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.