Friday, January 15, 2010

Delicious Veggie Eatin'

It is freezing cold in the winter of Wisconsin, this is the time I usually hibernate at my house and never leave. Now that I have a Snuggie I figured a lot of my time would be spent playing Nintendo Wii and the New Super Mario Bros since I absolutely loved playing these types of games when I was a kid! However....
I have been doing phenomenal with my daily work out routines. I really enjoy staying in the house and getting my routine done right in my own living room. Not to mention working out with Jillian Michaels can be great fun!

I had been loading up on the green veggies lately, lots of green beans, broccli, brussel sprouts and my favorite... asparagus. I am also throwing spinach into my soy protein smoothies either pre- or -post workout.
I usually throw 1 banana, handful spinach, handful blueberries, strawberries, 1/2 cup almond milk and 1 scoop of chocolate soy protein powder. I was using up some of  my leftover whey protein that I found in a box (my entire kitchen pantry has been boxed for over a month while my kitchen is being remodeled). I did seem to get stomach aches after drinking the smoothies with the whey protein and I am thinking it's what I am combining into the smoothies or just the WHEY because I have cut all other dairy products out of my diet lately (milk, cheese, butter) so maybe my stomach is telling me something... time to pawn the WHEY onto someone else! :)
I have not been very creative with my eats lately, just throwing some random veggies into the steamer and enjoying them!
Steamed brussel sprouts & broccli w/ baked acorn squash


(packaged mixed greens with walnuts and rasberry vinigrette dressing)




I really enjoy a resturaunt that has a few vegetarian options on their menu and they are right down the block from my work...Sprizzo Gallery Caffe


(hummus veggie sandwich with tommato, green pepper and cucumber on 7 grain bread, with fresh fruit)


The homemade hummus is great and a nice alternative to my traditional SUBWAY lunch!!!

I hope you all are sticking to your 2010 resolutions and getting results! It's hard to keep it going but what better time than now to get into shape, there isn't much going on during the week so that is MY time for myself to work on getting what I want. I like to visualize what my body will look like once I get where I need to be. I want to be shredded & ripped :)
6 pack abs - yes please! Not sure if that is going to happen but hey, a girl can wish... right??


Nichole

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Resolutions & Holiday Recap

Hello! Hoping everyone had a fabulous holiday. It was great to enjoy some time off from work while getting some work done around the home.

Christmas is my favorite holiday! I always go to my Grandparents house on Christmas Eve....




Lots of cooking during the 1 week I was off of work. My favorite was vegetarian "Chicken" Parmesean.
I made 2 pans of this... 1 with real chicken and 1 with "veggie chicken".......... looks like the real thing...

and tastes like the real thing too!

4 cutlets of Quorn "Chicken"
1/4 cup almond milk & 1 egg
Your favorite marinara/spaghetti sauce
Mozzerella cheese
Italian Bread Crumbs, or season yourself
Tablespoon olive oil
Parmesean Cheese

I defrosted the chikn cutlets in some warm water, dipped them in the egg and milk mixture, and covered in bread crumbs. Warm olive oil in skillet add chikn for about 3-4 minutes on each side until brown. Place in baking dish, cover with mozzerella, marinara, and parmesean cheese and more mozzerella if you choose.
Preheat Oven to 400 degrees, bake for 20-25 minutes.

To make vegan, skip the egg and just use the almond/soy etc milk product you choose, and avoid the cheese!


Once of my favorite salads to eat comes from The Rochester Deli in downtown Waukesha.


This salad comes on a bed of greens, with sliced strawberries, candied walnuts, seedless grapes and gorgonzola cheese with a poppyseed vinaigrette dressing. I have always been impressed with the soups and salads coming from this deli.


2010 Resolutions, the same working out, staying in shape, eating healthy still applies. I am still trying to go vegan so I am going to take it meal by meal, day by day and hope for the best!

On Monday, January 4th I did very well with my eating habits, I had this delicious sandwich for lunch...




My Veggie sub from Subway!
6 inch on honey oat, toasted with no cheese
lettuce, tomato, onion, green pepper, spinach with honey mustard

I never get sick of this baby!!!

I snacked on some blue chips and salsa before dinner. Dinner was BLT's. I had Morning Star Bacon with lettuce, tomato and veganaise on Ezekial toast w/ a side of spinach. I guess the "bacon" is not vegan since the first ingredient is egg whites....

I couldn't wait to take a bite!

It has now been a full 12 months since I started being a vegetarian :) In 2010 I am going to strive to cut the fish out of my diet and cheese! I am taking things day by day and see how the changes effect my body. I started working out with the personal trainers on my cable tv on demand, which I am really enjoying right now because of the nasty weather we have been having in Wisconsin. Wish me luck!

Nichole