Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Snowy Day & Hula Hoops

Hello,

Overnight oats were delish:
 
-1/3 c each oats, milk, plain 0% greek yogurt
-1 Tbsp chia seeds
Soaked overnight & topped with:
-1/2 banana
-1 Tbsp slivered almonds
-1 Tbsp granola

Lunch was leftovers, but a good mix, all heated up and topped with some extra feta cheese:
-1 square of spanokopita
-1 c brown rice
-1/2 c toasted chick peas

To make the chick peas, drain a can of chick peas & toss with a tsp or 2 of evoo, and any spices you want. I like a tsp or 2 of maple syrup, cinnamon & nutmeg. Then, spread the beans on a cookie sheet & bake at 350* for ~15 minutes. Really good, really.
After about an hour of studying muscles, I decided to go get some of my own. I headed to the gym for a Body Defined class, but when I arrived....


 
It was a hula hooping class! I didn't have a cool outfit like these ladies, but I was better that I thought I would be, and it was fun.  Abs might be sore tomorrow!

Started snowing like crazy today. The real heavy snow in huge flakes. It was cute, but I don't want any of that craziness that has shut down MD, DC & VA.




Monday, February 15, 2010

Sushi & Spinach

So nice to have a long weekend!
I finally got caught up on a bunch of things that I have been putting off...including blogging.

I knew that I wanted today to be a productive day, since I relaxed and had fun the rest of the weekend. So, I started the day with an energizing Green Monstah: 

 
-3/4 c 1% milk
-1 frozen banana (could use fresh & add a few ice cubes)
-2 big handfuls of spinach
-topped with ~2 Tbsp homemade almond-oats granola
-1 scoop chocolate protein powder 

 This was really so good. You don't taste the spinach AT ALL. It just gives it a cool color, but tastes like a banana smoothie. Plus, it feels good getting a vegetable in by 8am. I might add a Tbsp of almond or peanut butter instead of the protein powder next time, because it was pretty sweet.

I lost some steam in the late morning, so I decided to go for a walk around the park for 20 minutes or so to clear my head. I buckled down after that and dug back into my work (planning my group interventions for overweight pre-teens in East Boston).

Tyler and I made a sushi dinner for Valentine's Day, so for lunch, I assembled some rolls from the leftover ingredients. 

2 rolls with:
-1/2 c. brown sushi rice
-2 oz imitation crab meat
-cukes & carrots
-wasabi, soy sauce, ginger

This was the second time that I have used brown rice for sushi, and I have to say that its good! I tried to buy the "cleanest" imitation crab meat, but even this "natural" brand had some questionable ingredients. I love the stuff though! And I can't afford sushi-grade tuna or anything fancy.
Aren't my flowers and turquoise table so pretty together? More pics of the kitchen coming soon when I'm done re-decorating.
 

Almost forgot that I had some kale chips for a snack. Just try them, trust me. 
 
 Wash a bunch of kale & tear bite-size pieces from thick stems
Place on a cookie sheet and coat with ~2 tsp evoo (I use a spray olive oil) & salt
Bake at 350* for around 10-15 minutes, until crispy, but not brown
Dip into ketchup
I more than needed to get out of the apt again, so I went to a 15 minute Core class and a 1 hr. Bosu Challenge class at the gym. I was exhausted by the end, but it was a really good workout. I am really starting to love the Bosu. No pics, but I made some spanokopita and salad for dinner. It was okay, but could have used about twice as much feta cheese + more oil.
 
I also snacked on some dried pineapple from TJs, which they brought back after a 6 month hiatus. I know, because I looked for it everyday. It is dangerously good.
And one last note: I have started thinking about my looming upcoming birthday--25!!! I feel old!! So to get myself more excited, I really want to make this cake (only smaller...maybe):
 
 

!!