  • Let it boil 5 minutes, then remove from the heat.
  • As it cools, boil your carrots & potatoes to preferred softness.
  • While they boil, chop up your shrimp into preferred bite size.
  • When carrots & potatoes finish, chop them into preferred bite size.
  • Hopefully now your soup will have cooled enough. Time to blend it into a paste, (I used my Nutribullet!).
  • Dump the curried cauliflower paste back into the dutch oven, add the shrimp, carrots & potatoes, season with black pepper to taste, (and maybe warm it up a little again if it's cooled off too much).
  • Serve & enjoy!

Momma B: Your Life, Your Story

I once suffered from daily headaches and chronic migraines. Yes, daily. I lived with it for so long, I became accustomed to it and told myself I needed to get use to living with the daily pain. I tried for many years to find relief from them; I saw several specialists, had a ton of tests done and tried more medications than I can remember. Nothing ever worked.  I got frustrated that doctors couldn't seem to help me, so I took responsibility for my own fate and started experimenting with solutions on my own.

The turning point for me was when I realized the true meaning of nourishing my body. Choosing foods with five ingredients or less wasn't enough and avoiding foods with artificial colors and preservatives wasn't enough either. I had to learn how to provide my body with the nutrients it needed to function efficiently and pain free. For so long I had been focused on what to avoid: fatty, high calorie and dyed, preserved foods. Suddenly I realized I didn't need to focus on what to avoid nearly as much as I needed to focus on what not to go without. I knew I was in for a challenge. 

Our stories keep us stuck. For so long I told myself I was doomed to live with chronic migraines, without realizing that pain is our body's way of telling us something isn't right. Instead of taking more medications to mask the pain and ignoring the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, we need to understand that our symptoms, pain and disease are our body's way of letting us know it's unhappy. When I realized that I needed to nourish my body, not keep track of calories, points or ingredients, my body started to heal. Not only did the daily headaches subside, but the chronic migraines did as well. 

Want your pain to go away too? Take charge of your own fate a decide to change the ending to your story. Each time you eat ask yourself: what vitamins and minerals am I feeding my body? Keep it simple! Focus on eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, in a variety of colors, and you'll immediately notice a huge difference in your energy and mood. Once you start speaking your body's language, things will continue to improve from there.

What kind of foods do you want to focus on ADDING to your diet? Tell me on IG/TW @simplypuzzlin!

B Well,

Momma B

Momma B: 4 Habits to Reduce Sugar Intake

How much sugar are you actually eating each day?

Have you ever taken the time to tally up the amount of sugar you eat in a day? I guarantee you will be shocked.

We all eat too much sugar! Even when I was reading labels to ensure I was eating five ingredients or less I was eating too much sugar! The recommended daily allowance for sugar is 25 grams. That is only 6 teaspoons, and it adds up fast. If you drink a small Dunkin Donuts Strawberry Coolatta in the morning on the way to work, you have already taken in more than your daily allowance. That drink alone has 58 grams of sugar! A small French Vanilla Ice Coffee has 24 grams of sugar. Those are examples of beverages we often drink along with our meals. Imagine, between the drink and food, how much sugar you consume in a single meal... It's no wonder we can't lose weight, right?! Sugar isn't merely keeping us fat though, it also plays a large role in the development of many devastating illnesses like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and many more.

Our bodies do require trace, (small), amounts of sugar to function properly, but the average American is consuming close to 130lbs a year of sugar a year! That certainly isn't a small amount. It's time to be more mindful of the sugar in our diet. Here are a few tips to reduce your sugar intake:

  • Eat regular meals. Do not skip breakfast! Start your day eating proteins and vegetables. This will help regulate your blood sugar levels so you'll avoid cravings for sweets throughout the day.
  • Eat whole foods. That means food in it's natural form, and, ideally, plant based - lots of fruits and vegetables.
  • Move your body! We often reach for sugary treats when we feel low on energy. Find your choice of movement to get endorphins flowing for a natural energy and mood boost. This can help reduce your sugar intake.
  • Get your sleep. As I mentioned above, one of the most common triggers for sugar cravings is being overtired. When we are sleep deprived, we reach for sugar to gives us energy. Get yourself on a regular sleep schedule, and be sure you are getting 8-9 hours each night, so that you wake up with ample energy for the day ahead.

Changing any one habit takes time. Focus on one thing from this list at a time to ensure these changes become habits that all contribute to your healthier lifestyle. Be kind to yourself and keep it simple! 

Momma B: Chew On This

Are you chewing your food or are you inhaling it? Did you know that chewing your food is just as important as the food you are eating?  Digestion begins in your mouth. When you don’t take the time to chew your food properly, your body won't digest as efficiently and you may experience all kinds of discomfort. The digestive enzymes found in your saliva begin the process of breaking the food you eat down, and preparing the nutrients for absorption. Chewing your food thoroughly is important for the maximum absorption of all the vitamins and minerals present in the foods you eat. When your food isn’t properly broken down, it can remain undigested and cause gas, bloating and indigestion. 

On average, most of us are only chewing each bite 8-10 times. This is not enough! We need to chew each bite at least 30 times.  This may sound like a lot, but the benefits you will get from one simple act is worth the extra time. This can help aid your digestion, boost nutrient absorption and help you maintain a healthy weight.

Aren't sure whether or not you're chewing enough? Start paying attention next time you eat to how many chews you do before you swallow. If you're far below 30 chews, make changes slowly: increase by 5 chews until you reach 30 for each bite. 

Here are more tips to help you improve your digestion by chewing:

- Put your fork down between bites. This way you don’t put more in your mouth while you're already chewing.

- Savor each bite. It's worth it! The more we chew the sweeter our food becomes.

- Turn off the TV and put away other electronics. Just focus on what you're eating. 

- Be kind to yourself! Creating new habits takes time. As long as you're not using your fork as a shovel, you're making progress :)