Wow!! Thank you guys SO much for all the great running advice! It helped more than anything and now I have a pretty good plan of how I will go about doing this—in fact, I’m ready to get out there right now and start except we are in the middle of a tropical storm at the moment!! 😉 Caitlin invited me over for a hurricane party but the weather really isn’t conducive to driving, especially on the interstate, so I had to decline. However, I did get the necessary supplies from the gas station this morning:
And then before work I stopped at Barnes and Noble and got two new books to read:
SO excited about these!
My lunch was totally yum (see reviews below) and held me over very well until snacktime around 2:45. I had my kashi and cottage cheese but when I got home from work around 4:00 I was starving again! I think it was because of not enough fat in my diet today. I snacked on some almonds and made some tea while the rain came down hard.
And dinner! Oh yum, yum, YUM! Was it ever good!!!!!!! The other day I finally asked Miss Gliding Calm how to make her delicious looking baked tofu that I drool over all the time as I read her blog. I followed her instructions (simple marinade of rice vin./sesame oil/agave nectar/red pepper flakes/salt/garlic powder and bake for 30 minutes at 425) and it turned out MORE THAN perfect! It was amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 🙂 This simple new method will now be a staple in my diet for sure. I could have eaten the entire box of tofu!
I also made some spicy sweet potato fries, which are always good, and a side of simple steamed spinach with cayenne, salt and pepper. It really was the perfect meal and my body is feelin’ so good right now after it!
Of course about an hour later my sweet tooth was hankerin’ me and I knew I needed a little somethin’ somethin’! Its windy and rainy and I was craving something hot and carby so I made a mini bowl of chocolate chip almond butter oatmeal! I used:
1/4 cup multi-grain cereal cooked in 1/2 cup water
about 15-16 dark chocolate chips
small spoonful (1/2 tbsp) almond butter
I cooked the cereal in the microwave, stirred in the almond butter and stirred in the chocolate until it was melty and delicious. TOTALLY satisfied that dessert craving! Mmmmm
Since I have some extra time tonight I’d like to do a full product review of both the new Peanut Butter Cookie Larabars and Chobani Greek Yogurt. Here it comes!
Peanut Butter Cookie Larabars
Larabar boasts (rightfully so) to have 1 serving of fruit, no dairy, no soy, no gluten, no added sugar, no processing and no GMOS per bar. WOW! With facts like that, how can you not like these energy packed treats? I love all the flavors, especially the Banana Cookie, Cherry Pie and a Key Lime Pie. However, the new Peanut Butter Cookie flavor takes Larabar to a whole new level.
Upon biting into the bar, you are instantly brought back to your kitchen at home, sneaking bites of peanut butter cookie batter as you load up the oven. The intense peanut flavor explodes in your mouth and why shouldn’t it? This bar is only comprised of three ingredients: peanuts, dates and salt. The dates provide sweetness with no added sugar and the peanuts provide those oh-so-healthy monounsaturated fats we all know and love.
Calories: 210
Fat: 13
Protein: 5
Although there’s not much protein in these bars, the taste, texture and other nutritional facts (16 essential vitamins) make up for the fact. I had one at 7:30 last night at school and was kept full and satisfied for the rest of the night until I went to bed at around 11:00. It’s a keeper!!!
Chobani Greek Yogurt
Being a tried and true Fage fan, I had very high expectations for this yogurt. Honestly, the reason I picked it up at the store was because it was 50 cents cheaper than fage and contains more protein (an astonishing 18 grams PER yogurt!). I was skeptical but after my first spoonful I was hooked. It has less of a “sour cream” texture than Fage and is more smooth and creamy. Something like a cross between Dannon and Fage. The plain flavor of the yogurt was mellow and not too sour, which would make it a good starting point for those folks just getting on the plain yogurt band wagon. Chobani also contains 34% of your daily calcium needs for most adults, so says the product’s website, along with containing three active probiotics in each yogurt to help with your immune system.
Calories: 100
Fat: 0
Protein: 18
As for the question will I choose this or Fage from now on in my weekly grocery shops? Definitely Chobani. Sorry, Fage but Chobani wins on account of it’s price, protein and overall taste and texture. It would also be great mixed with cereal for a snack!
Rose
August 19, 2008 at 11:20 pmI’m all about the PB Larabars too! I had one today, and it kept me full for a good long while.
That tofu looks delicious. Super yum!
alicia
August 19, 2008 at 11:22 pmGoodness, that chobani yoghurt does have very impressive statistics. It’s a pity that they don’t sell it in my country. I will have to give baked tofu a try since it’s usually eaten pan-fried or deep fried where I come from.
BethT
August 19, 2008 at 11:30 pmDamn. No Chobani in CA.
Kat
August 19, 2008 at 11:44 pmI can’t wait to try the PB larabar – I am saving it for this weekends hiking adventures! It is actually in the freezer since we have a moth infestation to deal with – they LIKE everything I LIKE! So I am not even tempted to sneak it.
Good luck with the weather – hopefully you will have a chance to relax lots and read! It is kind of nice having the power out every once in a while and lighting candles – peaceful for sure.
The diversity of your food tempts me to venture out of veganism and truly be “simply vegetarian”. Somehow when I have dairy now I feel like I have failed at my path to veganism. Maybe it is true that some people are more cut out for it than others!!! I just love gelato treats and being able to have cake at weddings!
Hallie
August 19, 2008 at 11:53 pmBethT, tell me about it! What’s up with that?
bee
August 19, 2008 at 11:55 pmcharles martin is my very favorite author! please tell if you like the book. while i love him, i’m rather cautious about actually buying books! i’m cheap…but if you like this one, definitely check out “when crickets cry.” it makes me laugh and brings me to tears, which makes it a sure winner.
jenna
August 19, 2008 at 11:59 pmKat,
That was my problem exactly and I know just how you feel. Don’t ever think you “failed” though. Maybe your body is just trying to tell you that it just isn’t right for you. Do what feels best for you and don’t let that define success or failure. Honor your body!
Gliding Calm
August 20, 2008 at 12:00 amWahoo! So glad you enjoyed the tofu recipe (your dinner looks like exactly something I would crave/make), and also glad you gave Chobani’s a thumbs up!! Some people haven’t cared for them, and I always feel badly after raving about them! Do they actually have more protein than Fage…or is it just because Fage is a smaller serving? I never checked the serving sizes… but I do know that Fage is 80 cals and Chobani is 100 cals. It would be interesting to see!
Anyways, I hope the storm isn’t too bad for you…but I love your supplies!
Have a great night Jenna! Still waiting to see what you think of carrots & PB!!
Lauren
August 20, 2008 at 12:01 amBethT and Hallie – see if you can find the Stonyfield Farms brand of greek yogurt – “Oikos” is the name on the carton, but it is made by Stonyfield. Not only is it organic, it is also cheaper than Fage. Hope you can find it in CA!
michelle
August 20, 2008 at 12:01 amHi Jenna,
thanks for the chobani review!! My local grocery has them on sale for $1 so i stocked up. I have yet to try the plain but i look forward to it!!
Hope the storm is over or not to severe!!
M
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
August 20, 2008 at 12:03 amI agree that Chobani has a much creamier consistency than other brands of Greek yogurt. And the ones with fruit on the bottom taste sort of like regular yogurt, but with a thicker consistency, and they are much more filling. I eat it with cereal on the side sometimes, but my favorite new way to eat it is to freeze it and then thaw for a little bit because then it has the taste and texture of Italian Ice, which is nice for a change. I actually just blogged about this today 🙂
Allyson
August 20, 2008 at 12:11 amWow, that oatmeal looks awesome!!
I’m not really a Fage person, its hard for me to get past the sour-ness. I want to like it, I really do. Your review has got me wanting to try the Chobani!
ModelBehavior
August 20, 2008 at 12:38 amNo Chobani in NE either, dang the people at chobani need to work on there distributing!
stay safe jenna!
Jenny
August 20, 2008 at 12:42 amHave a great night, and stay safe! I am jealous of your two new books, I am such a book nerd 🙂
brianna
August 20, 2008 at 12:45 amI’m a little late on the running discussion, but just thought I’d throw out a tip that I don’t think anyone else mentioned… I’ve run 2 halfs, plus many shorter races. Runner’sWorld.com has this awesome “Smart Coach” tool that lets you input a lot of your info – running times, distance for which you’re training, # of weeks you want to train, etc – and then it devises a personalized training schedule. I’ve used it several times and love it!
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/smartcoach
Melanie Hrdlicka
August 20, 2008 at 12:47 amJenna hope you staying safe in that storm! That tofu looks great! I am always trying to find new ways to cook it so will definitely try that!!
Can I ask where you found the Chobani? I live in Washington, DC and haven’t spotted it here yet and am dying to try it!!
Have a safe night!!!
Becca A
August 20, 2008 at 12:54 amI loved your reviews of the products. I wish I could find them around here!
jenna
August 20, 2008 at 1:03 amMelanie,
I found this at Whole Foods. You can go to the Chobani website (www.chobani.com) to pull up a store locater for your area! 🙂
HangryPants
August 20, 2008 at 1:10 amJenna, I totally agree with your Chobani description. I too was hooked by the cheaper price, but I really like it better – especially for eating straight as opposed to using in dips, spreads, etc. Stay safe!
Heather
Kristie
August 20, 2008 at 1:13 amYou definitely have me wanting that PB Larabar. I highly doubt I’ll be able to find it anytime soon in this here country of Canada though, where we hardly ever get all of the fun products that I see splattered all over the food blog world. That includes CHOBANI yogurt as well. I am ridiculously jealous of the whole greek yogurt obsession and how I cannot join in on it.
Justy2003
August 20, 2008 at 1:15 amMust find Chobani and PB cookie LaraBar at the store. These have been all over the blogs and I WANT THEM! Grocery store trip is scheduled for tomorrow, so hopefully I can track them down!
Stay safe in the hurricane!
natalie
August 20, 2008 at 2:21 amJenna your seriously killing me here with your delicious looking dinner and your description of the PB larabars! I know someone mentioned they found the bars at publix so I’ll check it out tomarrow. 🙂
LadyLara
August 20, 2008 at 2:26 amI can’t wait to snag a PB Larabar. I love Larabars. Although it could be because my name is Lara. 🙂
Melissa
August 20, 2008 at 2:31 amso jealous, no chobani so socal…boooooo….i agree w/ the others that can’t find it…we need to talk to their distributor! haha…
and i love your reviews!
stay safe from the hurricane!
andrenna
August 20, 2008 at 2:36 amI’m tellin’ you, Jenna, you have to try making your own Larabars sometime! It’s so easy, much cheaper, and you can make a variety of flavors. Since they’re only 3 ingredients, it’s so simple to make.
Sammie
August 20, 2008 at 2:48 amJenna,
Would you mind sharing the tofu recipe? I have been eating a lot of tofu lately and having a hard time getting a flavorful baked recipe – mine has been kind of blah. I am a huge Chobani fan, I started eating it when I had to eliminate added rBGH from my diet – it was causing evil things to appear on my face. It is by far the creamiest yogurt I have ever had and the flavor is so delicious – I am a plain yogurt junkie.
Be safe.
Steph
August 20, 2008 at 2:54 amBethT! They do sell Chobani in California! I had one yesterday. I work in San Mateo, and I found them at the Whole Foods in San Mateo. They’re definitely a bit cheaper than fage.
smjohnson30
August 20, 2008 at 3:16 amthanks for the reviews jenna, those are always quite helpful 🙂
good luck weathering the storm, i hope it doesn’t cause much damage or problems down there for you all…
that tofu looked scrumptious; it always looks so good on gliding calm’s blog site too!
Liza
August 20, 2008 at 4:40 amThanks so much for posting your work outs! It’s nice to compare exercise level and food intake …. makes me realize what it takes to fuel work outs and a busy lifestyle! Keep it up!
C
August 20, 2008 at 11:50 amChocolate chip almond butter oatmeal sounds amazing!
Caitlin is going to mail me a PB cookie lara bar, I can’t wait to get it! Hooray!
caitlin (see bride run)
August 20, 2008 at 11:54 amawww the hurricane party was fun! wish you could’ve been here!
i can’t wait to learn more about your training schedule!
jenna
August 20, 2008 at 12:01 pmSammie,
Mmm the tofu was so good and I have to thank Gliding Calm for that! There’s no real recipe—I just followed her instructions and made a rub/marinade out of a splash of rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and agave nectar and smothered the tofu pieces with it…then I baked the pieces fo about 30 minutes at 425, flipping halfway through. Yum!
Sammie
August 20, 2008 at 12:53 pmJenna,
Thanks, I will give it a try.
Elizabeth
August 20, 2008 at 10:58 pmWhat were the amounts of each item in the marinade? Or proportions? It sounds great – am anxious to try!
cayenne pepper diet.
January 31, 2009 at 5:07 amThis is a great job! Well done. Thank you sharing your ideas and knowledge.
Nora
January 24, 2010 at 7:34 amIf you like the PB cookie Larabar–check out the new PB&J ones, they are amazing (dried cherries and dates give it the “J” part). I also am a Chobaini convert from Fage because of the protein and price. One of my favorite breakfasts is 1 cup Chobaini with 1/4 cup of Barenaked Fruit and Nut granola and chopped banana. YUM! And lots of energy to start your day!