Monday Madness!

I moved my blog to : http://Being Healthier.com

For your viewing pleasure, please update your blog rolls, links, and readers etc.

Out with the old…

Old Fridge….
You stored my food so I could create masterpieces, Your never-ending chill was always helpful until it ended. I hope you enjoy your new home. I say goodbye to you.

I also say Goodbye to WordPress… I setup my own domain:  www.beinghealthier.com

For your viewing pleasure, please update your browsers, google readers, and blogrolls etc.!
Hope to see you there…

PB&J Oats, Quick Pizza and Shepard’s Pie

Breakfast:
PB&J Oats with Fruit

 

Lunch:
Pizza!
I used Trader Joes pre-made refrigerated dough for only $0.99 a package, it makes sense to just grab some to have on hand for quick pizza or biscuit sausage pies or breadsticks…the possibilities are endless! Plus, it is delicious and whole wheat.

I topped it with TJ Marinara (another great buy at $1.20), Shredded cheese (“pizza style”) and Turkey Pepperoni.

Dinner:

The Main part was Shepard’s Pie! This was super fast to throw together…

I used garlic mashed potatoes (leftover from last week), frozen roasted corn, frozen peas, spinach and ground meat.

I thawed the veggies while browning the ground meat (with montreal low sodium steak seasoning) and heating up the leftover taters. I layered the meat on top of the veggies, then the mashed potatoes on top. I crumbled 3 whole wheat crackers on top as well to give it a crispy crust. Baked at 350 for about 30 minutes.

On the side, I grilled portabello mushroom caps with a little olive oil and salt & pepper. Honestly, I thought I wouldn’t like the Shepard’s Pie so I made them as kind of a “backup”.
I also made a chopped waldorf-ish type salad. I sliced grapes, fuji apple, celery, carrots, and added dried cranberries, yogurt & lemon juice.
 
Since I was already slicing and dicing, I cut up extra veggies for easy, healthy munching. It was seriously so fast to do all of this and I can’t believe how its nearly all vegetables and fruit! ( Veggies: potatoes, mushrooms, peas, spinach, roasted corn, carrots, celery, cucumber. The Fruit:  apples, cranberries, grapes)

Body:

Cardio and The Sauna. I was going to attend Vigorous Flow after but that sauna just made me too tired!I am definitely going to Tuesday’s flow class though!

Mind:
Did some house things and some job searching things! I did daydream shop for furniture and things for our house too.

Soul:

Dinner was scrumptious! I thought it was one of my favorite meals so far that I’ve made but then again, I usually say that until the next best thing!

Jeff had stayed home in the morning so that flood damage guys/contractors could come assess our damages. The news was semi-good- we are waiting for a quote from the roof guy because there was damage that caused the leak inside the house, but he didn’t think it would be ridiculously expensive.

Sunday

Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! I certainly did!

Body:
Strength Training ( Chest, Shoulders and Triceps)
Cardio: Mix of biking and elliptical before and after strength

Mind:
Rest day! Microbiology is over, which means my summer classes are over!I am happy to take a break for a little while anyway.

Soul:
I did a little window-shopping and had my ring cleaned, which I have wanted to do for a while.

Jeff is back safe and sound from the bachelor party for one of his best friend’s, Teddy. Their wedding will be here before we know it! I have never been to Vermont so it should be a great trip ( if we remember to get plane tickets!)

I made my dad a father’s day card and sent it off to him. Happy Father’s Day!

My future sister-in-law called to tell me they FINALLY sold their house! They have been living here at my future-in-laws house since switching jobs and have had trouble selling their house for more than a year now. I smiled all morning for her and for everyone really because it is just great news.

Breakfast:
A Kashi Strawberry Flax waffle with Agave Nectar and Peanut Butter, fruit, yogurt.

Lunch: Veggie and Tempeh scramble with (fat free) Feta

 

Dinner:
The future-in-laws were having crabcakes and since I am allergic to shellfish, they had gotten me some ahi tuna medallions. Isn’t that so sweet ? I felt very special, they used black sesame and toasted sesame oil for searing. It went perfectly with the coleslaw,asparagus and french fries! Oh and a glass of celebratory Champagne and

I also had an unphotographed glass of the Cabernet Franc we gave to Preston for Father’s Day.

How was everyone’s weekend? Ready for the work week to start?

Weekly Recap: Wine, Caprese Salad, Pizza…

Body:

Yoga twice
Strength Three Sessions
Cardio 5 days
Elliptical, Biking, No Running yet! My leg still feels a little over-used, so I am definitely taking caution by only doing exercises that feel great. I have lost weight since I stopped running, which is rather contradictory. I just noticed it this past week and am not hugely concerned, I think it is interesting. I think it might have to do with the fact that when I would run on several days of the week, I would be so hungry and eat so much more than usual! I am definitely back to strength training much more than I was while doing training runs, so at least I am keeping up with my muscle mass.

Mind:
My exam tuesday went well, as did test corrections, then Jeff brought over a (semi) new fridge for the kitchen as a surprise! I did well on the final exam friday, but not as fantastic as I would have liked on the phone interview.  I think I actually over-prepared which can be detrimental sometimes!

We will see how it goes! Thank you to everyone that had voted and wished me well. I enjoyed the experience and glad I went through the process of videotaping myself, applying for a dream job and actually having the opportunity to do a subsequent phone interview! In the next round, the Top 50 will write a 500 word essay which would be another excellent task that I hope I can participate in.

Soul:

I am very passionate about my nutrition degree but strongly feel that school will be there waiting for me, should I move on in this interview process.  My program is growing and expanding everyday. If I were to take 6 months off from studying, I would only gain more from the experience. I would leave with knowledge of wine-making, a great network of people, a better understanding of California agriculture, and all of that would be fantastic to have while finishing my degree.

Jeff is away this weekend in Charleston for a bachelor party ( Eeep!)… No, truthfully, I am not worried much at all. I have such a great trust in him that leaves me with no concerns. I am actually quite excited about the weekend away because:

• I have already managed to split a bottle of Murphy-Goode Cabernet ( Alexander Valley) with my lovely friend Andrea
• I am done with summer school and can RELAX
• I get the whole couch to myself
• I watched “The Women” last night
• I put everything wherever I want to in the house…i.e I have bridal magazines ALL over the living room along with my sweaters in case I get chilly
• I am celebrating my friend Andrea’s birthday tonight
• I am about to head to my friend Sarah’s and lounge by the pool for the day

I just want to highlight the great eats of the week instead of give you every meal, I was so busy so some meals were just not that interesting!

Grilled King Mackerel, Garlic Basil Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with a glass of Murphy-Goode Chardonnay

I boiled red potatoes, then added greek yogurt, some butter, salt, pepper, and basil that I had sliced chiffonade style. The creamy potatoes went perfect with the creamy, buttery Chardonnay. I smelled the aromas of oak and vanilla slightly, tasted flavors like mango and apple, and was surprised at the richness of this Chardonnay! I am not even a fan of Chardonnay in general, but this was a great buy at $17 here in NC. I think if you are going to spend $9-$10, it would definitely be worth your money to spend just a tad more to get a better quality wine such as this!

Caprese Salad

You know I am utilizing all of my ingredients this week in everything! I made a separate Caprese Salad after making Caprese Mac n Cheese earlier this week. I used up the tomatoes, some basil, mozzarella and Balsamic Vinegar, toasted garlic ( just 1 clove), and a little organic Olive Oil. Delicious! This was great to have throughout the week!

Great Snack: Nectarine Mozzarella Kabob 

I used up the last nectarine and the last of the mozzarella by making it into a kabob. I actually added basil after ( the recipe involved these ingredients but I used up too much of everything to make the original recipe!) and I was again surprised at the fantastic combination. I am interested in making it again more “properly”.

Another great snack: Yogurt with berries and pb…

Dinner with Andrea:

A slice of GIANT pizza and a side salad with Murphy-Goode Cabernet.
The pizza was from our favorite, Ruckus. I had Ham, Pineapple, Jalepeno Peppers, and Mushrooms on mine and it was awesome!
I will recap the wine in another separate wine post, so look forward to that!

Solo Dinner!
At the end of my week, I was on my own for dinner and all I wanted was something fast and easy. I made a boca burger wrap with steamed veggies and fat free Feta . Also, I munched on the latest and greatest from PopChips: Sour Cream and Onion!

 

I was ecstatic to see a package from them with their new flavors! I will get together a post for them because these were AWESOME ! Go out and try some now! Or check out my review on their other flavors HERE 

I now go poolside.. What is your plan for the weekend?

Here I go!!

Body:
Rest Day!

Mind:
Last Exam of Summer Session Microbiology!
I cannot believe that I missed 25% of the course and have done above average as far as test grades! I think it shows my perseverance in adverse situations.
Final Exam went well- Thank you for all the good luck wishes!

Soul:

I shared some Murhpy Goode (Alexander Valley) Cabernet Sauvignon with my lovely friend Andrea  and I am looking forward to a fantastic weekend with all of my friends! Lounging poolside with Sarah, celebrating Andrea’s Birthday… Two weekends ago I was in the Outer Banks, this past weekend Bald Head Island, it will be a fun weekend at home for a change!

 

I am anxiously awaiting my phone interview with Murphy Goode! Here I go…

Product Review: PB2 and Chocolate PB2

This product was a celebrity peanut butter on the blogosphere a few months ago and I was overjoyed to see samples from Bell Plantation arrive with their powdered peanut butter product, PB2 and a sample of their chocolate PB2!

First up: Chocolate PB2

Ingredients: Roasted Peanuts, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.

Serving Size: 2 Tablespoons (12 grams)

Servings per container: 16

Calories:  52.2

Calories from Fat  12.8

Total Fat: 1.42 g

Saturated Fat: 0.46 g

Unsaturated Fat: 0.89 g

Trans Fat: <0.01 g

Cholesterol: <0.1 mg

Sodium: 59.9 mg

Total Carbohydrate: 6.0 g

Dietary Fiber: 1.03 g

Sugars: 3.65 g

Protein:  3.85 g

Vitamin A (IU):  <1 %

Vitamin C (mg):  <0.1 %

Calcium (mg): 11.2 %

Iron (mg):  0.73 %

I had mine mixed separately and dipped my oatmeal into it. Then I drizzled it on my oatmeal.

Oh my goodness! It tastes like frosting, really, chocolate peanut butter frosting! It was so delicious that I thought I was eating the frosting off of a cupcake! Neither flavors (chocolate and peanut) overpowered the other and it was very smooth but thick.

I love the nutrition facts! I think healthy fats are wonderful, but they do add up the calories pretty easily! This would be a great dessert option for a frosting that is much healthier than the saturated fat /sugar of buttercream etc. !

PB2: Regular Peanut Butter Flavor

Ingredients: Roasted Peanuts, salt, and sugar

Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (12 grams)

Servings Per Container: 16

Amount Per 2 Tablespoon Serving (*when mixed with water):

Calories                          53.2

Calories from Fat           16.8

Total Fat:  1.87 g

     Saturated Fat:  0.34 g

     Trans Fat:  0 g

     Unsaturated Fat: 1.53 g

Cholesterol:   0 mg

Sodium:  77.6 mg

Total Carbohydrate:  3.4 g

     Dietary Fiber 0.48 g

     Sugars  1.66 g

Protein   5.65 g

Vitamin A (IU)  0%

Vitamin C (mg)  0%

Calcium (mg)  1%

Iron (mg)  2%

I enjoyed this with banana slices and with oatmeal. I think this is such a fantastic option for Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwiches, because those can be very high in kcal and not very voluminous. Using a lower kcal pb that is lower in sugar and saturated fat could help make a pb&j sammy a better meal constituent.

Taste: It tasted just like any creamy peanut butter. I actually like this better than most peanut butters because it didn’t have the oily mess of naturals but it wasn’t so sweet and trans fat tasting like common brands ( jiffy, skippy, etc. ).

Pros:

This peanut butter is powdered, which means much like circa The Depression, it will last for a much longer time!

It does not require refrigeration!

It boasts 5 g of protein and less than 2 g of Fat! Those healthy unsaturated fats and high protein content make this nutritionally sound!

Because you have to mix it with water, so you can actually tailor the consistency to your preference. 

Taste! Those that prefer the more creamy texture of Jiff, Skippy etc. would enjoy the taste of this creamy PB2 while reaping the healthier ingredients.

Cons:

You must mix it with water to get the correct consistency. This is usually not an issue but could be if you aren’t close to a water source!

It costs just about the same as other peanut butters ( $3 per jar) but you most likely have to order it online and pay for shipping.

It is available in many stores now as it gains popularity, however, still not in any stores near me!

Verdict:

I am going to be purchasing a 4 pack as soon as I get a little more money in my Pay Pal account! You can check out more info on it at www.BellPlantation.com

Insalata Caprese Mac &Cheese

Tuesday morning, I awoke to the sounds of pouring rain. It was quite nice and made me want to lay there for awhile. Then, I realized it had been raining all night! Not only was our roof was leaking and basement beginning to flood, but our street and yard were completely, totally, under water!

I almost freaked out but tried to keep calm, eat breakfast, gather my notes and hope to get to my exam in one piece ( with a running, non-water logged, car)

Mind:
I did collect myself and managed to be incredibly focused on my exam! I think (hope) that I did really well on this because I just felt like I knew those answers- not a “sure” but I thought through each answer and picked my answer before looking at my choices.Fingers crossed!

Body:
Elliptical 40 minutes, Ab Work: 10 minutes

Vigorous Flow Yoga. This was my second time and it was just as challenging as the first time. It was rather rejuvenating, however, my lower back is a little sore!

Soul:
it feels like a huge relief and confidence booster to have exam #3 go well. The Final on Friday morning seems more ” attainable” now and less of a “oh goodness” worry!

Breakfast:
Oats, Fruit, PB- I stuck with what I wanted even if it was the same as yesterday!

Lunch:
Leftovers of course… fish, veggies, cous cous, steamed vegetables…

 

Dinner:

Insalata Caprese Mac & Cheese!

It was so incredibly easy to make this version “Adult” Mac& Cheese. Last week I made Annie’s as did a lovely blogger Kristen of EatingRD. She had bulked hers up with tofu and broccoli and it looked fabulous! I purchased tofu and tempeh and all the ingredients for a bulked up Italian style “Caprese” dinner. I  was already purchasing fresh mozzarella and basil for a recipe I saw in “Health” magazine with nectarines so I knew  it would be a great way to fully use all the ingredients in different recipes this week.
 

Annie’s Organic Whole Wheat Shells all “grown up” with basil (chiffonade), sliced baby roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella chunks, bacon ( instead of Proscuitto) and tossed in some spinach (frozen, thawed with hot spaghetti water) for extra Vitamin C, Carotenoids and Folic Acid!

 
On the side I made a rather random but delicious salad of green cabbage, organic sprouts, and skillet-heated Tempeh. I added Goddess Dressing and boy, was that ever tasty!

 
That was my first time making Tempeh, so I will have to give my thoughts fully after having more in the next few days.

This morning is our last day of Summer Session Microbiology!! Jeff also leaves for a Bachelor Party today, which is exciting for him but also a little ” oh my I wonder what will occur” kinda feeling for me!  I have the final tomorrow morning and the phone interview for Murphy -Goode tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck!

How has everyone’s week been?

Grilled Cheese Apple French Toast

Grilled Cheese Apple French Toast

Here was my exact thought process for lunch on Monday:  “I really should use up this bread… I want some egg whites… What else goes with eggs? Cheese! What goes well with cheese…? Apples!! “

And now I present, Grilled Cheese Apple French Toast

Ingredients for One:
2 slices of whole wheat bread, slightly toasted
1/2 cup egg whites whisked with a splash of milk ( 1-2 Tb)
1/4 cup shredded cheddar ( I used a reduced fat type)
1/4 of apple sliced thin ( I used a Golden Delicious for a crispy sweet texture)

Directions:
Heat nonstick skillet. Mix egg whites and milk for batter. Dip toast slices in batter, lay into pan. Turn when you smell the bottom is done ( that is how I do it…). Allow to cook for 1 minute before adding cheese and apple slices. Make it into a sandwich!

I had the rest of the apple sprinkled with cinnamon on the side for lunch today!

Let me tell you, I thought this tasted awesome! Out of all the french toast creations I have done ( pumpkin french toast, monte cristo, french toast marmalade, the list goes on) I think this ranks up near the very top! However, every time I make a french toast creation, I think it seems better than the previous!

1 Sandwich provides approximately 230 kcal, 23g Protein, 10 g Fat

Dinner: Jeff made me dinner because I had so much to study, isn’t that sweet?!? He is sweet. He made an AWESOME meal as well- He put fresh organic tomatoes, fresh green beans, and sliced red potatoes into foil with seasoning, vinegar and oil and onto the grill. He also grilled chicken breasts with hot sauce.


( I didn’t quite finish all of that!!!)
It was perfect because while he cooked I managed to get through all of the material I brought home after a long day of studying on campus, the gym and class!

Body:

Strength:
Chest, Shoulders, Triceps, Abs: Walking Push Ups and Alternating Plank Raises
Abs: Plank holds ( 4 for 30 seconds each)
Triceps: Overhead pulley extensions
Triceps: Pully Presses
Chest: Incline Bench

Cardio:
Biking! 45 minutes flew by!

I am hoping to get in a yoga class tomorrow to help de-stress-ify before my final exam and interview!

Mind:
Studied… studied and then… studied! Wish Me luck on Exam #3!

Soul:

I love productivity but I felt really balanced today! I had a great workout but my day was also filled with tons of studying and even a little more wedding info details!

I love that Jeff made dinner because it really helped me get more done too!

Oh and I almost forgot again, Breakfast was my usual favorite…

Scrumptious Sunday

Started with coffee and Banana Nut Cheerios overlooking the Marina at Jeff’s dad’s place.

I spent the first part of the morning studying for the final exam doing my test corrections from Exam 2. I started to study for Exam 3 and then also looked over wedding photos from Saturday and from the wonderful Erica of Itzy’s Kitchen. She took photos of Wild Dunes in SC for another possible wedding site! Isn’t that wonderful of her? She is a sweetheart.

I had forgot my phone charger at home!! That meant, I could not call my mom or friends or sister at all !! Jeff left early in the morning for a fishing trip with his Dad, otherwise, I could have used his phone probably.

Mid-Morning I was still hungry so I had a slice of Banana Bread that Jeff’s dad’s girlfriend had made- It was FANTASTIC!

Late Lunch:
( since the guys were not back yet) I had leftover pizza from the night before…

The guys finally got back and 

Jeff caught a gazillion fish in the ocean! He had such a fantastic time and I had a fantastic ( quite) time looking over wedding ideas and Microbiology notes!
 
These were the only two fish they kept, King Mackerels! The FDA has advised women ( and children) on eating fish such as King Mackerel. Fish that are high in mercury can contribute to the build up of mercury in your system, which could be detrimental to children and women ( those intending to become pregnant in the next year or currently pregnant, as the build up can remain for up to one year). They suggest consuming such fish ( in 3 oz servings) no more than twice a week, although, this can be averaged over several weeks. For example, you could catch and eat this fish three times in one week and balance that by consuming one serving once the following week. Salmon and tuna are actually quite low in mercury as well as many other fish – It is suggested to consume no more than 3 servings per week of those lower mercury fish. Check out more information HERE if you are interested! Mercury levels for other types of fish can be found HERE . Although this info is outdated from 2004, its the best FDA has.

We arrived at home safe and sound but exhausted!! To accompany our lovely King fish, I made super-quick Organic Whole Wheat Cous Cous ( boil water, throw it in, sit for 5 minutes, fluff , eat!) and Healthy Fried Okra!

Here is how I make Healthy Fried Okra for 2:

Ingredients:
1 cup Frozen Okra, thawed
~ 1/4 cup whole wheat flour and 1/4 cup cornmeal ( you could just use cornmeal or a gluten-free flour), seasoned with salt & pepper
2 Tb Greek Nonfat Yogurt, 1 Tb Egg Whites
1-2 Tb Oil

Directions:
Heat oil in skillet. Whisk Yogurt and Egg white inside deep bowl. Mix flour, cornmeal, salt & pepper well in a separate bowl, pouring half onto a plate. Add Okra to wet bowl, coating well. Add Coated Okra to plate, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 of dry mix reserved in bowl. Add okra to skillet. Flip after approx. 3-4 minutes.

We heated up some frozen spinach, squash, pepper and onion as well!

After unpacking everything, making and eating dinner, starting laundry, and finishing my test corrections due Monday morning- I fell into bed and immediately asleep!

Body:
Rest

Mind:
I felt that I prepared for the final really well by doing the test corrections because they really force you to go back and find the answers to the questions you didn’t know! The ones I got right were ones that I already knew, so no sense in studying that!

I did find a few more alternative wedding places!

Soul:
Such a fantastic weekend! Wedding Location Search (2) Was So AWESOME!