Today marks one week that I embarked on this weight loss journey, and I am already 7 pounds down – roughly one pound per day.
While I am well aware that a big bulk of that is water weight, it is still massively encouraging… especially since I have been eating so well! I thought I would start posting some recipes from time to time to share in some of the yummy nutritional love that is fueling me toward my goal weight.
So here’s a recipe for what I had for lunch today! It’s primary ingredient is collard greens (for the wrap) and this is an ingredient I don’t incorporate into my meals all too often, so it was a fun (and yummy!) change of pace! And super healthy too.. definitely a powerhouse in boosting my weight loss / optimal health.
Some nutritional highlights of collard greens from The Leaf:
“Collard greens have a lot in common with their trendy cousin, kale. They both top the rankings of most nutrient-dense foods, meaning they’re high in vitamins and minerals and low in calories. A cup of raw chopped collard greens has just 12 calories, one gram of protein and negligible amounts of fat. In that one cup serving of collards you get more than 300 percent of your RDA for vitamin A, nearly 60 percent of your daily allowance for vitamin C, and 12 percent of the iron. Collards provide you with all the vitamin K you need, as well as healthy doses of B vitamins and essential minerals such as magnesium and manganese. The 27 percent of your calcium RDA found in collards is more than you get from kale or Swiss chard, two similar leafy greens.
Like other members of the cabbage family (known as cruciferous vegetables), collards contain glucosinolates, potent plant compounds that are known to activate your immune system and reduce inflammation.”
The hummus in this recipe is literally the most basic of spreads. You can find hummus in almost any grocery store these days, but this recipe is made without olive oil or tahini, so it dramatically lowers the fat content. It’s also a lot cheaper to make at home than to buy pre-made, AND you can whip this up in about 3 minutes!
Collard Greens Hummus Wrap
Serves 2
This recipe is great for anyone who wants to lose weight fast while taking in a huge dose of nutrients. You’ll be amazed at how great the ingredients taste.
15 ounce can chickpeas, drained
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon tamari
3 tablespoons vegetable broth
4 large whole collard green leaves
1 large tomato
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
Sea salt to taste
Cracked pepper to taste
Blend the chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, tamari and vegetable broth in a food processor until it becomes a thick paste. Add more vegetable broth as desired to create a good spread consistency.
Blanch the collard greens in a saucepan filled with boiling water for 2 minutes, which makes the leaves easy to work with and brings out their magnificent deep green color.
Spread the leaves thickly with hummus. Layer the tomato and top with romaine lettuce. Season with salt and pepper and roll into a burrito shape.
CURRENT STATS
Start Weight (May 15, 2020): 201 pounds
Current Weight (May 21, 2020): 193.8
Total Pounds Lost (Since May 15, 2020): 7.2
Pounds Left to Lose to Reach Goal Weight of 130 pounds: 63.8
