Tuna To The Rescue!

 

Long morning of pre-Christmas errands. Hungry. Eat out? 

Hmmm . . . Would be expensive 

and not as nutritious as home cooking.

                     

So I resisted and ten minutes after I got home 

had this on the table. 

Okay. I admit this recipe is a bit of a throw-back to the 1960s or early 70s. Some of you closer to my age will
remember . . . You know, the decade when moms did some pretty crazy things with canned tuna.

 

You can't really blame homemakers of that decade for their weird experimentation. Pre-packaged convenience foods of all kinds were experiencing a surge in popularity nearly 20 years after the initial flood had hit supermarket shelves----in most cases straight from military commissaries.

Consumption of canned tuna soared in the years after the two world wars---when it had first been introduced on a wide scale, providing a high-protein, portable and convenient food for soldiers in the field. By 1954 the world’s largest tuna producer and consumer was the United States. Back then the standard can contained seven ounces of tuna. In the 70's most major producers reduced their can size to 6 ounces---prices moving in the opposite direction, of course!! And by 2010 major tuna fish companies had quietly downsized cans from six to five ounces.

Even though those interesting congealed creations may not appeal to today's fastidious foodies, don't throw out the tuna with the gelatin molds just yet!! Wild-caught and properly canned tuna is still one of the highest quality convenience foods around. And, notwithstanding shrinking cans, it's a great value. A 3-ounce serving contains a whopping 25 grams of protein, 1,300 mg of omega-3s, an impressive amount of vitamin D and is a good source of selenium.

I always keep canned tuna in the pantry. It's just so easy and versatile. And, I'm not ashamed to admit I make my tuna salad pretty much the same way my mom did (does). Why not? It tastes great! And as mom's learned more about healthy food choices, she's come on board with a few upgrades herself, using organic ingredients, adding in more fresh, raw veggies, and being a bit more adventurous with the seasonings.

Other than substituting a cream cheese/yogurt combo for the mayo (I was out, but I prefer mayo---these replacements yielded results a bit too rich and tangy) this is what I include most of the time. (Not pictured: onion and a good quality relish--I experiment with ethnic varieties a lot.)

I mash egg yolks in with the wet ingredients and mix the chopped egg whites in with the veggies and tuna.

Here are some ways I've gotten adventurous with the can myself---a lot prettier than my standard mix!

Source: Nugget Markets. Recipe HERE

Source: Good Food. Recipe HERE

Source: Simply Quinoa. Recipe HERE

Don't you wonder if people in the future will look back at these recipes as funny and unappetizing!! Surely not!!! You think . . . ? Maybe . . . ? NO!  Certainly these are timeless! Hmmm . . . but don't we always say that about interior design, architecture, hair and clothing styles . . .

Shopping Day

Grocery shopping's not a chore but a treat 

at my favorite co-op grocery!

For twenty years I've been driving an hour away for shopping at a wonderful coop grocery. When my oldest four kids were little doorsteps it wouldn't be unusual for me to be "wearing" my youngest baby, have the three year old in the proper toddler-seat space in the cart, the five year old crammed among the groceries in the main compartment of the cart, and the seven year old "helping" push the cart.

Things have changed a lot now that it's just me and my fifth and youngest doing the shopping. We don't go as often (maybe twice a month) and it's a lot less chaotic (notice, I did not say more fun---sure miss those crazy days!!) We usually go hungry and start out at the wonderful hot bar and deli, linger over coffee (and a special "treat' drink for my daughter) and linger some more as we peruse the aisles reading labels, taking advantage of specials, and generally enjoying ourselves thoroughly!

Hmmm . . .which one? Love both brands but I steer clear of lowfat, so Kalona wins!! Delicious!!

I stock up on things I can't find (at affordable prices, at least) closer to home. And this time, with Christmas only days away, I brought my gift-list along. I love giving friends and family "usable" healthy items for holidays and birthdays, even as wedding or baby shower presents---Always trying to encourage good eating habits and introduce natural health and beauty products, even through gift-giving!

 

 

Not giving this delicacy for a gift. No, not even to my pets:))

Another "delicacy" not available closer to home. Thanks for bringing back the original formula GT!!

Hope that you have an awesome grocery nearby that makes your shopping a happy and healthy experience!!! 

Get Fit While You Sit

Whether you're a 9-5 executive or a busy blogger-mom, 

chances are this has become a tired asana:

In fact hours of sitting at a desk is not only uncomfortable, it's detrimental to health and longevity.  Standard chairs simply don't provide for enough movement. The pelvis is in a "locked-down" position, while the back and upper legs are also held in an unnaturally rigid posture.

A study by the Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina found that sitting more than six hours a day increases your risk of heart disease alone by up to 64%. Other studies have turned up similar increases for other diseases, such as stroke and cancer high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol. These dire correlations make sense when you consider the way prolonged sitting impacts almost every system in the body. When we are sitting we are not--uh hum--moving, or at least not very much. And movement is essential for optimum functioning of almost all our body's systems.

For example, when we sit brain function slows in response to a less energetic movement of oxygen and fresh blood. Sluggish blood flow can also give fatty acids more time to clog the heart and lead to a host of circulation problems, usually manifesting in the extremities. Of course, it's no surprise that lengthy periods of siting are not healthy for the skeletal system, often resulting in strained neck, tight back and disk damage. If all that weren't enough, excessive sitting also predisposes one to obesity and muscle degeneration.

The obvious option--standing up and moving around a bit--is the best solution and should be employed first and foremost. 10-12 minutes of standing for every hour of sitting is a good rule of thumb. A few companies (mostly in the high-tech world) have taken that recommendation even further:

Standing desks have been spotted at Google, Facebook, Twitter, AOL, and AT&T, to name a few. But sometimes constant standing can be almost as bad (back issues and pooling blood) and it's certainly not always practical or productive.

For those times an exercise (or stability) ball proves a novel and very effective alternative!

 

 

Office ball photos from: Home Design Game

When you sit on a movable (unstable) surface your body has to make numerous and constant adjustments. Your spine is forced into alignment. Your core is held firm while the pelvis rotates and twists in minute circles. The soles of your feet roll back and forth and side to side. You can actually push backwards or forwards and roll to reach the phone or pencil. And when someone knocks on the door behind you, the torso turns into a most lovely Ardha Matsyendrasan.


But ball chairs shouldn't be reserved for grown-ups!  The concept works beautifully in the classroom and home school as well! It's becoming increasingly common to see an entire roomful of students peacefully bobbing and swaying on colorful, custom-inflated balls, quietly focused on their work.

In an article published at TheAlternativePress.com, G. Chang details several outstanding advantages of nixing chairs in favor of fitness balls:

Brain research has shown that there is a link between movement and positive academic performance. Sitting on balls makes a student sit up straighter which increases blood flow to the brain and all parts of the body. Combining movement and increasing blood flow should result in the ability to stay on task throughout the day and thus, increase academic learning. According to Roland Katz, an ADHD expert, students with ADHD need to “fidget to focus”. Stability balls allow such movement in a controlled manner without disturbance in the classroom. Proper posture at a young age is important because this is when their bodies are growing the most. When a child has poor posture, they are increasing their chances of developing spinal deformities like scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis. Using a stability ball decreases a child's chance of developing these deformities by forcing them to maintain good posture. Students are measured to fit the appropriate size stability ball based on their height and other body dimensions such that the knees are slightly lower than the hips. Furthermore, the use of stability balls should help students become more physically fit because core muscles are engaged and strengthened.

Adult and child alike have much to gain by adopting this legless chair!! Who couldn't use increased circulation, leading to increased brain function and, hence, higher productivity!?!

You will feel more energetic, burn more calories, and tone your muscles as you accomplish a mini-workout all through the day!!!

Here's my own version----makes blogging a breeze:)))