I wanted to write this post last night, but my body clock is completely different since being home; in other words, I am exhausted by 10:00pm. I slept for 12 hours last night– yikes! I guess it was resting-up for my birthday week!

Anyway, there were a lot of great eats yesterday. I enjoyed going shopping at our local co-op – it’s seriously a health nut’s heaven; I came home with two full bags of organic goodies. After unloading, I dove straight into a 2% Fage with organic blueberries, our neighbor’s raspberries ,and a drizzle of organic agave – it won a blue ribbon for “Snack of the Day”.

Next, I dove into another new find. I think this is my new favorite Chocolove flavor – love love love!

What’s your favorite?

I couldn’t resist this at the market. Ya’ll know how I love my green tea. This is was super strong, but at only 6 ounces, I guzzled it all. I could almost taste the antioxidants ; )

Catechins are powerful antioxidants in green tea that help maintain a healthy heart and neutralize cell-damaging free radicals.

I was in charge of making Sunday Family Dinner…

Appetizer

Local Herbed Boule, Local Chevre & Organic Green Grapes

Award-winning Purple Haze: the perfect mixture of lavender and fennel pollen gives this cheese a sweet flavor that plays off the acidity in the cheese for a delightful complement.

Dinner

Arugula, Gorgonzola & Walnut Whole Wheat Pasta

[original recipe @ How Sweet It Is]

In a medium pot, bring water to a boil. Cook 1 lb. of whole wheat pasta of your choice until al dente. Meanwhile, in a large skillet sauté 2-3 cloves of garlic in 2-3T of olive oil. Add 3-4 c. of fresh arugula and stir until wilted. Drain pasta, add arugula mixture, a couple additional tablespoons of olive oil, 1/2 c. of crumbled gorgonzola, and a couple handfuls of toasted chopped walnuts. Combine thoroughly, then finish with a sprinkling of freshly-grated hard cheese [parmesan, asiago, etc.] – enjoy! Serves 4.

We also enjoyed a colorful salad full of homegrown lettuces, organic avocado, tomato, red onion, chive flowers, orange-infused olive oil & balsamic.

My Plate

Dessert

Chocolate Strawberry Scone Cake

Just wait!

You learn something new every day. Sure, I might have learned a thing or two in Organic Chemistry at this morning’s lecture and about eggs this afternoon in Elementary Foods…but what I’m most excited about is finally getting clued in on Marathon Monday! As a runner, you’d think this would have been second knowledge, but I did not know that the Boston Marathon is the only marathon held on a Monday. Thus, the special weekday event is given a global title! Thank you, Skinny Runner, for finally filling me in : )

I am still in awe that the first man to cross the finish line today came in just a minute shy of my first half-marathon time – how is that humanly possible!?! I’d love to travel to Boston in April just to be a spectator of Marathon Monday – how fun and inspirational!

In honor of Running Tuesday Monday, I ran my own little ‘race’…against myself…on the treadmill:

6 min. @ 6.2mph

4 min. @ 6.6mph

6 min. @ 6.4mph

4 min. @ 6.8mph

[repeat entire set @ 2.0 incline]

Total: 40 min./4.3 mi.

+ abs, arms and leg conditioning – whoopie!

* * *

My fresh food supply is just about extinct. I feel like I just made a big grocery trip, but alas…I’ll be hitting up TJ’s tomorrow. Almost zero produce and NO dairy – yikes! So, that meant slim pickings for dinner tonight. I almost always have a purple [tie-dye] box for such emergency purposes. I couldn’t resist this adorable box when I saw it at the store last Tuesday: organic, peace pasta. That says Hippy Hill all over it, can’t you see?

Luckily I still had a bag of frozen peas to add color and avocado, cucumber & tomatoes to make a veggie parfait. Simple does it best!

Any guesses at what tonight’s photography backdrop might have been?

…my jeans! I was going for the groovy theme : )

Trying to resist my after-dinner sweet tooth…

Peace + Love,

Hippy Hillary

QUESTION: What would you like to see on Nutrition Nut on the Run?

(a) more nutrition info.

(b) more daily eats & recipes

(c) other: ______

Hey Guys! I’ve got a little gift for you tonight: pictures! I know I’ve been a slacker lately – the photos I have taken are barely passing quality – but I think I deserve an A for effort today : )

Breakfast #1

3/4 cup Raisin Bran, 1/4 cup Cheery Cherry Almond Granola, 1/2 Banana & 3/4 cup Almond Milk

Breakfast #2

Whole Wheat Toast + PB + [other] 1/2 Banana

Snacks

I packed a couple snacks to eat after my 3 hour lab. I didn’t pack a whole lot since I planned to exercise post-class.

Back to Nature Multigrain Flax Seeded Flatbread Crackers [that’s a mouthful] + my daddy’s homemade hummus & a carrot

Dried Apricots + Dark Chocolate Almonds [6 ea.]

After 3 painful hours of Infrared Spectroscopy – don’t even ask me what that is – I sat outside in the sunshine and savored my snacks. I still had quite a bit of steam to burn off from my overwhelming class, so I threw my books into a locker at the gym and kicked up my heals. I didn’t run for very long [appox. 36 minutes], but I started to feel like my freckly face was getting pink from the radiant rays. It was just enough time to sweat out some of my stress. Running cures all. I finished up with a little conditioning…but should have done more.

While I waited for the bus, I grabbed a smoothie from Jamba. I tried one of their new all-fruit creations: the Five Fruit Frenzy. It was tasty, but nothing I’m anxious to have again. I’d much rather make my own mix…with spinach!

Appetizer

Buttery Smooth Heart-Healthy Monounsaturated Fat [a.k.a. 1/2 Avocado]

Dinner

I traded in my boring plain penne rigate for a more exciting option:

The garlic and basil flavors add a lot to a simple dish. I sautéed a few cherry tomatoes in olive oil with garlic and red onion, tossed the al dente pasta in the skillet with the tomatoes, sprinkled in a little chevre & parm, and poured all that over fresh baby spinach – voila…dinner.

Dessert

…fooled ya! I actually did not eat any Chocolove today, but wanted to show you my new finds:

1. Coffee Crunch! My mom brought their new flavor to my attention as she knows coffee/espresso & dark chocolate sits high on my totem pole of favorite flavors – yummm.

2. MINI Chocolove Bars! How cute, right?

***

There ya have it…I finally managed to show you a day of all my eats…well, 90% of them. What can I say, this girl can eat! I have my very important ServSafe Certification Exam tomorrow. I am actually being recertified. I will be disappointed if I receive a lower score the second time around. [I dominated the test in 2007 with a 95%]. The pressure is on!

Hope you have a happy Hump Day tomorrow!

Hillary

Yes, that would be a Lean Cuisine. Don’t judge. These were on sale last weekend, and I couldn’t resist. I am not one to eat frozen meals all the time, clearly, but I knew it would come in handy after a long week day. Today was that day. I didn’t end up eating dinner until 8:30pm — whoopsie!

My day was a little hectic, but thankfully flew by! I had a half-caff iced latte around 3:00pm which made me bounce off the wall! I was seriously tweaking out in class and could hardly wait to exert all my energy at the g.y.m. I rushed to The Resort just in time for 1 hour of Zumba. Oh, boy…I think I looked like a 3-year-old on speed. Since an hour of cardio dance wasn’t enough, I then ran on the treadmill for 30 [10 minutes ea. @ 6.0 (2.0 incline ), 6.2 & 6.4mph].

I apologize for the lamest post of all time, but my life is no Harry Potter or Twilight story. Going to listen to Colbie in preparation for tomorrow’s concert – woot woot – and enjoy a cup of green tea…

Later, guys!

Happy MARCH!

Wow, Spring is just around the corner…20 days away, in fact! I think Spring is actually my least favorite of the four seasons, but if it means I am getting closer to completing another semester of college and never having to open my Organic Chemistry book again, then it couldn’t come sooner.

I always love it when the first day of month falls on a Monday because I use it as a marker to set new goals for myself. I already have a list of 10 goals I am aiming to accomplish in 2010, but I figured adding an extra challenge couldn’t hurt.

For the month of March, I want to challenge myself to MOVE as much as possible! I know I am already pretty good at fitting in my physical activity, but I think there is room for more. I’m young, healthy, and injury-free…why not? I will be recording my workouts – including the distance & duration – on my Running Page. Feel free to join me by moving your muscles more this month too!

My Monday schedule is tight – leaving very little time to exercise – but I did want to publicize that I had a glorious 50-minute run in the sunshine yesterday afternoon. I must get moving; after all, my race is two weeks away!

***

Monday’s Munches

Breakfast was cold cereal.

Raisin Bran, Humboldt Honey Granola, Banana & Organic Almond Milk in every bite!

Today’s school snacks reminded me of a Harry & David Box:

raw veggies + dried apricots & dark chocolate almonds + 1/2 of a d’anjou pear

Annie’s Whole Wheat Shells (a first for me) & White Cheddar…with peas and real buttah.

Organic Romaine, Avocado, Cucumber, Carrot, Red Onion & Low-Fat Parmesan Ranch

It was a perfect medley. I’m a fan of the whole wheat pasta, too : )

[No, I didn't eat in bed in case you were curious. It was just for photography sake.]

***

Alright, well I bet 96% of you can guess where I’m rushing off to next: The Bachelor Finale – hello! Hope your month began on a bright note!

Hasta la proxima,

~ Hillary

If you missed the memo, my recipe is featured on Green Monster Movement!

Hey hey! Monday, oh Monday…what’s your opinion about the often dreaded day of the week? I don’t mind it so much, as I always think of it as a fresh start – to eat mindfully, to erase any negative thoughts, and to make the most out of another week of life : )

I got super excited last night thinking about today’s breakfast; yet, it ended up being bittersweet.

Greek + LAST of my Humboldt Honey Granola (tear) + 1/2 Banana + 1 T Raisins

I tell ya, I did not want this yogurt ecstasy to end!

***

School was school…minus 1. My last class of the day was cancelled – hooray! I hurried home for an afternoon snack.

Whole Wheat Toast with PB&Co Bee’s Knees & 1/2 Banana

***

With a couple extra hours on my hands, I had to figure out my plan of attack for the rest of the night. Since the semester began, Mondays haven’t included exercise; however, I didn’t have a good excuse not to fit in something today:

Mini Monday Moves

Treadmill

0-5 min: 3.5mph @ 5.0

5-10 min: 4.0mph @ 5.0

10-20 min: 6.0mph @ 2.5

20-25 min: 4.0mph @ 5.0

25-30 min: 3.5mph @ 5.0

***

Dinner looks familiar, doesn’t it? You’re seeing leftovers…that’s why.

1 Huge Handful of Fresh Spinach, Avocado, Tomato, Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Marinara…drizzled with Balsamic

I know some like to keep their salad separate from the rest of their meal, but I’m clearly not one of those people. I’ll eat salad any way, any day!

Homework (a.k.a. The Bachelor – hometown dates!)…

Peace out,

~ Hillary

Question: Anyone know of excess flax causing stomach issues? It’s either that, or I’ve been hitting the fiber too hard. Ok…TMI : )

Howdy! Hope you had a relaxing Sunday – it is supposed to be a day of rest, ya know. All I can say is that I am much chipper today than yesterday and I know exactly why that is…RUNNING.

Although I accidently slept in again today, a repeat of yesterday’s breakfast and a little Food Network cheered me right up. By the time the gym opened (at the inconvenient hour of noon), sunshine was seeping through my windows and I knew today was not a day to be inside a gym. Nonetheless, I drove to campus, threw my belongings into a locker, and walked right back out the gym doors into sunshine and blue skies. I was a happy girl : )

I didn’t remember to bring my running watch, but that wasn’t stopping me. I turned on my tunes and just ran…for about 30-35 minutes. It was entirely random, and extremely refreshing. You just can’t get the same running high from running around the inside of a gym. I polished off my workout with the following:

• 5 minutes erg (rowing machine)
• 2 x 15 lat pulldown @ 40lbs.
• 2 x 15 seated row @ 40lbs.
• 15 tricep dips
• 15 side dips each side @ 10lbs.
• 15 lunges each leg @ 10lbs.
• 3 x 15 squats @ 10lbs.

Lunch

Low-Fat Cottage Cheese, Avocado, Cucumber, Tomato, 1/2 T Ground Flax, and remaining Multigrain Chips

It was definitely a day for an iced (low-fat) latte. I stopped at the Starbucks down the street before hitting up Target for TP — always a necessity. By the way, Target during the Super Bowl = bliss!

Look at that sky : )

I then finished putting together my giveaway for Friday. Aren’t you excited?

Dinner

TJ’s Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli with TJ’s Traditional Marinara

Spinach Salad with Avocado, Chevre, Tomato, Fresh Pepper & Balsamic Vinegar

Dessert

TJ’s 71% Cocoa Swiss Dark Chocolate

***

What I’m looking forward to this week:

1. Watching The Bachelor with my roomies
2. Seeing Valentine’s Day (the movie)
3. Having a 4-day weekend
4. …including Tasha’s visit!

***

Happy 21st Birthday, Court!

Hey there. Hope your weekend was a good one. I’m still in denial that today was my last day of freedom from homework until mid-May! My 5-week-long recess is over.

After a relaxing, quiet morning unpacking & organizing, I made myself a Green Monster for lunch before heading to campus to play at the indoor playground (also known as the g.y.m.).

1/2 banana, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1 cup fresh spinach

+ 1/4 cup Humboldt Honey Granola

There was a bunch of new “jungle gym” equipment, including 10-15 more cardio machines – there is certainly plenty for all us gym monkeys to play with.

Today’s play date included:

Cardio

• 30 minutes Elliptical (10 minutes each at incline 5, 10 & 15 @ resistance 5)
• 1.5 miles interval running around indoor track

Conditioning

• 20 lat pulldowns @ 40lbs.
• 20 seated rows @ 40lbs.
• 20 glute presses (each leg) @ 40lbs.
• 2 x 15 squats @ 15lbs.
• 45 bicep curls @ 15lbs.
• 15 “pull weights to chin” @ 15lbs.
• 15 tricep dips

Sweaty and pink-cheeked, I went to Target for my “odds & ends shopping”, and resisted stopping by Starbucks for a warm pick-me-up. Instead, I saved a few extra dollars and made myself a soy cafe au lait in my own kitchen, courtesy of my new Aerolatte milk frother. If you’re curious, a cafe au lait (or misto at Starbucks) is made with coffee, while a latte is made with espresso. Unfortunately, I do not have an espresso maker; hence the not as gourmet beverage.

***

I had an early dinner tonight of leftover pesto pasta:

I can sense there will most likely be some snacking later tonight. Not too late though…it’s a school night! ; )

~ Hillary

Hi Hi Hi!

I’ve missed ya’ll very much these past 36 hours. Every hour in real life is like a month in blog world, wouldn’t you agree? Unfortunately, I don’t have 36 hours of material to make up for my absence (ha…school must be around the corner). I’ll admit it, I am a terrible traveling food blogger. Of course I thought about whipping out my camera and snapping a few pictures, but it just didn’t happen…except during the final stretch of my drive today when I was incredibly bored.

The pretty blue sky was just a tease. I think the storm is sticking around for a while longer.

After unloading my entire car, putting a few items away in their places, and looking through 5 weeks of mail (hello, Christmas cards), I hopped back into my car and headed to the health food sanctuary I’ve missed ever so much – Trader Joe’s! I was so excited to not have to spend a penny out of my own wallet this trip – thank you gift cards. My kitchen is now restocked with the TJ’s usuals, and ready for college “on the run” cooking.

Dinner tonight was pesto pasta:

penne rigate with pesto (locally made in HumCo), organic greens (they’re buried underneath the mound of pasta) and tomatoes, creamy chevre & fresh pepper

…and for dessert:

a homemade (by my mama) espresso cookie & piece of TJ’s Swiss 71% Cocoa Dark Chocolate

Chocolate + Coffee = A Happy Hillary

Well, tomorrow is my final day of Winter Break. I have so much I want to get done before classes start, and I have to tackle 5 new syllabi.

Sunday:

- finishing unpacking

- assemble my new bookshelf

- work up a sweat at the indoor playground

- print syllabi & organize school materials

- odds & ends shopping

- catch up with my roomies : )

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend,

~ Hillary

]]> http://www.nutritionnutontherun.com/2010/01/23/back-to-college-i-go/feed/ 0 http://www.nutritionnutontherun.com/2010/01/13/live-laugh-eat-chocolate/ http://www.nutritionnutontherun.com/2010/01/13/live-laugh-eat-chocolate/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:03:50 +0000 Hillary http://nutritionnut.wordpress.com/?p=1157

Warning: You are about to read another “under the influence (of chocolate)” post.

I just zoomed home with my car stereo blasting from a fabulous night with my girls. The effect chocolate has on me is quite hilarious. Anyway, it was awesome to hangout at my friend Shannon’s cozy house with all my gals, eating (too much) fantastic food, playing with her adorable 1 1/2-year-old, and laughing a lot : )

There was a spread of appetizers, including these darling dates:

Shannon made a great salad to go along with our comforting broccoli baked pasta:

The baked pasta is a Martha recipe from the February 2010 issue, I believe, but I can’t seem to find it. Hope you have better luck – it’s tasty!

Even with a pound of pasta sitting in our stomachs, we managed to find room for chocolate. I think it’s safe to say my truffles were a hit…and Laceys, enough said.

Chocolate Crack (a.k.a. Truffles)

- Recipe courtesy of Deep Dark Chocolate

7 oz. premium dark chocolate (I used Endangered Species - 72% cocoa)

1/2 cup heavy cream

3 T unsalted butter

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. Place (chopped) chocolate in a heat-proof bowl and pour over the warm cream. Let stand 3 minutes, then mix until smooth. Add butter and vanilla. Spread ganache (chocolate mixture) into a shallow baking dish and place in fridge until chilled. Roll ganache into 3/4-inch balls, using a melon baller. Roll in desired toppings – I used cocoa powder and chopped almonds. Store truffles in an air-tight container at a cool room temperature for a few days, or in the fridge for up two 2 weeks…if they last that long!

***

DanceFit in the a.m. to burn off 1/8 of the chocolate calories I consumed today…

Sweet Dreams,

~ Hillary