Weekend discoveries

Chobani bites Fig with Orange Zest. I've been antsy to try the flavor since I saw the social media explosion about Chobani's new flavors a few weeks ago. I didn't think I'd find it - ever- in my grocery store but I checked out the company's product finder and lo and behold, the Fig with Orange Zest flavor was available at a nearby Walmart. The same Walmart that sells tripe and pig neck bones but whatevs. Let me tell you, this flavor is delicious. Like, beyond my wildest dreams delicious. I am considering taking my allowance (yes, I get one) to stock up as to not blow the grocery budget.

Squat lunge. Somehow, know matter how much I listen to the music, I inevitably eff up one track during BODYPUMP. Sometimes it's small, others more noticeable. This week, I tried to start track 7 with squats instead of lunges and missed the upright rows in shoulders (more push presses, y'all!). Arg. Thankfully, I think, the participants are cool. A good reminder I need to practice more during the week.

Pat the penguin. There is nothing cuter than a dad reading to his kid. Nothing.

Future triathlete. Mark wanted to stop at our local bike shop, and we made a detour after buying a dishwasher. (Side note: We are counting the days until it's installed after going five months without one.) We wanted to check prices on bike trailers but our attention was quickly diverted to tricycles. Miles saw the bike and ran through the store, swung his legs over and started "riding" it. He couldn't reach the pedals but could move Flinstone style and was fairly adept at steering. After 10 minutes, we pulled him off and instigated a complete tantrum. Probably didn't help that he went the weekend nap-free.

Book it club. When your child decides to go nap free, the library and its playroom is your best friend. Even the sheep.

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The winner of the Alexia Foods giveaway is Holly Higgins. Email me (hlthystrides at gmail dot com) your most personal details, or your address + phone number, and I'll get it passed along to the rep.

Things I've been eating + giveaway

I was feeling so proud of myself. I had reviewed two days of entries on MyFitnessPal, and I had noticed that it had been two days since I had eaten meat.

And I hadn't died. Shocking, I know.

Also shocking - I can be wrong but we'll get to that in a little bit but first, like any good eater, let's talk about breakfast.

I was fortunate enough to receive a gracious and generous box of goodies from a blend, and it included rye bread from Liz's favorite bakery. I'm a German girl, through and through, and I have been finding any chance I can to eat it. Breakfasts have been a (whole) egg with cheese on rye toast and served with some kind of produce. Tuesday it was an orange; this morning, grilled zucchini.

I'm making another go at a more substantial morning snack and, thanks to Bzz Agent, I'm trying out Kroger's yogurts - Greek, Greek Lite and CARBmaster. I prefer the Greek to Greek Lite but this particular morning I had the Lite pineapple mango with a bit of sliced banana and trail mix I found at Fresh Market. It was a great balance of protein plus carbs to hold me over to my lunch date.

One thing: My lunch date got held up and I had to scrounge up a snack from a drawer. I'd like to say I picked the nuts but it was a handful of marshmallows and some raisins. However, I did not eat the lint roller. Win.

Our big idea for the day was to find some Cajun- or Creole-inspired food to ring in Mardi Gras. We went to one of my favorite neighborhood places, and I got my even more favoritest salad - red beans and rice over lettuce with tomatoes and cheese - and gumbo. See, this is where I was wrong about the meat. Gumbo had chicken.

And putting the fat in Fat Tuesday was a packi from a neighborhood bakery. Apple, if you are interested. I ate half to only feel sort of fat.

I was feeling rather full and sick to be honest from the paczki that I didn't snack my way through the afternoon, saving room for dinner - blackened salmon po boys and Alexia Foods Multigrain Onion Rings.

The onion rings were courtesy of Alexia, and I was excited to try a more nutrient-dense version of a favorite indulgence. They were crunchy, hearty and tasty.

I had a post-dinner workout planned, and I grabbed a handful of candy. To power me through, of course.

The workout pretty much sucked - I blame the lingering illness. But the good news ... well, totally unrelated. Alexia Foods is offering one Healthy Strides reader a gourmet cooking prize-pack giveaway. The winner will receive an Alexia apron, Alexia kitchen timer and a coupon for a FREE Alexia Product 

You can also sign up to be part of the Alexia Ambassador Program for exclusive recipes, coupons, free gift cards and kitchen gear. Simply visit http://rewards.alexiafoods.com to begin earning points towards these prizes and more!

To enter, simply leave a comment telling me which Alexia Foods product you would select with the coupon.

 The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The winner will be selected at random and announced on the blog Thursday, Feb. 21. The winner will have 72 hours to claim her prize (by emailing hlthystrides at gmail dot com) or a new winner will be selected.

WIAW: Kim goes to Korea

I have a secret to tell you. Come in.

Closer.

Closer still.

Here it is: I ate oatmeal for breakfast yesterday, and I didn't take a picture of it. Astounding, right? Even more astounding was that it had no artificial sweeteners or added sugar or muffin tops. It was oats, banana, raisins, cinnamon, egg whites and a dash of vanilla.

Wait, there was some peanut butter, too. Cut me some slack.

While I didn't nab a photo of that post-run bowl - nor the quarter mini bagel I ate before the run - I felt it was time to track the comings (not goings) of my mouth.





Morning snack.

Ezekiel 4:9 Cinnamon Raisin English Muffin with hazelnut spread - not Nutella. Nutella is a trademarked brand, and my jar has the name Kroger on it. Whatevs. The muffin was most definitely Ezekiel. It was my first time trying the variety, purchased by me with moneys, and it had that hardy flavor that Ezekiel products have and that I so enjoy. It wasn't as sweet as most cinnamon raisin products but I, for one, was glad to see it wasn't sugar-loaded.

Lunch.

Once or twice a month, I go out to lunch with a co-worker. She and I both love love ethnic foods and both have husbands who are less adventurous eaters. Whenever we go out, we try to go exotic. Tuesday was Korean. At a restaurant neighboring a Marathon gas station. What can I say, we keep it classy.

I started out with egg drop soup and kimchi salad, both of which were lovely.

As part of the lunch special, the server/owner brought out a plate with crab Rangoon, egg roll and mandoo. I am not one to turn down a Rangoon so I ate that and enjoyed the insides only of the other fried treats.

My entree was the pork bulgogi, which was on special, and sounded very authentic. It was good. If you ever come to Fort Wayne, we can go and then you can tell me it's good.

Snacks.

I was a busy girl yesterday afternoon. Blarg. Being busy is dumb. But it does keep you from eating.

I managed an apple and an orange throughout the afternoon, and I had a cup of no sugar added hot cocoa while I interviewed a job candidate.

Dinner.

Can I get a thank you God for the slow cooker? Slow Cooker French Onion Meatloaf (made with Laura's Lean Beef), Alexia Sweet Potato Tots (spotted at Target) and spinach. Most of it once frozen. Except the beef. I bought it that morning. All of it was delicious.

After dinner, I had a handful of Walmart brand honey nut O's or whatever you want to call 'em. And then,  later, a half-cup with almond milk (I prefer Silk unsweetened original). Further proof that I can't have cereal in the house.

Snack.

Skinny Cow. My last one. For a while probably.

What have you been eating lately?