Finding Fitness at 50
Journey to Better HealthArchive for April, 2008
Quick, easy and low-fat recipe …
I had company this past weekend – three young women who I taught as eighth-graders. They are 40 now.
I’d told them if they wanted junk food they’d have to buy their own.
My friend Kim shared a recipe she makes for her family and it was a hit with all of us. It’s quick and easy and healthful.
Served with green beans and a salad, it makes a great meal.
Bruschetta Chicken Bake
1 (14.5-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (6-ounce) package Stove Top stuffing mix (chicken or Italian)
1/2 cup water2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon dried basil or 3 to 4 leaves fresh basil, chopped
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, stuffing mix, water and garlic. Set aside. Cut the raw chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks.
In a lightly sprayed 9×13-inch pan, place the chicken. Sprinkle chicken with basil and cheese. Top with stuffing/tomato mixture. Bake for 30 minutes.
Finally …
Today is a banner day.
I ate a full bowl of oatmeal.
Well, I think it could be called oatmeal. My friend and co-choir member, Jo Orr, told me about Quaker’s Simple Harvest. It’s instant multigrain hot cereal with oats, barley, wheat, etc.
So, I bought a box last week. There are several flavors: Apples with Cinnamon; Vanilla, Almonds and Honey; and Maple Brown Sugar with Pecans. The latter appealed most to me.
This morning I added 1/2 cup skim milk to a package of Simple Harvest, zapped it in my microwave, tasted it, tasted it again and again, until I had eaten the entire bowl full. And it was good.
I ate oatmeal. And liked it.
Finally.
Numbers to be proud of
I saw my doctor a week ago for the first time since I began my fitness journey in early December.
My blood pressure was 117/70, better than it has been in years. When the nurse told me I had the blood pressure of a young person, I bowed up a little before responding: “I am a young person.”
The call on Friday let me know my other numbers had improved as well. My total cholesterol was 222 in December; it is now 166. Tiglycerides, HDL and LDL have all dropped below the recommended target.
And the number measuring my blood sugar that was 6.7 in December is now 5.9.
I feel great and some folks tell me I’m looking good. So, these healthier numbers are icing on the cake. Make that a low-fat angel food cake!
