1. Herbed Veggie Skillet recipe

    Last year, I picked up a “Go Red for Women Recipe Collection” at my fitness center. I was recently leafing through it for recipe ideas — man that thing has a LOT of good ideas! I successfully followed four of the recipes— two main dishes and two sides — in the past week alone! One of the four stood out for its ease and taste: the herbed veggie skillet. 

    This may be a common dish many of you have made. But, I’m still a beginner cook, so for me, I’ve struck gold.

    Not only is it remarkably easy, but it’s simple to manipulate the ingredients. I’ve made four different versions of it this past week. It’s really simple:

    1. Slice up your favorite vegetables and spices.

    2. Heat two teaspoons of canola oil on medium-high (or medium… I find medium-high to be a bit much).

    3. Toss your favorite veggies and spices in, add a dash of water (or lemon juice). Cover and cook for 5-ish minutes. 

    4. Serve!

    Now, I usually add zucchini and onion first and allow the two to soften before adding the rest of the ingredients. I’ve manipulated the original recipe, which can be followed here, adding lemon juice, celery, carrots, fresh parsley and even a pinch of cinnamon. 
  2. My “healthy” cart while shopping today at Hen House Market, the previously mentioned grocery store. Chicago has Jewel and Dominicks, with Whole Foods as its fancy-pants store. Kansas City has Hy-Vee and Price Chopper, (well, and Cosentinos and Sun Fresh… but these two are both classier versions of Price Chopper). Hen House is a blend of Whole Foods and Trader Joes in some ways, in that it sells a lot of GOOD food. It’s not quite as expensive as Whole Foods. It’s nice to have, as the closest Whole Foods and Trader Joes are about 30+ minutes away (in fact, there are two Whole Foods and two Trader Joes in about a 5 mile radius…. and then nothing outside that. Seriously, planners, what the heck??!). Anyhow, I usually purchase my fresh produce at Hen House, since most of it is locally grown, and I can get some pretty good deals.  My cart today featured green peppers, red peppers, blueberries, mixed greens, fresh mozzarella, Bretton crackers, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, roma tomatoes and a peach.  I’ve made a variation of the same meal four times in the past week — it’s my new favorite thing. It’s simple, delicious and healthy, and involves a lot of the above ingredients. I’ll post more about it later. :)

    My “healthy” cart while shopping today at Hen House Market, the previously mentioned grocery store.

    Chicago has Jewel and Dominicks, with Whole Foods as its fancy-pants store. Kansas City has Hy-Vee and Price Chopper, (well, and Cosentinos and Sun Fresh… but these two are both classier versions of Price Chopper).

    Hen House is a blend of Whole Foods and Trader Joes in some ways, in that it sells a lot of GOOD food. It’s not quite as expensive as Whole Foods. It’s nice to have, as the closest Whole Foods and Trader Joes are about 30+ minutes away (in fact, there are two Whole Foods and two Trader Joes in about a 5 mile radius…. and then nothing outside that. Seriously, planners, what the heck??!).

    Anyhow, I usually purchase my fresh produce at Hen House, since most of it is locally grown, and I can get some pretty good deals. 

    My cart today featured green peppers, red peppers, blueberries, mixed greens, fresh mozzarella, Bretton crackers, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, roma tomatoes and a peach. 

    I’ve made a variation of the same meal four times in the past week — it’s my new favorite thing. It’s simple, delicious and healthy, and involves a lot of the above ingredients. I’ll post more about it later. :)

  3. Your Nutritionista: 10 Things You Can Do Right Now for Your Health»

    #1 is what I’m fighting today. I have a ton of housework to get done tonight… so I left my workout clothes at homes, figuring I’d skip exercise altogether. All or nothing.

    To fight that mentality, I’ll try taking a walk during lunchtime today, if the rain holds off. (And if not, those 30 flights of stairs in my building can work too…)

    nutritionista:

    1. Stop being all or nothing about working out. Just give yourself 20 minutes to kick some booty and you’re done! If you need to, set a timer and just MOVE for 15-20 solid minutes. It can be enough.
    2. Banish sweetened drinks from your vocabulary. I don’t care if it’s “100%” juice or a “healthy”…

    (Source: yourhealthista)

  4. A wonderful weekend and delicious breakfast

    After two frenzied weeks of nonstop work and travel, last weekend was a heaven-send. Two adjectives describe it perfectly: productive and relaxing. It was wonderful. On the productive side, I cleaned my apartment, organized, recycled, moved seasonal/unneeded stuff to the garage, etc. It was a lot of work, but a huge relief. Clutter stresses me.

    One the relaxing side, I got a total of 20 hours of sleep between Friday and Saturday nights. 20! TWENTY! Ah-maz-ing. In addition, the weather was ideal, ranging between 60 and 91, averaging 73. Love it. I got much-needed running clothes (Dri-Fit!!) and ate a delicious breakfast at Mimi’s Cafe.

    Matt and I went to Mimi’s Saturday morning. Oh my goodness, it was perfect. Needing to fix that darn coffee addiction I’ve acquired, we decided to order and share a Coffee Freeze and a Cinnamon Mocha Coffee Freeze — gourmet coffee mixed with yogurt and ice (and in the latter’s case, with a pump of mocha and a dapple of cinnamon). SO good — and it was cheaper, fresher and possibly healthier than Starbucks’ fraps. Mmmmmmm.

    My main entree impressed me the most. 

    I honestly forget what it was called, and because it was on special, it’s not on the online menu. But OH MY GOODNESS. Each bite tasted like pure HEALTHINESS. Often, when I dine at breakfast joints, I leave feeling stuffed, greasy and gross (cough*MerryAnns*cough). Not here!

    The eggs, mixed with broccoli and light cheese, tasted very veryyy healthy. As if it hadn’t been cooked using any oils or fats. The broccoli tasted warm but raw. Yum. And if that didn’t sell you…. there was fresh pineapple cut on my plate. C’mon!  YUM!
  5. SpaFinder Wellness Week is coming up!! That means GREAT deals at spas all over the country. To find a location near you, check it out! **Edit. This deal stinks. Of the entire Midwest section of their site, which includes 12 states, there are only spa deals in three of the 12 states. The closest “deals” to Kansas City are in Chicagoland. So Chicago friends — spa away at this link. All you guys from KC, sorry, outta luck. 

    SpaFinder Wellness Week is coming up!! That means GREAT deals at spas all over the country. To find a location near you, check it out!

    **Edit. This deal stinks. Of the entire Midwest section of their site, which includes 12 states, there are only spa deals in three of the 12 states. The closest “deals” to Kansas City are in Chicagoland. So Chicago friends — spa away at this link. All you guys from KC, sorry, outta luck. 

  6. A delicious and healthy dinner Sunday night Leafy greens: High in protein, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin C, carotenoids, lutein, folic acid and Vitamin K.  Strawberries: A great source of Vitamin C and flavonoids (aka Vitamin P or a type of antioxidant). Kiwi: a rich source of Vitamin C (1.5 times the DRI scale in the US), potassium, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acid and fiber. It also has some vitamins A and E. Blueberries: Contains anthocyanins, antioxidant pigments and various phytochemicals possibly having a role in reducing risks of certain diseases, including inflammation and certain cancers. Blackberries: A rich source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid and manganese (an essential mineral). Banana: Good source of potassium, Vitamin B, Walnuts: High in essential minerals (manganese, copper, magnesium), Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B6, Thiamin Almonds: Good source of Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, Manganese

    A delicious and healthy dinner Sunday night

    Leafy greens: High in protein, dietary fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin C, carotenoids, lutein, folic acid and Vitamin K. 

    Strawberries: A great source of Vitamin C and flavonoids (aka Vitamin P or a type of antioxidant).

    Kiwi: a rich source of Vitamin C (1.5 times the DRI scale in the US), potassium, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acid and fiber. It also has some vitamins A and E.

    Blueberries: Contains anthocyanins, antioxidant pigments and various phytochemicals possibly having a role in reducing risks of certain diseases, including inflammation and certain cancers.

    Blackberries: A rich source of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid and manganese (an essential mineral).

    Banana: Good source of potassium, Vitamin B,

    Walnuts: High in essential minerals (manganese, copper, magnesium), Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin B6, Thiamin

    Almonds: Good source of Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, Manganese

  7. "If you don’t let yourself have things you want, especially when it comes to something as simple as food, you’ll fail and end up being less healthful. I try to be sensible and have egg whites and oatmeal for breakfast, a salad with protein for lunch and fish and veggies at night. But once in awhile I have that cheeseburger and fries! And I don’t feel like dinner’s done unless I have a treat. I’d rather go for a small slice of real chocolate cake than a bunch of sugar-free cookies. It’s all moderation."
    Minka Kelly, in this month’s Self Magazine.  This quote describes my attitude toward food and eating perfectly!

  8. A closer look: Vitamin C

           

    I’m sick. And miserable, much like the weather today. 

    Yesterday, thanks to two Odwalla C-Monster beverages, I consumed ridiculous amounts of Vitamin C — about 3,300 mg, or 4,500 percent the RDA. 

    And then, I did some research. Turns out the UL — the upper safe dosage of C is 2,000 mg.

    Oops.

    I didn’t go into toxic shock. But I’m still sick with that darn cold. What gives? Do products like Odwalla’s C-Monsters or Jamba Juice’s Cold Busters really help bust colds? So, I did some nerdy geeky (gotta stay true to the chart I posted yesterday!) research.

                  

    Read More

  9. Return to Reality. NY11 Resolutions.

    The past month has been crazy: preparing and traveling to Chicago for Christmas; traveling to St. Louis for New Year’s; scrapping my baby car; traveling to as many body shops as possible to get cost estimates (result: car scraps are EXPENSIVE); getting a nasty cold; having my friend Sarah visit and showing her as much of KC as possible in three days.

    Now it’s over. And I can finally put my New Year’s resolutions into serious practice.

    1. Work out at least three times a week, but aim for four to five times, when possible. I have a hard time finding time to work out, but I found during the last two months that when I plan my time, squeezing three workouts a week is very doable. And now that the “busy” season is over, I should certainly have time for extra work-outs.

    2. Read one book each month. Current book? Skinny Bitch by two bitchy ladies (I tried to Google the book, but my work’s “Safeguard” filters dirty words such as B*!@#). Anyhow, I’m not a fan of the book thus far, but I’ll write more later.

    3. Update more consistently. I’d really like to put more thought and time into my blog this year. Instead of hurriedly throwing words into a post just to get an entry out there, I really want to set aside an hour to write something more meaningful. That might mean I may not post every day, but I’ve always been a fan of quality over quantity. However, I may still scan my Dashboard for good reblogs to casually post on a more constant/daily basis…

    4. Get involved in the church. I’d like to get more involved in my faith, and while there are many local opportunities to do so, I haven’t really made it a focus. I still go to Mass every Sunday and say daily prayers, which is all great and dandy, but I haven’t really challenged myself to deepen my faith.
  10. I have a cold coming on.  The last two times this happened, I ordered a Coldbuster from Jamba Juice, and it worked. But Kansas City doesn’t have Jamba. (However, I ironically visited the Oak Brook Jamba yesterday — before I felt sick).  So I had to make due on my own today with a killer salad from my favorite lunchtime grocery store, Cosentino’s. For the drink, I had KC Fire Department recommended “C Monster” by Odwalla (literally, I made friends with a few fire fighters in the juice aisle today haha). There was something like 2000 percent daily Vitamin C in that sucker — if it doesn’t heal me, I don’t know what will! But just in case, I tried my new favorite tea drink — Starbucks barista recommended: Green tea mixed with Peppermint tea. Yum.  And today’s trip to Price Chopper included oranges, orange sherbert, almonds, frozen blueberries, honey, lemon, etcetcetc. I used my Chopper Shopper card and saved. Yes, that’s what’s it’s called. Sore throat you are going down! How do you cope with that “I feel like I’m getting sick” feeling?

    I have a cold coming on. 

    The last two times this happened, I ordered a Coldbuster from Jamba Juice, and it worked.

    But Kansas City doesn’t have Jamba. (However, I ironically visited the Oak Brook Jamba yesterday — before I felt sick). 

    So I had to make due on my own today with a killer salad from my favorite lunchtime grocery store, Cosentino’s. For the drink, I had KC Fire Department recommended “C Monster” by Odwalla (literally, I made friends with a few fire fighters in the juice aisle today haha). There was something like 2000 percent daily Vitamin C in that sucker — if it doesn’t heal me, I don’t know what will!

    But just in case, I tried my new favorite tea drink — Starbucks barista recommended: Green tea mixed with Peppermint tea. Yum. 

    And today’s trip to Price Chopper included oranges, orange sherbert, almonds, frozen blueberries, honey, lemon, etcetcetc. I used my Chopper Shopper card and saved. Yes, that’s what’s it’s called.

    Sore throat you are going down! How do you cope with that “I feel like I’m getting sick” feeling?

  11. nutritionista: I’m digging most of these tips! thingsmymomnevertoldme: 8 Ways to Stay Full Longer With post-gym starvation, afternoon slumps and evening noshing in front of the TV, it’s super-easy to think that you need more food—even if you just ate. To help keep your caloric intake within a healthy range, we spoke with experts as well as looked into the latest research to find out how you can stay full longer. Here are eight surprising ways to stave off hunger and, ultimately, unwanted inches. I love and completely agree with all of these tips! I’m already using some of them, but will try to be more consistent.

    nutritionista:

    I’m digging most of these tips!

    thingsmymomnevertoldme:

    8 Ways to Stay Full Longer

    With post-gym starvation, afternoon slumps and evening noshing in front of the TV, it’s super-easy to think that you need more food—even if you just ate. To help keep your caloric intake within a healthy range, we spoke with experts as well as looked into the latest research to find out how you can stay full longer. Here are eight surprising ways to stave off hunger and, ultimately, unwanted inches.

    I love and completely agree with all of these tips! I’m already using some of them, but will try to be more consistent.

    (via yourhealthista)

  12. November & December = Holiday Fitness Burn Months! Running late to work will no longer be my main source of exercise. I’ve incorporated a strict exercise schedule that will allow me to fit a work out into my daily routine 4-5 times each week. I’ve found it to be much more difficult to schedule exercise into my daily routine since working full time—- I really took having a large fitness room in my basement (literally.. Newman Hall spoiled me) for granted the past few years. For those of you workers in a particular predicament, here’s a few tips to getting some exercise each day, taken from my company’s fitness program: Tips to increase activity during the work day: Brainstorm project ideas with a co-worker while taking a walk.     Stand while talking on the telephone.     Walk down the hall to speak with someone rather than using the telephone.     Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or get off a few floors early and take the stairs the rest of the way.     Walk while waiting for the plane at the airport.     Stay at hotels with fitness centers or swimming pools and use them while on business trips.     Take along a jump rope in your suitcase when you travel.  Jump and do calisthenics in your hotel room.     Participate in or start a recreation league at your company.     Form a sports team to raise money for charity events.     Join a fitness center or Y near your job. Work out before or after work to avoid rush-hour traffic, or drop by for a noon workout.     Schedule time to walk on your business calendar and treat it as any other important appointment. Get off the bus a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way to work or home.    Walk around your building for a break during the work day or during lunch. Park further from the entrance at work instead of taking the closest parking spot.

    November & December = Holiday Fitness Burn Months!

    Running late to work will no longer be my main source of exercise. I’ve incorporated a strict exercise schedule that will allow me to fit a work out into my daily routine 4-5 times each week.

    I’ve found it to be much more difficult to schedule exercise into my daily routine since working full time—- I really took having a large fitness room in my basement (literally.. Newman Hall spoiled me) for granted the past few years.

    For those of you workers in a particular predicament, here’s a few tips to getting some exercise each day, taken from my company’s fitness program:

    Tips to increase activity during the work day:

    • Brainstorm project ideas with a co-worker while taking a walk.    
    • Stand while talking on the telephone.    
    • Walk down the hall to speak with someone rather than using the telephone.    
    • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or get off a few floors early and take the stairs the rest of the way.    
    • Walk while waiting for the plane at the airport.    
    • Stay at hotels with fitness centers or swimming pools and use them while on business trips.    
    • Take along a jump rope in your suitcase when you travel.  Jump and do calisthenics in your hotel room.    
    • Participate in or start a recreation league at your company.    
    • Form a sports team to raise money for charity events.    
    • Join a fitness center or Y near your job. Work out before or after work to avoid rush-hour traffic, or drop by for a noon workout.    
    • Schedule time to walk on your business calendar and treat it as any other important appointment.
    • Get off the bus a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way to work or home.   
    • Walk around your building for a break during the work day or during lunch.
    • Park further from the entrance at work instead of taking the closest parking spot.
  13. Your Nutritionista: Skip the Pie, Go for the Parfait»

    nutritionista:

    Pumpkin is definitely up there in my top three favorite pies of all time (the others being apple and key lime). I look forward to Thanksgiving partially just for that part of dessert. It’s CLASSIC — there’s nothing like it, and the only time when it seems right to eat it is during this time of…

    (Source: yourhealthista)

  14. kfoody: Taking a mental picture of this for the soda cravings I still get sometimes. (via prettyandstrong)

    kfoody:

    Taking a mental picture of this for the soda cravings I still get sometimes.

    (via prettyandstrong)

  15. emilyrose: Emily’s List: Food Network Kitchens’ How to Boil Water Were you on a meal plan all four years of college? Do you never know how much pasta to put in the pot? Did you once microwave a fork? If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, we are 1.) apparently the same person, and 2.) in the exact same boat, and 3.) accustomed to making our mothers cry. But, I bought Food Network Kitchens’ How to Boil Water for myself as a graduation gift a few weeks ago with my book buy-back money. And it’s wonderful. I love Food Network, but have some criticisms of the celebrity chefs— the main one being that because they’re all fairly committed aesthetes, their chief concern is taste rather than cost or calories. Which, granted, is how foodies should be! But I don’t have the time for Ina Garten’s recipes, the wallet for Giada’s, or the metabolism for Paula Deen’s. But How to Boil Water truly makes cooking accessible. The 250 pages take the reader on a step-by-step crash-course of food preparation: what to buy, how to fix it, how to store it, and how to save money. Most importantly, the recipes in this book are made of food that you actually have in your fridge and pantry (which is an increasing problem I have with Rachel Ray, whom I normally enjoy). It’s also gorgeous enough to be a coffee table book: chock full of plump melons and ripe avocados, a whole kaleidoscope of beautiful food. I made my dad the cheesy meat loaf with blue cheese mashed potatoes and lemon asparagus the other night, and now he’s not letting me move out. Nom nom nom. Where? Your favorite chain bookseller.How much? $24.95 ***********************************************************  Emily, you sound like me. I’m definitely buying this book pronto. Being an RA has its perks, that’s for sure, but not having a kitchen to cook in all through college definitely kept me from learning this all-important, delicious skill! EDIT: I just snagged this book on Amazon for $4.34 (+$3.99 shipping)!!

    emilyrose:

    Emily’s List: Food Network Kitchens’ How to Boil Water

    Were you on a meal plan all four years of college? Do you never know how much pasta to put in the pot? Did you once microwave a fork? If you can answer “yes” to all of these questions, we are 1.) apparently the same person, and 2.) in the exact same boat, and 3.) accustomed to making our mothers cry. But, I bought Food Network Kitchens’ How to Boil Water for myself as a graduation gift a few weeks ago with my book buy-back money. And it’s wonderful.

    I love Food Network, but have some criticisms of the celebrity chefs— the main one being that because they’re all fairly committed aesthetes, their chief concern is taste rather than cost or calories. Which, granted, is how foodies should be! But I don’t have the time for Ina Garten’s recipes, the wallet for Giada’s, or the metabolism for Paula Deen’s. But How to Boil Water truly makes cooking accessible. The 250 pages take the reader on a step-by-step crash-course of food preparation: what to buy, how to fix it, how to store it, and how to save money. Most importantly, the recipes in this book are made of food that you actually have in your fridge and pantry (which is an increasing problem I have with Rachel Ray, whom I normally enjoy). It’s also gorgeous enough to be a coffee table book: chock full of plump melons and ripe avocados, a whole kaleidoscope of beautiful food. I made my dad the cheesy meat loaf with blue cheese mashed potatoes and lemon asparagus the other night, and now he’s not letting me move out. Nom nom nom.

    Where? Your favorite chain bookseller.
    How much? $24.95

    ***********************************************************

     Emily, you sound like me. I’m definitely buying this book pronto. Being an RA has its perks, that’s for sure, but not having a kitchen to cook in all through college definitely kept me from learning this all-important, delicious skill!

    EDIT: I just snagged this book on Amazon for $4.34 (+$3.99 shipping)!!

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