Fast Forward to Dinner

I love kale.  I love grapefruit.  Why shouldn't they be in a green smoothie for breakfast?

 Because it's gross.  Even with a frozen banana to even out their strong flavors - I only made it through 1/3.  Such a waste, but so horrible!

Lunch, also not exciting: the last of the Cool Slaw, celery with pb.

My package from Amazon arrived while I was at work:

What can I say? I love her first cookbook, and "needed" the extra item to reach "free shipping".  Even better - I placed my order on Friday.  Nice job, Amazon.  More to come on this cookbook!

After my less than interesting meals and ridiculous workday, I realized that my Garmin needed to be charged.  I ran 2 miles without it, so I don't know how fast it was!  Crackers and hummus post cool down.

Best meal of the day: dry roasted broccoli with spices and nooch, red potatoes wedges.

A bit of ketchup was added to the "open space" on my dinner plate.

A cup of Bengal Spice to round out the evening.

Food Sans Fitness

Breakfast: spinach, frozen strawberries, frozen mangoes, frozen banana, water.

 Lunch: rice crackers, garlic hummus, Appetite for Reduction's "Cool Slaw".

No afternoon workout. I overdid it on Saturday, especially my arms, shoulders, and back - so sore!  Back on the horse tomorrow.

Thus, I enjoyed a cup of my favorite new tea:

 I leave the bag in for the duration of my sipping - by the end, it's super spicy and very aromatic!

Dinner: 3 out of 4 ingredients from last night (1/3 cup vegetarian refried beans, half an avocado, 1/3 cup of Roberto's Vegetarian Green Chile Sauce), this time on top of a bed of iceberg (in the mood for a good crunch).

Full, relaxed, and definitely going to bed at 8:00pm.  :)

Spicy Sunday

Out and about this morning, a Starbucks Soy Latte accompanied me:

Brunch: Southwestern Tofu Scramble (medium picante salsa, garlic powder, spinach, tofu) and a brown rice tortilla.

Afternoon: garlic hummus and carrot sticks after my Sunday 40 minute walk, per the 5k Plan.

Dinner: an homage to Shen and Sarah - my version of a tostada!

Brown rice tortilla, 1/3 cup vegetarian refried beans heated under the broiler.  Topped with one half of an avocado, mashed, and a 1/4 cup of this:

 A local product that really added the right amount of spice to my tostada!  Brown rice tortillas are pretty sturdy as it is - so I actually cut it into slices like a pizza.  Really, really delicious!

As a side dish, I had to sample what I had made earlier: Appetite for Reduction's "Cool Slaw".

Cabbage is in season, and I couldn't resist a crunchy, healthy, cabbage salad!  Unlike the rest of my eats, this was not spicy.  :) 

Tired Thursday

Repeat morning: Van's Wheat & Gluten Free waffle with pb and brown rice syrup.

 I had to participate in a conference, which means that I grazed for half the morning and noon on all things veg-friendly: hummus, crackers, celery, carrots.  And chips and salsa.  I'm a sucker for really thin and crispy tortilla chips.  I didn't go crazy, but had a little more than I should have.

Before breakfast, I prepared a dry-fry and marinade for the last half package of tofu sitting in my fridge.  There are a few things I would do differently, such as not cut the tofu in cubes, use fresh ginger and not use oil when reheating.  In case you click on the link above, I used the Chinese marinade.  None the less, the tofu marinaded during the day, and I cooked up a little rice (I know, I know - it's white, but I'm out of brown), steamed some kale and sprinkled a little Gomasio on top.  Decent, but not yet a perfect meal - I'll keep working on it - or something like it (healthy Chinese food).

So excited that it's almost the weekend, I am so ready to relax!

Leftover Tuesday

Breakfast of Champions: Van's Natural Wheat & Gluten Free Waffle  with peanut butter and brown rice syrup, coffee, and oj cut with sparkling water (still pumping in the vitamin c).

 Lunch: leftover enchilada casserole (not pictured)

Afternoon snack: leftover dry roasted brussel sprouts.

Gym time: 20 minutes of running intervals on the treadmill (1 min sprint, 1 min rest, 2 min average pace, 30 second rest, repeat).

Dinner: leftover Vegan Cassoulet and steamed kale (first time preparing it steamed - so fast and so good!)

Yesterday looked like this and so will tomorrow.  Thus, I'll be back on Thursday with something different!

Cuteness & Casseroles

Morning: Tofu scramble (trying out WestSoy's Reduced Fat Tofu) cooked in low sodium veggie broth: kale, curry powder, chili powder, garlic powder, nooch.  Served with white corn tortillas.

 Enjoyed coffee alfresco, even though it was a little cool and overcast:

 Mostly because Remy requested that I stay and observe his morning backyard traditions:

I realize that I'm biased, but I have the cutest canine in the world - and I tell him so every single day.  We attempted the 5k training regiment of walking for 45 minutes - but it was a bit blustery in the early afternoon.

I didn't have a proper lunch, as I was picking at yesterday's casserole:

 Enchilada casserole - oddly enough, I think I like it better when it's cold.  It's something I threw together, similar to a lasagna but with chilies, enchilada sauce, corn tortillas - and of course, kale.  Obviously, there is some tofu and a little Daiya Pepperjack.  Next time, I may not use any cheese-type product.  

And the casserole construction continued - this afternoon I made Vegan Cassoulet from Skinny Bitch: Ultimate Everyday Cookbook.  

 It's pretty easy, but I didn't have 1/3 of the ingredients.  Celery, carrots, leeks, garlic sauteed.  Add 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs, veggie broth, white beans (um. . .as you can see I had to mix in pinto beans in addition to white, because I didn't have the correct quantity).  I winged it on the spices, too.  It does have to cook on the stove, then in the oven - so it does take quite a bit of time altogether.  The last step of Earth Balance and another 1/4 cup of panko on top (at the end of baking) gives it a lovely crunch.

 Last week I did very little in the kitchen, so I was inspired to cook over the last two days.  Also, I'm down to occasional nose stuffiness, but feeling more rested.  Looking forward to enjoying these casseroles, and continuing to improve! :)

Life Through One Nostril

How about that title? Ha! Alas, such is my life right now.  It's nothing major (virus-wise) yet, but there's been enough mouth breathing (and sneezing) over here to cause damage to the olfactory system, so I'm not tasting very much.  In attempt to push liquids, I am putting away 2 liters of water a day - but should still try for more!

Breakfast combat: Mrs. May's Strawberry Trio Bar, and an Odwalla C Monster.

 Lunch warfare: Kale salad, brown rice tortilla

 Afternoon citrus back-up: one grapefruit

For dinner, I waved the white flag.  Fine, I can't taste it anyway - might as well make it a smoothie.  Peanut butter, frozen banana, rice milk, flaxseed.

If I can taste (and breathe) better tomorrow, I'll bring the evidence.  In the meantime, I would like very much for you to watch this.  **You must love dogs, and at least be slightly aware of a little movie called "Star Wars" to appreciate it fully.**

P.S. I laughed so hard, I cried.  But, I'm crazy and have only one working nostril. :)

Grateful Monday

Banana-Date (with rice milk) Shake for breakfast:

Appointments all morning left me wanting a prepared lunch.  From Whole Foods, hot bar items: steamed kale with cashew cream (weird orange flavor, knocked most of it off and ate the kale plain), and rosemary cooked carrots (really, really good!).  From the cold bar: Asian Cabbage Salad (always good).

 While dinner was in the oven, I made a cheat-version of miso soup, using this broth:

 I added a few cubes of tofu and shredded some kale to turn it into a proper cup:

 Dinner: oven-baked half acorn squash with dried cranberries, dried apricots, walnuts, dusted with cinnamon

 

Back to Normal & Grocery Haul

So, my lack of healthy food and activity yesterday blessed me with nightmares and a stuffy nose this morning.  Seriously, I had horrible dreams, and I ate a little later than normal - so I blame the yummy, but so bad for me, Sesame Tofu.  Once I figure out how to make it at home (and healthier), I'll have it again.

Needless to say, this morning I was all about drinking lots of water and a green smoothie:

 Kale with a half lemon squeezed (left to rest for about 10 minutes, so it would be slightly wilted), frozen banana, fresh green pear (additionally about 2/3 cup water)

Delish!

For Christmas, I received a Whole Foods gift card.  I decided to blow the entire amount today, so what you see here should last for a week and a half.  I have to show you the adorable "bag" the gift card came in - alongside a bottle of Bhakti Chai (vegan, gluten-free), shown for scale.

 Produce:

 Everything else:

  I've never tried Nayonaise , but I am feeling adventurous and I have quite a few sandwich wrap ideas for the upcoming week.  Also, I've been craving cold cereal lately so I thought I'd have some with half a grapefruit (do you see how HUGE the above pictured ones are?!).  And of course, lots of kale.  I'm addicted.

This evening, I'll be attending a football-watching gathering (Denver Broncos are playing the New England Patriots in the play-offs).  I don't care about football, but the players have nice biceps, which I enjoy admiring. Ha, ha!  I'll be having a vegan griller (no bun), spinach salad, and hopefully not more than 5 or 6 sweet potato fries. 

Take-Out Friday

**Disclaimer** Ingrid was not improving today. Ha!

It started with my last grapefruit this morning somehow being rotten at breakfast.  I lifted it from the table, prepared to cut, and it nearly deflated in my hand - squishy and moldy.  Oops! Perhaps I need to modify my storage methods.  I left for work on an empty stomach, but I knew that I would have Whole Foods for lunch.

 Black Bean Quinoa Wrap (as you can see, it was about 75% greens), and chips (two servings, yes I ate them both).

As it was a faculty work day, I was able to come home for lunch and Whitney came over for a cuddle:

It was a rest day on the workout calendar, so I visited my chiropractor for an adjustment.  Ahhh.  For dinner, my vegan co-worker recommended this place, saying that you simply mention that you can't have fish sauce or have it prepared near meat, and they'll make whatever you like.  I had the Sesame Tofu with steamed brown rice.  It was really, really good.

Apparently one entree could feed a family of four, as I have a tremendous amount of leftovers that I SHOULD NOT eat.  Good thing tomorrow is a double workout day - I've earned it!   All is well, however:

Colorful 1.5

It's citrus season, and I'm serious about my grapefruit. Anything not found by my too-expensive grapefruit spoons, get squeezed and strained into a glass. Yes, that serious. Along with my citric acid, an acidic staple: coffee.

 I'm sure you're tired of seeing kale and avocado salad.  Unfortunately, I've yet to tire of eating it. Accompanying my salad for lunch was another, yet smaller, hunk of homemade bread.

 Completed my scheduled 1.5 miles in 22:38.  When frustrated, I remember this: "you don't have to run fast, you just have to run."

 2 tablespoons of Spicy Thai trail mix happened pre-run, and these leftovers happened post-run:

Dinner was a steamy bowl of Cuban Black Beans, served with (okay, I used it for scooping half the time) a brown rice tortilla.

With half the colors on the spectrum represented today, I'll give myself an A-.

Food & Conditioning

Super busy workday, so it was a "sip-able" morning: Starbucks americano with a little steamed soy, small Odwalla Blueberry B Superfood

 Lunch was a kale, pine nut, and dried cranberry salad with Annie's Pomegranate,

 Along with a nice sized hunk of my Oat Bran & Flaxseed Bread from yesterday:

 Afternoon workout: conditioning with the following 10 exercises, 10 reps and 3 sets as fast as possible.
*Jumping jacks
*Push-ups
*Mountain climbers
*Tricep pushups
*Skaters
*Burpees
*Squats
*Side jump squats
*Plank jacks
*Lunges

Dinner included a lot of oven roasted broccoli and cauliflower (very little EVOO and generously spiced), and Gardein Chik'n covered in barbeque sauce.

Additionally, I foresee a cup of decaffinated green tea in my future... See you tomorrow!