Catch up!

I'm back!  We left Saturday morning for a family road trip, and I played catch up on chores all day yesterday in between work, and dropping off and picking up kids.  Hopefully today will be back to business as usual around here, I hate when my routine is disrupted for too long!

So Saturday morning I got up early and went and got my run in. I made sure to bring my little 4 legged companion, I wanted her tired since she would be home alone for the night.

 I was going to go to class as well, but Ari wanted to get on the road early, and if I went to class it would have been close to 11:00 before we could leave.  So I decided to skip that and save some time.  

When I got home from my run I took advantage of the early morning hours of peace and quiet while everyone else slept, and got some trip prep done!  

I decided we would stop at one of the state parks and have a picnic lunch on Saturday.  The kids have ham and turkey roll ups, snap peas and cherry tomatoes, triscuts, and two snackwell cookies.  The huisband got a bagel sandwich, broccoli, cookies, and sunchips (not pictured), I had caprese salad, peanuts and broccoli.   

We ended up having lunch at the state park that has the Chandelier Drive thru Tree.  

After a few other tourist attractions we hit Patrick Point, to see the ocean.  I particularly liked this stop, because it snuck in some good ole family fitness!  There was not getting to the beach, or the look out point, without a good hike.  So we hiked down to the beack, then back up.

 Then up to the point, and back down.  

I wish I could say the rest of the trip was as friendly to my diet and exercise regimen.... but it was not.   I had pie Saturday night *gah*, and ate nothing but crap in the car on the way home Sunday.... Chips, pretzels, a cookie.... what is it about sitting in a car, being bored, that makes you want to eat?!  Oh well, stuff happens.  I guess what matters is getting back on the wagon, and I have.

Yesterday morning was a new day, I got up and went to the HS and did stadiums/ ran, I went to Intervals class, and I led an AB class last night.  Not a bad start!

I completely forgot to take a picture of today's lunch, oops!  But here is yesterdays:

Light Salami, laughing cow cheese, Newman's organic whole wheat pretzel rods, snap peas and cherry tomatoes, organic whole wheat graham crackers, and healthy harvest blueberry applesauce.

I planned to make Egg Frittatas for dinner last night, but because I subbed for the AB class, and Ari worked late, things got messed up.  I made quick healthy choice meals for the kids instead, and ended up making the Frittatas around 8:30, so they are ready for tonight's dinner.  Here is the recipe:

Personal Egg Frittata

12 eggs

1/4 cup coconut milk

Salt (to taste)

Pepper (to taste)

Mix ins- 

Bell pepper

Jalapeno

Broccoli

Ham

Cheese

(however anything would work)

Pre heat oven to 375

Spray 12 cup muffins tin, liberally

In a large bowl combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper.  Whisk thoroughly.

Pour evenly among the muffin cups

Top with mix ins of your choice, then stir each cup gently.

Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until egg is set. 

Please excuse the messy pan, I know, presentation is everything... but I got a little careless sprinkling the toppings.  Oops!

I hope everyone has an awesome, positive, and productive week!  Keep your goals in mind, and make sure your actions are working towards them!

Banana Wraps and Other Yumminess

Today's school Lunch:  Banana with natural peanut butter and local honey wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla, apple slices, carrots with laughing cow cheese wedge, and Trader Joe's all natural organic oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  For breakfast we had protein pancakes, I switched it up a little bit and used whipped cream cheese instead of cottage cheese.  I liked the consistency much better.  If you haven't tried these, you should!  They are good, and very very filling.  My kids can usually down 3 fluffy pancakes no problem, but they can barely finish 2 of these before they are full, and they keep them full through out the morning.  Here is the recipe.

I went to the high school this morning and did 3 miles.  I ran 2, then did stadiums for the equivalent of a mile (according to my Map My Run app.).  Tonight I have my class at the Y, hoping for a better turn out!  Here is what I have planned for that:

Warm Up

Walk a lap

Jog a lap

Jumping Jacks

Jog a lap

Squats

Jog a lap

Set 1

Burpees - 1 min

Speed skaters- 1 min

Standing side crunch - 30

Squat hop twist - 1 min

Break- 1 min

repeat 3 times

Tabata

Exploding Jacks- 20 sec

Break- 10 sec

Butt Kickers - 20 Sec

Break- 10 sec

Repeat 4 times

Set 2 (using a step)

Side to side lunge with forward punch- 30 sec

Side to side lunge with punch towards knees- 30 sec

Side to side lunge with hook- 30 sec

over the top with rows - 30 sec

repeat

Break-1min

repeat 3 times

Tabata (using step)
Box Jump - 20 sec

break - 20 sec

run up/down- 20 sec

break- 10 sec

repeat 4 times

Since I'll be gone for class from 5:15-6:30 I planned a quick easy dinner, Cobb salad.  Or, my variation of it anyway. We are going to do ham, hard boiled eggs, avocado, bacon bits, and shredded cheese.

Lastly, I am getting ready to bake "One Bowl Oatmeal Muffins" with Blueberries and white chocolate chips for the kiddo's, so be on the lookout for a review tomorrow!

School Lunches and Breakfast...for Dinner!

My school year resolution is healthier lunches for the kids. So I have googled, and pinterested, and brainstormed, and I think I have come up with a good variety of healthier options, that the kids will enjoy.  (here are a few places I got some ideas http://easylunchboxes.smugmug.com/The-Best-Lunchbox-System/Yummy-Lunch-Ideas/10136835_YSuyb#!i=696914291&k=YxmUd, http://www.flickr.com/photos/mslil65/1637854803/in/set-72157601755804789/ - on this one scroll through the album, hover of the picture for names of food items) Now, keep in mind, I am new at this.  I do have some not so healthy stuff still in the cupboards, and I plan to use it up and phase it out.  So for the first few weeks there might be a questionable treat lurking among the otherwise healthy lunch (who am I kidding, even after the first few weeks I fully intend to give them the occasional treat).  The picture above was today's lunch.  Ham slices rolled with cream cheese in the middle, baby dill pickles, all natural veggie chips, mandarin oranges in juice, and 2 Snackwell's cookies. The kids love the new system, and both enjoyed their lunch.  My goal is to train them on how to assemble a healthy balanced lunch at some point so that I can relinquish my lunch making duties!

While we are on the topic of the lunches, I did a store run today to finish my shopping list for them.  Some of the things I have gathered as options are: 100 % whole wheat tortillas (for wraps, quesadillas, etc), ham, turkey, laughing cow cheeses, cottage cheese, berries, veggie chips (all natural organic from trader joes), oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (all natural organic from trader joes), triscuts, baby carrots, apples, pinapple chunks in juice no added sugar, mandarin oranges in juice no added sugar, pickles, Whole wheat organic pretzel rods, boiled eggs, bananas, and some other things that I am sure I am forgetting, but will show up in pictures later!

I tried a new addition to my yogurt this morning.  I took 4 strawberries and pureed them, added 1 tablespoon of spelnda, and mixed it with 1/3 cup of yogurt.  I think I might be able to actually enjoy it this way.  I'm sure it's easier to just cut them up and throw them in, but I have never liked chunky fruit yogurt...!  I think I might try mixing some up and letting it sit in the freezer for a bit to make some sort of a sorbet. That'll have to be another post.

Tonight for dinner we made Baked Egg Baskets, Whole Wheat toast (100% Whole wheat double fiber bread from Oroweat), and cottage cheese with frozen berries (organic, no sugar added).

Egg Baskets!

12 Eggs (or however many you wish to make!)

12 thin slices of ham (round) 

1/2 Cup of  cheese (I used shredded cheddar)

1/2 Cup diced scallions

Fresh cracked Sea Salt and Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400.  Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.  Lay a piece of ham in each hole creating a little ham cup.  Crack one egg into each hole and sprinkle with salt and pepper. (I found it easiest to lay the ham flat across the hole, and while cracking the egg kind of pushing the ham down, hard to explain...)

Bake the egg for about 12 minutes, until the whites are firm.

Carefully remove each egg from the tray and top with cheese and scallions

I have already been brainstorming ways to tweak and evolve this recipe. I was thinking little personal sized quiche would be fun.  Instead of just cracking the egg into the cup, you could whisk the eggs, add some veggies and pour them in.  I might do some experimenting next week with that, so stay tuned!

Oh!  And since I am here typing, I guess you know I survived teaching my class last night!  Unfortunately only 2 people showed up to take it... I am hoping it has a lot to do with the fact that it was the night before the first day back to school... Hopefully I will get a better turn out tomorrow.  After that I ran over to Oasis and took Muscle Conditioning.  I added up all my time and came up with just shy of 4 hours of exercise yesterday, phew!  This morning I did stadiums and went to Intervals class, it was a combination of weights and cardio.  I am sore, and tired, and think I am done for the day!  We'll see though, I say that, and then feel lazy and end up doing something, so you never know!