meat

Kufta-creation!🥩🍳🥖

You can never have enough animal food on your plate! Take a look at my kufta-creation. Two pieces of Kuftas, less than 100 g in total, cooked with parsley flakes, and spiced in salt, pepper, a dash of cumin, allspice, chili pepper flakes, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and coriander!👩‍🍳

I also have two large sized eggs, scrambled, but spiced with only salt and pepper😊. On the side I have some delicious Asiago cheese (Santorini), flavored w/Rosemary and Olive Oil to go on a wheat bun, and a warm cup of coffee.☕️

This was so yummy good!😋 Again, you can never have enough animal food on your plate to keep you young and healthy!⚕️#healthyfat #paleo #keto #mediterranean #protein #intermittentfasting #ketosis #health #healthydiet #cheese #extravirginoliveoil #wheat #fiber #dietarycholesterol 🥩🥖🍳🌱🧀🫒👩‍🍳⚕️👩‍⚕️☕️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book(s), Not Without God: A Story of Survival and Not Without God: Hope In the Storm. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s also been featured on The Neil Haley (media giant’s) Show, The Intuitive Edge podcast, and on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’broadcast as well as Grace and Truth Radio World!

Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and parts of the world. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among many other places. Last August she created the “Writing Because I Can’t Not Write Group” meetings and workshops where aspiring and seasoned authors can network and learn together.

Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also likes to write about health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was just published last year.

Today’s entree 👩‍🍳⚕️🫒

From start to finish and into my stomach. No, this was not all for me. I didn’t even finish everything on my plate. 🤣 But take a look at what I just made. It was healthy and delicious. I have moved over from extra-virgin olive oil on top of the chicken breasts to unsalted butter cubes. 🧈 It cooks much better and is safer in the oven. I also dashed it with kosher salt, parsley flakes, black ground pepper, and table salt. I also added minced garlic pieces.🧄 With the potatoes cooking in the cubes of butter that melted and in the water, the spices and garlic only added some extra flavor. This was yummy good.😋 On the side, I have a cut-up Vidalia onion and a cut-up red pepper (both caramelized in extra virgin olive oil🫒), as you can see. I had to get my veggies and protein in before intermittent fasting begins. I also have a small side of Asiago cheese on wheat bread.🧀🥖 This was soo good! #protein #paleo #ketosis #fasting #mediterraneandiet #extravirginoliveoil #unsaltedbutter #health #realfood 🐣🥔🧅🧄🧀🥖🌶

About Zina

Zina writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She likes to write about health and diet also and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm was published last year.

Chicken broccoli medley🥦🐣🫒

This #dish is so yummy. It’s #chicken #broccoli medley, I added some #sharp #cheddar and #wholewheat #bread as you can see below. With a little #ranch on the side, this meal was delicious. Cooked in extra-virgin olive oil, with #koshersalt #groundblackpepper and a little table salt, of course. It’s healthy and tasty too! Of course I had to have some water on the side.😊🫒🥦🥦🐣 #mediterraneandiet #ketorecipes #protein #paleodiet #healthy #paleofood ⚕️🥦👩‍🍳

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s also been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast as well as ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

This is a healthy breakfast 🍳🍅🥩

What people don’t realize is how healthy eggs are. The myth is that eggs are not good for you because of the cholesterol. But dietary cholesterol is not the same as cholesterol in your heart. On the contrary, eggs are super good for you. My dietitian had told me that I should have two eggs every morning for enough protein intake. This is a very healthy breakfast, although the sausage is processed, ground beef would’ve been the better choice. Nonetheless, this is still a healthy breakfast. Eggs are good for you, meat is a ‘healthy fat’ and whole wheat bread with a cup of coffee is the way to go.🍳🥚🥩🍖🍗🌾☕️ #paleo #paleorecipes #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneandiet #paleodiet #health⚕️🍅🫒☕️

About Zina

“Food-Network inspired Oven roasted chicken!”🐤🧅🥔🥑🌱🫒

Tonight’s #dinner was fabulous, and I want to post it before I forget my recipe in case anyone wants to try it! It’s a Food Network-inspired #oven #roasted #chicken and I added a lot to it!🐤😀 First, I cut up my #veggies. I chopped two #potatoes, one onion, an #avocado, and a #lemon 🥔🥔🧅🍋🥑. Then, I put each to the side on their plates. I rinsed off my whole #chicken (it was a fresh young chicken, 5 pounds). Then I #rinsed it quickly on the inside and don’t forget to move anything excess or inside the chicken. Then I placed the chicken on the oven-safe plate. I melted two tablespoons, no more than 1/4 cup of #saltedbutter. After that, I added one tablespoon of #thymeleaves to the butter. Do not completely #melt the #butter 🧈 Then add the thyme leaves (1 tbsp) to the butter. You need a brush to dress the chicken. After that dash the chicken with #koshersalt and #blackpepper. Then, make sure to add cooking spray to your oven-safe plate under the chicken, or you can grease the bottom of the plate with butter if you have no #cooking spray. Add one or two cups of #water to the plate, so the chicken sits in a little water. You don’t want it sticking to the plate during the cooking process. After that, design your cut-up veggies all around. After that, I like to drizzle the whole thing with #extravirginoliveoil 🫒 but it’s not completely necessary. I also like to dash again but this time with table salt. Finally, squeeze part of the #lemon over it to give it that #zesty taste🍋🍋🍋. Yummy! You have chicken, lemon, thyme, potatoes, an onion AND an avocado! What more could you want?👩‍🍳😃🧅🥑🥔🌱 Cook at 400-425F for up to one hour. Cooking times will vary. Check on it every five to ten minutes. If the top starts to burn, you want to lower the temperature, and spice it with a little more salt (do not over salt!) you can always add more after it’s done. But if you make something too salty you can’t fix it. #Under-salting is always best! The kosher salt is really rich and works its way into it nicely so you don’t need much. Check on it every five to ten minutes, again, but mine didn’t need one whole hour. Your thermometer should read at least 160 F. Voila! It’s done!🥑🥔🌱🧈🍋🧅🐤

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

The importance of fasting for health ⚕️☕️👩‍⚕️

You need to cut 500-1,000 calories per day to lose weight and it would average one or more pounds a week. It averages at least a few pounds of weight loss per week, actually! I know because I’ve done it before and was on a losing weight streak for months! I’m going back to my intermittent fasting plan again. I’m good with eating meat so that keeps my calorie intake in check because you naturally burn meat calories off—but I need to go back to fasting after 6:30 pm, anyway. It also gives your body a break, insulin rises every time you eat. So here I’m having a ‘honey vanilla chamomile tea.’ It is next to 0 calories and so yummy!☕️ The nice thing about intermittent fasting is you can still have black coffee, sugarless tea, and water in the evening to curb your appetite. It works! #intermittentfasting #tea #healthylifestyle #redmeat #diet #health #mediterranean #paleo #fastingforhealth

About Zina

A healthy breakfast meal 🍳🥩🥖☕️

The benefits of #redmeat and #eggs for #health is priceless and I can’t emphasize it enough. The vital #nutrients your #body needs are contained in these two foods. Don’t get me wrong: #vegetables (and other low carbs) are helpful. #fruit can be beneficial (yet, quite sugary at times), nonetheless, no matter how many fruits and vegetables you decide to eat, red meat and eggs are still the #best. You can have 5,000 eggs and it will not harm you. Dietary #cholesterol does not affect cholesterol levels in your #heart And the #protein contained in #eggs is valuable. The #vitamins #nutrients and #iron contained in red meat is vital. It’s not that you can’t get your source of #protein any other way. But it’s so easy with eggs and meat. Think #paleo #diet Think caveman days. Think to when there was no such thing as #organic or #lowfat or 2 % #milk , or fat free. Think real #food That is what will keep you #healthy and strong. Here we have two #kofta pieces: 222 calories. Two eggs (large) 160 calories. A half of WHEAT bread:🥖 102 cal. And coffee cup ☕️ 67 cal. w/cream and sugar (8 oz). Total: 551 calories (probably less!).

About Zina

I’d like to be a “culinary queen!”👸🍅🥮👩‍🍳

This is how it looks when I decide to ‘whip something up’ really quickly!😂👩‍🍳 I had a little family company over yesterday and planned it just the night before. All @authenticmeals #original #cooking and my very own #recipes !!! Ka’ree as the main #meal accompanied with #brownrice, of course! The main dish—and #homemadewalnutcake for dessert. This time I added #toasted #sesameseeds to the top of the #cake to add a twist! Yummy. We also had #homemadewheatchocolatechipcookies! #coffee and few other things!🍚🍛🌾🍶🍪 #mediterraneandiet #paleo #protein #keto #homemade #diet #cook #baking #entertaininginstyle #fresh #food #foodie #tomatostew #beef #protein #health ⚕️🍅🧅🥩

Finally, when a baby terrorizes your living space!💕😂👶 It’s OK.🙆‍♀️🙅‍♀️ We just cleaned it right up!😂♥️😃

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Today’s healthy lunch!🐤🥔🌾

This is a pretty healthy concoction for a late lunch today. The worst part: is potatoes. Potatoes are a ‘starchy vegetable’ and not the best choice. But they are yummy and by far not the worst thing you can have! They’re still a vegetable. I added brown rice (definitely the best ‘grain’ choice)! I try to steer clear of white bread and white rice. Wheat and brown are always the way to go! I did add a tablespoon of butter (unsalted) to the potatoes! Yummy. And contrary to popular belief: the chicken with skin is not bad for you. It’s what we call a ‘healthy fat.’ ALL saturated fat is not bad. You don’t constantly have to have Turkey or veggie burgers. A little skin on your meat won’t kill you. You can always tear it off, anyway. Think real food! Do away with ‘skinny meals,’ low fat, and fat-free. Those are not healthier choices. Low-fat cheese is not healthier than whole milk or cheese. Low-fat milk doesn’t benefit you greatly over regular milk. They are not making you skinnier. They just make you hungrier because of their added alternatives. Don’t miss the vital nutrients your body needs. The lemon was for squeezing over the rice and chicken and potatoes! I love the zest of the lemon and the taste of it with some added salt!🍋 Total calories: (roughly) 590 without adding drinks or condiments.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Ka’ree recipe and images! #tomatobeefstew #withcurry🥩🍅🥔🧅

Yesterday night I made Ka’ree, a very traditional meal. The best way I can describe Ka’ree is it’s a tomato (beef or chicken) stew to which some spices and veggies are added. When I was younger, my mom made this type of ethnic dish, (beef stew) around once to twice a week. One of my favorites has always been Ka’ree. I love the deliciousness of the curry, the hidden spice in the potato and what it adds to the tomato sauce, as well as the tender beef (or chicken) that shreds into the heated stew.

Ingredients

0.75-1lb chuck roast or chuck beef steak or chicken

4-5 large potatoes

an onion, medium-large sized (chopped)

6oz tomato paste

15oz tomato sauce

4-6 cups of water (for sauce)

2-3 tbsp of curry spice

1 tbsp vinegar

2 tbsns lemon juice

1 tspn dried lime (or Noomi Basra)–this is optional

1 tbsp oil

Kosher salt or table salt (I like to use a little of both!)–1 – 2 teaspoons

Black pepper–1-2 teaspoons is fine

chopped garlic cloves (no more than 2-3 chopped cloves, or it may be too hott)

2-4 cups cooked brown rice or long grain wild rice (I steer clear of white)!

First, you cook the meat: Cut the meat into cubes ( I used beef chuck steak) and you set it aside. I also used extra virgin olive oil (2 tbspns) and dashed the meat with Kosher salt and ground pepper to cook.

Oh, I also included the chopped garlic cloves before I started cooking!🧄

Voila! Should take no longer than 15-20 minutes. Make sure meat is tender (heat on high) you can add water.

After you’re done cooking set the meat aside. Now, use the same pan to carmelize the onions. Just cook them in an additional tblspn of extra virgin olive oil (classic olive oil is ok too) until they turn slightly brown. Try not to use vegetable oil; not the healthiest choice by far.

Cooking time to slightly carmelize onions should be no more than 5-10 minutes!

Next you add the curry (2-3 tbspns), salt, pepper, and tomato paste TO THE ONION MIX. Use the same pot (use a big one). The stew will eventually rise. AFTER you add the curry, 6 oz. tomato paste and 1-2 tspns of salt and pepper (each) to the pot, the pot will start to burn a little. The ingredients will brown. That is OK. It’s normal. See below.

You can see that once I added the tomato paste, curry, salt and pepper I mixed them together some (you can just add a dash of salt and pepper). After this you have to add the tblspn of vinegar. Be careful. It will smoke. Also have all ingredients ready to go at this point you have to work fast. As soon as the vinegar makes this mixture bubble, add the TOMATO SAUCE, 15 oz. can. This will stop the splash from the vinegar!🥫

Here I have added the tomato sauce and 4 cups of water. No more splash keep heat on high here.

Finally, add the potatoes and beef to combine all together. Add everything slowly, the water, little by little, gently add beef and potatoes. Combine all together.

You can even add an additional 2-4 cups of water depending on how much stew you want to have. You can use more salt and pepper. Table salt is fine to use at this point. I used kosher salt when I cooked the meat. Spice it how you would like, but don’t make it too salty. Keep in mind if it is under salted you can always add more later. You don’t want to use too much salt and ruin all your hard work!

Keep on high throughout let it come to a boil. Than reduce heat to medium high. Cover with a lid. Let it cook at least twenty minutes. Stir in between. Check on it. Once the potatoes are tender the stew is done. This can take anywhere from 40 min.-1 hr. You have to check on it regularly. Stir. Take a potato out, cut it with a fork, see if it’s tender (cooked), taste it, spice a little! Lol You get the idea. Be safe. And prepared. 🍅🥩🥔🧅🍛🧄

Oops… and I almost forgot—don’t forget to cook the rice! Ka’ree is put over a bed of rice. Here I have cooked 4 cups of brown rice.🍚🌾 And below is also a photo of the finished product! Have fun! There will be lots of leftover!😄

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s recently been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students of all ages from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Happy Forth! Eat well!🌟🇺🇸🌱

Happy Fourth of July!☄️ There is a war in America. It’s a war on food. This was my breakfast today. We are taught to not eat animal products and that vegetarianism or being a vegan is healthier! Simply not true. No evidence supports the idea that eggs, cheese, or red meat cause cancer or even heart disease; on the contrary, people who gravitate towards ‘low fat,’ no sugar, sugar-free, low protein, and more of a plant-based diet have been proven to get sicker. High fructose corn syrup is widely used; and it’s even worse than sugar. Sugar is ok in moderation, in my opinion. Too much of anything is not good. Mostly all processed food contains high fructose corn syrup. Vegetable oil is another item widely used that’s not good for you. I only use extra virgin olive oil unless I’m making a cake mix that calls for vegetable oil. I don’t eat out at restaurants much. The way food is cooked in most restaurants is with vegetable-heated oils and not healthy for you. My idea is to reduce carbs (I’m in a constant struggle with myself to stay away from snacks, but I do snack a little!). Again, we have to find that balance. The point is, when you gravitate more towards protein/nutrients in healthy ‘fat’ through meat/poultry/fish, etc. you eat less because your body feels fuller. There is iron, B1, B12, and a whole bunch of other vitamins in meats. It’s incredibly healthy! You can even turn around diabetes. The other thing I do is fast more in the nighttime hours. I eat very little and do not eat dinner late at night.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Yesterday’s dinner was delicious!🥩🍜🥔🧅

I did it again! Today I even had leftovers!😀 I can’t stress enough that meat is good for you. I have lost weight by adopting this method. Having at least one 4-6 ounce meat/poultry/fish per day along with a side of low carb veggies can really improve your health. Red meat is ideal for me because at times I can be mildly anemic. The health and nutrition provided by following this plan: a paleo, or even Mediterranean style plan is priceless! I have lost weight and am now fitting into pants I haven’t worn in years! Of course limiting snacks and sugar helps along with fasting in the evening/near bed time hours. I am not one to eat dinner at night. This top sirloin fillet was cooked to perfection and the asparagus and Asian style noodles made it so yummy. I also worked in potatoes and onions. Yumm! I love the feeling after I’ve just had some good nutrition.🥩🍜🧅🥔🌱

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Today’s dish was nutritious🍅🫒🍆

Today’s main course was incredible! I got some really great nutrition in with this one! #baked #chicken with sliced #eggplants along with cut up #potatoes You can’t leave out some fresh #healthy #tomatoes The thing I love about cooking meals like this is all you mainly have to do is cut up the #veggies 🍆🥔🍅 Then design them in a pretty way in a nice #baking dish. But of course, use #salt and #pepper on the ingredients. I used #kosher salt and ground pepper. I also added non-stick cooking spray as well as a cup of water to the bottom so it wouldn’t stick. I #baked at 350 F for at least 35 minutes, more like 45, and even increased the temperature to 400 F for the last ten minutes or so. You be the judge of when it’s finished. Oh, and I drizzled #extravirginoliveoil over the #chicken and #potatoes and other #vegetables. This was delicious! #yummy #paleo #keto #lowcarbrecipes #mediterranean 🫒 #healthyfood #healthylifestyle #foodie #health🐤🥔🍆

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Mornin’ Breakfast☀️🍳

Heart-shaped eggs w/kuftas and a side of cut up potatoes and onions!

Breakfast should be nutritious and good for you. I have two eggs for breakfast just about every morning because of the benefits of the eggs and the protein. This morning I made heart shaped eggs.💕🥚 The nutrition is priceless. Do away with the myth that the egg yolk is bad for you. The yellow yolk is not bad; on the contrary, it provides a variety of benefits. There is no evidence that dietary cholesterol raises blood level cholesterol. Animal products can be really good for you. Red meat (beef) does not cause inflammation; red meat reduces disease because it has a variety of benefits including iron and B1, B12, and B16 vitamins. Therefore, I made these amazing little “kuftas” on the side, and each one is only 67 calories. They were spiced to perfection and yummy. I also had my low carb side of veggies (mixed with a little extra virgin olive oil), and lightly salted with pepper.🥔🧅 With a cup of coffee, today’s breakfast was delicious!☕️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

The benefits of meat for health!🍃🥩🥔

I will never get tired of healthy cooking. This was worth the wait! I just added some ‘hickory’ barbecue sauce to go with this yummy steak!🥩 First, it was pan-seared in a bit of extra virgin olive oil and unsalted butter (w/kosher salt and pepper!). THEN, it was cooked on the stovetop. Later put in to bake at 400 F for 35-45 minutes. Wow! I added the fresh spinach (also cooked) and cut up onions. Perfect with a side of brown rice and potatoes! This meal actually increases your chance of weight loss. It’s the iron in the spinach, and many nutrients in the meat. This is very nutritious. I will never get tired of healthy cooking! #paleo #keto #diet #mediterranean #lowcarb #veggies #meat #cooking #steak #foodie #conoisseur

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s just been featured on the popular, Intuitive Edge podcast! She’s also been on ESPN’s “Solutions from the Huddle” broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World! Zina’s written several hundred articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world from many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Zina’s Healthy Tips to Maximize Health⚕️

I’m not too sure how I feel about this bandana, thoughts? Anyway, you may get tired of my posts about food and diet lately. As some of you know, recently I created the page, “Zina’s Healthy Tips to Maximize Health.” https://www.facebook.com/Zinas-Healthy-Tips-to-Maximize-Health-112061191416124/ If you haven’t liked it already, I would greatly appreciate it if you do. The cover photo is a picture of my beloved father, I dedicated it to him. He lived to be 87 years old through wonderful doctors and medicine. He didn’t always make the healthiest choices, but one thing I distinguishably remember about dad is he had eggs for breakfast every morning typically with sausage. He would eat cold Turkey often and raw tomatoes. He’d at times eat liver from an animal or even tongue from a sheep (yuck!). He wasn’t the greatest cook and left that to mom. But when he did eat or prepare something himself, it was always ‘real’ food.’ I remember ordering pizza one time and him and mom yelling at me and saying, ‘What’s that?’ Cheese with bread.😂😂😂. I also created this page to celebrate not only food but life. I have had my share of surgeries and health challenges in my life because I suffered a spinal cord injury at just sixteen years old from a vehicular related accident. During one health crisis, I tried to become a vegetarian and didn’t eat meat for three months, but that was not the cure. I also considered doing the very difficult ‘Daniel fast.’ And was not able to do it at that time. Nonetheless, I’m feeling better, so much better, and have been studying food for months. In the last several months I’ve dropped more than 25-30 pounds, so I want to share with the world what I’ve learned. The number one cause for disease is food. When you don’t eat right it can cause inflammation and an array of other issues. I am also happy to announce that I have hopes for writing a third book, but this time it will be a healthy cook book. I’d appreciate all your support as I continue to go through this health journey. I can never fully cure my spinal cord injury, but I can choose to be as healthy as possible even though I have to live with it for the rest of my life. Blessings to all, Zina #Zina’sHealthyTipstoMaximizeHealth❤️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! You can order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Chicken-kale lemon skillet!🍋🥬🍅

https://www.facebook.com/zina.hermez.7/videos/3121567264824925/

Good morning, friends, today I want to share a video of the new recipe I made yesterday. Chicken-kale lemon skillet. After watching the video I want to add a few edits. You only need to use two tablespoons of Extra virgin olive oil in total. Once just before you begin panfrying the chicken, and the other tablespoon should be used when you cook/mix up the veggies! That will be enough. You also only need one 1/4 of a teaspoon of kosher salt to sprinkle over each piece of chicken while panfrying. Kosher salt is rich and tasty, a little goes a long way. Also, before transferring your chicken and veggies into an oven-safe plate to prepare for more cooking, you want to use some nonstick cooking spray on your oven-safe plate. You also want to add one cup of water to the oven-safe plate after you have put down your chicken and veggies. The water will help your chicken and veggies to stay moist. I ended up cooking at 425 F for at least 20 minutes and then cranked the heat up to 450-500 for the last 5-10 minutes. You will judge when it is done by how the chicken looks and by using a cooking thermometer. Once the chicken has reached 155 F it is done! You can serve!

About Zina

Don’t gravitate towards sugar!🍥

The idea that you have to completely cut out sugar or carbs in order to lose weight is a myth. Carbs are in almost everything. We have ‘good carbs’ and ‘bad carbs.’ A banana has carbs, but they are a ‘low carb.’ As a matter of fact, the idea that a ‘plant based diet’ is the key to losing weight and health is a myth also. The food pyramid should be flipped upside down. It’s no wonder diabetes and heart disease are two of the most prominent diseases in this country. We are conditioned to gravitate towards sugar and taught that butter, milk, and meat are ‘bad for us.’ We’re taught that egg yolk is dangerous; however, new findings have reported that you don’t get high cholesterol from dietary cholesterol such as eggs, red meat, and ‘fatty’ dairy.

Actually, it doesn’t impact ‘bad’ cholesterol or your ’LDL’ at all.

Here is a sample breakfast of mine:

Here is a sample dinner:

I have lost weight and found my journey back to health by incorporating either meat, poultry, or fish twice per day. I have a side of veggies and one egg every morning. I stick to a calorie restrictive diet and home cook my own meals. Eating this way w/a healthy snack each day makes me feel full. I’m getting enough nutrition and iron to sustain me. I don’t have to gravitate towards sugar. Follow me for more tips on diet and health or let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help!

Oh, and please spare me with the ’lowfat’ and ‘nonfat,’ reduced ‘fat’ stuff. Please don’t offer me protein ’shakes’ or ’skinny meals.’ That stuff is packed with things that are unhealthier than ‘fat’ or sugar. I steer clear of those products. Real food balanced with the right portion sizes is the key. We are taught to over eat.

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

My signature breakfast!🍳🥩🍞

This has been my breakfast of choice the last few weeks and I’ll tell you why. Red meat is good for you and contains vital nutrients: like Iron, for example. I tend to be anemic at times so this is important for me. A lot of rumors around eggs say that the yolk of an egg is bad for you and raises your LDL (bad cholesterol), but a recent study just done by Harvard University points to this info.:

“Since then, however, research has shown that most of the cholesterol in our body is made by our liver-it doesn’t come from cholesterol we eat. The liver is stimulated to make cholesterol primarily by saturated fat and trans fat in our diet, not dietary cholesterol. But a large egg contains little saturated fat-about 1.5 grams (g). And research has confirmed that eggs also contain many healthy nutrients: lutein and zeaxanthin, which are good for the eyes; choline, which is good for the brain and nerves; and various vitamins (A, B, and D). In fact, just one large egg contains 270 international units (IU) of vitamin A and 41 IU of vitamin D. One large egg also contains about 6 g of protein and 72 calories.”

So as you can see, eggs have many health benefits. Even the yellow part (yolk) does. Here is a link to the full report written by Harvard in case you’re interested: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/are-eggs-risky-for-heart-health?fbclid=IwAR0p8dZTxYFSKuhAFfA-GyxDwrS5VHCIjfdQ8uZUfHHJF1TtHx6xU3cluFM

I’ve also included half of a yellow chopped sweet onion to get a serving of my veggie group in. And I have a slice of wheat bread to get in a healthy grain.

I have my cup of warm coffee (w/limited cream and sugar). 50 calories. With the others, two large eggs, 140 calories, wheat slice, 80 calories, and half chopped onion, 14 Cal., oh, and a half of angus beef patty chopped up, 86 calories. (2 oz.) that brings me to a total of: 370 calories. A low calorie breakfast that provides many health benefits. #paleo #paleodieting #redmeat #eggs #health 🧅🥩☕️

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm is live and for sale! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Today marks one year since I began my ‘diet’ journey!🥑

This picture popped up today in my Facebook memories. It was my photo from last year. Yes, intermittent fasting is great but it’s not enough! I mean, it’s enough to maintain your weight, to repair cells and to reduce some inflammation. But it’s not enough to lose weight! I mean, you can lose ‘some weight,’ but since last year I have incorporated the Mediterranean Diet. I started out with a restriction of 1,200-1,300 calories per day last November and had Greek Yogurt for dinner often. In a matter of weeks, I lost 25-30 pounds! Fast forward to today! I have learned so much more about food. The importance of eating red meat, how vegetable oils (and most restaurant food can be toxic), how the Food Pyramid we go by includes too many grains. I learned a lot of things about diet through this journey. As of yesterday, I switched over from the Mediterranean to more of a Paleo-diet. Or, ‘caveman’s’ diet, as they call it. The cavemen were healthy and diabetes and heart disease didn’t run rampant in their day. Today we have too many grains and too much sugar and packaged/processed food. Just study the grocery store next time you are shopping. The latest studies even show that fruits and vegetables don’t have all the benefits we believe them to have. They have some benefits and are low in calories. They make you feel full. But I’m switching to more of a Paleo style diet. I have a tendency to be low on Iron and anemic. The Iron that you get and other sources that come from a Paleo diet will be good for my health! I looked great in this picture and felt better, but the truth is–after four weeks of intermittent fasting I had lost very little weight. In this day and age, with the food that is out there, more is needed than just Intermittent fasting. We have to be aggressive at taking care of our health!

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm has just been released, on Jan 24! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Paleo-Diet 101!🍳🍖🫒

It HAS TO be Extra Virgin Oil! I’ve had enough of the Mediterranean! Now I’m moving on to bigger and greater things (although this dish is kind of Mediterranean!)🤣

This morning I had two eggs for breakfast, scrambled, 140 calories. It’s OK to eat eggs! I also had a 4 oz. (angus) beef Patty, chopped up! Well, actually I ate about 3.2 oz. (192 calories). Meat is good for you and healthy.

I also had two 1/2 slices of split top wheat bread 🍞 on the side (70 calories) and about 1/2 of a chopped sweet onion 🧅! 8 calories. Yes, I eat raw onions! I just rinse them off before I do.

Oh, and of course I had a side of coffee ☕️w/limited cream and sugar, 50 calories! That is a total of 460 calories (red meat may be a little higher in calories, but the benefits of red meat are priceless!). Red meat contains Iron and other vital sources that we don’t get in other food! It was a yummy breakfast!

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. She’s been featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written more than 500 articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog, and the Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She also writes on health and diet and loves to help others. Her latest book, Not Without God: Hope In the Storm has just been released, on Jan 24! Order your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Not-Without-God-Hope-Storm-ebook/dp/B09P9T2DLT

Food tip(s)! #2🌽🥩🥦

Pictured above is my signature ’Christmas Tree Stuffed Chicken’ (w/avocado and tomato pieces). ‘Avocados are a healthy food you can add. The vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats you get from avocados help prevent disease and keep your body in good working order.’ And they are delicious!🥑🥑 I love tomatoes too and often eat them raw!🍅

Part of the Mediterranean diet is getting your veggies and protein in. You are allowed 2-4 servings a day of each based on your individualized plan. Try to avoid baked snacks, desserts high in sugar, try a dark chocolate piece (with cocoa), instead, or very limited chips or snacks (like a handful!). Keep your creamer or sugar as low as possible in coffee/tea (around one to two tspns of each). It’s not keto but has some of the same patterns. Chicken, beef, fish, etc. should be around two 3-4 oz. of meat twice a day and you can have eggs for breakfast! Or you can substitute with another protein like Greek yogurt, for example. That would be more than enough protein for one day!🍗🥩🐠🥕🥦🥬🌽

Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that eating 1.5 ounces of nuts per day may reduce the risk of heart disease. #mediterranean #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanfood🥜🌰🥜

The above picture is about one ounce of unsalted cashews!

About Zina

Zina Hermez has authored the best-selling book “Not Without God: A Story of Survival.” Her stories have been featured in various guest articles, medical journals, magazines, newsletters, and more than 300 of her own blog articles. As an educator for more than twenty years, she’s had the privilege of working with thousands of students from different backgrounds and parts of the world. Her upcoming book, “Not Without God: Hope In the Storm” will be out next year. Her writing endeavors have earned her an invitation to speak at the Harvard Faculty Club’s “Business Expert Forum.” Zina’s goal is to help others overcome adversity, and she strives to do what she longs to. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Southern Writers magazine, and Suite T blog, among other places. Socializing with friends, taking business trips, listening to music, and meeting new people are among her hobbies. She was recently featured on Color Speak (a Grace and Truth Radio World! podcast) and on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast. You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, or Twitter.

Food Network Meat Pies and more (yummy) food!

I have been missing on WordPress for the last few days, but I have not been idle. Cooking and baking is something I’ve loved to do since I was a child! Hosting and entertaining guests have always been a favorite hobby. So it’s no surprise that I have launched my own food business and am shipping domestically in the U.S.! International shipping is not allowed right now; otherwise, I would add that to my list of to dos!

Here are the two new products I have launched one by one. By the way, I’m covering the shipping costs! Feel free to contact me today or simply order! I’d be happy to start cookin’ for ya! #FoodNetwork #meatpies #cheesepies #walnutpies #ReeDrummond #ValerieBertinelli #SouthwesternEggRolls #Southern #Southernstyle #notspicy #healthfood 🥟🧀🌶🌽🧄

https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/NHJJ722WYDDJS

https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/N48AFMD4ZFNXQ

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. Recently she was featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written hundreds of articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog and Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. She has recently launched food services and is a major foodie! She loves to help others. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Linked In, or Twitter.

Southern Style Pies🌶🧀🥟

I did it again. One of my most favorite things to do ever since I was a child until now is to cook and enjoy with family and friends. Basically, I love the feeling of creating something delicious and positive feedback is always nice. Yesterday, I made good ol’ meat pies. But these are not just any meat pies. They are Food Network pies. They are ‘Ree Drummond’s meat pies.’ Meat pies with a southern twist. I also made pies with cheese and used candied walnuts. Take a look at the pics!

By the time I was done I had about 45-50 pies! It took all day and I wiped down tables, washed dishes, and mopped more than once! Here are pics of some of the pre-fillings I made.

In case you’re interested you can find the recipe here:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/meat-pies-3591684.amp

The meat pies had a hint of spice because of the red pepper flakes and chili powder. They are so good.😋

About Zina

Zina Hermez authored the best selling book, Not Without God: A Story of Survival. She’s been featured in numerous articles, guest posts, podcasts, websites, newsletters, and magazines. Recently she was featured on ESPN’s ‘Solutions from the Huddle’ broadcast and on Grace and Truth Radio World. Zina’s written hundreds of articles and has taught thousands of students from all over the world spanning many different backgrounds and cultures. She’s appeared in Christianity Today, the Suite T blog and Southern Writers magazine among other places. She writes on faith, science, and overcoming adversity. Her goal is to help others. You can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Linked In, or Twitter.