POM Quinoa Parfait

Hi Friends 🙂
 
My new friend Craig is the best! We have gotten rid of a few items and I’ve gotten lots of interest on the rest of the junk treasures. Hopefully by the end of this week we’ll have a few more items listed and the garage will be almost empty…
 
It was pretty chilly and super windy here in MN today. So I was definitely thinking “fall” and “comfort food” when I made breakfast. I decided to use some of my POM juice in a new way:

Why can’t I cook quinoa in POM juice? I thought I’d give it a try. And it turned out wonderful! I think quinoa is such a cute grain — I love the shape and the fluffy texture. I layered my POM quinoa with sliced strawberries, unsweetened applesauce, golden raisins and pecans.

I think I want to tweek the amount of POM/water to quinoa ratio, but it definitely sweetened the quinoa and tasted nice with the applesauce. 

So I got to watch Thintervention and I liked it way more than the Biggest Loser. I like that it is not a competition between contestants and I like that Jackie talked about FOOD! On The Biggest Loser, the contestants exercise all day long. Then we have a brief moment where Bob or Jillian talks to the contestants about drinking milk, Brita water, whey protein, cheerios, etc. It is all commercials for their sponsors. Unless I always miss that episode, BL doesn’t talk much about diet or food. It is all about the exercise.
 
But I think that DIET is so much more important than exercise when it comes to losing weight. I can easily eat 1000 calories of junk food in a few minutes, but it will take me a long time to burn that all off. I don’t think you can erase bad eating habits with tons of exercise.
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Thintervention likes:
-Focus on diet changes with exercise
-Focus on decreasing sugar in daily diet
-Focus on changing bad habits
-The clients don’t live on a ranch
-The clients make their own food and live in their own homes
-There is an actual therapist to help the clients (instead of just having Jillian on the Biggest Loser)
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Thintervention dislikes:
-The blond female client who drinks and smokes all day long – she is ANNOYING
– 
I do watch The Biggest Loser but I get so tired of the competition aspect. Plus, I love Jillian Michaels, but I don’t like her trainer/therapist role. I wish she would just stick with training!
Oh and for my Real Housewives of OC watchers – did you notice that Jeana’s “chef” was that man Allan that she went on a few dates with? He was the father of one of Shane’s friends? Anyone else see that?

By the way, did you know Jillian is part owner of Jackie’s gym: Sky Sport and Spa?

In honor of Jackie’s new show I’m currently rereading portions of her book:

Although I do not like the “fat talk” (on the cover!!!), I do think Jackie makes great points about sugar addiction and the importance of eating a clean diet. 

And in case you didn’t look at a calendar today, it is a New Moon tonight!

Yes I have New Moon chocolates in my freezer. They actually taste horrible and they have lasted over a year. I keep them for the sentimental value only 🙂 They were a Christmas gift from my mother in law as a joke.

Questions:

1. Team Edward, Team Jacob, or Team Don’t Care? Team Edward!!!

2. What is your favorite grain? I love oatmeal and brown rice, but quinoa is slowly becoming one of the “favorites”

3. Do you tend to dwell on the past, dream about the future or live in the present? I honestly usually live in the future — I think about what could be or what will be, but I also often think about the past and I wonder if I have made good decisions. I am trying to live in the present and enjoy each day, but it is tough for me!

Have a great day,

Holly