Great Grains Batman!

So the hubs and I have been trying new grains.  Some we've tried before but put down for budgeting reasons.  We picked them back up when we decided to revamp the budget to include foods higher in nutrition and less fattening.   Here is our introduction. 

9 Grain Hot Cereal. 

I thought it would be a nice change from the same old oatmeal.  It's OK.  Not mind-blowing or anything.  I may have to find other ways of using it in a recipe.

Farina Wheat

One of my favorites.  I have it for breakfast often and also us it when baking.  Even use it in pizza crust.

Millet

This one is not new to the husband but I think I'm a bigger fan than he is.  I like it cooked, cooled and then added to yogurt as a snack.   Also it's good as a substitute for rice.

Couscous

We eat this one a lot.  Mostly when we have fish.  Great in all ways as far as I'm concerned.

Quinoa

I can't say how much I love this in a cold salad.  I cook it in a large quantity and then refrigerate it.  On a rushed work morning, I toss in beans, tomatoes, avocado, vinegar and a little olive oil for a quick brown bag lunch. 

There will be more additions but we need to make use of this before going out and buying more.  Next up: amaranth grain.

Quick and Healthy Lunches and Snacks

Because work takes up 9 hours of my day, I do the best I can to make up for sitting on my butt all day.

Fat Free yogurt with a few sprinkles of granola for a snack (or fast lunch when I've filled lunch break with a workout session).

Cucumbers provide a good crunch while passing the time at my desk.  I sent this pic to my sisters as a reminder that I was sticking to my part of our Combat the Fat Challenge.

Lots and lots of water.  I love water so drinking it all day is no problem.

Cold quinoa salad.  High in protein and fiber and full of goodness.

Boiled egg and berry smoothie. Another easy and cheap breakfast.

Fast dessert. Canned peaches in reduced juices with cinnamon.

Work snack of cranberry/pumpkin/oatmeal muffin.  This was from a box mix where I added pureed pumpkin, carrot juice (instead of milk), cranberries and ground flax.

Simple Soups

Soups are a great way to fill up when the budget is running low.  Here are a couple that often make it to my dinner table or the lunchbox.

Chicken noodle soup.  It's leftover roast chicken, frozen mixed veggies, a low-sodium chicken bouillon cube and a 25 cent bag of pearl pasta.

Pumpkin Carrot Soup.  This is easy to throw in a mug and microwave for a quick lunch.  It's just a few spoons of pureed pumpkin, carrot juice, onion and garlic powder, pepper, and a bouillon cube.  It's an incredibly easy and delicious soup.