So we started off our little adventure with somewhat of a bang...I originally thought that the Mongolian lunch we had on Sunday had given me food poisoning. However, since it is now Tuesday and I am still sick, we have determined that I probably caught a bug. Oh well.
So yesterday was day one, and Brian and I have a lot of learning to do. Not only did I seriously under-think our workout plan (apparently it is ill-advised to work out arms, legs, and abs all in one night...), but I also forgot to purchase a few things that we needed. So last night after work, I headed to Aldi to pick up fruit and veggies, and then tried to pick up cajun seasoning and andouille sausage from Lowes Foods. Of course they were out of the sausage, but it took me 10 minutes to figure that out because there was an extreme coupon lady blocking the sausage while she compared merchandise to her binder (yes, binder) of coupons. Needless to say, I was not in a good mood when I got home.
Despite feeling pretty sick, Brian and I completed our arm workout, as well as a few ab exercises. I stretched and then we headed to bed so that we were well rested for day two.
Unfortunately, Brian got well rested. I did not. Nausea kept me up most of the night and into the morning, and I called into work late and slept until about 9. However, since I am the best girl friend ever, I got up and made him lunch at 6 and then went back to bed. I rock.
Here are a few recipes that we are using. They taste great, and are pretty filling for the portion, so we really like them.
Protein Salad
This was our dinner last night, and I absolutely love it. I took a head of romaine lettuce hearts and chopped it up into bite sized pieces. I used the entire head, which made a rather large salad. I then added green pepper, tomato, mushrooms, cucumber, and avocado. I also grilled a large chicken breast and cut it up into chunks as well. I like to cook my chicken by placing a sheet of tin foil on a cookie sheet and then seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper and baking it at 350 for about 25 minutes, or however long it takes depending on the size. For the dressing, I mixed extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano, salt and pepper in a jar. This way, I wasn't exposed to the gluten that is normally found in salad dressings! Yay for me! Brian really enjoyed the salad because he could eat a ton of it and still keep a low calorie count. The highest calorie portion was the avocado, but since it contains a lot of good oils and fats, I like to keep it in there, but the choice is entirely up to you!
Chicken Salad
I love chicken salad, and it's so easy to make. I divide a small can of chicken (canned in water, not oil, and all white breast meat) into two tupperware containers. I then add a small teaspoon of mayo, salt, and pepper, and stir. Once I find the right amount of spice, I add about 10 grapes, sliced into quarters. The grapes give a little bit of crunch as well as a bit of sweetness that is a nice balance for the amount of pepper that I use. You can substitute celery or onions for the grapes as well.
Fruit and Yogurt
Brian loves yogurt and so do I, so I thought it would be a good way to get him to eat breakfast. I chose plain yogurt but Brian likes the vanilla, so we bought one of each. For his, I simply mix one serving of yogurt with 4 sliced strawberries. The strawberries are rather large, so it ends up being a pretty good amount of fruit. For myself, I add a serving of plain yogurt, 3 strawberries and half of a banana. I also add about a tablespoon of local honey. The honey (if purchased from local beekeepers) has good anti-allergy properties and helps you build up a tolerance to local pollen, because the bees use the pollen to make their honey.
Light English Muffin with Peanut Butter and Fruit
The light english muffins that I buy are only 100 calories each, and have a lot of fiber, so it's a good balance. I spread about a tablespoon of peanut butter on them, no butter or jam, and slice half of a banana on the top. Brian doesn't like bananas so he eat it with a side of sliced apples or strawberries. The fiber keeps you full and the protein in the peanut butter is a good way to start your day to be productive.
Crock Pot Jambalaya
Okay so we haven't eaten this one yet. It's currently in the crock pot at home, so I'll let you know how it works out. We plan on having it tonight and then tomorrow for lunch, so I made enough to cover four meals. The ingredients are really easy, and it can be adapted to whatever you like. For example, since the store didn't have andouille sausage, I am using chicken and shrimp instead. Slice up three celery stalks, 5-6 medium size mushrooms (I'm using crimini mushrooms, which are basically premature portabellos, but using button mushrooms or whatever type you want is totally okay too!), 1 medium size onion, 1 green pepper, a can of diced tomatoes with the juice, a chicken breast, and a box of chicken stock (enough to cover the chicken). I left my chicken breasts whole, but you can slice them up if you want to. I just wanted to shred it afterwards, so it's just a personal preference. Add about a teaspoon of cajun seasoning and cayenne pepper if you like heat. Cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 3-4, and serve over brown rice.
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