The "S" Squad Chronicles

Small Calorie Breakfast, Big Taste!

You may have noticed that I've added a new link to the S Squad Comrades section, the My Fitness Pal link.  I have been using this site for about a year now to help log my calories consumed and the exercise I've done.  I love how easy it is to find and log any type of food I eat and if it's not in the database, I just add to it!  Try it out, you'll love it!  One of the many topics of discussion on the forums there are what is good to eat that's ow calorie for breakfast.  I thought I'd share one of the many breakfasts that I eat regularly.  It's quick and easy to make, plus it's full of vitamins, nutrients, and taste!  The following information was found on various websites:

HealthMad.com
Vegetarian Nutrition
The World's Healthiest Foods

Asparagus ~

• It is high in vitamin K and Folate
• Eat asparagus when you are pregnant or thinking about conceiving – because of it being high in folic acid it helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida
• Great for your heart
• Helps w*Helps menstrual cramps with fertility problems         
• Great for your gastrointestinal tract and your colon
• Helps menstrual cramps
• Great food to help treat depression
• Has been known to increase the success rate of chemo therapy
• Is considered a diuretic which means it is a good anti-inflammatory – best for arthritis, asthma rheumatism, and even water retention…PMS
• Help get rid of warts
• Helps detoxify your body
• Add more asparagus to your diet to lover cholesterol
• Great for nursing mothers stimulating milk production
• Has antioxidant agents – prevents the effects of aging
• Has antifungal and antiviral qualities
• Great for your kidneys – cleansing your body by stimulating urination and preventing kidney stones
• Helps prevent bladder and urinary tract infections
• Use to be used as an a aphrodisiac – increase sexual and comforting feelings
• Helps with treating HIV
• Helps prevent multiple sclerosis
• Helps prevent scurvy
• Asparagus has anti-cancer agents – especially lung cancer
• Helps fight chronic fatigue syndrome
• Helps fight off high blood pressure
• If you bruise easily – eat more asparagus
• Is considered a laxative – eat an asparagus if you have diarrhea and constipation
• Great for your capillaries – eat more asparagus to avoid varicose veins
• Great for your eyes preventing cataracts
• If you are experiencing hair loss- eat more asparagus
• Helps treat toothaches

Eggs ~

    Eggs contain lecithin, which in our body is converted into choline, and he in turn participates in the brain and is essential for good memory. In addition, eggs – very satisfying and simultaneously low-calorie food (in one chicken egg, only about 70-80 cal).  You can even get omega 3 engineered eggs!  Chickens are fed flaxseed, marine algae, and fish oil, with the intent to increase the egg content of omega 3 fatty acids.

Papaya ~

• Promotes digestive health
• Anti inflammatory effects
• Immune support
• Protection against Macular Degeneration: Data reported in a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily. In this study, which involved over 110,000 women and men, researchers evaluated the effect of study participants' consumption of fruits; vegetables; the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E; and carotenoids on the development of early ARMD or neovascular ARMD, a more severe form of the illness associated with vision loss.
• Protection against Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Promote lung health
• Papaya and Green tea team up to prevent Prostate Cancer: Choosing to regularly eat lycopene-rich fruits, such as papaya, and drink green tea may greatly reduce a man's risk of developing prostate cancer, suggests research published the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Jian L, Lee AH, et al.)

Chives ~

Population studies have shown that a higher intake of allium vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of several types of cancers. The organosulfur compounds they contain inhibit tumor growth and cell proliferation, and arrest the cell cycle in tumor cells. Allium vegetables, including chives, especially have a protective effect against both esophageal and stomach cancer as well as prostate cancer. The highest antioxidant activity in chives is observed in the leaves, which are also rich in flavonoids. 

Now that you know how healthy it is, here's the make up and nutritional information on my yummy breakfast:

1 whole egg
2 egg whites
1 Laughing Cow light Swiss Cheese wedge
1 tbsp. fresh chives
6 spears of Asparagus
sea salt
pepper

Scramble egg and egg whites with Laughing cow mixed in.  Blanch asparagus for 2 minutes in boiling water, quickly removing them and dunking into ice water.  Add salt and pepper and DONE!  For papaya, just cut in half and scoop seeds out with a spoon.  ENJOY!

Calories: 266
Carbs: 26
Fat: 9
Protein: 26
Sodium: 763
Sugar: 14

Great Aloha Run 2010

This morning Dori and I participated in the Great Aloha Run.  It's an 8.15mile run from Aloha Towers to Aloha Stadium.  We did it in 1 hour 27 minutes.  We also did it NONSTOP!  Dori did great.  I knew she could run the whole thing.  Up to mile 4 it was nothing, then we hit 5 and 6...a little harder.  When 7 and 8 hit it sucked.  My ponytail hold broke at mile 6 so I had to run with crazy, sweaty hair.  Dori's notorious (it comes and goes) knee started hurting her then too.  But she didn't give up and we made it through!  Yeah! What an accomplishment!

Halibut with White Beans in Tomato-Rosemary Broth

I made this great fish meal this afternoon for lunch and thought I'd share it with you all!  Plus, as a bonus it's from Cooking Light so it's low in calories!  It's quick and easy to make so try it out today!

Flavor Tip from Cooking Light: If the fresh tomatoes at your market aren't at their best, substitute 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained.  I used Muir Glen's no salt added fire roasted diced tomatoes.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil
4 (6 ounce) halibut fillets
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups chopped plum tomato (about 4) OR diced tomatoes (see note above)
1 1/2 cups fat-free, less sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 (16 ounce) can cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary

Directions:

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle fish evenly with salt and pepper.  Add fish to pan, cook 5 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.  Remove fish from pan, keep warm.  Add garlic to pan, cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly.  Stir in tomato, broth, wine, and beans; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.  Remove from heat; stir in rosemary.  Serve immediately with fish.  Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 fillet and about 3/4 cup bean mixture).

Calories: 299
Fat: 7.9g
Protein: 39.8g
Carb: 14.9g
Fiber: 4g
Chol: 54mg
Iron: 3.2mg
Sodium: 535mg
Calc:117mg

On Our Way!

Last night Todd and I booked our tickets to go to New Orleans to check out the housing situation.  We are leaving on the same flight as my brother when he leaves here.  We'll all be flying into Houston and going our separate ways from there.  Todd and I will be renting a car and heading to Bourbon street where we'll have our hotel waiting for us!  I'm sure one of our first stops will be Pat O'Brien's for a Hurricane...and we ain't talking about Rita or Katrina!

We'll also be staying in Slidell, the area in which we hope to maybe buy a house.  I'll be sure to post pictures of the houses we looked at once we get there.

Then it'll be back to Houston where I am meeting up with long time friends, RaKeisha and Dave!  Can't wait to see them!  Todd wants to visit old eating grounds like La Estacion in Galveston and Mely's in League City.

Anyways, that's the latest and greatest on the house hunt...keep checking back for more!

The S Squad Returns

I know, I know!  I suck!  It's been a long while since I've been on here. I guess you can call it a hiatus.  I am happy to inform you that I am back now.  I've been to my anti blog "rehab" and I'm cleansed of all the distractions and ready to contribute to the blog once again!

Where to start?!?!  Well, as you know we are on our way to New Orleans in June.  We went through the process and was approved for a home loan!  So we are checking every corner of the internet for houses in Slidell, Mandeville, and Covington, Louisiana.  We found a couple that we really like so tomorrow Todd is going to talk to the Realtor.  I'll keep you posted on what goes down with that. 

Here are some of the requirements needed to house the S Squad:

~4 bedrooms (okay, it's not needed, but I REALLY want a 4 bedroom)
~2 car garage
~Must have a backyard of some sort
~Less than 10 years old
~Good school district
~Preferably brick exterior
~Preferably a big/nice kitchen

I want the 4 bedroom so Todd and I can have a room, Little Todd will have one, one will be my treadmill/workout room, and the last will be the guest room.  I know I'll have a few people visiting me (Mom and Dad, Terrance, Jerry).  Todd wants to have a "Man Room" in the garage or one of the rooms also.  

I'm thinking about what I want to do jobwise when I get out there.  Should I start my own thing again?  Or just go work for the man?  I might do both just in case my own thing doesn't pan out.  One of Todd's goals is to participate in some BBQ competition held every year in Kansas City.  I'm starting out small and working on having ALL my windows of the house, whether rented or owned, to have some sort of window treatment.  I'm tired of plain, no curtained windows!  Plus, I NEED plants.  Everywhere.  In and out of the house.  I hope to recreate a new Island Oasis with an awesome backyard kitchen set up...I know, BIG dreams!  I guess it's just wait and see what happens from here!

Todd and I are trying to figure out when we are going to fly out to NOLA (New Orleans) to check out the houses we are interested in.  Maybe March.  

On to a new subject....

My loser (and I mean that in a sentimental way) brother, Jerry will be gracing Oahu with his presence this month!  He's coming out to visit me Feb. 26th.  I'm sure we'll be reminiscing of the "old days" when we used to live here as kids.  I'll be doing some of the touristy stuff once again, but sadly it might be the last time!  I'll take lots of pictures and keep you all informed. 

I will be posting Todd and my "Hawaiian Bucket List" soon.  It's the list of all the things we are going to do before June 1st.  Times a wasting! 

As I close, once again, sorry for the long hiatus!  I will be posting regularly now though.  We have alot going on in the next few months!  Have a good one and see ya next post!