Green tea and what's to eat

It was a "chained to the computer" kind of morning yesterday. School work involved a lot of internet research, so while my son did his lessons on his computer, I took advantage of the time to do menu planning on my computer. Menu planning is a necessary pain in the butt for me- week after week , diet or not, I sit down to plan 3 meals and 2 snacks for 3 people for 7 days. It started as a money saving move because we were buying too much of some things and not enough of others, and then became a nessisary componant of survival with homeschool. Nothing like standing at the freezer at 5 pm, tired and hungry with other tired and hungry people asking what's for dinner , and not having a clue. So I cringe at the planning but love doing it when I start and then I am glad I did. However, doing this and supervising school at the same time gives me a headache, and in a short time I need a break. How about a nice cup of green tea ?

For me , green tea is one of the best ways to stem off a headache. You hear a lot of people saying it is good for you and you see commercials for products with all kinds of claims for it's benefits. Are they "hooey", or is there something to it ? Well, here are some facts about green tea's goodness

Green Tea
reduces risk of esophageal cancer
lowers total cholesterol level and improves ratio of good(HDL) and bad(LDL)
can be helpful for cancer,rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease and infection
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells,
it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue.
It also inhibits the formation of blood clots, a leading cause of heart attack and stroke.
It can help dieters, as it helps to burn more calories due to its fat oxidization properties
It is also helpful in preventing tooth decay.
In some people it can cause insomnia due to it's caffeine,
however green tea contains less caffeine than coffee
Green tea can slow down the aging process due to antioxidants

In the case of my stress headache from planning, it is the caffeine in the green tea that works it's magic. Did you know that caffeine is used to cure headaches because of the way it works of the bloodstream ? It's true. Next time you feel a headache comming on reach for a coffee or a green tea and see how well it works.

We got school and planning done, with getting very sidetracked by watching Sesame Street of all things. It was the 40th birthday of the show and we had to catch it for nostalgia reasons. No exercise was had this day , but much was accomplished. And for those of you who wonder what we are going to be eating, here is the basic menu for next week. Snacks and additions will be added according to each person's calorie needs.

Saturday
Breakfast - Pumpkin oats with toppings 400
Lunch- OUT
Dinner-Grilled pork chops 160
Roast Brussels sprouts 50
Spaghetti Squash 50
(260)
Dessert- White chocolate decadence- not sure of the calorie countbut it is made with white chocolate sugar free pudding and heavy cream

Sunday
Breakfast-Crockpot pumpkin grains with pumpkin butter, peanut butter, crasins and flax 435
Lunch- Crustless Spinach Quiche 350 Salad 50 400
Dinner- Chicken breast Alfredo over sauteed cabbage 400 Tomatoes and cucumbers 50(450)

Monday
Breakfast Flax Meal Peanut Butter Cereal 351
Lunch Crust less Spinach Quiche 350 Salad 50 400
Dinner Maple glazed pork chops with Brussels sprouts 323 Cucumbers and tomatoes 50(373)

Tuesday
Breakfast2 eggs 140 ¼ c moz 80 mushrooms and onions 3 slices turkey bacon 100 (320)
Lunch Turkey Burger 120 Cottage cheese110 Salad greens 50 (280)
Dinner Ranch Baked Chicken 191 Easy Zucchini Parmesan 51 Baked Sweet potato fries 102 (350)

Wednesday
BreakfastFlax Meal Peanut Butter Cereal 351
Lunch Low carb egg and cottage cheese salad 148 Flax bread 185 Celery, tomatoes, cucumbers 50 (383)
Dinner Shake and bake pork chops( almond meal, seasoning)280 Roast Broccoli 50 Mashed cauliflower 50
(380)

Thursday
Breakfast 2 eggs 140 ¼ c moz 80 mushrooms and onions 3 slices turkey bacon 100 (320)
Lunch Turkey Burger 120 Cottage cheese110 Salad greens 50 (280)
Dinner Chicken and broccoli casserole 272 Salad 50 (322)

Friday
Breakfast Flax Meal Peanut Butter Cereal 351
Lunch Low carb egg and cottage cheese salad 148 Flax bread 185 Celery, tomatoes, cucumbers 50 (383)
Dinner Crockpot pork chops 239 Creamed spinach 75 Mashed cauliflower 50 (464)