Steak…it’s what’s for dinner

TGIF everyone!  I hope your Friday is off to a great start so far.  Mine sure is and I’m so excited to get this weekend started.  Anyone have fun plans for this weekend?  For me, it’ll be a lot of relaxation with the fam…a perfect sounding weekend to me

So let’s get into yesterday’s eats…it relates to this title and the meal is definitely blog worthy in my own opinion

But before we get into dinner, lunch was pretty awesome too… Avocado, oven roasted turkey sandwich with a laughing cow cheese wedge. Side of roasted bell peppers and carrots.

After lunch this foodie lover didn’t take very long to start thinking about dinner…I was stumped for ideas so I enlisted the help from the chef (hubby!) of the household.

Me: “Any ideas for dinner?”

Hubby: “I was thinking steak salads tonight”

Me: “Ummm, yes pleaseeeee!”

I admit I’m not a huuuge meat lover per se, but I do love me some good ole steak or beef burger every now and then…especially when it’s that time of the month…hmmm could that be a good sign for me?!

So hubby being the awesome man that he is, went to the store to pick up the goodies for the steak salads.  New York Strip Steaks, butter lettuce, blue cheese (goes amazingly with steaks!), tomatoes, and mushrooms.

Action shot…

Seasoned with pepper and seasoned salt

Steak…it’s what’s for dinner

Yummm…steak atop a bed of butter lettuce, red bell peppers, mushrooms, blue cheese, and drizzles of balsamic vinaigrette and ranch dressings

And the hubby’s (manly) version…

It was a delicious meal and I more than got my dose of iron nutrients.  Which got me (and my hubby) thinking…we both rarely eat beef during the week, but this morning we were realizing how great we felt and we owed it to the iron and protein rich steak we had last night.  How great our bodies and energy levels felt this morning, made us realize how imperative it is for us (especially with our activity levels) to be cognizant of enhancing our diet with iron rich foods.  And for vegetarians, there are an abundance of iron sources besides meat – beans, lentils, spinach, iron-enriched cereal, and artichokes.

So after our talk, we made it a mission for one day per week to have a beef based dinner…next week, beef burgers on the menu…oooh yeah

I also have to say that in the past during my struggles, I never would have given a second though to having beef, I just wouldn’t eat it.  I’d get anxious over the extra calories or fat I’d be consuming and would have avoided eating it at all costs.  Now, I think of this beef as a source of something good for my body…the protein, iron, and countless other nutrients that I’m giving my body is something I’m so proud of and that I’m able to do now.  It’s no longer about the amount of calories or fat grams, it’s about the nutrients and quality of real, wholesome food that I’m enriching my body with.  It’s all about balance and intuitive eating , something I’m striving for daily, and if you’re struggling I know you can get there too

So with those iron rich energy levels, I was more than ready to get in a workout this morning…especially since I had a rest day yesterday.  I completed 30 minutes on the elliptical and then 30 minutes of strength training that went like this…

On the bosu ball, squats with overhead shoulder presses and lunges with bicep curls.  Then a series of more shoulder exercises: upright rows, lateral raises, and chest presses.  I fatigued my shoulders to a pulp, and boy did it feel good to kick my own booty

I was more than ready for breakfast once I got to work, and it was nice to not have to make anything (or think of what to have for that matter) since I had already prepped it last night…

Overnight Oats!  I told ya yesterday I’d make a repeat of it again It was just as delicious!

Usually when I head out the door, I normally just throw on a pair of shoes that I’ve already worn for the past of couple days…but this morning I felt like a change and perused through my closet to see what I could find…

Stuart Weitzman heels! Do you know how looong it’s been since I’ve worn these beauties?! I think the last time I wore them was when I bought them…oh 5+ years ago!  I hope patent leather is still in style…I know Shanna , the shoe aficionado, could tell me…please say yes

Hoping that the shoes are still stylish I wore them anyway with my outfit today…

Gosh I need a tan…hint hint for what I’m doing this weekend!

Happy Friday everyone!

Questions: Do you enjoy beef/steak for dinner on occasion?  Do you ever have cravings for beef?  Do you have a pair of shoes or a clothing item you suddenly discover after so many years?