Healthy Meals, Happy Bodies

This past Sunday I successfully accomplished my goal of the 2 hour spinning class!  I even won a prize (this is very rare because I am not a lucky person) I was so happy with my accomplishment that I decided I need more long term goals to keep me motivated.  I decided to start training for a marathon!  Now before we all get ahead of ourselves (seriously liz...a marathon?)  I'm going to start small.  My first will be a 5k, then 10k, half, and hopefully full!  I have looked up a few ones in Cleveland coming up and there is the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon on May 19 and 20.  Here is the site to register!

http://www.clevelandmarathon.com/Registration/

If anyone wants to do it with me (Alyssa Putich I am talking to you)  let me know!  Remember those fantastic new running kicks I bought a few weeks ago?  I owe Fleet Feet for giving me the opportunity to actually be a runner.  (I know that sounds corny but I'm serious!)  I truly never knew how to buy a pair running shoes, and I thought pain was just a part of running.  For the first time (probably in my life) I ran 5 miles without stopping.  I always used to have to stop because my ankles and shins would hurt so bad.  I now have the confidence to go ahead and start training for different marathons!

I have been getting a lot better and more knowledgeable about healthy decisions.  One of my favorite breakfasts is oatmeal.  It's loaded with fiber, protein, and whole grains that give you energy for the day.  As a time saver I was eating the Quaker instant oatmeal that comes in a variety of flavors.  I still think this is a great quick breakfast loaded with healthy benefits.  However, Quaker Oats regular oatmeal is not much harder to make and has less artificial flavoring and sugar than the instant packets.  Compare the nutrition facts below.

Source:http://www.quakeroats.com/Libraries/pdf/Oatmeal_Nutrition_Facts.sflb.ashx

I have circled the things to pay close attention to when comparing the two.  The thing that surprised me the most was the difference in both sodium and sugar.  There are 0mg of sodium in the Old Fashioned Oats, while the instant oatmeal has 170 mg of sodium.  Look at the sugar.  1g compared to 12g.  12g of sugar in the instant oatmeal!! (that's a lot) Keep this in mind for any processed or preserved foods you eat.  There is a reason those things can stay on the shelves for...ever. (ew)

My advice is to make the real oatmeal, and add in the goodies that make it so delicious!  Use brown sugar and cinnamon to sweeten it up.  Throw in fresh strawberries, blueberries, or apples.  I will even put my own sugar in.  This way I can control how much I am putting in....and at least I know it is pure fresh sugar.  I always use milk for mine because 1. it tastes better, and 2. I need all my calcium I can get! (I am not a big milk drinker)

Since I am on a healthy meal kick, my mom and I went to The Courtyard (Brecksville's finest dining spot) for dinner last night and we decided to order healthy meals off the menu. (I skipped out on my usual breaded chicken caesar salad with extra ceasar dressing and a french bread roll...I wish that was good for you).  Well let me tell you...the meals we ordered were not only nutritious...but delicious!  Mom got a spinach and strawberry salad with chicken, and I thought to myself...I can make this at home!  So we headed over to Heinen's (another Brecksville hot-spot) and picked up the ingredients.  

Stawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken

Source: The Courtyard

Ingredients:

Fresh Spinach

Crumbled feta cheese (I bought the fat free and tasted no difference)

Fresh strawberries

Glazed walnuts

Red onion

Raspberry vinaigrette dressing (fat free)

Grilled chicken

Ingredients...we used crispy onions, but I recommend a fresh red onion.

I always marinate my chicken in Italian dressing over night, so I used that and grilled it on my George Forman.  Then simply arrange all your ingredients into a salad.  In order to consume less calories, dip your salad into the dressing, rather than pouring it all over.  This should be a rule for any salad you eat.  Dipping can save you upwards of 100 calories per salad. (100 calories=1 mile of running...remember that)  The strawberries add so much fresh flavor that there really is no need for much dressing.  Enjoy!!

Now this is a salad I could eat everyday!