Posted by: saralseward | May 24, 2012

Counting Down…

The 10 whole glorious days of vacation I get off from work starts in approximately 20 hours! I have not had a material amount of time off in almost a year and a half, so I am looking forward to it to say the least.  I am not one to lazy around however; it just means I will have my days free to do the things that make me happy when work isn’t taking over my life I have some leisure time. These activities will entail sleeping in past 4:45 AM (!), trying out some new exercise classes at the gym (BodyAttack anyone?), coming up with some new recipes (especially for breakfast…time to take a break from the overnight oats in tupperware), and of course working on my blog.  Ever since I began blogging, I have loved every minute of it, but given the short window of time from when I get home from work to when I want to go to bed, I feel as though I haven’t really been able to really focus on the design/layout, topics, and readership.  I need to go out there and make my name known!

I also have a short trip planned to my friend’s river house on the Virginia coast this coming weekend.  And did I forget to mention I will be headed to the beach next Wednesday through Sunday??  Hallelujah!  I need sand and sun in my life.

My kick-off to summer does not end there.  After my time off is up, I have my birthday to look forward to, ending the celebration with a trip to NYC to visit one of my best friend’s from college!  All in the next 3 weeks…fwew, it is a little overwhelming now that I think about it.  Amidst all the fun I will be having however, I do want to keep my “eyes on the prize” (that being balance), as sometimes I tend to get caught up in the moment, and “let loose” as they say.  I am not going to lie, I have a bit of a wild side, which in the past couple of years have been trying (and wanting) to tame.  And while I don’t like to give myself “rules,” (you should have seen my teenage years), for me I know it is necessary in order to maintain a healthy mentality.

These rules are not set in stone by any means, but here are just a few I would like to keep in mind:

  • Do something active for at least 30 minutes a day, whether it is going on a run, riding a bike, walking on the beach (and other beach activities), yoga, etc.  This will not be hard for me as I love to go on a run/walk in unfamiliar places.  It’s good to switch things up, ya know?
  • Listen to your body with meals and snacking.  This is important in my mind, because I want to enjoy everything, just not veg out like I have done in the past.  Plus, knowing when you’re full is key, because being too full is just plain uncomfortable (hello, bathing suit season??)
  • Limit yourself to 2-3 alcoholic drinks a day.  Enough said.
  • Wear sunscreen.

All I can say, is that I truly want to enjoy these next few weeks.  I don’t want to regret anything about my behavior or mentality, which includes over-thinking things.  Live in the moment.

Question:  How do you manage to stay happy and healthy when on vacation or amidst a whirlwind of social events?

Starting next week, you will not see one more tupperware container of overnight oats.  Even I am getting sick of my kick.  I definitely have some new ideas in mind, that will hopefully be portable as well, so stay tuned!  As for today, it was another batch of OO:

1/2 c oat bran, 1/2 c soy milk, 1/2 mashed banana, chia seeds, blackberries, cinnamon, almond butter blob

In my defense, I will have to say this is the first time I used oat bran and not rolled oats.  I also used 1/4 c less of soy milk than I usually use.  The result?  Extra thick a creamy OO!  Kinda tasted like a cold, mushy pancake…OK that might not be doing it justice, but let’s just say this might be my new method.

Although lunch was another salad, it did incorporate some new flavor flare, something that I have not had in a long time (note to self: come up with new lunch ideas as well).

Green salad with grilled chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, 1/2 avocado, white balsamic drizzle, and another not-pictured apple

Does anyone else have a piece of fruit as a “dessert” everyday?  My lunch in incomplete without it.

I finished off my soy nut butter cookies yesterday (these will be a kitchen staple for me) so I had a spoonful of soy nut butter a couple of hours after lunch.  I really needed a protein boost this afternoon.  Snack #2 was more of a shmorgasboard

2% cottage cheese, pretzels, cashews

Not pretty, but it did the trick…

I stopped at ET’s on my way home to pick up some items for dinner.  I was supposed to go to a dinner downtown with a group of friends, but I had been going and going all week, that I knew I needed to come right home after work instead.  This is something I have been struggling with recently, but am getting more comfortable with saying no when necessary.  I always hate to be a let down, but sometimes you have to do what is right for you and your well-being.  I hear this gets easier with age?

I walked into the Ellwood’s with scallops on my mind.  I know that is random, but maybe it was because I was supposed to be eating out, and I order scallops at restaurants whenever they are available.  They might just be my favorite seafood…bold statement?  Maybe.

As I was thinking what to pair with them, I knew I wanted to go in the direction of Asian, and when I eyed the Soba Noodle Salad in the pre-prepared section, my mind was made up and a meal was born.

Honey-soy-ginger scallops, soba noodle salad, Brussel sprouts
I started with the same concoction as for the chicken lettuce cups the other night

Soy sauce, ginger, honey (to taste; I didn’t measure)

Heat 1 tbsp of sesame oil over medium-high heat

Here is a good trick to use on Brussel sprouts; I don’t know exactly what it does, but it makes a difference.  After cutting off the bottom of the sprout, use your knife to make an “X” incision.  Bake on 350 degrees for 25 minutes

And voila! Really fun to eat with chopsticks…

I had a lil’ sweet tooth afterwards, so I slapped together 3 of my favorite tastes for a simple yet satisfying dessert

Dark chocolate square, almond butter, frozen banana slice

I have to go pack for the river…goodnight!

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Posted by: saralseward | May 22, 2012

Exercising Portion Control

And what I really mean is applying portion control to exercise…you’ll see…

This morning I did not want to get out of bed.  I know I may be the minority, but this is very uncharacteristic of me.  Although my alarm goes off at 4:45 AM to hit the gym (which might be considered insane to the average person), I am ready to start my day, especially because of the good workout to come before having to walk into the office.

But like I said, I was about one or two more hours of sleep away from becoming the “go-getter” I just described above.  I pressed the snooze button (which to be honest I don’t think I have done since college) and laid there (not asleep) for about 10 minutes.  The onset of my day came rushing towards me and went something like this: It is going to be a crazy day at work…I have a late afternoon meeting…then will have to stay another hour or so to get stuff done…you see by now-which in real-time only took about 10 seconds-any hope of exercising after work was non-existent.  Does this every happen to anyone else??

I didn’t make myself go to the gym, well, because I didn’t want to.  But I knew I “wanted” to do something, meaning at the time I didn’t, but was certain of how much better I would feel afterwards (do you see how I rationalize with myself??).  So I simply put on my tennis shoes, grabbed my iPod and walked out the door.  Simple enough.  I will start with a walk…

I love walking, I really do.  Never when I am in the middle of a walk do I find myself saying “this really sucks.”  I have also gotten more into running this year (and who can forget that good ole’ “runner’s high”), and therefore I haven’t been going on many walks until very recently.  Coupled with the fact that I was training for my first 10K, I really pushed myself to run and not walk.  But this morning, I found a happy medium, guilt-free.  Plus, I ended up incorporating some intervals and jogged half the time anyway.  That being said, I can’t help but feel as though maybe I put too much pressure on myself.  Is it good that I got up (even when I really didn’t want to) and did something?  Or should I have given myself a break and allowed myself to sleep in?  Where would the ideal balance be?  I know the answer may be “do what is right for you,” but what do you think??

After that, it was pretty much a regular day.  Here are my meals amidst a crazy day.

OO with 1/2 c rolled oats/oat bran mix, 3/4 c soy milk, 1 tbsp chia seeds, 1/2 mashed banana, blackberries, almond butter blob

Green salad with grilled chicken, curried cauliflower, avocado, balsamic drizzle, apple (not pictured)

2 soy nut butter cookies

Can you say satisfying?  These things are amazing and very filling if you can believe it or not!

For dinner, the boyfriend and I made plans to order take-out from my favorite pizza place just around the corner from my apartment, but that wasn’t going to be for another 3.5 hours from the time I got off work.  When I am hungry, I can’t wait 3.5 minutes, so I stopped to get a snack.

As you have probably learned by now, I am not just a girl who can snack (or “graze” as they say) throughout the day; I also can’t have just 3 meals; I’m a little bit of both.  This is why when I want a snack, my body quickly tells me what I am in the mood for: salty? sweet? fruit? veggies? nuts?  But today, I wanted salty and sweet, fruit and nuts (man I can be so stubborn sometimes), so I did just that and exercised a bit of portion control:

Banana- almond butter  smoothie with soy yogurt and a handful of ET’s “Zen Party Mix”

I made myself use a plastic ramekin for the snack mix.  I know myself, and when I get really hungry, particularly on top of a stressful day, I can do damage to some snack mix.  The smoothie was also really filling so it was the perfect amount.

Let me preface dinner by saying there is a good handful of restaurants that claim to have “Richmond’s Best Pizza,” but 8 1/2 has got to be the winner.  I swear, you can top your pizza with all the toppings in the world, but really what makes a good pizza is the crust…thin crust is just how I like it

White pizza with onions, mushrooms, pesto, arugula salad, butternut squash puree

Glass of white wine for dessert!

Goodnight!

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Posted by: saralseward | May 21, 2012

Compare and Contrast

The theme of my meals recently.  I have found that when striving to be healthy on a daily basis (or weekly basis if that is too aggressive for you), I must make a choice between what might be my best option at a given moment, whether it be eating out, at the grocery store, or standing in front of the fridge.  Usually the answer comes quickly if I just listen to my body, but other times, both are seemingly healthy choices and you just want to know the nutritional info (without being too compulsive about it), even if it is just for curiosity sake.

Last night as I was scoping out what was for Sunday Night Dinner, I spotted the filet of fish by the stove.  Before I could even say “salmon,” my brother reads my mind and says “Nope, not salmon.  Arctic Char.”   That’s not salmon??

Sure looks like salmon…

The man at the seafood market referred him to the arctic char, as it is a close cousin of salmon, yet a less “fishy” fish.  My brother also bragged it was less “fatty,” which I let go in one ear and out the other.  Salmon primarily consists of healthy Omego-3s so it being “fattening” has never led me astray.  But of course I was curious, so I thought I would compare the two:

Salmon (serving size 100 grams):

  • Calories = 206
  • Fat = 12 g
  • Saturated Fat = 3 g
  • Protein = 22 g

Arctic Char (serving size 100 grams):

  • Calories = 182
  • Fat = 8 g
  • Saturated Fat = 2 g
  • Protein 22 g

He was right!  Per serving, arctic char has fewer calories, less fat, yet the same amount of protein.  One downfall however is that I don’t think it is as readily available, but I will definitely keep this in mind.  I also agreed that it was less “fishy” and I might even prefer the taste over salmon.  This allows you to really taste the flavors of the marinade, spices, etc.

Honey-soy-sesame arctic char with rice and arugula

Here is an easier one for ya: white rice vs. brown rice?

As you can see above, that is white rice on my plate.  I can say with certainty that I rarely eat white carbs (my brother and 10-year old niece is another story).  This isn’t drastic in my mind, just healthier when comparing the amount of fiber and protein of the two.  I also prefer the taste of that grainy, nutty flavor of whole wheat products, so I never really thought twice.

White Rice (serving size 158 grams):

  • Calories = 205
  • Fat = 0 g
  • Saturated Fat = 0 g
  • Fiber = 1 g
  • Protein = 4 g

Brown Rice (serving size 195 grams):

  • Calories = 216
  • Fat = 2 g
  • Saturated Fat = 0 g
  • Fiber = 4 g
  • Protein 5 g

So while I will always choose brown rice over white, I didn’t have a choice last night, and I wasn’t going to pass it up.  Another successful Sunday Night Dinner all around!

I will use some of today’s eats to a quick transition to tonight’s dinner, because it was definitely the star of show.

OO with 1/2 c rolled oats, 3/4 c soy milk, 1/2 mashed banana, 1 tbsp chia seeds, blackberries, cinnamon, almond butter blob

Snack Bag: Apple, grapefruit, baby carrots, yogurt, soy nut butter cookies, cottage cheese and cinnamon raisin bread 

Green salad with grilled chicken, left over red pepper quinoa, 1/2 avocado, balsamic drizzle

As I was driving to the grocery store thinking about dinner (as usual), I suddenly craved a grilled cheese.  Not just any grilled cheese…a gruyere grilled cheese with apple slices and turkey bacon.  Yum.  Unfortunately, the only turkey bacon offered didn’t quite do it for me:

After reading the ingredients, I couldn’t do it.  I just couldn’t do it.  Mechanically separated turkey?? I don’t really know what that is but it sounds…processed.  Not to be judgemental or anything…

But thinking about eating just cheese and apple made me feel like something was missing.  So I turned to a “filler” go-to of mine: Avocado.  I don’t know where I came up with the idea that it contained a lot of protein, but that what was I was thinking at the store. Per 1/2, it only has 2 g but about 7 grams of fiber so it did the trick

Gruyere grilled cheese on a whole wheat sandwich thin, apple slices, avocado, brussel sprouts

Up close and personal

Oh my goodness.  It was not only tasty, but the cheese, apple, and avocado worked really well together! I will definitely have this again tomorrow night another time soon!

Question: Do you often compare foods in order to choose the healthier option?  What has been the easiest switch to make?  The hardest?

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Posted by: saralseward | May 20, 2012

Sunday Funday

Well, for me at least.  Not too long ago, if someone had said “Sunday Funday,” I would have immediately thought of a beautiful day, beer in hand on a patio, maybe a sporting event on the T.V…you get the picture.  But these days, I tend to spend my sunny Sundays being active, reading a book on my porch, and/or cooking something good in my kitchen (nerd alert, I know).

I started out the morning with a favorite of mine…No, not oatmeal.  Usually by the weekend, I don’t really want oatmeal because I have it a lot during the work week (this doesn’t last long; come Monday I’m right back on that train).

0% Fage yogurt, 1/2 mashed banana, 1/4 c Kashi GoLean, blackberries, topped with the other 1/2 sliced banana, cinnamon, coffee.

Then I decided to help out my best friend’s parents while they were away by offering to walk their dog.  They didn’t even ask me, I just really wanted to because I love the companionship a dog can bring on a walk.  Not having one is a continuous void in my life, but with my job and the hours I work, it wouldn’t be fair.  One day (sigh).

I could have driven over there, but it was such a pretty day and I wanted to be outside.

  • Walk to the house: 40 minutes
  • Walking Sophie: 30 minutes
  • Walk back home: 40 minutes

Fwew! I was tired and hongry by the time I got back.  It was way past my normal lunch time, but I kind of forgot about lunch while on my little adventure.  That never usually happens to me.  I quickly threw together a wrap and paired it with a smoothie

Whole wheat wrap with pesto, goat cheese, egg whites, red pepper flakes; green smoothie with strawberries, mango, peach, spinach

I definitely had a sweet tooth afterwards, and wanted to do some baking, so I though it was the perfect opportunity to make the Soy Nut Butter Cookies I mentioned on my last post.  I didn’t have the chocolate soy nut butter that the recipe called for, so I just used my regular home-made batch and added an extra tbsp of cocoa powder.

Chocolate Soy Nut Butter Cookies

  • 1 c soy nut butter
  • 1 c whole wheat flour
  • 3 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1/4 c agave
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tbsp canola oil
  • 2 tbsp coconut milk
  • 1 egg
  • non-stick cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Form the dough into 1 inch balls and place onto cookie sheet.  Using the bottom of a glass, press balls to form patties.  Bake 8 minutes and allow cookies to cool.

Oh yes I did.  I added a dollop of Truwhip between 2 cookies to make a healthified “whoopie pie.”  Delish and filling.  I wish I knew the protein count.  They definitely had that satisfying feeling you get after eating a protein bar or something, which I don’t eat a lot of because sometimes I feel like I’m eating fake food (Larabars are an exception).  I just prefer going au naturale.

I’m off to my brother’s house for Sunday night dinner, hope everyone had a sweet Sunday as well (pun intended)!

Question: How do you like to spend your Sundays?

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Posted by: saralseward | May 20, 2012

Soy Nut Butter Blunder

After yoga, running errands, and cleaning my house (welcome to my typical Saturday morning), I grabbed lunch at Ellwood’s to bring over to the boyfriend’s house while he was on his lunch break.  I hit the salad bar for some greens, on top of which I added a sun-dried tomato lentil burger, 1/2 avocado, and O&V dressing.  I was also craving a grapefruit…I love it when I can pair the word “craving” with something healthy!

As we were eating, I looked back into the corner of his mud room and saw this little beauty:

That’s what I wanted to do with my afternoon! (What did I tell ya…kid on the inside).  It was such a beautiful day outside and perfect for a bike ride.  I have to say it was also pretty calming and I was able to just enjoy myself.  The exercise aspect was an added bonus, although it sure didn’t feel like it!

Afterwards, I headed to the grocery store to pick up some items for dinner.  Then, I stumbled upon a blast from the past:

I used to eat these by the handful.  They are a great snack, especially if mixed with cereal or nuts and dried fruit.  Lot’s of protein-power for sure, but I just ate them sooo much a couple of years back, that I got sick of them (i.e. another previous kick of mine).  But because I am trying to think of more ways in which to incorporate protein into my day, I couldn’t pass them up.  So what do you do with lemons?  Make lemonade…or in this case nut butter!

Round and round she goes…

Wait a tick…that doesn’t look right.  Mind you, it was pure powder by this point.  I make almond butter often by just dumping in the almonds, turning on my food processor until ta-da! Almond butter.  Nope, not one in the same.  Clearly I was missing something and thank goodness for the internet.  Next time when I am unsure of how to do something, I will remember to Google search first.  Right away I found Elise’s recipe for soy nut butter, which called for water and EVOO.  Oh.  Let’s try this again.  I gradually added about 2 cups of water and a tbsp of EVOO to the mix:

There’s the nut butter ball I know and love!  While the consistency didn’t come out exactly as planned, it did the trick on an empty stomach

I bet now I can probably use this thing they call the internet to find some recipes which use soy nut butter as an ingredient.  There has to be a cookie recipe out there somewhere…

Yep.

Thanks Wishfulchef!  Stay tuned for these babies.

The boyfriend was working until 8PM, so I promised to make him something he has been asking for:

As you can see-my personal cookbook.  I refer to this notebook all the time.  It has been about 3 years in the making and consists of recipes I find in various magazines.  And yes, I even organized it by category.  Sue me, I’m a type-A personality people!

Courtesy of Good Housekeeping:

Chicken Lettuce Cups

  • 3 tbsp reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tsp grated ginger
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1.25 lbs chicken tenders cut into 1/4 inch chunks
  • 1 c shelled edamame
  • 2 med. celery stalks chopped
  • Boston lettuce leaves

In a cup, combine soy sauce, ginger, and honey.  Set aside.  Heat 12-in skillet with sesame oil over medium heat for about 1 min.  Add chicken chunks and cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add edamame and cook 2 minutes.  Stir in celery and cook 2 more minutes.  Add soy sauce mixture and cook until chicken is done (about 2-3 more minutes).  Arrange chicken mixture in lettuce leaves and serve.

I also “invented” my own side of Red Pepper Quinoa with Goat Cheese

  • 1/2 c uncooked quinoa
  • 1 c chicken stock
  • 1 red pepper, chopped
  • 1 tbsp EVOO
  • goat cheese to taste

In a small pot, bring quinoa and chicken stock to a boil.  Lower to a simmer and cook until done (about 10-15 minutes).  While the quinoa is cooking, heat EVOO in a small skillet over medium-high heat.  Saute red pepper for 10 minutes.  Stir red pepper in the pot with the cooked quinoa.  Cook 2-3 more minutes or until quinoa has absorbed all of the stock.  Place in bowl and set aside until quinoa mixture is room temperature.  Add goat cheese.

As I always do (because I think making a satisfying meal is so gratifying) I immediately asked him what he thought.

“They’re really good,” he said.

Hmm.  Usually he sounds a little more enthusiastic.  Before I could say anything else he continued:

“If I could say one thing, they might need a little more sauce…”

Sauce?? I added sauce!

“…ya know, like the peanut sauce…”

Ohhh, he wants the highly caloric peanut sauce.

“…but I guess these are a lot healthier than the ones you get in restaurants.”

Um, yea, this isn’t P.F. Chang’s over here.  The difference?  A whopping 270 calories!

P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps: 530 calories per serving.  My/Good Housekeeping Lettuce Wraps: 260 calories per serving.

And I think we have a winner!

I’m off to go walk my friend’s dog.  Have a wonderful Sunday!

Question: In which ways do you find recipes the most: cookbooks, magazines, internet, blogs?

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Posted by: saralseward | May 19, 2012

Filthy 5K Mud Run and the Richmond Riverrock Festival

On most days, I tend to feel like a kid in my mind.  My driver’s license says I’m almost 27, but I can tell you I feel like a fraud.  This is why I have not been more in my element as I was participating in the Filthy 5K Mud Run last night.  Every year, Dominion Virginia Power of Richmond hosts the Riverrock Festival, a three day event with music, sports, games, and of course lots of beer.  When the boyfriend told me about the 5K Mud Run a few months back, I had no idea what I was getting into, but thought it sounded fun.  Chyea, was it ever! I will have to say that the first leg of the course was running straight uphill and across the James River, and at one point, I got a li-ttle noivous.  But as soon as it took us winding through the forest trails, I was loving it!  I think I had a smile on my face the entire time.

Sometimes I dread running and have always characterized myself as a “non-runner.”  It was not until I started training for the 10K a few months back that I realized my potential.  This compelled me to read the book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall, which I would highly recommend by the way.  In it, he made a point that really struck a chord with me.  Thinking back to when we were kids (physically), remember how it was to run outside, on the playground, in the backyard etc.  Never was there a moment when you thought to yourself “ugh I hate this, my legs feel like cement and I just want to stop and walk.”  No, it wasn’t stereotyped as exercise, it was actually fun.  And as cheesy as it may sound, that is exactly how I felt.  There was no rap music screaming in my ears to run faster, no wondering how many calories I’m burning, it was just me and nature (+ the 50 other runners around me) enjoying what our bodies are meant to do.  Plus, a massive mud pit at the finish line which was super fun to crawl through!  The free drink ticket as a congratulatory token didn’t hurt either.

My trophy…

We hung around for about an hour afterwards listening to music, catching up with friends, and watching some of the sports…and hello, slacklining?? Has anyone else never heard of this? My eyes were wide with awe, and I think my abs got stronger just watching it!

A group of us headed off to The Continental for dinner.  By the time we ate, it was 10 PM and I was starving. No salad for me, give me pizza and sweet potato fries! Love.

Pizza with kale, broccolini, roasted red peppers, onions, tomatoes

 

I saved half to give to the boyfriend for lunch, but someone left the to-go box in my fridge…finders keepers…

I’m off to yoga!

Question: Have you ever participated in a Mud Run/Muddy Buddy? What is an “exercise” that makes you feel like a kid again?

 

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Posted by: saralseward | May 17, 2012

Shushing the Food Noise

I have said it once, and I will say it again: I love Bethenny Frankel.  I think it is black or white with her however; you either love her or you hate her.  The girl gets a lot of rap for her brutal honesty (I think it’s hilarious and refreshing), her “rules” on dieting (she does what is best for her), and what appears to be her overly-thin figure.  But her books are best-sellers for a reason, and I have read all three (and yes, I will be reading Skinny Dipping).  When I first read Naturally Thin, I had what Oprah would call an “aha moment.”  I totally related; let’s just say I found myself saying “that’s me!” throughout her entire introduction.  After I finished the book, I wanted instant gratification, “to be freed from dieting hell” is the way I think she put it.  I was not overweight by any means back then.  In fact, I was probably thinner than I am now (because I was dieting…a lot…and it was hell), but I never wanted to hear that voice inside my head ever again.  You might know the one I am talking about; it tells you “don’t eat that, eat this!” (well, mine would say something more like “don’t eat that, don’t eat anything!”) and make you feel guilty if you did.  My thoughts were preoccupied with food and exercise to the point where I was miserable, and reading Bethenny’s book actually gave me a glimmer of hope.

I still hear that voice from time to time.  It is not so much a drill sergeant as it is a whisper, but still, it annoys me.  There is something that Bethenny preached in her first book that I have since kept with me, and I feel as though her point has inadvertently affected my meal choices throughout the day:

Never have the same kind of food for two meals in a row.  Get a little of everything, but not too much of anything (Naturally Thin, p. 23).

I understand it is important to balance your protein, carbs, and fats at each meal, but sometimes I refuse myself a sandwich for dinner because I ate one for lunch, even if I want one.  Silly right?  To defend myself, I tend to crave healthy foods 90% of the time, so normally it would still be a healthy  sandwich, but for some reason “eating the same kind of food for two meals in a row” was off-limits.  I wonder where I got that…

But now I more often than not plug my ears and shush it away.  I know myself, and if I am overly restrictive, it will come back to bite me.  So when it tries to make itself heard, I do what I did to the overly arrogant coworker I used to sit next to: ignore.

You might wonder why I decided to discuss such a serious topic tonight?  I came face-to-face with this at the grocery store:

As soon as I saw it, all these ideas popped into my head.  Thoughts of almond butter and bananas…and I didn’t want to wait until breakfast, I wanted it right then, for dinner.  But what about eating vegetables you ask?  I asked myself the same thing, remembering the big bowl of OO I had for breakfast (with almond butter and bananas), leftover flatbread for lunch, and the granola bar I had for a snack just 2 hours earlier:

 

…New favorite snack by the way, you will be seeing that one more often.  I loved the salty/sweet flavor combo of cottage cheese on the honey oat bar…

Back to what I was saying.  All of these choices are healthy, no?  So why was I even having that internal struggle with myself?  Too many carbs back-to-back perhaps?  But then I remembered what I am aiming to achieve: moderation.  End of conversation.  I can have the freakin’ piece of cinnamon raisin toast with almond butter and bananas.  And that is exactly what I did, and it was delicious.  Of course I had to throw in a side of vegetables…

Eggplant stir-fry with tomatoes, onion, broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, olives, white beans, pesto; cinnamon raisin Ezekiel toast with almond butter and bananas.

These days, my motto tends to be more like “Eat what you want (in moderation) because life is too damn short.”

Question: Have you read Naturally Thin?  What did you think?  Do you hold any food philosophies for yourself?

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Posted by: saralseward | May 16, 2012

WIAW and a Restaurant Review

Eating out at a new restaurant is probably one of my favorite things to do (my best friend doesn’t call me “nerd” for nothin!).  So when my other best friend Kate agreed to go to Selba for dinner tonight, I was a happy girl!

But first, I decided to hop on the “What I Ate Wednesday” train and share with you some of my earlier eats.  I have always loved reading the WIAW posts, because for someone like me who likes trying new meals, but sometimes doesn’t take the time to think of them (hello, my name is Sara and I am a creature of habit), I am able to get new and healthy ideas.  Like I have said before, I am trying to branch out by eating different things for breakfast (who knew there was a world beyond oatmeal!) and adding what I like to call “flavor flare” to my lunch salads.  I can’t say the same for snacks though, they have pretty much stayed the same.  One step at a time…

OK, I know I had this for breakfast yesterday (insert foot into mouth now) but I swear, relatively speaking, this is a new one for me !

Whole wheat wrap with almond butter, banana, strawberries, cinnamon

I contemplated adding chia seeds to the mix, but was not sure how I would feel about the little crunchies in my wrap.  I usually like them mixed into smoothies and overnight oats, but am not keen on just sprinkling them on my food.  How does everyone else feel about that?

My lunch was DElicious!  Last night when I was preparing for today, I quickly tried to come up with some flavor flare for today’s salad.  I had gotten home from the cookout a little later than expected, so haphazardly threw this together.  It worked.  Maybe I think better on my feet?

Green salad with edamame, tomatoes, grilled chicken, white bean pesto (white beans + 1 tbsp pesto = easy peasy), red pepper flakes, balsamic drizzle.

Snacks were the usual (and I was pretty busy at work and forgot to snap pics) but they consisted of an apple, cottage cheese, and some cashews throughout the afternoon.  That would make some boring pics anyway…

I was pretty hungry when I got home and still had about 2 hours until dinner, so I quickly heated up some squash puree, after which I added a pat of Earth Balance and some honey

Not to mention I prepped for tomorrow’s lunch by boiling the beets I got at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday.

Oops…that might be considered cheating on WIAW…that’s Thursday.  Sorry!

Now on to the highlight of the night:

I had such a good time!  It has been forever since Kate and I have been able to catch up (life gets in the way, ya know?), but our friendship is just like riding a bike.  OK, that might sound weird, but what I mean is we are able to pick up where we left off.  We chatted a bit at her place before leaving for the restaurant.  We got to talking about blogging, food and fitness (duh) and she opened my eyes to something amazing–and clever might I add:

Frozen cubes of soy milk! The reason I am so excited about this new discovery is because it solves all my problems.  Well not all of them, but those pertaining to smoothies.  You see, I don’t like to use ice when making smoothies; I believe it gives them a watered down taste and there are always bits that don’t get “blenderized.”  Therefore, I have always turned to frozen pieces of banana to be used instead.  But considering the fact that sometimes I don’t want bananas in my smoothies, coupled with the fact that I prefer to use fresh fruit…let’s just say I let it slide.  Don’t sweat the small stuff right? Reminder: I can be picky…and Kate’s trick allows me to be!  So since I always use some kind of milk (soy, dairy, coconut, almond)…BAM! kill those two suckers with one stone…or ice cube…all I’m saying is that I will definitely use this.

Selba’s hit the spot; I want to preface this with telling you that Richmond does not have many places to eat like this (that I know of).  The menu is fresh, local, and incorporates a variety of food catering to many different dietary needs (in fact, it categorizes its selections as Vegetarian/Vegan/Gluten-Free).  To provide you with some background information,

“Selba’s mission is to honor the food that we serve and the oldest of traditions…the meal. We promise to make it healthy and flavorful, and to serve you in an atmosphere that makes you comfortable and happy. Our menu features fresh, natural ingredients from local and regional farmers. We will tell you what is in the food you eat, and where it came from. In short, we believe that you should get to know your food.”

This restaurant could not sound any more up my alley, plus the atmosphere is just as great.  Soon after Kate and I sat down, we were given a small appetizer consisting of feta dip/tortilla chip

We quickly learned that it was “Wine Wednesday” (What I Ate & Wine Wednesday?  I think I’m on to something here), so we decided to partake and order a bottle of the featured white wine

To order, we both had the same idea.  For me:

Apple and walnut salad, Smoked Salmon Flatbread (Honey lemon smoked salmon, crème fraiche, lemon, thyme, capers)

I highly enjoyed the flatbread; I only wish it had more salmon on it, but all-in-all, a good dish.

For Kate: Beet arugula salad, lamb flatbread (Braised lamb shoulder, mint-yogurt sauce, grilled red onion, feta, kalamata olives)

Not done yet…dessert consisted of chocolate coconut milk ice cream that had a hint of almond.  To. Die. For.

This must be a time for firsts, because I had never had coconut ice cream before.  Kate, who has recently gotten into Crossfit and has tried the Paleo diet, actually had some in her freezer at home, so I decided to check out the nutritional info for my own knowledge and also to share:

10g of fiber?? Not too shabby.  This might just become a staple in my kitchen.

Without a doubt, a very fun night!  With that I bid Wednesday goodbye.

Question: What is a clever kitchen/food tip or trick you have learned?

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Posted by: saralseward | May 16, 2012

Something New and Different

I am not sure how to say this as I don’t know how it will be received in the healthy blogging community, so I am just going to do it quickly: I ate quail for dinner last night…

Like ripping off a band-aid.

I have never eaten quail before, so when the boyfriend told me that was what he was grilling, I set aside the images of the beautiful bird and thought of it as a good source of protein.

If I had any complaints about the differences between the boyfriend and I, it would simply be this: he is a huge carnivore.  That is not even a complaint really, but a difference if you will.  I am not a vegetarian (clearly), nor will I ever become one (never say never), but he likes to eat meat a lot.  I at least like to balance my meals if I can.  For example, if I eat meat for lunch (usually chicken or turkey), I try and have a vegetarian dinner.  This is for no reason except that is what my body tends to want.  Well my body’s opinion on this matter has taken a back-seat in this relationship…it’s all about compromise I guess.

Workout

  • 15 minute warm-up on the elliptical
  • 30 minute strength training

I didn’t want oatmeal this morning (which is weird) so I decided to make a breakfast wrap instead.

Whole-wheat wrap with almond butter, banana, strawberries, cinnamon

Lunch was an oldie but a goodie:

Green salad with grilled chicken, edamame, chickpeas, sweet potato slices, avocado

I had a rough and stressful long day at work, so the boyfriend and I enjoyed a beer and chilled out before heading to our friends’ house for dinner.  Just what the doctor ordered.

When we got to Chad and Sara’s, I set out some hummus and pita chips (which were devoured in about 10 minutes) and had a white wine spritzer on the side

Quail, smoked turkey meat, black bean salad, sautéed okra, cucumber/tomato/feta salad

To be honest, I liked the quail.  I don’t think I will make it a household staple, but it was good.  Tasted like chicken…

I have a fun dinner tonight with one of my best friends Kate at a new restaurant I’m excited to try (has a vegetarian focus thank goodness!).  Stay tuned!

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Posted in Breakfast, Cooking, Social Life | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: saralseward | May 14, 2012

Farmer’s Market Makings

Today I was able to incorporate all the goods I got over the weekend.  For a while, I had been stuck in such a rut with my meals, using the same ingredients day after day, it is no wonder I have gone a little overboard decided to switch it up a little.  Last night I admitted to never having cooked an eggplant; I felt very lost when trying to figure out what to do with it.  But just you wait…it’s amazing what a simple Google search can do (although I must say, sometimes I do miss a good ole’ fashion cookbook…but there is just so much to offer out there on the world-wide-web!)

Workout

I took a break from exercising yesterday so this morning when I woke up I craved me some cardio.  I headed to the gym with my Oxygen magazine in one hand, Real Simple  in another with the intention of doing a 45 minute circuit using various machines.  However, the Oxygen magazine got me through 40 minutes on the stairclimber (something I’ve never done as I usually get bored after 20 mins).  After that, I was done.

Work was supposed to slow down a bit relative to the past 3 weeks, so I was able to take some time this morning to prepare both breakfast and lunch.  On the menu:

Oatbran with 1/2 c coconut milk, 1/2 c water, 1/2 mashed banana, 1 egg white, cinnamon, strawberries, almond butter blob

Green salad with chicken curry (pulled chicken, whole-grain mustard, black pepper, curry powder to taste), walnuts, avocado, grapefruit

After work I was in the mood to get my hands dirty in the kitchen.  I don’t know about you, but I tend to be really picky about my almond butter.  I’m a “crunchy” girl at heart, but my grocery store has only offered smooth for the longest time.  So, what do I do? Make my own:

Read ingredients: “dry-roasted almonds.”  I know you can buy a jar of almond butter that is just that, but nothing beats the consistency of the homemade stuff.  I urge you to try it, it’s worth the hassle.  I’ve even read about including honey, cinnamon, etc, but I have yet to try it.  I don’t really like my almond butter very sweet as well.  Yes, I was a picky eater as a child.

Within 5 minutes I realized what I wanted to do with my eggplant.  After a quick Google search I decided on “Eggplant Pizza.” I was excited two times over as the inspiration came from a favorite blog of mine:  Healthy Tipping Point.  I took the basic concept of her recipe and made it my own, as I tend to do.

Pesto Eggplant Pizza

  • One eggplant cut in half
  • 1/3 c chopped onion
  • 1 diced tomato
  • 1/3 c chopped mushrooms
  • 1/4 c black olives
  • 1/2 c chopped green bell pepper
  • spinach
  • 1/2 c white beans
  • 1 tbsp pesto
  • 1 tbsp EVOO
  • red pepper
  • parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Cut the eggplant in half.  Scoop out the insides and dice.

Heat skillet over medium high heat.  Add 1 tbsp of olive oil and veggies of your choice.  Saute for about 10 minutes.  Add the tomatoes, spinach and white beans and saute an additional 2-3 minutes.

Transfer the veggie mixture to a small bowl.  Add dollop of pesto and mix

Spread evenly in the eggplant shell.  Top with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper (optional; I like some heat).  Bake for 30 minutes

Serve with side of your choice.

It was a dessert kind of day, so I topped 1/2 Banana Oat Muffin with almond butter and a piece of dark chocolate

I am really proud of myself for 2 reasons.  First of all, I incorporated a Farmer’s Market find into every meal.  Most importantly, since I didn’t know that much about eggplants, I took it upon myself to do some research (you’ve heard that before) and looked up the nutritional content and benefits.  I also stumbled upon the “history” of the eggplant and how it got its name, but I will save that for another day.

Eggplants are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and rate very low on the GI scale.  It is also a good source of Vitamin K, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Potassium and Manganese, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber (especially if you leave the skin on!).

Of course I noticed the lack of protein, so I added the white beans.  Caitlin from HTP added tofu, which I can imagine would be good as well.  There is so much flexibility with this recipe, which is why I believe I have found a keeper.

Question: How do you like your nut butters? Crunchy or Smooth?  Have you ever made your own?

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