When I saw that The Chopping Block was offering a Cooking for Life class, I was SO excited! The class is focused on eating to nourish your body and mind, which is exactly what I’ve been doing for nearly three years now. While I’ve been on Weight Watchers since 1999 and initially lost 70 pounds, I can’t count the amount of times that I fell off of the wagon. It felt like every new year I was making the same resolution: lose X amount of weight by my birthday in March.
Building a Healthier Lifestyle
It wasn’t until I changed my mindset and relationship with food that things really started to click. Balance and consistency have been two key factors in my weight loss journey, which funny enough are the two things I was always missing. Previously, I’d make a list of upwards of ten habits I wanted to include in my daily routine. I wanted to drink a gallon of water, get at least 10K steps per day, eat more vegetables, etc. These are great goals to have, but for me, when just one of those things fell off, so did the rest. Next thing I know, we’re back at a new year and the cycle would repeat.
I have now tracked my food consistently for over 750 days. Not every day has been perfect, but that’s not what matters. What matters is that I’ve shown up for myself every single day and proved to myself that I am capable of change. Once I created balance in my diet to include the foods that I love, I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. Part of building a healthier lifestyle that’s both sustainable and enjoyable is eating the foods that you love and adjusting the rest to fit your needs.
Balance Doesn’t Mean Restriction
As a recipe developer in the weight loss space, I’ve always prioritized taste to ensure that my recipes are delicious, whether you’re on a weight loss journey or not. Living a healthier lifestyle doesn’t mean that you need to sacrifice flavor or enjoyment when it comes to food – and in fact, it’s the opposite! I cringe a little bit when I see other people in the weight loss space complaining about needing to eat plain boiled chicken in order to lose weight. That’s why it’s so important for people like Chef John Peters to spread the word that restrictive eating isn’t the answer! In this class, you’ll learn about plant-based foods, balancing flavors, picking produce, fresh herbs, and much more.
Embracing New Foods
The recipe I’d love to highlight is one that I never thought I’d make in a million years. It’s packed with flavor, super versatile, and lower in calories if you’re on a weight loss journey like myself. I use this salad on a sandwich, as a filling in taquitos, or even as a dip with some veggie sticks. Chickpeas are something I didn’t try for the longest time because I had convinced myself I didn’t like them before even giving them a try. I was shocked when I realized I loved them! I missed out on so many foods for the longest time because I simply didn’t give them a shot. I also love this recipe because it’s filling and nutritious, which are important factors to keep in mind when making any recipe. It’s a bonus that this comes together in almost no time at all, and doesn’t require cooking when eating as-is!
Chickpea Salad
Scroll down for a printable version of this recipe
Makes: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
1 15-ounce can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
1 Tablespoon Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/3 cup red cabbage, chopped
2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos, chopped
- In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together, then using a potato masher or fork, mash the mixture.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Explore Before Giving Up
With options like this chickpea salad in my meal rotation, I’m able to splurge in other areas. Finding balance in all areas of life, especially with food, can be really overwhelming and discouraging. Take time to find foods that you love and work to fit them into your plan! Experiment with new foods you’ve never tried! Take some cooking classes to foster more confidence in the kitchen! Life is too short to eat bland food, and you’re more capable than you might believe.
We hope to see you at Hands-On Cooking for Life: Eating to Nourish your Body and Mind on Saturday, September 14 at 11:30am.
Chickpea Salad
Ingredients
- 1 15-ounce can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 1 Tablespoon Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/3 cup red cabbage, chopped
- 2 tablespoons pickled jalapenos, chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients together, then using a potato masher or fork, mash the mixture.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
