Messing Up Doesn't Mean Giving Up

It is Tuesday of my second week in the 21 Day Fix, and it is going so well, but I have learned that weekends are more challenging than weekdays. For me, anyway. Especially when a birthday and a wedding is involved. All was certainly not lost, though. I did my videos, I ran a little bit, and I stayed mostly on track with my diet. It was just harder and I didn't do as well with my eating as I was doing during the week.

Friday I got up and ran three miles...knowing what was in store for the morning. Jason was off, and we celebrated Eloise's 3rd birthday. I had my first cheat/processed food/sugar of the week on this occasion in the form of 6 donut holes. Heavenly. I had some scrambled eggs and some green tea with them so I wouldn't get all sugar crazy and then I moved on with my day.

Happy Birthday, sweet Eloise!

Around lunch time I went shopping with my mom to look for Eloise some flower girl shoes. She was going to be in my cousin's wedding the next day. This was not a problem, except I got hungry on my way to meet mom. I hate being hungry. Before we started shopping I got an order of grilled chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-a, and that was fine, but what I got to go with them was not. A sweet tea. Yep.  I have NO idea why I did that. I should have gotten the fruit and water. Oh well. I knew it wasn't a great decision, but I moved on.

The rest of the day I did well.  I didn't let messing up lead to giving up.  I did my video for that day and we all got ready for a busy Saturday of wedding fun.

Saturday I did well, despite how badly I wanted a piece of wedding cake.  I packed fruit, seeds, and nuts so I had plenty of healthy snacks and had another order of grilled chicken nuggets (no sweet tea this time) since lunch time found us on the road to the wedding. I decided I'd allow myself a piece of wedding cake (although why I decided I could have another cheat, I don't know), but when it came down to it, I decided against it. Instead, I thought we could stop at Starbucks on the way home and THAT would be my cheat.

Let me back up to say, I was up 4 hours in the middle of the night with my kids the night before... and then I had to hold my breath and wait in utter suspense to see if my three-year-old would, in fact, walk down the aisle in a wedding!  Oh. My. Word!  (She did. It was amazing and so very sweet, even if she did poke the bride in the bum at one point).  I was so exhausted on the way home and I still had a video to do. So Starbucks just made sense. But in an act of wonderful fate, we MISSED it, and I wasn't about to go looking for it with two sleeping babies in the car. We needed to make TIME!

My sweet flower girl and her cousin and bridesmaid, Caroline

I was getting frustrated.  I was so tired. I was hungry. I had to do my video. I didn't want to miss a day of working out and I didn't want to mess up anymore with my eating.  Then I remembered... I still had my Shakeology shake to look forward to!  YES!

We got home. Jason ran, and I had one piece of Ezekiel bread with avocado on it to fuel my workout. I made dinner (turkey taco salad) and then did my video (Dirty 30). Eloise and I enjoyed our delicious shake and my day was saved. Whew!

Sunday I headed to the store to stock up once again on all the good stuff. I packed my fridge full.  I enjoyed my Yoga Fix, and then Monday I started all over again.  After the total body cardio fix, I was not NEARLY as sore as the previous Monday.  And I'm still trucking along. Feeling good.  Enjoying good food, good workouts, and Shakeology. A few hiccups this weekend didn't derail me and for that I'm thankful. 

So what I'd say to anyone doing the 21 Day Fix or going after any health and fitness goal... Don't let messing up lead to giving up. Just get back on track and keep going!

21 Day Fix

So I'm starting something new today and I'm excited about it.  It is the 21 Day Fix with Team Beachbody, and my sister, Jessi Pennington, is my coach. My goal is not really weight loss as it is to tone up areas (arms, abs, back) that aren't really targeted with running. I've dabbled in weights and pilates since getting pregnant with Matthew, but I can't seem to stick with it, and I really have no idea what I'm doing.  I've been doing workouts sporadically that I've found on Pinterest and while I've felt stronger, I haven't seen any results. My hope is that I will SEE some toned arms and abs, and I want to feel it as well. I'm hoping that strengthening these other areas will also benefit my running, making me stronger and eventually faster.

I've struggled a little with my desire to have a toned upper body, wondering if it really matters and if I'm just being vain. I'm healthy, I'm not overweight, I'm able to run and feel good chasing after my two little ones all day. It seems somewhat silly to want more, but I think if I keep it in its proper place priority-wise, it should be okay. And while I do want to look good, it is not my only motivation for doing the 21 Day Fix. I want to feel GREAT. I want to be healthy and STRONG. I want to cut out some of the sugar in my diet and replace it with better, more nutrient rich foods.

Since having Matthew in January, I've sort of given myself permission to eat whatever I want because I was nursing. I don't do too bad, but there is lots of room for improvement and that starts with the amount of sugar I allow myself each day. From what I pour into my coffee, to what is in my snacks, to what I indulge in at night, it is simply too much. I'm not a dieter, I prefer to simply eat in moderation, but with all I've read about sugar, it is a big, fat baddie when it comes to health.  I've even heard it referred to as "the white death."  A little dramatic, maybe, but I'd still like much less of it in my diet.

So I'm following the 21 Day Fix program to the letter. I purchased the chocolate vegan Shakeology (because of Matthew's dairy allergy), and I had my first shake this morning with half a banana in it.  Not bad!  I enjoyed my shake after my first 30 minute workout, the total body cardio fix. It was challenging for sure, but also fun and fast paced. I love the duration of the workouts because I know I can find 30 minutes each day to workout, and I know I'm a better, nicer, more patient person when I do.

I'm still planning to run 3-4 times a week. I can't give up my first love, that's for sure. But after seeing the results of my friends and family, I believe this program will get me the results I want if I stick to it. I am slightly concerned about the calories and if I start to drop weight or milk production, I may increase my portion allotment (how many of each colored container I can have) to make sure I can still nurse Matthew as much as I want.

And, in following the program to the letter, I have a "before" picture... even though I look like a dork. This is as much as I could show, so when I have rock solid abs, you'll just have to take my word for it.

If you'd like to join me, I can hook you up with my sister's info. She's amazing, and she already has a set of rock solid abs and totally toned arms. Since we are related, I figure I'm going to look exactly like her in 21 days. Just like this...

Photo credit to Adria Peaden (a fellow 21 Day Fixer!)

Mama's in the Kitchen

With the holiday season and my brain no longer being taken over with training came the renewed interest in Pinterest and trying out new recipes!  I have had so much fun with it.  I like perusing the recipes, finding ones I like, making the grocery list, shopping (yes, even grocery shopping), and finally getting in the kitchen and giving it a go!  My confidence has improved somewhat when trying new recipes... this could be a good thing or a bad thing.  I still make substitutions and changes mid-recipe if I don't have something or if I don't like an ingredient.  But with this week's recipes, it has turned out okay... so far.

First up is pumpkin bread!  I chose it because it said, "easy" pumpkin bread.  It got this recipe from The SITS Girls, and my only complaint is there was no good way to print it.  I had to keep running into the study to check the recipe and then going back into the kitchen (yes, I have an iPhone, no I didn't feel like using it for this).  

Here is the recipe (see the link above for complete instructions):

Note: I am not a food photographer.

2 ½ C flour
2 t baking soda
3 C sugar
1 t salt
2 t cinnamon
1 t nutmeg
½ t cloves
½ t allspice
1 large can (30 oz) or 2 small cans (15 oz) of pumpkin
4 eggs
1 C oil

I made two changes.  I only used 2 cups of sugar and I used coconut oil (although it doesn't specify).  And it was DELISH!  I was quite proud of myself.  To me, they did not need 3 cups of sugar and I have a serious sweet tooth.  The spices are PERFECT and you can taste them all.  It was a superb fall treat.


Next, I made slow cooker chicken noodle soup from Cooking Classy.  I am actually in the process of making this right now.  The ingredients are all cooking in the crock pot now, and I'll shred the chicken and add the noodles in a few hours. Now that it is cold, soup is the perfect meal for my little family, but I wanted to find some soups that do not include Campbell's soups.  I'm not bashing Campbell's, I'm just seeking a healthier option. 

Here is the recipe (see the link to Cooking Classy for further instructions):

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
   
• 5 medium carrots, peeled and chopped (1 3/4 cups)
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
• 4 stalks celery, chopped (1 1/4 cups)
   
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth (3 - 15 oz cans)
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/4 tsp celery seed, finely crushed*
• 2 bay leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2 cups uncooked wide egg noodles
• 3 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

I didn't have any celery seed or bay leaves, so I hope it turns out okay, but I had everything else and followed instructions.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

Next up I intend to try easy pumpkin swirl brownies (again, I was drawn in by the word, "easy"). They look DELISH!  I may make them today and serve them to some friends tomorrow as my taste-testers.  Then I may need to try my pumpkin bread again, but I will substitute butter for the oil, or maybe Greek yogurt.  I want to make a version my husband will eat (he's anti-oil).

Yep.  Mama is in the kitchen! 

Starving in the Land of Plenty

The other day I went to the grocery store (Wal-mart) with Eloise.  Our cupboards were bare and we were out of all the fruit we like.  I went without a list because Eloise woke up from her morning nap before I had a chance to make one, and while going without a list makes me nervous (I usually buy what we already have and don't get what we need), I was sure I knew what to get.

I left the grocery store feeling frustrated and with a mostly empty cart.  I went to another store (Kroger) because they have a good organic foods section and I no longer trust Gerber to feed my baby snacks because they have MSG in their products.  (Makes me so mad!  How can they claim to give babies what they need when they are killing brain cells as fast as I'm trying to grow them?!).

I got a few more things from Kroger but still felt like I'd hardly purchased anything when I got home.  Mostly things from the produce and meat section (and even the meat section makes me nervous these days with all the dyes, antibiotics and growth hormones in foods).  I was aggravated that I couldn't find anything suitable to feed my family.  I was aggravated that of ALL the things our government is regulating (ruining?), it isn't regulating that!  I mean, they are, but not very well.  I also felt like a spoiled brat because I have money to buy groceries and there is an abundance of food to buy in multiple grocery stores all around me and yet... I don't want any of it.

It made me think of something I heard in a food documentary a while back.  The doctor was talking about how even though we are eating (often times too much), we are starving our bodies of the nutrients they need.  So I'm in the land of plenty and I have an empty grocery cart because I can't find anything in the rows and rows of boxed and canned chemicals to eat, and I'm still wary of what I'm bringing home because of pesticides and the things in meats I mentioned above.

Eloise is starting real milk now, and while I'm relieved not to be buying $30.00 organic formula four times a month, I am nervous about this transition.  I purchased Horizon organic whole milk for around $5.00, but I'm willing to pay if it means there are no growth hormones in my baby's milk.  For Jason and I, I buy Purity brand skim and while they have a farmer's promise on the front of the carton, I am still unsure.  I am afraid to buy things that claim to be better because I am suspicious of the lingo.  MSG, after all, has several different terms now so if you are LOOKING for MSG, you might miss it.  Gerber baby products contain "yeast extract."  That's MSG.  No more Gerber in this household.

Last night I read something on Facebook about fish and other products coming from China. I haven't had a chance to check what was written, but I already believe it.  It talked about how foods and produce from China (and Vietnam and the Philippines) do not have to follow our FDA's (pitiful) health and safety requirements and the conditions they package food in, as well as WHAT they feed their produce is disgusting.  Not surprising.  I lived in China for a year and saw a lot (although, not that exactly) to make me believe these claims are true.  So, I went to my freezer and read about where my frozen fish from Sam's comes from... China and Vietnam.  I threw it all in the garbage.  Wasted money, yes, but I'm not willing to feed that to myself or my family.

Now my food issues are taking on a whole new level as I refuse to buy things from those countries.  Jason is supportive of this and I am glad.  I challenge you, dear reader, to also take a look.  Now we are not only reading ingredient labels, we are reading packaging and origin labels as well.  Is it a pain?  YES!  Is it frustrating?  Absolutely.  But I believe it is worth it.  The article on Facebook said this, and I think while it may be a tad naive, it is worth a shot:

"If 200 million North Americans refuse to buy just $20 each of Chinese goods, that's a billion dollar trade imbalance resolved in our favor... fast! The downside? Some Canadian/American businesses will feel a temporary pinch from having foreign stockpiles of inventory.

Just one month of trading losses will hit the Chinese for 8% of their North American exports. Then they will at least have to ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth it."

I don't believe for one second they will "ask themselves if the benefits of their arrogance and lawlessness are worth it" but I believe it would at least take away some of their profits and money is the only language that speaks in these countries (and our own for that matter). 

I really wish there was more I could do to influence the food industry and consumers around me.  This tiny blog is about it, along with conversations and my own choices in the grocery store.  I worry that one day I won't be able to find anything worth eating or feeding my family and since health care will be pathetic, we will all die of tumors, cancer, dementia, etc. (Yes, I am a tad over the top and paranoid, I realize this).  So I'm doing what little I can, and I hope you will too.

A Slushy in My Kitchen

Okay, I'm probably going to get cocky soon about my new found prowess with the blender... but don't worry, I'll have a catastrophe soon enough that will bring me back to earth.  For now, however, let me share my amazing success with the Watermelon Lime Frosty I just made (although I think it is more like a slushy).

I drank most of the blender before snapping a pic...

Another pretty one!

I found the recipe on Pinterest (of course), but it originally (as far as I know) comes from Daydream Kitchen and here is the link.

The recipe is as follows:

• 3 cups watermelon, should be cubed and frozen
• 1 banana, ripe, peeled and frozen
• 2 tbsps agave or maple syrup
• juice and zest from 2 limes
• 1/2 cup water

I only made 1 minor modification that I think you might want to consider - I used only 1 tablespoon of light agave syrup (60 calories).  That is sweet stuff and there is already sweetness in the watermelon and banana.  Let me just say this is a DELICIOUS summer day treat!  I had just run 8 miles in the most humid morning air, and this slushy was perfection.  I think I will be making this all summer!

Let's talk calories for those of you who keep up. 

Watermelon (I used 1 wedge sliced) - so I'm estimating 90 calories
1 banana - 90 calories
1 tbsp of agave syrup - 60 calories
2 limes - 40 calories

That is a total of 280 calories for the WHOLE blender full - and that is more than an 8 oz glass (and yes, I consumed the whole blender... again...oh dear).

So maybe I need to head back out with Eloise and the stroller later... but it was worth it! Yum! 

My First DELISH Smoothie

This is actually my second smoothie attempt, but this one I REALLY like!  I have to give most of the credit to my friend, Jamie, who sent me her PB&J smoothie recipe.  I modified it a little according to what I had on hand and it turned out delish!  Here is her recipe first followed by mine.

Jamie's PB&J Smoothie
scant cup water
4oz plain 0% greek yogurt
2C frozen strawberries
1 lg banana
2T freshly ground honey roasted peanut butter
five ice cubes
2C fresh spinach leaves

My AB&J Smoothie
 half cup of filtered water
4 oz (ish) of lowfat Chobani vanilla Greek yogurt (I can't abide the plain stuff)
2C frozen raspberries
1 large banana
2T of almond butter (my new love as of today)
five ice cubes
2 handfuls of organic spinach leaves (I went sparingly in case I didn't like it)

Isn't it pretty!

This was/is delicious!  I am still enjoying it at this very moment and even though I thought it made way more than I could/would consume, I am going back to the kitchen to finish the rest right now.  So let's talk calories.  Here is what I estimated and I always err on the side of over estimation so if I'm wrong, I get less calories than what I thought.  

4 oz of yogurt - 90 cals
2 cups of frozen raspberries - 80 cals
1 banana - ~ 90 cals
2 Tbsp of almond butter - 180 cals
2 handfuls of spinach leaves - 10 cals (the whole container was 35 total). 

That is 450 total calories IF you consume the entire blender.  I filled an 8 oz glass FULL and that was not the entire blender.  So that is also something to consider if you are sharing.  I didn't share, but this will be lunch, and I am quite full!  And proud!  My first successful blending experience!  Whoop!

More Pinterest Cooking

Yep, I've been at it again!  Getting recipes off Pinterest and giving them a go with various degrees of success (usually depending on whether I followed directions or not).

I wrote a few days ago about my first smoothie in my new Mother's Day blender.  We are probably going to call that a bust because I wasn't crazy about it and I think I ruined it with grapefruit juice.  It DOES have the potential to be very good if done correctly, I believe.

I also wrote about visiting the strawberry patch and picking strawberries with my baby girl.  Well, we had a HUGE bucket of strawberries so I researched pie recipes and made one.  I was SO excited because I followed ALL the directions and it was HEALTHY (except for the crust).  I got it out of my Better Homes cookbook and it looked so pretty!  Professional, even.  When Jason got home I proudly opened the fridge to show him and he said, "Did you bake the crust?"  ... ... ... No. No I had not baked the crust.  I NEVER make pies and when I do I usually fill my crust with all the good stuff and stick the whole thing in the oven.  This pie never went to the oven so nothing got baked.  We dumped all the filling out, baked the crush and dumped it all back in.  It was delish!

I also tried the cottage cheese and egg scramble. It turned out well (all you do is dump cottage cheese in with your egg and scramble) and at first I wasn't sure but then I decided I really liked it.  The cottage cheese makes it so fluffy and flavorful. Definitely a good breakfast/lunch/post run dish if you like scrambled eggs (which I do).

That's it for now... I think.  I went to our local organic/healthy supermarket today (Earth Fare) and had varying degrees of success with all these strange ingredients for smoothies. I'm going to be honest here. My taste buds are picky, plain Jane, and they are not cultivated for fanciness.  I don't like dark chocolate.  I don't want protein powder or any other powder.  Unless it is chocolate, maybe.  I'm just not your super organic wheat grass, kelp, green smoothie eating type of person, although I really do want to pack some goodness into these things that will help my body heal and withstand the training I want to subject it to.  And I want to learn about all of these super foods for not only me but my running man and my baby girl as well.

I was childless as I browsed the aisles of over-priced strangeness because Mom was home with Eloise.  The prices were insane!  $11.00 for almond butter?!?  $21.00 for flax oil (and who even knows what that is or does or is for)?!?  I skipped those two but I did spend $5.00 on agave syrup and on organic baby puffs (which taste like sawdust, but Eloise likes them) and I bought coconut milk and water... and some apples and limes.  I think that's about it.  Then I went to Kroger and got the rest, seeing all the things I'd bought at Earth Fare for less... Oh well.  Live and learn.  Earth Fare also smells like my grandmother.  I think it is the natural soap.  I will say I love their pizza, PB and J sandwiches and their corn chips. And their large selection of Honest Tea.  Okay, so I like Earth Fare, despite the prices and smelling like my grandmother - who I loved with all my heart despite the fact that she smelled strongly of roses.

In other news, my Mother's Day food processor came in and I've just unpacked it, watched the DVD tutorial, and now it is all in the dishwasher. I'm going to make my own salsa tonight and maybe try a watermelon lime smoothie thing I found... I'll keep you posted.  I never knew I could have so much fun in the kitchen!

My First Smoothie

Well, friends, I used my new blender today for the first time.  I LOVE it!  I used a smoothie recipe I'd pinned on Pinterest and, as usual, made some modifications and did a lot of eyeballing... It turned out okay.  I like it.  I think using grapefruit juice instead of water or pineapple juice might have been a mistake and I can't decide if I like all the pineapple bits... but it isn't bad!  I'm still drinking it, anyway.

The recipe for the Pineapple Ginger Smoothie is:

• 1 and 1/2 cup of diced fresh pineapple (I eyeballed it)
• 1 banana 
• 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt (eyeballed again and I used vanilla Voskos)
• 1 tbsp of grated fresh ginger (I didn't have any)
• 1/2 cup of ice (oops, forgot this one)
• 1/2 cup of pineapple juice or water

Here is what I did:

• some diced fresh pineapple
• 1 banana
• 1/2 a single serving container of vanilla Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice

Not bad, but the grapefruit juice does add a tartness I'm not sure I like in this smoothie.  And if you are not a fan of chunks/pulp this smoothie is not for you.

Tomorrow... another smoothie!  Got any good recipes I should try?

Successful (and not) Pinterest Recipes

I probably could have titled this post "Cooking with the Space Ball (me)" because I have to say before you read my successful and unsuccessful recipes that the unsuccessful were all my fault and not the fault of the recipe or the creator of the recipe.  I am horrible at eye-balling when I shouldn't (which is basically always), misreading ingredients, and substituting ingredients when I don't have the exact ones called for in the recipe.

Now that you know, here is what I've been up to in my kitchen thanks to Pinterest! 

Successful

2 ingredient cookies from the Burlap Bag

Made with bananas and oats, I will really liked these - especially with chocolate chips added in and I think cinnamon would be another great addition although I did not use it this time.   I also used 3 bananas because mine were small and I didn't have quick oats so I used whole oats.  I may get some quick oats for next time because mine are very... oaty.  I made a few plain, a few with chocolate chips and a few with white chips because Jason can't have chocolate.  YUM and HEALTHY!  I'm giving the whole "gluten free" thing a go these were perfect for that!

Healthy Lunch Snack from Girl Who Loves Everything (I named it because it didn't have a title)

I used leftover salmon I'd baked the night before, added 1 boiled egg and probably a quarter of an avocado, maybe less, with a dash of salt on top.  It was DELISH and filling!  I ate 16 plain Lays kettle chips, which is 1 serving, to go along with it and a small cup of Eloise's apple juice because I hadn't made any green tea.  It was the perfect lunch!

Spaghetti Squash with Grilled Chicken, Sundried Tomatoes, Broccoli, and Peas from R&T.

I'm counting this one as a success even though I made a few mistakes and left out the chicken and peas (I was using it as a side dish with salmon and Jason doesn't like peas).  It is also not one of those dishes you throw together and then leave...which are the kind I usually make.  But I'd make this one again in a heartbeat.  It was DELISH and my very first go with spaghetti squash (which is just so cool - the squash, not me).

Homemade Taco Seasoning from Rachel Cooks

This was a huge success and very delicious! I was a little nervous about it, but it tastes just as good if not better than what comes in the little packets at the grocery stores.  The only ingredient I left out were the crushed red pepper flakes because I don't like that much spiciness, but other than that I actually followed directions and measured and such. 

Unsuccessful

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars from The Pioneer Woman

This was all my fault.  I changed too many variables and misread the amount of butter so they didn't really become bar-like at all - more like strawberry oatmeal casserole, however it tasted pretty good when servd with a scoop of frozen vanilla yogurt.  I used only 1 stick of butter instead of 1 and 3/4.  I used whole wheat flour, although I have no idea if that made it more crumbly.  I didn't have strawberry preserves so I used Welch's Natural strawberry spread.  And I eyeballed the rest.  And I didn't pat it down.  I'd love to give these another go but Jason said there's too much butter and since I'm no longer using light butter he doesn't want all that.  But I think I could be successful with these if I followed the instructions.

Zucchini Chips from Table for Two

What I did wrong here was I did not have silicon baking mats or parchment paper and as usual I didn't let not having what I needed stop me.  So I put tin foil over my baking pans and let that be that.  ha.  I cut the zucchini slices really thin - maybe too thin - and brushed olive oil over them with my NEW pastry brush (I felt so sophisticated).  I didn't have kosher salt so I got out the old salt shaker and went at it.  My chips turned out really tiny and thin and they taste like fried okra to me.  Not bad, I guess, but not the lovely, appetizing looking chips the Table for Two recipe page. 

Tuesday's Treat

Today's treat could be called Jane's Power Salad OR the Whatever-You-Have-in-the-Fridge Salad.  Last week I started giving the whole gluten free thing a try.  My only reason is that I believe it is going to help me with the last vestiges of baby fat in my belly region.  So until I purchased some gluten free bread, flour, etc., I was left with veggies and fruits and any non-wheat products in the house - not a bad thing!  So one afternoon I made myself a salad with whatever I had in the fridge and it turned out to be so delicious that I've eaten it four times since (which is about once a day).  Here are the ingredients:

• baby spinach
• avacado
• 1 boiled egg
• tomato
• cheese (I used colby jack - my fave)
• fresh pears (I always have some on hand to make Eloise pear compote)
• walnuts and pecans (100 calorie bags I had in the pantry, although I don't add these if I know I'm going to want some pistachios later as a snack)
• Newman's Own balsamic viniagrette

It might sounds strange or it might not, but this salad is DELISH!  All of those flavors go so well together and it is full of good things for this marathon training runner.  It is filling and sticks with me a while - probably because of the egg and avacado.  I bought the spinach for another recipe but have used half the bag already for this amazing salad.

After my 14 miler Saturday it is what I ate and it was fabulous.  What I wanted was a hamburger and french fries (I was reeeeeeeally hungry, having not eaten enough for the race or the 14 miles), but this salad was a much better choice.

If you want to make your own power salad, a good rule of thumb is to have lots of your favorite salad things on hand, hanging out in the fridge.  Or you could go out and get these exact ingredients and give mine a try.  I promise you it is fabulous!   Happy Tuessday!

Baby Steps to Better Eating

So, there is this movement and I've known friends who adopted it long before it was the fad it is today... but it is a GOOD fad and I'm glad I'm a part of it now... although it is overwhelming.  Let me explain.

Do you know how much absolute CRAP is in our food?  I thought I knew.  I really did.  I used to run with a friend named Kristi and we would have long talks about this.  I stopped drinking diet drinks and then cokes altogether. I cut out all fake sweeteners and I knew what to look for (sucralose, for example). I started reading labels and cutting out all "partially hydrogenated" oils even when the label said "No trans fat."  I did a few other things she and I talked about, but the more I learn and the more I read... I wasn't even scratching the surface!

There are hormones in meat and milk and cheese.  Bad hormones that can make little girls develop much faster than we mothers would prefer... among other things.  Preservatives are awful and do awful things to the body.  MSG has 40 (slight exaggeration) different names so if you are LOOKING for MSG in the label, be warned, it can be labeled as, "autolyzed yeast, yeast extract, maltodextrin, hydrolyzed protein, sodium caseinate, mono-potassium glutamate, and textured protein." (What is MSG).  Good grief.  I don't know about you, but I thought yeast extract sounded sort of natural.  Ha! 

If something is "light" or "fat free" chances are they took out something bad and put in something WORSE.  It would be better if we ate in moderation than to consume more of a lighter or fat free version.  This goes for butter, coffee creamer, and basically any food item out there (I'm focusing on the ones I use often). 

Basically, any food item that has been processed is bad.  In a nutshell.  No lie.  They even have DRUGS to combat the bad stuff in our food.  What?  Yes!  It cracks me up that New York is going to limit the amount of coke you can drink, but we are going to allow poison in our foods to make them look prettier and last longer.  Way to get us healthy, New York.

Now.  Deep breath.  I am starting to make more small changes in addition to the ones I've already made.  I'm hoping they add up to massive changes, but I have to start with little steps or I am overwhelmed.  First of all, I'm trying to be thrifty and the better you eat, the more expensive it is.  I HATE that, but there it is.  I buy a LOT of fruits and veggies and make my own desserts.  I make peach cobbler, blueberry crisp, apple crisp and Jason makes homemade cookies.  This cuts out a lot of junk in our junk food (ha).  I'm still looking for an acceptable frozen yogurt.  Right now we are using Purity, but that has things on the label I can't pronounce... always a bad sign.

I'm going to start shredding my own cheese.  Pre-shredded cheese has an anti-caking agent (as do many spices) in it that is not good... among other things.  I learned this at a Proverbs 31 Woman class a friend has started.  She's not only talking about cooking, food, and health, but many other things women do to run a home, but I've honed in on the food part (although I probably could seriously benefit from the sowing lessons).  Check her out here: Fussy Monkey Business. 

I stopped buying light butter, much to Jason's chagrin, but I think it would be better to cut back on butter than to put chemicals into our bodies.  I buy the more expensive meats from the grocery store because they are hormone free.  When Eloise starts drinking milk, we will go organic on that.  For now, we drink so little of it that I'm not going there yet (we are looking at a $3.00 price increase when I do, same goes for organic half and half).  I'm not throwing out white flour altogether, but if I can make it with whole wheat flour, I will.  It's a little more grainy, but with many foods that works just fine.

I'm going to stop buying many things from the center aisles of the grocery store.  I still buy cereal and tomato sauce... things like that.  But not without serious label reading (and lots of research on what in the world those unpronounceable ingredients are).  It is frustrating because it means I can't buy a lot of things like crackers (do any exist without preservatives?), certain sauces, etc.  It is maddening that of ALL the useless things our government focuses on... taking poisons out of our food isn't one of them.  It is stressful because I'm trying to buy groceries on a budget and cutting out the crap means spending more money.  But I guess in the end, my health and the health of my little family is worth it to me.  At the very least, we will save money on medical bills.

And I'm going to keep running and sweating and hoping this poor body that I've filled with chemicals for so long can rid itself of some of it that way.  Baby steps.  That's what I'm taking.  I'm hoping that I can protect Eloise from a lot of the junk in our foods and that I can make Jason and I healthier than we have ever been.

Tuesday Treats

Today's treat is a new-ish one for me that I've come to love.  It helps me start my day off right because when I start my day with something healthy, it sets a trend for the rest of that day's meals.  While I love a good doughnut or a stack of pancakes, I rarely eat anything like that because it just messes up my day.  So my treat for today is a bowl of cheerios with fresh cut strawberries and bananas in it.  That is over 2 servings of fruit if you use an entire banana and over half a cup of strawberries.  I find that I'm using less cheerios to make room for all the fruit!

The strawberries add a bit of tartness this time of year and the bananas add the sweetness.  I'm not sure what the cheerios add except a pleasing taste and texture I like.  You can really use any cereal for this one as long as it's not loaded with sugar. 

AND for the runner, bananas provide important potassium for our muscles and the strawberries are supposed to be a good anti-inflammatory.  So give this breakfast treat a try and see what you think!

Yum

So one of the things I dreamed of doing while I was a working woman was cooking.  Why couldn't I cook when I was a working woman?  Well... I have excuses about working 8 hours a day, early morning runs, not wanting to come home and stand around in the kitchen or spend evenings in the grocery store... whatever.  I just decided in my mind that once I was a stay at home mom I'd magically turn myself into a marvelous chef and learn things.  Kitchen things.

It started, as many of these things do, with Pinterest.  I'd pin easy meals that contained things I thought Jason and I would eat.  He can't eat cheese, I don't like peppers, etc. I also wanted them to be healthy. I decided this week I'd start trying one new recipe each week and I asked Jason if he minded since it could very possibly turn out horribly.  I've been known to burn things, not fully follow directions, substitute ingredients I don't have, etc. I'm probably the biggest goof-up in the kitchen you can find.

BUT, I'm a mom now so I need to have some skills.

I started with this recipe: Pan-Roasted Chicken with Lemon Garlic Green Beans.

This is mine...and I think it looks sophisticated.

I did not have any garlic (forgot to put that on my list), but I DID have garlic-y olive oil (don't ask), so I used that.  I did not have a juicer to juice one of my lemons so I just squeezed it a lot.  I only had skinless, boneless chicken breasts and I didn't use as many beans as it called for, which I should have.  My potatoes turned out perfectly, some of my beans were charred and my chicken was tough on top because I cooked it too long.  I thought cooking it longer would make it all more tender.  ha.  No.  But now I KNOW from experience what to do next time and that is a good thing.  It was edible and Jason said I should add it to our rotation with a few modifications.

Next week's recipe will be one I saw on the Today Show this morning.  It is called Chicken Pot Au Feu and it is a slow cooker recipe.  I'm going to need to borrow my sister's slow cooker or buy a bigger one because mine is small and sad, but this recipe looks delicious and I think it is one I can handle.  Slow cooker recipes are my friend because Eloise usually takes a good morning nap, which would allow me to get it all ready and cooking.  She does not always take an afternoon nap and around 5:00 p.m. (time to start cooking) she is sometimes a little fussy and just wants to be held.

Two other things I want to include in my "Yum" post, one of which is my new favorite snack!  Nature's Valley Oats and Dark Chocolate granola bars.  I usually stick to the regular old Oats and Honey, but decided to get wild and get dark chocolate.  I LOVE THEM.  They are 190 calories and they satisfy my sweet tooth while being a little better than things like cookies or a 3 Muskateers or Twizzlers (which is usually the desire of my sweet tooth).

And the second thing I've been loving is green tea.  I posted a while my personal recipe for it, but sometimes in a pinch I will buy some already made (although I prefer not to do this because I can make it so much more cheaply).  I love love love green tea and I have discovered this new (to me) brand that is delish!  The ingredients are sound and I love the taste.  So far I have found them at Rite Aid only, but I only recently discovered this brand so I haven't looked for it elsewhere. 


So there you have it!  My yummy thoughts for the week!

Olympic Laboring and Peach Cobbler

So I said to Eloise, "Hey Eloise, wouldn't it be fun if you came before the Olympics and then you, me, and your dad could all sit around in a sleep-deprived stupor and watch them together?"  I'm sure she said yes because I've heard how infants are so cooperative, but it is not looking good since today is July 26 and she is not here yet and the Olympics start tomorrow.

So on my walk this morning I said to myself, "Well, Mother-to-be, you can have your own Olympic event! You'll be one with the Olympians as you bring a new baby girl into this world."  Surprisingly enough that made me feel better.  It is kind of cool to think of having a baby during the Olympics...at least to an athlete of sorts who enjoys watching them (especially track and field!).

I had another doctor's appointment today and all is as it was last week.  I'm 1 centimeter dilated (although I read that dilation means very little when trying to predict when a baby will be born), and all of our vitals are good.  Dr. K "stretched my cervix" again, which doesn't hurt, it just feels like some pulling and tugging, but it does make me sore later in the day.  Last week after my first go with cervix stretching I drove home wanting a sausage, egg and cheese croissant, but decided Eloise probably didn't need fast food so I made cheesy scrambled eggs and turkey sausage at home.  Today I did the same only with cheesy scrambled eggs and toast with strawberry jelly.  Hits the spot every time.

For some reason doctor's appointments always make me feel like I need/deserve a treat and it is usually something like an iced mocha or a big breakfast, but I'm trying to not only be thrifty but choose the healthier options for my treats these days.

Although I'm not ruling out an iced mocha at some point today.  Decaf for Eloise and delicious for me! 

Did I share with you my current weird craving?  Twizzlers!  What in the world?  What could possibly be in a twizzler that one would crave?  But I LOVE them.  And while I do not think they have any nutritional value at ALL, I let myself get some about once every other week.  This is a big feat because I want them every time I go into a grocery store.  I guess it isn't the worst thing ever to crave but it is certainly odd and thinking of a new baby girl eating a twizzler helps curb my desire for them somewhat.

Something delicious I did enjoy last night was my mother-in-law's recipe for "Lazy Peach Cobbler."  It is one of my favorites!  I will share the recipe, and as the name claims, it is super easy.  The only time consuming thing is cutting up the peaches and that could be just me as I usually end up mutilating them.  I absolutely LOVE fresh peaches and with a side of frozen vanilla yogurt, this recipe is FABULOUS!

1 quart of peaches (I only had 3, but I think 4-5 would be better)
1/2 cup of butter (I use light)
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup of sugar (I use a tad less because the yogurt adds sweetness)
1 egg
3/4 cup of milk (I use skim)

Melt butter in baking pan. Mix flour, sugar, eggs and milk together (I put in a few drops of vanilla extract too), pour over butter.  Add peaches and bake for 60 minutes at 350. 

And ENJOY!

Happy Olympics, everyone!  Go USA!

Feeling Good During Pregnancy

While I think there is no way to flat out guarantee feeling great during pregnancy, I do think we can increase our chances significantly by what we do and eat while pregnant.  Because we are all so different and our bodies react differently to growing a little one, I can't say if a woman eats right and exercises regularly she will feel great throughout, but I do think doing those things has the potential to help immensely, and I use my own experience as proof (while recognizing I am not a doctor and can't speak for all women).

In regards to pregnancy and exercise it has been very important to me to stay active, and I believe I have been reaping countless benefits from this.  Of course, I'm not sure what it would be like had I not been exercising like I have due to genetics and how my body works, but I really think exercise has played a key role in staying healthy and feeling great during this pregnancy.

Here's a list of the common pregnancy symptoms I have not had so far (and I say so far because I have a month to go!):

1. No swelling. Not even when we flew to and from Idaho last week.
2. Very little back pain. I only have it when I sit still too long and sometimes when I lie down.
3. No constipation. TMI maybe, but my book promised me I would and I have not (whew!).  I think that is due to drinking plenty of water, eating right, and exercise (but that is only my opinion).
4. Most of the time I sleep well. I do have to get up and use the bathroom 2-3 times a night, but with exercise each day, I am pleasantly tired and can fall asleep easily most nights.
5. Low blood pressure.  Every 4 weeks then every 2 weeks my blood pressure has been taken at the doc and it is almost exactly what it was before pregnancy.
6. Energy!  I'm not saying I'm as energetic as I was before pregnancy, but I really believe a regular exercise routine has helped me hold on to a little bit more than I would have otherwise.  My pregnancy books and websites agree with this theory, stating that even a little exercise gives energy.
7. Very little heartburn.  I've had it a few times, but I can count them on my fingers.  I'm not sure, however, how much of this one can control other than eating foods that don't lend themselves to this symptom.
8. Reasonable weight gain.  Again, this is strictly supposition on my part because I'm not sure how much of this one can control during pregnancy.  I do find it odd when women say pregnancy gives them an "excuse to get fat" (and yes, I've heard this multiple times)!  I have never in my life heard of anyone wanting that excuse...especially with all the pills, diet plans, exercise fads, etc. that are so popular these days.  I also believe the whole "eating for two" thing is a misnomer because pregnant women really only need 300 more calories in the beginning of their pregnancies and 500 more in later months.  That is not another person's worth of food.  What I'm trying to say is that even though weight gain IS going to happen, it may be possible to keep it reasonable and at least FEEL good in the process.  And feeling good based on what you eat and do each day also applies to those who are not pregnant. 

I'm not trying to pat myself on the back here or get a pat from anyone else.  What I am trying to do is tell you IT IS SO WORTH IT!

The temperature has been in the triple digits here this summer and I am almost 35 weeks pregnant.  People shake their heads and look at me with pity when they realize the state of things, but I can honestly say they have NOT been bad.  Sure, I think I could do more outside if it were cooler and maybe run a bit more too.  BUT, I can go for walks, I can swim at the Y, I can do light weights, pilates, and yoga at home... the options are there if I will take them.  I can do an hour all at once or 30 minutes twice a day, and I LOVE the results! 

So, fellow moms-to-be, give that some thought.  Feeling good.  What is it worth to you?  Thirty minutes of exercise a day?  Passing up those french fries for a side of fruit instead?  Having energy to make it through a long work day?  Possibly a better labor experience and recovery?  I know we can't choose everything about our pregnancies, but we can choose what we put in our bodies and how much exercise we get.  So what will it be?

Tuesday's Treat

Today's treat is a refreshing, summer-y beverage perfect for not only the thirsty health conscious person, but for pregnant thirsty health conscious peeps as well (especially those trying to remain hydrated at all times).  I will call it Jason's Green Tea because he started making it and now I make it exactly like he makes it for Jason-like results.

We mostly use Bigelow Green tea which you can get in bulk at Sam's, but I sometimes by flavored green teas by Lipton as well.  We use 10 tea bags (yes, we like it to be flavorful) for 1 pitcher of tea.  Here's how we do it:

1. Put a kettle on to boil the water.
2. Once water is at a boil, remove from stove and place 10 tea bags in water (less if you don't want it that strong).
3. Leave tea bags no more than 5 minutes or tea will be bitter. 3-4 minutes is probably best.
4. While tea bags are steeping, fill a pitcher with ice cubes.
5. Add 1/4 cup of honey to hot tea and stir.
6. Pour hot tea over ice cubes and you are DONE!

Delicious tea to quench your thirst, keep caffeine intake low (should that be a concern) with just a little sweetness (you can leave that out if you prefer unsweet) to feel like a treat.  I LOVE IT!  We go through a pitcher every 2 days...which is why we buy in bulk.  You can also get a 5 lb bottle of honey at Sam's.  

Can you find the pup?

Tuesday Treats

So I'm pregnant, due in August.  I'm still running and I'm literally thirsty all the time.  Take a hot, thirsty pregnant woman and what do you need?  POPSICLES!  And what better way to get in some good baby-growing nutrients as well, but to make my very own?  Well, it made perfect sense until I gave it a shot.  Then I learned I had a lot to learn before I'd be good at making really good popsicles... 

First, I found two recipes on Pinterest.

These are called Pina Colada Pops and I found them here.

1 can pineapple chunks in juice
1 banana
1 can coconut milk
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract





So I went to the grocery but could not find any coconut milk.  I found coconut water, but I wasn't sure if that was the same thing so I decided yogurt would do.  I made that decision based on the other recipe.

These are called Crunchy Granola Smoothie Pops found here.

10 ounces of your favorite frozen fruit
2 cups of plain low-fat or fat-free yogurt
Puree until smooth and then stir in:
1/3 cup of granola and pour mixture into 8 popsicle molds





I bought plain Fage Greek yogurt and figured that would suffice.  I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond for popsicle molds and I talked with Jason about my recipes to see which one he would be willing to try.  He wasn't big on the coconut milk or the granola ingredients in a popsicle. 

So you are figuring it out...I mixed them!  My first go (after I dug out our aged mixer and cleaned it up and hoped I put it back together right) consisted of frozen blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, plain Greek yogurt, and some pomegranate juice and water to get things going (I was kinda flying by the seat of my maternity pants here).  The mixture was a very odd shade of bright scary pink and it tasted awful. I dumped it all in the sink and tried again.

This time I tried a very ripe banana, a can of pineapple chunks in their own juice, and plain yogurt.  The sweet pineapple and banana worked well.  They weren't absolutely to die for delicious, but they weren't awful either...

Okay, they may not have been that great.  I ate one and Jason tasted one.  That was several weeks ago and they are still sitting in my freezer...next to some perfectly good pre-made, store bought popsicles I might add.

But where is the fun in eating pre-made, store bought pops when I can so easily and conveniently make my own?  AND I can make sure they aren't loaded with sugar and toxins (although I have come to the conclusion that vanilla non-Greek yogurt or a smidge of sugar may be necessary for them to be edible).  I haven't given up.  My sister's Zumba instructor sent me this recipe and I intend to give it a go.




These are called Smoothie Pops and she says her kids love them.

2 cups plain yogurt (or flavored if you want them to be sweeter)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ice
2T sugar (or honey)
2tsp lemon juice
Any kind of fruit
Blend in a blender and pour into popsicle molds.

That doesn't seem so bad.  A little sugar or honey OR vanilla yogurt...maybe some sweeter fruit and they might turn out all right.  I'm going to try this.  I have no idea what combination I'll use, but I'm going to try and see.  It probably won't be what is written here verbatim (because again, what fun would it be to follow instructions and not have a catastrophe or two?), but it will be something a lot like this one.

SO, what do you think?  Do YOU have any healthy, delicious popsicle recipes I should try?

Eating and Pregnancy

Once word of my pregnancy got out, friends often asked me what I've been craving and if I've had any unusual or crazy cravings.  I really haven't.  Most of the things I like to eat, I have always liked to eat.  I've had some crazy food aversions, like my new distaste for hot beverages, but other than that there hasn't been much out of the ordinary. 

For a while all I wanted was cereal, so I bought several kinds and usually ate it for breakfast and dinner (much to Jason's dismay).  Once I got through the weirdness of the first trimester, my desire for cereal diminished (somewhat) and was replaced by the craving for fruit and fried chicken.  These two things made my taste buds sing and dance, and while I tried not to indulge in fried chicken too often (mostly Chick-fil-a or Zaxbys), I bought all the fruit I could find in season, eating large amounts in one sitting.  I figured I couldn't really overdo it on the fruit and my "what to expect" book said that fruit eased morning sickness, was a good substitute when vegetables were hard to get down, and helped with the myriad of other strange pregnancy symptoms.  I tried to get some vegetables at dinner, but they were never very appealing so I went with the fruit substitution thing.

Before I got pregnant I ate pretty well, but believed that when I was pregnant I would be motivated to eat even better.  After all, I'd be eating for a little one's health and development as well, and I just knew that would be enough motivation to keep me on the straight and narrow where nutrition was concerned.  I didn't take into account that constant fatigue would affect what I wanted to eat and how much effort I was willing to put in to what I ate, or that I would long for Chick-fil-a every day.  I didn't plan on a full time job, coaching with Running Start, LLC, attending fitness courses at UAH, and pregnancy all at the same time, but it just sort of happened that way.  So when I'm not doing one of those things, I am sleeping.  Or thinking about sleeping. I can hardly get through 1 hour of TV these days without beginning to long for my bed (talk about cravings!).

So what is busy pregnant lady to do when it comes to eating right?  Well, I have some strategies.  First, I enlist the help of my sweet husband when it comes to dinner.  Last week he cooked almost every meal we ate.  This week we kind of fell off the wagon, so I'm already planning what I will do about next week.  And that is another strategy for a busy pregnant lady and eating right.  PLAN!  I will make a grocery list and make a trip Saturday or Sunday.  Then I will plan out quick and healthy meals for each night (crockpots help tremendously).  I will buy lots of fresh, easily portable fruit for lunches, along with healthy options that are also easily packed in a lunch box (soups, beans, rice, frozen meals, yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts), reading labels to make sure ingredients are good for me and a growing little one.

Drinks are also important with a pregnant runner and a training husband.  I feel like I am ALWAYS thirsty these days.  I drink a lot of water but I get tired of it too.  I look for drinks that have some nutrients but nothing harmful in them, and I have to watch for caffeine amounts too.  Some favorites are Honest Tea (green tea with honey or white tea with peach) and Honest Kids drink boxes (I know, we are adults but these fruity drinks are just enough to quench our thirst with refreshing flavor and only 40 calories per bag).  I like Simply Orange Juice and Simply Grapefruit Juice, and in the summer I indulge in Simply Lemonade and Limeade too.  I will occasionally drink a Sobe Lifewater, doing my best to make sure ingredients are okay, and I also brew green tea at home with a touch of honey in it.  And of course, there is the daily iced coffee, but that is more for enjoyment than nutritional value.

Some other helpful articles on eating while pregnant can be found below.  Check them out for helpful tips and insights into keeping mom and baby as healthy as possible!

What to Expect - Planning Meals During Pregnancy

What to Expect - Eating Well During Pregnancy Week by Week

Fit Pregnancy - Tell Me What to Eat

Fit Pregnancy - Amazing Grains

Tuesday's Treat

Today's treat is not really new, and you may laugh, but this holiday season was the first time I'd ever tried one.  And then I renamed it.  Today's treat is angeled eggs (also known as deviled eggs).  Yep, I had my very first deviled egg Christmas Eve and I LOVED it!

A while back, Katie shared her treat of boiled eggs.  So this just adds a little zing to that already great treat.  The recipe my sister used is below.

For 6 boiled eggs:

• boil eggs, peel and cut in half
• scoop out yoke and mix with the following ingredients:
• 1/4 cup of mayo (I used light)
• 1 tablespoon of vinegar (VERY good for you)
• 1 tablespoon of mustard
• add mixture back into egg halves and sprinkle with paprika

My mom said she likes to add sweet pickle relish instead of vinegar, so if you like that, there's another option.

So last night I was thinking of healthy things to bring to work for lunch and I decided to make some angeled eggs.  I made 3, which gave me 6 halves.  Three for today and three for tomorrow.  They are currently in the office fridge and I'd better go get them before the whole place smells like eggs (the downside to boiled eggs in the fridge).

If you are like me and somehow missed out on this southern tradition, give it a try.  You may find yourself surprised (as I was) to like it! Also, try floating around the new name as well, if you don't mind.

Tuesday's Treat

Today's treat is one recommended to me by my friend Shannon.  On a bike ride one day we were discussing healthy snacks to keep us satisfied between meals while giving us nutrients our bodies needed, and she suggested Greek Yogurt.  She said having some yogurt in the afternoon helped curb her sweet tooth and held her over until dinner time.  I was in the thick of triathlon training at the time and I felt like I was always hungry.  When I didn't have a healthy option, I would visit my co-worker's candy dish. 

Something to curb my sweet tooth and mid after noon hunger?  I was all about that!  I tried several brands and my favorite so far is Chobani.  They have several flavors with real fruit on the bottom such as black cheery, blueberry and strawberry.  If you haven't tried Greek yogurt, it is a little thicker than other yogurts, but not so much that it becomes unappealing (to me).  It is packed with good, wholesome ingredients and the website also claims that Chobani yogurt has no fat and no cholesterol, twice the protein, no artificial flavors or preservatives, no synthetic growth hormones, 3 types of probiotics, it is gluten free and kosher certified. 

Sometimes I bring a little granola and sprinkle that in as well for a delicious mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack.  I like knowing that I can curb that hunger and give my body something it needs.  Give it a try!  Most grocery stores carry it.