Training and Tea Trials

Training for my new job + grad classes starting up again for the summer session has resulted in my neglectfulness of my virtual soapbox here. Apox upon me! Even now I only have a few minutes in my University library before class to log a quickie post about my new foodie-type fascination - bulk loose tea.

Working in the natural foods section of my awesome grocer/employer, I am responsible for the maintenance of the impressive section of bulk tea bins. Recently, I had to weigh each tin's contents for inventory purposes, and then re-order each, if necessary.  This required me to open each tin for the first time.  I did so, and with each bin of tea there came a wave of unique and delicious aromas, over and over.. Chocolate chai (with big hunks of real chocolate!), Blueberry Rooibos (chock full o' dried blueberries), Peach White tea (with dried peach slices), Mandarin Sencha, etc etc.. Wow.  I made a mission to try a new loose tea each day to educate my tastebuds and my brain so I can provide "knowledge-base service" to my customers.  Not only did I get out of bed a little quicker this week (especially on "chocolate chai day" - wow, by the way..) but I found a whole new world of low-cal treats!

Caution: "Miracle Foods" Ahead

It's my first opportunity to bring some good nuggets o' knowledge from my new natural foods workplace to the pages of my blog.. hooray!  Working with the public is very educational.  Topic of the day?  So-called miracle fruits and/or foods.  Yesterday, on a few separate occasions, customers came by asking for items that they couldn't even pronounce.. magazine article in hand - literally pointing to the name of an item and wanting it.. not knowing if it was a juice, or a snackfood, or a supplement.. they just want it!  Now!

I'm always wary of food fads.  On behalf of your dignity, emotions, and your wallet, I beg you to also be wary.  These are some cautionary signs that signal to me to get out my skepticism boots and ask: 'is this food sounding more like a "miracle fruit/food" whose healthful qualities may in fact be all, or at least over-dramatized, hype?'  Here are my red flags:

Have Job, Need Food

Woooooooo doggie.  Today was my very first day at the new job - I am BEAT!  But relieved/excited/proud.  Wow.. I was in training for my department, the natural foods section, all day today and I literally only sat down once for ten minutes in 8 hours.. not used to that, Muscle & Fitness training and all!  New-job-training is always tiring - learning new methods and terminology and inevitably having "I'm new and therefore I am stupid" moments.  But, happily, everyone - even higher-up-type dudes - were very very friendly and the day went quickly. 

The highlights of my day?  Explaining organic foods to customers!  I got asked 4 separate times about quinoa - where is it, and more importantly, what the hell is it and why is every fitness magazine telling me to buy it?  (Shall I write a post about quinoa?  Surely there must be a detailed account of the fab grain on the internets of knowledge somewhere.. ahh yes... here's one.)  These types of questions are, as you know by now, right up my alley, and I was happy as a pig in you-know-what to be able to help and share my obsession passion.

Least favorite part of my day?  Being hungry!  Oof.. One 30-minute lunch break (20 minutes of which was taken up standing in line for a salad) and one ten-minute break that I didn't know I would get and thus was caught unawares and foodless.  My attention span waxed and waned throughout the day due to hunger pangs - and that's not good!  If I'm waking up at 5 am and don't have a break until 10, I need to figure something out pronto.

First thing I did when I got home? (after I banged out my Muscle & Fitness Transformation Challenge workout of course - goals, people!)  Meal prep.  Here's my plan..

Pesto-Turkey Meatballs

Hooray for balls!  Hehe.. Couldn't help myself.  My friend Colleen and her hubby hosted an awesome BBQ party recently, and I brought my favorite homemade turkey meatballs with basil for an hors d'oeurve.  I was very complimented by her rave reviews (and she makes an amazing healthed-up buffalo chicken salad! I think I will snag her recipe and post it here soon if she'll let me.) and she just asked for my recipe.  I was happy to oblige and emailed my recipe right over, and thought I'd post it here for you fine people as well!  These yummy meatballs are low in calories and high in protein and flavor, and very versatile.  You could serve them alone with toothpicks and a dipping sauce, mix them in with marinara sauce, in a mushroom sauce atop some high-fiber noodles, in hoagies, or tossed into an escarole soup.  I'm literally getting hungry as I'm typing this.. I better get on with it so I can get dinner cooking!

Grocery Trip Tips

Ahhh vacation.. well, stay-cation.  I tweaked my schedule so that I can enjoy a few mellow days at home between quitting work for my brother and starting training for my new job.  I'm eating like a champ, exercising my way through M&F Hers workouts, and finally getting around to procrastinated laundry and assorted to-do's.  But first things first, and with me, that means food!

I just got home from a nice little grocery outing at Trader Joe's.  Last week I spent only $40 on my clean eats and today I was right around the $45 mark.  Not too shabby!  Especially considering the nutrient quality of the foods I chose, and the price comparison with my 'regular' grocery shopping, which usually totals about $70 per week for me (Perhaps I should make a permanent change).  Though I'm only shopping for myself, I uncovered 2 blog-worthy tips for healthy grocery shopping that I think are pretty universal.

The Physical Challenge, just like Double Dare

One year ago at this very moment, my sister-in-law and I were running at the beach in New Jersy for our first half-marathon together.  Racing crowds are so energetic and positive.  As I finished the race, I damn near burst into tears.  Definitely a triumphant day!  Reminiscing got me thinking about what I'm working toward now when it comes to healthy eating and exercise.  I currently work with educating people about natural foods, and I'm working toward my Registered Dietician's exam, ultimately landing me in a position to help a lot of people modify their eating habits.  Awesome. 

But how about exercise-and training-wise?  Yes, I'm always striving for more comfort in that adorable bikini in my drawer - and that is getting to be a stronger motivation every day we inch closer to summer weather.  But wow did that half-marathon feel good.  Crossing that finish line let me leave a lot of crappy self-esteem issues in my dust.  My sister-in-law has since finished a full marathon and another half.  Ed and Dr. Ben are in training for the Half-Ironman in August.  (I'm surrounded by impressive people!)  If you haven't tried a race yet, sign up for one.  You won't regret it.  I considered another race myself, and I'm pondering running the Philly Half in September.  While I consider running-based training again, I've found a challenge that really excites me.  The Transformation Challenge, endorsed by my favorite IFBB competitor Nicole Wilkins Lee.

Notes on my Clean Menu du jour

I hope everyone's finishing up a good weekend!  A reader asked me about the kinds of meals I'm eating through this clean adventure o' mine - good question!  Your wish is my command.  But firstly, this whole plan wouldn't work as well if I didn't have such a clear, simple food log.  There's a super easy way to track your macros - I champion (yet again) using Livestrong's My Plate. It doesn't get easier than that, and it's how I custom-tailor and track my daily intake.  OK, off my soapbox and onto my meals.

Ideally, I would sit down and plan entire days so each meal/snack worked with each other meal/snack to comprise my 'perfect' macronutrient day.  When I say perfect, I mean around 45% protein, 35% carbs, and about 20% fat, roughly.  This is different for everyone. You have to see what works for you and what doesn't.  Over the past 3 years I've gained a lot of knowledge and been through the gamut of combinations.  I know from experience that these percentages will get me what I want in terms of energy and fat loss.  Maybe they would work for you as well, and I'm happy to share my insights on the matter.