Hey there! It’s been a while since we’ve just chatted. You know, about life, fitness, and non-recipes.
Sometimes we have to do that. To just catch up. I hope this doesn’t bore you.
First let me start out by saying that I LOVE salad bars. All of the healthy quinoa salads, kale galore, and every veggie you could imagine is a dream.
Usually I tend to go vegetarian at the salad bars but if I’m extra hungry I’ll get a little chicken. Then there’s always spinach, kale, and romaine for a bit of crunch. I top my salad with chickpeas, grape tomatoes, olives, red peppers, peas and mushrooms. Oh and red onion! I adore red onions. Lastly I drizzle a bit of red wine vinegar and sometimes a dash of sesame oil. TOTAL NOMS.
Few things are better than salad bars.
Except for chocolate.
My favorite is the Intense Dark Cabernet Matinee. It has a hint of wine and blackberry flavor.
SO SO GOOD. What’s your fav?
I’m very fond of Greek Yogurt. Actually no, I would say obsessed.
Here’s a fun twist on it I found. YUMMY.
 I get to do cool things for work. Like hang out with this guy!
My family is incredibly special to me.
Do you know what this is?
A s’mores CRONUT.
I know. Can’t even talk about it.
This is my favorite healthy treat.
So, what is it?
1 container of nonfat greek yogurt + 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder + a few drops of liquid stevia.
Top with bananas, cereal, nuts, or mini chocolate chips. You’ll thank me later!
I will have to report back on this.
Have you tried any fun nut butters lately?
I wish fruit was in season year round.
That way I wouldn’t feel the need to buy insane amounts of it during the Summer.
Remember these?
Delish.
This garden is GMO free.
Ha. But seriously.
Avocado + Black Beans = ???
You will find out soon.
Now onto the fitness!
Here’s a typical breakfast when I’m watching what I eat.
I usually eliminate wheat and focus on consuming healthy natural carbs for energy.
Apples + Cottage Cheese + Peanut Butter = Clean eating.
Carrots because I felt like a veggie would do me good.
Yoga sculpt is one of my favorite workouts.
It’s cardio-based yoga in a heated room with weights. Typically I burn at least 500 calories per session.
Also, I baked you bread.
Okay, back to the fitness.
Awesome sweat session.
Here’s what happens when I pack my food for the day:
Breakfast: Chicken sausage + egg whites
Snack: Protein Oat bran Banana muffin
Lunch: Grilled Chicken + Quinoa Spinach Salad
Snack: Cottage Cheese + Apple slices + Almonds
Dinner: Who knows — I didn’t pack it.
These quotes have been motivating me to get to my classes.
Another motivator? Following fitness junkies on Instagram or pinning motivating quotes throughout the day.
Sometimes I don’t make it to the gym because there’s horrible traffic.
THE WORST.
But then I remember this.
And I continue to try to do my best every single day.
I know that I’ll make mistakes, have bad eating days, miss workouts, etc.
But every day is a new day. At least I can try!
And the next time I’m at the gym, I feel even more powerful, strong, and motivated.
So my fitness journey continues…
But I have to remember that 80% of it is what I eat.
So these days I’m all about clean eating. It’s amazing the changes you see.
God Bless whoever left these at work though. Animal crackers are a dream.
A little treat to keep me sane!
Hmmm what else?
I chopped off my hair. It may look long to you, but it’s short for me.
I’m digging it.
The guy I’m dating digs it, too.
Serious question: how many oils are there? TOO MANY.
What’s your favorite kind of oil to use? I want to start experimenting with different kinds.
I made a pepper stir-fry in coconut oil.
Then I added garlic cloves, a pinch of cumin, sea salt, and chopped basil.
Stir that into quinoa and you’ve got yourself a fabulous meal.
I’ve also been cooking a lot more chicken lately.
It’s so much fun to marinate it in different spices and herbs.
What’s your favorite chicken recipe?
This is my editor’s desk.
She’s inspires me to put up more photos around mine.
I haven’t decided if I’ll just put up Bon Appetit cover photos or if that’s taking it too far.
After Remy tasted these muffins, he fell over and said, “These are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO good!”
Completely adorable.
Told you I was obsessed with Greek Yogurt.
No seriously!
Peanut butter + Chocolate Chip = Love.
We have too much fun.
They picked out the Chef theme on the picture, I swear.
Trader Joe’s shopping trip.
MAJOR SAVINGS when you are a food blogger.
Oatmeal Cottage Cheese Pancakes!
For two!
I top mine with peanut butter and sugar free maple syrup.
They keep me full FOREVER!
Sometimes there’s no place like home.
And always remember this!
More recipes coming soon!
Follow me on Instagram for more fun updates.
14 comments
I was trying to decide what type of heart rate monitor to get. Do you have any suggestions? I mainly just want to make sure I now how many calories I'm burning while I run or do strength exercises. Thanks! I love your blog. I just made the "thai" quinoa salad and I can't wait to try it.
My favourite chicken rub?
2 tablespoons chili powder (not pure chile powder)
1 tablespoon mild honey
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Mmm. Delicious, easy and you almost always have everything on hand. Colourful too.
So…all your food is making me hungry and I just finished breakfast. Hmmm…snack time yet!?! Sounds like you’ve be quite busy, but with lots of fun things. Glad to catch-up and that you’re doing well!
I have been so curious about that Polar “watch” calorie counter band? Can you tell me more about it? What you like and don’t like about it? Thanks so much!
I love posts like these! I can’t wait to get together so I can learn even more about you 🙂 PS: <33 Yoga sculpt. Get your butt to Edina and take one of my classes! I'd love love love to have you! Is 6AM too early?
Your favorite snack (yogurt with cocoa & stevia) is my favorite snack. I freeze mine for 30-40 minutes, which makes it even better. Your pepper stir fry with quinoa and the oatmeal cottage cheese pancakes sound wonderful. More new things to try! This was a great post.
First, I LOVE yoga sculpt, too. I’m obsessed, and am skipping out of work to go in 20 minutes 🙂 Also, I love experimenting with funky oils. My favorite is using blood orange olive oil in pumpkin bread or carrot cake rather than using blah vegetable oil. Top either with a Chai cream cheese frosting and you definitely won’t be sharing it!
smores cronut?! where is that from? that yogurt + cocoa snack sounds good.
A recipe from Pillsbury! We got them at work and they were amazing!
My favourite chicken marinade is loads of lemon juice, paprika, chili, garlic and some yoghurt! So delish! Oh and my current favourite 'dessert' at the mo is cottage cheese, cocoa, stevia and a splash of milk BLENDED, trust me it makes all the difference! I love it with raspberries 🙂 Oh and darling please stay away from sugar free maple it's full of nasties, the real stuff is much better,, in moderation (way tastier too)
Thanks for that post, it’s great that you’re sharing this with us 🙂 I am on a fitness/ health journey as well, which is sometimes hard because I am a pastry chef, but as you say, it’s always good to try, and if today you’re not perfect, tomorrow you might just be better 🙂
I do love that you’re posting a lot of healthy recipes as well as some (not so healthy) super yummy treats, life is all about balance after all and I think your blog is a perfect reflection of that. Anyway, you go girl !! 🙂
Thank you, Marie!
OMG YUM! All of your food looks so so so amazing. I want some of that Fage yogurt dip! YUM 🙂
What do you think of that Earth Balance peaut/coconut spread? I LOVE IT.