Eat Clean & Live!

Farm Fresh Friday

2010-05-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

Another beautiful day in San Diego! Although the May showers have started up again, I am certain the June flowers (and gardens) will be delightful!

Last week I promised to show you how to get that garden started. Today I have the photos from the planting process...

We made the rows...

...selected the plants...

...then placed plants on rows and spaced evenly apart...

We also planted some seeds, including spaghetti squash. It is good to note that when planting the seeds, you should place them further or closer apart based on the size that the plant will eventually grow to be. Dad told me to plant several of the spaghetti squash seeds in each spot, knowing that some of them may not even grow. The spaghetti squash needs a little more room than some of the other plants, because it tends to have huge vines that grow everywhere. The tomato plants will eventually need the wire cages around them to help facilitate the growth.

Here is my sister and Dad, checking out the growth of the plants after we had planted and watered them last week. Apparently the beans were already taking off! The front right section of green foliage is a leftover strawberry patch from last year.

This is the last beautiful strawberry from the bunch...so long friend!

On to the next planting project...

My wonderful friend found this cute set of pots and chalkboard signs for a small kitchen garden of herbs and flowers. I have been talking about doing my own set of plants for awhile now, and she thought of me when she saw these...aren't they cute! I can't wait to put them behind our kitchen sink! I am going to my parent's house today to get some extra soil and seeds for the pots. I may also cheat a little, and buy some mature plants from Home Depot so I can enjoy them right away. I'll be sure to post the final product!

I am excited to see the fresh veggies that come from my Dad's garden! I will be sure to do our weekly produce "shopping" at their house during the summer! They always have an abundance of zucchinis and tomatoes.

Any fun plans for the weekend, friends? We are planning on doing two hikes this Memorial Day weekend. Remember when we went to Daley Ranch with our friends? Husby and I want to revisit it...do we enjoy torture? Haha...we may go easy this time, because our second hike will be on Monday, in the Anza Borrego Desert. We are going with the same group of friends and celebrating a birthday!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

xoxo, Meg

Farm Fresh Friday

2010-05-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

This is the first of many posts for my new series...Farm Fresh Friday! I will be introducing you to my papa and his wonderful backyard garden. Along the way, I will try to gain knowledge of gardening (organic-style) and share any tips I come across.

The inspiration for this series on organic gardening, and gardening in general, came from my wonderful papa and his green thumb. My dad grew up in a family with 6 children. My grandparents were all about being frugal, fixing things (lots of DIY projects), and finding great deals at garage sales. All of their children learned, at a young age, how to basically do everything...from fixing tires to cooking and baking to gardening. If they didn't know how to do something on their own, they went to the library and got a book on the topic, then proceeded to teach themselves.
Last Friday my dad invited me up to the house to help out with his garden. He knew I had been wanting to get involved in the planting process in the hopes that one day I would be able to have my own garden. I love fresh fruit and veggies! If we owned our house, or knew we were living here longer, we I would be planting a garden of my own. I may start a small herb garden (pot) in our kitchen, if I can find the right herbs and pot.

Anyways, I digress! I headed out to Del Mar to help out with the beginnings of an organic garden! My dad had already done the rotor tilling and laying down the manure/mulch (same thing? I'll find out!).

Post rotor-tilling-mulch-laying:

So the next step? Planning out rows for the different fruits and veggies. Luckily, my dad had done a garden in the same spot last year, so his spacing/watering techniques were already in place for this year's crop.

Dad marked each row with a little stake on each end and then attached a string to each stick.

In total there were 7 rows. Three smaller rows in the back were designated for corn, because it grows taller and closer together than some of the other plants. Once the rows were completed, we shoveled dirt into mounds underneath each string (and I stopped taking photos to help papa with the actual ~~hard labor~~ gardening :)

Next week I will feature some of the fruits and veggies that will be growing in the Bockman garden, along with more photos of the initial stages of planting! Looking forward to gleaning lots of information from my dad, and sharing with you along the way!

Hope you have a great weekend!!! (spice up your life! hehe)

Enjoy some farm fresh flowers...these are zinnias from Trader Joe's...LOVE THEM!!!

agape,
meg

Spice up your life! (part 2)

2010-05-21T16:25:00.000-07:00

Remember when I stumbled across the EmersonMade kitchen and its wonderful spice jar inspiration??

Well...my project is complete!

Here is the before of our spice cabinet:

filling bulk spices in new jars:

(*yes, I realized the spelling error on Corriander, only after it was sealed with Mod Podge)

and...voila! a revamped spice jar selection:

My brother in-law is going to create a spice rack for me, with leftover wood scraps at his wood working shop...I'm super excited!!! I will be sure to post a final picture when it is complete. I am hoping that I will be able to make a cute, complete set that is able to be displayed in the kitchen...and maybe sell sets on etsy. Just an idea :) we shall see!

Also, stay tuned for Farm Fresh Friday where I will feature the first post of a series on organic gardening and fresh produce!

agape, Meg

surprise care package!

2010-05-20T14:55:00.000-07:00

a perfect pair.

this little care packages arrived on our doorstep this afternoon. delightful. it brought a HUGE smile to my face. she knows me well... i love: paired coffee mugs, starbucks beans, and cute cards. (and our friendship of course). thank you thank you thank you, ms. sager!

xoxo, mrs. mullen

Fresh-Handmade-Homemade-Whole Wheat-Mac-a-chini!

2010-05-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Friday night dinner plan [pre-inspiration]: turkey burgers with spinach, tomatoes, red onions and some spice.
Friday night dinner plan {post-inspiration}: fresh-handmade-homemade-whole wheat-mac-a-chini!

The inspiration came from From Me to You, a photographer's blog, that featured homemade pasta. It looked so easy, and so tasty!

Follow the photos and enjoy!

Use kithenaid mixer and pasta attachment with favorite pasta dough recipe.

I decided to use whole wheat flour, eggs, and water.

voila! thus the name, mac-a-chini...not exactly macaroni shells or fettucini :)

Boil pasta then strain. Mix favorite toppings for pasta. Ours included: ground turkey, oregano, garlic, red onions, diced tomatoes and fresh spinach!

Serve in bowl and add a sprinkle of mozarella cheese.

Enjoy!

Once we get a handle on this pasta-making business...we'll be hosting more pasta parties (well, that's the hope at least)! I hope it tastes good!

We're going to have Italian food for my birthday...but it probably won't be as healthy as this was!

much agape,

Megan

Happy Mother's Day weekend!

2010-05-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

{shhh...don't tell my mom...this card is for her!}

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mamas out there...you are loved and appreciated!!! Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

much agape, Meg

Crazy Bowls!

2010-05-07T20:38:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been to Crazy Bowls and Wraps, "where healthy and tasty merge,"?!? Please try it! My friend Katie introduced me to this lovely little place in Mission Valley. The food was fresh, healthy, and cheap! Salmon protein bowl with grilled veggies and a diet coke=$8!!! Leave it to Katie (aka super fitness personal trainer guru) to find the healthiest places to meet up :) love that girl!

I was inspired to recreate the protein bowl veggies...they were crisp and delicious, and seemed easy enough to add to any meal. I loved the crisp edamame and zucchini that were included in each bowl. I've been having a hard time including good, fresh veggies into all of our meals (minus breakfast) and decided this would be a perfect solution! On top of that, the fresh produce that I normally buy, like zucchinis, go bad before we are able to eat them all (darn Henry's and their sales!).

Plan of attack: purchase fresh produce, including-zucchini, edamame, bell peppers, broccoli, and shredded carrots. Wash veggies. Slice and dice however you like. Place into blue mixing bowl, and mix. Next step: DO NOT place all veggies into gallon-size bag. Instead: Place in individual quart-size bags (or whatever a single portion or meal would require). I made the mistake of putting all of the produce into the gallon bag...and now it's frozen into one big mass of veggies! Ah well! Live and learn :)

Hope you try (and enjoy) this tasty veggie mix!

agape, Meg

MIA

2010-04-27T09:27:00.000-07:00

Missing in action! I'd love to say that I was on a tropical beach, relaxing, soaking up sun and enjoying a vacation with my husband all this time I've been gone...but it would not be true :) I've just been soaking up other things lately, trying to learn more about clean eating, healthy body image, and FITNESS! I read a couple great posts on healthy body image, loving the body that God gave us, and good, healthy eats :) Unfortunately, I can no longer find (aka retrace the steps of my blog stalking haha) the links to these articles. Nonetheless, they were insightful, inspiring, and you'll just have to take my word for it! (if I find them again, I'll post the links!)...Here is one, by a writer at (in)courage!
Also, I spent some good quality time in solitude with God. on the beach. I spent time reading His Word, His promises and His love letter to us. I was reminded of His truth and His love for me. That He works out all things for good, even when it doesn't seem that way to me. It's been a tough couple weeks, in case you couldn't tell...but since that mini-retreat I've realized again that my Father in Heaven has me right where He wants me to be, in His hands-the safest place!
I'm working on getting back into a healthy routine of good (healthy) eats and fitness feats (aka dominating the workout routine!)...so please, stay tuned (if you like) and I will work on my blog posting consistency!

Thanks friends!
xoxo Meg

Crafts in the Clean Eating Kitchen

2010-04-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

From inspiration and ideas...

to the sewing machine...

to the Clean Eating kitchen!

And it even matches our recipe board!

I have some amazing women in my life. They inspire me, they challenge me to be a better person, they show me love like Jesus' love, and they are super crafty/creative! There is a group of about 5 of us ladies who have started meeting on weekly/bi-weekly basis to do crafts together. I think it started in December. I wanted to make some different ornaments for my first Christmas tree with husby. We started meeting and after Christmas passed, we had enjoyed our time together so much, that we kept meeting up! Normally we chit-chat (a lot!), but who doesn't? :) Then we get started on a craft...sometimes we're all working on the same thing, and other times we bring our own side projects that we are working on. Last week's craft was inspired by a fancy tea towel that was seen on the (in)courage blog. So there you have it, a fancy tea towel, that matches our recipe board (we had leftover material) and fits perfectly with my crate & barrel towels! yay!

I'm still working on digging deep into the books and information about Clean Eating, and health in general. I have also been busy making baby onesies and getting ready for my sister-in-law and one of my best friend's baby showers...phew! lots of work, but lots of fun!

Here's a sneak peek of one of the projects...

xoxo Meg

Hitting the Books

2010-04-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

Hello fit-foodie-friends!

Welcome to the weekend :) I hope you have great adventures planned!

We will probably be hiking tomorrow morning and entertaining friends at our place tomorrow night. My grandpa turns 88(!!!) next week, so we decided we're going to throw him a little birthday dinner on Sunday with our families. Busy weekend ahead!

Also in the forecast...hitting the books! I need to refresh my knowledge of Clean Eating (basics to advanced) and get back into the swing of things :) We've been slacking a bit, but I realized that I am the one who is in control of groceries and meals...so I need to get informed (again)! I will keep y'all in the loop about new findings and any fun recipes I come across.

Have a great weekend...look for new posts next week!

love, love

Guest Post: The Fitness Freak

2010-04-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

Today I have a special treat for you! The post you've all been eagerly waiting for! I've made a new friend in the Clean Eating/blogging world...the Fitness Freak, Nicole! Over the past few months I've been encouraged by her blog posts and recently we have been emailing back and forth. I thought it would be great to have her do a guest post to encourage others out there on their fitness journey!

Her story is a great testimony to eating right, exercising and listening to your body! I am sure many of you will be able to related to her story...I know I do! Please enjoy her post below and be sure to visit her blog, The Fitness Freak.

Nicole, The Fitness Freak

When Megan asked me to do a guest post on her blog, I was so honored. I LOVE Clean Eating and have been feeding my family that way for quite some time now. I have taken a little side road on Clean Eating, a stricter version you could say, so I thought what better place to start than with my story. We each have different ways of dealing with our health and our life choices have shaped these decisions. Mine was a very rocky path and I’m happy to say I came out the other side, happy and healthy. Here’s my story:

I have been riding the roller coaster of eating disorders since I was 13. By then I was bigger than any of my sisters or friends. I wanted to be just like all of them so I started dieting and it went downhill from there. I went from every hair brained diet known to man then eventually ended up both anorexic and bulimic. By 17 I weighed 110 lbs. on a 5' 6" body. Mind you people start to bug me about being to thin when I hit 130 lbs.

Eventually I started to become more interested in good nutrition, the kind where your food feeds you health and vitality. I became a walking nutrition dictionary. If you needed to know anything about any health food you just had to ask me. The funny thing is, I wasn't applying all of this wonderful info into my everyday life. I am an all or nothing kind of person, it has to be 100% perfect! Perfectly planned and perfectly executed.

My first real stab at becoming more healthy was when I was 20 or so. I started my journey by becoming a vegan and was vegan for two years. As time passed I became what I call, a "french fry" vegan. You know eating food just because it was vegan and not necessarily because it was good for me. This angle was not working so I stumbled back into the "typical" American diet. I also had three beautiful boys which took up a lot of my "me" time. I loved planning meals and cooking but the constant rush got the better of me. I started to cheat here and there and keep convenience food in my home.

Fast forward 10 years, I was miserable, irritable, pudgy, and tired. My doctor told me that my thyroid was not producing enough hormone and she put me on Armour Thyroid. I was still working out everyday but with no results which made me feel like a hamster on a wheel, spinning around forever and getting no where fast. I figured it must have something to do with my Hashimoto's disease or my missing gallbladder so off I went to my doctor and than an endocrinologist hoping they could tell me why I was so miserable. Nothing. The endocrinologist all-knowing advice, "Go check out Weight Watchers". Weight Watchers? Seriously? That was the long awaited answer I had been looking for? I don't think so!

In my desire for an answer I started searching high and low on the internet for answers. The Raw food lifestyle kept coming up in searches but it was not what I wanted to see. With a husband and 3 young boys in tow I knew it wouldn't work. Too much time, too much money and too much structure. I kept searching and searching and Raw just kept popping up. After awhile I started softening to the idea. I wanted to prepare to talk to my husband about it so I sorted all my info and sat down with him. I told him I couldn't live like this anymore, things needed to change. He knew I had been feeling yucky so he promised I could go Raw and he wouldn't hassle me....... too badly:) Now he's not an unreasonable person but he has been with me through many of my eating disorders so I think he was thinking it would be another one of "those".

Here I am at 33 nearing 1 year of my Raw Adventure and I'm feeling great! I would have to say that Day 2 sticks out in my mind as being the hardest. I had an awful headache, I was cranky and I was tired. The funny thing is that on that day my mind was whispering, "You need to eat junk food, this Raw thing is crazy". Of course, when I had these little whisperings, I knew that eating crud was NOT the answer but my mind was wrestling with it big time. Would the coffee and Cadbury chocolate eggs have made my headache go away, probably. Would it have made me feel better physically, uhh no!

The hardest part for me is that I am still surrounded by all of this non-Raw food. My husband and kids are not Raw so I still make them their meals but it's much easier now. Granted I don't feed them poorly. They all eat lots of fruits, vegetables, salads and chicken but there are a few indiscretions still lying around. The good thing is that I incorporate healthier foods into their diet so that we can all feel this good together! Because of the profuse amounts of fruit and vegetables it is really easy to make my family Clean Eating meals. Clean Eating works so well for them and they feel a ton better because of it! I actually prepare their meals with many of the same veggies I eat for my meals which cuts down on extra prep time. I use all of Tosca Reno's cookbooks and magazines and I have to say, I get jealous of some of the Clean Eating meals I'm missing out on. I guess we'll see if the struggle has been worth it. I just had a bunch of blood tests done to determine if the Raw food is helping with my Hashimoto's.

Okay, so here is what I have typically been eating:

6:30 a.m.- Water with the juice of one lemon

6:45- Vegetable juice- Mostly greens with a few carrots or an apple

9:30- Green smoothie made with berries, coconut water and meat, almond milk, green powder, spinach and hemp protein powder.

11:30- Nori rolls with carrots, sprouts, avocado, spinach and Raw ginger dressing, yum! I also like salads with lots of veggies.

3:30 p.m.- Pure Bar or flax crackers with cashew hummus or fruit

6:30- Salad or veggie lettuce wrap. I love adding new veggies all the time so it doesn't get boring. I also play with my dressing. Check out my recipe page for ideas. I also have a lot of Raw recipes on my Raw blog.

I always have fresh fruits and vegetables on hand and I also keep some Raw chocolate around for a special treat.
I hope you all follow you're own journey to health and well-being, it's a long road but is so worth it! Remember, these are my thoughts and conclusions and in no way suggest that anyone else has to come to the same conclusion I have. I hope that in the end we all find our niche' when it comes to living a healthy, happy, full life:)

Nicole

Thanks for sharing your story Nicole! Your story is sure to inspire others!

Hope you have a great weekend and Happy Easter!

love, Meg

Spice up your life!

2010-03-31T19:23:00.000-07:00

Design*Sponge-Feat. Emersonmade Sneak Peek

I think I'm in love...with this beautifully organized kitchen! Can you see all the spice jars? Swoon! So wonderfully displayed!

Recently, we've been using quite a few different spices in our meals. If a recipe calls for a spice I've never heard of, I just head over to the local Henry's Farmers Market and pick them up in bulk. After we've taste-tested and approved said spice, we are ready to incorporate it into more meals. Here lies the dilemma recently: all the bulk spices are purchased in small plastic bags. The bags serve their purpose for a one-time use, but if you want to store the spices in a more organized fashion you are in a bind.

Until now! With the inspiration from this kitchen I have decided to embark on a DIY project...creating cute spice jars for our new found loves. I was thinking of using mason jars to hold the spices, but I may try to find baby jars or inexpensive jars from a thrift shop (maybe...). Do you have any suggestions?

I hope you'll be encouraged to spice up your life too! I'll be posting an update once I DIM! photos and all :)

with love,

Meg

p.s. first guest post coming soon! please be patient as I work out the kinks :) thanks!

Hello, Monday!

2010-03-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

Today was off to rough start. I woke up from a dream where I was living in a Bollywood movie. Enough said. I think we were doing a choreographed dance before I woke up. Odd? Yes.

The husby and went to a Bollywood themed movie/food afternoon party with some friends yesterday. We watched a 4-hour movie called "Laagan". The movie definitely had it slows parts (it's 4 hours long!) but it had the wonderful "cheer on the underdog" theme going for it. By the end of the movie we were ready to head home! We did enjoy some tasty samosas, lentil curries, and almost authentic naan. Delicious! Now you see why I was dreaming of Bollywood, right? :)

After breakfast this morning, I tried to get into some of my Bible study reading, but I was completely distracted. I decided to take a break from it for a moment and do one of the Insanity workouts (more on this in upcoming posts) to clear my mind and re-focus. This definitely did the trick! I was super exhausted and ready for my mid-morning snack. As I was resting for a moment, downing my glass of water, I googled "how to make a green smoothie". I was inspired by this blog post and decided to find out more!

Basic info: green smoothies are fruit and veggie based. Usually 60% fruit and 40% greens. I assume that the fruit content is higher to outweigh the flavor of the greens.

I chose to make a green smoothie with a pear and spinach leaves. I cut up the pear (with an apple-corer) and added the spinach to the blender. Blend! Fail. The pear definitely needed to be cut up into smaller pieces and there also needed to be some liquid. I added a dash of orange juice and a scoop of vanilla protein powder. Blended some more...and voila! My green smoothie was so tasty (and filling)! One downside...I don't think we washed our blender enough last Friday, so the taste of my exotic spice mix was lingering in the smoothie. Haha! Ah, well. Live and learn.

Friday's Persian Beef with Khoresh was a hit! We loved the exotic spices and full flavor of the meet, veggies and brown rice. We will definitely be making this again! I was in the kitchen (above), while husby was in the backyard, playing with a new remote helicopter he got for a birthday present. It landed over the fence in the neighbor's yard and he was trying hard to retrieve it. Unfortunately, it is still MIA (missing in action). We also watched Duplicity, but I fell asleep towards the end of the movie (if you know me at all, this happens in most movies I watch at home haha) so it's hard to tell whether I really enjoyed it or not :)

Saturday we spent lounging around the house. I worked on my Indie Biz homework and slowly gathering all of the "tools" that I need to start my own indie biz...super excited for this! I will share more as the class continues. We spent the evening with good friends and enjoyed tasty thai food! We also introduced them to our new favorite game, Bang! And, enjoyed some homemade cookies and coffee (thanks Jessi!).

And that was our weekend! Now, I should probably get back to doing my Bible study homework, before class tonight (in less than 3 hours!) :)

much love,
Megan

Date Night: Persian Beef with Khoresh

2010-03-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

It's Friday (frugal) date night! Lately we've been trying to spend less and dine out less. When I go out and buy groceries, I like to plan ahead for the week. We don't always stick to schedule (everyone needs a little spontaneity in their lives!) but we try to make sure we use up all of our groceries. It works out nicely, because we end up trying new recipes and enjoying our time together as we prepare them.

Just recently I found a recipe for beef (which is the husby's favorite) and it includes lots of delicious spices like cayenne, paprika, nutmeg, and cinnamon. I figured "why not!" might as well try something new!

I just toasted the spices and am getting ready to blend them for the beef dinner. Mmm the house smells delicious! Can't wait! I'll give a recipe review on Monday. Movie for the evening...to be determined. We have been on a Clive Owen kick lately...so we shall see.

Hope you have a great weekend! Have any tasty meals planned?

p.s. keep your eyes peeled! I'm going to have my first guest post from the Fitness Freak early next week. She and I have become friends in the blogging/clean eating world...and I asked her to share with us! I am looking forward to it, hope you come back for more!

love,
Meg

Grocery Planner from Design*Sponge

2010-03-23T16:49:00.000-07:00

Hello healthy eaters! Need some help with planning ahead and grocery shopping? I stumbled across this little beauty, at Design*Sponge, and decided I would DIM (do it myself)!

(source)

The DIY project was simple and wonderful! I plan ahead for our clean eating meals and snacks, and even take this clipboard with me to the store. It seems cheesy, but it is definitely worth looking like a dork. I usually plan our meals during the week, for the following week and head to the local market with the best produce, Henry's. They have double coupon Wednesdays...and I'm all about the good deals! :) It takes some time for me to actually sit down and write out the meal plan, but once I do, I feel so much relief! No more snacking (for the most part) on last minute, unhealthy foods...now there is a plan...and we generally stick to it. Of course there is an occasional night that we have dinner with friends or go out, but we try to plan ahead. Planning ahead has saved us time, money, and wasting groceries!

Hope this is helpful! Follow the link and DIY too...you won't be disappointed!

love,

Meg

Recipe Reviews: Clean Eating Chicken Fajitas and Bison Chili

2010-03-21T00:20:00.000-07:00

Clean Eating Fajitas...tempting, I know!

Husby and I LOVE Mexican food. We love burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, chips and salsa and guacamole! When we made the switch to a Clean Eating lifestyle, we were happy to find recipes that included delicious Mexican food! I used the Clean Eating Fajitas recipe from Tosca Reno's cookbook. Normally I do not venture out with the lemons and limes, but this marinade was delicious! The chicken was full of flavor (including cayenne pepper, garlic, and cilantro!)...and I highly recommend it!

Earlier in the week I made a Bison Chili (also from her cookbook). First time cooking/eating bison. Bison is known for being a leaner protein and a better meat to choose when cooking...we enjoyed it thoroughly and did not taste a huge difference. It was amazing! Husby thinks the dinner was even better the second day...most chili and soup recipes tend to be that way :) This recipe also had a wide range of spices and was easy to whip together. The chili went well with some brown rice and lots of veggies!

What cooking adventures have you taken lately?

love, Meg

Wonderful Wednesday: Weeks in Review!

2010-03-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

Mmmm...the weeks have flown by! I hope you're still out there, dear, faithful reader(s) :)

The past few weekends have consisted of group hikes, family-style dinners, and games with friends! Below is a photo of the beautiful Daley Ranch.

Small lake on Daley Ranch hike (March 13, 2010)

What a wonderful day to spend hiking with friends! We started our hike around 11AM...and thank goodness for the clouds! The shade of the clouds provided much comfort to those of us who do not like being hot and uncomfortable during hikes. The hike mileage was almost 8 miles! We'll just say 8 miles!!! It was a great mix of steep hills and flat paths, with some huge boulders (below) and lakes along the way.

The guys wanted to do a little photo shoot...so manly!

After hiking we went back home to rest and relax before heading over to Rae Charles' place for dinner and games. Dinner was mostly clean, with chicken, baked vegetables, and parsley/mint pesto pasta. :) Delicious!

We also helped out with an engagement party for our dear friend, Sarah Gordon (soon to be Sager!). Love them! I also found out, that I will be a bridesmaid for this lovely lady! Can't wait till July 31st!

Another new adventure in my life these days...Indie Biz 2.0! I'm taking an online course for artsy/crafty people who are interested in learning about business for the handmade crafts. It is a six week course, and I am excited to be a part of this great community. There are over 500 students enrolled in this course. The course consists of daily sessions on various topics from creating a business name to blogging "how-to's" for your business. It has been a great source of encouragement to "meet" some new crafty friends and get ideas rolling for my own little business (in the future!). More details to come on that soon! I have a name and am working on the blog and products :) We'll see how it goes!

Recipes in review coming tomorrow! Think: Bison Chili! :)

much love. meg

Clean Eating Recipe: Oatmeal Banana Snack Bread!

2010-02-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

Oatmeal Banana Snack Bread!

Although the pictures seem to be a bit blurred, the end result was quite fantastic! This healthy little nut snack bread is delicious AND nutritious. It is baked in a 9"x13" pan, making it much thinner than a normal banana bread...which means smaller snacks and more to share! I usually cut the bread into slices and whatever we don't enjoy in the first few days out of the oven is placed in a ziplock bag and frozen. Bread actually does well in the freezer and when you want just one slice of the bread, you can easily pull it out and let it thaw on a plate for 30 minutes before eating! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did!

Oatmeal Banana Snack Bread

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup bran

1 cup quick oats

1 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tbsp coconut butter/or regular butter

3 egg whites + 1 whole egg

1 tbsp vanilla

1 cup Sucanat (like brown sugar)

2 very ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup raw walnut pieces

Baking Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a 9x13 inch baking pan by spraying with olive oil spray or grease pan
Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and set aside.
Combine applesauce and butter/oil in a separate bowl with an electric mixer. Beat well.
Add in eggs, vanilla, sugar and mashed bananas. Mix well.
Slowly add flour mixture into the wet mixture. Add walnuts and mix well.
Spoon batter into pan and cook for 35 to 40 minutes.
Remove from pan, let cool, then cut...and enjoy!

{Recipe courtesy of Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Cookbook...with a few added ingredients!}

This is definitely a snack that can cure a sweet tooth craving ;)

{agape.meg}

Tempting Tuesday Recipe: Honey Almond Cookies

2010-02-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

If you have a sweet tooth or enjoying cookies, you will love this recipe! These cookies are a mix between a biscotti and a real cookie. They go well with tea or coffee and are a surprising hit with friends. Enjoy these "healthy" cookies, but don't eat them all in one sitting! :)

Honey Almond Cookies
Ingredients:
1 cup raw unsalted whole almonds, lightly toasted
1 1/4 unbleached whole-wheat pastry flour
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
2/3 cup natural, organic liquid honey
1/4 agave nectar
1/3 coconut butter, melted
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 ground flaxseed
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 sliced almonds, toasted (for garnish)

Method:

Ground raw almonds in food processor. Dump into large mixing bowl. Add flours, baking powder and salt. Mix well to combine.
In another medium bowl mix honey, agave nectar, butter, applesauce, flaxseed, egg and vanilla. Mix well.
Combine wet and dry ingredients.
Cover dough and place in refrigerator for one hour to allow dough to set.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Use a 1 Tbsp measuring spoon to scoop dough and shape into balls. Place cookie on sheet and press down with thumb.
Bake each sheet of cookies for 12-15 minutes.
Remove from oven and cool. Place almond slivers on top of cookies.
ENJOY!

*Recipe taken from Tosca Reno's "The Eat-Clean Diet: Recharged!" book, pg. 390

Past Due Days: Challenged!

2010-02-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Not defeated. Challenged.

Lately, I've been focused on me. Who doesn't do this from time to time? As we've entered into a new season of life, newly married and searching for new careers, it is natural to take note of the surroundings and see how you match up. I've been focused on this new "Clean Eating" lifestyle with the purpose of getting fit and helping others along the way. Most of my thoughts these days have revolved around what we're going to eat next, what new recipes to try, what can I blog about, and is anyone really going to read and benefit from this? (Obviously, I do think about other things ;) but it has been on my mind quite a bit).

I've been challenged and reminded to think about what really got this started. What is the heart of the issue? The issue was that I was unhappy with my body physically and was having health issues (always having stomach aches, etc.). No, the heart issue...is that I was not satisfied in the Lord. I had been seeking other things to fill my time, whether eating and watching tv shows online, or baking, baking and more baking ("i'm baking these for that party...or those friends...or giving them away"...excuses, excuses. Haha!) or even fitting in a workout, etc. Those things in themselves are not horrible. But, doing them mindlessly is a different story. I was wasting my time and not spending it with the Lord. My attempts to "eat better" and exercise more were done in my own strength. Pathetic, I know....but, it happens every so often.

The Bible is FULL of references to strength and God's strength. Here are a few that I've stumbled across...

Deuteronomy 5:6 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."
2 Samuel 22:33 "God [is] my strength [and] power, And He makes my way perfect."
Psalm 18:2 "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer."
Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart fail; [But] God [is] the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 105:4 "Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!"

Anyways, just thought I'd share a few of those with you as I meditate on them this week. It's great to be reminded that the Lord is in control of our lives and He gives us the strength we need. He IS our strength. woohoo!

On a side note: It's almost been a week since I've updated the blog (sorry!) but, it's been a pretty hectic week! Last week was a great week of workouts...a total of 5 in one week! I was challenged by a friend to run up the hill at Torrey Pines and decided to go for it with my sister in tow. Actually, I was the one trailing behind her up the hill...haha, but it was a great challenge! We ran up the hill and through a trail, totaling 45 minutes of cardio, and 5 miles in distance. Other workouts included cycling class, weight lifting, and another jog up the Torrey Pines hill...it was just so beautiful that I could not resist going again! Over the weekend we we went up north to visit Ryan's family and celebrate a birthday. We spent time with the family and had snacks and treats that we normally don't eat throughout the week. We're still working on that food challenge of eating better on the weekend, but still like to enjoy a few sweets every now and then. We've definitely changed our habits enough to the point where our "bad eating" isn't even really that bad :)

Coming soon...recipes we've tried!

::agape, meg::

Tempting Tuesday Recipe: Asian Noodle Bowls

2010-02-03T01:36:00.000-08:00

Asian Noodle Bowl

This recipe was incredibly easy and delicious (this one's for you, Emily!). We enjoyed these Asian noodle bowls over the weekend! The recipe was taken from Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Recharged! book. This recipe calls for broccoli, spinach, and other veggies, but you can usually just add whatever you have on hand. It's a great recipe with a tasty Asian kick! *Side note: most of the specialty sauces or oils can be purchased at your local Trader Joe's.

Here's the recipe...enjoy! Total prep and cook time is about 1 hour.

Asian Noodle Bowls
Ingredients
2 Lg. boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
2 Tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
1 clove garlic, pressed
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
4 Cups chicken broth
1 package, 8 oz. soba or Asian noodles (I used some pad thai noodles-gluten free, from Henry's)
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups broccoli spears
1/4 cup thinly sliced sweet red pepper
1 small carrot, peeled and grated
4 green onions, thinly sliced
4 generous handfuls spinach

Method

Combine first 6 ingredients in small sauce pan. Over medium heat begin to heat mixture.
Add broth and bring to gentle boil. Continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink, approx. 10 mins.
Add noodles, peas, broccoli, and red pepper. Cook until broccoli turns bright-green and is tender crisp. Reduce heat and let sit, covered.
Stir in carrot and green onion.
When ready to serve, divide spinach into four bowls. Ladle soup into each bowl. You may garnish with roasted peanuts if you like.

Let me know what you think of the recipe!

Why the Clean-Eating Challenge?

2010-02-03T00:00:00.001-08:00

I've always been a fan of eating healthy and exercising. At an early age I was involved in soccer, swim, and eventually water polo. Being involved in so many sports, I was used to eating whatever I wanted and not worrying (too much) about my weight. After the sports ended I was still eating basically healthy (at least that's what I thought) and exercising, but was not satisfied with the results. I've also always felt a bit insecure about my body. Without sports, my body was not bouncing back from the food I was eating. After college I started a job that was stressful with long hours. My workouts were infrequent and my eating routines were still basically "healthy", with an occasional cookie baking session with my roommates. I started working out with a great friend and she introduced me to two people who opened my eyes to Clean Eating, they just never mentioned that was what it was called. I eventually stumbled across "Clean Eating Magazine" and signed up for their emails. One day I received their email with new recipes and an advertisement for Tosca Reno's book, "The Clean Eating Diet: Recharged!" Immediately I was interested. Purchased the book and have been learning ever since. Challenged myself (and the husby) to "eat clean" and make a healthy new lifestyle. This is the journal/blog of that challenge and the interesting things found along the way: including new workouts, recipes, and encouragement. EnJOY!

Days 11-14: Behind the Times (again)

2010-02-02T01:25:00.000-08:00

Hopefully not too many of you are on the edge of your seat, waiting eagerly for this blog post. The weekend from Friday to Sunday was quite busy, leaving little time for blogging! Today is no different...so, I will give you a taste of what's to come...most likely tomorrow :)

Highlights:

Tried the Asian Noodle Bowl from Tosca's book
Hiked Blue Sky Reserve and Poway Lake with friends on Saturday
Hosted two parties/gatherings at the house
Utilized cute new dishes at our dinner party (courtesy of Emily!)
Had dessert on both days of the weekend! yikes!and...
Still managed to lose...2 pounds! woohoo! God is good!
and today: ran UP the Torrey Pines hill with my sister, for a total of 5 miles!

More to come in the next post, including recipes, workouts and photos!

::agape, meg::

Day 10, 11: Catch Up Already

2010-01-29T00:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday and today have gone by so quickly. I find myself rushing to meet the "deadline" of midnight, so that a) the post is published on the same day, and b) before Ryan gets home from work...but some days it just doesn't happen. Yesterday, for example, I attended a fundraiser dinner for High Ground...the ministry that I have been involved with lately. The dinner was delicious...and fairly "clean" for a catered affair :) mmm...tri tip?! I think so! Shh...don't tell Ryan ;) he'd be sad...because I don't know how to make tri-tip (yet!). And today was busy with errands, cleaning the house, and fellowship with a friend.

Anyways, all of that to say, eventually I will continue the blog without a day-to-day, play-by-play blog post. I imagine after 21 days or so, this "eating clean" business will become more of a way of life, and I'll just incorporate more into my life without thinking about it :) Have no fear though...I will continue to blog and hopefully encourage others in the process! If you have any ideas or suggestions...let me know! I'd love to hear from you (all two of you! love you!).
So, let's re-cap Wednesday and Thursday!

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
I spent most of my morning/afternoon at my grandpa's doing some housekeeping and caring after grandpa. I prepared my meals and snacks the night before so that I wouldn't get hungry while there. It actually worked out really well! Go figure...planning ahead is actually useful! :) Note to self: keep planning ahead!

The Fuel:
Breakfast-the "uge," as in the "usual" aka oatmeal, wheat germ, flaxseeds, and bee pollen with a little agave. Egg+egg whites scrambled. Plain coffee to go!
Snack-plain yogurt with raspberries and agave. yum yum!
Lunch-Grilled chicken with green beans and quinoa with a little teriyaki sauce from my dear friend, Mr. Yoshida
Snack-Apple, raw nuts
Dinner-Catered by Circle Builder: Chicken and tri-tip pieces, salad with fresh fruit, and whole grain roll.
Snack-Air popped popcorn with a diet coke (guilty!)
{The tri-tip was tasty! I also drank lots of water throughout the day! I'm starting to think "what if I get bored with this food..." but then I remember that there is so much variety and opportunity to try new things :) so, I'm looking forward to making new recipes and trying new ingredients, etc.}

The Workout:
I knew I wouldn't be able to get a workout in with being at grandpa's all day and the fundraiser dinner in the evening. Good thing I did a little extra yesterday!

and for TODAY...
Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Today was more relaxed, finishing up Bible Study Fellowship homework, cleaning, and running errands with Ryan.
The Fuel:
Breakfast-1/2 cup oatmeal with wheat germ, flaxseeds, and bee pollen. Egg+egg whites. Coffee!!!
Snack-Raw nuts
Lunch-Chicken and tofu stir-fry with veggies and brown rice (Mr. Yoshida joined us again!)*see picture.
Snack-(pre-workout) plain yogurt with raspberries and agave.
Dinner-Chicken with qunioa and fresh steamed broccoli!
Snack/Dessert-two small honey almond cookies, decaf coffee, and later-stove popped popcorn (can you tell I like popcorn! so tasty and not bad for you either!)

Chicken/tofu stirfry with veggies!

{This was my first time cooking tofu! I've had tofu throughout my life, but have never made it on my own! Who knew it was a complete protein?! It's so tasty and absorbs all of the rich flavors that are mixed in with the dish. Love it! I also found tofu at Costco for $2.15...and you know Costco...the portions are HUGE! At least it's healthy! mmmm! enjoy some if you can!}

The Workout:

I cleaned the house for over an hour...not sure how many calories burned, but it counts for something right? hehe...I was so busy running around in circles, cleaning the house, that I almost missed my cycling class! Today I needed the motivation. I looked up at the clock and it was already 4pm! Normally if you're not at the gym at least 1/2 hour prior to class starting, you will not be able to secure a spot. Lucky for me...there were a few passes left!

1 hour cycling class-approx. ~500 Calories!

More cleaning after workout at home.

Alright, I think we're caught up for the day(s)! Hope you've enjoyed the silly banter! In the days to come, is there anything that you would really like to know more about? I may get the cookbook and would love to share more recipes! (Honey Almond Cookie Recipe coming soon...tomorrow?!)

::agape, meg::

Day 9: Extra Energy!

2010-01-27T00:11:00.000-08:00

Today was an interesting day! I woke up super early, 6AM (not so super early for Ms. Gordon-Sager), but early nonetheless. My uncle had his second carpal tunnel surgery today, so I was grandpa's health care provider for the day. I wasn't tired when I got to grandpa's by 7AM, but after eating my oatmeal and settling down into a recliner chair (and after retrieving a blanket from my car) I was sleepy and ready for a nap. Also, last night's sleep was not the best. I couldn't manage to fall asleep until after 1:30am...as much as I tried! So all that to say, my three hour nap today was wonderful! Grandpa was sleeping like a baby the whole time too!

I think the nap (plus the yummy food for the day) gave me the extra energy I needed for the day!

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

The Fuel:
Breakfast-Oatmeal with wheat germ, flaxseed, bee pollen, and raw sugar. Egg whites scrambled. Cup of coffee with a little creamer.
Snack-Plain fat free yogurt with blueberries and a hint of agave.
Lunch-Chicken with quinoa and veggies.
Snack-Pecan pieces.
Dinner-Baked chicken with garlic and orange ginger sauce. 1/2 sweet potato (boiled and cut), and fresh veggie salad with sprouts, carrots, and cherry tomatoes (balsalmic vinegrette).
"Dessert"-decaf Verona coffee with a hint of creamer :) yum!
Hydration-at least 72 ounces of water!
{I'm glad that I packed a small insulated lunch bag with all the goodies for breakfast, snack and lunch today. In the past, I'd go hungry at Grandpa's house or just eat things that I know aren't as good for you. Yum! Planning ahead really seems to be key! The food has been super tasty thus far, and I don't feel like we've been majorly deprived of any foods or desserts...usually I am craving sweets, or snacks, but I'm glad there are good alternatives to reach for now and planned meals in the future, so I'm never feeling super hungry!}
The Workout:
15-20 minutes of weights, push-ups, and abs
1 hour of cycling class
2 mile run
Total time: approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes
Total calories burned: 1,000+ (woohoo!!!)
{This is what I'm talking about...extra energy! I felt enough energy after a cycling class to push myself and run 2 miles...this never happens! I think a lot of it has to do with how we've been eating...I can feel the changes! Plus, tomorrow I will be at my grandpa's house again and may not have the chance to work it out!}

Day 6, 7, 8: Three in One

2010-01-25T23:45:00.000-08:00

Saturday, Sunday and Monday blog posts all rolled into one today! Sorry for the delay! It was a busy weekend, both Saturday and Sunday we were up past 2AM! So much for resting...haha! So, I'll do my best to make the weekend post short and sweet, which shouldn't be too difficult considering how short term my memory can be :)

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

The Workout: Hike Iron Mountain!

Isn't it beautiful?? This is actually the view of the path back to the car. It was a surprisingly beautiful and dry day! We finished the hike in less than three hours, including a lunch break at the top of the mountain! It was a wonderful 6 mile hike! There was even a waterfall because of the rainfall from the previous week...here's a picture of the group, near the waterfall:

This crew (with the exception of Ryan and I) are for sure going on a hiking/backpacking/camping trip to Yosemite at the beginning of June. We're still hoping we'll be in town for the trip!

The Fuel:
For the hike we got up early and made sure to have some protein! Eggs and whole grain toast! And coffee of course :)
We had our mid-morning snack on top of the mountain: 1 apple, raw almonds, and carrots.
Lunch was a quick re-heat of yesterday's lunch: green chili/salsa chicken with brown rice and veggies.
Friends came over for games and dinner. We went to Casa de Pico and enjoyed chips and salsa, tortilla chicken soup, and fresh tortillas.
After dinner, we shared our box of unopened See's candies with our friends (i had two small ones!), with mugs of decaf coffee and creamer :) It wasn't necessarily the BEST night of "clean eating" for us but, we are just getting started, and up until Saturday night, we'd been sticking strictly to our new health regimen. We are doing alright, I'd say! :)

Sunday, January 24th, 2010
We stayed up until 3:30AM playing games (see above: Bang! An Italian card game) with friends the night before, so we slept in a bit late on Sunday (and planned to go to church at 4pm). We were beat! Sunday was a lazy day!

The Fuel:
Breakfast-Egg white scramble, whole wheat toast, blackberry jam, plain coffee.
Snack- Pear with raw almonds
Lunch/Snack-Both have escaped my mind...haha
Dinner-Miso soup, garden salad, vegetable tempura, grilled salmon, and brown rice. Orange/ginger frozen dessert. Small piece of mint chocolate.
{Again, not the best choices, but also not the worst. We were invited to dinner at a friend's house on Sunday evening. I guess the recurring challenge is finding the best choices for food when you are out to eat or with friends. The important thing to remember is portion size...it's okay to have things that stray from clean eating as long as it's in moderation.}

Weekly Weigh-In:
Trying on clothes and measuring weight gain or loss are the only ways that I can find to keep track of progress with Clean Eating, for now. In a month or two, I think we'll really be able to tell a difference in energy levels, etc. So for now, clothes still fit the same. Weigh-in...drumroll..........da da dummmm...
I lost 2-3 pounds in just one week!!! woohoo!

Weighing in on challenges...incorporating more fruit and veggies is something that I noticed will need to happen this week! Also, eating out or at other people's homes, and possessing more self-control are other areas that I need to be more attentive to :)

Monday, January 25th, 2010
I woke up early this morning, made my oatmeal and coffee, and sat at the table to read my Bible for a bit. I also planned to spend some time preparing a meal plan and grocery list for the week. I enjoyed a quick Proverb, but didn't spend too much time in the Word...this is going to change!
It took awhile, mostly because I have a hard time making decisions and planning ahead, but this was a good exercise for me. I prepared the weekly meal chart, including snacks for each day. When you are prepared it's easier to stick to your plan and not fall off the wagon.

This is what my morning looked like. Kitchen table: Clean eating book, weekly meal planner, and grocery list. Breakfast: consumed. Phone: dying. Coffee: getting cold. :)

I'm happy to say, that after a LONG time in the kitchen, I was able to come up with a plan that is completely "clean", and one that I think we can stick to. Ryan will be able to enjoy all of these meals without losing any flavor or feeling hungry afterwards. Yay!

The Fuel:

Breakfast- 1/2cup oatmeal, wheat germ, flaxseed, bee pollen, and agave. Egg white scramble. Plain coffee. 24 oz. water.

Snack-1 pear, raw almonds

Lunch- Salad with carrots, tomatos, sprouts, and chicken. 1/2 sweet potato.

Snack-1/2cup fat free cottage cheese with blueberries.

Dinner (see below)-Grilled tilapia, qunioa, and steamed broccoli. 24 oz. water

Snack-1 apple with tsp. peanut butter and more water!

Okay, so I lied. I didn't keep it short and sweet, but hopefully helpful! I am encouraged after one week of eating, that this will be something worth keeping around :) I'm already looking into finding a new cookbook with more recipes! I was surprised to find that the sweet potato actually tastes good plain. No salt. No butter. Nothing! Yum! and good for you :)

::agape, meg::

Day 5: Cookies & Flaxseeds

2010-01-23T00:19:00.000-08:00

Burrrrrrrrrrrrritos! It's been a rainy and cold week! We've been staying cozy and warm in our house, most of the time spent in that kitchen with the little space heater :) cooking and enjoying our meals. Today I had a craving for cookies...haha surprise, surprise. If you know me at all, you know I'm a cookie monster. I decided to give up on the craving, until I saw the recipe for a Honey Almond cookie in the Eat-Clean book. I know what you must be thinking..."she must be desperate!" Honestly, how good could these "healthy" cookies be anyways? Well, I guess I was desperate. But, they ended up being quite tasty! (I'll include the recipe and pictures tomorrow!)

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

The Fuel:
Breakfast-1/2cup oatmeal with wheatgerm, flaxseeds, and bee pollen. Egg white scramble with piece of whole wheat sourdough toast. Plain coffee. 1/2cup orange juice. Water.
Snack-Raw nuts.
Lunch-Chicken with green chilies, salsa, red chili pepper, & cumin over steamed brown rice (easy frozen bags from Trader Joe's).
Snack-Apple, 2 small Honey Almond Cookies.
Dinner-@ friend's house (limited options): fresh green salad with tomatos, 3 small pieces of bbq chicken pizza with whole grain crust from Pizza Fusion, a new organic pizza place located in downtown San Diego.
Dessert-decaf coffee with cream, and 2 small honey cookies! *I know, but they're small!
{Normally, I am not a HUGE pizza fan. But, I was helping a friend and she bought pizza for the evening. If you're ever looking for healthier choices...check out their place! It was delicious...and I don't even like bbq chicken! And as for the cookies...don't judge! hehe...they are small, and full of flaxseeds, raw almonds, and agave...more to come tomorrow! Also, on the water drinking...usually it's with every meal, but I noticed that when it's colder out...I'm less likely to drink up! Make sure you get your 64+ounces of water each day!}

The Workout:
See previous post. Sadly, today was too windy/rainy/cold. Tomorrow may be a BIG HIKE at Iron Mountain. Stay tuned. Don't be discouraged by me...haha get mad at the weather.

Healthy Highlight: Flaxseed Benefits
Today's healthy highlight feature is the flaxseed. It has so many wonderful benefits! If you've noticed, I included 2-3tbsp. of ground flaxseed in my oatmeal every morning.
A few of the benefits include:

Lowered blood cholesterol levels
Lowered high blood pressure
Increased energy, vitality, and stamina
Increased sense of calmness under stress
Reduced threat of blood clots
Protection against cancers, particularly hormone sensitive cancers such as breast and prostate
Better regulation of blood sugar levels
Eases inflammatory tissue conditions, including arthritis
Alleviation of dry skin, eczema and psoriasis
Enhanced immune system
Increased metabolic rate with a positive impact on weight management
Helps with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
Natural laxative
And the list goes on (taken from Flax Seed Benefits)

It is important that you grind the flaxseeds prior to eating to allow the oils to mix into your food. If they are not ground up, they will pass right through your system without giving you any of the benefits. Hopefully this is helpful! I'm not sure if it has made a huge impact in our lives (yet) but I am excited to see what changes. Ryan is not enjoying the flaxseeds. or bee pollen. or wheat germ. He's a trooper for trying them out though :) We won't force everything healthy on him yet...but, I'll have to be like a ninja if I want him to ever eat flaxseeds again haha.

::agape, meg::

Day 4: Rewind, Rewind!

2010-01-22T00:42:00.000-08:00

Another rainy day schedule! Today, I woke up early, looked out the windy, and what did I see? Palm trees swaying back and forth and rain, rain, RAIN! I was determined to go to the cycling class I had woken up early for, despite the rain! I went back and forth, back and forth and finally settled on..."just do it!" I struggled to get to the car, as I was tossed to and fro in the wind haha...and finally I had made it to my destination: 24 Hour Fitness! Woohoo! After parking in the furthest lot, I made my way to the entrance of the gym. As my pass was being swiped, I asked the receptionist, "are there any cycling passes left?" Lo and behold, coming to the gym 30 minutes before class is no longer good enough..."Sorry...we are all full!" Cycling enthusiasts...didn't you see the tornado weather this morning??!? You should have stayed home...haha or maybe I should have? Ah well...I was able to run some errands to get a birthday present and yummy groceries!

Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Today, we will rewind just a bit to explain the basic principles of Clean Eating. {p.s. if you (all two of you reading this ;) ever want to ask a question or want more info. on something, please feel free to leave a comment! Part of my goal for this blog is to be able to research, test out, and share results of health info. I find!}

The Eat-Clean Principles:
What to do:

Eat more - eat six small meals each day.
Eat breakfast every day, within an hour of rising.
Eat a combination of lean protein and complex carbohydrates at each meal.
Eat sufficient (two or three servings) healthy fats every day.
Drink two or three liters of water each day.
Carry a cooler packed with Clean foods each day.
Depend on fresh fruits and vegetables for fiber, vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes.
Adhere to proper portion sizes.

What to avoid:

Avoid all over-processed foods, particularly white flour and sugar.
Avoid chemically charged foods.
Avoid foods containing preservatives.
Avoid artificial sugars.
Avoid artificial foods (such as processed cheese slices).
Avoid saturated and trans fats.
Avoid sugar-loaded beverages, including cola and juices.
Avoid (or do your best to limit) alcohol intake
Avoid all calorie-dense foods containing little or not nutritional value (*author calls these anti-foods)
Avoid super-sizing your meals.

*Eat-Clean Principles taken from Tosca Reno's book, p. 21

As for my day...

The Fuel:
Pre-"workout" (more like "almost" workout...haha)-1 banana, 1/4 cup raw almonds
Breakfast-1/2cup oatmeal with ground flaxseed, bee pollen, and wheat germ. Egg white scramble with spinach and a little asiago cheese. 1 cup plain coffee. 24 oz. water.
Lunch-1/2cup whole grain pasta with lean chicken, tomatoes, spinach, olive oil, and a sprinkle of cheese.
Snack-1 apple with tsp. of peanut butter, 1 protein shake.
Dinner-Grilled lean chicken, steamed zucchini, and whole wheat couscous.
Lil Snack-Air popped popcorn, small cup hot cocoa with non-fat milk

The Workout:
*please see above. :)

Hope this was helpful today! I'll be highlighting more key terms in the coming blog posts...so keep your eyes open!

::agape::

Day 3: Restful

2010-01-20T18:01:00.000-08:00

It's a rainy day schedule, again! This time I took a pass on the gym. My muscles need a day of rest after that workout yesterday (50 push-ups!). Nothing too extraordinary to report today...besides the Sara Groves concert tonight! mmm love that lady!

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

The Fuel:
Breakfast-1/2cup oatmeal with wheat germ, bee pollen, and 1/2cup blueberries
Snack-1 Apple with 1tbsp. of peanut butter
Lunch-Grilled chicken, veggies, and quinoa (leftovers from last night), 1/2 cup spiced cider
Snack- another apple and lots of water!
Dinner-Beef stew mixed with extra veggies and quinoa
{Quinoa is soooo tasty! I'd never had it until we started "eating clean" and it sure is tasty and good for you :) yum yum! I imagine that pretty soon, the food combinations will start to get boring and need a make-over! I hope I can get creative and get some good ideas. I need to finish reading the book, but I've read enough to know that planning ahead is a HUGE part of Eating Clean! Note taken. Will need to work on this one! Planning ahead for meals will be crucial once I have a job again! Keep praying :)}

The Workout:

On hiatus...will return tomorrow with a punch or kick...hiiiiiiYAH!

Another Note for Today:
I mentioned in the subtext of my blog title that I want to follow Jesus and take care of this temple He has given me. Truly, I cannot and do not want to do this on my own strength. It's near impossible! Practicing discipline in one's life is challenging enough. If you leave Christ out of things, you might as well just give up now! That being said, I don't want to take on this new "life challenge" and try to do it in my own strength or gain a sense of pride and accomplishment without the Lord. I know myself well enough to know, that if I don't keep my focus on the Lord first, I will take all the glory for myself. Blah! We are simply sinners, saved by God's amazing grace. Thank you Jesus!

::agape::

Day 2: Storm Watch=No Workout...

2010-01-19T23:46:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord for our roof being fixed this past weekend! Can you see the rain outside the windows of our kitchen? It was intensely windy and raining sideways for a better half of the morning. We were so cold in the house that we shut the kitchen door and stayed in the nook with our little heater :) delightful!

Earlier in the morning I had a few thoughts race through my mind: "yay! it's raining"..."ooooh, I want to bake some cookies," and "I guess I won't go to cycle class...it's too rainy!" Haha! Oh man, it's funny how undisciplined I can be at times! I'm glad things changed before the afternoon. I decided not to bake any cookies (knowing I'd have to put it on here, and it wasn't a good choice hehe), enjoyed the rainy day, and then the miraculous happened. In the middle of the Stormwatch 2010, where tornadoes were being advised, the skies cleared, and sun peaked out of the clouds. I changed my mind. I decided I still had time to make it to the cycling class. I went, and I am glad I did! It would have been easier to stay home and stay cozy (not necessarily always a bad thing), but it was good to sweat it out!

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

The Fuel:
Breakfast-2 eggs, 2 small slices whole grain bread, 1 banana, 1 cup coffee with creamer
Mid-Morning Snack-Raw almonds
Lunch: 1 Cup tomato soup, 1/2 whole grain wrap with spinach, turkey, and asiago cheese
Afternoon Snack-1 Apple
Dinner- 5oz. grilled chicken, green beans + carrots, and quinoa
After dinner snack- Decaf coffee and whole grain popcorn
{One thing I still haven't been able to get rid of yet...is the coffee creamer! I like it a little sweet...fortunately for me...one of the great things about the Clean Eating book, is that Tosca mentions that you can take 1 principle from Clean Eating or go all out and still make a difference. I am starting to notice that I still don't eat enough fruits and veggies. Note taken. Incorporating more tomorrow. No worries.}

The Workout:
20 minutes of weight lifting, push-ups (50!)-burned approx. 250 Calories
1 Hour cycling class-burned approx. 500 Calories
Total Calories burned: 750!
{woohoo! glad I decided not to bake those cookies :) When I was doing weights, I did some push-ups. In the past few weeks, push-ups have been hard! Today, I decided to go for it! I was able to do 5 sets of 10 push-ups with the bosu ball underneath my hands...I definitely felt like I had more energy today! I know that the increase in energy is due in part to changing my eating habits...glad I can already see a difference, even if it's small!}

Next challenge for the Clean Eating life...trying to figure out how and what to eat when you are out of town or visiting with friends.

::megan::

Day 1: The Beginning

2010-01-19T00:27:00.000-08:00

And so the journey begins. My goal: to eat clean, get lean and toned, and live to blog about it (daily)! Also, to learn more and share with others to help them reach their life goals.

First things first, a clear definition of Eating Clean: What is Eating Clean? - The Eat-Clean Diet (best described by Tosca Reno).

Slowly, but surely, I am reading through Tosca Reno's newest book, The Eat-Clean Diet Recharged! That is where I have gathered most of my information and inspiration. I have read about and heard of "eating clean" before, but have never fully understood the principles. I decided to take a chance and order the book that I found on the Clean Eating Magazine website. The principles are fairly simple and easy to understand.

In the past I have followed a fairly good routine of exercising and eating "healthy" or at least what I thought was healthy. I was always involved in some sport or extracurricular activity that kept me in decent shape. After graduating from college, I moved into a wonderful house with four other ladies (the Cottage!). Healthy habits were maintained while living at the house and an occasional cookie or too may have slipped into my mouth! (hehe...okay, on more than one occasion...what can I say? I have a sweet tooth!)

Now that I am living on my own with my husband, I would like to solidify a healthy eating and exercise lifestyle that we can enjoy together. In order to do that, it is time to get rid of the junk, excuses, and stretchy pants! Okay, fine, stretchy pants are great...especially for WORKING OUT in :)

So, for now, the blog will consist of daily journal entries: food and exercise, etc. and any articles or information that I have found to be useful. I hope this can be a good record and maybe even inspiration for some to Eat Clean & Live!

Monday, January 18th, 2010

The Fuel:

Breakfast-1/2 Cup oatmeal with wheat germ, raisins, and raw sugar; 4 egg whites; 1 cup coffee
Mid-AM snack-Apple sliced with peanut butter + flaxseeds
Lunch-Grilled Chicken with Quinoa and Veggies; 1 cup green tea
Dinner-Beef stew with Quinoa and Veggies
Evening snack-Apple sliced with peanut butter+ flaxseeds; Protein shake; 1 cup peppermint tea
{From Day 1 of changed eating behaviors, it seems that I am more hungry than when I skip meals throughout the day or eat less overall. With each meal I had plenty of water}

The Workout:
3 mile run (28 minutes+short cool down) - approx. 450 Calories burned; light weight lifting
{Today's run was a lot easier than it has been in the past. I would like to learn more about the proper circuit training for strength...often times I don't branch out or try different exercises. I am going to borrow a workout book from the library...hopefully it will give me some good ideas!}

This is just the beginning!

::megan::