Back To Normal

November 30, 2015November 30, 2015 / ktbuchs87

Almost… I’m actually coming to you from Sycamore this week. I’m house/dog sitting and get to do a bit of “country” livin’ in my old neighborhood. I actually do miss Sycamore sometimes. It’s slower pace out here, quieter, calmer, and really quite beautiful. While I love my Chicago neighborhood, it’s nice to come back and slow things down.

I love how these two are already in cahoots and love being brothers

It’s also nice because I get to work in a huge kitchen and take food pictures with all the natural light. This house is a bloggers dream. Or at least this galley kitchen, two-window, interior apartment-dwelling blogger’s dream. So be on the lookout for some good food pics in the coming weeks…

I’m working on a few new recipes and I was thinking of a few ideas. I honestly put recipes on the blog that I cook for me and Adam. I don’t usually go out and create something that he or I wouldn’t eat or make regularly. While that sometimes limits what I put on here, I think it also shows how a real home cook prepares meals. I’m not a trained chef or even a professional recipe developer. I just put things together that sound good in my head and I think would taste good.

Grandma and the grandkids

With that in mind, I was thinking of reworking one of my favorite childhood meals. My mom’s leftover casserole. She would make this a few days after Thanksgiving and it was almost better than the Thanksgiving feast itself. I just have to figure out if I can gear it towards the healthier side of things…

I know I’ve said this before, but I am going to work on putting more meals that have meat in them up here. I don’t personally eat meat, but Adam does and I do prepare a few dishes for him that he really likes and would make good weeknight meals. I want this to be a place that anyone can come to and find at least one recipe that will fit their lifestyle, tastes delicious, and is healthy.

After feast Tripoly playing… I think Adam and I win the expression game

I hope that you are getting back to your regular routine without too much fatigue. That first Monday after a holiday can be a rough one. At least it’s cyber Monday and there are awesome presents that you can buy while still in your PJ’s!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Buchanan/Meyers/Dawson/ Bullard Family!

Do you guys have any requests or suggestions on recipes? The more feedback I get, the better I can serve you guys! Just let me know in the comments below!

Health Feature: Alexander Dimitsas

August 3, 2015August 3, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 1 Comment

Happy Monday and Happy August! Seriously, where has this summer gone? Maybe since it took so long for summer weather to finally arrive, it feels like it has barely begun. Oh well, I’m going to enjoy it while I can!

I have a new health feature for you guys today. Last month I featured a high school friend, Jim Kruczinski, and you guys really enjoyed reading his story. He put in a ton of work and clearly it is paying off. A few weeks ago, he ran the Rock N’ Roll half marathon in Chicago and he rocked it. Yes, that was a pun. Get over it.

Today’s feature is Alexander Dimitsas. Alexander is my future brother-in-law’s cousin and my sister suggested I feature him on my blog. Alexander has a great story and I think it is great motivation for anyone who feels like life is beating them up and there is no way they can get back up. After experiencing a devastating loss and realizing he was slowly killing himself, Alexander decided to completely turn his health around. Here is his story:

What did you weigh before and how much weight have you lost?

In December of 2010, I weighed 330lbs at my peak weight, I did my first Bodybuilding competition weighing in at 173.2lbs with a total weight loss of 156.8lbs!

What made you want to turn your health around?

In 2008, my sister passed away in a tragic automobile accident. I feel into a deep depression and used drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. At this time, I was also was a heavy smoker (smoking a pack and a half a day). When I stepped on the scale in 2010 I knew this was not what my sister would have wanted for me. I made a New Year’s resolution that year to change my entire life. My goals were to quit smoking cigarettes and stop using drugs and alcohol.

What did a typical day look like before you changed?

I would sleep in most days and when I would wake up I would eat whatever was in the refrigerator or I would go grab McDonald’s breakfast if I was up early enough. Comes the afternoon I would go hangout with my friends and we would go out somewhere to get high and eat lunch. After lunch, it was time for me to go to work. I would get high again to numb the pain that I felt every day with my sister being gone. While I was working I would eat constantly and go out to my vehicle to get high and smoke cigarettes. Around closing time at work my managers would drink and get high with me before we finished up our end of the day tasks. After work, I either went out to the local bar with some friends or we would find a house party to continue my evening of bad decisions.

What was your goal when you first started?

My goal was to get healthy when I first started. I wanted to be confident with the man in the mirror.

What did you do to change your diet and lifestyle?

The start of my journey was January 1st, 2011. This was my first day without drugs and alcohol as well as cigarettes. I was trying to completely detoxify my body! I made a mental promise to myself that whenever I craved drugs or alcohol I would go to my local gym (which was 2 blocks down the street from me) At this time I had no clue what I was doing but it was wonderful to be in a different atmosphere. Walking into the gym was a boost of moral to me as well as self-confidence. It was great to be around other people who had similar goals in mind, to get healthy! Cigarettes were extremely tough for me to quit, but I made sure to stay on track and keep my goals within arm’s reach. Every time I had a craving for a cigarette, I stuffed a handful of granola into my mouth. I made sure the granola was hard and tough to chew, in order to take my mind off of the cravings.

What does a typical day look like now?

Every day seems to be like clockwork for me now. I wake up at 6am and drink a tall glass of water to jumpstart my body for the day and then I take my dog for a walk around the neighborhood and get ready to eat breakfast that usually consists of egg whites and oatmeal. After breakfast, I go to the gym to train. When I first started my journey I was working out, now I train using a strict bodybuilding routine. After the gym, I go to work and be sure I pack enough meals to get me through the day. I eat 6 portion controlled meals a day. There are many benefits to eating 5+ meals a day such as increased energy, reduce body fat storage, control blood sugar levels and insulin production, maintain and increase lean muscle mass. Also with me being a competitive bodybuilder I must make sure I am consistent with my meals as well as my intake of daily macronutrients. After work, I will either work on homework (I am a Purdue North Central student) or start preparing my meals for the next day. Typically if I have some extra time before bed I will do some yoga at home or try and relax reading a book.

Who has been your biggest support?

My grandmother has been my biggest support along my journey. Even when I was addicted to drugs and alcohol she believed in me. I talk with her regularly and she always has some wisdom to shine down on me. Currently, she is at the hospital and just had open heart surgery. I am saying my prayers each and every day that she has a speedy recovery.

What was the hardest thing to change?

The hardest thing to change was my friends. I knew that they would hinder my goals with their negative influences in my life, so I had to make a drastic change. They were not understanding why I wouldn’t hang out with them and party. This was bizarre for them to see me behaving completely different. But I didn’t let a single soul get in the way of my goals.

Who is your motivation?

Ever since I was a child I always admired Arnold Schwarzenegger. This man was 6 time Mr. Olympia, he was the governor of the state of California from 2003 until 2010, he created a world known sports festival commonly known as the Arnold Classic, he starred in many action-packed roles in the Hollywood. This man is truly an inspiration in many different ways. Another huge motivator in my life is Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. or more commonly known as Muhammad Ali. I admired him because of his determination he has for his sport (which was boxing). He was known to sing his own praises by referring to himself as “the greatest”. He was not afraid to let the world know of his accomplishments. Muhammad Ali said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” I absolutely love the power behind this quote!

How do you stay motivated every day?

Consistency is key to anything that I am trying to achieve. I set realistic goals for myself and I achieve them. The gym has become a refuge for me. When I walk into the gym this is my time to meditate. To release all of my stresses that I hold onto during the day. Also, I do not let myself down if I do not achieve a certain goal because I know that I will achieve it eventually.

What are your goals now?

Currently, I am pursuing a bachelor’s in behavioral sciences, I would love to work with the troubled youth. I will see where life takes me. I am planning on competing again the summer of 2016. Bodybuilding has become a part of who I am today. Not many people understand the sport, but what matters is that I understand it.

What is your advice to those who are just starting to lose weight?

Stay consistent. Do not beat yourself up if you get side tracked. I can’t stress enough how important consistency is. It takes only 21 days for a habit to form. Also, try to stay away from making excuses for yourself. We all know what we are physically capable of! Also, try to surround yourself with like-minded people. One of my favorite quotes that I live by every day is by Friedrich Nietzsche, that which does not kill us makes us stronger. There are plenty of things that can knock us down, but you just got to stand back up! There have been many problems that I have faced in my life and I always revert to this quote. I may be broken and hurt today, but I do know that tomorrow I will stand up tall!

That is some great advice! There will always be excuses and reasons to not take care of your health. You have to decide that you are important enough to care about. Alexander did just that and it is certainly paying off! Thank you, Alexander, for allowing me to feature you and share your awesome story!

If you want to keep up with Alexander you can follow his journey on his Facebook page, Body Edifice, or follow him on Twitter @bodyedifice or Instagram @body_edifice

If you’re interested in bodybuilding, he also has online nutritional coaching and detailed workout programs over at http://motivated4change.wix.com/bodyedifice

My Shopping Cart: Aldi and Wal-mart Edition

May 6, 2015May 6, 2015 / ktbuchs87 / 1 Comment

Today is part two in my grocery shopping series. Last week I shared with you what I get when I shop at Jewel and today I’m highlighting what I get when I go to Aldi and Wal-mart.

These two stores get looked down on a lot. They are associated with cheap/unhealthy food, lower class, and just an overall unpleasant experience. When I first started grocery shopping on my own I did most of it at Wal-mart because it was cheap and near campus. There was an Aldi in town, but I avoided it because I had the same misconceptions most people do about it. I remember shopping there as a kid with my mom. You had to pay for grocery carts, they didn’t have shopping bags, there were weird tubes of meat and it was kind of dirty. As an adult I kind of turned my nose up at Aldi and thought I was better than that.

Then I realized how much money one could spend on groceries and I knew I needed to find a way to eat healthy food but on a fairly tight budget. I swallowed my weird sense of “food pride” and went to Aldi. I was pleasantly surprised. You still have to pay for a grocery cart (you get the quarter back once you return the cart) and there aren’t any shopping bags (if you’re like me and have 5 million reusable bags this isn’t too much of a hassle) but the food selection had definitely changed for the better.

Aldi has been shedding their old brand and showing they are just as good as other grocery stores. They offer a gluten-free line, an organic line, fresh seasonal produce, and a really great frozen foods section. It is entirely possible to eat healthy nutritious food and shop at Aldi. Plus you will save money because their prices tend to be lower than their competitors.

My Aldi shopping list varies depending on what I need that week. What I normally get there each week are:

organic honey
canned pumpkin (during the fall)
10 lb bag of russet potatoes
avocados
frozen mixed vegetables
big bags of frozen tilapia/swai (for Adam)
corn tortillas
2 lb bag of beans (pinto, black, northern)
brown rice spaghetti

I buy these things at Aldi because they are much less expensive than if I were to get them at Jewel or even Wal-mart. I also go to Aldi when I am recipe testing because I can get more ingredients for my money and test more recipes this way. Aldi does a pretty good job of offering fresh and seasonal produce for a really good price. I recently got asparagus there for less than $2 a lb and an 8 oz of mushrooms for $1.49.

I also pick up a few things at Wal-mart each week because the price there is better. I usually get:

half gallon of Silk Unsweetened Almond milk
Thai kitchen canned coconut milk
frozen vegetables
quart sized boxes of shelf stable almond milk and coconut milk (for baking)
big jug of extra virgin olive oil

The Wal-mart in my neighborhood does a pretty good job on their produce, but it’s a little bit smaller of a selection. I can find what I need for a good price at the other stores I frequent.

The most important thing I want you to take away from this post is that you can shop at stores like Aldi and Wal-mart and still have a healthy diet. You might have to search a little bit through the aisles to find the good stuff, but it’s there. Eating healthy isn’t about shopping at the high end grocery stores and buying the most expensive food there. If you are able to do that and that works for you, then great! But for the majority of us it is more feasible to shop at places like Aldi. Look for seasonal produce, read labels, and keep an open mind when you’re shopping at these stores. You’ll end up with delicious and nutritious meals and a few more dollars in your wallet! That’s a win-win in my book!

What are your misconceptions about stores like Aldi or Wal-mart?

Keep It Simple Series: One Skillet Meal

March 4, 2015 / ktbuchs87

Everyone is looking for a quick and easy meal. Rachael Ray got her start with 30 minute meals and googling quick meals will give you thousands of recipes. Today’s video is my favorite quick and healthy meal and it uses just one pan. I make this at least once a week and it is always a big hit, plus it never gets boring because you can always change things up just a little bit to keep it interesting. So let’s get to it!

Hopefully this video will give you some ideas on how to make your own one skillet meal, just make sure that you are using cooked grains/legumes and meat. Other than that go crazy with your version of this delicious and healthy meal!

Chili & PB Marinated Chickpea Tofu

February 27, 2015 / ktbuchs87

At first glance all those flavors don’t seem to go together, but trust me on this one. A few weeks ago I gave you a recipe for Chickpea Tofu and since then I have been working on other ways to prepare it. After just baking it and covering it with a sauce, I decided I wanted to try it marinated and sauteed. All it took was a few attempts to perfect the marinade and I had a really yummy and simple weeknight meal!

Make sure that you do plan ahead just a little bit so you have enough time for your tofu to set before you start cooking. Otherwise this is a really easy meal to throw together fairly quickly!

Chili & PB Marinated Chickpea Tofu

1 batch of chickpea tofu
1/3 cup water
1 tbsp sesame oil (can use olive oil too but I like the flavor of sesame in this marinade)
1 tbsp molasses
2 tbsp liquid aminos/coconut aminos/soy sauce
2 tsp roasted garlic or 2-3 cloves minced
2 tbsp creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp chili powder (more if want it a little spicier)

1. Make your chickpea tofu and while it’s setting preheat your oven to 400 and mix together all the marinade ingredients.

2. Once your tofu is ready, cut into bite size pieces and place into a large bowl. Drizzle a little olive oil and toss to coat. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat and bake the tofu for 20 minutes.

3. Remove tofu from the oven and place back into the large bowl. Pour the marinade in and stir to make sure everything is coated. Let it sit for about 10 minutes.

4. Heat a large pan over medium high heat and add in all the tofu and sauce. Saute for a few minutes until the sauce has started to crisp up. Serve the tofu on it’s own or over rice or vegetables.

I am really liking how chickpea tofu acts a lot like regular tofu in most recipes. I am still working on other ways to prepare it so that you can have a variety of ways to use this tasty ingredient!

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you on Monday!