health journal #3

It feels oh so good when I eat healthy.  It means I can consume more food for fewer calories (yes please).  Plus, I feel much better when I give my body the proper fuel.  I'm not perfect, but I do love learning about nutrition and feeding my little family healthy meals.  I promised a few people I'd post one of my favorite quick and healthy recipes.  On those days when you don't feel like making a meal, whip this up instead of going through the drive thru or popping a frozen dinner in the microwave.

Recipe adapted from Zonya Foco's Lickety-Split meals for health conscious people on the go (whew!)

Almond Chicken Salad 

Makes four 1-cup servings

181 calories per serving

1 can (8 oz)  crushed pineapple, drained

3-5 green onions, chopped

2 cups (12 oz can) diced cooked chicken, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup miracle whip light

1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

1/4 cup slivered almonds

Mix together and enjoy!

I like to wrap it in a whole wheat tortilla or stuff it in a pita half along with some lettuce or spinach.  When I've had my share of carbs for the day, I eat it with celery or on top of a lettuce salad.

It's seriously so easy to throw together.  Grape halves make an excellent addition as well.  

reaching for something in the distance

There's nothing like a morning run to get the day started.  Even little e was excited to get going.  Here we are showing off our muscles before the run.

Our sweet one was obviously happier after the run.  While she loves to get in her stroller, she's even more excited to get out of her stroller.  Two miles later, here we are.  Still smiling.

I'm sweaty and gross and e is covered in carnation instant breakfast milk, but it feels good to know that no matter what else happens today, at least we got up and worked it.

Have a lovely Wednesday, friends.

health journal

I've never been one to obsess about my weight.  In fact, I avoided actually looking at a scale for a few years.  Not because I was scared of what I weighed, but the number wasn't important to me.  It wasn't until right before I was preg with little e that I paid attention to the numbers.

It was a few months after e's birth that I started training for a half marathon and finally went to the doctor for fatigue.  I hadn't weighed myself since I was preg, so when I stepped on that scale in the doctor's office I took a look at the number.  And I cried.

[Don't worry - this isn't a sob story.  It's actually a really good story, so stick with me.]  

I cried for the first time ever about how much I weighed.  Little e was 8 months old and I weighed only 4 lbs less than when I was 9 months preg.  I felt pretty pathetic.

I've made some changes in my life and I've learned a lot since then.  I've gotten a lot of comments lately (not always about how I look - sometimes about other choices I make) and I want to share it all with you.

Join me?