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Posts Tagged Whole Foods

Out of Practice

Sep 15

Posted by Shari B. in Adventures in Dehydrating, Adventures in Home Gardening, Keeping Fit | 3 Comments

Hey blog buds!  Happy “JERSDAY”! (New Jersey Shore episode tonight, woot woot!)

I am happily feeling yesterday’s workout.  I did a quick but effective Tabata workout consisting of:

I love the effect that the windmills have on my shoulders.  It’s a total body move that utilizes a lot of core and stabilization, but the light soreness I get after doing them is mostly in my shoulders and upper back.  LOVE that move!  It’s a “new to me” exercise in the last month, so I’m starting with light weights when I do it.  Currently using just a 5 lb DB and STILL feel it!

I took a very chilly 30 minute power walk right after my workout too.

I had 1/2 of a Larabar before my workout.

I hit up Target to look for a travel iron and while I was there I had a decaf soy caffe misto.  I always forget about the misto, which is less expensive (and less caloric) than a latte.  My tall misto was 70 calories and $2.20 or so.  It’s basically equal parts coffee and steamed milk (or in my case, soy milk… still awaiting the arrival of almond milk at local SBUX stores).  So in Italy this concoction is called Caffe Misto while in France it’s Cafe au Lait.

I realized yesterday as I was driving away from Target how out of practice I am at snapping a pic of EVERY thing that crosses my lips, like I did when I first started logging my food on the blog.  It just doesn’t occur to me sometimes like it used to!  So I don’t have a picture of my misto to share!

I also don’t have a picture of my soup and salad lunch that I had at the Whole Foods.  I met a good friend there to grab a bit at noon and I had a kale salad with olive oil, pepitas, dried cranberries and grape tomatoes with a cup of their vegan savory quinoa soup.  It was delicious!

Dinner was completely out of character and not the cleanest…  I think my mind is already in vacation mode, because all I wanted was pizza.  And rather than make a pita pizza at home, I went out to pick up a single slice from a local pizza joint that I’d never tried called Big Bill’s NY Pizza.  Topped with eggplant and mushrooms.

I had intended to add a bunch of stuff to it when I got home, like sliced black olives, spinach, tomatoes – but I was FULL ON lazy last night.  I’m so not loving the dreary weather!  I feel like I need to eat “hibernation” foods!  :D

I do appreciate that I can go somewhere to purchase just a single slice.  This is all strategy on my part.  If I were to order a full pizza, I’d eat too much of it.  It’s not a food I can easily stop eating when I’m full and because I know this I find a workaround.  If I just get a slice and bring it home, that’s all there is.  (I use this strategy with desserts as well, which is why you don’t see me write much about making desserts at home.  It’s better for me to go pick up a single mini-cupcake or cookie than make a whole batch at home.)

Other than lunch, the rest of my day yesterday was pretty lacking in greens and fresh food so I’m making up for it today.

“Sunrise”  juice with carrots, broccoli stem, kale, cucumber, celery and a bit of lemon:

Then I mixed up the pulp and am attempting a raw bread in the dehydrator.  If it works out, I’ll put a recipe out here for it.

And I also have a batch of kale chips in the dehydrator.

This is kale from my garden.  And I refer to it as BABY KALE because the leaves are pretty tiny.  And it’s getting cold so fast here now that I feel like I need to keep harvesting because I think the growth might slow WAY down soon.  It’s getting into the 40s at night and right now as I type this at 9:32 AM it’s still only 52 degrees.  Record breaking heat at the beginning of the month and now I’m digging out mittens for my walks and runs.  WOW.

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CHECK IT OUT

Now, for something fun if you like giveaways, head over to the Brooklyn Fit Chick blog where she is giving away a copy of Bethenny Frankel’s latest yoga workout DVD.  Of course I entered!  And you should too!  (Who doesn’t love to win a blog giveaway AND get a new workout to do in the process?)  I really enjoy the BFC blog, especially her “What Have We Learned This Month” posts which recap what you’ll find in magazines each month, like SELF, Prevention, More, Oxygen, etc.

Have a great day friends!  I’ll see you tomorrow for the FINAL day of our 3 weeks of cleaner eating!  I’m going to have a STRONG FINISH today and tomorrow!  How ’bout you?

– Shari B. =)

 

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Whole Foods Show and Tell

Jan 26

Posted by Shari B. in Keeping Fit | 8 Comments

Hi FitFeat friends!

Ahhh, another Monday behind us.  Hope yours was better than mine.  :)

I had the kind of Monday that warranted pouring my Kombucha Tea (aka The Bubbly) into a wine glass… because it would at least SEEM like I was drinking wine!  Am I the only cuckoo bird that likes to put everyday non-alcoholic drinks into glasses traditionally reserved for the hard stuff? ;)   Somehow it makes them feel more “fancy” to me.

I enjoyed a splendid rest day on Sunday (from exercise, that is).  I’d planned to do a little yoga, but errands, laundry, housecleaning, blogging, football and book-reading won out.  And Whole Foods shopping, can’t forget that!  I do have a few more fun treasures to share from my weekly visit to Whole Foods though! (Yesterday I shared my joy in finding prewashed and precut KALE!)

Join me in a little SHOW and TELL, won’t you?

First, is this not one of the prettiest heirloom tomatoes you’ve seen?  I haven’t yet been able to bring myself to cut into it.

Next I stumbled upon some Meyer Lemons!

I was looking for Meyer Lemons around New Years Eve when I made that Sweet Cashew Cheese to take to the dinner party.  It was called for in the recipe, but  I wasn’t able to find them at the time.  I ran across them on this particular visit and brought home a small bag.  Upon reading the back of the package I learned something new:  Did you know that Meyer Lemons are a cross between a LEMON and a MANDARIN ORANGE?  I had no idea!

They do have a slightly sweeter taste.  It’s interesting because you first taste the mandarin and think “oh wow, it kind of tastes like a tart orange” and then all of a sudden the ZIP of lemon hits your taste buds and you think, “Oh that is DEFINITELY a lemon!” That’s a tricky little citrus right there!

And of course I had to make more of the Sweet Cashew Cheese so that I could compare between last time (with regular lemons) and this time with the Meyer version.

So I soaked my cashews for a few hours:

And when the batch was done in the food processor, it was time to schmear a cracker:

Looks like ricotta, doesn’t it?  (And actually I like the cashew cheese just fine with either type of lemon, as it turns out.)

Even the crackers were a new find at WF.  Nita’s Spelt.  I have a new favorite cracker.  Mary, I hate to say it but Nita is giving you a run for you money in the Best Cracker Race (and I don’t feel like I’m going to chip a tooth when biting into one!)

They’re even made here in Colorado!  BONUS!  :) Check me out, buying locally!  (OK, you got me – I’d probably still buy these awesome crackers if they were shipped in from Timbuktu.)

Today’s Question:  What is your favorite healthy cracker?  And what’s your favorite topping to put on that cracker?

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Monday exercise was the full Physique 57 DVD.  I still cannot get completely through the “Thigh Dancing” section without crying out a string of cuss words and having to stop for a second here and there.  Oh. My. BURN is an understatement.  I thought it might be about time to write the review for it because I’ve had the DVD for about a month now.  But then I added up the number of times per week I’ve actually DONE the DVD and realized I need to give it some more time to do its thing.  :)   In 25 days I’ve P57′d 7 times.  Gosh it feels like I’ve been doing it every other day!  Guess not!  Good thing I had my super simple no-slacker tracker to set me straight!

OK kids, off I go to get ready for some client training!  Make Tuesday TERRIFIC!  See you next time!

–Shari B. =)

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The Day of Many Dates

Dec 31

Posted by Shari B. in Cooking, Keeping Fit | 8 Comments

Hi friends!  Happy New Year’s Eve!  :)   My eyes popped open at 4:03 a.m. this morning – oh boy, midnight seems like a L-O-O-O-N-G time from now.  I have a feeling I’ll be celebrating on East Coast time and out like a light at 10:02.  ;)   That is, if MSP is driving us home from the party.  If not, I better borrow some toothpicks from the marinated mushrooms I’m taking so that I can keep my eyelids propped open long enough to drive home.  Then it might me more like 10:32.

Yesterday was a great (if not super busy) day.  I had dates with a couple of “new friends”, Tanya and Alicia.

First Tanya.  She is the instructor on the “Physique 57″ DVD.  Still doing my ‘try lots of new exercises till I can get OUTSIDE for a run’ game.

There is only ONE reason really that I chose to purchase this DVD – this little lady right here:

(Photo Source)

I have a little “fitness crush” on Kelly Ripa.  So if SHE does it, I wanna try it too.   Her transformation through the years has been fun to watch.  She’s said in the past that she goes to classes at Physique 57, so now that it’s available via DVD I wanted to see what it does to my body, being someone who already works out with weights and runs.  I’ll keep you posted for sure!

My second date was with Alicia Silverstone:

It was a short date, only enough time for one chapter.  I’ve been coveting this book since its release.  And I took a good long look through it at Borders the day after Christmas.  It has a beautiful full color format and a lot of great recipes.  And as much as I wanted to take it home that day, I knew it was half the price on Amazon.  The first chapter and the intro are great – I have a feeling I’ll love this book.  I’ll give a better review when I’ve read it and tried some recipes.

I also had dates with Costco, Vitamin Cottage, Safeway and Whole Foods!  (Any guesses on what I had for dinner? Yep, Gigande Beans at the WF Food Bar!)

And last but not least I had a date with my kitchen.  It was a messy date, can ya tell?   :)

When you are in the mood for new recipes that are healthy, raw and vegan, head on over to Choosing Raw.

Gena’s blog always inspires me.  She has a style of writing that I could read all day.   And recipes that I could try all day as well.  This week, I tried her Raw Zucchini Hummus and her Cashew Cheese with Meyer Lemon & Cherries.  Except that my hummus wasn’t completely raw, and my ‘cheese’ didn’t have meyer lemons OR cherries in it.  But you work with what you’ve got, right?

The zucchini hummus is genius.  I love it.  I will love it even more when the tahini that I currently have in stock is GONE (because it’s roasted AND salted) and then I can buy the raw unsalted version.  This brand I have in the fridge has an almost burnt flavor that is too strong in this hummus, but luckily it has mellowed out in the fridge the last few days.

Per Gena’s recipe notes I did NOT add the sesame seeds so in turn I also left out the olive oil. It came out with a perfect hummus consistency.  ;)   Yesterday I smeared it on Wasa crackers with some mashed avocado and leftover black bean burgers halves for lunch at my desk.

I know, I know, again with the blurry iPhone photo! How 'bout that snazzy legal pad placemat too?

And the sweet Cashew Cheese?  Amazing.  It reminds me of neufchatel cheese with the subtle tart and sweet flavor.  I couldn’t find Meyer Lemons (so I used regular lemons) and I didn’t have dried cherries (so I added a small palmful of raisins), but it’s fantastic nonetheless.  It made me want to smear it all over a cranberry bagel.  But that would defeat my ‘clean eating’ somewhat.  So instead I’ll probably put it on some Ezekial toast or a sweet wheat cracker that I happen to have on hand. It would also make a perfect breakfast crepe filling.

Gena's Cashew Cheese with Lemon

Part of the excitement in trying this cashew cheese?  Getting to use one of my new xmas gifts from MSP:

A microplane superfine zester!  It rocks!!  I’ve been using a teeny tiny thing that only takes off one piece of zest at a time, so I was SO excited to find this inside some gift wrap under the tree!!  (Isn’t MSP the best??  I’m certainly a lucky girl!)

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I’ve been reflecting on what an interesting year 2009 has been.  It started off a bit on the rough side and is ending beautifully.  Isn’t it fun to rewind the year and consider all of the changes that you never would have expected?  If you’d asked me last December 31 if I thought I’d:

  • walk away from my job with the really NICE salary and benefits during an economic recession
  • stop eating chicken, beef, pork and cow’s dairy and finally be someone who eats veggies because she WANTS to
  • eliminate soda, artificial sweeteners and a list of other ‘health thieves’
  • go back to personal training
  • start a fit living blog (and actually STICK WITH IT for more than 2 days!)
  • make new & wonderful friends all over the country from that blog (I love you guys!)
  • be able to go off ALL medications (and it was quite the laundry list)
  • recover from chronic insomnia
  • go on an RV adventure with my mom and grandma
  • and much, much more

I would have said you were talking crazy talk.

But lo and behold, that is what this year has included.  How about you?  What’s the most ‘surprising’ thing that’s happened this year that you would never have expected when you started 2009?

It has been an absolutely ENLIGHTENING year.  And I can’t WAIT to see what 2010 brings!

Have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR celebration tonight!  I’ll see you back here tomorrow!

– Shari B. =)

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ZPizza, Zupa and … Frosted Turkey!

Nov 24

Posted by Shari B. in Keeping Fit | 4 Comments

Hello blog buds!

I hope you didn’t think I stopped taking photos of all my food since my recent posts have focused a bit more on recipes or tips for staying fit during the holidays.  I haven’t stopped exercising either!  ;)   I’ve just been aiming to give you more quality content.  Allow me to do a little rewinding to the weekend and fill you in!

Saturday was time for some SOCIALCIZING!  I met up with one of my girlfriends for a wonderful hour-long power walk on a chilly morning.  It was crisp and refreshing.  Then we hit up Starbucks where not only did I have Zen green tea, but I also saw that they have finally released a DECAF version of their VIA instant coffee.  (It does NOT taste like instant at all!)  So of course I had to buy a few to bring home and sample.  I’m sold!

Sunday left me really wanting to get out and do a long slow run.  I haven’t been running much over 4 or 4.5 miles at a time this summer and fall.  And when Matt from No Meat Athleter reminded me of the genius that is Stu Mittleman’s Slow Burn, I figured it was high time to get out and just do a “comfy run”.  It was great.  I did 6.66 miles (yes, can you believe that’s the number my loop ended on… ??)  My pre-run fuel was a very Thrive-ish Coconut Cream Pie Larabar.  Stu may think that’s too much sugar – we’ll see when I re-read his book.  It’s been so long since I read it that I went ahead and ordered a copy to have for myself this time.  But no matter what he says, I will tell you that the Larabar was PERFECT for my energy levels for the run.  I’ve really found that particular flavor does the trick – thanks to the dates and the coconut oil ingredients.

I knew that I needed to get in a good meal to replenish the bod after the run so I made a Breakfast Quesadilla.  Here it is before I put the “lid” on it:

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Zucchini ribbons, a tiny bit of grated raw goat cheddar, spinach, tomato and a scrambled egg.  Served after baking for 10 minutes at 375 with a side of 1/4 sliced avocado:  

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 For lunch, MSP treated me to Zpizza where I ordered the “Berkeley Vegan” on a wheat crust with mushrooms, organic marinara, zucchini, veggie burger crumbles, red/green pepper and tomato slices.  It used to be that they used soy cheese and have now switched to vegan cheese (since most soy cheese still contains casein, a milk derivative.)  I’m not sure what to think about this new cheese – I’m thinking next time I’ll just go without any cheese at all, vegan or otherwise.   Here is their small pizza, from which I ate 2 pieces and brought the rest home.

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Here is their “box statement”  :)

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That night I was all over the Whole Foods SPICY PUMPKIN SOUP.  And they aren’t lyin’… it’s got kick.  With a whole lotta onion!  Mmmm, so good on a chilly night.  Doesn’t quite beat my Heavenly Ginger Squash Soup, but it’s much more convenient!

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And the only turkey I’ll be eating this holiday week is the one made of frosting on my 99 cent mini-cupcake…  I love the Whole Foods bakery!  SOOO CUTE!

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You know I love my little treats on the weekend.

Monday was a complete and total blur!  Busy busy from the time I got up till the time my head hit the pillow last night.  I still feel now like I could use a nap!  :)   I think instead I need a BIG HUGE GREEN SMOOTHIE as they have been missing from my life since last week.  Poor blender isn’t feeling the love.

Today I have a training client, a haircut, lunch with friends, shop for Thanksgiving food prep items, and if there is any time left I’ll try to get started on my xmas shopping.  Possibly a stop at a local tailor.  If anyone is in the South Denver area and can recommend a good tailor, please drop me a comment!  ;)  

Today’s question:  are you feeling stress-free and ready for Thanksgiving (and the subsequent holiday hub-bub) or do you feel like you have a million things left to do and not enough hours in the day to do them?  I am in the latter category, and I’m not even hosting Thanksgiving!!  :)  

Have a TERRIFIC Tuesday!

– Shari B. =)

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A Veggieful, Movieful Halloween

Nov 1

Posted by Shari B. in Handy Kitchen Tools, Keeping Fit | 1 Comment

Good morning FitFeat Friends!

Hope you had a marvelous Halloween!  From some of the blogs I’ve read this morning, sounds like it was a great holiday for many!  My Halloween was happy indeed.

Started the day with a pumpkin-themed green smoothie which I thought would turn out a crazy brown color by adding the pumpkin puree, but luckily it was still green! 

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Then out to run a few errands, one of which included picking up this early Christmas present for our kitchen:

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I’ve been making splashy messes all over the kitchen when washing greens, so when we got a $10 off coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond in the mail, it was time to make the purchase!  I can’t wait to use it!

Next stops were my two favorite places:  Starbucks and the library!  I had a soy steamer with no flavoring and picked up my “Ani’s Raw Food Kitchen” which was on hold for me at the library. 

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Later, we decided to go see a movie.  We hit up Whole Foods on the way to grab a portable lunch, sneakily stuffed it into my purse!

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I ordered “The Hampden” which was roasted veggies, pesto and feta on a flatbread.  Taking a picture with no flash in the theater does this…

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After a brief outdoor stint where I soaked up some vitamin D for the day (yes, I chose outside over yoga) we actually went BACK to Whole Foods for dinner.  We were going to go somewhere for takeout and I couldn’t make up my mind.  All the online menus I looked at and nothing sounded ‘perfect’.  So I asked MSP if we could just do the hot/cold bar at WF, where I could get a few things to please my tastebuds. 

I chose the marinated Gigande Beans, a Quinoa Pilaf, and some sauteed veggies.  And a Gingerberry BUBBLY!!  mmmmm  dinner was FAB! 

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We scanned through our Netflix on demand movies to find something Halloween-ish without being scary.  (I’m not a fan of scary movies anyway, but after a particularly intense scary movie last Halloween that still has me crazy scared of the dark a year later, we have decided that it’s just best for me NOT to watch them.  MSP does not like to have me underfoot and tripping him glued to him when it’s dark!)   We decided on “Interview with the Vampire”.  I’d never seen it all the way through when it was first released.  And as it turns out, have STILL not seen it all the way through since I konked out about 2/3 into it.  Yes, another night that I was unable to stay awake to see 9:00 p.m.   :)  

And as I figured, this morning when my body thought it was 5:00 a.m. LIKE CLOCKWORK my eyes sprung open.  Only thanks to the time change it was really 4:00 a.m.

I’ll probably do a face plant in my dinner tonight at like 6:15.  If I even make it to dinner….!

Luckily I have a Broncos game to watch in about 30 minutes, so maybe I’ll catch a few winks during that snoozefest game! 

– Shari B. =)

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Pavlov’s Veggie Dogs

Oct 24

Posted by Shari B. in Keeping Fit | 2 Comments

Good morning blog buds! 

Ahhh Saturday.  I say that every week, don’t I?  I am often amazed at how quickly weeks really do pass.  Can you believe that Halloween is next Saturday?? 

My big plans for today are heading out to the airport to pick up one of my two cousins.  (No I’m not leaving my other cousin stranded at the airport … she’ll be flying in a few hours later and her work is getting her a rental car.) 

I’d like to get out for a run this morning while we have some nice weather because more cold and snowy weather is on the way tonight.  (NOOOOOOO!)  I also have a To-Do List a mile long of other various things I want to accomplish before 10:40 am when I take off for Denver International.

Isn’t it ironic that one of the things on my TO-DO LIST is listen to more of my Tony Robbins audio of how NOT to live & die by the TO-DO LIST?  :) I’ve only made it through 2 out of 16 CDs.  Maybe learning how NOT to have a to-do list will be on disc #3…

So…my dogs are OBSESSED with veggies now.  We don’t give them ‘table scraps’ per se … should something fly off of our plates and land on the floor then it’s fair game.  But I do give them ‘veggie scraps’ when I’m making my green smoothies.  Rascal now knows the sound of the vegetable peeler and comes tearing into the kitchen in hopes of a nibble.  (I can grab the peeler from the dishwasher just to put it AWAY and he’ll come running… my peeler has become PAVLOV’S BELL!) 

Cucumber is their absolute favorite.  They both don’t like celery (they must get that from MSP!) 

Look who’s getting a little time out of her cone of shame?  :)   AND some cucumber… a dog’s life, I tell you.

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Mmm green breakfast.  Water, spinach, celery, cucumber, clementines, pepitas, broccoli slaw (yes broccoli slaw…hey it was in the fridge, might as well use it up!)

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A slice of Banana Bread mid-morning:

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Lunch was SUPPOSED to be my favorite Tokyo Joe’s salad:  the KIHEI.   Which normally has grilled mahi on it.  What they gave me was NOT mahi.  I don’t know what it was they decided to pass off as mahi but it was NASTY with a capital N.  Unfortunately after I took this photo, I cut the whole salad up into tiny bits (BEFORE tasting the fish).  Needless to say… it all got picked back out and we essentially spent $8.35 on a bowl of spinach with no fish.  Bugger!!  If I’d been AT their establishment I’d have said something, but it was takeout and we were already home.  Tokyo Joe’s, I’m on to you… you’ve always been my favorite healthy fast food place… but you’ve done me wrong a couple of times recently!  Soon you’ll be bumped off the list by Garbanzo’s!

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Here’s one place I know I can always count on my order tasting right:

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See how good I’ve been lately?  It’s been at least a week since I caved in to the Starbucks lure.  This was a soy latte, with ONE pump of Chai.  (Normally 4 pumps, and WAY too sugary.) 

I was starvin’ Marvin at about 4:00 so I ate the last bite of my raw goat cheddar and some pepitas to tide me over till dinner. 

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I ‘surprised’ MSP by announcing that I was treating him to one of his favorites:  Mama Roma Ristorante.  Instead of “Pasta Friday” at home, we were going to have “Italiano Friday” out.  He had his usual:  sausage and pepperoni Calzone, which he gets to enjoy again and again because they are HUGE so we always have a box to take home.  I had a side salad and a bowl of minestrone soup.  (And a glass of chianti… mmmm vino!)   No pic to share, I’m sorry to say.  There are some places where I feel a little TOO odd whipping out my camera and taking pictures of my food.  This was one of those places. 

I was in the mood to wander Whole Foods after dinner.  First, how weird am I that on a FRIDAY night, what constitutes as FUN for me is hanging out at Whole Foods.  Second, I should KNOW that my defenses will be down after having a big glass of wine at dinner and will probably buy a bunch of stuff I don’t NEED.  This is my version of drunk dialing, I guess.

And of course I left with two VEGAN cookies to enjoy (among other things):

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Do you have stores that put you in danger of doing serious damage to your budget or checkbook, like I do at Whole Foods??  There are SO many things there that I want to try.  I’m not a shopper for things like clothes (unless Nike Shox shoes count as ‘clothes) or purses or things like that.  But take me to a health food store and I’ll “ohh and ahh” all over the place!

Well kids, I better “ohh and ahh” myself away from the computer and get busy on “THE LIST”.  ;)   

Have a WONDERFUL weekend and I’ll see ya next time! 

– Shari B. =)

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Chillin' with Mr. Bill

Sep 14

Posted by in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Here we are at Monday again already!  And I’m up exceptionally early this morning.  As I begin this post it’s 4:32 a.m. so I’ll apologize now for any potential goofiness or typos!  (Or at least any goofiness BEYOND my normal level!)

My Sunday was so fun because it was nice and simple.  MSP and I wanted to just have a really nice ‘quality time’ kind of day together since I will be away from home for the next two weekends.  It was our planned ‘rest day’ for the week and a planned day to have a treat or two.  We visited a new outdoor mall area, admired a lot of architecture and landscaping, and soaked up some sunshine while strolling along.

First off, I had to use my Eudaemonic Starbucks mug because not only was I happy about our upcoming day together, but the scale gave me excellent feedback on this morning!  I have been aiming to maintain my weight, not necessarily lose.  But by making just a few subtle changes to my eating style, my body has really responded without any effort.  I can see the visual change in my body composition & in the way the clothes are fitting, so I decided to hop on the scale.   It was definitely an eudaemonic moment!   :)   I’ll make a future FitFeature about my philosphy on weighing oneself.

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So naturally I had to thank my bod by giving it more of what it loves!  An ENORMOUS green smoothie.  This one started with the usual 8 oz of water, to which I added 1/2 a cantaloupe, 1/2 pear, 1/4 cucumber, big fist o’ spinach, the last of my sprouts, and a celery stalk.)  No protein powder in this one.  MMMMMMmmmmmm the cantaloupe was a nice touch…  

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When I was ready for something a bit more substantial, I made some oatmeal (about 1/3 cup dry) topped with some almond milk, raisins, a drizzle of raw honey and a few crumbles from a Coconut Cream Pie Larabar.  I can’t even tell you how GOOD that Larabar makes the oatmeal – you need to try it!  I break off about 1/4 to 1/3 of the bar.  This is seriously like dessert. 

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MSP and I went to a few home goods stores in search of something decorative to put on top of the living room project that is underway so at lunchtime we decided to hit up the brand new Whole Foods over in another part of town.  I had a ‘build your own Asian stirfry’ with shrimp, shitake mushrooms, snow peas, asparagus, broccoli, tomatoes, rice noodles, thai peppers, edamame, water chestnust and Thai Lime sauce.  It was fabulous and SO HUGE that I will probably be eating from this all week. 

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We then wandered through every aisle of this Whole Foods.  It is SO MUCH BIGGER than the one by our house!  I’m so jealous!  I was “oooing and ahhing” all over that store.  I picked up some Sunshine falafel ‘burgers’ while I was there because our store doesn’t carry that flavor.  I’ll definitely go out of my way to shop at this one more often. 

The bakery at this particular Whole Foods was amazing as well.  So we couldn’t resist picking out some treats to take home for a mid-afternoon snack/dessert.  This little guy reminded me of Mr. Bill!  He’s almost too cute to eat!

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See the resemblance? 

Mr Bill

 OHHHHH NOOOOOOO! 

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I also had this green mini-cutie.  I really think they should put some more frosting on their cupcakes.  ;)

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The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent in a sugar-induced fog.  My tummy was a bit unhappy with me for the blast of sugar, so all I really wanted was something light to snack on.  I had some Baked Scoops while I watched some football and later polished off my manchego sheep’s cheese.  
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It was a great way to finish out the weekend! 

Today’s questions:  If you are one who is normally a healthy eater, do you eat occasional treats?  Or do you find it easier to just exclude them altogether?  Personally I like to treat myself to something sugary that I consider ‘fun’ every once in a while – in part because I usually feel not so great after and it reinforces why I choose to eat nutritious food the rest of the time.  Drop me a comment! 

Hope your week is off to a great start!  See you next time!

– Shari B. =)

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