An Inspiring Experience

The Seed Experience is "two full days of vegan immersion"...and it truly is.  So many amazing vegan products to sample, from beauty care to Teese cheese.  (Oh my word, you haven't lived till you've had some teese nachos!)  There is vegan fashion, jewelery, demos, and did I mention the food? There are just so many vegan options out there and it is wonderful to see them gathered in one place.

Besides the a w e s o m e vegan food, there is so much to do at The Seed.  When I arrived, JL Fields of JL goes Vegan had just began her presentation, Blogging 2.0 - From Your Blog to Main Street: How to Expand your Vegan Activism.  So before making my way around for the food, I grabbed a seat in the back and quickly became enthralled in what she was saying.  Or more like asking...simple questions really.  But they got me thinking. What IS my blog's niche/voice?  It's kind of all over the place; running, yummy plant based food, random goings on in my life, oye!  

As you've probably noticed it's been a little bit since the last time I blogged.  A lot has happened in my life and I'm so excited to share it!  JL's talk seriously inspired me to start back up with blogging.  And as I move forward on my blogging journey I plan on refining my niche and truly find my voice.  

But all in good time. First, I want to tell you more about The Seed!

I got my THRIVE Foods book signed by Brendan Brazier!  If you haven't heard of Brendan you much click on the link.  He is an amazing plant based endurance athlete and creator of Vega, a completely vegan supplement line with only the highest quality ingredients.  I swear by my Vega!

His talk was so inspiring and jam packed with information on how to maximize your athletic potential on a plant based diet.  

I attended The Seed last year for the first time, and knew I had to come this year.  The food, speakers, information, demos, products and so many like minded people all in one place...looks like I'll be attending The Seed again in 2014!

Operation Marathon Nutrition

So with marathon training underway, I thought I'd track what I ate throughout the day, to see how I'm doing nutritionally.  I find it tedious to track my meals all the time, but once in a while I'll plug my eats into Livestrong.com's MyPlate. 

Breakfast: 1/4 c. rolled oats

2 tsp. TJ's organic hemp protein powder

2 tsp ground flax seeds

2 tsp chia seeds

cinnamon

(ran out of bananas and forgot other toppings and it was quite boring!)  

Lunch: 1/2 cup red quinoa & chick peas + nooch

1 1/4 c. steamed broccoli

1/4 c. walnuts + 1/8 c. raisins

1/2 red bell pepper sliced

Afternoon snack: 1 small green apple

2 TBSP peanut butter

 This picture is from lunch the other day.  My big ole batch of slow cooker soup lasted me until tonight!

Dinner: 3/4 c. carrot/lentil/cracked wheat soup

1 slice baked tofu

Not too shabby.  I'm not taking this as 100% accurate, but I like having a general idea.  As a vegetarian/vegan you always get asked, where do you get your protein?  And although I know I get enough from plant based sources...it's nice for that to be reaffirmed!  

Tomorrow when I go to the gym I'll have more calories, today was a bit lighter than usual.  

WIAW: MTE

What is MTE, you ask?  It's Marathon Training Edition!  I ran 17 miles on Monday and thought it might be fun to show a day of Long Run Eats.  

Monday morning I woke up around 6:45 to be out the door by 7:30.  I fueled up with a banana and peanut butter.  That's right, no bread.  Sometimes it makes me feel too full before a long run.  I got outside and was greeted by crisp, fall weather.  I layered up with running tights, tank, and long sleeve shirt; about 45 minutes in I tied the long shirt around my waist.   I felt prepared with 3 GUs and 20 oz water bottle. 

I struggled again with my water bottle conundrum.  Although 20 oz of water ended up to be perfect for the distance/weather, the bottle felt heavy in my hand.  I was also juggling the water bottle in one hand and my cell phone in the other because my SPI belt was too full with the 3 GUs to fit anything else.

I took Blueberry Pomegranate Roctane 45 minutes in and around 1:45 I took my 2nd GU, Strawberry Banana.  I tend to stick with fruity GUs, the thought of espresso or chocolate on a run just turns my stomach!

 

When I got home I did as much streching as my muscles would allow and then made myself a smoothie.  I call this a *Super Smoothie* because it gave my body the nutrients it was craving!

1 cup baby spinach

2 tbsp ground flax seeds

1 packet Amazing Meal Vanilla Chai

2 medium bananas

1 1/2 cups unsweetened soy milk

1 cup frozen blueberries

This super smoothie is full of nutrient packed calories and plenty of protein!  

Lunch time I ate some delicious soup and 2 slices of Trader Joe's sprouted multi-grain bread.  Seriously, how did I ever live before a crock pot!? The other day I threw in lentils, pearled barley, veggies, spices, water, and had a hearty soup 8 hours later!  

If I've ever said anything negative about TJ's seaweed snacks, I take it back!  I love wasabi and couldn't resist buying these.  They did not disappoint.

Dinner was soup...AGAIN!  With one slice of Trader Joe's sprouted multi-grain bread with a side of roasted turnips, brussel sprouts, and a big ole squirt of ketchup!  Even WIAW: MTE couldn't stop me from repeating meals! 

Soy Creamy is dreamy.  For reals. This stuff is so delicious, and has none of that funky soy taste/funky texture.  

Are you a meal repeat offender? When I cook, I like to make big batches because I honestly don't mind repeating meals.  And it makes my life so much easier.  Plus, I tend to like the things I make, so it's enjoyable to eat the same thing for a week straight!  The lovely Jenn at Peas & Crayons calls this being in a "food jag"!

How do you fuel your long runs/exercise?  This run the GUs worked well.  I experimented last week with natural fuel, but it was too messy!  At least with GUs it's quick, simple, and I can focus my energy on running.  I used to do a PB Banana sandwich, but now find the banana and PB to be much better.

How do your taste buds feel about Trader Joe's seaweed snacks?  My taste buds didn't know what to expect, and so I was a bit grossed out at first.  Then I tried the wasabi and fell in love!  I think they have such a strong ocean-y flavor, but once you get used to it, it's really tasty.

 

It's WIAW Time!

Let's get right to it, shall we?

I finally went to a track to do my speed work.  And can I be honest here...I'm not a big track fan.  All the other days when I couldn't get to the track I was kind of bummed and didn't feel like a "real" runner doing my speed work by measuring out a quarter mile on DailyMile.com or using a treadmill at the gym.  But now, I think I liked those better.  First, I don't even know if the track I used was 400m, my times were way too fast.  And even though the track may have been shorter than 400m it felt like longer!!!

Unpictured post-run smoothie, as per usch.

*banana, soy milk, chocolate Amazing Grass, ice*

I love summer because I CRAVE veggies.

And when you don't have much else left to eat, you make it work.

*sliced radish, zucchini, carrot, Whole Foods spicy thai dressing, nooch*

Dinner included my fave root vegetable....

sweet potato!

If you haven't had the chance to order sweet potato sushi rolls, you don't know what your missing.  My fabulous sister, Alli, introduced these to me when we went out for sushi last month.  For the longest time I ate fish just because I couldn't give up sushi.  But veggie rolls, including this one, satisfy my craving and go above and beyond my expectations for sushi!

After dinner I got to meet up with my friend Kerry and her 5 month old baby, err, I mean puppy, Tucker.  We took Tuck on a nice long walk around a gorgeous lake by her house.  It brought back memories of Team in Training because that's where we would meet for long runs!!  

And I almost forgot the un-pictured late night snack I ate...frozen mangoes!  Seriously.  I got home and Shane was eating ice cream and all I wanted was something cold.  So I took out some frozen Trader Joe's mango chunks, and as they thawed a little they were the perfect cool treat!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Wednesday...

now go make Thursday a great one!

Have you ever tried a sweet potato sushi roll?  

Do you like to use a track for speed work?  If so, what are some tips for making it more enjoyable?!

I love my friends.

obvi.

I know it's a pretty obvious statement to make, but I just wanted to throw it out there.  Like I told them yesterday, if it wasn't for them, or my wonderful family, I would most likely still be living in the palm tree wonderland of San Diego.  But the past few weekends I was able to get together with my BFFs "just because" and it was seriously fabulous to see their beautiful faces.  

We had great dinner at a cute little Mexican place in Freehold.  It was BYOB and Kerry made some fantastic sangria!  Good food, good people, good drinks.

This past weekend Shane and I hosted a little BBQ and lake party.

 

Thankfully the rain held out and we had a gorgeous day!

Shane was the ultimate grill master and made jalapeno/monteray jack & bacon/cheddar stuffed burgers.  All the meat eaters said they were the best burgers they ever had!

We had a wide array of delicious food and I made a salad from Jenna at Eat, Live, Run.

 

black bean, quinoa and citrus salad 

This salad was so light and fresh, the ultimate summer salad if I do say so myself!

I LOVE being close to my friends and I'm so happy I have got to see them the past few weekends.  Thanks girls, love you<3

 

Peachy Keen

I baked a fabulous vegan peach pie the other day.

  

Oh yea, and I promised you the recipe!

The mess you make while baking this pie is well worth it.

Trust. 

Kathy over at  Healthy Happy Life posted her recipe for summer peach pie.  And there's a video how to also!  So get on over there and get baking!

 

Say What: Jicama

If you know what jicama is, raise your hand.

...

Hmm, I have a feeling there are quite a few hands not raised.  And that's okay!  The first time I ate jicama  was only a few months ago.  Until that time I would wander the produce section of Henry's, stop at jicama, ponder for a moment what in the world that weird vegetable was, and then walk right on by.

By I didn't know what I was missing! And pretty soon you will too.

I hope you found the video helpful!  And below you'll find another delicious way to enjoy your new favorite veggie!

Apple & Jicama Salad

What you'll need

This simple salad is easy to adjust to your personal taste.  Mix and match quantities until you reach desired sweetness and tartness.  Shredded carrots would make an excellent addition as well!

1 medium jicama

2-3 apples- any type: I used Washington, I bet Granny Smith would work too.

3/4 c. walnuts- can toast for added flavor

2/3 c. raisins- dried cranberries would work also

2 tbsp lime juice

4 tbsp agave nectar

What you'll do

-Julienne your jicama and apples.

- Mix in raisins and walnuts.

- Mix lime juice and agave together and mix with salad.  

- Eat right away or put in fridge to let the flavors mingle!

 

Happy Hump Day

Hello, and welcome to another edition of WIAW!

Today was a pretty awesome day if I do say so myself.  I woke up early to get in Day 3 of Marathon Training.  I ate at around 6:20 to give my body about an hour to absorb the CARBS!

 The plan called for quarter mile repeats, and I was a little scared.  For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, it's basically a .25 miles or 400 m, or 1 lap around a track, ran at a quick pace with rest in between.  

The plan called for 6 x 400 m at 2:15 to 2:25 pace.  I just mapped out .25 miles on DailyMile instead of going to a track.  After each .25 mile I walked for 2 minutes and did that 6 times.  It wasn't as bad as I thought.  We'll see how I feel during Week 8 when I'm doing 16 of them!

 Post run smoothie was a delicious blend of:

handful spinach

1 frozen banana

handful fresh strawberries

1 cup unsweetened soy milk

1/2 packet chocolate Amazing Meal

Around 11 I headed to the lake to get in some sun time.  Unfortunately I wasn't there long when the sun decided to hide behind some clouds. I still enjoyed reading Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella (LOVE all her books!) in the sand.  I came home and had this monster salad.

 Followed by left over corn, peach pie (recipe to come), and some chopped veggies.  All over the span of the entire afternoon.

Dinner was yummy, but sounds so cliche.  Brown rice and steamed broccoli sounds lame-o.  But in actuality it was a brown rice pilaf with lots of yummy veggies and spices.

And that's all she wrote!  I'll be back with the peach pie recipe I used.  It's a winner!!

It's WIAW Time

 Whoa, I haven't been to a WIAW party in a couple weeks!

I've been feeling really fatigued lately and have been plagued with headaches.  Seriously annoying and definitely showing in my weekly mileage!  Next week I start my MARATHON TRAINING plan :)  Since I'm not officially signed up yet (need a real job yo!) I haven't mentioned it, but I will tell you all about it in an upcoming post!!!!!!!!!!!!! <~~~ can you tell I'm SO excited? 

I started my morning off with some K-Cup Coffee Shop coffee, NuNatural Stevia (new fave) and some vanilla almond milk.

 

As I dilly dallied around instead of just going for a run, I realized I would need some type of fuel and that it was getting hotter and hotter out, wah!

 

Enter pre-run nanner.  Like my neon orange shirt from Target?!  I'm in love, and not only because it's super cute.  It doesn't have that annoying built in bra, which usually I don't mind but for me it serves no purpose.  Instead, on long runs it chafes and I have a faint scar from a 12-miler to prove it!  And can we get real for a minute?   It's not like I actually need the extra support, the girls are pretty self sufficient.   

Anywho, the first mile was r o u g h !  I couldn't find my ipod charger so I couldn't download new podcasts and was forced to listen to music.  Does anyone else just get in the mood to listen to something specific on their run and if you can't, it kinda just throws you off? Then one of my ear buds blew out so I had music in one ear.  There was a house fire (terrible and I hope everyone is okay!) but my route was thrown for a loop, literally.  My back and shoulders were achy!  And of course I had a faint headache.

Enough complaining for one post!  After a while I found my groove, a slow groove, but I found it none the less!  And I did 6.85 miles.  At about 2 miles I thought I should turn around because I wasn't feeling my best.  But guess what?!  We won't always feel our best on race day.  So I pushed through and I think this run helped me realize that I can be strong mentally!  Very important for running, which is a big part mental strength!
When I got back it was a little past 11 so I ate a simple b-fast. 

other 1/2 of morning coffee
1/2 c. oatmeal

1 heaping TBSP Chunky PB1 TBSP raw cacao brazil nut bliss from my English goodies

Shane and I headed to the lake to get some sun and swim.  There's a diving board in the middle of the lake and I feel like a little kid every time I jump off!  So much fun!  When we got back I was starved and made myself a simple, quick, and satisfying lunch.

 

2 slices whole wheat toast
creamy roasted red pepper spread

sliced Jersey tomato1/2 can chick peas + noochcarrot sticks strawberries + grapes 

 

Time out.  Let me tell you about the Whole Foods Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Dressing, which I've been using as a spread on my sandwiches.

tofu, red peppers, soy milk, onion, cilantro, green onion, parsley, dill, garlic, dijon mustard, black pepper.  I love how although I don't really eat dairy anymore, I can still enjoy creamy dressings!  This has led to a bit of a ...

Before our softball game I wanted a light snack to keep my energy levels up.  At first I reached for these....but they have a sneaky ingredient hidden in them.

  

Why in the world is there gelatin in these peanuts?  Do ground up hooves really add to their flavor?  Now that I'm more conscious about reading labels, I find it disturbing how many animal products are used in most main stream brands.  You'd think dry roasted peanuts would have simple ingredients...not so much.

Instead I ate an apple, which was delicious and has one ingredient!

  Right after softball Shane and I headed into Philly for a much needed hair cut, so I packed dinner.  Please don't make fun of me.  I was in a rush and didn't have anything fresh or pre-made.  So I made a...let's call it a bean salad ::wink, wink::

1/2 can canellini beans
frozen peas

nooch + black peppersurprisingly yummy and satisfying  And of course I made some mini cookies and cream cupcakes which I took to the game and to Philly, so Shane and I each had one in the car.  Yum!   

I finished my night with a hair cut.  I think this is the shortest my hair has ever been!

Have a great Thursday :)