How-To: Burrito Bowls

I love mexican food and I love burrito bowls! Whenever I can, I always order a burrito bowl, and when I can't, I make it at home. My family probaly could live off of mexican food, and usually we do! We have tacos, fajitas or burrito bowls at least twice a week! They are so easy to make and put together and are so tasty, you won't be craving the fast-food version anymore! Also, this home-made version if much healthier because it is lower in sodium, added fats and sugars!

There are a few basic ingredients for a burriot bowl. Rice, Beans, and Vegetables. If you are into it, meat or other types of proteins can be added to this list. They way each of these items are prepared has a great impack on what the final products taste like!

Rice
2 cups Brown Rice
4 cups Water
1 cup Salsa of Choice( it went with a Salsa Verde, but any kind will do)
Salt and Pepper.

I used a rice-cooker to cook my rice. I just added everything to the cooker, gave it a stir and let the machine do its job. You can also cook the rice on the stove. Just bring the water to a bowl and add in the rice, salt and pepper and salsa. Bring to a simmer, put on the lid and cook until all the water has been absorbed. Then, turn the heat off and leave the lid on for at least another 5 minutes to allow the rice to steam a bit.

Beans
2 cans Black Beans ( Brown would also work)
Salt and Pepper
 Mexican or Taco Seasoning

Rinse and drain your beans very well. I used a micorwave to save time, but you could also use the stove top. Add the beans to a container and mix in the salt, pepper and seasonings. Then heat in desired method.

 

Vegetables
       'Grilled Veggies'
1 large Yellow Onion- chopped
2 Bell Peppers- chopped
2 TBS minced Garlic
Salt and Pepper
2 tsp Garlic Powder

Add the chopped veggies, garlic, and seasonings to a pan. I didn't use any oil, but you could if you wanted to. Cook until the veggies have softened.

 

 

   Corn

2 cans Corn

Salt and Pepper

2 tsp Garlic Powder

1 tsp Chili Powder

 

Rinse and drain your canned corn and add them to a container or pan. You can use the stove if you wish, but I used to microwave this time. Stir in the spices and heat. I have found that 3 minutes in the microwave is perfect!

 

 

 



Toppings

 

I have a great recipe for Pico de Gallo here.

 

 

 

Guacamole is another must-have topping for burrito bowls. My recipe is here.

 

 

 

Salsa, Chopped fresh tomatoes, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice are all great toppings to have on a burrito bowl. You could also add sour cream and cheese if you like.

 

Now, lets build a burrito bowl! I like to start with the basics. I add my rice, beans and corn down first.

 

 

 

Next I add the grilled veggies, pico de gallo, guacamole, fresh tomatoes, salsa and cilantro. You can pick and choose your favorites, or just add all of them like I did! And guess what? guacamole isn't extra when you make it yourself!

 



 

Looks delicious doesn't it? This would also be yummy on a bed of lettuce or wrapped in a tortilla. Also, torilla chips and extra quacamole are never a bad idea!

 

 





I hope you give this super easy dinner idea a try! Burrito bowls are so easy to make and serve to a few or many!Also, they are so healthy because they are full of spice, veggies and grains! Play with the spices and ingredients and make your own specail flavors that you love!

Please share this recipe and my blog with your friends and family! Show every one that healthy-living can be easy!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

I post every Friday!

Stay Happy, Healthy and Laughing!

H. Banana

Scary Pumpkin Potaotes!

Happy Halloween! 

     These is nothing scary about these adorable pumpkin sweet potatoes expect that they are Scary Delicious! They are a great way to get in the mood of the upcoming holiday, and still have something healthy!

 

   I love these pumpkin sweet potatoes because they are so easy to make, customizable to whatever flavors you want, and so healthy too! Who says Halloween 'treats' all have to be unhealthy? At first I wanted to do something sweet and healthy to celebrate Halloween, but then I got to thinking....Halloween doesn't have to be all about the sweet stuff! Lets do something savory to celebrate the holiday!
Another great thing about these sweet potatoes is that they can be made vegan, oil-free, and sodium free if you wish!

Scary Sweet Potatoes! (Yes, sweet potatoes are sweet, but more to the savory side of things!)

1 Sweet Potato
Olive Oil (Optional)
Salt and Pepper (Optional)
Seasonings of Choice( I used a Jerk Seasoning, Pumpkin Pie Spice, and a Curry Powder- separate on different slices of potato)

You can go sweet, spicy, savory, or salty with the seasonings!

Start by preheating your oven to 350 F. Then wash and pat dry a sweet potato. You can always do more than one, I was just making 1 portion at the time! :) Then, use a sharp knife and cut slices out of the potato. BE CAREFUL!

 

Then, use a smaller knife to make the pumpkin faces. You can cut all the way through the potato, or you can just cut part of the way through. Its up to you really! :) Then toss them in the oil( if using) and place them on a foil-lined sheet.

I'm sure with practice, my pumpkin faces will improve! These are so tasty, I am sure I will be making them time and time again!

Sprinkle the seasonings on the slices. If you are using a powder, rub the powder in a bit. Then sprinkle on salt and pepper as desired.

Super cute! Now they are ready to bake! Place them in the oven for around 35-45 minutes. The time depends on how thin or thick you cut your slices. To check if they are done, just poke them with a fork. If they are soft, then they're done!

Of my goodness! How adorable are these? No, not a scary way to celebrate Halloween but defiantly fun and festive! And, if you don't celebrate Halloween, they still are fun and easy to use for a number of different occasions!

I hope you enjoyed the Halloween inspired blog post! If you try this recipe, let m know what you thought! Please share this post with your family and friends to spread the love of healthy living!

You can follow the blog via email, Google, Twitter @ SpinachisGood, Tumblr @ justrunningforfood, and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett. Please like and follow the blog to stay up to date on all things healthy!

New Post Every Friday! Happy Halloween!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

Portion Control and Making a Balanced Plate

 It is a no-brainer than too much of unhealthy food isn't good for you, but too much of healthy food can act in the same way! Practicing portion control and learning how to balance your plate is important to achieving your goals as well as maintaining a healthy body!

Portion Control
 Let's start with portion control. This is something that should be practiced every time you go to eat anything! The only thing that portion control doesn't really apply to is water, which you can't really have too much of anyways!

I found a great picture on this website, The Skinny Confidential  , That explains portion control really well!

Your portion size for rice, pastas, fruits and veggies is the size of your fist. So, next time you are serving up some rice, pasta or fruit and veg, check your portion size by simply making a fist!

Next on the list is meat, fish and poultry. This should be measured by the size of your palm.

Nuts, raisins, and other dried fruits should be measured by handfuls. One handful equals one serving. This is a great tip, because most people( including myself!) tend to over eat on these types of foods!

Chips, popped corn, pretzels and other snacks of the like, are measured by handfuls as well. Two handfuls equals one serving!

Peanut Butter, nut butters, and hard cheeses are measured by the size of your thumb. This is another great tip because it is so easy to over eat these foods!

Finally, cooking oils, Mayo, butter and sugars should be measured by the tip of your thumb. As you can tell, these are foods that you shouldn't consume a whole lot of!

What I love about these portion control tips is that they are all portable! You have your hands with you always, so you have to excuse not to use them to portion your food correctly!

Making a Balanced Plate
Balancing out your plate is just as important as portion control. Having the right balance of carbs, proteins, sugars and so on will help you stay healthy and achieve your goals!
OneMedical as a great picture, showing a balanced plate!

Let's start with the biggest portion of the plate. 1/2 of your plate should be filled with leafy greens and a variety of veggies and/or fruit. Try and chose something new or different every meal to keep your body and mind guessing! Here are a few quick suggestions!
Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Sugar Snap Peas, Broccoli, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce, Squash, Radishes, or a blend of several veggies!  They can be eaten raw, steamed, sautéed, or grilled! I like to eat these first, so I fill up on veggies and fruit so I am less likely to over eat!

Next comes the grains! You should fill no more than 1/4 of your plate with grains or legumes.  They should be rich in fiber to help you feel full longer. Here are a few suggestions!
Brown Rice, Quinoa, Kidney Beans, Whole Wheat Bread, Black or Navy Beans, or Lentils!

Protein time! Like the grains, only 1/4 of your plate should be filled with your protein. Use your portion control skills to chose a palm sized piece of meat, fish or poultry!
Fish, Lean,grass-fed meat, and eggs are good choices and for the vegetarians out there, Beans and Rice, Edamame or Tempeh are good choices as well!

As well as having your plate 1/2 fruit or veg, 1/4 whole grains and 1/4 protein, you should also include a portion controlled amount of healthy fats like oils, nuts, or avocados. You can sauté your veggies with an oil like Olive Oil or Coconut Oil, add nuts to your salad or rice, and avocados are, in my opinion, good on everything!
 Have fun with it, and mix it up! Don't just have the same thing every day, because you'll get bored and you will be less likely to stick with it! Another great tip is to try something new every week! Go to the grocery store or Farmer's Market and pick out something you've never tried before! This will help you expand your palate!

I hope these tips will help you portion and balance your food! If you enjoyed this post, please share these tips with your friends and family to spread the love of healthy living!

Please share my blog, follow by email and/or via Google, follow on Twitter @ SpinachisGood and on Pinterest @ Hannah Plunkett.

Stay tuned for more healthy post every Monday and Friday!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H. Banana

Wholey Guacamole!

  If you read my previous posts( Super Food Facts) you will know how good Avocados are for you. I like to use them wherever and whenever I can! This recipe for guacamole is not only delicious, but a great healthy snack or side dish for just about any occasion!

I love guacamole a lot! Every where I have it, its made a different way. And, though its usually pretty tasty, I have my favorites. Among those is my own recipe of course! I was taught how to make guacamole a few years ago by a family friend in Houston, and I have been making it ever since. It is so easy to make, you can customize it to your own preferences, and its a great way to use up almost-too-ripe avocados!

So, let's make some guacamole!

Ingredients:
2 large, ripe Avocados
1(10 oz) can of Rotel
2 tsp Lime Juice
1tsp Minced Garlic
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper

Start by slicing and scooping the avocados into a bowl. With the back of a fork, mash them to desired texture. I like mine a little chunky! The riper the avocados are, the easier this job is!

 

The next step is to add the spices and Lime juice. Fresh squeezed lime juice is best, so use that when you can. To make squeezing your lime easier, roll it on the counter a few times to loosen it up!

 

 

Stir this together and then add the garlic and Rotel. I like to add half the can, stir in, and then see how much of the rest of the can I want. This way I always get the perfect avocado to Rotel ratio!

 

Mix this together and you're done! Taste it to see if you need more salt and pepper or lime juice!

 

Serve with corn chips, on tacos, taco salad(one of my favorites!), on a sandwich(instead of Mayo) or however you like it!

I love this recipe so much! Its super easy to make and you can keep it in the fridge for a quick and healthy snack!

If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with a friend!

Keep Healthy and Safe!
H.Banana

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