Soups, Snacks, and Savings!

           Ok, I know I have been out of the blogging world for a while, but I am back.  I recently returned to being a stay at home Mom (which I LOVE so so so much) and am no longer working at the school.  We bought a new house and moved, started home-schooling our boys, took a trip to FL, and have had 3 different out of town visitors in the past month.  Our baseball team (TX Rangers) made it to the Playoffs this year (2nd year in a row) so we have been attending some Playoff games, and I attended a Taylor Swift concert this past weekend with my friend Becca.  We have been busy : )  The good news is that I have several recipes and ideas to share with you. 

          Firstly, I completed my half marathon on August 14th.  It was a blast.  There were over 1600 competitors.  It was a 100 degree day here in TX.  We actually had record breaking heat this summer, which made training a challenge, but it feels great to push yourself and do things that seem too hard.  I ran the half in 2 hours and placed 35th in my gender and age division.  My husband was the for the entire race and it was great to have his support.

         I am definitely interested in another half at some point. So far I have ran one in 6 inches of snow, and one in 100 degree heat, so it would be nice to try one in the spring or fall : )  But first I think I am going to try an Olympic triathlon.  I believe my sister in law Kimmie is going to join me, as soon as we figure out which one we'd like to compete in.  Kimmie has lost over 65lbs now and continues to inspire and motivate people.  Wow - 65 lbs.  She looks amazing!!!!


           My mother (Pat Wesolowski) is my go-to person when I have any kind of cooking or recipe questions.  She is one of the best cooks I know.  Being the mother of 9 children she also has great advice on making great food without spending a fortune.  She was able to visit us recently and I took advantage of her knowledge.  I really wanted to learn how to make some new soups.  She not only helped me learn a few specific recipes, but taught me the general idea so that I can create my own soup recipes.  I think knowledge of what foods you like and what works well together is one of the best things you can have as a cook.  It's great when you're able to create your own recipes with the ingredients you love and already have in stock. 

           First we made a roast, which was huge, and provided us with several leftovers.  We had extra gravy and meat which we froze separately.  With some of that gravy and meat we made vegetable beef soup.  In one pot we heated the gravy and meat.  In another pot we boiled all of the fresh veggies together. Potatoes, carrots, celery, beans, onions... just add whatever veggies you and your family prefer.  After veggies are soft we drain the water and add those to the meat and gravy, along with any canned veggies you may want to add. (we added kidney beans)  Also add some tomato sauce and canned diced tomatoes.  We purchased those in gigantic cans from Sams and froze several extra bags of sauce and tomatoes for future soups : )  Now just season to taste.  Some fresh garlic, Cumin, a little salt and pepper.  The soup is fantastic!  If you think you'll eat the leftovers within the next few days you can keep them in the refrigerator.  We decided to put it in Tupperware and freeze it.  That made for a super easy meal the following week. I moved it from the freezer to the refrigerator overnight, and the next day for lunch heated it in a pot - it was just as good the 2nd time.    We also made the same soup with ground beef last week and that also was delicious. 

           Another soup we made was a Mexican Style soup, this time in the crock pot.  Here are the ingredients

32 oz chicken stock
3 cans white beans (do not drain)
whole rotisserie chicken (debone and tear into pieces)
16oz jar of salsa
8oz cheese block (mont. jack or colby jack, chopped)
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 garlic cloves, minced
black pepper to taste

add all of these ingredients in crock pot and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.  Add a little shredded cheese to garnish each bowl. This makes a large amount and is great to freeze as well and save for later. 

       Smoothies are one of our family's favorite snacks, they are healthy and filling. My boys love helping me make them so it can be a fun activity as well.  We use lots of frozen strawberries and a few other frozen fruits.  (usually some peaches and a few pineapple)  Add any juice, one or half of a banana, and low fat vanilla yogurt.  Yum!!!!

          I LOVE to watch the show "Biggest Loser" and so does my sister in law Kimmie.  We decided this season to have viewing parties every week at my house.  This is tricky because I want to make snacks and be healthy, but not everyone who comes is going to have the same food/health preference. I decided to make something healthy each week along with something that might not be defined as "healthy"  : )  One of my favorite snacks to please everyone is to make a fruit tray and dip.  This dip is DELICIOUS!!!  It is so good and so simple.  You just mix marshmallow cream, cream cheese, and sour cream.  8oz of each blended together.  Seriously, this tastes great with any fruit.  This way there's the option for fruit without dip, or as much dip as you want. 

And lastly, a simple side if you're feeding lots of people.  I am usually only cooking for 2 adults and 2 children, so as a side I'll make a little squash and zucchini, some broccoli or another vegetable.  A cheap way to make a large side is to buy a bag of red skinned potatoes.  Cut them up and boil in water with fresh minced garlic, salt, pepper, chives and diced white onions.  So simple, just boil for about 45 minutes, drain, and add a little butter.  Here's a pic with the potatoes as a side.

           PLEASE, everyone share your own recipes, inspirations and ideas. I love getting no ideas and would appreciate hearing yours : )  I know everyone has to have a few go-to recipes that they make on a regular basis.

         

Work hard, play hard!!!

Summer is here and I couldn't be more excited. I have always loved this season.  I love going out on the boat, lake days, swimming pools, and water parks!  I am thrilled that Joel and I have kids who enjoy those things too.  We decided to take our first family vacation at the beginning of June. We went to the nearest beach, which is in Galveston, TX.  It was amazing!!!!  We packed as much fun as possible into every day.  Beach, pool, great food, and activities every day.  I definitely have a work hard, play hard mentality. I don't want to count calories the whole time I'm on vacation and I don't want our family schedule to revolve around my workout routine.  You can always find ways to stay on track during vacation and still have a great time, and maybe make a few more exceptions than normal.  Fortunately for Joel and I, we LOVE seafood. Fresh seafood was one of the main attractions to our beach vacation : )  It's very easy to find healthy seafood meals, that way there's room to splurge on a drink here and there or some room service late at night : )  We also cut out snacking by simply not keeping any snacks in the hotel room.  We ate out for every meal, so it was breakfast, lunch & dinner for us, with no snacks in between.  When you're staying busy on vacation you don't even notice or miss the snacks, which often times we are only eating out of boredom anyway.

As for exercise, we got creative.  Luckily The San Luis Resort has a huge stairway up to the main entrance. I can't tell you how many times a day we walked up and down those stairs... to the pool, the beach, the restaurants, the square!  While down at the beach we took several walks and a few runs in the sand, which is a great workout.  Trying to catch waves on a boogie board is quite a workout as well!  Every night we went to the pool for several hours.  As the kids are floating in their inner tubes, instead of standing beside them I decided to tread water on and off.  Treading water really helps to build stamina.  So we had a very fun, relaxing, and easy going vacation, while fitting in creative workouts and not going overboard on unhealthy foods. 

If you are lacking motivation to exercise or just feel the need to change things up, sign up for an event.  Year round there are triathlons, 10k's, marathons, etc going on.  About 5 weeks ago I signed up for "The Hottest Half", a half marathon in Dallas, TX.  Called that due to the heat that time of the year : )  Having a training schedule helps to keep me motivated and push myself each day to stay on track in order to meet my goal in August.  This won't be my first half marathon, but it has been a quite a while since the last one I ran.  At the time that I signed up I was running 3 or so miles at a time, and the half is 13.1 miles. I printed a 12 week training schedule, and tweaked it a bit to fit my personal routine.  I have up to 1 1/2 every day on my lunch break to run if I want, so I made sure all of my long runs are on week days.  I made Saturdays my strength training days because I like to do a yoga video at home. If you've never tried power yoga I highly recommend it. It's harder than you'd think.... but in a calm sort of way : )  While building core strength it helps to improve flexibility and stamina.  It's not something I want to do every day, I enjoy more intense cardio, but having it in the mix is great. 

So far the marathon training is going well.  It is SO hot outside, but feels great to come back from a run sweaty and knowing that I got a good workout.  If you have an iphone there are SO many great apps when it comes to health and fitness.  For running I use "map my run".  It tells me how far I go, run time, average mile time, calories burned, etc.  I love it.  This has caused me to set goals for myself each run. I try to improve my average mile time a little each week.  Friday was my 6 mile run, the furthest I have gone since starting the training schedule.  I mostly run outside but for this run I was at the gym on a treadmill.  It is pretty boring to be honest, and easy to want to give up or start to feel tired.  Here's a simple trick if you're running on a treadmill.  If it starts to feel too fast, bump the speed up as fast as you can handle for 60 seconds.  When you go back to your previous speed it feels like you're really giving yourself a break and you're able to continue without slowing down : )  I averaged less than 8 minute miles, which for me is an improvement.  When it comes to running the actual half marathon I'd like to average 8 1/2 minute miles, but we will see.

Another good tip, TELL lots of people about your goals.  The more people you tell, the more accountability you'll have.  I have so many people asking me each day "how far did you run today?" that it actually pushes me while I'm running to do my best. 

Random food tip that may or may not be helpful to you:  I have a tendency to eat cereal for dinner when my husband is out of town.  It may be low in calories but it's definitely not the most nutrient packed food you can eat.  I really struggle with cooking just for myself. My kids are fine with sandwiches so why go through the trouble of cooking and cleaning just for myself?  It seems more worth my while if I can save some of what I cook to pack for my lunch the next day.  So spend 15-20 minutes cooking lean meat and vegetables, have a nutritious dinner, and lunch already prepared for the next day that beats having a sandwich or a frozen meal : )

Does anyone have any quick and easy "on the go" breakfast ideas?  I have a problem with giving myself enough time to get ready in the morning. My coffee is set on a timer, so that is ready, but when it comes to breakfast I have to pretty much grab something for the car and go.  Lately I've been doing toast which holds me over, but I'd LOVE suggestions if anyone has a good idea. I have to be able to take it in the car. Oatmeal is a good choice but I can't drive and eat something with a spoon...I have tried : ) 

Portion Control

It has been a great weekend!  I love all of the time I get to spend with my family.  Saturday mornings are one of my favorites.  We sleep in a little, have coffee and breakfast together, play & relax!  On the weekend I eat differently than during the week simply because I have more time to prepare breakfast and lunch, giving me more options.  I think it's great to allow yourself some of your favorite foods every now and then, just be sure to practice portion control.  We are a "Bacon and Eggs" kind of family on Saturdays.  My husband really looks forward to it and instead of making something different for myself, I just make sure to eat a small amount.  3 strips of center cut bacon, 1 egg, and 1 piece of toast (with butter) only 210 calories!!!!!  That's not even a splurge.  I can have coffee with french vanilla creamer and my entire morning is still under 300 calories : )

I have to brag for a minute on Kimmy and Kimmie...my sister and my sister in law. They have both been losing weight as well as motivating and encouraging people around them.  My sister in law joined weight watchers and has lost almost 27 lbs!!!  She has been so dedicated to eating healthy foods and working out on her lunch breaks....staying at work later in fact, so she can have a lunch break to work out on!!!  She is a great accountability partner.  There are several people at work who want to work out and sometimes do, but I can count on Kimmie every day to be there in the gym with me!  Her hard work is really paying off.

My sister Kimmy has been getting up at 5:30 every day to do "Insanity" work out DVDs.   She has been making very healthy food choices as well and has lost 10 lbs in just 2 weeks!  She still lives at home where there are food temptations all around, yet she continues to buy her own groceries and cook her own meals. I'm proud of her!  She is also a great accountability partner.  We call each other and talk about good workouts and new meal ideas, and encourage each other to keep up the good work.

Having people in your life to encourage you and keep you motivated is a HUGE help, so tell as many people as you can about your lifestyle changes until you find someone who is on the same page that can be that person for you : )

I have a lunch idea if you are someone who enjoys onions and peppers!  Grilled chicken quesadillas on whole grain tortillas!  It's easiest to use boneless/skinless chicken breast tenders.  Grill with a little garlic salt and pepper.  Saute plenty of onions with green and red belle peppers.  Lightly butter the outside of two whole grain tortillas, put chicken, veggies, and low moisture mozzarella cheese in the middle, and preferably grill on George Foreman grill.  With a little sour cream on the side a whole quesadilla (which is usually too much for me) is only 365 calories.

If you have plenty of chicken and veggies you should go ahead and cook extra while you're at it and save them in the frig.  Then over the next week if you want to make a quesadilla it will only take a few minutes because the hard part is already done!

I recently got the new zumba DVDs and I am really enjoying them.  There is so much dance incorporated that it really is fun even though you're burning a ton of calories.  There's even a little swing dancing which is my all time favorite style.  We are going to start changing it up a little on our lunch break workouts maybe one or two days a week. You don't want to get stuck in a rut doing the same thing over and over and hit a wall.  Our boss provided us with yoga mats they weren't using, so I bought a new "extreme yoga" DVD that we will try soon, and hopefully try insanity soon which Kimmie is buying. I'll let you know how it goes : )

Random: It's that time of the year to start grilling!!!!  Grilling is a great choice if you're eating lean meats and vegetables.  The open flame adds great flavor and you skip out on extra grease because no butter or oil is needed, and the grease from the meat drips away instead of soaking in. Bonus for me, my husband loves to grill so I don't have to cook AND there are less pots and pans to clean : ) 

Don't forget to share your own meal ideas and work out tips : )

Finding Balance

For the past 10 days I've been lucky enough to have visitors staying at my house! My brother, Jon-Jon, Sister, Kimmy, and friend, Amanda.  It was so great to have them here.  Whether you have company at your house, or you are company at a friends house, there are most likely going to be changes in your diet and need for some compromise.  I am at a place where I am trying to maintain my weight, so there is a little room for flexibility. While my family was in town, we had ice cream, pizza, and even fast food one day!  Not the best choices, but the key is moderation.  I use an app on my iphone called "Myfitnesspal" which has been so helpful. I have a daily calorie goal and I keep track of everything that goes into my mouth, as well as daily workouts.  Keeping track of every single calorie is a great motivational tool to help you make good choices and control portions when you are going to splurge.  One day while we were out shopping I had pizza for lunch.  I limited myself to one large slice and cut a few calories in other areas that day so I was still able to meet my goal.  When ordering fast food, instead of buying kids meals for my boys and a meal for myself, I bought one meal and split it between the three of us.  And when having ice cream, as hard as it was, I limited myself to one scoop in a cone.  It's important to have balance and make sure these kinds of splurges are "exceptions" that you make every now and then, but definitely not the norm. 

Healthy foods can taste great too! We enjoyed a healthy dinner every night while my family was in town. Here are two of my favorites.

                                                    Asian Chicken Salad

Seasoned Grilled Chicken
Romain Lettuce
Carrots
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Raw Ramen Noodles
Almond slices
Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Panera Asian Sesame dressing

Large serving with 2 tablespoons of dressing only 405 calories!!!

Jon-Jon, Kimmy, & Amanda eating dinner and being silly.

This one is very simple. 
Grill Tilapia seasoned with a little garlic salt and black pepper, drizzle with light Alfredo sauce and garnish with chives.  Serve with sauteed yellow & zucchini squash and brown rice. 

Large serving with two 4oz fish fillets only 405 calories.


Don't get stuck in a rut cooking the same things over and over.  The more exciting your healthy food options are, the less likely you are to splurge on the bad foods.  Swap recipes and ideas with your friends and family, or look up a recipe in a book and try something brand new.  Don't be afraid to branch out and try things you wouldn't normally eat.

Make It Work

There are two kinds of excuses for me when it comes to making healthy lifestyle choices.  1) The kind that even as I'm telling them to myself I know they are solely created to make me feel better about whatever it is I'm wanting to do.  2) The more legitimate excuses like being a mom and a wife who works full time and would like as much time with my family as possible.  But they are both excuses!  If something is a priority, then you will find ways to make it work. 

Ever since I became a mom it has been a struggle to find time for workouts.  I feel guilty taking time away from my kids.  My husband and I decided to join a gym together and it has been wonderful.  The childcare area is called "Kid Zone" and my boys look forward to going most of the time.  Even though the kids don't mind going I still began to feel bad getting home so late and not having very long to play with them before bedtime.  At work, I have an hour lunch break every day that I really don't need (because I pack a lunch and eat while I'm working) so I decided to start running during that hour.  It actually gives me more energy for the afternoon and it's wonderful to leave work, go home with my family, and have my workout behind me!

A few weeks after I started running on my lunch break my sister in law (who works at the same school) suggested that we workout in the school gym to a zumba video a few days a week.  The director approved, and it quickly turned into a regular zumba class 3 days a week!  There were 8 participants today and even more that plan to join next week.  You never know what's possible until you ask!

This week I'm going to share a dinner recipe and a dessert idea. 

Veggie Pasta With Turkey Sausage

As you can see there are not very many ingredients.  It takes about 20 minutes from start to finish.  I use whole grain pasta, heart smart spaghetti sauce, and butterball turkey sausage.  Choose any veggies you like. I use squash, zucchini, onion, red pepper, and fresh garlic. 

Saute veggies and turkey sausage with a little olive oil and black pepper. Add spaghetti sauce once veggies are fully cooked.   Boil pasta in a separate pot. 

 When finished put them together, add a little Parmesan if you like, and 1 large serving (shown in picture) is only 405 calories.  My husband and boys both approve of this dinner : )

A very simple dessert that I like to have requires only 3 ingredients:  Vanilla yogurt, fresh fruit, and crushed graham crackers.  If using Danon light&fit yogurt, the serving shown in the picture below is just 125 calories.  And it's delicious!

Tip of the week:  Try Natures Own Honey Wheat 40 calorie bread.  Some low calorie bread, to be honest, tastes like cardboard.  This one does not!  It's very tasty and a great way to make low calorie sandwiches for lunch.  This is not a commercial, I just really love this bread and use it all the time : )

Don't forget to share your own tips and recipes with me! 

My Blog Intro

My history is not so good when it comes to blogging.  I am not a great writer and my grammer is often corrected by others...not to mention names, but a man that I am married to, and an older sister of mine, correct me the most : )  When I started my first blog I wasn't sure what to write about since the 3 or 4 people who were most likely to read it would have already heard my most current life news via email, phone calls, or facebook.  But now ... NOW I have something I am excited to write about and share with others.
Health and fitness have always been important to me.  I've enjoyed sports and workouts since I was probably two years old.  After highschool (when my metabolism started to change) my interest in nutrition increased!  But, just because these two things have been important to me for a long time does not mean that I have maintained a healthy balance in both these areas.  Food.  I LOVE food.  I will admit that it is a struggle to consistently put the right things into my body. Cheddar peppers, cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, and icecream are obviously not very nutritional, yet they are SO delicious and hard to resist.  When I'm at home thinking about making a sandwich and all the work that goes into it (toasting bread, slicing avocado, getting out lunch meat, sprouts, light mayo, etc.), the easier option is to call my husband and ask him to bring me a  cheeseburger on the way home.  The silly thing is, I know it would only take a few minutes to make a sandwich and that would definitely be the better choice. 

Lately, I have found myself more motivated and more consistent with making healthy choices on a daily basis.  I am enjoying ALL sorts of wonderfully nutritious meals and snacks.  Physical activity of all sorts including running, spinning, zumba and any type of group cardio class have kept my workouts from being mundane.  I plan to share recipes, ideas, and pictures of the meals and snacks that I am eating each week.  Being a very busy, working mom with little time to plan and prepare (or little desire...one of the two),  I have found ways to quickly prepare foods that are both healthy and tasty. 

Living a healthy lifestyle does not have to be boring.  I know I'm not the ONLY one with recipes, tips and ideas so feel free to comment with those of your own!  I look forward to blogging with you :)