Monday, April 4, 2011

Tears in NJ

March was not a good month for me...  I am heart broken over the loss of my sweet little Cocker Spaniel Chloe.  She was the best dog ever and we were blessed to have her as part of our family for so many years.  Normally she would be at my feet - snoring loudly...  oh how I miss her and wish that I could have kept her here with us forever...

Thank you so much to everyone for sending well wishes my way.  I appreciate each and every comment so much.  I will be having more tests done on Thursday and I am hopeful that I will get better results. 

This week's Eat. Live. Be. topic is "Creative Ways to Eat all Your Fruits and Veggies". 

I love, love, love vegetables and eat plenty each day.  Omelets are a great way to incorporate vegetables into breakfast.  Big salads, vegetable rich soups and sandwiches loaded with veggies make great lunches.  The focus of dinner is usually in-season vegetables with an accompanying protein and starch.  I like to add zucchini or eggplant to pasta.  Fresh greens like spinach or arugula are also fantastic wilted in pasta.  I even like to add greens to my favorite food - pizza!  Below is one of my favorite pizza combinations - amazing!


Basil Pesto, Mozzarella, Goat Cheese, Tomatoes & Arugula

Getting enough fruit in my diet is slightly more of a challenge to me.  Here are some ways that I incorporate fruit into my diet.
  • Mix fruit and granola into yogurt. 
  • Fruit with pancakes, waffles or French toast makes a great weekend breakfast. 
  • Fruit is also fantastic added into a salad. 
  • Freeze some grapes - so good!
  • Chocolate Covered Strawberries
  • Freshly squeezed grapefruit or orange juice
  • Peanut Butter & Bananas - Matt's favorite not mine!
The key to getting more fruits and vegetables in your diet is to make sure that you have plenty of fresh options on hand.  I once again joined a local CSA for the season.   During the winter, I have enjoyed fresh boxes of organic produce from Suburban Organics.  I encourage everyone to support their local farms this season.  I would love any ideas that you have on enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables.
Posted by Jen_from_NJ at 7:17 PM

12 comments:

  1. JoanneApril 4, 2011 at 8:04 PM

    I'm going to keep my fingers crossed that your test turns out to be perfectly normal! Sometimes these tests can have false positives or you can have one result one day for some random reason and then it'll just go away for no good reason.

    Veggie lovers unite! I love your ideas for getting more fruit into your diet. That's definitely where I need the most work as well!

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  2. Proud Italian CookApril 4, 2011 at 9:13 PM

    Jen, I'm so sorry about your sweet little Chloe, I'm sure she had a cherished life.

    i want to dive into that pizza, head first!

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  3. Maris (In Good Taste)April 5, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    I am so sorry for your loss. Our pets certainly are part of our family.

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  4. Ciao Chow LindaApril 5, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    Jen, I know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet. They become a member of the family and it is hard to say goodbye. I hope your tests turn out to be all good news. That pizza would make me feel better any time.

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  5. BarbaraApril 6, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    So sorry for your loss, Jen. On top of all your other worries too. I am praying that Thursday will bring good news!
    Veggies are a big part of my diet!

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  6. Nutmeg NannyApril 6, 2011 at 10:38 PM

    I'm so sorry for your loss :( Fur babies can be some of the best friends we ever have.

    I'm also keeping you in my thoughts as far as the testing goes. Hopefully it's all good news :)

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  7. ClaudiaApril 7, 2011 at 3:43 PM

    So very sorry about Chloe - it never gets easier. I always declare I am done with pets and the heartbreak. And then I change my mind. But each one has enriched my life and stayed in my heart and in the end - I am better for having lived with them.

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  8. Sarah W. CaronApril 10, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    I am so sorry for your loss! Losing a pet is devastating.

    Your pizza looks delicious.

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  9. PamApril 10, 2011 at 1:39 PM

    Sorry for your loss... Chloe was very pretty.

    The pizza looks AMAZING! I am excited to try your freeze grapes trick.

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  10. Cooking GalleryApril 10, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    I am so sorry about Chloe...She's such a beautiful dog!

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  11. FoodiewifeApril 10, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    I'm so sorry for your loss. Chloe was a cutie! Our pets have such a short journey in our lives, but their memories do live on.
    As for the pizza.... mine! Definitely a great combo of flavors

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  12. Mary BergfeldApril 13, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    It is so hard to say goodbye to animals we have loved. I am really very sorry to hear about Chloe. I'll keep you in my thoughts as you await your test results. I love how you've been able to incorporate vegetables into your diet. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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