Thank you for all of the encouraging comments about my desire for direction in my life and with my blog. I thought about what ya’ll had to say; since blogging is still a young hobby in my life, I feel like all I can do at the moment is keep putting one foot post in front of the other. Good things come with persistence, practice, and patience…

So… what have I been eating lately?

Steel Cut Oats

Apple Raisin Walnut Honey

Banana Brown Sugar Coconut Pecan

Do you see why I loveee mornings so so much? I go to bed dreaming about diving into another bowl of creamy, chewy, healthy steel cut oats… so maybe it’s a tad weird, but that’s how foodies roll, right?

Sweet Potatoes

The other night when I realized I had all four of the ingredients to make Caitlin’s Sweet Tater + Black Beans Balls, I got super excited. They were ridiculously easy to prepare, and ridiculously delicious to eat.

Sweet Tater + Black Bean Balls

• 1/2 sweet potato, mashed
• 1/2 c. black beans, rinsed + drained
• 3 T organic medium-heat salsa
• ground flax

To cook the potato, pierce with a fork and then microwave for appox. 6 minutes until tender. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350*. Combine the mashed potato, black beans, and salsa in a small bowl. Roll into balls [should make between 6-8]. Spread the flax onto a flat surface and roll each ball in the seeds, to coat. Place on a greased baking sheet + let cook for about 20-30 minutes, depending on size. Enjoy with sour cream or Greek yogurt – yum!

Salads

After the sweatiest 1-hour spin class tonight + 1/2-mile jog, I came home stoked for sweet taters: round 2. I’ve made renditions of this salad quite a few times before, substituting the potatoes for squash, and either way, it’s quite the taste bud pleaser.

To make: Peel 1 large sweet tater + chop into bite-sized pieces. Place in a small bowl, drizzle with real maple syrup, ground flax, cinnamon + coarse sea salt. Mix to coat. Spray baking sheet with chlorofluorocarbon free canola [or olive] oil and bake in a preheated 350* for appox. 30 minutes. Then place your hot taters atop a hefty portion of organic spinach, creamy avocado, chevre, and red onion. Finish it off with a drizzle of olive oil + balsamic and fresh black pepper.

* * *

So… what have I been doing lately? Well, let’s see… soakin’ up the sun + sweating a ton!

I may be a California girl, but that does not mean I’m necessarily a summer/sun lovin’ girl. Perhaps a shock to some, but my body was raised in a climate that rarely exceeds 60* F, where rain is the norm most of the year, blue sky is received with a celebration, and you wear your winter coat to the windy beach.

circa 2007

That’s to say, I don’t know what to do with myself when I wake up in the morning to an apartment that’s a whopping 82*! So far I’ve figured out to stock my fridge with a huge pitcher of ice-cold green tea… and forget about doing laundry; there’s no way I’m putting on any real clothes – swim suit + shorts is all I need.

Hope your week is off to a spectacular start!

With much appreciation,

The Nutrition Nut

Humboldt County Readers: If ya’ll would like anything from the beloved Trader Joe’s, let me know by tomorrow night. I’d be happy to pick up your favorite product for you : )

& apple

…just one of those food couples that are meant to be together.

Wow, Wednesday’s already come and gone. It’s all downhill to Spring Break from here!

Being the foodie that I am, I decided last night what I wanted to have for breakfast today…which was a waffle sandwich in honor of Waffle Wednesday! My taste buds were woken up on the right side of the bed today – holy yum!

2 Van’s Multigrain Waffles [Toasted] + PB&Co Bee’s Knees, 1/2 banana & Honey

…plus a jam jar of 1% milk

I packed a sampling of snacks for my long day at school – it was the perfect variety.

Apricot & Almond Element Bar

Dried Apricots + Dark Chocolate Almonds [6 each]

Carrot & Cucumber

1/2 Apple + Sharp White Cheddar

It was absolutely gorgeous weather today, so between my two sets of classes I took a stroll in the sunshine to Starbucks to redeem my free beverage coupon.

I nibbled on my Element Bar while sipping on my decaf – extra foam – latte. I know I tell ya every time, but these bars always dominate my hunger! I got through the rest of the day – no problem.

I then wandered around my lovely campus, capturing any slight signs of Spring.

Move It In March

Today’s trip to The Resort included…

3.25-mile treadmill run:

• 5 minutes @ 6.2mph
• 5 minutes @ 6.4mph [2.0 incline]
• 10 minutes @ 6.8mph [1.0 incline]
• 5 minutes @ 6.4mph [2.0 incline]
• 5 minutes @ 6.2mph

1.5-mile indoor track run [7:14/6:12 negative split]

5.25-mile ride [15-minute spin]

Almost forgot…I finally did some strength training today too, including: lunges, squats, side dips and bicep curls.

***

I want to give a shoutout to all the RDs today in honor of National Registered Dietitian’s Day! Your hard work is appreciated.

Hope you had a wonderful Wednesday. Talk soon!

Hillary

I felt like Plain Jane in the rain today. Darn rain…I’m ready for Spring already. At least I have my bright bowls to help cheer things up a bit.

Yellow Bowl Take 1

1 cup water, 2/3 cup rolled oats, 1/2 banana (cooked Kath style), 1 T ground flax, 1 T walnuts, 1/3 cup almond milk & cinnamon

Clean

Can you see my reflection?

Yellow Bowl Take 2

Low-Fat Cottage Cheese, 1/4 Avocado, Cucumber, Tomato & Fresh Pepper…for the 100th time.

Simple School Snack

Apple & Almond Butter…as if you couldn’t tell.

Dinner

Toasted English Muffin, Veggie Burger, 1/4 Mashed Avocado & Greens served on a plain white paper towel.

***

Between Simple School Snack and Dinner, I played around at The Resort:

• RUN – 1.5 miles
• WALK – 0.5 miles
• ZUMBA – 1 hour
• 3 x 20 stability ball crunches

***

Your Questions Answered

Shelley asked:

1) What is your favorite part of college? What do you want to do after college?

I love college for a lot of reasons. I have attended two different universities and they have each given me two totally different, yet wonderful experiences. I loved living on campus my first two years of college and the lasting friendships that I made with my roommates. I also enjoy the independence that I’ve gained while living away from home. I do not know exactly what I want to do after college (in terms of a specific job), but I am 98% positive I want it to incorporate food & writing. I’d also love to travel around Europe after graduation.

2) How do you feel about going out on weekends & drinking?

3) When did you become interested in health?

Thank you all for your questions. I will be answering more of your questions soon, but I need to take care of this tired body and achy head…

Night,

~ Hillary

It’s almost that time again…time for my 2 hours of trash TV for the week. You can give me all the crap you want about watching The Bachelor, but it’s one of my guilty pleasures. Before ogling over the stud of a bachelor for the rest of the night, let me inform you about today’s eats.

Lunch = leftovers…a slice of savory pie + 1/2 an apple.

Snacks =

1. handful of bittersweet chocolate chips + 12 oz. non fat latte
2. 1/2 cup o% Oikos, 1/2 banana & granola

Dinner = sushi…oh, how I’ll miss you Tempura Roll.

I finally remembered to order my roll with brown rice tonight – nice ‘n’ nutty.

[Insert Chocolove - 65% cocoa- dark chocolate here.]

Ok, that’s it. The show has started and I want to give it my full attention : )

What are your guilty pleasures – TV, food…?

~ Hillary

Today consisted of going from one meal to the next…story of my life, right? I met my mom at Renata’s Creperie on her lunch break. I had no room in my belly for a crepe, since I had practically eaten breakfast moments ago, but I found a little room for salad (my mom had the same).

What a fun plate!

- mixed greens, onion, carrot, feta & sunflower seeds + a dijon vinaigrette –

I snacked on 3/4 of this apple with cinnamon (holy yum!) before meeting my girlfriends for coffee.

Next it was to Cafe Brio to hang with my friend Hannah one final time before she flew South to go home. I had a lovely soy latte and chocolate walnut brownie bite – isn’t it cute?

Not long after that (we met at 4:00pm), I was thinking about what to make for dinner. The girls were talking about making homemade pizza for dinner, so I decided to copy their idea.

This doesn’t deserve any thrill of excitement.

• Alvarado Street Bakery California Style Pizza Bread with local basil pesto, tomato, red onion, ricotta & parm
• lettuce, tomato, avocado, cucumber with olive oil & seasoned rice vinegar + fresh pepper

Already thinking about tomorrow’s eats. I tell ya, food is on my mind 24/7. I have to decide on a dessert recipe for another get-together manana. Got it…gingerbread!

Until tomorrow,

Your FOODIE on the Run

I’m convinced it’s Saturday. Everything tells me so…

1) My mom made a huge breakfast this morning before my brother had to catch his flight home to Montana. See ya in May, bro! My mom’s best meal is breakfast by far.

(Veggie Frittata – Potato, Zucchini, Tomato, Scallions & Cheese)

Morning Glory Muffins – Apple, Carrot, Pecans & Coconut

Tropical Papaya & Kiwi with Lime

Thanks, Mom!

2) I’m still in my PJs @ 2:30pm.

3) I haven’t showered or exercised!

4) I’ve done nothing notably productive.

5) Colbie Caillat & Amos Lee are keeping me company on this dreary, wet day.

Hoping to squeeze in another 40 on the treadmill and then get ready for my “date night” with Court!

***

Don’t miss out:

My 1st GIVEAWAY!

My 10 GOALS for 2010

See you next year decade!

~ Hillary

]]> http://www.nutritionnutontherun.com/2009/12/31/an-endless-saturday-morning/feed/ 0 http://www.nutritionnutontherun.com/2009/12/29/back-to-basics/ http://www.nutritionnutontherun.com/2009/12/29/back-to-basics/#comments Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:16:31 +0000 Hillary http://nutritionnut.wordpress.com/?p=931

Mornin’!

After an event-FULL holiday week, I was ready for a simple bowl of oats for breakfast. No more huge brunches please : )

• 1 cup H20
• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 apple
• walnuts
• cinnamon & honey
• splash of low-fat milk

Today is nothing but cleaning, errands & blogging. Speaking of…

FOLLOW ME on TWITTER @ HILLontherun

To a tasty Tuesday,

~ Hillary

Last night as I was flipping through a couple of recipe books in bed – that’s my kind of bedtime reading – I decided that I wanted to bake a batch of muffins. This rain is ideal baking weather, and I haven’t done much in the way of cooking/baking lately. So…my mission was to find a recipe that I had the ingredients for, most of ‘em anyway. Mission accomplished: Carrot Raisin Bran Muffins

After hitting my snooze button and sleeping an extra hour and a half, I rolled out of bed and headed straight to the kitchen. I cut the recipe in half to make 12 muffins, and made a couple other adjustments as well. They turned out wonderful, but a little on the sugary side for breakfast.

I will not bake muffins without these paper liners. They are the best thing that has happened to me, baking wise : )

Clean, crumb-free paper…my point exactly!

I paired my muffin with tangy cinnamon apple sauce – nom nom.

I am locking myself in the library for a couple hours today (no computer allowed), and hopefully fitting in some physical activity as well.

Let the 12 Days of Christmas begin…

~ Hillary

Let’s just say today could not have been a more perfect Sunday at home with my family. After breakfast I headed out to Redwood Roots Farm with my aunt and stomped around through the muddy crops, filling our bucket with whatever vegetables our hearts desired. With more lettuces and leafy greens than a turtle could dream of, we said goodbye to the farm cats and meandered down the street to an indie craft fair, bustling with Humboldt hippies.

I met up with my mom, and after a little grocery shopping, we came home and I made a latte with Pumpkin Spice soy milk, a seasonal Silk flavor. Thick foam and cinnamon on top…yum yum.

I picked some apples from the tree outside with the nifty fruit picker and then got to work in the kitchen making Butternut Harvest Loaves (see recipe page). The loaves are bursting with homemade butternut squash puree, pumpkin seeds, walnuts and pecans. I am so anxious to toast a piece in the morning.

Hmmm…I wonder what’s for dinner? More squash of course! My mom made a gorgeous savory galette with roasted butternut squash, chard, shallots, garlic and sage, and a sprinkling of fresh parmesan. My dad made a very colorful salad to go alongside. There were magnificent aromas coming from the oven all afternoon.

Morning run with friends, veggie harvesting, craft fair, apple picking, bread baking, dinner with the parents…I couldn’t have imagined a better way to spend the day.

Night,

~ Hillary