Breakfast/ Exercise/ Fitness/ Lunch

Still Delicious

Last night was an off night. Not that we didn’t have fun, but we didn’t really end up with the wonderful product we had hoped for. Our instructions were to make “baked garnishes” for our plated desserts tomorrow night. That included tuile cookies, florentine cookies and pate a choux, of course using whatever flavor combinations we like. Our goal was almond-ginger florentine cookies, green tea tuiles and chocolate pate a choux. Well, I forgot to add all of the flour to the florentine cookies so instead of turning brittle, they turned soft and greasy (still tasting amazing though–sort of like a nougatine or peanut brittle), we didn’t add enough chocolate to the pate a choux and we didn’t think out properly the right green tea powder to flour substitutions for the green tea tuiles, which ended up to be a tasteless, soft cake. Oh well. It was still a fun night and I scored a sweet loaf of french bread from the breads class down the hall. All was not lost.

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I picked at so much of this tasty, sweet almond stuff we made. We didn’t make it right but it was still delicious!

Today I didn’t even attempt to run outside because the temperature, by 7:30 was already 80 degrees and muggy, so I went instead to the gym here and ran for 25 minutes on the treadmill at a speed of 5.8.Ā  Before I left I just had a swig of orange juice, which I find to be just as fueling as eating half a banana in the morning. When I got back I delved into the bowl of overnight muesli I had made last night. 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup soymilk, maybe 2 tbsp sliced almonds and some dried berries. I added a banana and some strawberries this morning. Yum, yum, yum! I also had a cup of earl gray tea once my body temperature had dropped a little bit.

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For lunch today I packed a little mezzo platter with hummus, some of the french bread I got last night in school, 4 plump olives, some carrots and bell pepper strips, a plum and a yogurt. I love little plates like this where I can pick at everything. Snack is a mixture of 12 almonds + dried berries.

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The weekend is almost here! Anyone have fun plans?

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  • ~C~
    July 10, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    Jenna, Is exercise something you truly enjoy and look forward to or do you do it because you know you should? Some days I look forward to it and really want to and others, I can find a million excuses not to. I’m trying to get into the no excuses mind sit but am struggling.

    No fun plans this weekend, a little errand running on Saturday and a veg day on Sunday. Though I am excited that a new produce stand opened up a couple miles from home so I can’t wait to check that out.

  • Cath
    July 10, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    Hi Jenna. I love your blog. Just curious about your muesli recipe- what do you put in it, how do you prepare it, how big is one serving and how many calories? I love breakfast and am always looking for new, healthy breakfast meal ideas. I have never tried muesli. Thanks!

  • jenna
    July 10, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    C-

    I truly enjoy exercise. It makes my day 100% better but when you don’t go to bed until 12:30 and wake up at 7:00 it gets hard. I would enjoy it more if my schedule wasn’t so crazy but its important to me so I fit it in when I can. Like I’ve always said before, I enjoy more “natural” exercise such as long walks, hikes, yoga, outdoor activities….but sometimes the most conducive thing to our lifestyles is a quick hit to the gym, so that’s what I usually do. And some days I literally drag myself there but when I’m done and back home I feel so much better than if I’m sedentary. I would suggest maybe classes at your gym or yoga studio to help get you motivated or find an activity (doesn’t have to be the gym!) that you really really enjoy then do that instead. Exercise does not always have to be lifting barbells and doing the elliptical machine! Cleaning, gardening, walking, rock climbing, hiking, pilates, swimming….the options are endless!

  • jenna
    July 10, 2008 at 1:18 pm

    Cath,

    I always put 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup soymilk, a small handful of toasted sliced almonds and sprinkle of dried berries in it the night before, put in the fridge, then the next morning I add a sliced banana and sometimes a drizzle of honey, maple syrup or agave nectar. I don’t count calories and have never calculated the exact calorie count for this meal. I don’t measure out the almonds with a tbsp measure—I just eyeball everything. I’m sure it would be easy though to guesstimate because the ingredients are simple. There are tons of calorie-counting websites out there but I prefer to just live my life without those restrictions and just eat healthfully.

  • Amanda
    July 10, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    Thanks Jenna you are always so helpful! That picture of you is too funny šŸ™‚

  • Meg
    July 10, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    What kind of oats do you use, Jenna? Old fashioned rolled or steel cut?

  • GroundedFitness
    July 10, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    so when do we get to see you on Hell’s Kitchen? I bet you could handle Gordon Ramsey yelling at you….i bet hes a giant kitten when you get to know him šŸ˜‰

    http://www.groundedfitness.com

  • Heather
    July 10, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Haha- nice photo! That almond-brittle stuff looks really tasty.

    I totally agree with your exercise comment. I think it takes working in a few different types of activities (running, biking, yoga, whatever) to keep from getting bored… at least that works for me.

  • hk
    July 10, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    Oooyyyy, almond brittle sounds and looks yummy šŸ™‚ all of your concoctions sound very cool even despite the “flops”..have a great day! Love those lunch combos!!

  • KrisT
    July 10, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    Hi.. anyone please answer this question..

    Iā€™m 5?3 and 145 pounds .. i want to be 125. I lost weight to 130 in a kind of unhealthy way and then i just gained it back ..

    Iā€™m considering the south beach diet to jumpstart the process then resume to a healthy eating diet .. What are your views on this?
    and plus exercise of course!

    has anyone tried the south beach diet before? ..i’m just so lost in the whole weight loss eating plan thing .. i was thinking maybe since it’s all there written for me i can try and follow it? idk

  • KrisT
    July 10, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Hi.. anyone please answer this question..

    Iā€™m 5?3 and 145 pounds .. i want to be 125. I lost weight to 130 in a kind of unhealthy way and then i just gained it back ..

    Iā€™m considering the south beach diet to jumpstart the process then resume to a healthy eating diet .. What are your views on this?
    and plus exercise of course!

    has anyone tried the south beach diet before? ..i’m just so lost in the whole weight loss eating plan thing .. i was thinking maybe since it’s all there written for me i can try and follow it? idk

  • Jill - GlossyVeneer
    July 10, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    My run this morning was in 81° weather, and that was at 4:30 AM! There’s no beating the heat here in Vegas, but I can’t deal with running on a treadmill too many times during the week. It drives me bonkers!

    KrisT: My mom lost about 40 pounds using the South Beach Diet. The biggest thing to keep in mind with that diet (at least in my opinion) is not looking at it as LOW CARB. You are allowed to eat carbs, as long as they are in the form of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. That said, I think eating real world food that follows the guidelines in the diet are a lot better than the pre-packaged SBD meals because the long list of ingredients on those is a little scary.

  • Aimee
    July 10, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    Hey Jenna… Nice first pic with the frosting knife (I think that’s what it is).
    This weekend we are taking the bike to a Pig roast up in NH. I don’t eat pig or in fact like to watch it being roasted. So I’ll be packing a veggie burger in the saddle bag.
    Hope you and boy have something fun planned!

  • beck
    July 10, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    One more museli question, do you cook the oats first or just let them soak?

    Thanks!

  • Little Black Dress
    July 10, 2008 at 6:24 pm

    Jenna, that almond brittle sounds awesome. I also love your “mezza” platter- sounds like my perect kind of meal!

    KrisT- I think the principles in the SB diet are good- focus on lean protein, veggies, fruits, and whole grains. I think getting rid of processed carbs is a great way to lose weight for anyone. However, I agree with the notion that these processed, expensive products are not the way to go. If anyone wants to lose weight (or just feel better!), I think the best thing to do is to limit beer and licquor, processed foods, diet sodas, saturated fats, coffee, refined carbohydrates, and salty foods, and to focus as much as possible on nourishing themselves with fruits and vegetables and other “whole” foods. Doing this sort of retrains your tastebuds so that you eventually don’t really like some of the stuff that is not so good for you and you end up craving carrots and watermelon.

    Aimee- I am totally with you! I have a tailgate this weekend outside the Phillies stadium and everyone else will be consuming burgers, sausage, and beer. I am totally bringing veggie burgers, seltzer, and organic red wine!

  • Betsy
    July 10, 2008 at 7:38 pm

    best. picture. ever.

    those botched cookies look pretty darn amazing to me!

  • jenna
    July 10, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    Meg,

    I usually just use rolled oats. They have the best chew!

  • BethT
    July 10, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    Jenna, I have a question about the yoga web site you suggested a couple of weeks ago. Do you put your ipod into a player with speakers, or listen to the workouts on your headphones?

  • jenna
    July 10, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    BethT,

    I don’t have a speaker so I just listen with my earbuds. So far it’s worked pretty well!

  • KatieF
    July 11, 2008 at 12:17 am

    Running a 15K this weekend! šŸ™‚

    KrisT–South Beach has some good principles but I think that the first phase restricts your carbohydrates waaayy too much. I tried it about 5 years ago and lost weight very quickly, but felt dizzy and had no energy. I also regained some weight when I reintroduced carbohydrates. I’d highly recommend focusing on veggies, fruit, protein and whole grains, and eliminating processed and junk foods while upping your activity level. I lost 35 pounds by doing this and have kept it off for a year. Whatever you decide, good luck!