A SUPERFOOD - FILLED DAY

  Check out an easy way to fit 10 healthy foods 
into your diet

Breakfast

• 1 cup whole-grain cereal, such as Fiber One or Post Grape Nuts, with 1/2 cup lowfat or skim milk.

  If Grape Nuts or Fiber One doesn't rock your boat I don't see anything wrong with other tasty cereals like Honey Nut Cheerios, Rice or Corn Chex, Cornflakes, Special K (vanilla is flavorful), Total, Wheaties, Honey Bunches of Oats, Quaker Oat LIFE original or brown suagr, Rice Krispies (Not to be confused with the "TREATS" version even though they are so good), KIX, Crispix, Smart Start - brown sugar, even opt for Raisin Bran Crunch with a nice combination of granola clusters with the raisins to add a healthy and delicious balance.

• Hot Black Tea

  I've never had Black Tea before but I am familiar with Green Tea and Mint Tea. I'm interested in knowing if anyone has had it before. Share your likes and dislikes in comments below

Snack

• 1 cup boiled, lightly salted edamame in the shell

Lunch

• Quinoa Salad 

COOK 1/4 cup quinoa, COOL and TOSS with 1/4 chopped red pepper, 1/4 cup shelled edamame, 1/8 diced onion, 1/8 cup dried tart cherries. For white wine vinaigrette dressing, WHISK together 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp white wine vinegar, 1 tsp Dijon mustard and a PINCH of sugar. ADD salt and pepper. MIX 2 tbsp dressing ( or more to taste ) into salad and SPRINKLE with 2 tbsp shelled sunflower seeds. SERVES 1

• Pomegranate cooler 

COMBINE 4 oz. juice with 4 oz. seltzer

It's been awhile but I've tried Pomegranate juice and if I remember correctly it is extremely tart. It will somewhat remind you of the tartness of cranberry juice if you have had it before. It's still refreshing and extremely good for you.

 Snack

• Two stalks of celery, CUT into 3-inch pieces and spread with 2 tbsp peanut butter

• Portobello Burger

 Gently RINSE 1 large cap and DRY. SLICE a few thick rounds from a medium onion. WASH and QUARTER a red pepper. MARINATE all veggies for 20 minutes in extra-virgin olive oil seasoned with minced fresh garlic, salt, pepper, and chopped rosemary (dried or fresh). BRUSH some balsalmic vinegar onto veggies and GRILL until soft, about 15 minutes on medium heat. SPREAD a whole-grain bun with Dijon mustard. PLACE mushroom on bun, TOP with equal amounts of red pepper and onion.

ADD a sliver of Parmesan. SERVES 1 

• 1/2 cup fresh cherries with 1 cup lowfat vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt sprinkled with sunflower seeds.

A  new yogurt on the market is Muller and I heard the one with fruit is exceptional so definitely try it. Another good yogurt I can not stop eating is ACTIVIA Vanilla. Buying it in the large container at Walmart for $2 was happiness for me until I couldn't find it anymore. It's been a few years, can't exactly say when the last time when I bought it in the large size. Now all I seem to find is the low-fat vanilla and it just doesn't have that same rich flavor as the original. I've tried it. Sometimes low-fat works and sometimes it just shouldn't exist. A certain amount of milkfat is what gives yogurt such a yummy flavor in the first place. If you've tried Muller, even the Greek version, what do you like or dislike about it? Share your foodie craves and tastes in the comments below.

Hot Item Suggestion : Cheeseburger Mac

An American Favorite!

Combining Cheeseburger with Pasta will always be a winner.

Especially for this foodie who can't get away from pasta. I've been collecting recipes for years. A common hobby my mother has also. The only problem is we have so many we store them, forget about the quick varieties we can pass time with, and result in cooking the same 'go-to' meals. Chicken and fish are at the top of the list because let's face it, black folks we are drawn to those two meats whether it's customary or ancestral.

 This macaroni dish is traditional Americana but it translates as "yummy" to all who eat it no matter what their background or cultural identity may be. When you're at the grocery store or supermarket notice the recipe tips/advice on the stands and counters? That's where this came from. If you have a Publix grocery store in your neighborhood take a moment to watch the Quick Meals demos when you walk in. Usually there's a recipe card for the meal being prepared & you can have a bite of the finished meal. Walmart also has recipe cards around the meat counter. Keep an eye out on making your dinner at home easy and quick to make. Happy eating!

 The total time to create this will make dinner time quick and in a flash and keep you from slaving in the kitchen too long. 

::Side Note:: This is an addition to if you already have a cheeseburger dinner kit.

1 pound ground beef

1 - 1/2 cups water

1 package (7 - 1/4 oz.) macaroni and cheese dinner

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup milk

8 to 10 dill pickle slices (optional)

1. HEAT large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add ground beef; cook 8 - 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Pour off drippings.
2. STIR in water & macaroni; bring to a boil.
3. REDUCE heat; cover and simmer 7 - 8 minutes or until macaroni is tender.
4. STIR in contents of cheese sauce packet, butter and milk.
5. COOK 1 - 2 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
6. SERVE beef mixture topped with pickle slices, if desired.

Hamburger Helper will always be a traditional family favorite and I'll never part ways with it! Especially when you can add your own toppings and vegetables to it. Amp it up and add fresh whole button mushrooms a couple minutes before serving. Sautee white, green, yellow, or red onions with the ground beef before adding cheese mixture, pasta, and cheese sauce.

Double Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper from blogger Melodee

Another version of this favorite is VELVEETA Skillet Dinners. I've never been a big fan of Velveeta cheese. It just didn't work for me after attempting to re-create the chip dip with salsa. As a risk-taker you just give-it-a-go so I bought it for less than $2 at Walmart (and you can catch it on sale at your local grocery store for close to the same price) and it was the most sinfully good cheesy version I've ever had. It is so good it's hard to stop eating. It's important to find that stopping point because like most boxed meals it's important to watch sodium and fat intake.

Image Taken from Sha's Life and Things She Loves