Hi Everyone!

I’m sure that you’ve already noticed that I’m a food junky! I always loved food from childhood, but I have to say that after my weight loss, I’ve learned to love and appreciate food even more!

I’m always on the hunt for the best ingredients and healthy food stock for my kitchen and pantry. After finding things I love, I feel that it’s my duty to share it with you to help boost your weight loss and overall health.

Trust me, when it comes to weight loss.. you’ll never catching me eating steamed chicken and broccoli. I have mastered the art of delicious healthy cooking that I forget I’m eating low fat, low carb or even sugar free

The following items that are on display can all be found in my pantry!

Organic White Chicken breast in water: Lean protein is essential for building lean muscles and great for suppressing that devil of an appetite. This 100 calorie option is perfect for me. I add a little low fat mayo, salt n peppa, glob of honey mustard and drop it in a whole grain wrap with some spinach and tomatoes. Mmmmm

Roasted Red Peppers: Yes this next one is low in calories, low in carbs and rich in Vitamin C, but most importantly, these pepper strips are delicious!! Add this to your chicken wrap, drop it in your omelette or just eat it straight! You can also make this at home, but roasting peppers with oil can pack on the calories.

Sexy Spices: Nothing drives me more wild than a spice rack! I bought a cute spice rack on sale from Bed Bath & Beyond that included 12 great spices like garlic powder, red pepper flakes, curry, cinnamon and other flavorful herbs. My food is always bursting with aromas and flavors. The more appetizing my food looks and smells, the more satisfied my taste buds are.

Canned Pumpkin Puree: I know that fall is over and Pumpkin is an Autumn harvest crop but I don’t care!!! I love me some pumpkin anything! You’ll always find pumpkin puree in my pantry. It’ low in fat and carbs, it full of beta carotene to help give my skin a healthy glow and it’s just so yummy too. Can you keep a secret? I think I have a pumpkin obsession lol. I love making guilt-free, sugar free pumpkin pudding, baked pumpkin oat muffins, and pumpkin protein shakes.. oh! And my newest recipe is the pumpkin ice cream!

Powdered Egg Whites: I do love my liquid egg whites too, but this powder is great for baking! Wanna make the best smoothie ever! Add a few tablespoons of this egg white powder to your protein shake and enjoy a creamier, smoother blend. Mmm..  oh, and don’t forget that this is also a great low fat, lean protein choice! You can find this in the baking goods aisle of the grocery store or order it online 

HEMP!!! OMG.. I love Nutiva’s Organic Shelled Hemp Seeds! A few months ago, I got a special package from Nutiva’s CEO John Roulac (Thank John!!!). My box included his newest Hemp protein powder, hemp oil, coconut oil (mm mmm) and my new pantry favorite, his shelled hemp seeds. This is a great protein option for vegetarians because it’s considered a perfect protein (contains all aminos similar to animal protein) and is packed with Omega 3′s. Hemp seeds taste so buttery and sprinkle perfectly on salads and my pumpkin ice cream!!! Click here to read more about the benefits of my dear hemp plant

PEANUT… peanut butter! It’s really hard to come across individuals that hate peanut butter.. The only issue with peanut butter is that its calorie packed and contains a lot of fat which may not be too friendly for a person trying to drop a few pounds.

Not anymore! When I was in Seattle a few months ago, I walked into Custom Smoothie, a nutrition store and found this jar on the counter: Powdered Peanut Butter that was only 50 calories for 2 tbsps and 75% less fat than regular PB.  If this tastes ok, then it would be a perfect substitute for a person following a low cal, low fat diet. Hmm… I was curious to try it so I bought a few jars. Of course it’s not as creamy and tasty as the real deal, but this powder was actually pretty, pretty, pretty good! I have been using it in my shakes and even mixing it with sugar free jelly to spread on whole grain bread. You can order this online

Magic Goji Berries! And the winner for the highest anti-oxidant rich food goes to… Goji!!!

Click here to read more details on the benefits of this fruit. A handful of these little guys a day provides me with a boost of anti-oxidant, phyto nutrients, Vitamin C and even a little protein. They’re a little tart but still good. I cook them in my morning oats, throw them in my smoothies or even sprinkle a few in my chicken sandwich.

I hope you enjoyed a peak into my pantry!

We would love to hear what’s in your pantry and why you chose those food items.

Love you all!

I believe that everything on this earth serves a purpose. We still haven’t figured it all out yet and we may never do, but I do know that the Cannabis plant is one of nature’s blessings providing medicinal, industrial and nutritional benefits. 
 
 
Protein is a major building block for the body, so I make sure to consume enough quality protein to maximize my fitness results. One of my preferred protein sources is HEMP.
No, you will not get high by eating hemp, but you will feel the other nutritional benefits that it offers.
 
There’s a huge misperception about the difference between the controversial Mary Jane and industrial hemp. Yes they both do come from the same species of Cannabis Sativa L. plant, but they are different in variety.
 
Marijuana is the flowering top and leaves of a certain variety of Cannabis that is grown for both recreational and medicinal purposes, and contains high amounts of THC.
 
Industrial hemp however, contains very low amounts of THC and is grown for its seeds and fiber. Hemp is legally grown in most industrialized countries, but the US still imports it… No comment.
 
Hemp is a superior perfect protein that contain ALL 20 Amino Acids. It truly is well balanced, containing proteins, carbs and fats. Good fats that is! Hemp is known for its essential fatty acids, showcasing Omega 3,6 &9.
 
With its high fiber content, hemp is great for stabilizing blood sugar and aiding in weight loss. Labeled as an anti-inflammatory food, hemp boosts natural energy, improves circulation, reduces blood pressure and so much more.
 
Hemp comes in many forms from milk, oil, powder to delicious nutty seeds.  Unlike other forms of milk such as soy and cow’s milk, hemp is easier to digest and will not cause bloating or gas.
 
According to studies, there are no known allergies to hemp.  So, if you’re lactose intolerant or allergic to nuts then DRINK & EAT UP!
 
Hemp oil has also been shown to be more superior than all other oils including canola, fish and olive oil.
 
I have been addicted to hemp products for the last few years. I love my chocolate hemp milk blended into a shake, hemp oil drizzled on a crisp lettuce salad, and hemp seeds sprinkled on top of my fruit and yogurt. SIMPLY DELICIOUS!
 
I recently attended a Harvest Festival in my area and was introduced to some of the tastiest hemp products ever!
 
I knew that Hempzels was going to be showcasing and selling their products that day, so I made sure to set up a meeting with  owner Shawn P. so I could further discuss his brand.
 
Shawn was very pleasant and knowledgeable about his hemp creations. He had a tempting showcase of mouth watering products from sesame pretzels, hemp butter, hemp jam, hemp mustard to peanut butter filled hemp bites. 
 
Shawn continued to talk as he let me sample his original hemp pretzels. Oh my! That’s all I have to say. These hempzels were protein packed, low in sugar and contained a generous amount of fiber. 
The peanut butter filled bites were wrong! They melted in my mouth. I kept thinking how great they would be for a pre-workout snack. Just a handful of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ended buying everything!
The next day, I ended up spreading a little hemp butter and hemp jam on my apple for my breakfast treat.  
For lunch, I squeezed some of the mustard on my turkey, and later that night, I over indulged in the sesame pretzels as I watched a thrilling episode of Dexter.
My portion control angel abandoned me that night. It’s ok.. I worked it off at the gym the next morning. 
 
So, I hope I didn’t make you too hungry but I highly recommend that you start incorporating hemp products in to your diet. If you already consume “hemp”, I would love to receive some great recipes from you.
If you are in the mood to laugh your @*!# off right now, click on the video below. Comedian Kat Williams educates his audience on the “other” Cannabis variety.
 
WARNING Parental Discretion is Advised. If your boss is around, you might want to wait until you get home tonight.
 

Protein

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
• Whole Chicken
• Tuna (water packed)
• Fish (salmon, sea bass, halibut)
• Sardines
• Shrimp
• Extra Lean Ground Beef (92-96%)
• Ground Turkey or Chicken
• Protein Powder (low carb)
• Egg Whites
• Eggs
• Turkey bacon

 

 

Complex Carbs

• Oatmeal (Old Fashioned or Quick Oats)
• Sweet Potatoes
• Potatoes
• Beans (pinto, black, kidney)
• Brown & Wild Rice
• Cream of Wheat
• Whole Grain Pasta
• Barley
• Kasha
• Quinoa
• Rye
• Spelt
• Wheat berries

  

Vegetables & Fibrous Carbs

• Alfalfa sprouts
• Artichoke
• Arugula
• Asparagus
• Eggplant
• Beansprouts
• Green beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Chard
• Bok Choy
• Collard greens
• Cucumber
• Endive
• Green pepper
• Kale
• Kohlrabi
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Mustard greens
• Okra
• Onions
• Garlic
• Sweet Pepper
• Beets
• String Beans
• Spinach
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• Lemons
• Limes
• Radish
• Turnip
• Snap peas
• Squash
• Pumpkin
• Jicama

 

Fruits:

· Apple

· Pear

· Orange

· Apricot

· Cherry

· Plum

· Peach

· Blackberry

· Raspberry

· Blueberry

· Kiwi

· Watermelon

· Cantaloupe

· Honeydew

· Rhubarb

· Strawberry

· Fig

· Date

· Grapefruit

· Guava

· Lychee

· Coconut

· Mango

· Papaya

· Pineapple

 

 

Healthy Fats

• Natural Style Peanut Butter
• Olive Oil
• Safflower Oil
• Almonds
• Mixed nuts
• Hemp seeds
• Flaxseeds
• Flaxseed Oil
• Canola Oil
• Coconut oil
• Avocados

 

 Dairy & Eggs

• Low fat milk
• Low fat string cheese
• Low-fat cottage cheese
• Low fat plain yogurt
• Hemp milk
• Low or Non-Fat Milk
• Eggs
• Egg whites

 

Beverages

• Water
• Coffee
• Tea

 

Condiments & Misc.

• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Garlic salt
• Onion powder
• Parsley
• Oregano
• Basil
• Cilantro
• Chili powder
• Cayenne pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Allspice
• Paprika
• Ginger
• Cumin
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Dill
• Sage
• Celery salt
• Curry powder
• Lemon Juice
• All Natural Ketchup
• Mustard, yellow or spicy brown
• Low fat/ fat free Mayo or Cool Whip
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Salad dressing All Natural
• Low fat Butter or margarine
• Low fat Parmesan cheese
• Pickle relish
• Low sodium, Natural Steak sauce
• Natural Worcester sauce
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• Low Sodium Teriyaki Sauce
• Vinegar
• Honey
• Chili powder
• Sugar Free Maple Syrup
• Chili Paste
• Extracts (vanilla, almond, etc)
• Low Sodium beef or chicken broth
• Low Sodium Veg. broth
• Low Sodium Tomato Sauce
• Low Sodium Tomato Paste and Puree