Hangry Pants

Good evening everyone! How was your day? Mine started off on the wrong foot because I set my alarm for p.m., so I had to get dressed and out the door in only 20 minutes as opposed to the 45 I’ve been taking to have my coffee, read my blogs, get dressed, etc. I didn’t get to have my morning coffee or do any of my morning things, but it turned out to be a fun and regular Monday. My project about compound eyes went very well. The kids in the class have been learning about insects and today they looked through kaleidoscopes to simulate what it’s like to have insect eyes. They thought it was lots of fun.

When I got home I did my running thing. After I ran, I walked on the treadmill while reading my new Cooking Light. I always start a magazine from the back. I flip through and then when I get to the front, I start all over!

When my magazine reading was complete, I had a dinner based on leftovers. I had wasting food and luckily enjoy leftovers. Tonight I had leftover pumpkin rice, leftover peppers and onions, new roasted carrots and a Banana Sweet Potato Muffin. Or two. 

Long Distance Things

I just read this little article from Women’s Health about how technology can help long distance couples stay  in touch. As you know, Mark lives in N.J. and I live in R.I. We don’t get to see each other very often, so we have to rely on technology to communicate. One way is on the blog! We also send emails and pictures on our phones. Of course there is no substitute for the real thing, but these fun, quick ways of keeping in touch help out. Do you have any tips for long distance relationships? 

First, I wanted to share a beautiful quote that Caitlin brought to my attention. It reminded me to be patient and kind. Everyone wants to feel loved.  

“There is a desire within each of us, in the deep center of ourselves that we call our heart. We were born with it, it is never completely satisfied, and it never dies. We are often unaware of it, but it is always awake. It is the human desire for love. Every person in this earth yearns to love, to be loved, to know love. Our true identity, our reason for being, is to be found in this desire…
…love is the ‘why’ of life: why we are functioning at all, what we want to be efficient for… I am convinced it [love] is the fundamental energy of the human spirit, the fuel on which we run, the wellspring of our vitality. And grace, which is the flowing, creative activity of love itself, is what makes all goodness possible. 

Love should come first; it should be the beginning of and the reason for everything.”

From The Awakened Heart by Gerald G. May

Detox/Fake Foods

Second, thanks for all your comments and insight about detoxing. I am not sure an official detox is for me, but I am trying to use this month to detox from junk, or stuff in a package. This for me is a way to reset my bad habits and get back to a way of eating that is best for me. Less fake foods, more real foods. 

Coincidentally, I saw this article, “Don’t Mock it Until You Try It” in my local paper, The Providence Journal about “fake foods,” foods made to look and taste like other foods ie. Quorn cutlets or Ritz Mock Apple Pie (recipe in the article). It presents some historical background to the “fake foods” phenomenon. I  try to avoid fake foods, especially this month, but it was interesting to be reminded that some “fake foods” were not developed solely because of the fast paced, processed society we live in. Many “fake foods” developed from religious/ethical beliefs (i.e. meatless alternatives) or food scarcity (i.e. Depression era creativity). 

Odd Dinner Combo

So, it was my third day in Back to Basics Month and I still hadn’t eaten any bread. I was wondering whether I should try to go the whole month without it, but that makes no sense in my life. It is not something I would ever want to give up. I can, however, try to eat a minimally processed bread when possible. Enter an Ezekiel English Muffin. 

I tried to ignore this odd dinner craving, but I couldn’t. It’s an English Muffin with the Almond Butter & Pumpkin Mousse and Lima Beans, Corn and Kidney Beans. I know it’s weird. I have no shame. 

I also couldn’t ignore that I wanted dessert today. I chose something that makes me feel good and tastes good. Two Laura’s Junk Food Lemon-Vanila Bite-lettes.

The ingredients in this sweet treat are: Rolled oats, dates, expeller pressed Canola oil, evaporated cane juice, fruit juice, natural grain dextrins, unbleached enriched flour, water, unsweetened coconut, non-GMO soy protein isolate, non-GMO soy powder, natural flavorings, baking powder (non-aluminum) and sea salt. 

Lots of sugar and enriched flour. Not something I really want this month, but not terrible for a dessert. I should try to limit these more for this month’s experiment, but I had a fender bender today and now my beautiful car needs botox. I sought comfort in sweets. 

Protein Needs 

I think something in a future Hangry Pants challenge might involve testing different dietary guidelines. I think that would be lots of fun. Specifically, I am curious about my protein intake. If I think about it, I know I eat a lot of grains, fruits and veggies, but I assume I am low on protein. I saw this Protein Needs Table on fitsugar. I like it because the math is done for me (protein need in grams/weight in pounds) and includes a suggested intake for those who are highly active.

Anyone who know more about protein needs, please feel free to let me know what you think about the table. How much protein do you think people need? 

Now, please excuse me while I help my mom tie dye a shirt for work tomorrow. 

I have some running news. Awhile back I asked for what I should do to make running more exciting and some motivating readers encouraged me to sign up for a 5k. I’ve never been big into outdoor running, so even though I can easily run a 5k on the treadmill, I was nervous. Well, I found a small local race and signed up yesterday. The 5k is on September 28th! I am very excited and nervous. I hope I love it so much and start running more races. 

There is also some food news to report. Christie “tagged” me to be the next blogger to pick a Blogger Secret Ingredient.  I am very excited about this and I will follow Christie’s format with a couple additional things. Here’s how it  works: 

(1) I pick an ingredient for all the blog world to use once this week. 

(2) Any interested blogger uses and posts a recipe incorporating the ingredient this week. Something New: Please link back to this site when you post your secret ingredient recipe so I can be sure to see when the ingredient is used and can compile and post a complete list of all the recipes used during the week. 

(3) Include any relevant information you have about the ingredient: nutritional info, family history of recipe, anecdote or otherwise. 

(4) I pick a new blogger to select the next secret ingredient and the fun lives on. 

(5) Something New:  I want to add is to open it up to the non-blogger community. So, if you’re a non-blogging reader, feel free to post your recipe as a comment or email it to me and I will post it for you. 

Not that I think I have many non-blogging readers, but there is my mom, and Mark’s mom and Sarah from N.J. 

So, ready for the Secret Ingredient? 

Tomatoes! Any color, size or shape. 

Finally, I know this is not timely in any way, but I was watching a Top Chef marathon today because I have a thing for cuddly bald men.  Anyway, I guess I am impressed with Richard’s ability to use nitrogen to prepare a substance that provides caloric energy, but it’s just so far away from what I am familiar with. Not sure I dig it. Has anyone ever eaten food via molecular gastronomy? Thoughts?

Hannah is A Palindrome is a children’s book I know about only because of a special little lady in my life named Hannah. If Hanna the tropical storm had a book it would be called Hanna is a Hot Mess. I usually love the rain, but I am not feeling this humidity. I am supposed to frolicking in fall foliage and crisp air, not sticking to pieces of paper that are completely dampened by the air. Gross.

They Have a Point

Ever since I saw that first HFCS advocacy commercial the other day, I’ve been seeing them everywhere! I’ve seen two with the women at the cook out and one with the boy and girl and the provocative popsicle. They always follow the same formula - one person is outraged at the other person’s brazen consumption of a HFCS infused item, but is unable to articulate a single reason why HFCS should be avoided. The HFCS eater, on the other hand, is a wealth of knowledge about the safety of HFCS.  They are humorous, but they also have me thinking. Up until the HFCS pusher starts talking the commercial could have a real situation between two people.  Many people have heard a quick sound bite or read a headline that warns against HFCS, but don’t take it further, or if they do are confused by conflicting information or overly technical terms. Before starting HFCS Awareness Month, I kinda sorta knew that HFCS was bad for me, but I could explain fully what it was or why I wanted to avoid it.  Again, it brings me back to the simple fact that knowledge is key and finding reliable, straight forward information is hard. 

Saturday’s Breakfast Epiphany

I’ve been missing my morning routine of coffee, exercise, eat and blog read, so today I relished in the experience and took an extra long time doing it. 

Today’s oats were combined with a banana and wheat germ with a peanut butter smear on top. I know the “peanut butter on the spoon” is the more popular method, but I nominate my method. The oats are hot so the PB melts and then you can kinda dip your oats in it as you eat around the smear. Then at the end you have a little bit of PB left. I love it. 

Side note.  I am keenly aware that photography is not one of my blogging strengths, but when I use my camera instead of my phone, I at least try. Well now I am super bummed because my camera keeps saying the internal memory is full even though there is nothing at all to upload.  This means I have to use my phone, which is ok for on the go, but makes me sad. Boo camera message. 

Anyway, I had an oatmeal first. I didn’t eat the whole bowl.  Toward the end it was getting sort of a chore to eat because I was full. It took me a few spoonfuls to realize this, but when I did I had an enlightening moment: I can leave some in the bowl! This perplexed me. I leave food behind at dinner sometimes, but never the oats! The conversation in my head went like this:

Devil Heather: You just ran and you should still be hungry. You’re not properly fueling. You are going to go into starvation mode right now. 

Intuitive Heather: Obviously, I am not hungry. Who knows why.  Um, I am fairly certain there is no starvation going on here. I think it’s probably worse to eat when I have to deeply inhale and exhale before the next spoonful to psyche myself up.  

Devil Heather: It tastes so good. Eat it anyway. 

Intuitive Heather: Well, ordinarily I would, but for some reason that seems strange today. 

Devil Heather: Well what are you going to do if you get hungry soon?

Intuitive Heather: Eat.

Devil Heather: You’re a food waster.

Intuitive Heather: I’ll save the three remaining spoonfuls for later.

Devil Heather: At least eat the rest of the peanut butter.

Intuitive Heather: Obviously.

I hope I can continue to apply this logical thinking to the rest of my food choices. 

Saturday Lunch? 

Question mark because it was kinda late and more like a three part snack: 

Little macintosh.

Kashi Pumpkin Spice Bar (No HFCS, unlike their cousin, the Nature Valley Bar)

A little Pesto Roll/Biscuit I made today.

Saturday Dinner

Not sure what is up with me today, but I am just not that hungry. I think it’s Hanna’s fault.  I wanted some veggies so I had a salad and half of the Amy’s Single Serve Roasted Vegetable Pizza (sweetened by organic evaporated cane juice and organic agave nectar) that is quite popular these days.  This was right up my ally because I don’t love cheese on pizza unless it’s fresh mozz. Very tasty, very small. Made me realize how caloric pizza is. 

Saturday Dessert Downer

I wasn’t very hungry all day, but I did have a sweet tooth after dinner. I had an idea to crumble up these little chocolate chip cookies and mix them in with chocolate frozen yogurt. 

I went downstairs to the freezer in the basement, where I require ice cream I like to be kept, and pulled out the Hood Chocolate Fat Free Frozen Yogurt. To my dismay I found corn syrup. Now this is interesting because when I bought this last month I specifically remember being happy that it didn’t have HFCS. Now, HFCS are banned and I volunteered to give up corn syrup, too, so I couldn’t have any.

I then looked up the nuritional information for my favorite frozen treat: Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked Fro Yo. It contains 180 cals, 3 g of fat,  corn syrup and liquid sugar. The regular Half Baked ice cream has 270 cals, 13 g fat, liquid sugar, brown sugar and molasses.  The Light Cookie Dough Ice Cream has 200 cals, 6 g fat and liquid sugar (again, ?).  The Organic Chocolate Fudge Brownie has 240 cals, 13 g fat and organic evaporated cane juice syrup  and organic sugar.   See how this information hunting can get confusing - I just wanted some ice cream.

For the record, Breyer’s Chocolate Ice Cream contains sugar, 140 cals and 7 g of fat.  That’s less calories than my favorite fro yo! I think this is the moment in the month where I am supposed to realize that a little bit of fat in ice cream is better for me than fat free ice cream with corn syrup. I’ll be honest and say that I understand the argument intellectually, but am not personally there yet. With a wee bit of sadness, I put the container back in the freezer and ate just the cookies instead. 

These taste like Snack Wells chocolate chip cookies and contain organic dehydrated cane juice and organic invert sugar.

Sometimes a food brings back wonderful memories.  Tonight, I craved these Sesame Noodles I first made a few years ago when I started getting adventurous in the kitchen.  In fact, this simple recipe is the first things I remember making that I hadn’t seen my mom or grandmother make first.  

Whenever I eat it I remember the first time I made it.  Excuse me while I take a detour down Memory Lane. Mark and I were still in school in Philadelphia and a snow storm was coming, so we set out to get some food at the market.  I wasn’t even sure what scallions were and had to call First Sister and ask if they were the same as green onions. It snowed all night and the next day.  School was cancelled, so Mark and I stayed in the apartment and enjoyed the day.  He played X-box. I read Citizen Girl and The Devil Wears Prada. We watched Columbo. Nothing else to do or worry about. Eating noodles all day long! 

Tonight I added corn and carrots, and in honor of Meatless Month, I swapped the chicken for tofu.  This dish is great hot or cold and only gets better the next day. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s left overs! 

For dessert I had more chocolate froyo.  I love little glasses for ice cream because I can only fit so much in there! 

Running Errands

Today while out I ate a Banana Nut Odwalla Bar.  Odwalla bars are my favorite bar, I think.  Well actually, I love gnu bars, but I can’t find them anywhere in Rhode Island.  This flavor was good and smelled just like banana bread when I opened the package. Almost as good as gnu’s softer Banana Walnut Bar. 

And I also acquired these bad boys for $15 at DSW.  I have noooo idea why these would be 75% off.  Well, I am happy to give them a home.

Mark's gonna love these.

Last week when I visited Mark we got into the habit of walking for 2 or 3 hours every night after dinner. It was a great way to enjoy the summer evenings, catch up and make each other laugh.  Well, this week it was back to reality, which left me missing the walks and the company.  It also left me feeling bored and sluggish about my usual treadmill runs.  Today I really did not feel like running, so I used a trick that always works for me.  I told myself, “Self, just walk for 15 minutes then you can get off if you want.”  Sure enough within minutes I was running and after 15 minutes I was in the groove and kept going for 45 minutes. I mean honestly that trick always works for me and I always feel better and more energetic when I’m done.  Today I was feeling so energetic that I did Jenna @ eatliverun’s ab routine.  I also wanted to do some upper body stuff, but need some ideas.  Anyone know any good upper body exercises? 

On an unrelated note, I also Heart free stuff and already requested my free sample of Oatmeal Crisp cereal here.