Monday Motivational Meal

Do you love biscuits? We have the perfect healthy recipe for you! Try our famous Sweet Potato Biscuits and don't forget to serve them up on our Halsa pattern for the perfect breakfast, brunch or dinner.

Want to try this tasty recipe? You can get it here!

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Why Livliga Works—It Makes Food Look Plentiful

We eat with our eyes, not our stomach. Remember the phrase, "Your eyes are bigger than your stomach?" It is true! In the super-sized world we live in our eyes are constantly being cued to overeat. Livliga’s VisualQs Philosophy is all about helping everyone experience right-sized servings as plentiful. It is science-based and artist designed to make it easy to serve up just right portions in a subtle way and also make those portions look plentiful.

Nineteenth century scientists Delboeuf and Ebbinghaus have shown us how visual illusion can be used for our benefit when it comes to seeing right-sized amounts of food as plentiful. Delboeuf, for instance, showed us that by putting a circle around a smaller circle we can make that inner, smaller circle look larger. That is why choosing a plate with a rim can help you serve up right-sized amounts of food and have it look plentiful. The Livliga plate is particularly useful because our plates have an extra wide rim that still looks in proportion to the overall right-sized “normal” looking plate.

Ebbinghaus showed us how smaller circles scrunched up close around a bigger circle compared to larger circles around the same sized inner circle, can make the inner circle look twice as big. This illusion is embedded into the Livliga dishes as the icons that also guide our serving sizes for the different food groups. Each circle has the effect of making the individual foods on the plate look plentiful so our eyes and mind perceive the food on our plate as enough, and therefore we can feel satisfied at the end of our meal.

Livliga is the answer to right-sized, mindful eating. There is no other product like this on the market. Our product is the only one that uses psychology to help you feel satisfied and perceive right-sized servings as plentiful. We are the patented mindful eating (some say—"portion control") dinnerware that supports you in living the healthy lifestyle you desire and deserve.

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Monday Motivational Meal

Try this healthy, bariatric-friendly Shakshuka recipe! We partnered with @bariatricfoodie to bring you this non-traditional breakfast idea for those who don't like breakfast. It is one of those recipes that works for lunch or dinner too. This North African/Middle Eastern dish is perfect to make when you're low on time but want to enjoy a healthy meal! Serve it up on our Just Right Set® bariatric for a perfectly portioned anytime meal!

Want this recipe? Try it here!

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Shakshuka: The best breakfast you’ve never heard of!

Shakshuka for Breakfast Served Up on Livliga! (photo curtesy of @BariatricFoodie)

Shakshuka.

I’m here to tell you it’s as fun to eat as it is to say, folks. But to get ourselves in the festive spirit, let’s just say it a few more times.

Shakshuka. Shakshuka. Shakshuka, Shakshuka, Shakshuka!

There. I feel good already. How about you?

Now you may be wondering, “Fun name aside, what exactly is Shakshuka?” And that’s a great question!

Shakshuka is a dish that is eaten for breakfast in parts of North Africa and the Middle East. It doesn’t have to be breakfast food, but it’s got eggs and tomatoes and onions and spices so it’s a great alternative if you are bored of typical American breakfast fare.

I like this dish for any meal for three reasons:

1. I must reiterate the name. It’s just fun to say!
2. It doesn’t have a lot of ingredients, and most of the ingredients are stuff I already have in my pantry or refrigerator.
3. I like this recipe for others because this is an easy, low-stress way to make poached eggs if you like them but have ever been scared to make them at home yourself. 

So let’s get started, shall we?

At its core, Shakshuka is simply tomatoes and onions, infused with spices, with poached eggs in it. You make it all in one skillet and simmer it until the tomato sauce has thickened a bit, making it almost the consistency of chili.

I personally use a combination of canned and fresh tomatoes. I especially love a product called “fire-roasted tomatoes.” Look for them in your grocery store! To save yourself some time, you can also get canned tomatoes that already have spices, such as Italian style canned tomatoes. The fresh tomatoes just bring a bit of brightness into the dish.

You start off by sautéeing your onions and garlic in a little bit of olive oil, until soft, then adding in the fresh and canned tomatoes, along with any spices you’ll use. Let it come just to a boil before dropping down your heat, making a few indentations in the mixture and adding your eggs. Then put a top on it and let it do its thing. It’s really that simple!

My family likes to eat this on whole wheat toast or an English muffin. I like to eat it as-is. Whatever you choose, do try this flavorful and fun dish – and don’t forget to serve yourself on a beautiful Livliga dish!

Nik’s Take on Shakshuka

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion cut into slivers
• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 20 oz. canned tomatoes (I used fire roasted tomatoes from ALDI)
• 2-3 fresh tomatoes (roma, on the vine, etc.) diced (optional)
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tsp. paprika (I used smoked paprika but be warned: it packs heat!)
• 1/2 tsp. cumin
• 1/4 tsp. chili powder
• 4 large eggs
• 1 bunch cilantro and/or parsley

Directions:

1. Set a skillet over medium heat and allow it to get hot before adding olive oil and then onions. Sautée about 2 minutes until they are softened.
2. Add the garlic and sautée another minute before adding the canned and fresh tomatoes and stirring.
3. Add the spices, including salt and pepper and stir again. Allow the mixture to come just to a boil, then drop the heat to low. 
4. Make four "holes" in the tomato mixture. Crack a whole egg into each hole. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover the pan.
5. Cook for about 5-8 minutes or until eggs are poached to your liking. Turn off heat and allow the pan to cool. Tomato mixture will thicken upon standing.
6. Serve by itself, or atop a slice of whole wheat toast or a whole wheat English muffin and enjoy!

Nutritional Information:
Serves: 4. Serving size:  ¼ of the Shakshuka mixture. Calories: 294. Total Fat 10.3g; Saturated Fat 2.3g; Sodium 739mg; Total Carbohydrate 44g; Dietary Fiber 11.4g; Total Sugars 3.4g; Protein 15.8g.

Guest Blogger Bio

Nikki Massie is a rising star in the bariatric community. She is a gastric bypass patient (January 8, 2008), mother, writer, and author of the BariatricFoodie, where she helps post-ops learn to play with their food!

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Update: How Livliga is Responding to the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

To Our Livliga Community,

As undoubtedly you have been doing, the Livliga Team has been paying close
attention to the growing impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Like you, we are
taking proactive steps to support our community and make sure our staff stays as
safe as possible. We are currently working from home and alternating days we have
individual staff in the office to fulfill orders and address issues best handled at the
warehouse. With these steps Livliga is able to continue operating and serving the
needs of our customers and community during these tumultuous times.

Livliga is all about helping people live healthy lives. This commitment is more
important than ever. As all of us are faced with preparing and serving up home
cooked healthy meals for ourselves and loved ones, Livliga is here to help. Not only
do we have the tableware and kitchenware to help you keep on track, we also have a
number of resources to help you now and always.

Here are some resources you might find helpful:

• Tend to your emotional well being with our free and downloadable ebook:
  Emotional Barriers to Sustained Weight Loss Success ebook

• Remember to find ways to smile and laugh to help release built up stress:
  Stress Relief from Laughter…It’s No Joke

• Tend to Your Immune System:
  Immunity Boosting Foods…Served Up for Your Health

• How to Stay On Track:
  Top Ten Right-Sized New Year Health Tips

• Need Some Cooking Inspiration? Here are some Healthy Meal ideas:
  Monday Motivational Meals

At the center of Livliga’s purpose is a commitment to serve and support, and it’s
something we take to heart at all times – especially now. This is why we’ll be
working hard to continue to support you, your loved ones, and our community.
We’re here for you.


Live well and Stay safe.


- The Livliga Team

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Monday Motivational Meal

There are so many ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with foods that come from Ireland. We want to share our festive Irish Stew and Soda Bread to add to your good luck and good fortune. We served this yummy meal up on Livliga's lucky green and grey Vivente pattern!

Get this festive recipe here!

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🍀 Celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Brown Soda Bread and Irish Stew 🍀

Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day can come in many forms. There are so many different ways we can have adventures. One of my favorite methods is to discover new recipes and learn about their origins. With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner I thought I would come up with an Irish meal to share with my family. I decided on a Brown Soda Bread and Irish Stew made with Guinness Stout.

Brown Soda Bread has an interesting history. There has actually been a debate about whether it comes from Ireland. According to Rory O’Connell, a famous Irish chef, in an interview with Epicurious, brown soda bread is indeed Irish. In fact, it dates back to the 1800s. It was common bread baked then that people could easily make without yeast and without an oven. Most people did not have ovens at that time. Instead they would make the bread with baking soda and bake it in a cast-iron skillet placed right in the coals of the fire. There are different variations of the bread depending on the season and where in Ireland it is baked. Caraway seeds and wheat germ are common ingredients. Dried fruit, like raisins is more common now but not back then. Here is a recipe I found and liked from Cooking Light that is easy to make, made from whole grains and tasty: Brown Soda Bread. Two tips from me on altering the recipe: remember, you can use white whole-wheat flour; it will make the bread a little less heavy and lighter in color. Also, you can always use substitute egg to lower the cholesterol and calories in a recipe. It will not change the consistency or flavor.

There are so many different versions of Irish stew. It all comes down to what you have available. Irish stew is an economical dish that historically varies with the seasons and what you can afford to put in the stew. It is traditionally slow cooked so even the toughest meats become tender. The most common vegetables are potato, carrot and parsnip. Originally the meat was probably goat but then was replaced by lamb. In the USA we tend to use beef. There is no wrong ingredient. The main thing is to let the stew simmer for a while. I also think adding a little stout can’t hurt and sure does help the flavor and sense of celebration on St. Patrick’s Day. A tasty recipe I found on myrecipe.com for an Irish stew using Guinness Stout is: Beef and Guinness Stew. Three tips from me on changing up the recipe to make it lighter are: change out the stout for Becks Light, it will lower the calories (by more than 100) and still provide the beer flavor without the bite. Instead of using tablespoons of oil, only use teaspoons and cooking spray; you only need 2 teaspoons for browning and flavoring. This will save you hundreds of calories. I tend to use olive oil, rather than canola because I find it has more flavor for the same calories. Finally, if you are not a turnip fan, you can replace them with potatoes.

As the Famous Irish Toast goes:

May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks,
May your heart be as light as a song,
And each day bring you bright happy hours,
That stay with you all year long.

Enjoy! And Live Vibrant!

 

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Monday Motivational Meal

This week's Monday Motivational Meal is Stove Top Tamale Pie. This simple, easy and one pot dish is perfect for those busy nights. Try this tasty meal served up on Livliga's Vivente pattern!

Get this healthy recipe here!

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Portions and Nutrition—how do they relate?

Food and nutrition are the way that we get fuel, providing energy for our bodies. We need to replace nutrients in our bodies with a new supply every day. Water is an important component of nutrition. Fats, proteins, and carbohydrates are all required. Portions are how much we choose to eat of those foods and nutrition.

We have all come to realize that what we eat and how much we eat are both very important to our health. We need to fuel our bodies with the nutrients we need to thrive…everyday. However, eating more of what we need beyond what our daily requirements are to fuel our bodies, even of healthy ingredients, is not necessarily beneficial. Our bodies cannot make good use of excess. More is not better. That is where portions, specifically, serving sizes, come in.

Servings are based on the amount of calories an average person burns in a day and then is broken down into specific amounts that a person should eat per meal.  It is an average based on consuming 2000 calories per day and assumes a “net neutral” outcome…meaning you will burn in a day the same amount as you consume. This is how we keep from gaining any weight and how we can also lose weight, if that is our goal. This is a great place to start. In reality, according to a recent report provided by The Food and Agriculture Organization, Americans eat an average of over 3,600 calories a day. This is well above the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommendations and why people are becoming increasingly obese and facing a whole host of health challenges from heart disease and diabetes to many cancers…and these are just a few examples of obesity-related diseases.

Do any of us really know what a serving size is for any given food or food group? Nope, we don’t. It is not something we are taught and yet it is incredibly important information for us to learn so we can make informed decisions and choices regarding what we eat and how much we eat. That is why Livliga was created; to provide a framework and guide for people to serve up and measure their food in right sized balanced portions.

Interestingly, a new group has been formed to take on portion control in a big way as the next frontier in battling the obesity epidemic. The Portion Balance Coalition, according to their website, is a multi-sector collaborative whose members have come together to identify, co-create, and implement demand- and supply-side innovations in support of a balanced, healthy diet. The members of this collaborative include: Nestlé, PepsiCo, the American Beverage Association, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the American Heart Association, as well as others. This is an exciting opportunity to promote real change in the super-sized world we live in where portions and nutrition could once again be aligned to support people in living a healthy lifestyle.

Portions and nutrition go hand in glove together. We cannot manage our weight or get the balanced meals with the nutrients we need to thrive without paying attention to both. Our health and quality of life depends on it!

Download Our Free eBook:
Healthy Lifestyle & Weight Loss

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Monday Motivational Meal

Need a healthy snack idea? Try this tasty Herb Hummus. It can be used for wraps, pizza, pasta and dips! Serve up this healthy and flavorful recipe in Livliga's Halsa bowl for complete satisfaction!

Want this recipe? You can find it here!

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