Dinner successes

You may want to sit down for this one. I've made dinner THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW for my family. But wait, it gets better. All dinners have been vegan. And (this is a huge thing) ALL have been given a thumbs up by every member of my family!!!

Tuesday night I made a black bean/pepper/fresh corn/tomato kind of chili and topped it with cornbread (made with soy milk and egg replacer) and baked it. I served this with a simple salad (homegrown tomatoes, mixed lettuce, fresh corn, and avocado) and called it good.

The next night was chili-lime glazed tofu that I served with quinoa and some steamed kale. Kids didn't like the kale much (next time I'll flavor it to make it more interesting), but loved the tofu and were ok with the quinoa.

Last night I made a lemon garlic pasta (a little less overtly vegan than the tofu night) from "Eat, Drink, and be Vegan" and served it with some leftover borscht that Tucker and I made on Sunday night and an everything salad (thanks Tim for making a killer salad).

Speaking of borscht, I got to take a cooking class last weekend from Colleen Patrick-Goudreau in Oakland. Once I take the time to download the pictures from the class, I'll write about that. The reason that relates to the soup is that Tucker took the class with me, and he made the soup from a recipe that Colleen demonstrated in class. Go Tucker!

Great Success!

Vacation was wonderful! I'll post pictures and videos this week, but in a nutshell, it was a wonderful unifying and de-stressing experience for everyone!

Here are a few random thoughts before I hit the shower:

• I don't sleep on red-eye flights. Next time I'm not even going to try. And next time I'll have a better strategy than my "eat everything" method of coping last night!

• Blossoming Lotus is the best restaurant on the planet, and all of us loved it!

• My last island workout was Crossfit-ish and fun. Here are the details:

7 rounds of
10 thrusters (10 lb dumbbells)
20 alt lunges (10 lb dumbbells, 10 reps each leg)
14 clean and press (20 pound dumbbell, 7 reps each side)
10 lat pulldowns (no idea how much weight)

My glutes are feeling the love in a BIG way!

• I still want to post the links to weblogs I read (there are many -- thank goodness for Bloglines!). One of my new favorites is called Eat, Live, Run, subtitled "Training to be a pastry chef while still fitting into my jeans". Isn't that cute? Well, Jenna posted a link to Yoga Downloads, and they have some Yoga for Runners workouts. Cool! I downloaded the 30 minute workout today and will report on it as soon as I try it.

• I'll be starting the 100 Pushup Challenge tomorrow. Tried starting on vacation, but it just wasn't what I wanted to be doing. My plan is to follow their middle plan (even though my initial test puts me into the extreme plan). And because I don't want to overwork my pushing muscles, I'll be doing a corresponding pulling workout to help balance things out. I think the balance will come from pullups or body-weight rows -- maybe half as many pullups (using the giant rubber band for assistance) or the same number of rows. I'll let you know as I work this out. But I'm excited for a new challenge!
  

Make today fabulous, friends!

P.S.

The "mixed marriage" comment was flippant and funny, but it doesn't really paint a picture of the harmony that exists in my views and Tim's views on health. In the same way that I'm vegan-ish, I think that Tim is moving towards vegetarian-ish in his choices. And we both value staying active, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate having a partner in health and wellness. This morning we did Rodney Yee's AM Yoga, and then did our separate workouts. Today Tim ran. And I headed to the beach for lunge walks and skipping, and step ups on a picnic bench.

Rocklin Farmer's Market starts today!

Mom: Fresh kale and beet top salad with belarusian tomatoes...
...Portabella mushroom burgers with avocado, turnip and melon chutney...
...and a piping-hot eggplant-artichoke-string bean-leek casserole!

Dad: Dig in! (softer) I thought I told you guys to distract your mother today!
Kid 1: We tried! You've seen her at the farmer's market!
Kid 2: We're lucky we got out of there before she spotted bok choy!

Worth considering

I found this on a torn-out magazine page:

If I could give you a pill that helped you lose wight, was full of fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, was known to provent cancer and most diseases, and made your skin, hair, and body look and feel fantastic, would you take it? Yes, you say? Then EAT YOUR VEGETABLES!!!

Melange

• Wife Swap was really boring to me. I think it's because I was expecting a healthful vs. junk food showdown, and that wasn't what it turned out to be. Oh well...
• I am in love with my Vita Mix. It's quieter and more powerful than my $29 Costco blender (well duh, right?) and I'm looking forward to making all sorts of yummy things with it.
• This is my first week of no boxing camp, and it's so much easier to get my running miles in. The great thing about doing boxing camp for five months is that I'm now a confirmed morning exerciser, something I'd always wanted to be. This morning I was up at 5:30, out the door running by 6:00 and had 6 miles done before it was time to get the kids up for school -- sweet!
• I'm having another hungry day, but at least my choices have been good ones.
• Three weeks from today we'll be in HAWAII!!!
  

Wife Swap

Just got a heads up from Angela that Robyn, aka Green Smoothie Girl, is on tomorrow night's Wife Swap on ABC! You'd better believe I'll be Tivo'ing on every television because this is one Wife Swap I don't want to miss.

Rainbow in my bowl

I WISH this was my salad, but alas it's not. You can read about it here. When I read what the author had to say about this salad:

"I love color. I have colorful clothes. A colorful home. Colorful things in my hair. A very colorful daughter. Color just makes me really happy. It’s no wonder I LOVE eating raw foods so much…they just add to the happiness. If you’re wondering how to be really healthy and live for a long time…just try to eat every color of the rainbow, every day."

...when I read that, something clicked for me. I love color. LOVE color! If not kept in check, my house would look like a circus.

I've loved color for a long time. When growing up, my best friend invited me to her family's vacation home. The house was 3 stories tall and right on the water at Lake Tahoe. You came in on the 2nd floor from the front (the non-lake side). The first floor was the bedrooms. The third floor was the main living space (with the best view). And the kitchen was unlike anything I'd ever seen because everything in it was red or white. I was amazed! Keep in mind this was 1971 when avocado green and harvest gold dominated the color wheel. When I saw it, I remember thinking, "When I'm a grown-up, I'm going to have my kitchen be just like this!" Now as a grown-up I have a kitchen almost like that, but since I love all colors, I used all colors and not just one.

So back to the salad. I've heard all the "eat a rainbow" stuff and NEVER connected it with my love of color. How did I not make that connection? I have no idea! I just know that it makes complete and total sense that I would want to eat in a way that's consistent with my love of color.

To veg or not to veg?

I've had several friends tell me they've considered going vegetarian. I think that's great. But I don't think it's always the best choice. What's the best choice? Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. (Am I sounding like a broken record here?) When I went to the cooking class with Tracy Reifkind and Fawn Friday, Tracy commented that she eats more vegetables than most vegetarians she knows, and she's right. It's possible to be a potato chip, tater tot, cereal kind of vegetarian, and that's not the way to go! Actually, I think the way Tracy eats is great -- lots of freshly home-prepared foods, and tons of veggies with meats as flavor enhancers, rather than as the centerpiece of the meal.

So why do I choose no meat? I wrote about my reasons here, but one thing I forgot to include is that I've never really liked meat. I've ALWAYS liked the "other stuff" in the meal a whole lot more. So not eating meat doesn't feel like deprivation.

Tim doesn't feel right if he doesn't eat meat or chicken or fish, but he's cut his portions way down now that I don't eat those things. But if he doesn't feel right if he doesn't eat some animal protein, he should have some. Everyone is different.

So if someone came to me and asked, "Should I be vegetarian," I think my answer would be, "Not right away." I would suggest that they decrease the amount of animal products in their diet (including milk and eggs), increase the fresh veggies and fruits, and the whole grain carbohydrates, and get away from refined stuff. Then see how they feel and go from there.

And of course, everyone should start their day with a green smoothie, right?

Green smoothies

My girlfriend Angela sent me a link a few weeks ago, suggesting that I check it out. It was a link to Green Smoothie Girl, a website where the author believes that if you do nothing else for your health but make and drink a green smoothie once a day, you'll be improving your health by leaps and bounds.

The idea of one thing making a big difference appealed to me, so I decided to try it. And I liked it right away. Tim watched what I was doing with some skepticism, but after a few days decided to try it as well. He liked it too. And I've shared the idea with some friends who are now making, drinking, and enjoying green smoothies too!

So what's in a green smoothie? Here's what I've been putting in mine:

In a blender with a tight fitting lid, combine:
2 cups water
2 - 3 giant handfuls organic spinach
1 handful kale or chard
(blend these together first to break up all the leaves)
1/2 of a frozen banana
1-1/2 cups frozen mixed berries
1 - 2 packages Stevia powder (I like mine sweet)
more water to desired consistency

Once you add in the berries and banana, the smoothie no longer looks green. And you can't taste the spinach and any other greens you put in it. This recipe makes about 64 ounces, and Tim and I have been splitting this amount in the morning, and again in the late afternoon/early evening. I try to drink my green smoothie before I eat anything else, because I want the enzymes in the raw food to hit my system first.

That's it! You can change the proportions (more berries and banana for those who are just starting off and want something that's more like a "normal" smoothie), the ingredients (different fruits, different greens), and add some extras (some days I add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice) to make it just right for you. But the base of spinach and other greens never changes, and that's what makes it so great -- you're eating more dark leafy greens (like we always hear we need to do) in a way that just makes it so easy to do!

I feel that by drinking green smoothies, I've opened the door to a willingness I've never had before to examine what I choose to fuel my body with. I'm still on half the caffeine I normally drink (a small cup of coffee in the morning and in the afternoon, as compared with -- well, I don't even want to go there!), and I think that's directly tied to green smoothies. And I'm more discriminating about what I eat, asking the question "Do I really want this?" before just going ahead and eating. And my tastes are changing, so fresh stuff really does taste better than processed (for the most part).

If you do a Google search on Green Smoothies, you'll find tons of links for more inspiration. Let me know if you decide to give this a try. Happy blending and thanks Angela!

Time to try something new

Next week is my last week of boxing camp, after 5 months of hitting the heavy bag. I'm feeling a little sad, but I think it's the right decision. In the summertime, we stay up late. And I can't find a way to make that make sense when I get up at 4:45 for boxing. So I'm taking a break for the summer, and returning to boxing in the fall.

Usually when we hit the heavy bag, I pretend that I'm hitting depression. But today I noticed that I wasn't hitting depression because I don't feel depressed. Something I'm doing is working, because I'm really feeling balanced and happy. Possible reasons?

1. Cell regeneration -- I'm still getting one treatment a week and I think it's making a huge difference. (Wish there was a website I could point you to for more info!)

2. Green smoothies -- I'll write more over on my other blog, but the short version is that I've found what I've always been looking for: fresh, fast, healthy convenience food that I make myself!

3. Standing up for myself -- I'm feeling stronger than I've ever felt before and it feels like I've found my voice. So if something's not working for me, I say so. Or if I'm angry, I speak up. And if I want something, I can say it. After many years of trying not to be a bother or be in the way, this way of expressing myself is foreign and feels wonderful.

Worth the time it takes to read

Don't you hate it when you have too many thoughts in your head, and not enough time to make it all come out on paper (keyboard!)? Well, I read something today that you should read too. It's from a weblog called Almost Fit, and the post is titled "Eat Real Food -- it's what your Grandma would do." I won't try to dissect or debate what the author has to say, but I think the piece speaks to many facets of the food/nutrition/health Rubik's Cube that we all want to figure out.

And I am happy to say that just the other day, I planted Rainbow Chard seeds. (Those of you who know me well know that this is waaaaaaaay out of the box for me -- I'll keep you posted!)

Trying something new -- KALE

I've heard forever about the benefits of dark green leafy vegetables. And until recently I've been willing to eat salad nearly every day, using the darkest lettuces I can find. But I've not ventured past lettuce in my greens shopping (and I don't even know if lettuce is considered part of "greens"). Anyway, I've been re-listening to the "Vegetarian Food for Thought" podcasts, specifically the ones about food. And I decided to try steaming kale, because Colleen says it's so delicious. And Tracy Reifkind's writings about her love of kale also helped to propel me into action.

Well, they are both right -- kale is delicious! Yesterday I pulled out my steamer and grabbed some kale. I cut it almost like you'd cut Romaine lettuce for a Caesar salad, put it in the steamer basket, and let it cook for about 10 minutes. That's it. It was mild, almost sweet, and would adapt well to any flavor you put with it. (Colleen says she adds some apple cider vinegar and a little olive oil.)

Instead of eating it on its own, though, I mixed the kale with some chickpeas and used that as the base for my taco salad last night. Tim and the kids had the chicken I'd cooked up for them and then mixed in iceberg lettuce (for the crunch), tomatoes, queso fresco, and salsa. Mine was the kale and chickpea base, then some tomatoes, salsa, and a little queso fresco, and it was DELICIOUS!

(There's still some steamed kale in the fridge -- let me try a little experiment here. Back in a sec...)

Darn it! Tim ate the rest of the kale. (I guess that's actually a good thing, right?) I was going to try it with ACV and see how it was. Maybe later today...

Vegan-ish?

I am vegan-ish. What does that mean? Well, it means I don't eat animals, nor do I drink milk or eat eggs. But why the "ish" part? Because I am not so vegan that I'm going to interrogate waiters, or refuse the occasional baked treat because it has one-twelfth of an egg in it, or (today) turn down my mother-in-law's casserole because it's made with cheese, eggs, and milk. I do use whey protein, and whey is a derivative of milk. A touch of Parmesan on a salad is a good thing, I think. I continue to eat honey, and let's not even TALK about my leather shoes, ok?!

What I'm trying to say is that I'm trying to find a sane balance that allows me to eat the way I feel is best for me, and still live in the world in peace. But then the question comes up -- why do I avoid animal products? If I'm asked this, I can give an answer, but my answer will differ depending on if I'm at the dinner table when asked or if it's just in conversation. (I'll soften my answer at the table, to be sure!)

So here's why I don't eat meat (or chicken or fish). There are several reasons, and I've assigned a percentage to each one:

• 35%: I don't want to eat dead stuff
• 25%: I think it's healthier
  
• 20%: I think it's better for the planet
• 20%: I want to be kind to animals

Probably the biggest issue is that when I see meat on the plate, I see a carcass, plain and simple. And from everything I've read, it IS healthier to stay away from animal products, it IS better for the planet to eat low on the food chain, and it IS kinder to animals to not kill them. And I should mention here that I've never been a big meat eater to begin with, so it's not like this is tough for me.

But what about milk and eggs? Well, I've never really cared for milk, and the more I've learned, it seems crazy for us to drink what's meant for baby cows. And sadly, drinking milk is directly related to the veal industry (where do you think all those baby cows go once they're born and have gotten their moms to produce milk?). Plus almond milk is WAY yummier than cow's milk! And eating eggs support an industry that really hurts chickens, and I don't want the way I eat to cause harm.

So that's kind of where I'm at, food-wise. I still have lots of unanswered questions, like how can I make this make sense when my family is NOT vegetarian, and what the heck do I cook beyond "something for them, and a salad for me", and where do caffeine and sugar fit into the whole healthy eating equation for me? My hope is that journaling about all this will help me to find some answers that make sense for me and for my family.

A most unusual day

Today I'm not exercising at all. Nothing. Nada. The last time I had a day like this was ... hmmmm ... well, I'm not really sure. With boxing camp Monday through Friday, and 1000 swings one day and a long run the other day of each weekend, it's been a while since I had a day off.

Today wasn't supposed to be a day of rest. I got up at 4:45 to find Tim already up, having gotten up at 3:00! He's been stressed out about work and just couldn't sleep. I started getting ready for boxing camp, when I had the thought, "I should stay and be with my husband." So I sat on the weight bench in the training room and kept him company while he did P90X Core Synergistics. (I would have joined him, but I pulled something deep in my core the other day and have taken a few days off from ab-intensive exercises.)

So then it was time to get the kids up and going for school. Then I trained a client who had some great news. She tried on some bikini bottoms from 2 years ago that she couldn't wear last year, and they fit and looked great! Needless to say, that's exciting news for me. As she put it, her "butt corners" are gone.

Next on today's agenda was a cell regeneration treatment. I have a friend who does this energy work (it's similar to Reiki, I'm told) and while I can't really tell you how light touch and breathing can heal things at a cellular level, I can tell you that my bicep tendon no longer hurts after 2 years of aching daily. Plus I'm told this treatment is highly effective for dealing with depression, which makes it hugely appealing to this girl. So I've been going for treatments for about 2 months now, and here's the thing -- after a treatment, you're supposed to take it easy for the rest of the day, or the energy change doesn't really take hold. Well, there goes my planned 10 mile run for the afternoon.

So here I am with "extra" time on my hands. These are a few things going on in my world:

• The Spirituality of Being Enough. I'm going on a women's AA retreat this weekend. As you may know, I've been clean and sober for 21 years. But since I've had kids, I've rarely gone to meetings. Well, somehow I've hooked up with a really great group of women, and we're heading to a retreat. The title of the retreat is "The Spirituality of Being Enough" and it's being led by a Catholic nun who's in recovery. I am not usually a fan of big groups of women -- too silly, too emotional. But with how tough my kids have been, I can't WAIT to be away for the weekend!

• Veg Tucker? Tucker's told me several times over the past few weeks that he respects me for being vegetarian. It's always been at really random times, and hearing that completely fills me up. Last night he told me he's "going veg." I told him that was great if it is what he wants. I also said that if he changes his mind, that's fine too.
  

• Hawaii is a GO! I will respond to comments individually soon, and I so appreciate the vacation suggestions, but it looks like Hawaii is a "go". We're getting our money back for the flights we already paid for (through the credit card company), and the price for 4 tickets has dropped some, enough that Tim really wants to stay with Hawaii for vacation this year.
  

• No sparring for me. Since starting boxing camp, I've toyed with the idea of actually getting in the ring and sparring. Last week I really gave it some though, and realized that the only reason I'd be sparring would be to brag about it (aka notches on the bedpost) and that is inconsistent with who I am and why I train in the first place. In fact, my plan at this point is to continue boxing camp through May and then go to Bikram yoga for the summer. (I live in a place where it gets over 100 degrees a lot, and I like to feel acclimated to the heat.) That way I won't have to get up so early while the kids are out of school. But I think I'll be back to boxing in the fall.

• 1000 miles. Ten years ago, when I was 37 and my kids were 2 and 4, I set a goal of running 1000 miles. To do this, you need to run 20 miles a week on a consistent basis, and it's that consistency that can be challenging. Well, I've decided that a decade later, I'm shooting for the same goal. That's why on my blog sidebar I'm tracking average miles per week. Since I didn't decide on this goal until April, I've got some miles to make up. But that's ok -- goals are supposed to push you, right?

Probably no more writing till Monday. Have a wonderful weekend, friends!