Healthy Latina Living

A Journey of Health, Love & Laughter

Spicy Fig Jam

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Not to brag, but one of the reasons I love living in California, especially here in the San Joaquin Valley is the abundance of fresh figs, though it’s not quite the season yet. There are 4 main varieties here in California; Calimyrna, Brown Turkeys, Kadotas and my favorite Black Missions.

Though I don’t have any of my personal pictures on hand, I wanted to show the beautiful juiciness of figs! Fresh figs are a great source of Vitamins K & A. Vitamin A supports the health of your eyes, a long with aiding in cellular reproduction. Vitamin K assists the proteins in the body that are needed for clotting. 

Figs

 Did I happen to tell you how much I love fig jam? It’s probably my most favorite way to eat figs… then they last all year, unless you are like me and didn’t make any the season before! The following recipe is a low sugar recipe, that I used with Stevia instead of sugar. Being diabetic I try and make healthy changes in my favorite recipes to continue to enjoy my favorite foods!

Figs & Fig Jam

Spicy California Mission Fig Jam
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Ingredients
  1. 3 cups finely chopped California Mission Figs (about 20 medium)
  2. 1-3/4 cups unsweetened white grape or apple juice
  3. 1 Tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice
  4. 3 Tbsp Ball® RealFruit™ Low or No-Sugar Needed Pectin
  5. 3/4 to 1 cup Stevia
  6. 1-2 tsp ground red chili pepper flakes
  7. 4 to 5 (8 oz) half pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands
Instructions
  1. GRADUALLY add pectin into white grape or apple juice until dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
  2. IMMEDIATELY add prepared apricots into hot pectin mixture. Stir vigorously for 1 minute. Stir in Stevia.
  3. LADLE freezer jam into clean freezer jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Apply caps and let jam stand in refrigerator until set, but no longer than 24 hours. Serve immediately, refrigerate up to 3 weeks, or freeze up to 1 year.
Adapted from Pectin
Adapted from Pectin
Healthy Latina Living http://www.healthylatinaliving.com/
Today we are continuing our participation in the 2015 A to Z Challenge! Today we celebrate the letter “F” with Figs!

A to Z challenge "F" Badge

Photo Credits: 

flicker – Keith McDuffee

flicker – Mike & Annabel Beales

Excellent Eggs, My Perfect Egg Salad Sandwich

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Eggs. I know very few people who don’t like eggs. With a family of three adults, we go through at least a dozen a week and sometimes 2. For the majority of my small family eggs are a great way to start off a morning. With 6 grams of protein, this is an excellent way to begin the day!

Being diabetic I love eggs for several reasons.

  1. Eggs provide a sustained energy source but not causing surges in blood sugar levels.
  2. Eggs provide varying amount of B12, B6, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Folate.
  3. At approximately 70 calories per egg, a two egg breakfast is a low calorie way to start the day.

But even though eggs are a great addition for breakfast or even dinner, my favorite way is to have them for Lunch! I just love this Egg Salad Sandwich!

Egg Salad Sandwich
Perfect Egg Salad Sandwich
Yields 3
My yummy go to egg salad sandwich recipe
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Prep Time
15 min
Total Time
15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Total Time
15 min
Ingredients
  1. 5 eggs
  2. 1 radish
  3. 1 celery stalk
  4. 2 Tbsp Mayonaise
  5. Salt & Pepper
  6. 2 slices Miltons Bread
Instructions
  1. Hard boil eggs, 25 minutes from warm water to boiling
  2. Chill eggs in ice bath for at least 15 minutes
  3. Chop celery & radishes to desired size
  4. Dice eggs in bowl, adding Mayonaise, radishes, celery and salt & pepper to taste.
  5. Serve with 2 slices of bread!
  6. Mixture makes a total of 3 servings
Notes
  1. Normally this is my sandwich, so I have left overs for a couple of times more! Yes I love it that much. Warning though, I normally only add the celery and radishes at the time I am going to eat. If left in the egg mixture, it will become a little watery.
Healthy Latina Living http://www.healthylatinaliving.com/
We are participating in the 2015 A to Z Challenge! Be sure to check it out, there are over 1000 blogs participating this year, so it makes it a perfect way to find some awesome new blogs to follow!

A to Z Challenge Bade "E"

Deglet Noor Dates, So Naturally Delicious

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Hey baby, how about a date? No, not a take you out for dinner kinda date, but some yummy deglet noor dates.

Here in California date are grown in the Coachella Valley of Southern California. Dates happen to be one of my favorite dried fruits and I have been eating them since I was a little girl.  Normally I just snack on dates, but they can be used a number of different ways from appetizers, salads, dressing, and the list goes on and on. but my favorite recipe is this wonderful Walnut Date Bread!

There is an old Arabic saying, 

After God had finished molding Man from Earth; He took the remaining material and shaped it into a date palm which he placed in the Garden of Paradise”

Heart Healthy

Because dates are free of sodium, cholesterol and are saturated and transfat free, Deglet Noor and Medjool varieties are certified by the American Heart Association.

No Sugar Added

That rich caramel tasted found in dates is there naturally. But if you are diabetic you’ll want to watch your intake. 1 serving (5-6 dates) has approximately 25 g of sugar.

Fiber

As you know having a diet rich in fiber is great for you. Dates are a very nutrient dense food loaded with fiber, but also rich in vitamins and minerals such as potassium and manganese.

Date Smoothie

Deglet Date Smoothie
Yields 18
A Yummy Date Smoothie with Bananas & Chia Seeds
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Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 medium bananas, ripe
  2. 1/4 cup pitted Deglet Dates
  3. 2 cups almond milk (use 1-1/2 cup for a thicker smoothie)
  4. 2 teaspoons chia seeds, soaked for at least 30 mins before
  5. 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  6. 1/2 cup crushed ice cubes
Instructions
  1. Blend all together in a Smoothie Blender or regular blender! Drink and Enjoy!
Adapted from
Adapted from
Healthy Latina Living http://www.healthylatinaliving.com/

Craft Chocolate …. My Love for Molucca

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You probably have heard how good chocolate is for you. Now I’m not talking about the yucky stuff that is on the shelves of the check out line at your grocery store, but the beautiful Dark Chocolate with cocoa percentages of 70%, 85% or more! I am sure you may know that not all chocolate is a like in the taste. What you may not know that the process in which the chocolate, along with the source (location), makes all the difference in the world!

I am all about eating local, but that doesn’t just mean fruits and veggies. I will turn to a family owned restaurant before a chain, and a local producer of dairy products too! But recently my world and love for chocolate changed when I discovered the guys from Molucca Craft Chocolate at the Vineyard Farmers Market in February. 

Molucca Craft Chocolate
What I like about Molucca is their dedication to crafting an amazing chocolate bar. Each bar comes from a single source, so I have a choice of eating a bar from Indonesia, Peru, Bolivia, etc. What I love about this is that just because a bar may be 70%, it will taste different from a bar at the same percentage from a different country. In addition, Molucca works with individual farmers who grow, harvest and process the beans according to Moluccas specific specifications. Because of all this dedication makes the taste amazing.

Molucca Craft Chocolate
In addition to bars they also have roasted Cacao Beans available. I love using these beans in a variety of dishes, and drinks! My favorite though is adding the beans to my morning steal cut oats with walnuts and berries! Be sure if you are using beans for the first time that you remove them from their shell!

Craft Chocolate cocoa beans on oatmeal
Today we are participating in the 2015 A to Z Challenge. Today we celebrate “C” with Craft Chocolate. I hope you enjoyed today’s post and don’t forget to order some Molucca Craft Chocolate for yourself!

A to Z Challenge Bade "C"

3 Benefits of Beets: Creating a Colorful Plate

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I don’t know about you, but since I was little I have never really cared for beets. But thankfully I have a husband that likes to cook and will convince me every now and then to try something new. Luckily for me beets are still plentiful from our local organic farmers and easy to find at the markets.

Benefits of Beets

Benefits of Creating a Colorful Plate


Fighting Inflammation

Did you know that beets are a great source of betaine? Betaine is a nutrients which protects cells, proteins and enzymes from environmental stress. It is also known to help fight inflammation, protect organs, enhance performance, and improve vascular risk factors.

Detoxification

The pigment in beets called betalin, helps the body in its detoxification. It helps molecules bind to toxins for excretion from the body by helping purify the blood and liver.

Anti-Cancer Properties

It is possible that the phytonutrients that give beets their wondrous color can help reduce tumorous cancers.

So what are you waiting for? Try giving this wonderful veggie a try with this awesome salad recipe!

Benefits of Beets

 

Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
Serves 4
A tasty side dish.
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Ingredients
  1. 1 bunch of Beets (5-6 medium sized beets)
  2. 1tsp Bragg's Applecider Vinegar
  3. 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  4. Crumbled Goat Cheese
Instructions
  1. Wash, remove stems and peel beats.
  2. Cut into slices and cubes
  3. Steam 5- 10 minutes until cooked and soft
  4. Chill in frig for 30 minutes
  5. Add Olive Oil, coat well
  6. Add Apple cider vinegar
  7. Add Goat Cheese to taste
Notes
  1. This is one of my husbands favorite ways to eat beets! The colder it is the better it tastes!
Healthy Latina Living http://www.healthylatinaliving.com/
Extra Tip:

If you want to decorate your little girls birthday cake, but you want to stay away from those horrible food colorings, just add a littl bit of fresh beet juice  to your frosting! Depending on the amount you add, you can either get a great pink or a vibrant red. See the cake I made for my little furgirl Riley’s 4th birthday.

Amazing Avocado Sandwich

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Even though I need to add more veggies to my diet, “Think GREEN”, I absolutely love fruit. I know that being diabetic I need to make proper choices. One of my first choices I’m starting to turn to a little more often, actually several times a week is turning to avocados. The times I tend to turn to avocados is the meal I have the toughest time with , LUNCH! and my Amazing Avocado Sandwich. But before we jump to the yummy recipe, let me fill you in on some healthy facts about these cute emerald gems.

Avocado

HEALTHY FACTS

MUFAs With 3/4 of the calories coming from fat in avocados, most of this fat is in the form of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). MUFAs are good fats which are known to help lower bad cholesterol levels.

Sugar Just half of an avocado contains approximately 0.2 g of sugar! 

Proteins Each avocado contains approximately 4 g of protein, more than any other fruit.

Vitamins & Minerals If you need more potassium in your diet you may want to reach for this fruit first before a banana. With more potassium per weight than a banana, you will find that avocados are also an excellent source of Vitamin K, Vitamin C , Vitamin E and Vitamins B6, B9 & B5!

HEALTH BENEFITS

  • lower cholesterol levels
  • reduces the risk of diabetes
  • promotes a lower body weight
  • may help prevent certain types of cancer

 

Avocado
Amazing Avocado Sandwich
Serves 1
A yummy quick veggie sandwich featuring Avocados
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Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Prep Time
5 min
Total Time
5 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 slices Whole grain bread
  2. 1/2 Avocado sliced
  3. 2-3 slices Beefsteak Tomato
  4. 1/3 sliced Cucumber
  5. Sprouts
  6. Green Leaf Lettuce
  7. Mustard (or condiment you like)
Instructions
  1. stack all ingredients on whole grain bread & enjoy!
Healthy Latina Living http://www.healthylatinaliving.com/
 We are so happy to be joining the 2015 A to Z Challenge! 

A to Z "A" Badge

A to Z Theme Reveal

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Did you know that Wednesday April 1st is the beginning of the A to Z Challenge? If you are asking yourself what is the A to Z Challenge, let me fill you in a little bit.

If you subtract out Sundays in the month of April it leaves you 26 days, which is the same amount of letters in the alphabet, A to Z. Starting on the 1st you begin with the letter “A” and blog about something that begins with the letter “A”. This continues through the 30th of the month ending with the letter “Z”. In 2010 when this was started, the blogger turn out was about 100. Now in 2015 you can expect over 2000 (my guesstimate). So even if you are not a blogger, you can find a lot of new blogs to follow!

This is going to be our first time participating as Healthy Latina Living since we are a new blog, but it is actually the second time at our sister site, OhMyShihTzu.com (Check out the reveal here).

So our A to Z Theme Reveal…

A to Z Theme Reveal

Living in the San Joaquin Valley of California is a great thing when it comes to food. Yes I would be much happier if the summers didn’t hit 110 degrees, but when it comes to the incredible amount of delicious fruits and vegetables, nothing beats it! So for the month of April I will be exploring foods that either are grown here, or made here along with sharing some of my favorite dishes.

Crimini Mushroom Farfalle

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Crimini Mushroom Farfalle I don’t know about you, but I love pasta. For me it’s a little bit of an indulgence, especially now that I am on Weight Watchers. What I love about Weight Watchers is that you don’t have to give up what you love, that’s what your extra weekly allowance is for. But it’s always best to eat as best you can even when you are using those weekly points.

I have to let you know one important thing about me. I love Whole Foods. But I also know how to shop at Whole Foods so I don’t break the bank. All of today’s ingredients were purchased at Whole Foods. So why do I shop there? First off, if I am unable to purchase specific fruits or vegetables at the various local farmers markets, I find Whole Foods a great alternative.

There have been times when I have been at conventional stores and heard comments like, ‘Organic is just a marketing gimic for them (the store) to charge you more’. That couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a huge difference when it comes to the quality. I notice it in the smell and the taste of the item. In this recipe as I had my sous chef (hubby) chopping all the ingredients the scallions and onions were wonderfully pungent, so much so eyes were watering! And then when I began chopping up the cilantro… OMG! It was so aromatic. But these aren’t the only reasons I choose organic fruits and veggies, being from a farming family I am fully aware of the pesticides and growth hormones that can and are sprayed on conventional fruits and veggies. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t buy strictly organic, but I try to make wise choices and I prefer farmers markets more than anything else!

Mushroom Farfalle
Yields 8
A delicious 30 minute meal for 10 WW points!
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
30 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
30 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 pound uncooked farfalle (bow tie pasta)
  2. 2 tablespoons butter
  3. 16 ounces Crimini Mushrooms
  4. 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  5. 1/3 cup finely chopped shallots
  6. 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  7. 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided $
  8. 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  9. 1/4 cup Chardonnay
  10. 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  11. 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  12. 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions,drain.
  2. Melt the 1 Tbsp butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, onion, shallots, garlic, and pepper; when mushrooms are almost tender, add salt, continue to cook until liquid evaporates and mushrooms are tender, stirring occasionally. Add wine; cook 2 minutes or until liquid evaporates, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
  3. Add the cooked pasta, whipping cream, cheese, and 1 tablespoons cilantro, tossing gently to coat. Stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Garnish with remaining cilantro. Serve immediately.
Notes
  1. The change in this recipe from the original is an added Tbsp of Butter and the addition of cilantro.
Adapted from Cooking Light via MyRecipes.com
Adapted from Cooking Light via MyRecipes.com
Healthy Latina Living http://www.healthylatinaliving.com/

 We are linking up with:  Tasty Tuesdays,Lena’s Tasty Tuesdays

 

3 Reasons Why I Prefer a Home Workout to a Gym

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Yup you heard it straight, I will never join a gym!  Yes, I need to lose 50+ pounds and having access to a lot of equipment would be nice but I know it really isn’t necessary. And and for me this is why…

Walking a Dog or Two

This alone is probably the main reason for me not getting a membership. It’s almost spring time, and here in California the weather is beautiful so the best thing for me to do is get out and walk the dogs. Since the girls are little and I only take two at a time for a walk, that means I get a double workout! According to the American Heart Association walking has the lowest dropout rates of physical activities and with just 30 minutes a day of moderate physical activity I get these added benefits:

  • Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease
  • Reduce the risk of osteoporosis
  • Reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer

In addition, I find it calming and relaxing. They get to enjoy the outdoors, and smelling all the wondrous things around. So let the walking begin!!

Home Workout

Wii

I have a Wii and I love my Wii! And it’s so easy to slip in a disk and before you know it you are having a kick-ass workout, especially if you are doing the boxing workout. So if you bought a Wii or WiiU for your kids a few years back I would suggest getting a balance board and Wii Fit Plus game. Believe me this is something you wont regret.

Home Workouts

Skin Diseases and Infections

I really didn’t want to bring this up but I will. Having worked in a collegiate gym when I was younger, believe me fungal infections are very common kids, atheletes and adults, and basically everyone that work out. It’s gross, but things like ringworm, yeast infections of the skin and even jock itch. These tend not be be serious infections, but they are not fun to get. If you are at a gym you can lower your risk by practicing a few hygine precautions:

  • Sanitize and disinfect equipment before and after a workout. Do worry about what people think around you, by wiping down equipment with spray and a towel you might send a good message to those around you 🙂
  • Wash your hands, yup enough said about that one!
  • When you get home change your clothes immediately! You’ve sat on the leg press machine after the guy on the steroids left, yeah that’s gross, and since he was all sweaty you surely don’t want any of his sloughed off skin cells getting on your couch.
  • If you shower at the gym make sure to wear flip flops. I’ve never had atheletes foot and I never want to encounter it. Be safe and wear water appropriate foot attire. And remember when you are finished to dry your feet completely, even between your toes.

Find more tips at preventing skin infections on WebMd’s Good Hygiene Habits at the Gym
Photo Credit: Dog Walking – OhMyShihTzu.com 
Photo Credit: Gym – Casa Velas Hotel

Photo Credit: Wii-U Wiiu-spiele.com

Diabetes Diagnosis: The End and The Beginning

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When I first thought of writing this blog I knew I had to lose weight. At 5’3″ & 198 pounds, I was no longer the cute girl wearing a size 4 or 6, yup I had now reached maximum density. This really came to light in May when I returned home from the BlogPaws Conference and saw a pic of me and Riley walking the red carpet for the Nose-to-Nose Awards.

Diabetes Diagnosis

OhMyShihTzu.com Finalist for Best New Pet Blog of the Year

 

Yes that is me and Riley, so embarrassed to say. But when I look at it I just can’t believe it. How did that happen? Because in my mind I still look like this.

Diabetes Diagnosis, Christine & Friend at Baseball Game

I’m not sure what happened, but somewhere along the way I stopped working out. No quick 30 minute 3 mile runs or leg pressing 300 pounds, now I am 60 lbs overweight. But is that the worst?

Change Needs to Happen NOW!

Apparently NOT! September 10th, 2014 was a life changing day. It was the day I was diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, anemia and high blood pressure. OMG!!! I’m too young for all this to be happening. I was sent home from the doctor’s office with a glucose meter and a ton of prescriptions for medications. To be honest I cried on the way home, but at the same time I knew this was not going to be the end of the world or my life. It was going to be the beginning of becoming healthy and beautiful once again.

Being Healthy is a Journey

Fast forward a few months and I have managed to lose 12 lbs, no longer anemic and my cholesterol levels are normal. Yes, medications have been helpful with a few things, but I don’t want to stop my progress. I have a goal to become healthy and not have a need for my Type 2 Diabetes medication. I have a goal to run a 10 minute mile again. I have a goal to live a long happy life.

To help me along on this journey I have decided to join Weight Watchers. Even though I know how to eat healthy, I need accountability and love the idea of weighing in every week. I have a competitive spirit, so competing against myself is great! After my first week I lost an additional 2.2 lbs! So we are down 14 since I was first diagnosed. Yippee!!!

This is going to be my journey and today I invite you to join me on that journey.

Be sure to check out my About Me page know a little more about me and what you will find coming up on this blog!