Good morning health lovers!
Well, I did it. I made my first ever Swiss Chard Green Monster this morning!
I was a bit scared of Swiss Chard to be honest with you. I had always seen it in the grocery store, but was intimidated by it (same with kale). But I figured since I had had such success with kale, swiss chard would probably be the same!
Of course the health benefits appealed to me:
- Same family as spinach and beets
- In Season: June-August
- Bitter, pungent, slightly salty
- White, red, and yellow colours
- White stems are most tender
- Prevents Digestive Tract Cancers (like colon)
- High in Vitamin K, A, C, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Iron, E, Fiber, copper, calcium, B2, B6, protein, phosphorus, B1, Zinc, Folate, Biotin, Niacin, etc!
- HOLY MOLY BATMAN! I’ve stumbled across a super food here for sure!
Obtained from World’s Healthiest Foods.
And off I went…
I started off intending to only use 1 large leaf since they are so huge.
I decided to taste the stem that everyone warned me about!
And man was it bitter and salty!
I decided to leave out the bottom half of the stem and set it aside. Because I did this I actually used 2 chard leaves for more greens.
I put the stem away in the kitchen and I am going to sauté it with dinner. Maybe tomorrow I will see what it tastes like in a GM!
Going in..
The stems I put in the fridge:
Ta-Da:
The taste?
- Very similar to my green monsters with kale!
- I could detect the chard in there, but ever so slightly
- It did have a saltier taste, which would go well with fruit
- I will definitely be buying this on a regular basis!
It is a great way to mix up your greens. They all provide us with different levels of nutrients so it makes sense to mix them up like any other veggie.
You may have noticed the new OSG BBBC page that I created last night! A reader suggested that I create one and I thought it was a fabulous idea.
I also created a clickable image on the left sidebar for your BBBC viewing pleasure!
Each day I will log the daily challenge on this page. I am also going to try to post the next’s days challenge the night before because I know many of you workout first thing in the morning and you’d like to know what the challenge is.
I’ve had over a 100 of you sign up to participate..probably about 125-150 or so? I need to do a tally! The response has been amazing!
Remember you can still sign up! You don’t have to send me a picture or measurements. I know many of you aren’t comfortable with that, and I respect that. Participate in a way that makes you feel GOOD and go from there! Please email me [email protected] if you are going to join in on the fun!
OSG BBBC Challenge Day 4: If you are doing cardio today try to break one bad habit that you have. Do you hold onto the handles or bars on the machines? Don’t do this today. Do you have bad form when running? Stand up straight and perfect your stride. When we get tired our bodies often find ways to burn less calories without us even knowing it. Let’s end it here! For the triceps: do 3 sets of tricep dips for as many reps as you can handle.
Quote of the Day
“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards; they try to have more things, or more money, in order to do more of what they want, so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are, then do what you need to do, in order to have what you want.” ~Margaret Young
Today’s question: Are you being true to yourself and being who you really are? Why or why not? What holds you back? Or, what was the catalyst for setting you free?
For so long I ignored that little voice inside my head. It tried to tell me what my passions were in life, but I ignored it and did what I thought was ‘the proper thing to do’. If I go to grad school, I will get a good job, and make good money. However, ignoring this voice leads to unhappiness and unfulfillment. Once I started listening to that voice my whole life changed. When you do what you love and are passionate about you feel like your life’s purpose is being created. I love the saying “Do what you love and eventually when you get good enough at it, people will pay you for it.” So true, eh?
your green monster looks so pretty today!
Glad you liked the Chard!!
OH i posted a cookie recipe on my site yesterday you might like…its easily multiplied for larger quantities :)
Happy to hear the Swiss chard was a hit! I wonder how beet greens would be in a monster? Good, I bet! That’s another “green” that I love!!
The cardio habit that I will be breaking today is spped. I tend to get into a competition with myself to see how fast I can go and how many miles I can get in. By Friday I’m burnt out and achy. Today, I will lower the speed and enjoy the run!
Swiss chard has always intimidated me…now maybe I will get up the nerve to try it out!
Be sure to read my comment on your previous post, about chard!! :-)
By cutting out all cardio, and ONLY doing yoga (daily) and strength-training (5 days a week with my trainer), I’m finally listening to my body and being truer to myself.
YUM! Your GM looks great! I love Swiss Chard. I will have to try it in one of my upcoming GMs. Maybe I’ll pick some up today since I’m fresh out of kale after this morning’s GM.
I really like your question of the day and thoughts about that -Exactly what I’ve been thinking about lately. Accounting isn’t my passion – my goal right now is to find a way to cut back to part-time and spend a few afternoons pursuing my passions. I’m working on grad school, thinking about blogging, and I talked to my pilates teacher about learning to teach. They are very small steps but I already feel more in control of my life, not just going through the motions. Now if only my parents wouldn’t roll their eyes at me when I talk about this then I’d be good to go. :-)
I love Swiss Chard! I’ve never tried it in a green smoothie though…great idea!
Hey Ange, I know your all about “not” counting calories. But I was just curious about how many calories are in the green drinks that you are always having for breakfast.
Ohhh being true to myself. I’d say that’s one I fail at…
it took a long time to start listening to my own self rather than everyone else. i went through a time a few months ago where i was having to completely turn my life around because parts of it were falling apart. i decided i would make 2009 the “year of me” and it has totally inspired me to do what makes me happy. my hubby bought me a dslr camera to help turn my photography passion into a reality. i am now working to make this a weekend job. i am also currently working on my nutrition and wellness certificate so i can hopefully do consulting as a full time job. angela, you were definitely an inspiration behind the decision of following my dreams and doing what makes me happy. thanks so much!!
I think listening to yourself is something that we all have to learn. Some of us are lucky to start learning it young (usally post college) and others take much longer… I feel pretty good that I am learning now.
My swiss chard has red stems!
Hmm. I believe I am being true to myself in most aspects! The only thing I struggle with is being outgoing like my two besties. They’ll go up to people and ask to hang out, and I’ve always felt like I could never do that. Yet, if I was dared to go poke someone on a bench that I didn’t know and run away, I’d have no problem. I think the thing that holds me back from asking to hang out with some stranger is my fear of rejection, my fear that I won’t have anything to talk about thus making an awkward moment, and my constant comparing to my two besties.
Buuut, being optimistic ol’ me, I’ll get the hang of it one day. I’m starting to become more outgoing by talking to new people and I’m not afraid to say hello to someone! :D I know I’m a valuable person worth making friends with people, I’m a fantastic listener, and an awesome person to talk to once I get to know someone. I just need to put my fears behind me and go for it!
And that swiss chard looks like something I could hind behind. Maybe celebrities should start buying two and then when the paparazzi comes, they can hide behind the leafs, then later on go make a green monster with one! :O
I love your quote of the day and your question! I actually blogged about something similar the other day – I’ve struggled in the past with being true to myself and doing what’s best for me and what I want. Instead I would often do what I thought others expected of me, even if it wasn’t what made me truly happy (for instance, I started out majoring in bio in university even though I preferred other things but my parents thought that degree was a “proper” one). I’ve finally come to the realization that I need to live for me, so hopefully I can do that! I’m rethinking my goals for grad school and I’ve decided to let my happiness guide me instead of pressures from others or which route makes the most money.
This green monster is a must try Angela. Thanks for sharing
I’ve been really fortunate to have parents who tell me to just do what I love. When I wanted to be a fashion designer, my mom helped me with sewing. When I wanted to be a journalist, they encouraged me to work at a magazine. Now, I’m going for marketing, which is very….so-so. But hopefully I’ll be able to apply it to whichever path I choose, since it’s so versatile!
i love swiss chard, but I’ve never tried it in a smoothie!
No…I’m not always true to myself. I have that “job after school” and yes it’s paying the bills, but I am not happy or fulfilled. My husband is still in grad school, though, so I don’t have a real choice to quit and look for something else since I have all the benefits, insurance, etc. It is hard, but passion or not, leaving when he’s not done with school yet is just not a good idea and would just put us in a horrible situation.
I am with Brandi except my husband works too and we’re both in school. My job is very unfulfilling and it makes me sad to think of doing this for years to come. I’m getting my degree in business right now because it’s the only degree I can get at night and still maintain my full-time job. We don’t live beyond our means at all but my job insures that we can put quite a bit of money in savings each month. I’m torn between letting that go and doing something that I love. Since the economy is so rough right now it seems I’m stuck and will be better off in the future if we have some money in savings. Luckily my husband is working on his MBA and will be done with school before I am…so we’ll see where we go from there.
I’ve never tried swiss chard, I’m intrigued!
BTW – Brandi, I’m sorry to hear about your situation! I can totally relate!
I love what you had to say at the end. I finally am following that now that I quit my job… let’s just hope it works out that I can get paid for doing what I love! :)