Yup, I’m a Yuppie
February 17, 2010
I admit it… I’m what you would call a textbook yuppie. I like making money. I send my dog to daycare…with other yuppie puppies. I like the idea of ‘living green’ minus the inconvenience. I overspend and undersave. My wardrobe is my life. I love Wholefoods.
Wholefoods, considered by my brother as the ultimate “yuppie playground,” is my favorite one stop shop for groceries and easy to make meals. I know last week I mentioned my bootleg burrito dinner…thankfully pay day hit Monday so last night I popped into the oven two salmon filets ($18 total), topped with mango, orange slices and onion for flavor plus wrapped in smoky cedar. This may sound/look impressive but honestly, the most I did was pick them out from the Wholefoods fresh fish case, take them home and cook at 350 for 17 minutes. Add a side of whole grain rice with asparagus and you have a nutritious well balanced meal.
God bless you little mom and pop’s out there, but until you get a debit card machine and forget the ‘cash only’ sign…you’ll find me in Aisle Ten.
A Broke Girl’s Bean Binge
February 12, 2010
Some nights I would honestly offer up my left kidney to not have to cook dinner…when I’m feeling this anti-domestic and my bank account is in the single digits (yes, I’m in my mid twenties and this still happens to me) eating out isn’t an option. Thankfully, for canned food + the microwave, I always have a no-cook/cheap/healthy meal ready to go.
The other night I “made” burritos using Amy’s Organic Refried Beans, a can of Goya Black Beans and brown rice (I’ll spare you with details on how my body reacted to this bean binge). I pre-made the rice in a rice cooker and microwaved the beans (full of cholesterol-lowing fiber and loaded with antioxidants) in separate bowls – added a scoop of all three ingredients to a whole wheat tortilla wrap and tucked together to make a nutritious but also filling vegetarian burrito. Next time I’ll save my pennies and add a protein like tofu or grilled chicken.
Run Yourself Healthy
February 9, 2010
When I run outside these days it seems like (…and I know that this sounds paranoid) everyone is shaking their heads in disapproval – seriously, doormen, mothers, even the crazy man on the street looks at me like I’m stupid for going out. Obviously the sub 20 degree weather makes it seem like I’m just asking to catch a cold, but Runners World recently published an article that made me feel a little more sane.
Although you shouldn’t take any publication as Gospel (except for The Fit Post, duh) I feel a little better after reading Runners World’s excerpt on how exercising in the cold weather actually STRENGTHENS your heart, quadriceps, lymphocytes and neutrophils (i.e. immune system). These last two immune cells protect the body from infectious bacteria and viruses. The University of South Carolina reports that people who exercise have 20% fewer colds than those that are sedentary. However, and here is where the fine print comes in, strenuous workouts or heavy training 75 minutes or longer can potentially have the opposite effect (supposedly 90 minutes+ leads to a temporary downturn in immunity with carb stores dropping = the body’s system becomes vulnerable and exposed).
This doesn’t mean that freezing temps make the best or worst running conditions – just take some caution when exercising in extreme bouts of weather and you may actually benefit from the results. Have a carbohydrate rich drink before, during and after your run to slow the rise of stress hormones and reduce the risk of offsetting negative immune responses. Experts believe fluids are the fastest delivery system for carbs so make sure to wash down any post run bagel or banana with some H2O. Also, taper your training before a race to let your body repair any damaged muscle-tissue (your body will do this OVER fighting an infection if it has to choose between the two so you want to start race day on a full system).
Moral of the story: if you get to call in tomorrow for a snow day (please God, let this be me) boost your immune system with an outdoor run.
Snap Crackle And Pop!
February 9, 2010
Ok, this weather encourages just about everything except working out and eating healthy (we wont get into specifics). My biggest downfall during the colder months is that I love to bake…and yes, I only tell you about the organic flax seed preservative free muffins…but who are we kidding, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about popping a tray of saturated fat rich Toll House cookie dough into the oven.
Last week I found a happy medium to put my sweet tooth in check without going overboard on the sugar – throwback to your middle school lunch box for a memory of those gooey Rice Krispie Treats. With 153 calories, 3.3 grams of fat and 0 grams of sugar per 37 gram bar, these are a quick fix plus cheap to make. I cut down the old school Kellogg recipe from 3 tablespoons butter to 2 (no one will notice the difference – they come out a little crunchier) and microwaved with one 10 oz package of marshmallows – rolled in 6 cups of Rice Krispies and flattened into a square non stick brownie pan. 1 recipe made 12 pretty large bars
Have A Little Mid-Day Mediterranean
February 4, 2010
I know I know, I have been MIA for the past few days. Really, it’s not you…it’s me. My life has been going in twenty different directions with new changes (apartment. job. puppy. birthday.) but it doesn’t mean that I haven’t been focused on staying healthy and lean…after all, the stores are already selling bathing suits so its time to lose this extra winter layer that has managed to camp out in all of the wrong places (read as “back fat”).
I recently discovered the newly opened Meze Grill for a lunch time quick fix. Using Mediterranean inspired ingredients, this spot is super casual and made for either eating in or ordering out – either way you’ll have you’re food in a New York minute. Meze Grill hand prepares all of their meats, falafels, pita sandwiches, rice platters and salads. I love the falafels which are cooked in refined oil that’s cholesterol and trans-fat free, plus the well balanced portions (don’t even think about supersizing it here).
I went for a rice platter but swapped out the rice for bulgur wheat and added slow cooked braised lamb (don’t judge) with fresh veggie toppings. They give you a choice of two sauces, which I got on the side for dipping – highly recommend the Tzatzki (yogurt and diced cucumbers) or the Garlic sauce (pureed garlic with lemon juice and olive oil).
Best part is, I became a Facebook Fan (again, don’t judge) and received a coupon for a free sandwich (limited to the first 1,000 fans).
