Let's do Yoga?

After injuring my leg during one of my classes and staying away from Zumba for five weeks, I have decided to start taking Yoga classes to add some stretch and strenght to my workout schedule. In the beginning I was not very excited about it, but now I am in love with it. I have been taking two Yoga classes a week at Lotus Pond Center and I wish I could take more because this practice makes me feel amazing. If you have never been to a Yoga class, I would like to suggest you to give it a try. There many places in Tampa offereing Yoga such as gyms, centers, and studios. At Lotus Pond Center, a single Yoga class costs $15, but if you are a student or senior, you can take advantage of a 10% discount when you buy a packet of 10 classes ($97.20 instead of $150). Namaste.

“Couponing” can make you fat

I know it sounds silly, but it is true. If you start buying just products that you have a coupon for, you will also start increasing your daily calories intake and the consumption of processed, sugary and salty food. Don’t believe me? Well, have you ever seem coupons for produce, cage free eggs, salmon, turkey breast, etc.? I haven’t. But for sure this Sunday I will find lot of them for frozen pizzas and meals, soft drinks, candies and canned food. I know we shouldn’t blame just the coupons. Our bad choices also play a big role every time we gain some extra pounds. Ok, so here is the deal: limit coupon use for products like detergents and toilet paper. Let’s remember that especially next time we have $3 off in a big, fat and sugary gallon of ice cream or in a big and salty potato tips bag. Good luck!

Want to lose weight? Buy a dog.

According to an article published on September issue of Prevention magazine, a 2011 study found that dog owners walk more during the week than nonowers. Of course I have never thought about because I don't have a dog and I am not a big fan of them. But I need to recognize it is so nice a pet can make somebody exercise more and even become healthier. So, here is this Monday's tip: if you want to lose some weight, but don't feel like going to the gym neither doing intense work-outs, buying or adopting a dog is a good start to accomplish a active lifestyle.

Organic Pizza

Do you feel like eating pizza this weekend? You should try Pizza Fusion, at Westchase Town Center, in Westchase. This restaurant has decided to use organic vegetables and hormone-free meat to prepare its pizza. Isn’t a great idea? Brian and I have been there a week ago and we tried 2 flavors: Very Vegan (Crimini mushrooms, rosted garlic, tomato sauce and soy cheese) and Founder’s Pie (Free range chicken, kalamata olives, roasted red onions, tomato sauce, gorgonzola, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan). We really like it. If you decide to try it, a large pizza is good for 2 people and costs between $13,00 and $18,00.

Pizza Fusion
Address: 9556 West Linebaugh Ave.
Tampa – Westchase – 33626
Phone number: 813 792-1516
Website: www.pizzafusion.com/tampa025

Soup in the Summer?

I know some people like to have soup just on Winter time, but if you are trying to stay fit or lose weight, you should have soup in any season, specially on Summer when we wear less clothes and show more skin. According to a Penn State University study, sipping your appetizer can cut the total amount of calories eaten at your meal by up to 20%. Well, it doesn’t work if you get the creamy ones like the broccoli cheddar. Skip this kind and prepare or order broth-based varieties like chicken, lentil and vegetables. They normally have about 150 calories and fills you up. I would like to share a vegetarian, inexpensive and easy to prepare recipe with you. It is a lentil chili that tastes and looks like a soup.

Lentil Chili Soup
6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth (I used water too)
1 medium yellow onion
1 large red pepper
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 teaspoons of chili powder
2 cups of lentils (I soak for 12 hours, but the package says it is not necessary)
¼ cup chopped Parsley or more, if you like it a lot

Directions:
Spray olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, then garlic and then bell pepper until it is tender. Stir in chili powder and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add lentils, tomatoes and broth. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, for about 30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Stir in Parsley and serve. 8 servings

My dad’s coffee, Starbucks Expresso and my smoothie recipe

Today I want talk about coffee in my life. I know it sounds silly. But here we go. I grow up drinking lots of coffee as a typical Brazilian. When I was a little girl, I remember smelling it as soon as I woke up. It was a sign that my “early bird” dad was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. So I used to have a little bit of the coffee with lots of milk and my bread with butter. When I first arrived in USA, I ordered coffee in restaurant and the waitress brought me a “coffee- tea” (the very light coffee in a big cup) with a little creamer. I got so disappointed and I knew at that moment I was really going to miss home.

Four years later, I am living in Tampa, I prefer to have cereal for breakfast and I am a Starbucks expresso fan. Until 2 weeks ago I was stopping by a Starbucks store every day in the afternoon to have my expresso with skim milk to the top. Then I remembered reading in somewhere how much we can save if we prepare our own beverage home. Well, I tried it, but it didn’t taste the same as the one at Starbucks. Then I “created” a recipe I share with you below. It is a low calorie, cheap and super fast to prepare cold coffee smoothie. I like it so much that it save me some trips to Starbucks. Also, just between you and me, I will always miss my dad’s coffee.

Coffee smoothie
1 sachet of instant coffee
1 cup of fat free milk
1 Tsp of honey
3 ice cubs

Direction: Blend all the ingredients together for about 1 minute. Enjoy it.

Cheap, easy and delicious Mexican recipe for your “5 de Mayo” dinner

Today is Cinco de Mayo, The 5th of May, a Mexican holiday that celebrates a battle victory over France in 1862. You don’t have to be Mexican to join in the festivities. It looks like there are a few parties around Tampa Bay area. But if you decide to stay at home, this is a good opportunity to have a homemade Mexican dish for dinner. Isn’t it!? Here is an unexpensive and “easy to make” recipe. I had it for lunch. So yummy!!!

Baked Rice and Beans
1 ½ Tbsp of Olive Oil (I use spray)
1 cup of chopped onion (I love it, so I used a big one, more than 1 cup)
2 cloves of garlic
1 bell pepper (I used half of a red and half of a green one)
1 minced japeleno (I used a small, without seeds)
1 cup of crushed tomatoes (I had fresh, but you can use a canned one)
Juice of one lime (I used a fresh one)
2 tsp of chili powder (I used 1 tablespoon and a half because I love it too)
1 tsp of dried oregano
Salt (I don’t use it…)
1 can of Dark Red Kidney Beans
1 cup of cooked brown rice (I used a left over)
Scallions (include tops and bulb, please)
Monterey Jack (this cheese is delicious)

Directions
1) Cook the brown rice about 1 hour before or use a left over like I did. Chop the onion, peppers and mince the japeleno pepper and the garlic. Shred the Monteray Jack cheese or buy it already shredded.
2) In a large skillet over medium high heat, warm oil. Add onion, garlic and sauté. Add bell peppers and japeleno pepper and sauté until peppers are softened. Stir tomatoes, lime juice, chili powder, oregano and salt (if you are using it). In another bowl combine it with beans, rice and scallions.
3) Place mixture in a casserole. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 20 minutes in 350 degrees.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!