Lean and Green for Dinner, and Why....

When you wake up and look at your day think of it like an ALLIGATORS mouth like this > start your day off with the biggest meal and slowly decrease in size. Think about this, you wake up, your rushed dont eat breakfast, maybe grab some lunch on the go then you get home and you are 1. Tired and Exhausted, 2. ready to just relax and wind down 3. you are STARVING! you then continue to eat a huge meal and fall asleep. Its the way we grew up, dinner- big meal. Your body is beginning to slow down at night, when you eat a lot and go to bed, yes your body continues to burn calories even while you sleep but not as much as durning the day. Therefore, most of it will be stored and little will be used for energy (mostly likely stored as fat). So, begin to eat a bigger breakfast. Stick with your snacking all day long. You wont be ‘STARVING’ at night for dinner. And, try and eat little or no carbohydrates for dinner. (these carbs include- potatoes, pastas, breads, crackers). Why no carbs? The reason is this, Your body does not need the carbs for fuel. So omit them, you will wake up hungry in the morning and you will devour a breakfast of champions. balance your meals with 3 parts: protein, healthy fats, and carbs (mostly from fruit/veggies). sum it up: Dinner = protein & greens! > alligator mouth. & continue to eat 6 meals a day. drink a lot of water.

This salad is a great dinner option!  It keeps you full and satisfied without weighing you down.  Quinoa is a complete protein and a clean carb.  The Garbanzo beans also add protein and fiber.  The vegetables are full of vitamins,  Fiber, and all sorts of good stuff.  You can add grilled chicken also for some added protein.

Balsamic Quinoa Vegetable Salad

-1 C dry Quinoa, (cooked in 2 cups water, add salt & pepper to taste)

-1 1/2 C chopped carrots

-1 1/2 C chopped broccoli

-1 can low sodium Chickpeas (garbanzo beans)

-1 C sliced mushrooms

-1/4 chopped red onion

-1 large cucumber sliced, and quartered

-1 bell pepper chopped 

-2 celery stocks, sliced

-1 Cup cherry tomatoes, halfed

-Homemade Balsamic Vinegar dressing (1/3 balsamic, 1/3 C apple cider vinegar, 2 Tbs olive oil)

Directions:

Mix all vegetables in large bowl, add cooked Quinoa.  Pour dressing on (as much flavor as you like) and stir around to coat entire salad.  Can add to spinach or lettuce or just eat as is.  Could add cooked chicken for some extra Protein.