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Make the Switch I Did

It's been 5 days and I can say I like it.  I'm talking about my coffee. Yes, I can officially say I am now a black coffee drinker and yes, I really am enjoying it.  I never thought I'd be able to give up cream (real 10% cream) in my coffee. I generally drink 3 - 4 cups of coffee a day and for years upon years I have added cream to every cup and loved it.  

My husband recently kicked the cream habit several months ago and never looked back but I really didn't even consider giving it up as it is a small but extra amount of calcium that I thought I needed besides loving the way my coffee tasted.  

Five days ago after I went to the grocery store to shop for my list of items I came home without the cream. Of course it was on my list but as often happens I overlook one or two items and come home without it. This time I didn't feel like returning to the store to buy the cream so I decided to drink my coffee black.  

Not gonna lie, the first few sips well actually the first cup tasted slightly bitter and I cringed a few times while swallowing it down.  Then a couple hours later I tried again and eventually having another cup after dinner.  By the third cup I actually started thinking okay it's not that bad. I think I can do this.  So I carried on the next day and the next day and as I said now it's been 5 full days and I've made the switch.  I am a black coffee drinker.   

Now I know that many people love their fancy coffees like macchiatos and frappuccinos and of course lattes and that's okay but once you get started on real pure coffee made from a lovely berry growing plant from an exotic location you might find you don't need all that extra 'stuff'' in your drink.   

Sugary and sweet can mask the true taste of the coffee but then maybe that's how many people feel they can tolerate drinking it.  When you find the perfect blend or roast you should be able to drink it black and enjoy the true essence of the beans.  Coffee roasters spend hours developing the roast profiles. Growing, harvesting and processing coffee beans is a real art that takes a great deal of time.  Coffee can taste very different when it comes from different areas of the world.  

Black coffee has virtually no calories.  Yup, pretty much zero.  Added cream and sugar or even just one can add several calories to your diet depending on how many cups you consume in a day.  Just food for thought but maybe switching to black coffee is something you might consider.   Otherwise, Life's short, Enjoy the Coffee! 

 

Step Into Fall and Routines

September is here and with that begins many routines and getting back into the groove of things for most of us.  Kids head back to school, parents head back to work and we find the lazy days of summer have come and gone.  

Personally, I love the fall season. There are so many great things about this time of year.  The air just seems fresher and the beginnings of change can be seen in the trees and surroundings.  I can hardly wait to see all of the bright cheerful colors of the leaves.  

Today I got back into the routine of the gym.  My first indoor workout has begun.  Most of my fitness I prefer to do outdoors like cycling and walking but to keep my body in shape also requires some weight lifting and stretching too.  My husband and I just changed gyms as we had been going to the same one for about 14 years but found during the late spring and summer months we didn't utilize it properly as that is when we got on our bikes and I began outdoor walking again.  

The new gym worked out well, has everything we need to stay fit and healthy.  Along with working out I love to create healthy meals.  So I thought I'd share this dinner recipe with you. A simple easy 'wrap' for tonight's meal. 

Roasted yams and black bean wrap. I cubed 2 yams and roasted with a little olive oil and a pinch of salt at 400 degrees for about 35 mins. 

Lay out your tortillia wrap and layer it with some romaine lettuce, add a handful of roasted yams, rinsed and drained black beans, thinly sliced tomato, some thinly sliced peppers and red onion. Drizzle with a homemade dressing or just with olive oil.   Roll up and enjoy.