Juicy Red Tomatoes!

Although tomatoes are often closely associated with Italian cuisine, they are actually originally native to the western side of South America, in the region occupied by Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and the western half of Bolivia. The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador are also believed to be part of tomatoes' native area. The first type of tomato grown is thought to have more resembled the smaller-sized cherry tomato than the larger varieties.

Tomatoes are a rich source of several nutrients. They are well known for their high vitamin C content, but also contain significant amount of vitamin A, B vitamins including niacin 

and riboflavin, magnesium, phosphorous and calcium.

Tomatoes are also a good source of chromium, folate and fiber.

In recent years a particular nutrient found in abundance in tomatoes, lycopene, has made many headlines for its disease fighting abilities. It is a powerful antioxidant and as such helps to protect the cells in our bodies from damage.

The fiber in tomatoes also helps lower cholesterol levels, helps prevent colon cancer and helps to keep blood sugars at a low level.

Tomatoes are a source of riboflavin which has been shown to be helpful for migraine sufferers by reducing the frequency of their headaches.

Unlike many foods, some aspects of the nutritional value of tomatoes actually improve with cooking.

Tomatoes are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content.

Bone health is another area of growing interest in tomato research. Interestingly, the connection of tomato intake to bone health involves the rich supply of antioxidant in tomatoes. We don't always think about antioxidant protection as being important for bone health, but it is; and tomato lycopene (and other tomato antioxidants) may have a special role to play in this area.

While not well researched for all cancer types, tomatoes have repeatedly been show to provide us with anti-cancer benefits. The track record for tomatoes as a cancer-protective food should not be surprising, since there is a very large amount of research on tomato antioxidants and a more limited but still important amount of research on tomato anti-inflammatory nutrients.

source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=44

http://www.cookingnook.com/facts-about-tomatoes.html

Why do I eat this?

1. Kale can provide you with some special cholesterol-lowering benefits if you will cook it by steaming. 
2. The fiber-related components in kale do a better job of binding together with bile acids in your digestive tract when they've been steamed.
3. Lowering of your cholesterol levels. Raw kale still has cholesterol-lowering ability--just not as much.
4. Kale's risk-lowering benefits for cancer have recently been extended to at least five different types of cancer. These types include cancer of the bladder, breast, colon, ovary, and prostate. 
5. Help regulate detox , has  over 45 different flavonoids in kale. Kale's flavonoids combine both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits in way that gives kale a leading dietary role with respect to avoidance of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress.

Source : http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=38

Few quick tips!

This is the same protein bar recipe from the previous post.
I left out the Carob, so this is vanilla flavour, and added some dates and chopped mixed nuts. Delish!
Below is the link for the No-Bake bars !
http://fitizfab.blogspot.fr/2012/07/no-bake-protein-bars.html

Breakfast omelette made with leftover mince and bell peppers.

Steamed Salmon with fresh herbs and lemon juice.
Carrot mash (this is really tasty!
Spinach with Feta cheese.

Oven grilled beefsteak.

Zucchini squash with guilt free tomato stew!

Lemon poppyseed muffins. Gluten and Lactose free!

Get this together:
6 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 lemons juiced
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
zest of a lemon
Tablespoon of poppy seeds

Pre-heat oven at 200deg
Bake 15-20 min. Could be faster, check them regularly!

Wisk eggs, vanilla and lemon. Melt coconut oil and honey. Mix into egg mixture.
Seeve dry ingredients, coconut flour, baking soda and mix in with wet ingredients. Add poppy seeds.

Spoon into cupcake pans!

Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Fast meals!

Fresh line fish, home made left over hummus, pan grilled mushrooms and asparagus.
This fish actually marinated in lemon juice, garlic and fresh herbs for several hours. It was soft and juicy! Very tasty!

Lazy dinner!
Eggs, ham,  leftover asparagus topped with a serving of fat free cheese and chopped tomatoes!

Turkey strips, sweet potato fries (oven baked) and a mango-shallot salad!

Plain omelette with a light salad

Food... what else.... :)

 I have a snack and a lunch idea for you! :)

This funny stuff to my left is home made hummus.  I love the stuff. Do it like this

Chickpeas
Sundried tomatoes(in olive oil)
few olives
spoon lemon juice
Pepper and parika
And Grind!!!

I did not use specific quantities. It kinda always taste good. Just use it in the quantities from taste you like most, to taste you like least? haha!

The triangles is just tortillas I cut in 8, and roasted in the oven for a few minutes. Just watch them close, they brown FAST.!



This was my lunch. Good stuff.
Slow roasted pork shoulder, 4 hours to be exact.
Small potato, salad, and grilled mushrooms.

No-bake Protein bars

You will need:
4 scoops QNT Metapure Zerocarb Protein (a normal whey also does the trick)
2 cups oats
Half cup of almond milk , check consistency if you need more (or normal if you choose)
5 tablespoons almond butter
2 tablespoons carob (you can use cocoa)


Additional: handful of cranberries and pumpkin seeds.  I put them in the grinder just to break it up a bit!


Mix all ingredients well.  press the mixture in a flat thing, use whatever you want, pan, tin,.... Refrigerate for about an hour and cut into servings. I got 16 bars from my batch. And they are DELISH!!!