Healthy and Homemade Chunky Salsa

I am die-hard back into my healthy nutrition and exercising. One of my good friends and I are helping keep each other motivated and reporting to each other on how we are doing. My goal is 24 lbs lost and body firmed up by Christmas. I know that I can lose 3 lbs a week by eating right and exercising. It's how I did it right after Carli was born. Then I decided I was content, and so I have maintained over the last few months. Now I am ready to get going again and I happened to be talking to one of my friends who is also in that same mode. Nothing like having a buddy to share stories with! So... on that note, I was making my shopping list on Monday and looking through all of my favorite blogs for recipes and I came across this chunky salsa recipe on trainer momma. She said she eats it by the "bucket loads." She's a lot more agro in her eating than I am but if she's eating something by the "bucket loads" I need to try it out! So here is the recipe... it's super yum!

Chunky Black Bean and Corn Salsa

from LeAnn Hunt (from the Gilbert 9th Ward RS Cookbook)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can corn, drained
1 green pepper (or any other color)
1/2 bunch cilantro (I didn't have that, so I liberally sprinkled dried cilantro)
4-5 Roma tomatoes
1/4 red onion, diced
salt and pepper to taste
1 avacado
1 cup salsa from a jar

Trainer Momma's comments: I have been one happy camper when lunch (and breakfast and dinner!) rolled around this week. I've been eating it by the bucket load! You are working hard at this fitness thing. Doing cardio. Lifting weights several times a week. All that thrown into the mix of motherhood makes you one busy gal. Lunch time hits, you are STARVED and what do you eat?

Leftover crusts from your little guy's PB and J.
Half a cup of applesauce.
A handful of fishy crackers.
Maybe some grapes if your precious one didn't claim them first.
A half of a glass of milk from a princess cup.

WHAT?!?

I'll just say it:
You are better than that.

You are better than your kids' leftovers. Long ago I made a solemn vow to NEVER eat my kids' leftover food or eat off their plate. I know we are all pinching pennies these days, but you have earned your right to have your own plate with real food on it, darn it. If you won't stand up for yourself, I WILL!

But what about time? You are right, you are short on time and the hunger pangs are relentless around lunchtime. A trick I use is to make something I love, a lot of it, then indulge for the entire week.

I picked out a winner this week. My mom just gave me a copy of her church's new cookbook (translation: GOLDMINE). I have been eating this salsa with salmon, egg whites, chicken, tuna wraps, and or just by itself nearly every day (nope, no chips... I needed to couple it with protein to make a meal out of it).