Map It Out
November 27, 2009
If you want to see a good family fight, hand my mom a road map and put my dad in the driver’s seat…things will get ugly and most likely result in a few painful hours of tense road trip silence. I’ve also inherited my mother’s inability (I like to think of it more of a disinterest) in reading maps. The best part of living in and era with GPS systems and Google Earth is that you rarely need to resort to your own skills (I know I know…say it, this is typical Gen Y attitude).
Map My Run (www.mapmyrun.com) is my favorite online resource to literally..map my runs. Available also for swimmers and bikers (www.mapmyfitness.com), this site allows you to map out a course using Google maps to show mileage, terrain, elevation etc. I love using it because I can map out my exact course by simply dragging my cursor across the screen – including areas that are not normal trails/roads/streets etc. By creating a free user name and password you can also save an archive of your maps to either re-visit or share with other users. If you’re feeling lazy or uninspired by your boring routine, type in your zip code and pull up other people’s favorite routes.
Thankful For Leftovers
November 25, 2009
Not to be a Negative Nelly, but I’m already sick of Thanksgiving Turkey – less than 24hrs to carving up the bird and I’m planning its demise in leftover hell (well, some would consider it to be heaven).
Considering this year my T-Day cook space will include a teeny tiny studio kitchen it’s probably best to keep the leftover recipes quick and easy. Try ‘Real Simple’s’ Turkey, Dill and Orzo Soup for a healthier alternative to the creamier broths available in stores (add more veggies for greater punch).
Serves 4: Hands-On Time: 10m / Total Time: 25m
Simmer 2 cut-up carrots and ½ cup orzo in 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Stir in 1½ cups shredded roasted turkey and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill. Cook until heated through.
Here Is One Market Surving The Economy
November 23, 2009
This month in particular, New Yorkers seem eager to stock up on outdoor market fresh food for more of a communal and hands on eating environment – think massive hunks of Cornish bleu cheese with crisp slices of heirloom apples and figs in a tumbling heap across the table. I’m guessing Whole Foods is doing a rain dance hoping for bad weather to inspire more indoor commercial shopping.
My recent favorite hunting ground for a more interactive experience is the New Amsterdam Market at the South Street Seaport, inspired by Paris’ famed Les Halles. Only open every few Sundays, I went yesterday to load up on nutritious and hearty staples…i.e. chat up the vendors for amazing free samples. Although the whole ‘locavore’ trend is great for the environment/farmers etc. (read as blah blah blah), to me…buying regionally fresh food simply means a better taste and richer flavor plus you can find a wider variety of wholesome and natural items. New Amsterdam differs from the Greenmarkets by not requiring vendors to be the sole growers of their food – this attracts a wide range of family purveyors who source their stock directly from farmers and producers (think the circle of life for locavore maniacs).
The next and final appearance of the New Amsterdam Market for the year will be December 20 form 11am – 4pm. Go early with an empty stomach to sample your way through my favorite food stalls:
- Breezy Hill Orchard – hot fresh pressed cider
- Fleisher’s Grassfed & Organic Meats – 100% grass-fed beef nitrate/nitrate free hot dogs
- Sugar Maple Farms – rich maple syrup
- The Cellars at Jasper Hill – cheese to melt in your mouth
- Hudson Valley Farm – fresh chocolate milk that honestly made me want to hug a cow
- Eli’s Bread – loaves of hearty multi-grain
- Provisions Shop – lavender soap and Stonehouse olive oil (smelled SO good)
- Mama O’s Kimchee – spicy cabbage that will make your mama cry
- Port Clyde Fresh Catch – co-op lobsters, crabs and fish
…And THAT’S How We Cross The Bridge!
November 22, 2009
I knew when I received my confirmation email for the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp that I was in for a tough morning:
“You are confirmed for the 9am Saturday 60 minute class. Cheers, I look forward to KICKING YOUR BUTT!”
…and kick my butt (plus every other muscle) she did. Ariane Hundt, Personal Trainer and Nutritionist, trains her clients military style (imagine workout Barbie with a German accent) across the Brooklyn Bridge and back – 2.2 miles of interval sprints, stair climbs, squats, plies, lunges and upper body exercises using resistance bands (my triceps and traps are killing me today!) plus the structure of the bridge. I barely got a second to enjoy the view and fresh air as Ariane yelled over the noise of the traffic to ‘make it shake’ (your legs that is) during our chair sits against the middle tower wall.
I doubt the original engineers of the Brooklyn Bridge anticipated that their 5,989 feet of suspension would be infested with spandex clad yuppies. Having scaled back my exercise considerably in the past two months, I was definitely feeling the burn in the 60 minutes…but felt a little better seeing class regulars (even the men) also collapse after our repeated reps of push ups and firecracker jumping jacks. What I loved about the class was that it was dynamic and interesting, keeping us on our toes (literally) as to what the next hellish exercise would be. Ariane’s warm German accent (is that an oxymoron?) was encouraging and motivating yet still challenging enough to push me to my max.
I’ll definitely be going back to get my butt kicked…that is if I can ever stand back up again.
http://www.brooklynbridgebootcamp.com/
Two Thumbs Down
November 20, 2009
I try to tell myself that the reason I don’t go to the movies anymore is because of the absurdly overpriced tickets or that I can’t stand the 20 minutes of TV commercials PRE-previews (what happened to just playing cartoons by the way?!) …but in reality, I know my boycott of the big screen is because I can’t resist the amazingly buttery popcorn. Although I knew an apple would clearly be a better pick than even a “small” tub of kernels, I never realized exactly how big the difference was until just recently.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (think the Jenny Craig of non-profits) released a report that claims a medium popcorn and soda combo at the average movie theatre has 1,610 calories and 60 grams of saturated fat – to put it into perspective, this equals a stick of butter which is basically three days worth of saturated fat. For all of this, you could eat three McDonald’s quarter pounders. Even worse is that these statistics are BEFORE you even add the butter. According to this study, Regal Cinema is the worst when it comes to loading in the popcorn calories with AMC sliding in at a close second.
Instead of butter (and don’t think this is just my Asian pride taking over) I like to drizzle on soy sauce to get a salty/sweet popcorn combo. Some smaller boutique theatres also pop in non-hydrogenated canola oil or other healthier alternatives (for when you can’t sneak in a bottle of Kikkoman Soy Sauce).
I just hope they don’t release any info on Reese’s Pieces because then honestly, what is the point of going to the movies?!
This Aint No Sing A Long
November 19, 2009
I know that I’m not a celebrity or well endorsed pro athlete (…yet) but I still think that my iTunes workout playlist is worthy enough to post. Please leave all judging aside, my brothers already tease me enough for how bad my taste is in music. When it comes to running or even an at home yoga session, I need to have something fast, upbeat and even sometimes, a little angry…blasting at undeffening levels. My favorites for this week’ workout (in no particular order) include:
- Me Love by Sean Kingston
- Sexy Chick by David Guetta - featuring Akon
- Give it up to me by Shakira - featuring Timberland and Lil Wayne
- I can Transform Ya by Chris Brown – featuring Lil Wayne
- I love College by Asher Roth
- Obsessed by Mariah Carey
- Just Dance by Lady GaGa
- Love Lockdown Remix by Kanye West and LMFAO
- Replay by IYAZ
- Bombs Over Bagdad by Outkast
- Forever by Chris Brown
- Vamos A La Playa by Miranda
- Disturbia by Rihanna
- Sexy Can I by Ray J
- Breaking Inside by Shinedown
- Love and Memories by O.A.R.
- Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas
- Out Tonight by The Original Cast of RENT
- She Wolf (spanish version) by Shakira
- Empire State Of Mind by Jay Z – featuring Alicia Keyes
…Casey Kasem eat your heart out.
Mo Mo Momoya Please
November 18, 2009
I love sushi – thankfully for my mercury levels, its expensive enough where I don’t eat it every single day. Momoya is one of my favorite places to go for top grade sushi, not to mention it’s my go-to spot for pre-race day meals. Most athletes wouldn’t even consider fish before a long run, but my best morning miles are the ones following a large sushi dinner (hope you’re taking notes Paula Radcliffe).
At Momoya, I usually start with a bowl of steamed edamame ($5) and a fresh Seaweed Salad ($6) – their Warm Mushroom Salad ($10) is also great, and I don’t normally like mushrooms. As for the sushi, Momoya’s Fresh Spring Roll (shrimp, snow crab, avocado, tomato, red onion & cilantro $11) is a really nice clean finish. All of their rolls can be wrapped in soybean paper (mamenori) instead of the traditional seaweed (nori) – considering that neither have major health pros/cons it’s mostly personal preference as to how you like it ‘wrapped.’ One substitution that is worth the swap is brown rice in place of white for additional fiber and nutrients.
A few more salmon and avocado rolls and they’ll be calling me to run in the 2012 Olympics…
Are You Up For The Challenge?
November 18, 2009
On my list of ‘Things To Do’ in 2010 is the Snowshoe Challenge, organized by Peak Races (you may have heard of them from a little bike ride called the Tour de France or the Peak Death Race…host to ‘The 100 Toughest Races in the World”). Normally, I don’t like to write posts about anything that I haven’t personally tried. loved. or can’t live without. However, considering that this is something that requires a little planning, I thought it would be helpful to share info with everyone now…and if I survive…write about my experience in March once I complete the trek through the snow.
Other than it’s a long distance race in snowshoes…here are the down and dirty facts:
- Date: March 6, 2010
- Location: Amee Farm in Pittsfield, VT (approximately 5hr from NYC)
- Trail: un-groomed snowmobile trails marked with ribbons
- Distance: either…Marathon (7,200 feet of elevation change), Half Marathon or 6 miler (10 hour time limit)…SNOWSHOES ONLY – NO SNEAKERS OR TRAIL SHOES
- Aid: one aid station on the course and one at start/finish (BYO fuel!)
- Equipment: snowshoes available to rent - sledding also open to participants on 1 mile downhill course
- Food: post race pasta dinner at Amee Farm included in entry fee
- Lodging: options include any of the local hotels as well as camp sites or you can drive in just for the day
- Entry Fee: $60.00 by Feb 1 or $75 there after
- Register: http://www.races.peak.com/snowshoe/
I’m going to need to start logging some serious hill intervals and get used to training in the cold weather…hope there are hot chocolate breaks!
Shrimp And Snow Pea Salad
November 17, 2009
If you haven’t noticed a theme, I’m a shrimp lover. Providing low-fat and low-calorie protein, shrimp are dense in nutrients/vitamins including selenium and vitamin D and B12. A four ounce serving offers 23.7 grams of protein and only 112 calories (plus less than a gram of fat). However, many people avoid shrimp due to its high cholesterol content (even though its the good kind – i.e. HDL).
Since I’m never sure when I’m eating at home or going out, I keep a bag of frozen shrimp on hand for a last minute meal – defrost by running in a strainer under cold water (you don’t want warm because it will cook them - normal tap water will thaw them out within a few minutes). This Food Network (another theme you’ll notice) Shrimp and Snow Pea Salad recipe is a great easy dish.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces snow peas
- 1 1/4 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 6 radishes, thinly sliced into half-moons
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Bring a large saucepan of water with a steamer basket to a boil. Put the snow peas in the basket, cover and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the basket and transfer the snow peas to a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain and pat dry.
Add the shrimp directly to the saucepan of water and return to a boil; cook for 2 minutes. Drain, then plunge the shrimp into a bowl of ice water to cool. Drain and pat dry. Slice each shrimp in half lengthwise. Cut the snow peas diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces, discarding the ends. In a large bowl, toss the shrimp, snow peas, radishes and scallions.
In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar, both oils, the ginger and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss with the salad right before serving; top with sesame seeds.
Per serving: Calories 280; Fat 13 g (Sat. 1 g; Mono. 4 g; Poly. 3.5 g); Cholesterol 215 mg; Sodium 510 mg; Carbohydrate 7 g; Fiber 3 g; Protein 32 g
Loco For Our New Logo
November 17, 2009
If you’re a ‘Fan’ of The Fit Post on our new Facebook page, then a) welcome to the best Facebook experience of your life (exaggeration) and b) you’re already familiar with our new logo. If you’re not a fan then stop wasting time and click ‘become a fan’ on The Fit Post page. Regardless of your Facebook literacy, let me tell you more about our new logo and how I found the genius talent to design it (no exaggeration).
Talk about six degrees of separation… about a year ago when I first got the bug to start an informal healthy living site, I began speaking with (more like stalked) Christine Koh, founder of http://bostonmamas.com/. Christine introduced me to Zach Magoon as a potential resource to get my creative juices flowing. Fast forward to October 2009 when Zach and I officially started working together to develop The Fit Post brand. A flurry of emails and just a few phone calls later and…ta-da! Zach stylishly translated my commitment to healthy living and eating into digitally graphic art. Once I shared my new logo with my friends and family (let’s be honest, I practically showed it off to the guy bagging my groceries) I realized my good friend and former college roommate worked with Zach in a previous life – hello full circle! See below for this design genius’ bio and link to his work page. The logo will appear on our new site which I can’t wait to introduce you to December 21…talk about a happy holiday!
Zach Magoon:
Zach Magoon is a freelance art director, photographer and designer based in Portland, ME. Most days he can be found slinging pixels for web, print, or identity work in his studio. He is an avid mountain bike and cyclocross racer who is sponsored by Bikeman.com but also enjoys mountaineering, Nordic and telemark skiing and cooking up fine healthy meals at the end of the day. His only weakness, baked goods.
Salad Suicide
November 16, 2009
Would anyone like to start the meal with a salad or appetizer?
I’m like a deer in the headlights with this question, especially when I’m the first person to order. Internally I weigh my odds as to who else, if anyone, will want a pre-meal dish… what is the risk that the rest of table will have to sit and watch while I shovel food into my mouth? Alternatively, if I don’t order then I’m the one having to play with my napkin and avoid awkward food envy. When i’m hungry, my go-to decision is to order a salad.
I love any combination of food with my bed of mixed greens, however, I never understood the fascination with the chicken caesar salad. Of course, this is a better choice than the fried calamari or loaded potato skins, but when stacked against other green options it’s actually one of the worst salads to pick. According to the authors of ‘Eat This Not That’, an average dinner portion of the classic chicken caesar has 900 calories and 60 grams of fat. This isn’t a surprise considering it’s made up of layers of shaved parmesan cheese and dressed (usually “drenched” is the right word) with creamy dressing…not to mention stacks of croutons. The same portion of grilled chicken over mixed greens is 400 calories and 20 grams of fat.
However, if you’re like a few people I know and can’t let go of the Caesar, ask for the dressing on the side and skip the croutons. I lightly dip (don’t think of this as a dunk contest) every few fork fulls, ending up with about 3/4 of the dressing leftover at the end in the side dish…and not hanging off as arm fat 3 months down the road.
Break Bread At Le Pain Quotidien
November 15, 2009
A gray and hazy morning, filled with an incessant drizzle of rain…made even worse by a bluster of wind every now and then – all in all the City doing its best to ruin my mom’s fresh new cut from Bumble and Bumble. In town visiting for the weekend, I needed a warm place close by to take her for brunch. Thank god for Le Pain Quotidien (pronounced luh paN koh-ti-dyaN) and its 19 locations in Manhattan – another in Westchester but that’s too far of a trek for a bread basket.
French for ‘daily bread,’ Le Pain Quotidien first cropped up in Brussels and then made its way (thankfully) to the States. With a low-key West Coast vibe, each ‘seat yourself’ location includes a long communal table as well as individual areas for anti-social seating (i.e. for my mom and I). The flooring and furniture include reclaimed wood and recycled Gypsum, lit with energy-efficient lamps. Even the corn-based disposable cups and spoons are made from potato starch to degrade completely within a week or two. As much as I try to channel my inner Captain Planet to enjoy the restaurant’s ‘Green’ features… I really just come for the food.
The menu promotes simple, nourishing food. I got the Organic Red Quinoa Basil Pesto Salad with an order of Farro Cranberry Porridge and Walnuts. My mom filled up on her nutrients with a double order of the Seaweed Miso Dressing Salad and Avocado and Tomato Organic Egg Omelette. We each received a side basket of bread made with only organic stone ground flour, salt and water – kneaded by hand (total order: $40). If I were to come back later in the day, the Asparagus and Parm Bruschetta sounds amazing not to mention it would be hard to pass by their Organic wine list and patisserie of desserts.
First chocolate…now healthy eats – who’s ready to move to Brussels?!
Can You Handle It?!
November 13, 2009
Pinkberry was SO 2007! I feel like more and more frozen yogurt places are popping up across the city…does anyone eat real food anymore? I know that my last blog post talking about mittens and gloves got you thinking ‘Winter’ but despite the season, 16 Handles is a worthy stop to grab a healthy dessert alternative.
With literally 16 flavors ‘on tap’ and an insanely large toppings bar, this East Village spot is by far my favorite compared to all of the other faux yogurt-lands. These fro-yo’s are non-fat and Kosher certified, made fresh in the store without using artificial powdered mixes. Get your probiotics, calcium, live/active cultures, protein and vitamins in each swirl. Perfect for control freaks (i.e. ME), everything is do-it-yourself – plus you pay by the weight so you only have to buy what you feel like eating.
16 Handles also offers non-dairy sorbet and flavors with no added sugar. I like mixing Mango flavor with Green Tea Tart and adding fresh fruit and carob chips.
Smitten For These Running Mittens
November 13, 2009
Despite Monday’s random hit of 70 degree weather (Al Gore, you may be on to something)…temperatures are starting to drop which ultimately saps motivation to run outside. Like most things in life, my interest of course peaks when there are new clothes or gear to focus on!
Think convertible top minus the red mustang – the Saucony Ulti-Mitt ($38) uses super light material to provide extra protection over the hand from wind, rain and cold while still allowing for you to detatch part of the “mitt” and fold up under a hidden pocket by the wrist…leaving your hands free in the DryLete glove beneath. I like this feature because it’s impossible to fumble for anything with a hand in a mitten plus the thumb and forefinger have a separate slit that folds over to expose the pad of the finger for more dexterity. The glove…errr..mitt…also has a LED light attached for when you’re running in the dark (these days, i.e. 4pm)
All Hands On Deck
November 11, 2009
Between Twitter, Digg, Kirtsy, Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace BlogHer and every other forum designed to connect with friends and business contacts…it’s virtually (pun intended) impossible to keep it all straight. So many places to update my real-time status (who knew people cared that I just ate a turkey sandwich) and post comments to someone else’s writing. To find out more ways I could keep YOU in the loop with The Fit Post via online and social media, I attended the New York ’Hands On Small Business’ workshop, hosted by Microsoft Office Live and Kirtsy.
If you’re an entrepreneur or someone interested in starting your own business, I highly recommend finding one of these small – FREE – hands on sessions (available in select locations across US and Canada). Aside from meeting other small business owners (well, some now considered huge business owners), I gained practical advice on how to navigate the slew of online resources.
At this particular event, we were lucky enough to have one of Kirtsy’s founders, Laura Mayes, sit in on the workshop to provide tangible feedback on the Microsoft Office Live platform and what kinds of things she wished she had done when she first started the site. Other existing bloggers, site developers, iphone app creators and children story writers shared info on what works and doesn’t work for them. I like to consider myself fairly tech savvy, but these two hours helped me to think conceptually how I can leverage social media to share my ideas with more readers…without having to read one of those embarrassing ‘Online Networking For Dummies’ books.
Participants at this event (www.handsonsmallbusiness.com):
- Laura Mayes: www.kirtsy.com
- Mariah Bruehl: www.playfulearning.com
- Carol Cain: www.nycitymama.com
- Esther Chen: @estheche
- Danielle Maveal: www.daniellexo.etsy.com
- Lara Paul: lara@ikidny.com
Whole Foods Who?
November 11, 2009
I have a love/hate relationship with Whole Foods. Aside from it having overpriced mediocre produce, it does offer the most efficient one stop shop grocery experience when it comes to buying both generic and brand label healthy finds – I guess I can’t bite the hand that feeds me…literally.
Despite the few perks of Whole Foods, I sometimes just wish we had a Wegmans or Super Stop and Shop (shout out to my days in the suburbs). When I’m motivated to break out of my rut, I head to the next best thing – Westside Market. Incredibly clean (bonus for an NYC market), everything from the breads to fruits and veggies are fresh and well stocked. If your cholesterol can handle it, they also have a ridiculous speciality and imported cheese section (eat sparingly). In my experience, Westside Market offers the full spectrum of organic items without gratuitously inflating prices.
Well, I guess I have officially entered soccer mom status now that I’ve written about my favorite grocery stores!
Delicious After Dark
November 9, 2009
Hi, my name is Maggie…and I’m a chocoholic.
I love chocolate – could most likely give up anything and everything BUT chocolate (well, except for my perfect copy of the Hermes Birkin bag). Thankfully, Pure Dark doesn’t believe in over processing and only offers rich natural artisanal dark chocolate flush with antioxidants (naturally found in cocoa powder). A Willy Wonka dream come true, this neighborhood spot stocks the shelves with a variety of products – including my favorite, the Woodland Bark – pure dark slabs studded with cranberries, blueberries, roasted walnuts and bitter nibs ($19 per 7 oz bag). Each piece is so rich that you really only need a small bite to get your sugar fix…well, in my case a few bites.
Isn’t It ‘sNice
November 5, 2009
Meat heaven at the Corner Bistro and Jane’s Tavern plus the waterfall of chocolate from Li-Lac and the Chocolate Bar make the corner of 4th St. and 8th Ave an unlikely place for a vegetarian cafe – ‘sNice makes it happen in full West Village style.
I normally stop through for a green tea but decided to camp out this past weekend for a full-blown breakfast. The chalkboard menu is filled with sandwiches (mostly vegan, many using seitan or tempeh), vegan marshmallow loaded hot chocolate and organic fair trade coffee. Embracing my inner hippie, I ordered the Vegan Steel Cut Oatmeal ($4.50) and the Tofu Scrambled Wrap ($4.50) – both really delicious and satisfied my need for some saturday am comfort food. If it had been a few hours later, I would have definitely gone head first for the Quinoa Salad with corn, black beans and tortilla strips or the Brie Pear & Arugula sandwich with raspberry mustard ($8.75/each).
‘sNice offers tons of seating (really out of the ordinary for a downtown cafe) plus books and board games to keep customers entertained. I somehow felt a little naked without a yoga mat strapped to my shoulder or possibly sneakers made of recycled rubber, but it was still a great meal.
Thirsty Thursday
November 5, 2009
I get it – it’s been a long week. You’re psyched to get the weekend started and the happy hour menu is overflowing with appealing options – Pomegranate Margarita, Lemongrass Mohito or a nice cold Magic Hat #9. I try to enjoy the night without calorie counting, but still take into consideration how quickly drinks add up to avoid unraveling my hard work (don’t worry, this isn’t a mini D.A.R.E class on substance abuse).
As if the drinks weren’t bad enough, alcohol lowers blood sugar levels – this sends signals to the brain that you’re hungry (GREAT, I don’t think anyone needs anymore reminders to eat) – hence the 2am food stop for pizza and fries. Making matters worse, a small portion of the alcohol you consume is converted into fat (just wait, this get’s better). The liver turns the rest into acetate which is released into the bloodstream, replacing fat as a source of fuel (i.e. the body stops burning fat and is forced to store the excessive/unburned amount – read as: BEER GUT).
Picking the lesser of the two evils, I go for either gin, wine or light beer (actually a better choice than most of the heavily sugared cocktails out there). To avoid the massive amounts of sugar and calories packed in tonic or juice mixers, I combine gin with club soda.
average calories/drink:
- Beer (regular): 150
- Beer (light): 110
- Lager: 180
- 1 ounce of gin/rum/vodka/whisky/tequila: 65 (keep in mind there are 2-5 oz in one regular mixed drink plus whatever mixers are included)
- Red Wine: 70
- White Wine: 65-75
- Champagne: 126
- Martini: up to 800 including syrups and 2-5 oz of liquor
- Margarita: average of 400/regular margarita - add more if it’s a speciality cocktail
- Gin/Tonic: 171
Fast Food Nutrition
November 4, 2009
Fast food nation nutrition is an easy way of life in health conscious cities like New York. My favorite spots for a quick non-greasy bite include Better Burger, Energy Kitchen and THE PUMP.
Better Burger: their meat and poultry are antibiotic, hormone and nitrate free; all burgers and dogs are made from 100% meat, poultry or fish – no fillers; fries are organic, air-baked and have 2/3 less fat than regular french fries; Better Burger uses non-hydrogenated/trans-fat free butter substitutes or reduced fat vegan mayo – my order: Veggie Burger ($5.99) and Better Fries ($2.75) – this is the best spot to get the McDonald’s experience sans late afternoon heartburn
Energy Kitchen: nothing on the menu is over 500 calories; everything is grilled, baked or steamed and never fried; Energy Kitchen serves both bison and ostrich instead of beef (bison is leaner with fewer calories, fat and cholesterol than beef / ostrich is also extremely lean but high in protein and iron with fewer calories and fat than both beef and bison) – my order: Chicken Stir-Fry Wrap ($7.99) – love Energy Kitchen for post long workout meals because their filling and packed with recovery fuel
THE PUMP: everything cooked sans butter, cream or mayo and nothing is fried; uses only whole, unprocessed ingredients and throws in salt as sparingly as possible; serious body builders will feel right at home; my order: Quarter Mile Protein Shake ($5.50) and small PUMP Salad ($4.15) – good lunch time meal at work
Perfect Pancakes
November 4, 2009
My pancakes NEVER turn out looking like the silver dollar beauties in those Bisquick commercials – they usually come out as a mutilated version of a melted snowman. It’s when I have to flip them that everything falls apart…literally. This morning, the heavens parted and birds chirped as I finally got an entire batch of perfect looking pancakes – using Purely Elizabeth’s ‘Perfect Pancake Mix’ ($8.49/mix).
Literally, perfect in every sense of the word, this mix is free of sugar, dairy, wheat and gluten and loaded with all natural and organic ingredients (millet flour, teff flour, buckwheat flour, flax, hemp and chia seeds). I love that Elizabeth combines nutritious food with delicious baking. My breakfast alone this morning contained B vitamins, fiber, protein, calcium and omega-3 fatty acids plus grains low in carbohydrates. Vegans can substitute ground flaxseed, bananas or apple sauce in place of the one egg that the recipe calls for. The thing that I noticed with this product in particular is that it still gave a nice fluffy pancake versus other grain filled mixes which come out fairly dense.
I can’t wait to try the Ultimate Cacao Muffin Mix and the Blueberry Maple Muffin Mix – both available online at www.purelyelizabeth.com
Seared Ahi Tuna Over Wasabi Mixed Greens
November 3, 2009
I know everyone loves Rachel Ray but personally, I find her annoying. All of that pep and 30-Minute Meal business get’s to me! However, I can’t deny that she does sometimes offer easy and healthy recipes – this one in particular is delicious and very simple to make (add extra wasabi for more kick and include snap peas to balance out the texture of the tuna with some crunch).
- 1 ahi tuna steak, 6 ounces
- 2 teaspoons five-spice powder, available on spice aisle
- 1 teaspoon grill seasoning, such as Montreal Steak Seasoning, or salt and coarse pepper
- Cooking spray or vegetable oil, for brushing the grill pan
- 5 ounces, half a sack, mixed prewashed baby salad greens
- 2 radishes, sliced
- 1/4 European cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon wasabi paste
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons -virgin olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Coat your steak with a combination of five-spice powder and grill seasoning or salt and pepper. Heat a grill pan or griddle over high heat. Spray grill surface or wipe with a thin layer of oil. Add tuna steak to the hot cooking surface and sear tuna 2 minutes on each side. Remove tuna from heat.
Combine greens, radishes and cucumber in a bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk wasabi, vinegar and soy sauce. Whisk in oil to combine dressing. Drizzle dressing over your salad and toss to coat evenly. Slice tuna on an angle and arrange on the salad.
Have Another Round Of Shots
November 3, 2009
Although some days I truly feel like a cow (thank you long weekend of no working out), I would never consider a pile of grass as an afternoon pick me up. However, despite my efforts to move away from the bovine world, I’m starting to get really into wheatgrass shots to cleanse my system and bring in extra enzymes.
Available at most juice bars, wheatgrass is 70% chlorophyll (first product of light and the basis of all plant life) and high in oxygen – helping the brain and body tissue to function at optimal levels. Chlorophyll, a natural anti-bacterial, rebuilds the bloodstream and when grown in organic dirt, absorbs 92 of the known 102 minerals from the soil. All of this combined makes wheatgrass a superior detoxifying agent, purifying the liver and colon (TMI) as well as removing heavy metals form the body. Many people gargle with wheatgrass juice to soothe a sore throat, or use as a means to reduce high blood pressure and enhance the capillaries.
Instead of making daily trips to Jamba Juice or a local smoothie bar for my hit of wheatgrass, I buy packages of frozen ‘wheatgrass cubes’ at Whole Foods. They take a minute to defrost using warm water and are a lot easier to store at home – I know this is one shot my mom will approve of.
Tis The Season To Get Healthy
November 2, 2009
I’m not sure how much you abused the Halloween candy bowl this past weekend but I know that I certainly took advantage of about ten too many Kit Kats. Thus begins the Year End Fat Fest…Thanksgiving dinner, Thanksgiving leftovers…this all leads into Holiday chocolates, party appetizers, treats, Winter themed cocktails (do we really need ANOTHER candy cane martini?!) – tis the season to not over over indulge – I say ‘over’ twice because I know that realistically we’ll tap into the chocolate Santas/Dreidels- take you’re pick – at least a few times).
I’m going to take advantage of the calm before the storm and put into action a few healthy habits so that they’re well in place once my favorite chocolate advent calendar is ready for some attention (see above for my demolition of last year’s…)
- At least 30 minutes of physical activity/day (ex: walk home instead of the subway)
- At least 60 minutes of rigorous exercise 4 times/week (ex: running/weight training)
- More yoga and pilates! (plus take 5 minutes to stretch before bed)
- Stairs over elevator/escalator whenever possible
- No cheep pre-packaged candy/cookies – saving my treats and sweets for homemade desserts, fresh-baked items and other things that I can’t live without
- One to two raw vegetables with every lunch and dinner
These are simple ways I can make sure that I enter 2010 feeling like I have the upper hand. Why wait until the first of the year to make a ‘resolution’ – try to make a plan BEFORE the damage is done.
Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow!
November 2, 2009
This past Thursday, Colorado and Wyoming were hit with a massive snow storm (please visualize me pointing to a green-screen map for complete Channel 9 weatherman style reporting). With three feet of fresh powder, this was the heaviest October snowfall the Denver area had experienced in the past decade. If you’re like my dad and I, news like this immediately makes you think of ski season. Although it’s early (well clearly not THAT early), I’m dying to hit the slopes to burn some massive calories, build solid leg muscles plus get time for a few fabulous apres ski pictures…Sundance style.
This picture is from January 2009 in the back bowls of Deer Valley with my dad – thank you iPhone camera. My favorite mountains include: Heavenly (absurd amounts of powder), Whistler (worth the trek to get there), Vail (beautiful but expensive ski village) and Deer Valley (best mountain food and amenities). If you can’t make it out West, East Coast skiing is not such a bad option if you know how to ice skate. New York offers buses from Paragon Sports in Union Square (check online for schedules) to various local mountains each weekend with discounted lift ticket packages. If you’re coming from another area, ask local ski shops for info on group rates/public transportation to get to the mountains. I’m shooting for a couple day trips plus a long weekend with friends in Vermont or Maine…Dad, if you’re reading this, feel free to send me an invite to your upcoming Breckenridge trip!
Regardless of where I end up going for the season, I’ll take the time now to start conditioning my body for the cardiovascular and muscular workout it will get on the mountain.
- Quads: seated leg extension machine or leg press
- Calves: calf raises on a machine or step using barbell across shoulders
- Inner/Outer Thighs: cable adductor and abductor
- Hamstrings: curl machines
- Glutes and Hip Flexors: cable pull using foot strap just above the ankle joint
