clean eating

What I Ate Wednesday #2 (#WIAW)

06.26.2013

Happy Wednesday! I am linking up with Peas and Crayons for my 2nd edition of What I Ate Wednesday. I usually try to eat 5-6 meals a day, plenty of protein, veggies and complex carbs. It may seem like a lot of food, but my metabolism has sky-rocketed and I seem to be hungry every 3 hours. (That’s a good thing though!) Also, smaller portions more times a day is what I’m going for. So here’s what I ate:

I have been eating tons of tilapia lately. Just season with pepper or Mrs. Dash and you’re good to go.

I made this “salad” in a large batch and have been eating it throughout the week. It’s tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, bell peppers and zucchini topped with a little balsamic vinegar. And of course chicken on the side. 🙂

I got a huge box delivered from my fav company FITzee foods and this enchilada is one of theirs. You can read more about FITzee here and here.

Heading out for a run to prep for the Live Ultimate Run on Sunday, then to an 8pm bikram yoga class at Body Temp Yoga SF. How are you staying active today?

Thanks for reading!!

Chocolate Almond Butter Sludge Recipe

06.24.2013

I came across this AMAZING recipe from Muffin-topless.com and had to share it with you guys because it is THAT good. She uses peanut butter and I used almond butter, but very similar. So simple, yet the best quilt free treat you will have in your life.

Chocolate Almond Butter Sludge Recipe:

1 scoop chocolate Casein protein powder
1 TB almond butter (you can also use 2 TB PB2 or 1 TB peanut butter)
1 TB unsweetened baking cocoa
Stevia to taste
Optional: dark chocolate chocolate sugar free chocolate chips

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then add water. The trick is to add water 1 tablespoon at a time in order to get to the perfect consistency. If you add to much water it will just turn out to be a goopy mess! So you want to add water to get to a cookie dough batter consistency. Pop in the freezer for about 30 minutes, then enjoy!

You will seriously die over how good this tastes. No joke. This has saved me so many times from late night indulging.

Again, this is not my recipe but too good not to share. For more guilt-free recipes head over to Muffin top-less blog.

Enjoy!!

What I Ate Wednesday

06.12.2013

Super excited to participate in my first “What I ate Wednesday” or “WIAW” link up, hosted by the fab Jenn at Peas and Crayons! Loving this idea to give you guys a bit of background on what I eat throughout my day, but also keep a diary, notice my slip ups, successes and patterns. May give you some ideas, may put a disgusting look on your face, may inspire you to try something new…you decide. 🙂

“WIAW is about food and fun! It’s about making new friends, breaking out of a food rut, noting changes in your diet/lifestyle, inspiring yourself & others, embracing fruit & vegetables, nourishing your body with the foods that work for you, finding new ways to eat your favorite foods, and so. much. more. ” –Jenn from Peas and Crayons

Celebrate Food. Celebrate blogging. Celebrate Individuality.

So here is what I ate:

I know this looks pretty gross, but so yummy! I seriously look forward to this every weekday morning. Fage Nonfat greek yogurt with berries is THE best! Only yogurt I buy on a weekly basis. Then I add some oats..weird but delicious.

Mid Morning snack: Ezekiel bread with almond butter and some berries.

Lunch: broccoli, chicken and sweet potato. Looks a little boring, but believe it or not I haven’t gotten sick of it yet. I prepped on Sunday and made this same lunch for the whole week. Only takes about 20 mins and just grab and go on your way to work. Keeps me on track and accountable!

Sensible snacking! I bring these two items in my purse everywhere! Perfect for on-the-go.

Zucchini pizza. Oh boy. This is the first time making this and it exceeded expectations! Here’s what I did: Cut the zucchini in half then again on the bottom to create a flat surface. Brush with olive oil. Add toppings such as garlic, cheese, tomatoes and basil. Cook for 20-30 mins at 375. This is a MUST try! You will thank me later. 🙂

Apologize for the not-so-good photos. They were all taken with my iPhone.

Thanks for reading!!

Clean Eating: put simply

02.22.2013

I have been getting a ton of questions regarding the basics. “What is clean eating?” “How can I eat clean?” I know I use that phrase a lot, so lets back it up a bit and get down to the basics.

So what’s the hype around “eating clean?” I am no expert, but I have done my fair share of research and experimentation with this subject. My body is a constant experiment and what you put in it is SO important to your health and well-being. So, put simply, clean eating is just a way to talk about what you are eating. This is not a diet or a short-term thing, but more of a lifestyle. This way of eating incorporates un-processed foods, with no chemicals. Food that is at it’s natural state, without going through a factory. This means eating your fruits and veggies, whole grains and lean proteins rather than pre-packaged, processed or fast foods. In all reality, there are no fitness goals that can be achieved without it. Without a clean diet, exercise can be mostly ineffective. (eek!)

There are so many benefits to eating clean, as I have said a million times I’m sure. But I am so passionate about this stuff and can’t stress the importance enough. I have been an avid gym-goer for quite some time, but I wasnt putting the right things into my body, therefore I saw no results. I was “working out to eat”, I guess you could say. To see results, you MUST eat clean, energize your body with the right foods, which will in turn set you up for success. Sorry if this is information you are already aware of, but many are unaware, as was I a year or so ago. Set yourself up for success and eat clean!

“It’s not about finding the right diet, but adopting the right lifestyle.”

To get you started here are some basic foods groups which play a big act in this lifestyle:

Protein Sources: chicken, turkey, fish, egg whites, greek yogurt, protein powder
Whole Grains– whole grain breads, ezekial bread, whole grain oats, brown rice, quinoa
Veggies– brocoli, green beans, asparagus, cauliflower, pretty much any plants!
Fruits– visit this site to learn more about what fruits are low in sugar
Healthy Fats– nut butters, avocado, almonds
Sugar– Have you heard that saying “eat less sugar, you’re sweet enough already”? Enough said. 🙂

Food is a big ticket to health. If you eat like garbage you will feel like garbage. Does this seem a bit overwhelming? There is a lot of information out there and I’m sure it’s a lot to take in. But keep it simple. Take baby steps. Don’t go from one extreme to the other. This is a learning process for everyone, including fitness models and competitors! I am still learning a ton of different things on a daily basis. However, it so is important to know, that one thing may work for some, but not for others. Each of us is different, and you should find the right thing for you. It’s a constant journey and we are in this together! Most importantly, have fun with it! (Can you tell via my Facebook and IG that I am having a ball experimenting with new foods?)

Here are some tips to get you started:

To read more visit my favorite site for information: bodybuilding.com

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for reading! xo

Garlic Shrimp Stew Recipe

02.12.2013

This recipe is to die for! My mom found it in Runners World Magazine, and we both gave it a shot. Needless to say, it is a keeper. Shrimp is full of protein and selenium, a mineral that aids in recovery. Perfect recipe post exercise.

I posted this picture on the Facebook page and Instagram, which led to many questions so here is the full recipe.

Ingredients:

1 pound medium peeled and deveined shrimp (I used 1 bag of frozen shrimp from Trader Joes)
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf, broken into pieces
1 14.5 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, drained
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 15 ounce cans white beans, drained
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Toss shrimp with 1 tablespoon oil and pimenton. Add shrimp to skillet; sauté 1 to 2 minutes; add half the garlic the last few seconds of cooking. Spoon shrimp into a bowl and set aside. Return skillet to heat; add 2 tablespoons oil, pepper flakes, bay leaf, and remaining garlic. Cook till garlic is golden, a few seconds. Add tomatoes; cook till most of the liquid evaporates, 2 minutes. Add tomato paste; cook till tomato mixture darkens. Add beans and broth; simmer till it’s a thick stew, 5 minutes. Stir in shrimp and parsley; cook till heated through. Drizzle with remaining oil. Serves 4.

You can also experiment with any seafood you like, it doesn’t have to be shrimp! I would imagine it would taste phenomenal with chicken as well. This recipe is full of flavor, a little spice, so simple and a perfect meal post exercise.

Calories per serving: 436; Carbs: 37 G; Fiber: 9 G; Protein: 35 G; Fat: 17 G

Enjoy!

clean eating

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