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Healthy Eating Doesn't Have to Be Boring!

Posted Jun 18 2010 2:52pm

Another week is just about behind us! I freely admit to have started the week off in a funk after the long weekend festivities, but even if the workouts were a little ugly, I got through them, the nutrition side has been spotless/fantastic, and I feel like I’m settled back into my normal groove  :)

FITNESS

It’s been a good week fitness-wise and boy am I feeling it! Today was just one of those days where everything just felt tired & sore. Yesterday I tried out a new gym, got in a good leg workout, did 30 min. Elliptical Intervals, and ended the day with an 80 min. Flow Yoga class.  Today I wanted to get my workouts in early, and didn’t really realize how stiff & sore I was until I started jogging. My legs felt like they weighed a ton! After that I headed to Yoga, and not going to lie, it wasn’t my best. Hopefully it’ll help me feel better tomorrow though!

NUTRITION

It makes me sad to think some people think healthy food has to be boring, or that healthy versions of comfort foods can’t be utterly amazing!  It just doesn’t have to be..

Case in point(s).. highlights of the last couple days..

You can enjoy Chocolate Protein Pancakes (Chocolate Protein Powder + 3 tbsp Egg Whites + 1/4 tsp Cream of Tartar) with Strawberries & Greek Yogurt (~1/4 c)..

Munch on  Low-Carb Raspberry Bran Muffins  with a PB Protein Shake (1 scoop Vanilla Protein Powder + 1 tbsp PB2 + 3/4 c UVAB + Xanthan Gum + Ice..

You can make healthier versions of  restaurant favorites..

My very favorite salad is Spinach with Chicken & Strawberries.. and other goodies. If it’s on the menu at a restaurant there’s a 97% chance I’ll order it! So when I was at the store today, I picked up fixings to make my own..

Spinach, Chicken & Strawberry Salad with Fat-Free Herb Feta and Walnuts..

Isn’t it pretty?! And the stats are pretty good too (I used 1 oz Feta & 2 tbsp Walnut pieces).. ~350 calories/~14 g F/12 g C/45 g P

There are revamped  coffee house favorites..

I love Starbucks Frappuccinos, but even if you go for the lite version, there is still more sugar than I would like to have. And there’s no need, when you can make your own at home!

Mocha Mint Chip Fit-uccino

3/4 c Iced Coffee (or 3/4 c H20 + 1 Starbucks Via packet)

1/4 c Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze (UVAB)

2 tbsp Sugar-Free White Chocolate Syrup OR 1 tbsp Raw Cacao Powder

8 drops Vanilla Stevia Extract

1/8 tsp Peppermint Extract

1/2 tsp  Guar Gum

1 tbsp Raw Cacao Nibs

Blend Ice, UVAB, Chocolate, Stevia & Guar Gum. When smooth, add in most of the Cacao Nibs. Poor into a glass. Top with remaining Cacao Nibs.

Stats: 51 calories / 3.8 g F / 5.0 g C / 1.6 g P (made with syrup not powder for the chocolate)

Without Cacao Nibs: 19 calories / 0.8 g F / 2.5 g F / 0.6 g P

For dinner, I attempted to make  April’s Nearly No-Carb Sandwich Bread, the pancake version, hoping it would come out tortilla-like. Unfortunately, turns out the Psyillium Husk I thought I had was no where to be found. So I replaced it with Wheat Bran and added a tablespoon of  Nutritional Yeast. I’d planned to make 2 in order to make a quesadillia, but they fluffed up so much I made an open-faced sandwich sorta thing instead. I topped it with Baked Tofu, Avocado, ~1/4 c Cottage Cheese and Salsa..

Sweet Frozen Treats

And desserts!! My obsession with the Ice Cream Maker continues. My enjoyment over the last couple week’s healthy desserts is totally worth the $50 it costs (I didn’t buy mine, it was a hand-me-down from my parents.. but it’s totally worth the price!). The following recipe was inspired by another recipe I came across for Strawberry Coconut Milk Ice Cream..

Pineapple Coconut Sherbet

1 can (16 oz) Lite Coconut Milk

2 cups fresh Pineapple cubes

1/4 cup Sugar Substitute (I recommend Stevia in the Raw)

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp Xanthan Gum

Blend everything together. Refrigerate for 2+ hours. Pour into Ice Cream Maker and let it do it’s thing for 25 minutes. Eat right away or freeze for later.

Of course, if you’re not in the tropical mood you can go with  Mint Cacao Nib “Ice Cream”Chocolate Almond Milk Ice Cream  or  Lite PB Protein “Ice Cream”

FUN

I’m starting tomorrow with a leg workout with my trainer then Boxing class, and going to a Happy Hour Yoga in the evening.. yup, Yoga followed by food & wine.. what could be better really?  :)

And of course, Saturday I’ll be going to cheer on our favorite  lover of Veggies & Yoga  at her first Bikini Competition!

YNL Updates

I’m excited to announce that the  fan page for Your Nourished Life  (YNL) is up, and the first  Your Nourished Life  monthly newsletter will be coming out very soon. Sign-up by filling in the box at the top right. I’m doing a giveaway to those that either become a fan or sign-up for the newsletter (hint: one of my favorite cookbooks!) The new YNL website will be up in a few weeks.. I’m so excited to show you all!!

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