Sprint 2 the Table

Appetites and Adventures

Thirsty Thursday

By

It’s about a million degrees outside.

 

 

The only thing I want for breakfast on these days is a big arse smoothie!

 

My mornings usually consist of the following:

  • Rolling out of bed
  • Wetting down my crazy spiked up hair (short hair + restless sleep = rockstar AM ‘do)
  • Brushing my teeth
  • Eating a date or spoonful of PB
  • Throwing on running clothes
  • Running or the gym


The date/PB keeps me going to 4-6 miles – more than that and I’d need more substance – but in this heat I’m never very hungry when I first get back.

 

The solution?  A smoothie!  It’s easier to drink than eat post-run and the coldness helps me stop sweating (yes, I even sweat post-shower) before going to work.

Ever since the jaw-breaking incident, I’ve been pretty creative with making a substantial drink.

 

99.9% of the time I use a protein powder – bonus is that is adds sweetness without excess sugar.  You can also use dates, Stevia, honey, agave to get the right level of sweet sans protein.

I also ALWAYS toss in a cup o f spinach or kale.  You really can’t taste it and you get all those nutrients.  Why wouldn’t you add it?

 

My Top 5:

(click the names for recipes)

 

1. Sweet Potato

This is a go-to for me.  I usually have a sweet potato laying around.  Usually half eaten from the previous meal.

Adding the potato makes this smoothie sweet, super creamy, and reminiscent of the pie (in a good way – I don’t actually like the pie… maybe a consistency thing?).

 

2. Avocado-Banana

 

Avocados after the perfect ingredient – they give your drink a creamy shake-like texture and have virtually no taste.

I’m always guilty of letting 1/2 an avocado go to waste – I eat part on a salad, the other half turns brown, and I toss it (basically throwing away a dollar per!).  Until I discovered that you can freeze avocado.  Cut it into quarters and toss it in tupperware (with your collection of frozen bananas 🙂 ).

 

3. Butternut Squash-Cherry

 

I hate to play favorites… but this one is my favorite.  It’s like a cherry bomb with squash!  Yes, I realize that doesn’t sound as appetizing to normal people as it does to me.

Seriously though.  Again with the creaminess, but this one has that rich, winter squash sweetness too.  You already know (I hope!) that cherries and chocolate are a great combo.  Just think of the nutrients in this one little drink!

By now you should be bouncing up and down with excitement in your desk chair.  Try it – you’ll know I’m not nuts.

 

4. Savory Protein Lassi

 

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Indian food.  It borders on addiction.  As such, I naturally love lassis.  Mango is good, but they can sometimes be too sweet.

When I saw a more savory lassi on a local menu, I knew I needed to amp it up with protein and call it a recovery drink.  Indian-style.

 

5. Mocha Banana

 

I cannot believe I almost forgot about this creation!  Banana + chocolate + coffee.  It is a great way to use the leftovers from your pot o’ coffee, ensuring that you’ll be properly caffeinated for the day.

If you are really hard core – and I am – you’ll crumble a chocolate muffin on top too.  Guess what I’ll be having for breakfast… *still kicking self for going so long without this smoothie*

***

Many say they couldn’t get tired of oatmeal or peanut butter or cookies… I couldn’t get tired of smoothies.

What’s your favorite smoothie?

What the one thing you could never tire of?

 

Eggplant Shirataki + WIAW

By

In honor of my crazy work week(s)…

I’m copying the growing wordless WIAW* trend.  Does good food really need words?  I think not.

*As usual (except for last week), Wednesday = Tuesday eats.

But first, a run.  I don’t know why I stopped posting these breakdowns… I like to look back at them.  Nevermind the fact that you have to suffer through them. 😉

Stats:

  • Distance – 4 miles
  • Time – 32:37 mins
  • Pace – 8:09 mins

___________________________________________________________________________________

Breakfast

I did say it is almost worldess WIAW, right?

The delicious Chocolate Breakfast Pudding.  So.  Good.

Lunch

Salad topped with carrots, celery, Purple Haze goat cheese, a Lightlife Chick’n Cutlet.  A bit chewy, but it wasn’t bad!

Snack

Cottage cheese tastes really, really good with peanut butter.  Someone call Intervention.

Not pictured: celery and hummus, Think Thin bar, and random handfuls of cereal.

Dinner

Big.  Win.

Mom recently told me about Shirataki Noodles – apparently it is just tofu pressed into noodles.  It’s gluten-free, vegan, low-cal, and – most importantly – a QUICK-FIX.

The only downside is the smell when you first remove them from the package, but that does go away once you rinse them (thoroughly) and pop them in the microwave for a minute.

To go with my noodles, I roasted some eggplant, red onion, and garlic in a quick vinaigrette.  Then tossed it all with an heirloom tomato (because I didn’t get enough at the tomato festival) and more Purple Haze goat cheese.

Perfect light dinner for a summer day!!!

…followed by a little something I like to call…

Dessert

____________________________________________________________________________________

Roasted Eggplant with Tofu Noodles

  • 1 medium eggplant, sliced
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 1T EVOO
  • 1T marsala wine
  • 1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 tsp herbes de provence
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes (reduce to 1/2 if you are sensitive to spicy foods)
  • 1 package Shirataki noodles (or 2 servings of pasta)
  • S+P, to taste
  • Optional toppings: fresh tomato, cheese (I used goat)

Preheat oven to 425.  

Cut eggplants into 1/2 inch slices.  Generously salt the slices, allowing them to sit for 15-20 mins.  Wiping away the beads of water that form (this process removes excess moisture – which makes ggplant “slimey” – and bitterness).

Meanwhile, whisk together the oil, marsala, vineger, herbs, and pepper flakes.

Cut the eggplant slices into 1/2 inch cubes and toss in a large bowl with the garlic, red onion, and vinaigrette.  Spread eggplant onto foil-lined baking sheet and roast for ~3o minutes, tossing once halfway through.

Prepare noodles as instructed on package.

Divide among two plates, adding extra toppings as desired (I loved how the goat cheese melted and clung to mine!).

Makes 2 servings (or 4 sides).

***

I’ve taken to working from Starbucks lately.  They have a the bar where I can stand and a constant supply of caffine… perfection.

Do you find you get more work done from a “third-party” location?

What’s the best thing you’ve eaten today?

Chocolate Breakfast Pudding

By

How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?

 

If you do eat your meat first, Google might give you a green light.

 

 

Apparently Google has begun giving their food a rating system.  (You know, the food that they supply their employees for FREE… no, I’m not jealous…)

  • Green = eat anytime
  • Yellow = eat occasionally
  • Red = splurge rarely


What’s next?  The Google Food Pyramid?

 

 

It is an interesting concept.  I wonder if it has the desired effect?  Would color–coded foods make you think twice?

 

Apparently vending machines (the only items that aren’t free to Google employees) are priced according to nutritional value. 

 

 

For example:

 

“Quaker Chewy Bars are 15 cents each, Famous Amos cookies re 55 cents, and an enormous Ghirardelli chocolate bar

is $4.25.”

 

 

Not that Quaker Chewy Bars are the pictue of health… but there are worse out there.

 

Check out this article for more info.


____________________________________________________________________________________

If you are ME and you want pudding before you eat your meat you simply make it for breakfast.  Breakfast makes sweets acceptable – duh.

 

 

When searching for a sweet yet healthy source of protein for breakfast (read: too busy to go buy eggs or Greek yogurt), look no further then your trusty protein powder/drink supply.

 

Can’t decide between chocolate and vanilla?  Use both!

Want to cinnamon?  Dump it in!

How about some chia seeds for extra post-run hydration?  Done.

Want a little crunch with it?  Those raw Banana Nut Bars I made Friday are even better after sitting a couple of days.

Note: the banana granola and the banana in the pudding were a perfect pair! 

 

You’ve just witnessed the thought process that lead to the birth of Chocolate Breakfast Pudding.

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

Chocolate Breakfast Pudding

  • 1/3 dark chocolate EAS (or any chocolate milk alternative)
  • 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 1/2 banana, mashed
  • 1/2 T chia seeds
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon


Mix it all together and refrigerate overnight (or at least 2-3 hours for the chia to become “pudding”).  Stir and devour!

***

I would love healthier (and free!) options at my office’s lunch spot!

How would you feel if your employer implemented a similar system?

Does your opinion change if they are supplying the food to employees for free?

 

You Might Be a Blogger If…

By

You might be a food blogger if…

…You make party-goers wait while your mom holds a burning tray of so you can take a pic of your triple chocolate red velvet birthday cake cupcakes.

 

…You get unnaturally excited that you got an action shot photo of the Souper Jenny employee adding bacon whipped cream to the tomato tarts.  Yes, it was as fantastic as it sounds.

…Your new favorite band is a the hodge podge of chefs that jammed out after all of the food was eaten at the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival.  Chef Ford Fry can rock a festival and a guitar, yo.

…The only thing that is more exciting than tomatoes prepared 50 different ways on a Sunday is getting to hold your best friend’s beautiful new 6 lb 11oz and 19.25 inch baby.  Welcome to the world, Jackson Gregory.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Last week was crazy at work and this weekend with all the festivities!  I’m looking forward to getting back on track this week  – both in the kitchen, in terms in my routine, and catching up blogging/blog reading!

 

The weekly recap tradition lives on!  Check back later in the week for a new leg workout – it’ a good one!

 

Workout Recap (7/10-7/17)

  • Monday – Legs, stationary bike 30 mins, 84 push-ups
  • Tuesday – 6 mile run
  • Wednesday – Biceps/Back, 2 mile intervals, abs, 84 push-ups
  • Thursday – 4 mile run, 84 push-ups
  • Friday – 84 push-ups
  • Saturday – 50 mins kickboxing
  • Sunday – 4 mile run/walk, 4.27 mile run, 84 push-ups

_____________________________________________________________________________

 Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes!  The birthday weekend was incredible – I wish you all could have been there too!

Do many of your friends have children?  

Do you like to take them on outings and spoil them?  I can’t wait! 🙂

 

Overpronation, Procrastination, and WIAW

By

Active.com is a great resource for runners.

 

I enjoy their weekly emails with tips on issues such as: how to fuel your body, preventing various injuries, and working out in sweltering heat.

 

Today’s email included an interesting article on overpronation.

Overpronation is when one’s ankles roll inward too much.

 

 

It is widely believed that this can lead to over-use type pain or injury (shin splints, joint pain).  Many people (myself included) get specially fitted for running shoes and/on inserts in hopes to correcting the “problem.”

 

Today’s article from Active asserts that corrections for over pronation should not always be made.  They say:

“…doing so can and often does result in one symptom going away and another, usually a more complicated one, developing elsewhere.”

 

Here’s what really resonated with me:

Often over pronation is the symptom of another problem.  Most common is a lack of normal ankle range of motion.  If the foot/ankle isn’t bending properly, the knee is restricted and can’t “travel forward enough for the body to move its center of mass over the foot.”

The result?  Overpronation.  That pronation causes the knee to drift to the midline, which means the hip turns excessively inward.  Snowball.

Correction through shoes and inserts either a) doesn’t work or b) makes the underlying cause worse because the overpronation “is a needed compensation for a lack of mobility elsewhere in the body. Taking this compensatory element away without first addressing and correcting the true underlying cause will inevitably force compensation (frequently accompanied by pain) in another part of the body.”

Source: http://bestrunningshoereport.com/

Source: http://bestrunningshoereport.com/

So what should you do?

See if you over pronate with a squat test.  Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and attempt a squat.  Are your knees bent 90 degrees or less?  Are your heels still on the ground?  Are your feet still forward (not turning outward)?

No?  If you can’t do the squat correctly, the article says your foot pronation is likely “due to inflexibility of your ankles and that is what should be corrected.”

Bottom line: Before you go out and buy special shoes or inserts, see a professional to have a complete evaluation (pelvis, hip, knee, ankle and foot) done by a professional.

On to my actual Wednesday eats in honor of WIAW.

1 day later than usual due to procrastination/over-sleepiness rather than the pursuit of true Wednesday eats.

Breakfast

Banana Green Smoothie

  • Vanilla protein powder
  • Maca
  • Banana
  • All-Bran (lots of it!)
  • Peanut butter
  • Spinach
  • Coconut milk
  • Cinnamon
  • Vanilla
  • Water + ice, to taste

Lunch

Lightlife Buffalo “Chicken” wings, celery, and cucumber

Salt + Pepper Pop Chips – how did I wait so long to try these?!

Snacks

Kombucha, plum… and a BlackBerry

Similar to breakfast, but with a chocolate casein protein powder

Dinner

I made spaghetti squash and topped with tomatoes AND…

Angela @ Oh She Glows’ Creamy Avocado Sauce.

If you haven’t made this before, you are missing out on some serious creamy deliciousness.  Sooooo good.

My modifications:

  • Added red pepper flakes, nutritional yeast, and red onion
  • Subbed 1 T of coconut milk for the EVOO
  • Used just 1 clove of garlic
***

Don’t forget to enter my Exceed earbud giveaway!  These are pretty awesome – I’ve never even felt like they were going to fall out.

 

It’s my birthday eve!!!  The bad part about being an adult is that I still have to work all day.

What do you think about pronation?

Do you over or under pronate?  Have you even been evaluated?

Hear This: My First Giveaway

By

Thanks everyone for all you comments about my earbuds yesterday.

 

 

Auria has offered to giveaway a pair of their awesome earbuds to one of YOU!

They are donating a pair of EXCEED ear buds (the fancier version of my PROVOKES).

 

Like I said yesterday, I love running with these because they fit my (small) ears.   They don’t go IN your ear canal; rather, they sit at the opening of your ear canals.  This contributes to safety, as external sounds can still be clearly heard without compromising sound quality.

 

This set of earphones also features: 

  • Finger-touch volume control
  • Integrated microphone to make calls (works with iPhone 4/3GS/3G, Blackberry and Androids)
  • Function button to control audio/video and answer/end calls
  • High-quality audio
  • Black mesh carrying case sized to hold most smart phones. 

 

To enter the giveaway, do each of the following and leave a separate comment letting me know:

  • Leave a comment telling me what song pumps you up to go one more mile or what color ear buds you would like (black, white, black with hot pink)
  • Follow me on Twitter
  • Tweet about the giveaway (you could say something like: “#GIVEAWAY @Sprint2theTable is giving away a set of Aria EXCEED earbuds http://wp.me/p16jDn-B3“)

The giveaway will end ON MY BIRTHDAY: Friday, July 15, 2011 at 11:59 EST.

One winner will be announced via my blog on July 16th, 2011.  You must provide me with your contact information to win.


This Bud’s For You

By

Apparently I have tiny ear canals.

 

Finding ear buds that stay in my ears while running has been next to impossible.

I’ve purchased pricey ear buds that come with various sized rings to place around the buds to no avail.  They still bounce right out of my ears while I’m running.  Or the sweat builds up and they slide out.  That’s hot.

 

At the expo for the Peachtree Road Race this year I came across a booth selling the alleged fix to my problem.

Auria uses an XFit technology that claims to keep earphones in place, resist sweat, provide quality audio, and still allow for surrounding sounds to be heard (safety first, y’all).

 

The buds “rest on the cushy parts of ears called the tragus and the anti-tragus… ECO rings work to optimize the fit of our earphones to individual ear shapes.”

True story – my abnormally small ear canals are proof.

 

They don’t actually go IN your ear; the speakers reside at the opening of you ear canals.  This allows external sounds to be heard (important if you run in a busy, traffic-filled city like I do!).  Surprisingly, this doesn’t compromise one’s ability to hear the music – presumably since the speakers are still right at your ear canals.

I did run with these in the Peachtree.  They worked like a charm – MUCH better than the others I was using.  Lesson learned.  Other lesson learned: chewing gum while I run makes me look challenged.

 

They also offer fancy models that have volume controls, microphones, and iPhone controls.  I opted for the basic Provoke model, as I am ghetto and just run with my iPod Shuffle.  I’m also cheap – these were only $23.99.

 

***Disclaimer: They didn’t give me anything to write this.  Not even a damn discount.  I just think it’s a great product.  However, if they do want to send me free stuff, I’ll gladly accept. 🙂 ***

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Today I didn’t really cook anything – I blended protein shakes, washed veggies for salads, and paid restaurants (first slice of cake on birthday week – woo hoo!).

Other than this beautiful, delicious salad:

Spinach, tomatoes, carrots, celery, onion, chickpeas, mustard + red wine vingar

 

I don’t have anything earth-shattering to share food-wise.

Instead I’m sticking with the running theme and sharing the least embarrassing parts of my current workout playlist with you.

Yes, I have been known to listen to music with explicit lyrics.  Followed by Sarah Bareilles.

Lately I get most inspired to crank out another mile by Sugarland.  I love Wide Open, the song they wrote for the last Olympics.

“Every life has a moment where sweat meets fate / On your mark, get ready, get ready now…”

***

Speaking of, I’m off for a morning run.  Olympic sprinter-style in my head.

What gets you pumped to go another mile?

Have you found any running accessories you couldn’t live without?

Coconut Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

By

How in the world was I exhausted at 10 pm last night?

I’m a night person!  Then I remembered I left the house at 730am to play in a softball tournament and only came home long enough to shower and shovel one of these in my mouth.

My team didn’t win the tournament, but the game we lost was one of the most memorable I’ve had.  We went into overtime and lost… but the adrenaline and the plays made by my team were over the top.

We were down by 5 with 2 outs.  One girl got hit in the nose with the ball, bled a lot, and then came back into the game to bat so we didn’t have to take an out for her spot in the lineup… and she got a great hit!  Sadly, we still lost by 1. 🙁

In keeping with my new weekly recap tradition, here’s was last week looked like:

Workout Recap (7/4-7/9)

  • Monday – Peachtree Road Race – 10K – 51:08 mins
  • Tuesday – Yoga for Runners, stationary bike 30 mins, 84 push-ups
  • Wednesday – Biceps/Back, 5K run, 84 push-ups
  • Thursday – Intervals (2 mile treadmill, 1 mile elliptical), 84 push-ups
  • Friday – Tris/Chest, P90X Ab Ripper X, 84 push-ups
  • Saturday – 5 mile run (in 40 mins!!!)
  • Sunday – Softball tournament, 84 push-ups

NuNaturals was nice enough to send me some goodies to test out.

The package came with recipes, but I’ve had my eye on these Coconut Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies from Gracie @ Girl Meets Life.

It’s not often something so good for you tastes so decadent.

These are gluten-free and vegan.  The added bonus is that they are low-sugar.  If you omitted the chocolate chips, they would be sugar-free – you could do that and thrown in come walnuts for banana bread cookies.

NuNaturals Pure Liquid Vanilla Stevia drops worked like a charm.  My cookies were appropriately sweet and I didn’t notice an aftertaste.

Coconut flour has been a recent addition to my pantry.  I’m loving it.  You have to be careful as it has a different feel than “regular” flour, but it adds a smooth, almost silky texture to baked goods.

Some benefits of coconut flour:

  • Good source of fiber – At 58% insoluble fiber, it has the highest percentage found in any flour
  • Guilt-free baking (nearly… the other ingredients are your business 😉 ) – Insoluble fiber means your body doesn’t digest it (translation: your body can’t derive calories from it); these fibers basically magic eraser their way through you intestines doing what fiber should do to keep your digestive system healthy
  • Gluten-free and hypoallergenic – Many people without a serious gluten allergy and moving towards a low-gluten diet.  Subbing coconut for some of your regular flour is another way to cut down on gluten intake.  For those that do have an allergy, you can use this with rice flour to improve textures.

Be warned that coconut flour is very dry and doesn’t bond well.  Remedy this by adding binders like bananas or eggs to your batter.  This can also be accounted for by using subbing in place of just 1/4 to 1/2 with a “regular flour.”
Keeping that in mind… welcome to cookies so silky and light you won’t be able to stop eating them.  Which is fine, as they are pure doughy deliciousness at only 86 calories a pop.

 

Coconut Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

  • 3/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 medium banana, well-mashed
  • 14 drops NuNaturals Pure Liquid vanilla stevia
  • 1/2 T coconut oil
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp butter extract
  • 1 C unsweetened coconut milk (So Delicious-style)
  • 1/3 C dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Set aside.  
 
In a medium bowl, whisk together wet ingredients.  Slowly add the wet mixture to the dry, stirring as you go.  Fold in chocolate chips.
 
Scoop out 2 T of dough on lined baking sheet, pressing down lightly.
 
Bake for 25 mins, until cookies begin to brown.  Allow them to cool completely (they are crumbly!).
 
Makes 11 cookies.

Approximate nutritional info: 86 calories, 4.2g fat, 11.1g carbohydrates, 3.8g fiber, 4.9g sugar, 2.1g protein.

***

Important Announcement: it’s my BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!!  Woot!

What is new to your kitchen as of late?

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