LET'S JOIN TYLER IN BEING FIT AND HEALTHY!

I've said this before - Sunday night - what a downer! Good church services - beautiful singing, good sermon, quality fellowship - and then it's look forward to a very busy and intense week! Oh well - I am thankful the Lord is so good to us! We did enjoy a good day with Maura after her week at camp! She is so very precious! She and I were throwing a little ball she had and she threw it out of my reach and it landed on a shelf that goes around the top of the room. Travis got it down and then was straightning some things on the shelf - and she asked him: "Doing a little home improvement while you're up there?" We got really tickled at her!

One more time I am going to start a serious diet and not let anything deter me! I am determined!! So that means healthier foods -- cut way back on chips and hot sauce, and only fat free cheese!! We went to Dallas yesterday to have my car serviced so yesterday was not the day to start! We ate breakfast at the Original Pancake House and the blueberry pancakes there are to die for! Then Michelle and I shared an order of Desparado's Crispy tacos! Sure can't do that again for a while!
Of course we had to go to Central Market and check out the latest eats. One of the things we tried was Chipotle Crusted Seared Port Tenderloin.

Here is the recipe:

CHIPOTLE CRUSTED SEARED PORK TENDERLOIN

1 Pork Tenderloin
2 Tablespoons Grapeseed oil
Uncle Joe's BBQ spice
Adams House All purpose rub

Preheat over to 425 degrees. Season the tenderloin on all sides with the Adams's and the bbq spice. Then in a skillet over medium heat, sear all sides 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from heat then finish in the oven for another 8 - 15 minutes depending on size of tenderloin. 145 internal temp. Remove from the heat and let rest for approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Enjoy!

Makes 3 - 4 servings.

NOTE: I bought the Uncle Joes BBQ sauce. It is a dry spice and you just add catsup and water (the chef said he added apple juice). I did not get the All-purpose rub but any rub should work fine. The taste we had was really delicious!! Pork loin is very low fat and less filling than many other cuts of meat!

There was also a recipe for Mango Cucumber Salsa that sounds good -- but I don't understand why they call anything SALSA that doesn't have Jalapeno or some other hot pepper in it!!!!



One healthy breakfast thing I have found and really enjoy is the Western Breakfast muffin at Subway. They have a whole wheat English muffin and on it they put cooked egg whites, one tiny slice of cheese, a thin, thin slice of black forest ham, and bell pepper. They heat this and then I have them add a slice of tomato and a couple of jalapeno slices. It doesn't sound all that good but it is really delicious. I also like the fact that it only has 160 calories and 4 grams of fat!!!!

I talk about dreading work but actually there are some really rewarding moments! Last week I helped a couple purchase their daughter her first ever car. She is in college and although she knew she would eventually get one - they were able to get it, get it home, and then lure her outside! She was very surprised and very happy. A great feeling for all - even me!!!

Here are some healthy tips about fruits and vegetables:

1. Look for bold or brightly hued produce -- they have more vitamins and healthy phytochemicals.
2. Pair your produce because when eaten together, such as tomato and avocado, it can often affect how we absorb their nutrients. The tomato and avocado significantly upps the body's asorption of the tomato's cancer-fighting lycopene. (Go to prevention.com/healthpowerpairs for more examples.)
3. Bigger isn't always better, so skip the huge tomatoes and giant peppers. Plants have an finite amount of nutrients they can pass on, so if the produce is smaller, the level of nutriens will be more concentrated.
4. Certain vegetables release more nutrients when cooked. Broccoli and carrots are more nutritious when steamed than when raw or boiled. Tomatoes release more lycopene when lightly saute'ed or roasted.
5. Eat within a week because the nutrients start to diminish as soon as they are picked!
6. Precut produce and bagged salads often have their nutrients drained. If possible, prep produce just before eating.
7. Look for varieties of fruits and vegetables - try different colors - such as tomatoes or watermelon!
8. Look for heirloom varieties -- plants that were bred prior to WWII are naturally hardier because they were established and thrived before the development of modern fertilizers and pesticides.
9. Try to buy as much as possible from your local Farmer's Market. Besides tasting better, they have more nutrients than those shipped hundreds of miles to your local grocery store.


I noticed in today's Tyler paper that Tyler is starting a campaign to reduce obesity and have a healthier city. Let's all join the plan!!!

Have a great Monday - be thankful - and give back! God's Will I shall return with more!!!