Day 36 - My First Lentil Soup

I said when I started this journey, that my intention is to change the way I eat.  To switch the emphasis of a diet heavy in Meats, Poultry, Fish to more Plant Based foods and part of that is to incorporate the use of more grains, beans, nuts, legumes...   And now that I am 36 days into this I'm starting to make some new stuff!. 

I've never cooked (or even purchased) Lentils before.  So this week while I was exploring the Organic Section of the local grocery store, I decided to try some. The store sells them in bulk so I just purchased a small quantity of the "green"ones.  (They had multiple colors and to tell the truth I wasn't sure what the difference was when I was at the store - and green is a favorite color of mine so I bought green*).

When I got home tonight I decided it was time to make some Lentil Soup!  I have to start at some point eating things other than Vegetables, so this is what I did:

1 Onion - minced
2 Carrots - minced
2 Celery stalks - minced
4 mushrooms - minced
1 cup lentils

In skillet heat 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Add onion cook 5 minutes
Add remaining ingredients and mix.
Salt & Pepper

Then added 6 cups of vegetable stock (which I made from my Mean Green Pulp left overs and had in the fridge),
1 16 oz can diced tomatoes ( I had fresh ones but wanted to save for juicing)
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon rosemary (I didn't have fresh)

Brought all of it to a boil then turned down the flame to a simmer and partially covered the pot.  I simmered it for an hour, after which I tasted it and it was good enough for me!   The aroma was wonderful throughout the house, and the resulting soup tasted great - Since I've been having this very weird craving for Balsamic vinegar I added a cap ful to my bowl of soup (yum).  

Lentil info: So how many calories does this have?  According to Livestrong.com - One bowl of lentil soup can contain a little as 180 calories, but some versions of lentil soup have a higher calorie content. This soup contains zero cholesterol. Lentil soup supplies you with vitamins A and C, and this soup contains calcium. It is also an excellent source of potassium. Lentils are high in fiber.     Works for me!

* Now what about the colors of  Lentils? If you just followed that link you learned a little about the various colors, I'm going to try the Red Lentils next!

I'm still juicing in the morning and my all time morning juice favorite is Grapefruit, Orange, carrots, bell pepper and sweet potatoe how much of each depends on how much you are making, I just play it by ear and taste).  And I pretty much stay with the  Mean Green juice during the day (Kale, Cucumber,Spinach, Celery, Apple, ginger, lemon).    I think if I continue what I'm doing I cannot help but continue to loose weight, but also achieve my goal of  developing a good foundation for eating healthy.


That's all for Day 36 - Still Not Smoking - Still Not Drinking Coffee - Still Not Drinking Alochol - No Dairy - No Meat - No Poultry- No Fish -   Mostly Raw Fruits and Vegetables Only -   Thanks to Fat Sick and Nealy Dead - the Movie!