Thai Red Curry

Thai curries are just delightfully delicious! Green, red, yellow, Panang, I love them all. The calories? those I do NOT love. This is a healthified version of my beloved red curry. Feel free to use any protein of choice.

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast- slit horizontally, and sliced

2 teaspoons red curry paste ( I used Mae Ploy )

1 tablespoon rice-bran oil

1 tablespoon  organic coconut sugar

1 cup light coconut milk ( I used Trader Joe's)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper

1/2 cup asparagus or eggplant ( I used eggplant)

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves- whole with trimmed stems (Thai basil is preferred)

 Salt (per taste)

Directions:

Heat deep fry pan to medium high heat. Stir-fry the curry paste with rice-bran oil for a few seconds, until fragrant.  Add in the coconut milk, and stir until well-blended.  Now, add in chicken and let cook for about a minute. Add in water, vegetables, sugar, and salt. Let all the flavors meld together as it comes to a boil. Remove from flame. Serve over rice, or enjoy as soup!

Creamy-Dreamy Vegetable Soup

Lately, I have been making this soup a lot, almost every week. It's so easy to make! I just play around with the ingredients to keep it fresh. I get bored easily. When I first started my diet, I got hungry between lunches, and dinners. I would go rummaging through my pantry, and munch on granola bars, crackers, or other goodies. However, that was counter-intuitive to my weight loss journey because I would still feel unsatisfied, and continue to eat. This fit the bill. It is the perfect snack for in-between meals, or even as meal when paired with a protein, or salad. 

This recipe makes a delicious bowl of rich, guilt-free soup, that warms you to the core.

Ingredients:

1/2 white onion chopped 

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2 cups cut cauliflower

1/2 cup chopped celery 

1/2 cup peeled and chopped potatoes 

4 cups water or broth

Salt and pepper taste 

Directions:

In a large sized pan, melt the coconut oil on medium heat. Saute the onions on medium heat until clear about 3-4 minutes. Now, add chopped potatoes, cauliflower. and celery. Let those cook for a few minutes. When the vegetables have wilted a little bit, pour in the water or broth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let the soup come to a boil. Cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Use an immersion blender, or let cool, and use a blender until smooth. 

Enjoy!

Serves 4 - 1 cup each

Calories: 153 per serving

No pain, no gain?

I was determined to have a medicine-free, all-natrural birth. Why? I felt I could handle it, and was scared of the idea of the epidural. I spent some time researching natural birthing, styles, hypno-birth, at-home births, etc. Part of my research included labor and delivery documentaries on Netflix.

Even the Duchess of Cambridge (a woman whom I respect, and we were pregnant at the same time) was rumored to be taking hypno-birth classes, aka, natural birth aka no medicine birth.

One of the documentaries on natural-birthing got me really nervous. I seriously lost a few nights of sleep. I shan't even name it. I am that terrified.

Lesson learned: Don't stay up watching birthing documentaries during your last trimester.

 It was about how the current system in hospitals about giving birth is flawed. Apparently, we're not meant to lay on our backs to give birth. It touted the current labor and delivery processes in hospitals as means to line the pockets of pharmaceutical companies. Scary stuff.

It gave me all sorts of anxiety. I turned to many moms to seek their opinions, asking a simple question: Epidural or not?

I got varied responses. Some said it makes child birth bearable, others favored the feeling of the whole event. Although, more favored epidural.

 My mom wasn't too helpful since the last baby she had was me. So, her advice was a bit dated. She kept saying that she had all of her kids (the three of us) naturally, and if she could do it I could do it. Really though, I don't think she had the options available that we do now. Plus, it was in a third-world country, so definitely epidurals were not offered in the mid-80's.

Mainly, the idea of the needle going in my spine scared me. It just irked me to no end. Plus, now my mom had stepped in and offered a challenge of "if I can, you can."
 Who cares right? I do.  I wanted to make my mom proud of me. I wanted to show her I am equally as strong. I have an innate need to please.

Of course, those five words put more stress on my mind, because I turned it into a competition. I began to think that if I wasn't strong enough to endure the pain, than maybe I wasn't woman enough. I can't say why it was a feeling so intense. It might have been those pesky pregnancy hormones. This really began to weigh me down.  Could I endure the pain millions of women have endured before me? Did I have it in me?

Fast forward to labor room around delivery time. The pain was unlike I have ever felt before. My training fell by the wayside. I was shaking, gripping my bed rails, wailing like a banshee. I tried breathing techniques. I tried listening to calming music. I did everything to relieve the searing pain in my abdomen. But to no avail. This went on until I was ready for delivery. I was so close, but had been having contractions for 8 hours straight!  I began to cry, and looked to my husband. He said, "you don't have to endure this. Modern medicine has come a long way to ease the pain of child-birth. You are not proving yourself to anyone, but yourself. Do what you feel is right."
I was mentally and physically exhausted. I couldn't go on. I could not push without the assistance of medicine.

And you know what?
I have no one to prove myself to, just myself. At that time, that was the right decision for me. It didn't affect woman-kind. Just me.

Less than 15 minutes after,  more than half of the pain melted away. I felt muted versions of gargantuan contractions. My insides rejoiced, and my courage was renewed.  I delivered my baby girl within 2 hours of that time.

Apparently, my mom didn't even flinch when I told her, she was just too excited to meet her granddaughter.

At the end of the day,

I am still a mother, and  I am still a woman regardless of getting an epidural or not. I made the silly mistake to compare the two.

Since then, I have relied on these beautiful words:

"A flower does not think of competing  to the flower next to it, it just blooms" Anon

Hearty Soul-Warming Chili

I make variations of this chili almost weekly. It's super quick and easy to whip up too. You can make it low-calorie by using ground turkey instead of beef. I just use extra lean ground beef to make this. 

Ingredients:

1 lb lean ground beef

1 can of pinto beans

1 8 oz can of tomato sauce

4 oz broth or water

1 zucchini - diced (optional)

1/2 bell pepper-diced (optional)

1 jalapeno-deseeded and diced

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

Directions

                               Brown beef on medium high in pan 

Add in veggies, cook for 1-2 minutes

Stir in seasonings, pinto beans, and sauce, and water 

Bring mixture to a boil

Cover and simmer for 15 minutes

I'm the one giving birth!

     Sometimes, I feel a sense of entitlement comes with my pregnancy. I did it the first time around, and am finding myself falling into similar habits this time as well. I feel I have the upper-hand since I am the one having to deal with the emotional upheavals of pregnancy. I have to finish the conversation. I get to watch my shows first.  I have to eat steak when I want steak. You get the picture.
 In short, I am always right. I am the victim. I need tending to. After all, I am the one who is pregnant!

Me! ME! MEEE!

Just kidding. Kind of. 

I don't think I'm really that bad, but giving myself kudos for self-realization. Hey, the first step is acknowledgment.

Anyway,

       The other day I came across this article. It states that young Dads are at risk for depression from birth of a new child - until kindergarten. The actual number has not been determined, mainly due it not having been reported. The root causes are unknown, but I can speculate some contributing factors. Bottom line- it's a serious issue that needs attention

 It raised awareness in my mind, and it helped me understand this: I'm not the only one involved in the nitty-gritty of a pregnancy. The person by my side everyday has been through it all as well.  The good, the bad, and whatever else comes in-between. That person is my one and only.

 My husband. 
He is right there with me, going through the whole process as well.  He stayed up the entire time during our 12-hour labor, held my hand while I was pushing, brought me pizza after delivery, changed baby's first diaper. The list goes on. See? I can be thankful at times. But, in all seriousness, I realized the current state of affairs needed to modified. I had to reach out.  

         To be honest,  I hadn't even asked him how he was handling the birth of our baby 9 months ago, or how he has been feeling about the impending birth of our new baby. I was so  focused on how I was dealing, and how my life was affected that I didn't stop to think to check up on my husband. It never even occurred to me. Maybe, just maybe I could take a step back from myself, and look to my right-hand man. All entitlements aside. 

       So, I sat down, and asked him. He was surprisingly candid, and shared his anxieties of financial stability, and his need to be a good father. He had felt overwhelmed in the first months after birth, but that feeling has subsided as Baby Z gets older. He was overjoyed to hear the news about our 2nd pregnancy, and looks forward to expansion.  

So, it's true - Dad's need attention too! No, they aren't giving birth, or breastfeeding, but play a significant role in child-rearing (in-home or not).  There is significant research that indicates this as well.  Acknowledgment, and understanding is paramount. If not, something can slip through the cracks. Take the time to check in. 

Depression is a serious issue whether it be in male or female, and in this case mother or father It should be addressed.  In most cases, new moms get the majority of attention during and after child-birth. Additionally, moms may have more resources to get depression diagnosed through frequent doctors visits, etc. New Dads, however, may not get the proper attention needed to ease their tensions as well. We can change this. 

 Stressful situations can additionally lead to depression. For example, the arrival of a newborn. I know my husband has been a lot more focused at his job than he was before when it was just the two of us. We had a little more freedom with our careers. We could be a bit more wasteful with our money. Things are different now. 

 We just have to be more careful with our familial decisions now that we have a little being to take care of.  The pressure to keep a job, have a steady income, provide for a family becomes very real during the first few years of baby's arrival. We sure feel it. 

But, this is a process all new parents must go through, the key is to stay healthy through it all. Stress management is so important. We can help each other navigate these waters. This is our time to make of it what we may. Stay involved. Check in with your partner periodically. 
Don't wait!


(The above is a painting in our room. It has a soothing quality to it)

Word of the Day

I was out running errands yesterday with little miss in tow, and had to stop for an oil change. The man at the counter assured me that the task would be completed with the utmost of expedience. After all it was the express service. But, then he said something about me that caught me off guard. He had used the word of the day. What word do you think it is?

 Radiant? Astounding? Charming? Nope. None of those positive picker-uppers. Instead, he said " I'll make sure this goes through our express service, because you sure look exhausted, completely EXHAUSTED!" And I am positive he put an oomph on the word, every time he used it. 

At the end of the trip, he used the E word  yet again. Hello! Synonym much? This time saying, " Ok all done. I know what it's like having children. Well, not physically but they are so exhausting. Now, you can go home and get some rest."  

Here's the sad part, I wasn't exhausted. I actually dressed up. I put in an effort to put on some light makeup, and look presentable. Quite a change from the last few months. I was proud of myself for trying. How then did I look exhausted?  Was it his assumption because I was holding a baby?  Was it a lame attempt at being cordial?

 Whatever it was, it bugged me, and I couldn't figure it out why. What does it matter if some random person thinks I look exhausted. Maybe it's my pregnancy hormones, who knows? 

but.... I will admit

All I really wanted is some recognintion. Some positive reinforcement. Anything that acknowledged how I felt. Something like: 

"Wow, great job multi-tasking!" or "Saving the world before bedtime!"

Is that too much to ask?

Sigh