Health & Fitness Goals, Contentment & Soup

Embracing the gifts that abound all around me today. I am prone to dream of something or somewhere better than where I currently am. Dreaming is fine as long as I don’t let it block me from seeing all the beauty that surrounds me and the blessings in everyday. On our way home from our trip to Trader Joe’s and Wholefoods I watched as the sun set behind a forest of pine trees. My pine trees. The same ones I had grown up looking at all of my life  but not truly seeing. Yes, mountains and waterfalls pull at me with the allure of something magical and exotic, but these pine trees, some how speak to something deep with in me. As I soaked in the majesty and glory displayed in the setting sun I was consumed with gratefulness and a sense of contentment. Ahh, contentment.

“The moment you start acting like life is a blessing  it starts feeling like one”

This quote is ringing true in my life right now and for that I am grateful.

Being content and grateful is important in our physical lives as well. Don’t be to hard on yourself if you are not yet where you would like to be in your fitness goals or if your new years resolutions are not falling into place as you had hoped and planned. Keep moving forward and doing the best you can with each decision taking you one step closer to your fitness goals. Be kind to yourself. Honest, but kind.

Some how soup and contentment sometimes go hand in hand for me. There is nothing like a warm bowl of soup on a winter day. Plus homemade soups can be a super food meal if you make them with pure ingredients and pack them with organic veggie goodness.

I found a bag of organic colorful carrots at Trader Joe’s and whipped up a big pot of  warm lentil vegetable soup. It is delicious, comforting, and filling. A great way to get in a lot of veggies and high in protein and fiber. This can be a complete meal or add a green salad or a side of quinoa. I had mine with a slice of toasted Ezekiel bread spread with a little  coconut oil on it. This soup just happens to be completely vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.  I rarely measure any thing so here is a rough list of ingredients

1 box trader joe’s vegetable broth (and some filtered water, just a little to cover veggies)

1 cup trader joe’s golden split lentils

2 large cloves garlic

fresh ginger root peeled and grated (the piece I used was about the size of my pinky )

turmeric, basil, oregano

Sweet  potatoes roughly chopped

red potatoes roughly chopped

2 green zucchini chopped thick

several carrots chopped (purple, orange and white ones!)

Organic Kale ( Bj’s has large bags of organic frozen kale)

coconut oil about a tea spoon

I sautéed the garlic, ginger and spices in the coconut oil for a few minutes then added all of the veggies except the zucchini to the pan and mixed with all the spices for a few more minutes, add the broth and additional water or broth if needed. bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover. simmer for about 10-15 minutes then add the zucchini and simmer 5-10 minutes or until vegies are tender. Salt and Pepper to taste. I used Himalayan sea salt and fresh black pepper

The result was a warming, healthy meal filled with nutrients that kept me coming back for more. I made enough to last a few days so adjust your amounts to how ever much you want.

 

 

Experiment with the ingredients. Add whatever vegetables, beans, spices you prefer or have on hand

What is your favorite soup?