Well, really pizza pie, but I'll get to that in a few minutes.
I met with a dear friend and mentor this afternoon. I always adore spending time with her yet today our coffee date went beyond that and truly moved me. We discussed some current events, had a few laughs, and then came the update regarding her family… My friend’s brother, who is in his early fifties, has been battling critical health issues for quite sometime now. This man has a beautiful spirit that is absolutely thriving, while tragically, his body continues to deteriorate. Looking into the eyes of my friend and hearing the devastating update on his current condition moved us both to tears and ignited a spark within me. This was the pivotal moment that yielded a breakthrough.
A righteous man who encompassed so many incredible qualities and such zeal for life was suffering tremendously due to multiple illnesses that were out of his control. Like so many individuals fighting cancers, autoimmune diseases, or even horrible migraines, there is often no rhyme or reason as to why these conditions are imposed upon them, but they are and the person's quality and length of life are reduced. Of course I have possessed these same thoughts before, but seeing the pain and sadness behind the moist and glassy eyes of my friend, shook me and somehow made this realization more poignant than ever.
Here I am, an almost 22-year-old woman, with a life ahead of her that is bursting with possibilities. Yet I have been putting all that potential into jeopardy by depriving my body of everything it needs and yearns for in order to flourish. Every day that I choose to cope with my emotions of stress, anxiety, sadness, fear, etc. by, for example, skipping a meal, I am “feeding” a totally preventable problem. I FOUND IT! Through our discussion today of her brother, my friend provided me the kick in the pants that I’ve been searching for and in dire need of to end this stagnation and push myself back on course, moving toward a restored, healthier, more balanced place.
I am completely humbled by this man’s story and I dedicate this blog and the “peace” of pizza pie that follows to him. In his honor, I will take steps starting right now to live a better life that implements the wisdom, courage, and strength that I know lie deep within me.
My Humble (BBQ Chicken Pizza) Pie:
Ingredients:
Cooking Spray or 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
1 FlatOut Fold It—I like the Whole Wheat with Flax variety
1 Tablespoon Organic BBQ Sauce (look for a brand void of high fructose corn syrup and excessive sodium)
Mushrooms and Yellow Onion—as much or as little as you like!
4 Ounces of Organic, Lean, Ground Chicken
1/3 Cup Low Fat Shredded Cheese—I prefer a Mexican Blend in this recipe
Instructions:
--Slice the mushrooms and chop the onion and add them to a skillet that contains the olive oil or has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, and is over medium heat. When the vegetables begin to soften, add the ground chicken to the pan and cook through.
--Meanwhile, bake the FlatOut in the toaster oven or regular oven directly on the rack for just a couple minutes until it begins to get crispy.
--Then, remove from the oven, spread the barbeque sauce evenly on the FlatOut, add the chicken and vegetable mixture, and top with the cheese.
--Place the pizza back in the oven just until the cheese is fully melted.
--Now take a moment to recognize just how precious your life is and how well off you are in comparison to many others who are involuntarily suffering, and enjoy this absolutely delicious dish!
Nutritional Information (using cooking spray): These numbers may vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use.
Calories: 330, Fat: 12.5 grams, Carbs: 20 grams, Fiber: 8 grams, Protein: 35 grams
I met with a dear friend and mentor this afternoon. I always adore spending time with her yet today our coffee date went beyond that and truly moved me. We discussed some current events, had a few laughs, and then came the update regarding her family… My friend’s brother, who is in his early fifties, has been battling critical health issues for quite sometime now. This man has a beautiful spirit that is absolutely thriving, while tragically, his body continues to deteriorate. Looking into the eyes of my friend and hearing the devastating update on his current condition moved us both to tears and ignited a spark within me. This was the pivotal moment that yielded a breakthrough.
A righteous man who encompassed so many incredible qualities and such zeal for life was suffering tremendously due to multiple illnesses that were out of his control. Like so many individuals fighting cancers, autoimmune diseases, or even horrible migraines, there is often no rhyme or reason as to why these conditions are imposed upon them, but they are and the person's quality and length of life are reduced. Of course I have possessed these same thoughts before, but seeing the pain and sadness behind the moist and glassy eyes of my friend, shook me and somehow made this realization more poignant than ever.
Here I am, an almost 22-year-old woman, with a life ahead of her that is bursting with possibilities. Yet I have been putting all that potential into jeopardy by depriving my body of everything it needs and yearns for in order to flourish. Every day that I choose to cope with my emotions of stress, anxiety, sadness, fear, etc. by, for example, skipping a meal, I am “feeding” a totally preventable problem. I FOUND IT! Through our discussion today of her brother, my friend provided me the kick in the pants that I’ve been searching for and in dire need of to end this stagnation and push myself back on course, moving toward a restored, healthier, more balanced place.
I am completely humbled by this man’s story and I dedicate this blog and the “peace” of pizza pie that follows to him. In his honor, I will take steps starting right now to live a better life that implements the wisdom, courage, and strength that I know lie deep within me.
My Humble (BBQ Chicken Pizza) Pie:
Ingredients:
Cooking Spray or 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
1 FlatOut Fold It—I like the Whole Wheat with Flax variety
1 Tablespoon Organic BBQ Sauce (look for a brand void of high fructose corn syrup and excessive sodium)
Mushrooms and Yellow Onion—as much or as little as you like!
4 Ounces of Organic, Lean, Ground Chicken
1/3 Cup Low Fat Shredded Cheese—I prefer a Mexican Blend in this recipe
Instructions:
--Slice the mushrooms and chop the onion and add them to a skillet that contains the olive oil or has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray, and is over medium heat. When the vegetables begin to soften, add the ground chicken to the pan and cook through.
--Meanwhile, bake the FlatOut in the toaster oven or regular oven directly on the rack for just a couple minutes until it begins to get crispy.
--Then, remove from the oven, spread the barbeque sauce evenly on the FlatOut, add the chicken and vegetable mixture, and top with the cheese.
--Place the pizza back in the oven just until the cheese is fully melted.
--Now take a moment to recognize just how precious your life is and how well off you are in comparison to many others who are involuntarily suffering, and enjoy this absolutely delicious dish!
Nutritional Information (using cooking spray): These numbers may vary depending on the brands of ingredients you use.
Calories: 330, Fat: 12.5 grams, Carbs: 20 grams, Fiber: 8 grams, Protein: 35 grams