Happy Friday EVE all! I am absolutely ready for the weekend, but, then, again, aren’t we all :) I was up bright and early this morning at 5:15 to get in my 3 mile run/walk. I did a 3:1 interval today and it was a great run. I really think giving my legs a day rest and getting 8 hours of sleep made all the difference in the world.
In other SUPER COOL HALF MARATHON News ~ TWO MORE friends have joined in on the fun and will be running with us ~ LOVE it!
I maximized my “fat burn” zone and waited an hour to eat. I decided to try a new protein/fat/fiber combo today to see if it would help fill me up more.
2 slices of dry TJ’s FF Multi-Grain Bread (I am IN LOVE with this bread and cannot get enough – I LOVE that it’s only 1 point a slice, 2 pts for 2 slices!)
1 “fried” egg with sea salt & pepper (2 pts)
Pear (1 pt)
All together this 5 point combination worked great and kept me full for 3 hours ~ awesome!
My Mid-Morning snack was TJ’s Spicy Hummus, 4 Tuscany Wheat Thin Flat Breads (one eaten as I served them up) and a Low Fat Sargento Colby Cheese (4 pts in all).
I LOVE Buckwheat noodles because you get a TON for fairly low points and they are healthy for you. Awhile back I bought this Sesame Soba Noodles dish from Trader Joe’s purely for a quick meal and….
because the STATS are awesome! (5 pts)
I LOVE that you can recognize EVERY ingredient as REAL food on just about every TJ’s frozen dish.
The VERDICT ~ I LOVED the spicy sesame flavor., It reminded me A LOT of the Vegetable Gyoza with Edamame that I made before. I wish there were MORE vegetables in there and that the tofu wasn’t so funky (styrofoam like). That being said, I’d still get it again. I ate lunch with my latest issue of Health Magazine plus 2 cuties.
When I got back to my desk, I NEEDED dessert. I had a tablespoon of TJ’s Dark Chocolate POM seeds. I am so addicted to these ~ I bet they would be AWESOME melted on oatmeal.
I can’t say I am super proud of my afternoon snacks. I had greek yogurt and fruit planned but I just wasn’t feeling it. This is the problem with me if I have GOOD snacks sitting in my drawer ~ I want them over anything I bring. So…..I started with some BBQ Pop Chips (2 pts for the 100 cal bag) ~ LOVE Pop Chips!
They didn’t fill me up for long so I grabbed the sample bar that I received at my Weight Watcher Meeting last night. It is their new Roasted Almond Sensation. I didn’t LOVE this bar at all ~ it was pretty hard and left me with Captain Crunch mouth. I also could totally taste the splenda…bummer, but, I did like the salty/sweet concept.
When I got home, I was starving and wanted dinner ASAP. Funny, I warded off morning hunger, now I have afternoon/evening hunger – go figure :)
Dinner involved some of my FAVORITE things to make up an AMAZING Taco Salad
Instant TJ’s Guacamole
This guac has an ingredient list just like you’d make it at home from scratch.
With awesome stat’s to boot.
Whenever I have salad I ALWAYS like to add crunch (nuts, chips, something FUN!) Tonight, I used 4 Rice Works Sweet Chili Chips. These are totally addictive just like the Lundberg varieties!
My Mom’s HOT SMOKEY Chipotle Salsa (it even has olives in it!)
Instant Guac that doesn’t look pretty but totally tastes like the real deal.
6 POINT TACO SALAD DELICIOUSNESS!!!
Organic Romaine and Spinach mixed, rinsed and spun
Organic Yellow Bell Pepper
Organic Cherry Tomatoes
1/4 c FF Salsa Refried Beans
1/2 c lean taco meat, cooked then seasoned with salsa & homemade taco seasoning
1/2 oz finely shredded sharp cheese
4 Chile Rice Chips
Salsa, Guacamole & Hot Sauce
I also made up another salad while I made dinner so I have lunch tomorrow.
It looks like I’ll be typing up that Roasted Butternut Squash Soup for you all soon ~ it’s so good, I need to make it again anyway. Look for it soon, maybe by this weekend.
Speaking of soup ~ don’t forget to enter to WIN THIS SOUPER PRIZE!! Contest ends tonight!
I am off to catch some cuddle time with The Husband and watch All About Steve ~ I LOVE Sandra Bullock so I know I am going to love it! Although he is watching football sooooo I may just read 🙂
Nite all!
Run Sarah says
I LOVE soba noodles…soo good! Never seen the frozen kind around here though. That taco salad looks so good too, it’s been way too long since I’ve had one.
Kristin (Cook, Bake and Nibble) says
I love TJ’s and it’s real ingredients!
So glad you have friends for the race, support is the best!
xo
K
Tealeafbags says
Wooow…. I am trying for some time now to go to the gym. And you have a perfect healthy life. What’s your motivation for your daily adventure to be healthy?
Whitney @ Lettuce Love says
I really need to buy some chocolate pom seeds — they look delish! That is great that you are running the race with two more friends. I should be fun!
Jocelyn says
Looks like a delicious day! I wish I could get popchips here 🙂 I like the cheddar kind.
And yum! taco salad!!!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
I love all the TJ’s goodies.
I still need to try those Pop Chips but I bet they’re good
Danica's Daily says
HI Tealeaf,
That is awesome that you are finding time to head to the gym. I think that the most important thing is to find something you enjoy. You are more likely to do it if you enjoy it.
I honestly can’t say I LOVE exercise, but, I LOVE the results and the way it makes me feel after.
I LOVE eating healthy and the way I feel when I do. My motivation comes from wanting to live a long, healthy life and to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. It’s all about making the most of what we have because honestly it doesn’t get better with age 😉 LOL….
Just take baby steps adding a new mini goal each week. You will feel so accomplished doing that and then all the goals build on each other and become habits.
Good luck!
Danica
Angie (Losing It and Loving It) says
I want to try soba noodles. Have only tried the Shirataki and don’t like them at all. I love everything I have ever bought from Trader Joe’s. And I especially love the variety of hummus they have.
Jenna says
Taco salad looks omg!!!
Chocolate coveted pom seeds look delish!
I love TJs frozen bowls 🙂
Jenna
Heather @ (The SIngle Dish) says
You have inspired me to go to Trader Joe’s 🙂
Christy says
Hello! Looks like a tasty food day to me, and I love that magazine!
GG says
I just wanted to say that I love looking at all your food photos! They are all so colorful, ha ha!! Oh and how is your weekend going, you finally got it! Wo Wo!!!
DanicasDaily says
HI GG ~ Thanks! Our weekend has been really good – busy, but, good. I am hoping to relax some tomorrow too. Hope your weekend is just as fantastic too.
Danica
Danica's Daily says
Hi Angie,
Soba Noodles are totally different that Shirataki Noodles. Soba noodles are more like a whole wheat pasta where as Shirataki noodles have that funky texture. I highly recommend soba noodles – they are delish and cook super fast.
Danica