MyWayCereal Review

This week's product review is MyWayCereal. At MyWayCereal, you can create your own custom organic cereal mix. They have a very easy to use website that walks you through the process effortlessly. You can choose from 5 different cereal bases, several different kinds of dried fruits, nuts and seeds, and sweet treats to really customize your cereal to your specific tastes.

The cereal comes in these large tubes that store well in the pantry and do not take up much floor space. They hold a whopping 21oz of custom organic cereal, which is 11 servings at 54g a piece.

Here is the cereal mix that I made for myself:

I really like my cereal combination. There are a lot of dried fruit pieces, especially mango. The mango is a little tough to chew, but if you let the cereal soak in the milk or yogurt for a minute, the dried fruit softens and plumps - which is oh so yummy! Both Allan's and my mixes contain coconut and chia seeds, which tend to fall to the bottom of the canister. So, before each use, make sure that you lightly shake the canister to distribute the ingredients, that way you get a bite of yummy deliciousness in each bite.

Here is the Nutrition Info for my cereal mix:

Here are the ingredients in my cereal mix:

Here is the cereal mix that I made for Allan:

Allan really likes his cereal mix a lot. He enjoys the flavor and crunch of the honey corn flakes. He also likes all of the fruit and nuts that were in the mix. For once, Allan is actually excited when he opens the cupboards and sees this mix sitting there waiting for him - a reaction he hasn't had to cereal since I eliminated HFCS and Trans Fats from our cupboards. YAY for MyWayCereal!

Here is the Nutrition Info for Allan's cereal mix:

Here are the ingredients in Allan's cereal mix:

This is how I have been enjoying my cereal all week:

1/2 cup cereal, 3/4 cup strained plain low-fat yogurt, 1 serving unthawed frozen mango chunks

It's Going to be 80˚ in MN today!!!

Good Morning.

I hope that everyone has had a clean and productive week! Mine has been busy, as always. Work has been very demanding lately as we have gained some new clients and are taking on a few large projects, which is very exciting because the company is growing! However, sometimes I do not know if I am coming or going! In addition to my other commitments, I have had my schedule packed!!! Which is great, because I enjoy being busy; although, it has not left much spare time for blogging on a regular basis.

That being said, I love working on this blog and letting you into my life through it. If I could, I would love to do something like this full time. Unfortunately, blogging does not bring in a paycheck! ;-)

I know that you are all eager to learn more about clean eating and how I have been successful, and that energy really does keep me motivated. I do not mind answering your questions and sharing my recipes and product reviews with you. Although, this is a personal blog and is done in my spare time – time that could be spent reading, spending time with my husband, or gardening, etc. Don’t get my wrong, I love writing this blog and it is a way for me to use the creativity that I posses, that otherwise gets pent up inside of me! However, I cannot commit to blogging X times per week or sending out email updates or ensuring that I post one recipe per day. It is simply unrealistic for my life at this point.

My vision for this blog is to continue to post as I have in the past and hope that you enjoy reading what I have to say on that particular day. Please keep the questions coming in, as they make great topics for blogging. I am simply asking that you take the time to consider that my life is just as busy as yours and that I may not be able to meet some of your expectations for productivity.

Also, if you have questions that you would like me to personally answer and do not want to post them on the blog, feel free to send me an email at malcolmcreative@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening.
Maria

Fridge Organization

Several of you have asked that I post pictures of the inside of my fridge and explain how it is organized. Here you go!

The Fridge

Opening the Doors

Left Door

• Cage-Free Egg Whites
• Water Dispenser
• Frank's Red Hot
• Misc Milks (Unsweetened Vanilla Almond, Unsweetened Vanilla Soy, Chai Tea Mix)

Right Door

Butter (for making spreadable Olive Oil butter in the VitaMix for Allan)

Frequently Used Condiments (organic tamari, steak sauce, organic salsa, organic BBQ, organic ketchup)

Oils

Bee Pollen

Unsweetened Organic Jelly

Organic Unsweetened Apple Juice (for cooking)

Local Maple Sugar

Freeze Dried Spices

Left Inside

Top Shelf: 

• Leftover items to use for meals this week (black beans, organic sauerkraut, etc.)
  
• The contents of my cooler for the next day are moved to this shelf every night

Second Shelf:

• Quick "Grab and Go" Items 
• Pictured Items: chocolate protein bars, chocolate banana muffins, donut holes, leftover stir fry portioned into lunch sizes, pumpkin pudding

Deli Drawer

• Hummus
• Ground Flax
• Oat Bran
• Wheat Germ
• Tortillas
• Wraps
• Yeast

Bottom Left Shelf and Fruit Drawer

• Bottom Shelf: currently holding overflow from the fruit drawer and unthawing sun dried tomato chicken sausages for supper
• Some infrequently used condiments like Miso and horseradish sit behind these items in the back of the fridge
• Fruit Drawer: oranges, cut-up pineapple, grated coconut, young coconut flesh

Top Right Shelf

• Applesauce
• Unsweetened Apple Butter
• Unopened Organic Low-Fat Plain Yogurt 
• Coconut water (in container also)
• Wheat Grass to be blended into juice using the VitaMix and then frozen

Second Right Shelf

• Organic Eggs in can holder
• Iced Tea
• Allan's beer
• Individually Packaged Yogurt Cheese
• Whipped Butter
• POM

Bottom Right Shelf

• Cottage Cheese
• Nut Butters
• Vegan "Butter"
• Organic Pickles
• Marinades

Veggie Drawer

• Romaine, Spinach, Minced Organic Garlic, Zucchini, Celery

Freezer Drawer

• Top: Meat, Cheese, Frozen Whey (strained from yogurt and frozen in ice cube trays then placed in a freezer bag
• Bottom: Fruit, Veggies, Flours, Nuts

Freezer, Pull-Out Shelf

• Breads, Chicken Sausages, Wraps and Buns

More Fruit on the Counter

• Bananas
• Avocados
• Kiwi

Yummy Donuts

Here is a picture of the cute donut holes that I made from Ani's Raw Food Kitchen cookbook:




They are so tasty!!! But very dangerous to have around the house. I am sending the last few with Allan to work tomorrow. I can't control myself around them. :)

Q&A

Sorry that I didn't take pics last night. I will try to do it after work and before my workout tonight. We were up late in the garage adding some final parts and accessories to Allan's bike before its inaugural commute this morning. :)

I have been meaning to answer some questions for a couple days, don't worry I haven't forgotten about you!

#1 Q:
"what is organic zero? Is it a sweetener of some sort?"

Answer:
Organic Zero is a product of Wholesome Sweeteners, and is a USDA certified organic zero calorie sweetener that is made using organic cane sugar and an organically approved fermenting agent. The result is a sugar alcohol called Erythritol. It is 70% as sweet as sugar and can be used 1:1.  In general, erythritol is considered a “good” sugar alcohol, because it is absorbed into the blood stream in the small intestine rather than the large intestine, so it does not usually cause the gastrointestinal problems of most sugar alcohols. It is also shown to have little to no effect on blood glucose levels, making it low on the glycemic index. To read more about erythritol, click here.

#2 C:
"I love my Excalubur dehydrator. I have the 9 tray one. Although it's bulky I get a lot of use out of it and I'm happy that I got the 9 tray. When I have it on I try to dehydrate as much as possible. So if I'm making cereal then I'll make some cookies too. I usually have about 7 trays going at one time.

Most of Ani's recipes don't call for a dehydrator. There are many resources online (blogs, websites, etc). You should check out Brendan Brazier's site."

All the best.

Comment:
Thanks so much for the info! I actually did change my mind and I think that I will be ordering the 9 tray model with timer. I will definitely check out Brenda Brazier's site.

#3 Q:
"this looks nice. what kind of cooler do you use? do you have ice packs to go inside it? do you eat your food cold then (such as spaghetti squash, bison) or heat it up?"

Answer:
Unfortunately, I do not know the type of cooler that I have. My mom and aunt, who is a dietician, picked up two coolers for me while at an ADA Conference in Chicago this last Fall. I have a larger black soft sided cooler and a smaller pink/orange/yellow smaller soft-sided cooler that I use depending on how much I am carrying with me that day. 

I do use ice packs and have a few different sizes of those that I always keep in my freezer so that they are ready to go. 

Fortunately, I work at an office where I have access to a full kitchen (including a stove), so I usually eat my food heated. Although, if I am going to be away from the office or in a meeting, I bring food that I enjoy eating cold (e.g. whole wheat pita with chicken meatballs, chocolate banana protein bars, chocolate protein bars, chicken black bean quesadillas, yogurt + fruit, almonds, etc.)

#4 C:
"This would be at least $11.71 where I come from..(our neighbour country Sweden is HALF the price! Can you imagine..!)

Better stick my lousy box of tuna - haha ;)"

Answer:
Kristin (aka ninni), I cannot believe how much things cost! You always astound me with your stories!!!

#5 C:
"They sell the pull up bar at Bed, Bath, & Beyond and you can use your 20% off coupon on it.... ;)"

Answer:
I was eying it on Sunday when I was there. I did not have enough 20% off coupons for it this trip - maybe next time.

#6 Q:
"How about the new one that biggest loser/kim lyons are promoting protein freeze?"

Answer:
Here are the ingredients for the protein freeze powder:

Whey protein concentrate, Cocoa, Modified food starch, Natural and artificial flavors, Maltodextrin, Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, Disodium phosphate, Salt, Xanthan gum, Sucralose, Acesulfame potassium

Definitely NOT clean...

#7 C:
"The weather in Norway and MN are much the same climate!

Did you know we don't have cupons in Norway..? Along with everything else we dont have!? Applesauce, pumpkin..you name it!"

Answer:
Kristin, you're killing me here!!! No coupons???

#8 Q:
"tosca takes salba (chia seeds). Have you looked into the stats of the chia seeds you bought, the ones abbey uses and the ones tosca (sourcesalba.com) uses to see if there is any difference? Since you plan on posting pics today of your new "toys" could you please take and post pics of inside your frig so we can VISUALLY see how you keep it organized as discussed in a previous post. Have a great day."

Answer:
I did look up the difference between the Salba seeds and the RenewLife Ultimate Chialife Seeds that I purchased. Here are the two labels. Both are for the same serving size of 12g (even though one says that 12g = 2 tbsp and the other says that 12g = 1 tbsp). As you can see both products are very similar. I did not order the Salba because I was able to find the Ultimate Chialife at my local Whole Foods which is much more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than having the Salba shipped to me.

Also, yes I do plan on taking pictures of the inside of my fridge so that you can visually see my organization. Unfortunately, I have not had time to do so.

#9 Q:
"Check out hacres.com Hallelujah Acres Lifestyle is an 80% raw and 100% clean eating combined w/Christianity. They actually discuss the Excalibur and the vitamix along w/a lot of other topics you've mentioned in past blogs. Their weekly ehealth tip is always informative. Would also like to ask if you could please post pictures of each shelf in your refrig so I can get a visual of how you and your dh keep it organized. Have a great day"

Answer:
Thanks for letting me know about this resource. Also, see #8 about the fridge pics.

#10 Q

"Can you explain the equivalents to cane sugar for baking? I'd like to start substituting but not sure if it is a 1:1. Thank you!"

Answer:

Please keep in mind that if you replace table sugar with a liquid sweetener, then you will need to increase the dry ingredients or decrease the liquid ingredients in order to compensate for the extra moisture. So, I usually use sucanat or organic zero 1:1 to replace regular table sugar.

100% Pure Maple Sugar - replace 1:1 and read this article about compensating for extra liquid
Maple Sugar Flakes - 100% sweeter than sugar (use 50% less than sugar)
Sucanat - substitute 1:1 (I usually process it in my Magic Bullet first to create a more refined powder for baking)
Agave Nectar - 25% sweeter than sugar (use 25% less than sugar)
Honey - 25% to 50% sweeter than sugar (use 25% to 50% less than sugar), depending on the sweetness of the batch that you have
Dates (taste like brown sugar) - I wouldn't suggest baking with dates as they do not mix well into liquid ingredients, I add them to VitaMix smoothies and raw desserts
Molasses - 65% as sweet as sugar (use 35% more than sugar)
Organic Zero by Wholesome Sweeteners -  70% as sweet as sugar and can be used 1:1

Happy Monday!

It is a dreary, cold Monday here in MN. What is it like where you are? 

Allan and I had a fantastic weekend filled with clean food, the outdoors, and some much needed relaxation.

I spent Friday afternoon grocery shopping at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. I picked up some much needed essentials and some fun and new items to try, including Maca and Chia Seeds.

On Friday night we sat outside and ate shrimp cocktail. I made the cocktail sauce recipe from Tosca's Eat-Clean Diet Cookbook. It was really easy to throw together and was very tasty. Next time I make it, I will ensure that have Tobasco sauce on hand (instead of using Frank's) and will probably add a bit more horseradish for a little more zip.

Then we made clean pizzas. We used some leftover pizza sauce that I had frozen and Allan tried the Trader Joe's pizza crust that I picked up and I had my pizza on an english muffin - I just love eating pizza this way! Allan liked the Trader Joe's pizza crust and thought that it was a great change of pace. I tried a slice and thought that it tasted really good. Overall, the Trader Joe's crust is a good value, at a little over $1.00 per 12-inch crust; but it was a little bit of a struggle to roll out to fit the pizza pan. Next time I will let it sit out for a bit longer and let it get to room temperature.

Allan has decided to start commuting downtown to work... heck it's only 5.3 miles! So, on Saturday we took the Fuji in to Penn Cycle for some new tires. While there, Allan and I decided to check out some new bikes. We really weren't looking for anything new, Allan is refurbishing a Fuji bike that his dad gave him and when I feel like riding, I can use Allan's sister's old bike. Low and behold I walked away with a new bike! It is a Trek Lime Light that was used as a demo bike. I am so excited to have a bike of my very own!!! Tomorrow I will have Allan take a pic of me on my new bike and post it here.

On Saturday afternoon, I was really excited to try making Kale Chips from Dani Spies. Unfortunately, they did not turn out as well as I had liked. The "chips" burnt easily and they smelled a bit funny. Oh well. Sometimes things just don't turn out the way that you would like. I always like Dani's recipes and was sad that I did not like this one. Oh well, if you check out her site, there are few new items, like the Peanut Butter Performance Pancakes, that look amazing!

We decided to brake in our new bikes and took a nice ride down to Minnehaha Falls... about an 8 mile ride roundtrip. What fun! For supper we tried a new type of Amy's Veggie Burger, Texas, which has a BBQ flavor. Both Allan and I really liked them and would have them again.

On Sunday, we went to Bed Bath and Beyond to use our 20% off coupons before they expired. I picked up a new Simple Human paper towel holder, 2 new Calphalon hard anodized omelet pans (a great deal at $49.99 for the 10" and 12" set), and a Kitchen Aid Food Processor. I will post a pic of the new Food Processor tomorrow with the bike pic. I know that I originally said that I wanted the Cuisinart model, but when I saw both models in the store next to one another, I changed my mind. Also, I was able to snag a never been used, straight out of the box "display" model for a deep discount. The Food Processor is very cool and I will give you more specifics when I post the pic.

While at Bed Bath and Beyond I peeped a very cool new stainless steel dishrack by Simply Human that I know have my eye on. If I would've had one more 20% off coupon, it would be sitting on my counter right now!

Being that I had a brand new toy to use I decided to make the Donut Holes from Ani's Raw Food Kitchen Cookbook. 

They are VERY good!!! I will take a pic and post it tonight! They kind of remind me of Lara bars.

While my batch of Chocolate Banana Protein Muffins were cooking, I made Raw Pumpkin Pudding from Gone Raw. I did not have any raw pumpkin or squash, so I used canned pumpkin - I know that it is not raw. But it was very tasty. I had a bowl after supper with chia seeds soaked in it. VERY GOOD!!! Thanks, Abbie at Foods That Fit for the suggestion. 

For supper I made meatballs from Tosca's Eat-Clean Diet Family and Kids Book with Muir Glenn Cabernet Marinara sauce and Ancient Harvest Quinoa Noodles. This was a great combination!!! I really liked the Ancient Harvest Quinoa Noodles - these noodles really reminded me of white starchy noodles that I haven't had in years. The texture was spot on and they tasted so good! Also, the meatballs were super easy to make. I baked a double batch and froze the remaining meatballs to use sometime in the future when I am pressed for time. Just pop them in the sauce to thaw and you are ready to go! What an easy and delicious meal!

Protein Factory Review

I recently placed a custom Protein Powder order from Protein Factory.

We received two different products in the mail about a week ago. Being that this was a custom order it took about a week for the package to arrive at our house with standard processing and shipping. I was very pleased with the ordering and service received. 

The website was very informative and helpful in explaining the different ingredients. However, some of the information seemed to be buried. I think that it would be helpful if the ingredient explanations were included in the custom protein powder tool. I also found it to be a little awkward ordering ingredients by percentage of whole. I would have preferred a "one of this, two of that" approach to customization.

I ordered two different protein powders, a vanilla weight loss formula and a chocolate lean gain formula. Overall, both protein powders taste good and met my expectations. The came in the pictured bags and did not include scoops. I wish that they would have included pre-measured scoops to correspond with the serving size listed on the Nutrition Label. I also wish that they would have came in nicely designed canisters as opposed to bags. I don't really like the bags.  The bags do not have the ingredients or nutrition info on them, this information came printed on 8.5X11 sheets of paper that accompanied the bags.

The vanilla weight loss formula is all whey protein powder. This is the formula that I ordered:

This is the nutrition info:

I do not mind the taste of the vanilla protein powder in shakes, but because it is unsweetened, it does not taste very good on its own. The vanilla flavor is not strong and almost tastes like an "original" flavor rather than vanilla. It also froths up a lot when blended, especially when I add it to the Vita-Mix. This was a little strange at first, but am now getting used to it. Amazingly, when I bring a smoothie with me to work, it is still frothy hours later.

The chocolate lean gain formula is a combination of a few different proteins. This is the formula:

This is the nutrition info:

The chocolate protein powder can easily be drank on its own with a little added sucanat. I also used it to make Chocolate Protein Bars. They are very good. For some reason the chocolate protein powder does not froth up like the vanilla. 

I have not baked with either protein powders yet, but do plan to do so sometime in the near future.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Review Fridays

I have decided that I will start doing Review Fridays, where I will choose a product and use it intermittently throughout the week and then on Fridays I will give you my opinion on the product. What do you think? Do you have any suggestions of products that you would like me to review?

Today I will be reviewing the vanilla protein powder that I mixed for myself at Protein Factory. 

Next week's review will be of the cereal that I mixed up at MyWayCereal that just shipped today.

MixMyGranola

The very cool site, MixMyGranola, is celebrating their 6 month birthday by offering a special 20% discount until tomorrow (4/18) using the promo code BDAY. At MixMyGranola, you can create your own granola or muesli mixture using several very original ingredients, some of which are 100% organic. They also have pre-mixed varieties available for sale.

I have been wanting to try their products and do a review for you some time in the near future. I have read on many other people's blogs that they have great products. Please let me know if you order anything and how you enjoy it.

Measurements!

As some of you know, I am involved in a 12-week competition on the Clean Eating forum. This week marks the end of week 4 of the competition and our first set of weight and measurements are due on Sunday. Since I am not sure if I will be in town this weekend, I decided to take my measurements and official weight this morning. 

Since the beginning of the competition, 4 weeks ago, I have lost 3.5 pounds and 8 total inches! 

I felt that this was a great accomplishment because I even took 1 week off of working out due to a knee injury and have not done any hard core cardio intervals since I injured my knee. I am looking forward to the back third of the competition, as my knee is feeling better and I am able to train the way that I normally do. I am back to doing NROL4W and running intervals and feel like I can accomplish a lot in the next 8 weeks!

My New Clean Eating Gadget Wish List

Recently, we splurged our tax dollars on a bunch of new items for the house (i.e. fridge, dinning room chairs, TV, dinning room table, sideboard, etc.), so I am not sure when I will be able to get the new kitchen gadgets that I would like, but today I thought that I would share my new wish list. :)

An Excalibur Dehydrator. I am not sure if I want the 9 tray or the 5 tray, but really want the timer model vs. the regular model. I would really like to start making my own dried fruit, tortillas, etc.

A Couple Tools to aid in Dehydrating Prep:

Excalibur ParaFlexx Sheets. For making tortillas and fruit leathers.

A Benriner Spiral Veggie Slicer. For slicing apples, pears, etc.

An Offset Spatula. For spreading mixtures onto the ParaFlexx sheets.

A Brita Classic Pitcher. Our current pitcher does not fit into our new fridge - the handle gets in the way. :(

A Garmin Forerunner 305 with foot pod and cadence sensor. For tracking my runs and bike rides this summer. You know me, I love to track and organize everything!

An Iron Gym with Ab Straps. I just re-started NROL4W this week, after taking a 2 week hiatus from it while my knee recovered. Now that I am back into it, I know that pull ups and chin ups are awaiting me in the stages ahead and I will definitely need one of these then.

A Cuisinart PowerPrep Plus 14-Cup Food Processor. I love my Vita-Mix, but it just does not do some of the cool things that a food processor can do. Also, when making nut butter or fruit leathers, it is extremely difficult to clean the Vita-Mix. A food processor would be much better!

A Couple Composters from Gaiam. I would love to start composting this year and want an outdoor unit for my driveway and kitchen unit to keep under the sink.

There you go! Let's see if I can start acquiring a few of these items some time soon.

Here are my eats for today:

m1 - 1/2 c egg whites + chick sausage + 1/3 c dry oatmeal+2 tbsp wheat germ+2 tbsp ground flax+1/3 c blueberries

m2 - vita-mix: protein powder + spinach + mango/straw

m3 - black bean chicken quesadilla leftover from last night's supper + pear

m4 - yogurt + pineapple + nectarine

m5 - flank steak + broccoli

m6 - tbd

Tonight I am going to try out my new running shoes outside! YAY!!!

2 New Clean-Eating Books

Two new Clean-Eating books are now available for pre-order through Amazon:

1. New Cookbook
2. New Companion Book

Just BARE™ chicken

I just came across Just BARE™ chicken and it sounds like a great product for keeping it clean and environmentally friendly while still enjoying your chicken.  Just BARE™ chicken is cage-free, vegetarian-fed, and free of antibiotics and hormones. Also, the tray that the chicken comes in is recyclable.

I do not know the price point for this product, but it is available at SuperTarget and several other retailers. I know that organic chicken can be cost-prohibitive and this, in addition to SmartChicken, are good lower cost options.

A Beautiful Afternoon

It is beautiful, warm and sunny here in MN. I am sitting on the front stairs of our cute Minneapolis home munching on half of a Chocolate Protein bar and sipping on one of my iced tea blends (a combination of pomegranate green tulsi, lemongrass mint green, and peppermint teas). It is unexpectedly refreshing and calming. 

We are having grilled chicken with asparagus tonight for supper and I am waiting for the chicken to thaw a bit more before I beat it with a mallet. ;-) I think that we will enjoy the chicken with some Amy's BBQ and Frank's Red Hot.

Last night Allan humored me by accompanying me to Barnes & Noble where I purchased Tosca's Eat Clean Diet Workout Journal and Ani's Raw Food Kitchen. I have ben reading a lot about the benefits of raw food and would really like to start incorporating some raw food into my diet. I have heard great things about this book and will let you know what I think.

To start out my new raw food kick, I think that I may have to invest in a food dehydrator and am considering purchasing this one. What do you think?

The timer that I had set for the chicken is going off... so it's time to make supper! Have a fabulously clean night!!!

Happy Easter Monday!

Hello Ladies and Gents!

I hope that you are having a clean day today and detoxing from any unclean foods or overeating that happened yesterday. :)

Todays eats have been/will be the following:

M1 - 1/2 c egg whites + 1 chicken sausage + 1/3 c dry oatmeal cooked with 1/8 c blueberries + 1 tbsp flax + 1 tbsp wheat germ + 2/3 c water

      Supplements: 1 tsp bee pollen, CLA, Cal/Mag/D, Omega, Digestive Enzymes, Multi-Vitamin, L-Carnitine

M2 - Vita-Mix: spinach + straw/mango + protein powder

    My new protein powder that I made at Protein Factory is very frothy, I'm not sure what I think of it...

M3 - 4 oz roast + 1/2 pita + dijon mustard + pear

M4 - 1 c low-fat plain yogurt + pineapple

M5 - 4 oz grilled salmon marinated in balsamic+tamari+honey+pepper + asparagus

M6 - 1 slice cinnamon raisin ezekiel bread + 2 tbsp peanut butter

Instead of responding to your questions in the comments section of each post, I decided that I will start posting the answers to your questions in my blog posts so that everyone can see the answers. So, here we go!

Question:

When was the last time you replaced your running shoes? It might be time for a new pair :)

Answer:

Yes, it is definitely time to replace my running shoes. I especially need to ensure that I have good support because I have high-arches (under-pronate). I need to make time to visit my local Running Room store and purchase a new pair.

Question:
Maria: I love reading your blog. I need to ask. How do you find the time to do all this? It is amazing. I thought I had it together and I ready your blog and my jaw drops.

I need to know your secret!
Tracey

Answer:

Tracey, I always schedule my workouts and meal prep time into my day, as I would any other appointment or meeting. 

I use weekend afternoons to prep meals; make protein bars; wash & clean vegetables/fruits; make marinades; and portion out planned leftovers, yogurt & prepped veggies/fruits into individual servings. Each of these items has a special location in my fridge to ensure quick and accurate cooler assembly during the week. 

After supper, I always portion out leftovers into individual servings. I also gather all of my cooler items for the next day in one location in the fridge. This is done while Allan washes the dishes from supper.

Every Thursday evening, I plan out every meal that I am going to eat for the next week. Then, on Fridays, I go to the Co-Op with a defined list of items that I need to purchase based on my food plan for the week. I always make sure to check out the items that I already have in the fridge, freezer and pantry to ensure that I use up what I have on hand.

Comment:
(To Supplement Post) I do £2,4,6..

Response:

Kristin, you may want to look into adding L-Carnitine to your daily supplements. It aids in the digestion of CLA (and other Fatty Acids) and will improve their effectiveness.

Happy Easter!

The family has come and gone and I am pooped! We were up before 5:00 AM this morning to make it to the 6:30 AM sunrise church service. On Easter, the choir sings at both the 6:30 AM and the 9:00 AM church services. I sang Redeemer by Nicole C. Mullen at the 9:00 AM service and it went well. My dad plays guitar with the choir and soloists and it is always nice to hear him "show off" on songs with really nice guitar leads like End of the Beginning.

After church, I made two top round roasts (5 lbs total), carrots, and mashed red potatoes with garlic and dill. Yesterday, I made two batches of gluten-free, dairy-free brownies (one made with oil and another with apple sauce) and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. My mom brought broccoli salad and my mother-in-law brought gluten-free muffins and a lettuce salad with green goddess dressing. Needless to say, we had more than enough food. Everyone left full and with lots of leftovers! There are also some leftover clean sweets for Allan to bring to work tomorrow to feed to his coworkers. Life is good.

My menu for the week is planned and my cooler for tomorrow prepared. I am contemplating making some wheat grass juice in the Vita-Mix, but am lacking the energy. My knee has been bothering me again and it hurts to stand for long periods of time. I think that I re-aggravated it when Allan and I went for a jog/walk outside on Friday morning. :( I am really missing my cardio sessions and was hoping that I would be able to get back into them without my knee hurting. Unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case. Oh well... 

Have a great night! I will be checking back in shortly to answer some questions and post my eats/workouts.

Chicken Black Bean Quesadillas

Last Tuesday Allan grilled an entire bag of chicken breasts so that we would have leftovers for lunches and quick suppers during the week. On Wednesday night I threw this little diddy together at the drop of a hat. It was super easy and quick and tasted amazing! Allan said that it now comes in as his #2 favorite Clean Eating meal, right behind pizza.

BTW, I did hear from my mother-in-law last week after she received her Clean-Eating books and she seemed really excited to have a set of her own books and be able to have some insight into eating gluten- , lactose-, and fructose-free. Thanks, Tosca!

Chicken Black Bean Quesadillas

4 6-inch whole grain or sprouted tortillas
2 chicken breasts, grilled and diced into ½ inch chunks
1 can organic black beans
2 oz low-fat organic cheddar cheese

Additional Filling Ideas:

• Red Onion
  
• Bell Peppers
  
• Jalapeno
  
• Diced Tomatoes, drained
  
• Diced Chilies
  
• Substitute Goat Cheese for Cheddar
  

Topping Ideas:

• Salsa
  
• Guacamole
  
• Pico de Gallo
  
• Lettuce
  

Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Line a baking sheet with tin foil and mist with olive oil.

Place one tortilla on prepared baking sheet. Top with chicken, black beans, cheddar cheese and desired fillings. Top with another tortilla.

Repeat process with remaining tortillas, chicken, black beans and filling. Mist both top tortillas with olive oil.

Bake for 18 minutes. Turn on broiler and broil for 2-3 minutes or until tortilla is browned.

Makes 4 servings.

Each serving is 1 complex carb/bread, 1 protein, and 1 complex carb from veggie/fruit

Bright and Sunny Day!

I am not going to believe it until it has been proven to me... but Spring may actually be here! I am staying optimistic, but will not be fooled again. It did snow here last Saturday and Sunday. :(

I am loving the new fridge and can't wait to fill it up with groceries this week. I thought that the larger freezer would be helpful, but it is already full. Looks like I may have to buy a small freezer for the basement still. Oh well.

Last week Allan and I decided to surprise both of our Mom's with a little Easter surprise and purchased them each a full set of Tosca's Eat-Clean Diet books (not the Workout book). My mom called this morning and was excited about them. We have not heard from Allan's mom yet. Hopefully it will help to answer some of their questions about Clean Eating.

I made Chicken and Black Bean Quesadillas for supper tonight and they were amazing! I will be posting the recipe and pics soon.

Supplements

I made a post a few weeks ago asking about supplements that people are taking and I decided that it would be a good idea to post the supplements that I decided to start taking and why I chose these particular supplements.

Pictured above from left to right:

1. Chromium Picolate - for the digestion of carbohydrates
2. Omega Complex - to get my EFA's
3. Super Digestive Enzymes - to aid in breaking down the high fiber food that I eat (especially raw veggies, beans, etc.)
4. CLA - to aid in fat loss
5. Women's Active Multi-Vitamin - to ensure that I get my vitamins and minerals
6. Calcium/Magnesium/Vitamin D - to promote bone health
7. L-Carnitine - to aid in the digestion of fatty acids, especially CLA
8. Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM - to promote joint health

I do not take the recommended dose on the label of each of these supplements because I feel like I do get some of these nutrients in my normal diet and the Multi-Vitamin does contain some of the other supplements that I take.

A Productive Weekend

Our weekend was hectic, to say the least... 

Friday was a day of preparation...

1. Cleaned out the old fridge.
   
2. Drove my mom to physical therapy and to run some errands.
   
3. Went to the Co-Op.
   
4. Made clean pizza (I had mine on an english muffin).


5. Had a failed attempt at installing the water line for our new fridge.

Saturday was an extremely busy day!

1. In the early AM, Allan successfully installed the water line for the new fridge.
   
2. The new fridge was delivered and installed.
   
3. Allan altered the doorway next to the fridge to accommodate its stature.
   
4. Hung the TV on the wall.
   
5. Had a drink at a friend's house for Sam's birthday.
   
6. Attended the Artcrank Poster show and purchased a few very cool posters.
   
7. Went to an after party at a local bar.
   
8. In bed by midnight.

Today was another long day...

1. Up at 7:00 for the Palm Sunday church service where the choir sang.
   
2. After church, we went to brunch with my family (had a veggie egg white omelet, fruit cup and whole wheat toast)
   
3. Picked up the contents of our freezer at my parent's house.
   
4. Purchased new dinning room chairs and brought them home!
   
5. Helped Allan's parent's to move an entertainment center into their basement.
6. Ate leftover chili with Allan.
   
7. Sat on the couch and am watching Madagascar while surfing the internet.
   
8. Signed up for a summer CSA share to split with my parents.

Phew! I need to go to bed early tonight to get some rest!

TGIF!

Good evening. Allan and I are unthawing some of my homemade pizza sauce and herbed pizza dough for dinner tonight. We will have a glass of wine and homemade pizza and then will be prepping for tomorrow's delivery. :)

A couple weeks ago we ordered a new fridge and it arrives tomorrow. Tonight we need to hook up a water line from the basement, through the floor and into the kitchen for the new ice maker! I am extremely excited for it to arrive.

I have kept my eats clean today. I did not work out because my lower thighs are bothering me from my workout on Wednesday. So, I am taking another day off. It is surprising that I am still loosing weight even though my activity level has been down the last two weeks... Tosca is correct - what you put in your mouth really is 80% of what you look like!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! I plan on checking in at some point this weekend to post pics of the new fridge!

Your Planned Life

We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
                                                              ―Joseph Campbell

I really like this. I think that there are many people out there that feel defined by what they eat, watch on TV, and do with their free time that they cannot imagine adapting to a healthy way of life by giving up these items... even when their life depends on it. Why is it that we create attachments to such trivial things?

A chocolate bar, soda, sugar, trans fat, high-fructose corn syrup, ice cream, McDonald’s, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol will never fulfill us in the way that being healthy and active will. So, why are they so important to some of us? Frequently more important than ensuring that we stay healthy for our loved ones and ourselves.

Now, I am not saying that the occasional treat is a bad thing. I indulge in a cheat once a week. However, there are many people that have cheats every day. That is not healthy. If you have not read Tosca Reno’s Eat-Clean Diet for Family and Kids,  you should pick up a copy at the Simply Clean Bookstore. It will open your eyes to the chemicals, preservatives, and pesticides that are hiding in your fridge and pantry and degrading your health without your knowledge. You will never look at a bottle of RealLime or Ketchup the same way again.

The good news is that there is hope! Fortunately, the “health food craze” is growing in popularity. Organic and natural items are not limited to Co-Op and Whole Foods isles anymore. Consuming healthy foods is growing in popularity. However, many food companies are jumping on the bandwagon without actually changing their ways, which makes it important for you to be a savvy shopper… always, Always, ALWAYS read ingredients labels. If there is anything that you cannot pronounce, does not come directly from the ground or is not close to its natural state (in nature), DO NOT purchase the item. As a consumer, you need to use your votes (aka money) to demonstrate to food companies what we want to see on Grocery Store shelves.

As healthful, organic items increase in popularity, farms and food companies will gain economies of scale, which should decrease the price of these items.

We each have our own choices to make each day. Make sure that yours are clean!

Happy Wednesday!!!

It's crazy to think that the week is officially half over. Do you feel as though your week has been productive? I feel like I have not sat down and just relaxed! Why do I do this to myself? I definitely have had a very productive workout in addition to making time to eat completely clean and fit in two workouts.

Tonight my husband and I decided to host the Easter celebration for both of our families. We normally host Thanksgiving and last year we hosted Easter at the last minute (literally the day before). If anyone has any good ideas for a Clean main entree for Easter, let me know. I am thinking about making a sirloin roast.

Here are my eats for today:

M1 - 1/2 cup egg whites, 1 chicken sausage, 1/3 cup dry oatmeal cooked in 2/3 cup water + cinnamon + vanilla

M2 - vita-mix: spinach + berry mix/mango + orange + protein powder + flax + bee pollen + water

M3 - roast turkey breast + fresh salsa + 1/2 pita

M4 - 1 nectarine + chocolate protein bar

M5 - 1 organic chicken sausage + sauerkraut + sprouted wheat bun

M6 - 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt + strawberries + protein powder + vanilla

I decided that my knee was feeling a little better today and I decided to do a lower body workout. Here is my workout routine from this morning:

Sissy Squats: BW/10 reps, BW/10 reps

Lunges: BW/10 reps each leg, BW/10 reps each leg

Hack Lifts: 20lb/10 reps, 20lb/10 reps

Calf Raises: BW/20 reps, BW/20 reps

Deadlifts: 40 lb/20 reps, 40lb/20 reps

Swiss Ball Crunches with Overhead Reach: BW/15 reps, BW/15 reps

"Most people rush after pleasure so fast that they rush right past it."
– Soren Kierkegaard

Have a fabulous day! I will check back in later on to post my eats and my workout from this morning.