Fun with Numbers (don't worry there is no math involved)

"There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all." -Anonymous

1 Yummy Veggie Filled Lunch!

I made this delicious little mess last night. I packed it safely in my favorite pink lunch box and can't wait to bust it out for lunch!

2 Things I Love

Starbucks Skinny Vanilla Lattes and Kashi TLC Pumpkin Pecan Fruit & Grain Bars. I especially love to eat them while blogging! :)

4 The number of different veggies I used in this Skillet creation.

I chopped up eggplant, zucchini and squash, then sauteed them in the stewed tomatoes we had left over from the pizza's on Sunday. I simply threw everything in a skillet, sauteed the veggies for around 8 minutes and voila! Talk about quick and delicious. I split this into two servings, packaged them in tupperware, added 1/2 a cup of brown rice to each one, and now I have two nutritious lunches for the week. A girl has to take a break from hummus pitas every once in a while.

7 Sources of Omega-3s

A few days ago we discussed how Omega 3's can help protect us from breast cancer. But did you know they can also help reduce inflammation, prevent heart disease and arthritis, positively impact behavior and cognitive function, and even help you look better (thanks to its skin enhancing properties)? With all of those benefits, we would be crazy not to increase our consumption of this fatty acid! But where can you find it? Information courtesy of: www.sparkpeople.com

Flaxseed is the richest source of ALA. You can meet your Omega-3 needs with 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed (3,800 mg of Omega-3s). Try sprinkling it in yogurt, on top of salads, or baking into your favorite muffin or bread.
Salmon contains between 900 and 1,800 mg of DHA and EPA per 3-oz serving.
Omega-3-enriched eggs contain all three types of omega-3 fatty acids, thanks to adding flaxseed or algae to the diets of egg-producing hens. These specialty eggs contain about 60-150 milligrams of Omega-3's per egg which is three times more than their non-enriched counterparts.
Walnuts are another excellent source of ALA containing 2,600 mg per 1 oz. serving.
Soybeans are Omega-3 rockstars. One serving of cooked soybeans contains more Omega-3s than some coldwater fish.
Sardines are rich in both DHA and EPA. You can eat these little guys on sandwiches, pizzas or salads. Disclaimer: I am not a huge fan of sardines, however I know some people who are. I just wanted to let you know before you went out and filled your shopping cart with 15 cans of sardines!
Canola Oil is a heart-healthy oil which contains 1,300 mg of Omega-3s per tablespoon. You can use it to cook with just like you would olive oil.

For more information on Omega-3 fatty acids, see the articles below. I hope you have a terrific evening, and don't forget to keep smiling!

Food for thought:
How is your veggie challenge going?
Have you found any great veggie recipes?

Yours truly,