Healthy Make-Over Challenge: Arroz Con Pollo

Arroz con Pollo means "Rice with Chicken" in Spanish. It is a classic dish of Spain and Latin America, with many different traditional ways to prepare it, unique to various countries. An Arroz con Pollo you find in Cuba may be quite different than one you find in Peru.

So, after sifting through tons a different variations of this recipe JUST so I could swap out the ingredients for their healthy counterparts, I finally decided to just free-style it, WBG style!  

For example: Most Arroz Con Pollo recipes do not call for cheese...but a rebel at heart, I added it just for my special friend who gave me this idea to re-vamp this recipe! (Thanks, Mary!)

So, I present to you....

Arroz Con Pollo

• 2 lbs Organic Boneless Chicken Breast
• Brown Long Grain Rice
• Organic Chicken Broth- 1 cup
• 1 14.5 oz. Can of Diced Tomatoes
• 2 Red Bell Peppers
• 1/2 Cup White Cooking Wine (I use the brand, Pompeian)
• 4 Garlic Cloves, diced
• 1/2 Lemon 
• 1/2 bunch of Cilantro, chopped
• Monterrey Jack Cheese (Whole Foods 365 Brand)
• 1 Medium Onion
• 1 Cup Green Peas
• 2 TBSP Coconut Oil

Seasonings (Add as desired to your liking):

• Sea Salt
• Black Pepper
• Oregano
• Paprika

-Brown chicken with seasonings in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. (You may use olive oil if you prefer, but keep on low heat if doing so..)

 -In a separate pan, cook brown rice according to directions on package. The brown rice I used took 40 minutes, which is typical cooking time! (*Instant Brown Rice can be used here also.)

 -Chop veggies during the time rice is cooking. (Red Bell Peppers, Onion & Garlic)

 -After Rice is done, let stand for 5 minutes.

-Coat a casserole dish with 1 tablespoon coconut oil.

-Add chopped veggies, green peas, can of diced tomatoes, white wine and chicken broth to rice in the pot. (add salt to desired taste, I didn't add enough the first time!)

-Stir and simmer rice for 5 minutes on medium heat. Add pepper and salt to desired taste. (This is a perfect chance to taste test!)

-Pour rice mix in casserole dish. Pre-heat oven to *350.

-Place browned chicken on top of rice mixture. Add slices of cheese to rice. I used 4 oz of the block of Monterrey Cheese...

-Bake for 30 minutes at *350, un-covered.

-Add cilantro and zest from the lemon for added flavor.
                                                                    
           Did you know?

Adding more herbs like cilantro and spices to your diet
greatly increases the variety of antioxidants that
you get from your diet, and is one of the most
effective measures you can take against
disease and premature aging.  

Give it a try and let me know how you like it! And don't be afraid to add your own twist with your own personal taste.

*Remember, not all cheeses are created equal. We used Whole Foods 365 brand. You can rest assured that the cheese they sell won't have crazy hormones injected. When possible, always use cheese that comes from grass fed cows! Goat cheese is another great option that would work well with the dish. Add your own zest!

Happy Eating!

Words Are Power

Health isn't just about what you put in your mouth or how much you exercise.

It's a mentality. And it all starts with your words.

The power to see change in your life can be found in the words you speak. You have the power to set the destiny for your life...by what comes out of your mouth.

The bible tells us in Proverbs 18:21 that life and death are found in the words we speak. No one gets to decide the words that come out of your mouth except for you.

You have complete control over what you choose to say.

Your words have the power to set things in motion, good or bad. They’re like little seeds that you plant in life.

When your words are filled with faith, hope and promise then you’ll enjoy the fruit of them. But if they’re filled with discouragement, fear and other negative attitudes you won’t enjoy your life.

Don't believe me? Tomorrow try saying over and over, "I'm so tired" and see how your body reacts. The more you say it, the more you feel that feeling. Let's face it, you'll be tired.

But instead of speaking what you obviously are feeling, try replacing it with, "I'm strong", "I'm healthy", "I am well able to do what I am called to do today"

Sure, it takes time to adjust to hearing yourself speak positive affirmations over your life, but as with any habit...you have to do it over and over again. Eventually, it will just be a habit for you to speak power over your life, and not defeat.

GRACE BREAK:

Take 5 minutes and write out a list of "I Am's" and post them where you can see them every day.

Here is an example of mine:
I am blessed.
I am strong.
I am healthy.
I am happy.
I am a child of God.
I am a women of faith.
I am more than able to do what God has called me to do.
I am funny.
I am beautiful.
I am talented.
I am creative.


Not hard, right? Let go and be courageous with what you speak! Here's to a better tomorrow and a beautiful future that awaits you... just say the words ;)

By Grace,
Erica











*Pic credit goes to Wisdom From Books

Our 2011 Highlights & Looking Ahead to 2012

Happy New Year! Wow, 2012 here you are, ready and rearing to go...

But before we kick these new dreams into gear, I wanted to take a moment to share one of Whole Body Grace's highlights from 2011.

Last year, was essentially, the birth of WBG. I had plans that were put on hold due to life events, but even in the midst of it all, I gained amazing support that I don't take for granted. And above all else, I want to acknowledge those people that really stood out and helped get Whole Body Grace's name circling the atmosphere.

My sister, Melissa, who runs a fabulous website, Lisscat Creations, (which you should definitely check her art out!) always faithfully re-tweeted & re-posted my material to her audience. She also donated her talent to designing WBG's logo and blog layout! HUGE thank you to her for supporting this dream of mine.

We ended the year with a wonderful testimony that was too good to not share. I believe the following words you are about to read is the essence of what I hope Whole Body Grace can bring to people in this year to come...

------------------------------

If you do anything constructive today, then I would suggest that you please visit and LIKE Erica Ohnesorgen's Whole Body Grace. :-) Back in my sophomore year in college, when I was on my quest to lose weight, I learned a great deal about health and fitness, mostly through trial and error. However, in the time I've been with Erica, my knowledge has increased tenfold, and well, let's just say I didn't know as much as I thought I knew.

And that's usually the case for people who are either entering the Health and Nutrition world for the first time or even those who consider themselves to be veteran practitioners. Regardless, we all have bought in to the myths perpetrated by the Health Industry, who let's be honest, just want to make a quick buck and could really care less about you as long as they meet that objective. So many people want a quick fix, a quick solution, and they don't want to put the time and effort toward building a healthier body. So naturally, the corporate suits and ties Health Industry cash in on this. It's their job to determine what America's inner most and wants and desires are and sell it to them.

America is practically obsessed with looks and we as people desperately throw our hard earned money away toward whatever FAD diets, CRAPPY workout equipment, or SILLY quick fix solutions they're shilling. The Sawdust Diet that prides itself on letting you eat all the meat you want does not work, the Shake Weight is an insult to our intelligence, and all the magical pills and supplements carried out by Pharmaceutical companies is a corrupt and an immoral practice, who again just want to make a profit.

LISTEN, if you want a happier, healthier life it's going to take work on your part, and Erica is going to tell you the very same thing. However, Erica is a real person with a real story. She's been through all the up's and down's in regard to maintaining her health, and she can empathize. It's hard for me not to put my personal bias aside, but she really is the kindest, sweetest person you'll ever meet.

She's not a health NAZI, she'll give you REAL and PRACTICAL advice toward making Health and Nutrition an active part of your LIFESTYLE. No DIETS here! You'll learn the difference between a LIFESTYLE CHANGE and a DIET, you'll learn why FAT is so CHEAP to produce, and above all else, you'll learn just how of what we put into our bodies is so IMPORTANT to increasing our VITALITY and IMPROVING our LIFESTYLE.

WHOLE BODY GRACE is a blooming business, working from the ground up and Erica could use your business. So MEN, you want those coveted SIX-PACK abs, shoot WBG a message on Facebook or Twitter to find out how. LADIES, you want to fit in that little black dress again? Shoot a line at Whole Body Grace. And yes, she'll respond. She'll, get this, actually talk to you like a NORMAL person!!! However, if you're interested...whatever it is that you want, whatever it is that you need, she will make a plan specifically catered to your goals.

So you want to be ripped, sexy, or more importantly, be RIDICULOUSLY happy and healthy? Then be sure to LIKE "Whole Body Grace" on Facebook, FOLLOW @WholeBodyGrace on Twitter, and SUBSCRIBE to Whole Body Grace on Youtube.

I only endorse what I believe in...

- Grahm

------------------------------

A HUGE thank you goes to these two special people in my life for their love & support for WBG.

As I look ahead to 2012, I am ecstatic and overjoyed about all the possibilities and opportunities that are within my grasp. I am blessed beyond reason to be apart of bringing health and wellness to the community around me. I pray that this movement spreads like wildfire as we all learn to take care of the most precious thing we've been given...our health.


By Grace,
Erica