Taco bout it

Happy monday, foodies!
Today = grocery day! I went to class, tanned, worked out, and spent a glorious hour and half at Whole Foods. :)

 There's something I heard about grocery shopping a long time ago, and since then I have lived by it (okay, maybe not totally) completely: Shop around the edges of the store. Stay on the produce, and meat and cheese sections - these are less likely to tempt you to buy Poptarts or Hot Cheetos or whatever your vice is (mine is cookies). A couple trips venturing down aisles to get Annie's Bunny Grahams or toilet paper are obviously allowed, but it's a great general rule to follow.

 On the way home, I got rear ended. No damage, but I figured i deserved a bangin ass dinner:

Salmon fish tacos it is! Sounds weird, but this salmon is marinated with chipotle and I used a spicy mayo to flavor it up!

corn tortillas + spicy mayo + avocado + baby tomatos + spinach & a side of asparagus!
Let's just say: Treat yoself.
xoxo

Sleepy Saturday...

Hey foodie bootys!
This girl has been sick for the past WEEK with a killer sinus infection that just wouldn't quit. In times of sickness, when all we want is for our bodies to WORK WITH US HERE and get off the couch, we have to look to our inner yogis and be thankful. Thankful that we have medicine, and beds, and warm homes in this icy blast Austin is having this week. So, I rested and lived off of peanut butter sandwiches and didn't work out for 5 days...but it's okay. Because my body got what it needed and I jumped back into action today. Results:

DID YOGA! I did a couple awesome flow sequences and went the farthest I've ever gone in a back bend, and I'm feeling so much more like myself. I'm endlessly thankful for what my yoga practice has done for my self confidence and self healing. (sorry for bad quality)

 I then rewarded myself with my favorite post-workout snack :) siggis yogurt + kiwi + banana + Purely Elizabeth pumpkin fig granola. Tooooo good.
I also made a kick - ass recovery dinner with a NeW ReCiPE!!! :)

Salmon and Creamy Tomato-Basil Polenta

3 ounces of fresh salmon (about the size of your palm)

salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder [or spices of choice]

1 cup of fresh broccoli

handful of cranberries or seasonings of choice

box of polenta (instant is what i use)

1/2 cup part skim ricotta cheese

1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (i use multicolored)

a couple leaves of fresh basil

be sure to salt! (usually butter is paired with polenta the ricotta can be a little bland if you don't!)

I cooked my salmon at about 375 degrees F for roughly 20 minutes, skin on. [when baking salmon, you can also bake in aluminum. If baked uncovered, wait until the pink salmon has turned almost translucent.] I roasted my broccoli in a pan on the stove in some coconut oil and spices until tender.

To make the polenta, follow the instructions on the box, constantly stirring the grain in some water until thickened. Be sure to pour slowly! Once the polenta is finished cooking, immediately stir in the tomatoes, basil, and ricotta so that they warm into the grain. Let set for 5 minutes, and then serve! 

Simple, easy, and takes less than 30 minutes on a busy school/work night. I have no sympathy for people who use "no time" as an excuse not to eat wholly and healthfully. You have to make time. And it is possible with a busy schedule! It just takes planning on your grocery trips, and maybe getting up a little earlier in your day. :) 

Have a fantastic evening, and don't worry about whatever it is you're worrying about - you still have Sunday!

ps. Y'all be sure to check me out my instagram if you haven't already! It features more day-to-day foodie things that don't always make it to the blog [link on the home page]

xoxo

Something happy to think about: twinkle lights

Yolks

Good afternoon foodies!!
This week is absolutely CRAZY for me, so it's nice to sit and chat with you guys about food and such for a little bit.
This morning I woke up super early (for me, at least) and hit the gym for some weight lifting and HIIT!

Here's the workout sequence I did:
30 sec high knees
10 squat jumps
10 push ups
10 tuck jumps
20 mountain climbers
30 sec split jumps
30 jumping jacks
10 standing squats
10 push ups
20 crunches (or abs of choice)
30 sec butt kicks

and repeat 3 times! :)
If you're super freakin sweaty by the end, you did it right. :) If not, add some more reps to each move!


I then devoured this omelette in about 2 seconds...

A lovely spread of of colors early in the morning, don't you think? :)

I'm still working on my folding technique...

[2 eggs (WITH YOLKS)+ avocado + spinach + smoked salmon + monterrey jack cheese]

Now, something that is very popular among the fitness community that I am definitely not a fan of is eating just the egg whites. So, yes, I understand that the yolks have fat. THAT'S OKAY. The key to a healthy diet and healthy weight loss is not eliminating fat from your diet. That will only make you sluggish, tired, and more prone to binge eating an entire pan of brownies at midnight. The body needs fat, and as long as they're coming from wholesome sources in healthy moderation - you eat those yolks!! It is far better to eat organic, local eggs in their entirety than eat egg whites that pour out of a carton (in my humble opinion).

Examples of GOOD fats:
Avocado
nuts (including nut butters)
eggs
beans
olive oil

Wanting to better your body is a brilliant gift to yourself, so don't treat it like torture!

Have a fantastic day, foodies, and don't be afraid to eat those good fats. xoxo