We started it with a party and great food and music. Our house guests stayed on until January 4th, and then we got into a new year routine, and then had house guests again the next week! Now we have another week of “normal life” until we head to Florida next week. That said, in between the fun and the house guests and the rich foods, I’ve been making some awesome discoveries for the new year. And I’ve been feeling great. I know it might seem repetitive to some, but planning better nutrition, fitness, morning and afternoon routines in the new year is crucial to me. I get WAY off schedule in late December – with said parties and house guests. And discovering new products and routines has been everything to me.
Three Fun Discoveries to Explore in the New Year:
1 – We discovered…a stream on our property! That was SO exciting! We have four acres, which seems like a lot in a city (little city) but a lot of it is forest and driveway. So that makes it extra special when we discover something new on our own property! Honestly, it was my husband’s life dream to have running water behind our house and he didn’t even realize we did. Now our spring and summer goals are to discover where it comes from – since we only know where it winds up – and to add a bench, fairy gardens, and the like. And our dogs were also incredibly happy to find this stream too! (it’s near here:)
2 – I discovered…working away from home! Whoa, what a concept! I’ve been a work at home mom for five years now and it’s fascinating. I learn something new every day. I’ve also learned it’s such a novelty to work outside the home. As a photographer and writer, I’m fairly limited to being home because I need my large desktop computer for heavy writing and photo editing. For blogging, I can take my phone everywhere but it’s not quite the same. Recently I purchased my first laptop computer and it’s so sleek and light and awesome. Now I can pack a lunch and head to an office away from home!
3 – I discovered…Healthy Choice morning Power Bowls and vegan and vegetarian Power Bowls. These are the best! I love these meals, because they’re nutrient-dense and are quick and flavorful. I love the well-balanced ingredients – like proteins, grains, and leafy greens. I’ve been inspired by Healthy Choice for years now. Over a decade! I think they always make foods you want to eat and they put thought into ingredients and flavors. Take, for example, their Falafel & Tahini variety!
It tastes so good that my husband kept eating it and I had to keep buying it to replace it. It’s that good. Speaking of which, let’s talk about Healthy Choice and their vegan and vegetarian Power Bowls. They have bold and exotic flavor combinations, and include 10-16 grams of protein and 7-16 grams of fiber in each bowl. I love how each flavor features a combination of vegetables, legumes and whole grains. The Falafel & Tahini flavor has falafel with red onions, tomatoes, chard, kale, and spinach – served on top of brown & red rice, red quinoa and black barley with a sesame tahini sauce. YUM! I always try to make a good veggie bowl at home, but they’re nothing like this. It has SO much flavor and I love to smell it cooking.
Then there are the morning Power Bowls. If you’re like me, you need quick, nutrient-dense additions to your breakfast time, and who doesn’t love a good bowl? All of their flavorful recipes include purposeful ingredients for a well-balanced meal of proteins, leafy greens, ancient greens, and steel cut oats, among others. My Roasted Red Pepper & Egg White Shakshuka has egg whites with red bell peppers, onions, chard, kale, and spinach. It’s served on top of steel cut oats, farro, buckwheat, and red quinoa with a spicy tomato and red pepper sauce topped with feta cheese. I’m not a sweets girl in the morning.
Mainly, what I love is that each ingredient matters in Healthy Choice Power Bowls. And not only that, but the serving bowls themselves are made from a plant-based fiber that is recyclable. These wonderful mixtures of ingredients make me happy!
