Week #3
Our Path to a Healthier Life
Week #3
Hello! Thanks for checking back with us as we travel down this path for a healthier life!
This week, Kyle weighed under 240 - he's 239!! IT'S WORKING! It really is working! Even Dr. Neel notice Kyle's weight loss! More about that in a sec...!
This week, we traveled over the weekend for my niece's wedding - this proved to a bit tricky but we did okay! Gone are the days that we can run to the Drive Thru for something to eat - how I miss that! There just aren't a lot of healthy food -"Plant Strong" restaurants out there - if you have one PLEASE pass it on!
This week's top pick
HEART HEALTHY RECIPE
for a plant-based diet is for a "cheese" sauce from cauliflower!
CAULIFLOWER "Cheese" SAUCE
This recipe is now my FAVORITE recipe (today!) I miss cheese! I love, love, LOVE this sauce on EVERY THING! It taste like cheese - but healthy cheese! We served it over pasta, then over steamed broccoli and small red potatoes, even mixed it with salsa and served with baked tortillas like nachos! Here's a chickpea salad recipe that I layered with this sauce & made a tasty quick sandwich... the link's - here!
Cauliflower "Cheese" Sauce
1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets (about 3 cups)
Unsweetened plain almond milk
1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced small
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 teaspoons minced thyme
¼ cup finely chopped basil
¼ cup nutritional yeast,
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Add the cauliflower to a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the cauliflower is very tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the excess water and puree the cauliflower using an immersion blender or in a blender with a tight-fitting lid, covered with a towel, in batches if necessary.
Add almond milk, if needed, to achieve a creamy consistency. Set the puree aside while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. Place the onion in a large skillet or saucepan and saute' over medium heat for 10 minutes. Add water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time to keep the onions from sticking to the pan. Add the garlic, thyme, and basil and cook for another minute. Add the nutritional yeast, nutmeg, and salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, or until heated through. Add the onion-garlic mixture to the cauliflower puree and blend until smooth, adding up to ½ cup of water if necessary to achieve a smooth consistency. ENJOY!
A question we often receive from family & friends while following a plant-based diet is:
"What is Nutritional Yeast and where can I buy it?"
This was a question that I also kept asking - because healthy recipes were calling for it over and over again. It's something that you usually will find on-line or at Natural Grocers or a health smart store.
Kyle had an appointment this week in Amarillo - I had a long list of things to buy that I couldn't find in our small town! Nutritional Yeast was one of the items on the list. It had been described like "parmesan cheese" with a nutty, salty taste! I was pleasantly surprised to find it fast and use it often! It's back on my list to buy again when able.
Kyle's first doctor's appointment was a success! We went to Amarillo on May 12 - just a month later after his heart attack. He was 14 pounds lighter and felt good. His SNORING had even stopped! Dr. Neel noted that sometimes it just takes losing some weight to end snoring - who knew?? He was interested in Kyle's diet - said he could add fish & chicken - fresh not processed. Also he didn't need to cut all caffeine either?!? He is allowing Kyle to exercise with a daily brisk walk for 30 minutes - no running yet allowed!
Over all - it was a good visit! We go back in June. Our objective is to get Kyle off of the blood thinner medication and the statins for cholesterol. Also aiming for blood pressure meds to be included too -
