As this semester winds up I am beginning to accumulate some free time for the blog. I finally had a chance to get a new layout up as well.

For my first post back I am going to share an ad from the NYC Health Department.

Not only is this ad very factual, it is somewhat disturbing. I am all for the running of this advertisement, but others feel it is too much. Click on the link to watch it and let me know what you think by commenting below.

Man Drinking Fat. NYC Health Anti-Soda Ad. Are You Pouring on the Pounds?

Also, if anyone can help me figure out why I can’t upload a youtube video into my post that would be great. I have been able to put them in previous posts but apparently not today!

I have too much on my plate right now with school, therefore the blog is the first thing that has to go.

I hope I can eventually manage my time well enough to be able to run the blog along with my school work, but at this time it is just not possible.I have a new layout in mind and want to do an overhaul to the blog appearance, so I am going to have to step away from writing until I have the time and energy to create worthy posts.

Thanks for understanding!

Cleaning the fridge out is always such a delightful chore for the week. It’s when I realize I have lots of produce that needs to be eaten!

This week it was two big ole broccoli heads and half a bag of brussel sprouts.

The best way to ensure that I eat greens like these is to throw em in to be lightly steamed. As I mentioned in a previous post, my super cheap basket steamer is bomb and always saves the day.

Chop off the broccoli florets…. rinse both sprouts & broccoli….

STEAM.

Pretty flippin easy if you ask me. I had leftover broth needing to be used up as well, so I used a mixture of broth/water to steam with. Once steamed I store them in an airtight container in the fridge to keep on hand for meals.

For me they are staples in most of my meals.  (and even Ryan’s when he dines with me)

For example;  lunch yesterday consisted of large spinach salads with steamed vegetables.  To make it more hearty, Ryan and I split an avocado, each taking half, and cooked up some burgers to crumble over top. Ryan had the Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon Burgers (which are so tasty!) and tried out a Sunshine Burger for the first time. OMG. Talk about YUM!!!

I think I may have found a new obsession. The Sunshine Burger was amazing…… highly recommend trying them out if you like burger substitutes. Simple ingredients, unlike Boca & Gardenburger brands, and gluten free!

Another tasty creation I whipped up for lunch using the same steamed broc + brus. sprouts was this simple marinara dish. With it being so cold outside, I tend to crave comforting foods.

Using what I had on hand, I tossed a warmed another Sunshine burger in a skillet pan with a touch of organic butter + tore it apart into pieces + added the veggies + smothered in leftover Muir Glen Roasted Garlic Marinara Sauce + threw in a few pinches of nutritional yeast (to give it a little cheesy flavor).

Maybe not the most aesthetically pleasing… but my taste buds were in love!

So the point of this post….

It is so easy to whip up quick meals that are vegetable based… and steamed veggies make it even easier. If you want something even simpler, you can reheat your steamed treasures and top with a small amount of butter and enjoy. Yum!

What are some of your staples you keep on hand for quick, simple meals?

Okay long time no post.

I have the flu.

ARRGGGHHHH!!!!!

Back to bed I go.

Larabar that is!

BuThey were gracious enough to send me a delicious sample pack! It was mailed to my parents home in Nebraska so it took a bit longer for me to get the package…. boy was I excited when I had them in hand…

I received a great variety of bars!

But the main reasons why I love these bars because:

–> Pure, simple ingredients!

–> Gluten-free

–> Raw + Vegan

–> No added sugars + no preservatives

I have been keeping these on hand in my purse + backpack and love them as snacks! They are the perfect addition to my snack list. Note: I am not a fan of typical “bars” because they usually have ingredient lists a mile long + high in sugars and calories + never satisfying

I highly suggest giving these brightly colored bars a chance

What great colors!

Rank of my favorite flavors in the sample pack:

1) Cashew Cookie

2) PB + J

3) Apple Pie

4) Cherry Pie

5) Tropical Fruit Tart
So go to your local grocer and look for Lara!

Here’s a tip for the Cherry Pie — a lot of people find this bar a bit tart so if I am not in the mood for tart-ness I pair the bar with a few peanuts! It reminds me of the PB + J bar….

I found a great Cherry Pie + Cashew Cookie + Apple Pie pack of 12 (I think?!) at the Superior Costco near Boulder!

THANKS LARABAR FOR THE SAMPLE PACK!  I LOVE THEM

Hey folks! I hope your Monday had gone well. It was a rainy one here in Boulder – so much for sun on the last day of summer!

While I have plenty of studying to get done this evening, I thought I’d take a quick break and do a post on my all time favorite kitchen gadget. Thanks mom for introducing me to it!

It’s hard to believe I went so long without knowing what this was. A vegetable steamer! Place it in a pot with water or a water-broth mixture underneath (not overflowing into the steamer intself) and throw your veggies in. Wait a few minutes and enjoy!

I truly believe this is one of the simplest tools to use to incorporate more vegetable into your diet. I get sick of eating raw veggies! So I steam!

Here are few quick rules that I abide by when steaming:

1) Do not overcook the vegetables. This means making sure you cut them into similar sizes.

2) Make sure they stay vibrantly colored. If they start to look like mush you have cooked them too long.

3) Add veggies that steam the longest first (carrots, potatoes) and then add ones that steam quickly last (mushrooms, broccoli etc)

4) Sprinkle with sea salt and add a small amount of butter and enjoy!

I really will steam just about anything… asparagus, spinach, onions, potatoes, carrots, broccoli, collard greens, cauliflower, mushrooms…. and the list goes on!

I bought my steamer at Target for $3!  Cheap and easy way to add more vegetables to your life! Enjoy.

Boulder has been so peaceful lately as fall slowly makes its entrance. Supposedly it is suppose to sprinkle a little snow Sunday evening! I am not sure I am ready for that.

One thing I do know is that fall is my favorite time of year. The colors in Boulder are so vibrant and the weather is so relaxing. Plus its a nice change of wardrobe as we make our way into the colder months.

This evening Ryan and I met up with my old roommate for a first time meal at Mateo Restaurant.

The menu on the website definitely offers more than what we were presented with once seated. I feel this restaurant is a bit hidden on Pearl, set further down off of 19th. I liked how it was small, and seem pretty intimate…  Until a large group of people came in and I swear every little word, laugh and joke was echoed throughout the whole place.

Service was darn good, I felt like they took good care of us. I wasn’t too thrilled with my menu options for the night, but made due.

I started off with the usual roasted beet – goat cheese salad  (Watercress on the menu)  I really liked it because it was so fluffy and light. There were no heavy dressings weighing it down.

[Insert mental image of salad here: I forgot to snap a picture]

Entrees included:

chicken frites petaluma chicken +  fresh tarragon + beurre fondue

Yes, folks that is allllll butter.   Lots and lots and lots of it. While I should have known that the dish was more than likely going to be heavy with butter (after all, it is French food) I was not expecting the chicken to be as greasy/lots of skin as it was.

The chicken was very delicious, the under portion was drenched in way too much butter and appeared fried???  Considering I hardly ever order chicken as a main entree, it was tasty to me.  It also came with fries — which were definitely delicious. Very crispy, just the way I like them!

Joe, my previous roommate, ordered the same chicken dish.

Can anyone guess what Ryan ordered???

You guessed right!

mateo burger colorado sirloin burger + caramelized onions

As usual, Ryan was very pleased with his burger and fries!

Joe and I both agreed that we weren’t in love with the chicken. Joe said he would give it 6 out of 10 on the Joe taste – o – meter.  For as buttery as the chicken was I didn’t feel weighed down or overly full – which was a plus!

Downside = no gluten free menu. But the waiter was helpful in making suggestions on the menu.

All in all, I had a great evening there. Wonderful conversation + good service + tasty meal = good night out!

Let me know what your opinions are on Mateo!  Also, I am always on the prowl for new restaurants so suggestions are highly encouraged!

First day of classes at CU!

Isn’t our campus so beautiful?!

You can’t beat the views, the sun and the giant fields to lay out in. (Ya know, for those afternoon naps between classes)

My schedule + professors + classes seem great so far! Tons of interesting material… Biochem, Biopsychology, Cognitive Psychology and Behavioral Statistics + Research Methods. I am already busy with plenty of homework and reading.

Eats for the day were pretty simple. Smoothie for breakfast, salad + leftover pad thai for lunch,  a post weight lifting workout smoothie and a HUGE salad with split pea soup for din din.

The green smoothie blends in well with the green bowl! Today’s mix —> Frozen Strawberries + Banana + 1/2 C Rice Milk + Drizzle of Almond Butter + Honey + Barbara’s Organic Brown Rice Puffs. Oh and I crumbled a little bit of a PB+J Larabar on top. Super calorie dense smoothie because of the toppings and it didn’t keep me full for long. Maybe I should put protein powder in my morning smoothies?

Not sure why, but I was cravvinngggg carbs at lunch. This whole no wheat – buckwheat – oats – rye – barley diet is making me crave carbs more often. Ugh! I made a salad with mixed romaine + quinoa salad + 4 fingerling potatoes + 4 dates and a little Bragg’s Liquid Aminos. The Bragg’s seemed crazy salty + not so good.

Dinner was freakin’ awesome. I didn’t eat until late because Ryan and I shared a protein smoothie after we lifted at the gym around 6.  It kept me full until 9:30! So then I made a stop at Whole Foods and grabbed a ton of fresh veggies from their salad bar + cup of Split Pea Soup. I definitely filled up fast and am keeping it for leftovers tomorrow!

I bought a small journal to keep with me at the gym to write down my weight lifting routine. I plan on sharing it in the future, but I want to know what some of your favorite weight lifting plans are.  I am researching and looking to switch my routine up! Let me know and have an awesome night!

Hey guys! I am in Denver this fine Saturday soaking up the beautiful Colorado weather. Ryan is finally flying back to Boulder today so I am picking him up very shortly. I spent the evening with the wonderful Cecile, cooking up a great dinner and making a quinoa salad for the week. More details on that later.

I had some great conversation yesterday with my family over lunch. They asked me some great questions and it really got me thinking. I would like to share with you some of the main points that really stimulated my brain:

Start simple. When beginning to incorporate healthier foods, habits and exercise into your life it can feel overwhelming. Don’t expect yourself to be perfect or an expert in a day. I notice many people feel it’s too much work to eat healthier or exercise more, but in actuality we make ourselves think this. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

Write Goals. Make a list of why you want to start eating healthier, exercising more or whatever steps you are taking to live a better life. Why? Because there are going to be days where it’s hard and you lack motivation. Whip out that list and look at it. Write down absolutely everything – even things you would never tell a soul – and read it. Reminding yourself of what you want can help overcome these mental struggles.

My challenge to you for starting simple is this:

ELIMINATE EVERYTHING WHITE IN YOUR DIET.

Be for real with this. Get rid of that white bread, white rice, white flour and white pasta. Try this for 14 days and see how it goes. Read labels. Look for processed sugars and flours. These are completely void of all nutrients! Your body processes it fast and stores it to your butt, thighs, stomach and all those other places we don’t want extra pounds.

After trying this, jump head first into it. Seriously. One of the best ways to ease yourself off  processed sugars and flours is to do it cold turkey. Avoid those packaged muffins, cookies and crackers. Make your own at home or find a brand with better ingredients. Read labels and be smart!

Obviously keep eating cauliflower, onions, eggs and healthy fresh fruits and vegetables that are white…. but my main point is to get rid of processed whites!

Toss out suggestions and other helpful tips that may have helped you along your healthful transition. Or post a few of your goals in the comments section. I love to hear feedback.