Wordless Wednesday

Breakfast Salad and My Paleo Life

I'm trying to eat more vegetables in each meal. The best way I know to do this is with a salad. T asked how I would do this for breakfast. Breakfast salad of course! I've had fried eggs on a salad for dinner before but I've never eaten salad for breakfast.

First I tried it cooked because a cold breakfast makes me a little sad. This, however, makes me think that I'm losing some of the valuable nutrients that I should be ingesting. So this morning I went more raw. This is a really quick way to change up a normal salad for breakfast or dinner.

I cooked two pieces of bacon till crispy and chopped them up small. Then I fried an egg in some leftover bacon grease with a dash of 'Slap Ya Mama'. In a bowl put a handful of spinach and some diced tomatoes. Sprinkle the bacon on top and then slide the egg over it. If you keep the yolk runny you don't even need dressing for this.

On a related note I've been trying to keep more paleo this year. I've lost weight consistently each week. About 1-2 pounds each week. If you know me personally I'm not a big exerciser. I like to take walks with the dogs or play a few wii games. But, as far as running or jumping? ich! T loves to exercise and has lost a ton of weight and looks amazing with the same diet. (since I do most of the cooking he eats what I do just in larger portions) I feel healthier and happier than I have in a long time. On cheat days I go carb crazy and end up feeling sad, bloated, and my heart would race. To me this is enough of a testament to the paleo way. I know this is not for everyone. I'm not here to try and convince you to change your lifestyles. All I want to do is share with you my successes with only one little change.

I've eaten this way on and off for about a year. Not very faithfully. As a teacher we get all kinds of carb heavy treats at work from the staff or kids. It's so easy to say I'm just going to have a little right now. A New Years resolution I made is eating a lot more strictly. I still love my chocolate but I try to keep it down to once a day and dark chocolate only. I've noticed that not only do I feel healthier but my cravings have changed.

I don't crave sweets and bread like I used to. I still love bread. I think I always will. What I crave now are dark leafy greens. Hence, salad for breakfast. Or red meat, or berries. I attribute this to what my body needs at that moment not, what my brain wants.

I'm far from the model paleo diet. I still eat sweets. I have my off days where stress gets the better of me and I eat a package of cheezits. But, I'm getting better. And, even with these cheats here and there I'm still losing weight by not doing anything. I'm not hungry, I'm not hitting the gym and I'm not eating some crazy diet that is hard and expensive to follow, I'm not counting every calorie and tracking every item I eat.

I'm eating vegetables, meat, some fruit.
I'm not eating grains, high sugar foods, or legumes.

Easy?
I think so.

Salsa Eggs Muffins

I hate mornings. I especially hate to get up early for work. I'm a very grumpy gal when it comes to the A.M. Even my dog knows not to wake me up in the mornings. She'll go to my husband's side of the bed and get him to wake me. I just barely function enough to make it out the door in matching socks. That said, breakfast is a very important meal, and you are supposed to make it a good one. I however, would be content to sleep that extra 20 minutes and not deal with food. So I've come to a solution that allows me the extra sleep and a tasty breakfast. Egg "muffins".

These particular eggs had all the makings of a good salsa, hence the name. However I've made these with spinach, tomatoes, curry powder, even cheese. I make a bunch of them on a Sunday and re-heat them for breakfast. I wanted to be a little fancier on these so I made a bacon cup first then poured in the egg mixture but a well greased muffin tin will work just fine too.

Salsa Egg Cups
8 beaten eggs (this made 5 egg cups)
1 diced tomato
1 handful of chopped cilantro
5 chopped scallions
1/2 -1 cup of frozen chopped peppers and onion (I love this pre-cut veggie mix during the winter months when you can't find any good fresh veggies)
8 pieces of bacon

Line the bottom of the muffin pan with bacon and weigh down with a small oven safe bowl.
Bake for about 20 minutes at 300.
While that is baking mix together the first five ingredients in a large bowl.
Pull out the muffin tray, carefully pour out excess grease.
Pour in egg mixture directly on top of bacon.
Bake in oven at 300 until cooked through, approx 30 min.

When done let cool completely on a cooling rack and then store in fridge for breakfast.

Tomorrow when you are grumbling through your morning you can grab an egg "muffin" and walk out the door with very little fuss.