Super Easy, Healthy Minestrone Soup

One of the most important things I have learned from my journey towards living a healthful lifestyle has been the importance of eating well. I cannot rely on exercise alone to keep me fit and healthy. And if you’re like me, cooking is not always at the top of my to-do list. If you make time, though, and cook a few healthy meals a week, you will see changes in your body. When we treat our bodies well and give them the fresh, natural foods they desire, you’ll feel energized and slim. And cooking can be so simple! All you need are the right recipes!

I love making soups because they are one of the most healthy, filling foods you can eat. The liquid and fresh veggies fill you up for hours. Plus, you get a few servings of vegetables without feeling bored. The calorie content is low, also, so soup keeps you full while slimming you down. Just be sure to avoid cream and starch based recipes.

 

The fresh vegetables add color to this tasty soup

I adapted this minestrone soup recipe from Betty Crocker’s Vegetarian Cooking. It is super easy to make and absolutely DELICIOUS. This recipe makes about four servings, and I like to make it all and save it for later in the week. Or make your roommates happy and cook for them, too.

Plan for about forty minutes for the whole recipe. It may sound like a lot, but it’s really easy and the soup just boils or simmers on the stove for most of the time. Add spices as you see fit–I love spicy food, so I add a lot of ground red pepper! You can also serve a bit of fresh, whole-wheat bread on the side. Pita bread is tasty, too.

Minestrone Soup

Tbsp olive oil

1/2 white onion, coarsely chopped (1 cup)

1 green pepper, coarsely chopped (1 cup)

2 cans Italian style stewed tomatoes with basil, oregano–undrained

2 cans vegetable broth (low sodium)

1 can dark red kidney beans, drained, rinsed

I cup uncooked small whole-wheat pasta shells

1 medium yellow summer squash, chopped

Spices to taste–cayenne, pepper, garlic, salt, oregano, basil

In a 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper and cook 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until crisp-tender.

Stir in stewed tomatoes, broth and beans. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered 5 minutes.

Stir in pasta and squash. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Boil 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Add spices like cayenne, pepper, garlic, oregano to taste. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese (optional).

Jab, Hook and Kick Yourself Slim

I don’t know about you, but I like to hit things. Hit things without repercussions. Hit things that won’t hit back. Hit things to release all the pent up aggression or stress or whatever else it is that builds up during a busy school week. I’m cool with kicking, too.

That’s why the Ann Arbor College of Martial Arts ‘Cardio Kickboxing’ class has become the new hangout spot for me and some of my girlfriends.

I like to describe this joint as “raw.” Conveniently (for me), it’s located at 1952 S. Industrial–right by Kroger, CVS, and Benny’s Family Dining. In a big open room surrounded by mirrors, you’ll beat the crap out of bags and sweat like crazy for 45-55 minutes.

Photo from the Ann Arbor College of Martial Arts Facebook Page

During the class, you do some warm ups and then jump right into intervals of cardio, abdominal work, and bag work. For instance, you may do 45 seconds of mountain climbers, then 45 seconds of sit-ups, then 45 seconds of jab/hook combinations on the punching bags. Basically, you repeat that type of sequence for the majority of the time.

When I say raw, though, the best part about this place is you never know what to expect. There’s no strict format the instructors stick to. One instructor may have you pushing the 50 pound punching bags across the room in a race, while another may have you lunging and doing wall-sits. One guarantee, though, you WILL sweat. Plus, you get to wear cool hand wraps to protect your knuckles.

This class is a fantastic, quick, full-body workout that will leave your face beet red and dripping in sweat. And if you have any injuries or just aren’t feeling your best, you can modify each exercise to suit your workout needs. For this reason, you’ll see all kinds of people at this class. From college-aged girls to ahem..slightly overweight older people, to big beefy guys, to a group of jean wearing, motorcycle riding hippies (I swear, it happened once). But the point is, don’t worry about fitting in here.

The best part about this whole post? YOUR FIRST CLASS IS FREE! Yup, just show up wearing workout clothes and bearing a water bottle, you’ll fill out a quick form, they’ll provide you with hand wraps, and you’re all ready to kick some ass. If you love the workout, you can buy 20 classes for $100. I did this, it’s a pretty good deal–especially if you plan to be a regular.

Check the website for the schedule. There are early evening classes M-F. Good for us college students!

Hope to see you there,

Lizzy

Empower Yourself for Fitness Success!

Hello readers,

Welcome to my online all-around health and fitness guide for women. This blog is aimed to help college women, specifically in Ann Arbor, live a healthful lifestyle in a stressful setting.

Between late night pizza munchies and greasy cafeteria food, we all know it can be extremely difficult to stay in shape during these four years. Old university gyms crowded with meat-heads aren’t helping our case either.

The important thing to remember before reading this blog, though, is that WE ARE NOT DOOMED FOR FITNESS FAILURE! We do NOT have to gain the freshman fifteen. We do NOT have to be held captive by 4:00am pizza delivery. And most importantly, we CAN workout and have fun in Ann Arbor!

All you need for fitness success is the motivation and the basic knowledge of the ins and outs of the fitness world. I am here to help you.

I am not a fitness trainer and I am not a dietitian. But I am an avid exerciser and I have been for nearly eight years. Early in high school, I lost thirty pounds after embracing exercise and healthy eating as an important part of my life. Now, I work out every day and I immerse myself in the fitness world as much as possible. From reading fitness magazines to participating in P90X—an intense 90-day workout program—I have come to learn essential tips for maintaining a healthful lifestyle. As a vegetarian for seven years, I pride myself on eating balanced, low-calorie foods that still taste amazing, and I want to share this all with you.

Me now

Prior to losing 30 pounds

I want to provide you with everything from weightlifting tips to suggestions on how to avoid the weekend binge. I will tell you about great places in Ann Arbor that offer fun workout classes—including FREE ones. I’ll give you some of my favorite recipes and reviews of the best Comcast On Demand workouts and exercise DVDs. I will also give you tidbits such as when to replace your running shoes and how to understand your heart rate.

Most of all, I want to provide a community for females to learn and to engage. Today is the day to empower yourself for fitness success.

I want feedback from you. Let me know if there is anything you are looking for or want to see in this blog and I will do my best to provide for you. We can do this together!

Until next time,

Lizzy