Bento Box Bonanza

The weather really has been perfect. I have been able to set up outside most days and work from my patio. Part of my job is online and some days I am on conference calls for work or the Obesity Action Coalition so as long as the neighbor's dog doesn't start barking or they turn the bandsaw on I am good to go. I bought this bench that converts into a desk (it's soooo cool) and now that the weather is cooler I am finally getting to use it. I bring my bento box filled with lunch and a snack and I stay outside until either my work is done, it gets too chilly/dark or my butt needs something softer (the toosh usually wins) or there was that time fried chicken dropped from the sky.

These are a few of my most recent bento box lunches. Click on the highlighted links for recipes and resources...

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Basic Chicken Salad

Green Box (top right): Quest Blueberry Muffin Protein Bar turned into "Cookies"

Blue Box (bottom left):  Homemade Crunchy Cheese Crackers

Orange Box (bottom right): Pickle Chips

Pink Box (top left): Persian Cucumber Spears 

Green Box (top right): Greek Yogurt Dip (2% plain Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of Zaatar)

Blue Box (bottom left): Hard Cooked Egg on a Stick with Bagel Spice

Orange Box (bottom right): Swiss Cheese Cubes

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Cinnamon Churro Mini Ricotta Pancakes

Green Box (top right): (in the little blue container) Sugar Free Maple Syrup 

Blue Box (bottom left): Strawberries tossed with a drizzle of Smuckers Sugar Free Strawberry Topping

Orange Box (bottom right): Cottage Cheese sprinkled Cinnamon

Pink Box (top left): Melted Cold Cut Roll-up (Ham & Cheddar) 

Green Box (top right): Cucumber "Cracker"

Blue Box (bottom left): Sugarsnap Peas and a Strawberry

Orange Box (bottom right): Greek Yogurt Dip (2% plain Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of Greek Seasoning)

Pink Box (top left): Cold Cut Skewers (Ham wrapped Cucumber Spears, green olives, cheese cubes)

Green Box (top right): Quest Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Protein Bar turned into "Cookies"

Blue Box (bottom left): Shelly's Hummus Deviled Eggs

Orange Box (bottom right): Almonds

Pink Box (top left): Shelly's Curry Chicken Salad 

Green Box (top right): Cherry Tomatoes 

Blue Box (bottom left): Sliced Cucumber Scoops

Orange Box (bottom right): Quest Chocolate Chip Protein Bar turned into "Cookies"

More Bento Box lunches, FAQ's and an Online Source for them
My Bento Pinterest Page (Tons of Lunch Ideas)

Sarawak Traditional Food: Cassava Leaves Are Good For Health

Cassava Leaves

Cassava Leaves

Tasty boiled cassava potato leaves are one of the popular menu among ethnic Bidayuh community in Sarawak. Eaten with dipping sauce or stir-fried with sambal ikan bilis with hot rice and fried fish or salted fish. 

Other dishes from the popular potato leaves are boiled potato leaves lemak cili api whether poor cook cooking fat white or yellow. Menu cooking fat potato leaves chilli is sold in restaurants cuisine villages throughout the country, especially for lunch.

Efficacy cassava potato leaves are eaten much relate to human health. First and foremost is certainly a hearty potato leaves us after the meal with rice or eat pizza. People used to believe eating potato leaves can eliminate dizziness or headaches apart from being a barrier to tumor or cancer problems. 

Potato leaves contain lots of vitamins A, B17 and C and minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, iron and fiber. Proteins and carbohydrates and energy that exists in potato leaves are healthy.

Eating potato tubers and leaves are occasionally very enjoyable indeed. Some nutrition potato leaves rarely discussed publicly. However easement vegetable fat, cassava ointment, pizza and salad are also using cassava shoots in the state is unable.

Preferably potato leaves are plucked own backyard is the best because it is still fresh and if you buy a cheap price. Efficacy of these vegetables not only for the village but it has also served to renowned restaurants, hotels and even in the banquet crowd.

Fall Dessert: Protein Pudding Parfaits

Thanksgiving in America is typically known for watching the Macy's parade and football on TV, trying not to argue about politics with relatives and feasting until you slip into a food induced coma on the couch.

New post weight loss surgery life... maybe you can get some body moving in with a family walk or take part in an early morning Turkey Trot 5K run or walk (it's harder to argue when you are running), come home and eat a little protein packed turkey, a some veggies and low carb sides and you'll definitely want to save a little room for this fall festive dessert. It's the perfect protein packed, sweet and satisfying end to your new healthier Thanksgiving.

Shelly's Festive Fall Protein Pudding Parfaits

2 cups Premier Protein Vanilla or Caramel Shake (Ready to Drink RTD)
1 - 1 oz. small package Sugar Free Vanilla or Butterscotch Instant Pudding Mix (dry)
Optional: 1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Caramel Syrup
2 (4 oz.) Mandarin Oranges Fruit Cups, drained
Homemade, No Sugar Added Whipped Cream and Nonpareils

Pour the chilled shakes, pudding mix and syrup flavoring into a shaker bottle. If you choose to add a flavoring put one less Tablespoon of the shake. Shake for 3 minutes or until thickened slightly and place in fridge for about 5 minutes to thicken further.

Spoon the thickened protein pudding into glasses (I used stemless wine glasses) but if you are taking them with you on your walk use mason jars with lids (don't forget to bring a spoon with you.) Top pudding with drained mandarin oranges (look for No Sugar Added or in 100% juice cups.) Before serving top with Homemade, No Sugar Added Whipped Cream and a sprinkle of nonpareils. Makes 4-6.

Shelly's Homemade No Sugar Added Whipped Cream

1 cup Whipping Cream
1 Tablespoon Sugar Free Torani Syrup (any flavor will do)

Whisk till well combined. Every batch I make a new flavor: SF Vanilla, SF Coconut, SF Almond, if you want pink cream add SF Raspberry. Fill whipping cream to the fill line of the whipper. Screw on the top. Insert the CO2 cartridge till it empties, unscrew that. Put the nozzle on, shake a few times and squirt away. It makes a ton, store it in the fridge for up to 10 days just give it another few shakes before squirting. Great on berries, shakes and smoothies, crepes. You can make chocolate whipped cream: just mix 2 Tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder to recipe above before it goes into the whipper... on strawberries... OMG... so good. I made spice whipped cream by adding pumpkin spice or cinnamon to the cream before it goes in the whipper.




Don't you love the knitted Fall table accessories my Mum made me. I keep telling her she should open an Etsy store.

More Eggface Thanksgiving and Fall Recipes and Ideas

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10 Ground Beef Recipes

I recently had a few major hits to my pocketbook and it's made me do some major tightening of the budget. I know many of you can relate. I wanted to share a few of my favorite budget friendly ground beef recipes. It's a go-to in my house when I need a protein packed, inexpensive meal. You can usually find it on sale. It's super versatile and can be turned into endless family friendly meals. I hope you give a few of these a try. Let me know if you do.

Not a beef fan... you can substitute ground turkey in all of these recipes.

Shelly's Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Eggs
Shelly's Taco Bites (Crustless Quiches)
DIY Taco Salad Night
Shelly's Bacon Cheeseburger Mini Meatloaves
Shelly's Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

DIY Lettuce Cup Tacos - This was last night's dinner...

6 Butter/Boston/Bibb Lettuce Leaves
1/2 pound Ground Beef sauteed till no pink is seen, sprinkled with 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin just before done. Season with Salt & Pepper to taste
Pico de Gallo (or Fresh Salsa) Store Bought
Sliced Avocado
Greek Yogurt (I sprinkled a little Trader Joe's Chili Lime Seasoning in it)
Makes about 6 "tacos"

Any leftovers are great with scrambled eggs in the morning.

Shelly's Sicilian Meat and Ricotta Topped Pies
Shelly's Black Bean and Butternut Squash Chili
Shelly's Burrito Stuffed Peppers
Shelly's Deconstructed Cauliflower Riceless Sicilian "Rice Balls"

More Eggface Weight Loss Surgery Friendly Beef Recipes
More Post Weight Loss Surgery Budget Tips Food, Fitness, Freebies and More

Life After Weight Loss Surgery Q & A - Can I join the military after having weight loss surgery?

This seems like an appropriate question to answer on Veteran's Day. Thank you to those serve or have served.

Question: Do you know if I can join the military after having weight loss surgery? Joining the Army has always been a dream of mine.

Answer: Unfortunately, it is my understanding that you can not join the military after having weight loss surgery. According to Health Affairs Policy 07-006: “Bariatric surgery represents a major and permanent change in your digestive system that requires strict adherence to a specific dietary regimen that may interfere with operational deployment. A history of bariatric surgery is already a bar to military service and receiving bariatric surgery while on active duty may be grounds for separation.”

For some health conditions you can ask for a medical waiver but again in my reading it does not seem likely it would be approved and it is quite the process. To be certain ask your recruiter.

Some personal thoughts... those that serve in the military are often in need of many thousands of calories a day due to their energy output. Your adapted anatomy post weight loss surgery simply can not hold that quantity any longer. Consider training or serving in triple digit desert heat with only the contents of your pack with you, you would likely be unable to meet your post-operative needs in those conditions and not meeting them would be detrimental to your health making you a liability to yourself and your platoon.

If your dream is military service (it's a noble one for sure) may I suggest an adapted dream of serving in some capacity as a civilian on a military base in the U.S. or abroad. For more information about those opportunities:

U.S. Army: https://armycivilianservice.usajobs.gov/
U.S. Air Force: https://afciviliancareers.com/index.php
U.S. Marines: http://www.usmc-mccs.org/careers/#.UoZz9xBQHGE
U.S. Navy: http://www.secnav.navy.mil/donhr/Pages/Default.aspx
U.S. Coast Guard: http://www.uscg.mil/civilian/default.asp

P.S. Do not consider not sharing your complete health history. There isn't a part of you that isn't checked if you get my drift and not being forthright is not an option.

More Eggface Red, White & Blue Recipes and Ideas

Sources:
Health Affairs Policy 07-006 - Policy on Bariatric Surgical Procedures for Active Duty Service Members
DODI (Department of Defense Instruction for Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services), (PDF). This is the official document used by Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) doctors to determine medical eligibility for military applicants.

Tenderloin Steak with Mushrooms and Blue Cheese

Restaurant-quality steak awaits you. Use the sear button on your George Foreman Evolve Grill to add a delicious seared crust to juicy tenderloin steaks topped with grilled mushrooms and blue cheese.

Prep Time: 8 min                                                    

Total Time: 16 min

Ingredients:

4 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms

1 strip bacon, cut into 4 pieces

2 beef tenderloin steaks, 4 ounces each

½ tsp. garlic salt

¼ tsp. coarsely ground pepper

4 tsp. crumbled blue or Gorgonzola cheese

Directions:

Attach ceramic grill plates, and preheat grill to 375°

Place mushrooms on grill, top with bacon and grill 4 minutes

Remove mushrooms and bacon, set aside

Press SEAR button on grill, wait until it heats to 500°; season steaks with garlic salt and pepper

Place steaks on grill and sear for 90 seconds (grill will return to 350° after 90 seconds on sear)

Grill at 350° for 4 minutes

Remove steaks from grill and top with mushrooms, bacon, and blue cheese

Servings:  4