Foods of Istanbul

Hi!

I just recently got back from a week in Istanbul, Turkey and it was amazing! That city has so much history, and architecture, and beauty its almost too overwhelming. If you follow me on instagram you will have seen some pictures by now.

But not only that, the food is insanely delicious as well! I'm sure you knew I was going to talk about food, considering all I talk about is food and fitness.  So yes, I'm going to show and tell you some of my favorites from Istanbul, that way if/when you ever travel to Istanbul, you'll know what to eat!

1. Simit and Acma

This stuff is like a bagel and pretzel combined into one giant, crunchy, yet soft ring. You can get them plain, or with toasted sesame seeds, or with nutella (yum!), or even cheese. They even sold something with cinnamon in it which was awesome. You can find these stands literally everywhere. I ate like 4 a day. Definitely a must eat.

 

 

 

 

2.  Corn on the Cob

This is typically sold during the summer months. It's boiled and grilled and seasoned with salt and other spices. Quick and easy to eat on the go. Again, you can find these carts anywhere and everywhere.

 

 

3. Kebab

This refers to broiled and roasted meat-usually chicken or lamb. This together with doner is a tightly packed meat on a rotating vertical spit. Perfect fast food that is super filling and delicious. These can be found half inside and half outside. I ate a lot of kebab and doner.

 

 

4. Apple Tea and Sehlap

Apple tea is drank everywhere! It taste like hot apple cider. I found that apple tea was complimentary with dessert at most restaurants. I miss it. Sehlap was being sold one day on the street. This is hot milk and cream with vanilla extract, sugar, cinnamon and other spices. I couldn't believe how good it was! Sehlap you can find at many restaurants and cafes.

Sehlap

Apple Tea



5. Freshly squeezed juice

You can find juice stands in a lot of places-typically with kebab shops. They will freshly squeeze you either orange juice or pomegranate juice. Now, that's what I call "juicing." Definitely a must to drink along side you kebab.

 

 

Now, if you ever find yourself traveling to Istanbul, you'll know what to eat and drink. I know there is so much more out there, but I did not get to see it all. That will be your job to find :) 

 

Have a wonderful day!







What 200 calories look like!

I came across a short video on Facebook on what 200 calories of food looks like. It shows healthy foods, like apples and carrots, as well as junk food, like muffins and Big Macs. I thought it was pretty interesting and thought it was in my best interest to share it with everyone. Oh, and I'm sure you can already guess it... healthy food choices, like celery and broccoli, you can eat A LOT more for A LOT less calories! Yay :)

                                                                         

VS.

 

 

And the video brings up what a calorie is. A calorie is a unit of energy. Your body needs energy to fuel you--don't be afraid of calories!

Alright, check out the video: http://vod.io/tknYb/

Healthy Caesar Salad Dressing

As I was skimming through this months issue of Fitness Magazine, I came across several recipes that caught my eye. One of which was a kale caesar salad with grilled chicken, though the word caesar is what really caught my attention! I absolutely love caesar dressing, it's my favorite. Caesar salads are the best thing ever in my world, but I hate how fattening the dressing is. I don't like to buy store bought dressings and vinaigrettes-I prefer to make them myself. So, when I came across this recipe I got very excited. The ingredients are simple and this healthified version still has the rich, creamy and bold, tangy flavors of your favorite caesar dressing.  For the full recipe, with the salad included, you can find it in the February issue of fitness magazine or you can click here.

Healthy Caesar Dressing

• 2 tbsp. of 2% or non-fat plain greek yogurt
• 1 tsp of red wine vinegar
• 1/4 tsp of minced garlic
• 1/4 tsp of Dijon mustard
• 1/4  tsp. Worcestershire sauce

--Whisk together all ingredients above and enjoy! This is enough for 1-2 servings, as it does not make very much.

I hope you give this recipe a try if you love caesar salads!

Stay happy and healthy :)

Basic Granola

Hey Everyone!

I hope the start of your new year has been awesome so far! Today, I want to share with you a simple and basic granola recipe that I found from tree hugger. I really liked this recipe because it uses apple juice in it, which I had never seen before. What's so great about this recipe, and granola in general, is that you can be very creative with it. Just follow a basic recipe and add in your own nuts, seeds, fruits, and other flavors and textures. Granola is a great healthy snack or a healthy breakfast. It can be eaten by itself, put on top of yogurt or oatmeal, or enjoyed with milk. And not to mention that your house will smell amazing, too!

Granola Recipe

• 3 cups rolled oats (not quick or instant)
• 1 1/2 cup of nuts and seeds ( a mixture of your favorites work perfectly; I used almonds and pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup apple juice
• 1/2 cup of honey (use maple syrup for vegans)
• 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
• 1 tbs vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp of salt
• 1 cup of dried fruit, optional

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Combine the oats, nuts, and seeds in a large bowl. Set aside.
3. In a small sauce pan, combine the apple juice, honey, oil, vanilla, and spices over low heat until the honey has softened and all is well combined. Remove from the heat and pour over the oat mixture. Stir everything until it is well combined.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread a single layer of your oat mixture on it. Try not to have too much over lapping so it can cook evenly and get crunchy.
5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until evenly golden brown, stirring every 12 to 15 minutes. When its done, remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
6. After cooled completely, stir in your dried fruit, if you're using it.

Notes:

• Store in an air tight container. It should last up to several weeks.
• If you plan on eating fresh fruit with your granola, you may want to skip using dried fruit, as a way to cut down on sugar.
• Feel free to play around with the oats, nut/seed, and dried fruit measurements, as these don't need to be exact.

I hope you give this recipe a try and enjoy it! Stay happy and healthy :)