weekend chat and eating healthy

Good Monday morning, my lovely friends! How was your weekend?

My hubby had some vacation days, so it was nice having him at home, enjoying
 his company and getting some things done around the house. We also took another
 day trip up to Sheboygan, Wisconsin. There's a church/Bible camp there that we
 used to go to annually when the kids were growing up.This is a camp where people
 from all over the US and Canada (and sometimes other countries, as well) go.
We rent the facilities at a private college. Anyway, one of my best girlfriends in the
 world, who lives in Canada, goes every year so I like to go up there on that Friday
and spend time with her. Other friends and my nieces were there too, so there's lots of
talking and togetherness. We stayed in one of  the campus apartments talking and
 laughing and didn't leave until 12:30 a.m., so we didn't get home until 3 a.m.
We felt pretty darn tired the next day. We're too old to be out all night!

 I made a delicious and nutritious dinner last night that was easy and quick to prepare.
 I don't think I've talked much about it before on my blog, but I'm pretty passionate
 about "clean eating". I avoid (as much as possible) processed and refined foods,
 trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, food dyes, nitrates and nitrites, excess
 sodium, and genetically modified foods. I read labels on every food product before
 I buy it. It's amazing all the crap that food companies sneak into their product; even
 foods that are targeted towards children. I don't eat a lot of meat, but that's just a
personal preference. When I do buy and eat meat, I try to buy organic. Same with
 eggs, vegetables and fruits. I firmly believe that a lot of our health problems
 (namely, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, and certain cancers)
are due to poor eating habits. 

I don't mean to be preachy. I'm not saying I never eat any junk food or anything
that is "bad" for me. And I am overweight because I don't exercise consistently.
But I am trying. I'm taking one step at a time and the first step is to be aware
of what I put in my mouth.

Anyway, on to the dinner. Cut up a couple of sweet onions and saute

in unrefined coconut oil or cold-pressed olive oil for about 4 minutes.

Add a bunch of halved cherry tomatoes. I used yellow and red. Continue to 

saute for another 4 minutes.

Then add 3 slivered garlic cloves, fresh basil, and a splash of balsamic vinegar.

Saute for a few more minutes, until veggies are tender.

Take the veggies out of the pan and put them into a bowl; cover to keep warm.

 In the same pan, add a bit more coconut oil or olive oil and saute organic chicken

 breasts (seasoned with salt and pepper) for 4 minutes per side. If you're a vegetarian,
you can saute some cubed tofu instead.

 Place a chicken breast on a dinner plate and heap with the veggie mixture.

At this point, you can sprinkle some feta cheese on top of the veggie mixture,

if you desire. I served fresh, steamed green beans as a side dish. Yum!

 For tons more information on healthy and clean eating, check out the blog,

100 Days of Real Food. I've recently discovered this blog and it is a wealth

of information! There's meal ideas, budgeting tips, school lunch ideas, recipes,

and tons more. I hope to be sharing my own recipes and healthy tips more often.

Here's to our health!