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Clare Smith

Training Body & Soul

“Try It” Challenge {Week 2}

April 10, 2011

We are on week 2 of Peak 313’s first challenge! I hope you enjoyed last week’s challenge, introducing Greek Yogurt into your diet and praying for your Pastors and church. Please, keep those up as we do the other weeks if you enjoyed them. I’d love to help you create some new healthy habits! Watch below for our new “Try It” item!

Quinoa was considered “the gold of the Incas’ and is native to South America. It is considered a complete protein meaning it includes all 9 essential amino acids. I’ve read that it’s great for migraines (due to the amount of magnesium in it), it’s awesome for your cardiovascular health, and even a great antioxidant! I seriously have not found one thing wrong with it, except that the taste may take some getting used to!

Here are a few reasons why I want you to “try” quinoa this week!

♦ It contains TONS of protein!!! Even a higher quality protein than any other grain! (We all know my love of a lean protein!)

♦ It has a double the amount of fiber than traditional grains.

♦ It’s gluten-free!

♦ It is quick and easy to prepare.

♦ It’s very versatile.

Let me give you some ideas of how to incorporate it into your diet this week.

– Eat it for breakfast. That’s right. I REALLY wanted to try this this last week, but since I didn’t have all the ingredients , I made this instead.(This is what I told my facebook fans what I had Friday morning that filled me up ALL morning long. I ate 1/4th of this bowl!)

– Substitute it for rice or pasta as a side. You can fix it conventionally per the box, or google some recipes for a pilaf.

– Use it in a main dish. I’ve seen stuffed peppers, meatballs, and soups made with quinoa!

♥♥♥
Spiritual Try It:

Try a podcast! I have experienced the beauty of the podcast over the past year and I love them!! I add them to my iPod so that when I workout, I can listen to them. (My hubby listens to them too as he works out!) My favorite thing is when the kids are napping or in quiet time, I turn on my computer and pick a podcast to listen to while I am cleaning the kitchen or prepping for dinner. You can find podcasts from just about any well known author/speaker and about any subject, so have some fun finding some to listen to. Think about an area you want to grow in and look for podcasts regarding that. I’m always up for information about marriage, parenting and growth in the spiritual life.  If you don’t know where to start, here are a few of my favorite places to grab them:

♦ Focus on the Family

♦ Family Life

♦ Revive our Hearts

♦ Maranatha Bible Church (my church!)

Please be sure to link-up if you have a blog (grab my button below!) or comment below if you don’t have one!

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Filed Under: Challenges, Featured, Food Tips & Tricks, Videos Tagged With: recipe, spiritual, try it challenge, video 21 Comments

About Clare

Comments

  1. Samantha says

    April 11, 2011 at 8:10 am

    AWESOME food choice! LOVE Quinoa in our family 🙂 We’ve even found Quinoa flakes for breaky…I’m going to try your breaky, looks really great! Found the flakes at the Health Food store, a bit pricey but completely worth it. 🙂

    Reply
  2. ChristineS says

    April 11, 2011 at 8:49 am

    Okay, I’ll be looking for it!

    Reply
  3. Michelle says

    April 11, 2011 at 10:00 am

    Week one was a huge success in our house. I posted the recipes I used.

    Quinoa will be slightly more challenging for me!

    Oh, I’m not sure about the button, but could it have something to do with the font in the “copy and paste” section? When I first copied and pasted the info into my blogger “edit html” tab it was normal, but then when I clicked over to “compose” and back to the “edit html” it had strange characters. So what I did is I typed everything exactly as you have it and then it worked. That’s what makes me think it has something to do with font.

    Reply
  4. Kasondra says

    April 11, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    I’m excited about this one! I just learned you can grind up the Quinoa to make COOKIES!!! I’m trying that this week.

    Reply
    • Holly says

      April 11, 2011 at 12:44 pm

      I saw the Quinoa flour in a recipe too! I saw it in pancakes!

      Reply
  5. Becky says

    April 11, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    I first tried Quinoa last summer when we were on vacation and loved it. We ate it all summer and slacked off in the winter. I bought a big bag the last time we were at Costco and this gives me a great reason to bust it out! Thanks for this challenge.

    I’m loving the spiritual challenges you’re doing. Last week I couldn’t participate (as I’m the pastor it seemed selfish to pray for myself – I did pray for other pastors though so I guess that kind of counts) but this weeks is great. I love listening to podcasts of sermons and have to remember to put them on! I’ll try this afternoon while my son is sleeping.

    Reply
  6. Kim A. says

    April 11, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    I’ve heard a lot about this, Clare. And I wanted to try it. I actually selected 2 rice dishes on my menus this week, so I will be substituting quinoa instead! (Too bad I just ran–don’t I wish, I mean drove–to the grocery store before I remembered to read your website this morning!)
    Thanks! ~Kim

    Reply
  7. Jacqueline says

    April 11, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    I managed to “try it” 2 days last week, because I only managed to get to the store Saturday. The Greek yogurt was great! I’m looking forward to trying quinoa as well! I’ve heard a lot about it, and I always need more protein. I’ll do a blog post later linking up and telling about my experience with Greek yogurt. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Katja says

    April 12, 2011 at 3:48 am

    Wow, that’s a new one to me. Never heard before but right away got some and tried it out this morning: Super! Had it as a Müsli with Strawberries, Bananas, dried grapes and nuts… yummy! Thanks for the idea! Am am again linked up and will do the spiritual challenge as well this week!

    Katja

    Reply
  9. Sharon H. - Texas says

    April 12, 2011 at 5:49 pm

    Have already been eating Greek yogurt since November in an attempt to get more protein in, and less hydrogenated corn syrup. LOVE it, although it did take some getting use to!

    Will try the quinoa this week.

    Reply
  10. Sharon H. - Texas says

    April 12, 2011 at 5:50 pm

    Have been eating Greek yogurt since November in an attempt to get more protein in, and less hydrogenated corn syrup. LOVE it, although it did take some getting use to!

    Will try the quinoa this week.

    Reply
  11. Overcomer SMH says

    April 14, 2011 at 12:04 pm

    Great ideas! I have been eating nothing but Greek Yogurt now for a coupld of months and find it to be a great fulfilling snack/meal. I am looking forward to trying out some new ideas with Quinoa. I just boght a big bag of it from Coscto and haven’t done anything with it because I didn’t know WHAT to do with it! Now I know! Thanks for sharing! Looking for ways to mix things up and kick up my weight loss!

    I also had a question for you. I am trying to add your button to my blog. I am a newbie in the world of blogging and have no idea how to add it. Was wondering if you could help so I could add it to my post today? Thanks! And thanks for the challenge!

    Reply
  12. Stephanie Thompson says

    April 14, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    yay! i just bought a bag at Walmart last week because i had been wanting to try it! i’ll let you know how it goes! I also am looking forward to the benefits of the magnesium for my migraines. I take several supplements everyday for migraine prevention (magnesium, calcium, and Vit D) and so far it is helping dramatically! glad to find more whole foods that i can naturally feed my body for better health and energy!

    Reply
  13. Bobbey says

    April 17, 2011 at 9:28 am

    Somehow I managed to completely miss week 2’s post until Friday, but I’ve been curious about quinoa and now am encouraged to give it a try. I’m still holding out on the greek yogurt until I get my new blender though. 😉 Looking forward to what tomorrow brings.

    p.s. I’ve left a little something for you on my blog!
    http://coffeeandcaramel-bobbey.blogspot.com/2011/04/feeling-very-stylish.html

    Reply
  14. Kim A. says

    April 17, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    We tried “the gold of the Incas” this week…I kept calling it that, because I couldn’t always remember how to pronounce quinoa (although remembering your “Keen-wah” sign in the vlog was helpful!)
    The kids said the texture was like “bubble wrap in your mouth!” (minus the cool popping sound that everyone likes so much! LOL!)
    And for “extra credit” I made a casserole (originally supposed to have sour cream and rice, but I subbed plain greek yogurt AND quinoa) with BOTH of your “new” ingredients!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Clare@peak313 says

      April 20, 2011 at 3:06 pm

      LOL Kim! That is so funny and I also love the “bubble wrap” reference.

      You need a blog girl!! I’d love to see your recipes on there!

      Reply
  15. Katja says

    April 23, 2011 at 11:52 am

    Hi Clare – I do love your comments on my Tuesday posts ;-)!!! Just digging into the podcast idea and tried it out during my last “ironing session” which was such a great opportunity to really use this time for something that matters – ok, ironing matters, too but it doesn’t last for very long (guess it’s because it’s my least favorite chore). Looking forward to your next weeks challenge – why don’t you think about extending it into May or keep on doing it once a month on a regluar basis??? Katja

    Reply
    • Clare@peak313 says

      April 23, 2011 at 1:13 pm

      I know I’ll have more challenges in the future–of different natures. Stay tuned!

      Reply
  16. Elli says

    April 23, 2011 at 11:45 pm

    Quinoa is amazing stuff. The breakfast recipe you mentioned is SO GOOD! By the way, it’s pronounced KEEN-wah (with the emphasis on the first syllable). 🙂

    Reply
    • Clare@peak313 says

      April 24, 2011 at 10:09 pm

      Hi Elli! Glad you stopped by. When I was researching it, I saw it pronounced both ways, although my initial inclination was to say it the way you have it. I guess the hillbilly in me changed it a bit! LOL
      Thanks!
      Clare

      Reply
      • Elli says

        April 25, 2011 at 2:48 pm

        Interesting! I’ve been going by the pronunciation explanation on the bag of quinoa I usually by (kind of funny that they put a pronunciation guide on it!). I get my quinoa at Costco for about 2.50/lb (or about 0.16 cents per ounce). It comes in a 4-lb bag that lasts for a couple months (usually). Because it’s a complete protein it’s remarkably filling. I’ve made it into “burgers,” served it instead of rice when I would normally have served rice, served it chilled with oil, vinegar, and scallions or other chopped vegetables, added it to soups and breads, and now I’ve made it for breakfast following those recipes you posted. Thanks!

        Reply

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Let your complicated, challenging, nuanced situati Let your complicated, challenging, nuanced situation(s) be what forms you. Let it build you into the person God is bringing you to be. It’s not the ability to live life unscathed and perfect that creates a beautiful soul. It’s the ability to feel the heat and pain and come out more tender, authentic, and loving that makes you a person who is set apart for use. A person like this is refreshing and that person absolutely is you. #abeautifulpurpose

(Quote not my own)
I’ll keep this short because I want you to read I’ll keep this short because I want you to read the poem. We can bring our burdens many places nowadays- friends, Instagram, Facebook, text, to gym, to work, to sleep.. you get the point. But let’s make sure we bring our burdens first to Jesus. After the week.. month.. year.. many of us are having, there’s no better time to do this than now. #sweetunfailingrefuge

(I found this tucked in an old book at my family’s 100 year old farmhouse that we were selling this summer 🤍)
•My house was a mess with everyone being home to •My house was a mess with everyone being home today
• I only had ingredients for one batch of soup
• I don’t drink alcohol on Mondays
• Hubs had the sink totally apart in the middle of a project
• The kids were in and out of our deep conversation

Sometimes the quick stop to say hello turns into a therapy session with dinner and wine. Everything was stacked against me – so I thought- but the mayhem is often beauty and normalcy to the person’s life who is spinning. Sometimes “the plan” goes off track... but it’s not off track in God’s eyes.

Living life knowing that the minutes of your day are not yours but for God to use to encourage and be there for people who are hurting changes everything. It changes who you marry. It changes how you spend your money. It changes what you do with your time. Dinner portions may not be what you planned but God always finds enough to fill those who come to His table to be loved on and heard.

If I know one thing – it’s this. People are hurting right now. Some things are private and some are public. What would it look like if our homes became safe places for people to land? For our hearts to enter in the pain? For our embrace to provide the temporary relief needed? We can be people who talk about bringing the kingdom here on earth or we can be people who do what we can with the little we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 🤍
I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the past few weeks. Between an insane December, Covid recovery, Ohio winters, and the mere fact I don’t have the bounce back that I used to (#thisis40) it’s been a slow go for me to get to feeling where I feel best physically. It’s been discouraging to say the least and I feel like I just turned a corner last week. 

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Each of us have something in our lives where it’s not what we want. We are on the path to achievement but it sure ain’t there yet. It can be with some of the obvious things such a health or financial goals but I see this often with people regarding relationships. The marriage, friendship, child or community in which we live falls just short of “perfection” and so we just settle instead of putting in consistent, hopeful work, which allows room for the Holy Spirit to work. 

I just want to encourage you to keep chipping away because while things may not be what you want, they can be better. In fact the way we reach what we want is not by snapping our fingers and it magically appearing but by a process or journey which involves ups and downs, straight stretches of boredom, and then finally a renewed energy as you see the end in sight.

What have you given up on achieving because it hasn’t come to fruition in the time you wanted? Remember… things can be BETTER. And that counts for something. 🤍
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A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s retreat in the Chicago area. I just finished a session & a lady ran up to me asking if she could ask me a few questions. She was early 50’s, striking in appearance… fit & confident. She started telling me that she resonated with my health/fitness message & wanted some encouragement on starting “this late in life”, but as we continued talking, her demeanor changed & tears started to fill her eyes.

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But we also start to resent our current lives. We stop living in what God has fully given us. We live everywhere but the here and now and alongside that dream of yours comes a side dish of anxiety and sadness. So then we get our hands in it, perhaps without God’s “OK” and then we see a mess unfold. We’ve all been there. If only we had waited. 

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If you are here this morning I just want to encourage you that you aren’t alone! I truly believe with everything I am, that God works for the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) I believe in His sovereign timing. I believe that the work He started in you (and everyone else in your life) will be completed. (Phil1:6) Keep praying, stay faithful to where you are now, walk in the “peace path” and hold onto Jesus. He will lead you. 🙏🏻
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