Smoothie of the Week: Cheaper than a Plane Ticket

How's everyone doing this week? It's been busy busy busy for me! I officially am registered for classes for my Personal Trainer Certification. I am so excited about this one year program because I learn so much better from lectures and doing than from reading a book. This program will be preparing me for multiple certification exams and hands on experience. I absolutely cannot wait! I wish the textbook lists were available already because I'm ready to dive in. My first semester is Anatomical Kinesiology (omg, so excited! I'm always geeking out with my trainers and therapists (massage and PT) about what is doing what, etc), Sports Conditioning and Personal Trainer First Aid & Athletic Training (injury prevention, another passion of mine!).

Anyways, enough geeking out about my nerdy fitness classes. :D On to the smoothie of the week recipe...

Cheaper Than a Plane Ticket Smoothie

This smoothie should temporarily transport you to the beach in Hawaii.

Ingredients

1 cup spinach

1/4 cup pineapple

1/4 cup banana (I love to have bags of sliced frozen bananas in the fridge to thicken smoothies!)

1/4 cup mango

1/2 cup homemade (or not) almond milk

1 packet of Aloha Vanilla Protein Powder

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Blend it up! Make sure at least one ingredient is frozen to have a chilled smoothie. I prefer to use frozen bananas because it really thickens up the smoothie. 

I am testing new protein powders to find one that is less "punch you in the face with sweetness". This one is good so far. It's not paleo or sweetener free, but it is 100% organic, nutrient dense, and stevia free which makes it a much more mild sweet. I also love that it is dairy free because it gives me more flexibility in use. I don't always want a milk flavor in my smoothies. The complaints I'm finding online with this one is the grainy texture, which is a common issue in dairy free protein powders. I didn't find it to be an issue in this thicker smoothie (I used all frozen fruit!), but I could see it being an issue in thinner smoothies or just in a shaker bottle.

Do you have a favorite not crazy sweet protein powder? Share it in the comments! I'd love to give it a shot.

Paleo Laddu

A few years ago, I used to do a paleo (ish) food blog with a good friend of mine. Life happens, so it kinda fell away. I am going to be moving a few of those recipes over here to share with y'all. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup almond flour (I prefer Honeyville) 
• 1/2 cup almond butter 
• 1/8 cup honey (omit if you'd prefer something less sweet) 
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1 tsp lemon zest 
• Splash of lemon juice 
• 4-6 pitted dates (depending on size, about 1/4 cup) 
• 1/2 to 1 tsp ground cardamom (depending on preference) 

To roll in - 

• Pistacho flour 
• Shredded coconut 

Instructions

1. Put ingredients in food processor and run it until it starts to become tacky & you can roll it into balls. 
2. Roll it into balls, about an inch big. 
3. Roll the balls, pressing gently, in a little pistachio flour & shredded coconut. 
4. Chill if necessary or eat immediately.

New Nutrition Facts Labels

I am crazy excited this morning! Why, you say? Well, because Michelle Obama is the bees knees and after years of fighting for new FDA food labeling, a victory has finally occurred! The Nutrition Facts labels you see everyday on your pre-packaged foods are changing. Check it out.

The new fonts and added bolding is awesome, but the truly awesome part? LOOK AT THE ADDED SUGARS. This shows how much sugar the manufacturer added to the product. So many people in our country don't understand how much sugar sneaks in to their every day food choices. I remember when I first cut cane sugar from my diet and would find so many hidden sugars! Just yesterday I was looking at maybe trying a new protein bar for after races and so many had the first ingredient of SUGAR - tapioca syrup, brown rice syrup, cane sugar, honey, you name it. I don't mind a natural sugar every now and then (goodness knows I'm addicted to honey!), but when something already had dates or other dried fruit in it? Yuck. 

Anyways, I'm rambling, but isn't this awesome? Also another major change - look at the nutrient breakdown. Instead of just telling you the percentage, they now have to tell you the actual amounts in the item.

LOVE THIS! Way to go, Michelle Obama and all the others who have been fighting against major food processors like the Sugar Association for years. Your effort is very much appreciated.



Source: The Washington Post 

Gaia Herbs Tumeric Boost

I have to share this RIGHT AWAY because omg omg omg. This stuff is AMAZING. I bought it on a whim from Thrive Market and I am so glad I did.

It is unsweetened. It contains Lemon Balm, Gotu Kola, and of course, turmeric. Turmeric is known for helping out in your body by acting as an anti-inflammatory. I've been taking tablets and eating curry (because, um, yum!), but this is way better. I've had it on its own with milk and tonight in a pear/spinach smoothie and WOW. It is knock your socks off good. When you open up the canister, the kola smell hits you, but the secret ingredient? The prebiotic Vanilla Chai blend! It is the perfect level of spice and is a nice replacement for cinnamon, nutmeg and maca from my smoothie this week. It'll also help keep the flora in your digestive system happy campers!

If you'd rather not shop at Thrive (which you should totally check out too!), you can grab it on Amazon.

I'll be experimenting with an apple recipe soon and let you know how it goes.

Smoothie of the Week: Mister Meg

Ee! So excited to be sharing my first "Smoothie of the Week" recipe. 

This is my favorite way to start the day as I’m generally not SUPER hungry first thing in the morning (along with a cup of tea or coffee!). I then have a “2nd breakfast” (Yes, I am part hobbit.) around 9:30/10 that is high in protein & fat to fuel me through lunch.

How do you start your day? Do you do bulletproof coffee like my husband? Do you love your green smoothie? I’m a huge fan of the recipes in Simple Green Smoothies (grab your own copy!) and because of those two wonderful women, I definitely have a green smoothie habit.  

And now on to the recipe... This recipe is named Mister Meg in honor of my awesome pilates instructor Tom, who loves nutmeg and got harassed about it. No one should get harassed about nutmeg. Nutmeg rocks.

Mister Meg (single serve Ninja blender size cup)

1-2 cups of spinach - do what you like. I like about 1.5 cups.

¾ of a pear (I always give the extra to the kids. ;))

¼ tsp of nutmeg

1 tsp of cinnamon

¾ tsp maca root powder

1 TB chia seeds

½ TB golden flax meal

½ TB of coconut oil
1 scoop collagen (this is the kind I use)

Water or coconut water to desired density - I do 1/2 cup, but I like a slightly thicker smoothie. If it doesn’t blend well, add more.

Now, you know your blender better than I do. For me, I just throw this in my single serve Ninja and let it rip. Some blenders work better by doing the water & greens first then the additional ingredients.

Welcome!

I am so excited to be launching this blog, you guys. I miss blogging and I have become so passionate about fitness & nutrition & want to share the things I've learned on my journey to being the best me I can be.

What can you expect to find here? Well, a geek being a geek rambling about geeky things and fitness. Yup. Pretty much sums it up. I'll be sharing some of your standard fitness fare (exercises, reviews of tools/equipment, recipes that I've made up or just have to share, etc), but all with a geeky twist. I am who I am and not only am I a geek for sci fi, fantasy, etc, but I try to incorporate this love into my fitness apparel and the races I do.

So, thanks for joining me on my journey. Happy to have you along for the ride! And a major thanks to Talia for the fantastic art in my blog header. :D YOU ROCK.