[Fitness, Health and Happiness]

PINspiration Wednesday || On the Menu

One of our Christmas traditions is a casual themed dinner on Christmas Eve. 2 weeks ago I had my heart set on doing something a little different, eating out on Christmas Eve. Fast forward 1 week and I've changed my mind. So, now I'm planning an Italian dinner party :)

Roasted Vegetable Strudel (via)

Pesto Chicken Sandwich (via)

Lemon-Basil Antipasto (via)

Tortellini Caprese Bites (via)

Petite Lasagnas (via)

Chicken, Broccoli, Olive and Goat Cheese Pizza (via)

And because this is my all time favorite pizza. Chicken, Goat Cheese and Roasted Pepper Pizza (via)

That's what I have so far. Still a little more planning to do. Maybe another pizza or 2? Definitely desserts!

Do you have a favorite italian recipe? An italian family favorite? 

Three Things Thursday

1. Thoughs of gratitude. I am so incredibly grateful for everything in my life that makes is wonderful. Even on what feels like the worst of days my life is pretty incredible.

2. As badly as I wanted to go running the fear of disappointment was stronger. I was so afraid of finding out that I wasn't ready to run I waited an extra day. I dreaded the first few tell-all steps. Happily, all went well! I ran 5 miles, non-stop with no pain or discomfort from the surgery. In fact, I felt stronger than ever. I'm working on a theory as to how this is possible after about 3 weeks of no running.

3. A fun addition to my blog. I have so many recipes to share but couldn't find a user friendly and print ready option for my blog. Until now! Check out my Recipage here Recipage: Fitness, Health & Happiness. Inlcudes search options, printing, emailing and more. New recipes coming soon!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I'm off for a run :)

PINspiration Wednesday || Pins of Interest

This can be said at 44 too! Maybe one of my all time favorite pins. (via)

Don't give up. Stick with it and as soon as you start to feel progress that will motivate you to keep going. (via)

This is such a cool idea. Flavored ice cubes. (via)

Pumpkin Gingersnap Breakfast Parfait. I want to make these for house guests on Christmas morning. (via)

I'm in the mood to shop. (via)

And shop a little bit more. Where can I find that bracelet? (via)

Have a wonderful, family filled, lots of laughter and tasty Thanksgiving! 

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PINspiration Wednesday || Planning Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving. A time for family, friends, and food. Running and shopping too!

For the first second time in the 18 years I've been married I'm not cooking Thanksgiving dinner. This year most of our Thanksgiving dinner will be catered by Whole Foods. At first I wasn't sure about having dinner catered but after Chad and I went to A Taste of Whole Foods Holidays the decision was easy. So delicious!

In addition to the Whole Foods' menu the Conyers' Thanksgiving 2011 will include:

Print this to frame

Thanksgiving Subway Art Printable (via)

Begin the day with a run.

Thanksgiving Day Race 2011 (via)

I will be doing a little bit of cooking to add to our menu...

Roasted Butternut Squash (via)

Unbelievably Healthy Pumpkin Pie (via)

Apple, Walnut Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette (via)

And a tradition that we started when my daughter was a toddler.

Black Friday Shopping [with my daughter] (via)

We start here

Starbucks (via)

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What plans do you have for Thanksgiving? Do you have Thanksgiving traditions? Do you venture out for Black Friday shopping? 

 

PINspiration Wednesday || Clean Eating

One of my top 5 decisions of 2011 was to change to clean eating.

What is clean eating? Among the many many interpretations and definitions basically clean eating is

to eat as mother nature intended us to eat: wholesome and natural, consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates. 

This week's PINspiration is clean eating recipes that I have tried and love or want to try.

Summer Veggie Pizza (via)

Instant Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Bake (via)

Cilantro Lime Shrimp (via)

Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Quinoa (via)

Grilled Butternut Squash and Caramelized Onion Pizza (via)

Chickpea and Mixed Veggie Quinoa (via)

Clean Eating Apple Crisps (via)

Enjoy!

Commitment to Health and Fitness [On the Menu]

Sunday

Breakfast: egg white scramble with flax, 1 slice Ezekiel
Snack: 1 oz dried edamame, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Protein Smoothie with flax
Snack: Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake
Dinner:  Chicken, Goat Cheese, and Roasted Red Pepper Pizza

Monday 
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Green salad with red and yellow bell peppers, onion, grape tomatoes and rotisserie chicken
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Chicken Chili

Tuesday
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie 
Snack: 1 oz dried edamame, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Pizza (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: On-Your-Own 

Wednesday
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Chicken Chili (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Chicken and Vegetable Quinoa

Thursday
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie 
Snack: 1 oz dried edamame, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Chicken and Vegetable Quinoa (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers

Friday 
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Chicken and Grilled Butternut Squash Pizza

Saturday 
Breakfast: egg white scramble with flax, 1 slice Ezekiel
Snack: 1 oz dried edamame, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Chicken and Grilled Butternut Squash Pizza (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: OUT

Recipe and menu planning template downloads found here Recipes and Menu Planning Templates.

I'm looking for healthy crockpot dinners? Any suggestions? You just can't beat the convenience of crockpot cooking.

Commitment to Health and Fitness [Clean Eating and Consumer Supported Agriculture]

Today is Blog Action Day 2011!

Since 2007, Blog Action Day has focused bloggers around the world to blog about one important global topic on the same day. Past topics have included water, climate change and poverty.

This year, Blog Action Day will be held on October 16, which coincides with World Food Day, so naturally our 2011 theme is FOOD.

In July I signed up for Consumer Supported Agriculture. Since I wasn't sure what I was investing in I split a half season share with a friend. My menu planning tip for this week is consider signing up for CSA because:

• eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• in all the years I've planned weekly menus I now start with the vegetables as the main entree
• eating seasonally adds variety to your weekly menus 
• get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking 
• the flavor of fresh can't be beat
• supporting a local farmer
• organic fruit and vegetables (make sure to ask because not all CSAs are organic)

Thinking about trying a CSA? Visit Local Harvest and search a database of more than 3,000 CSAs.

On the menu for this week:

Sunday

Breakfast: egg white scramble with flax, 1 slice Ezekiel
Snack: protein bar
Lunch: Ultimate Turkey Sandwich
Snack: Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake
Dinner:  Chicken Pot Pie with Whole Wheat Phyllo (recipe coming soon and you're going to love it)

Monday 
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: Chicken Pot Pie (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Chicken and Eggplant Lasagna (trying this recipe with a different variety of squash)

Tuesday
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie 
Snack: Honeycrisp Apple, 1 tbs almond butter, cinnamon
Lunch: Chicken and Eggplant Lasagna (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: White Chicken Chili (trying a new recipe)

Wednesday
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: White Chicken Chili (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: On-Your-Own Night

Thursday
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie 
Snack: Honeycrisp Apple, 1 tbs almond butter, cinnamon
Lunch: Chicken and Eggplant Lasagna (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Wild Rice and Chicken Stuffed Peppers (another new recipe)

Friday 
Breakfast: Protein Berry Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries
Lunch: White Chicken Chili (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Chicken and Pepita Salad

Saturday 
Breakfast: egg white scramble with flax, 1 slice Ezekiel
Snack: Honeycrisp Apple, 1 tbs almond butter, cinnamon
Lunch: The Best Ever Tuna Salad
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: OUT

Recipe and menu planning template downloads found here Recipes and Menu Planning Templates.

 

 

Clean Eating Recipe || Chicken and Eggplant Lasagna

This recipe turned out to be one of my Top 5 Recipe Favorites of 2011. The original recipe, found in Clean Eating magazine, is delicious but after trying it the first time I knew immediately what I wound modify the next time. The zucchini, yellow squash and eggplant are my favorites but it can easily be adpated to use your favorite types of squash or what you have on hand.

Ingredients

1 lb eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds
1 1/2 lbs zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds 
1 1/2 lbs yellow sqwuash, cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds 
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 c fat free small curd cottage cheese
2 tsp dried oregano
olive oil cooking spray
6 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella
3 grilled chicken breasts, shreded 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degress.
2. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and spread eggplant, zucchini and squash out in a sinlge layer on sheets. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from over and set aside.
3. In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil on medium for 1 minute. Add onion and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes or until transluscent. Add garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from hear and stir in cottage cheese and oregano.
4. Lightly coat an 11x7-inch baking dish with cooking spray. 
5. Line bottom of dish with zucchini and squash, using all rounds and overlapping them so dish is completely covered.
6. Add shredded chicken spreading evenly over the squash and zucchini.
7. Top wtih cottage cheese mixture.
8. Arrange eggplant over cottage cheese in overlapping rows, then top with mozzarella.
9. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbling. 
10. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Download Recipe

Coming Soon!

• A new Countdown to Chicago 2011 giveaway, 6 Larabars of your choice. Details posted tonight.
• Packing for a destination marathon.
• Update on Shirnkvivor Week 1.

Clean Eating Recipe || Zucchini and Yellow Squash Salad

For the past month or so our Consumer Supported Agriculture pick up has included squash and zucchini.
A lot of it! We've been on a pretty good roll of not throwing away any produce and I was determined to use the summer squash we were getting each week. Did you know there are more than 100 types and varieties of squash out there? Did you know you can eat zucchini and yellow sqaush raw?

Nutrition

This food is low in Saturated Fat and Sodium, and very low in Cholesterol. It is also a good source of Protein, Vitamin A, Thiamin, Niacin, Phosphorus and Copper, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Magnesium, Potassium and Manganese. Naturally high in fiber and low in calories, fat, and sodium.

Commitment to Health and Fitness [On the Menu]

Sunday

Breakfast: 6 egg white scramble with 1 tbs ground flax, 1 slice Ezekiel
Snack: --
Lunch: OUT
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner:  Summertime Zucchini, Eggplant and Squash Lasagna

Monday 
Breakfast: Crunchy Coffee Fix Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries, hot green tea
Lunch: Summertime Zucchini, Eggplant and Squash Lasagna (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: 10-Minute Thai, 1/2 c brown rice

Tuesday
Breakfast: Egg White Sandwich (4 egg whites, 1 tbs ground flax, 1 oz mozarella), 2 slices Ezekiel
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 c fresh blueberries, 1 tbs. chia seeds, 1/4 c toasted walnuts
Lunch: 10 Minute Thai (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Salmon with Citrus-Tomatillo Salsa on Quinoa

Wednesday
Breakfast: Breakfast To Go Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries, hot green tea
Lunch: Best Tuna Salad, 1 slice Ezekiel, fruit
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Fish Tacos, pico de gallo, guacamole

Thursday
Breakfast: Egg White Sandwich (4 egg whites, 1 tbs ground flax, 1 oz mozarella), 2 slices Ezekiel
Snack: 1/2 c fat free cottage cheese, 1/2 c fresh blueberries, 1 tbs. chia seeds, 1/4 c toasted walnuts
Lunch: Tacos with Pico de Gallo (leftovers)
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Open-Faced Blackened Catfish Sandwich, zucchini and eggplant sticks

Friday 
Breakfast: Maple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Snack: 1 oz soy nuts, 1/2 oz cranberries, hot green tea
Lunch: Best Tuna Salad, 1 slice Ezekiel, fruit
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Pasta (TBD)

Saturday (Susan G. Komen 5K and long-run)
Breakfast: Whole Wheat Bagel with 1 tbs almond butter (pre-race)
Snack: smoothie
Lunch: OUT
Snack: Protein Bar
Dinner: Leftovers

Prep For the Week:

1. Pack lunches the night before.
2. Freeze bananas for smoothies 

Menu Planning Tips: 

I find a lot of recipes to try online and use my Pinterest Clean Eating Board to keep track instead of printing them all out or bookmarking them all. Works better than any other org system I've tried for online recipes.

A favorite online recipe resource is Martha Stewart's Whole Living.

Recipe and menu planning template downloads found here Recipes and Menu Planning Templates.

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Coming this week: Air Force Half and Glenwood Gardens 5K recap and photos, a new recipe, Moeben winners announced, mid-week check in