Spice Up Your Rice

Rice.  It comes in all sorts of forms, some great for you and others not so much.  I'm a fan of brown rice, but it can get bland when you eat it all the time.  There are a lot different rice mixes in the grocery store, but none of them meet my nutrition standards.  They tend to have a lot of sodium and all sorts of preservatives and unnecessary fats.  So, to avoid boredom and keep the health of my rice in check, I spice my own rice!

I start with low-sodium, fat free, chicken broth instead of water.  This adds a depth of flavor without a ton of sodium.  Then I add garlic powder and Mrs. Dash salt-free extra spicy blend to the mixture before I start cooking.  I also add a dash of Himalayan salt (which is supposed to have tons of trace vitamins and minerals) instead of regular table salt.  Finally, I just flip on my rice cooker and let it cook. When it's done, I have very flavorful rice without all the junk in those packaged box rices.  Yum!

I've also noticed that I've become much more in tune with the quality of the food I put in my body, rather than just how many calories it has.  I think that's a great benefit of eating clean rather than counting calories.  In the past, when I used to count calories, I'd find ways to "fit" junk into my day.  I would save up calories in order to eat chicken wing pizza or to have a candy bar.  Now that I'm eating clean and not tracking calories, I don't eat that stuff because I know it's bad for my body.  I'm more concerned with great nutrition than a number.  Your body responds very differently to 400 calories of donuts than 400 calories of grilled chicken and rice.  Granted, my way of eating (not counting calories) doesn't work for everyone.  There are plenty of people who can eat clean while counting calories and that works great for them.  I just know that it doesn't work for me.  I become too obsessive and start finding ways to sneak in junk.  So, for now, I'll continue to eat clean and train smart.

Stay healthy!