If there’s anything I’m lazy about, it may be eating. I absolutely love to eat all.the.things but I abhor cooking the way a lot of people hate running. I’m not good at it, it takes a lot of time and I’m always looking for shortcuts. This sounds more and more like the lamenting my non-running friends do…hmmmm.

feedingmyface

I get asked a lot about what I eat since, I’ve always said this body of mine is made in the kitchen. Well, at least partly, and the rest is built on pure sweat, determination and adrenaline. But, let’s stick with food on this one.

At a party recently, my dad was boasting to a new friend about my recent accomplishments in Spain at the Duathlon World Championship. As he was leading into my introduction, he said “Yes, my daughter is on a very strict diet.” Um, huh? I am? I made a face at my dad but then continued the conversation, since this woman was looking for advice for her daughter, who was running her first marathon. We had a great conversation, but what my dad said stuck with me.

I, of course, immediately started harassing all my friends asking them incredulously “Do you think I’m on a strict diet?” Most of them laughed in my face…because that’s what close friends do when you ask them a ridiculous question. To me, I eat pretty simply, I don’t deny myself things like french fries and ice cream, unless I’m in serious training which only happens a few times a year.

I guess I view food differently then most but, because I’ve been doing it for oh-so-long, I look at it as normal at this point. And, I confess, that I see food as fuel. I want whatever I put into my body to have a purpose and function. Sometimes that function is to PR a 5K and sometimes it’s to dance my face off at a wedding. Balance, my friends, balance.

So, after pondering this issue, I decided that since A. I had just received this freakin’ amazing Nutri Ninja from the people at Ninja Kitchen it was perfect timing for a post about food!

Is this Christmas?

Is this Christmas?

Now, I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of drinking my food. I’m a chewer. I like substance. Somehow the Jedi mind trick of chopping before swallowing makes me feel more satiated. So, when I was at FitBloggin‘ this past June, and had an opportunity to sample tons of different Ninja blended drinks, I was proven wrong again and again about taste, fullness and nutrition…from a magic blender.

Because I'm HAPPY!

Because I’m HAPPY!

The best thing about the Nurti Ninja? Almost zero clean-up. This goes back to my laziness, and need for things to move quickly and easily when it comes to food! Prep time? Almost nothing. Ingredients? Try ice, mangoes, bananas, kale, spinach, almond milk and water. BOOM!  Breakfast is served.  Ahhhhhh.

The boys even helped me fill the blender...while they had waffles and checked the haps on the iPad. You know, typical morning.

The boys even helped me fill the blender…while they had waffles with mango, and checked the haps on the iPad. You know, typical morning.

I seriously use this thing all the time. Both of the containers it comes with, fit into the cup holder in my car, so I can take them on the go, which is usually the way I take ALL food. Do yourself a favor and get one! It has made my in-between meals and second breakfasts so much simpler. What better recommendation can you give then that?

And, in other foods…

WARNING: I’m horrible at taking pictures of food. I don’t know how you food bloggers do it, and I hope your eyes don’t bleed when you view these. My apologies.

Breakfast 5:15AM: Coffee and whole wheat fig bars. I’m hungry as soon as I get up, and I get these fig bars by the pound at a local health food store. They are the perfect thing first thing in the morning.

They sell them in pounds, in these cute baskets with the ingredient list for your viewing pleasure. How can I resist?

They sell them in pounds, in these cute baskets with the ingredient list for your viewing pleasure. How can I resist?

Second Breakfast 7:30AM with the boys: This is when I’ll make a smoothie or have some Kashi Cereal (I like Raisin Vineyard lately) with Almond milk or organic regular…depending on what’s left in the fridge! For Almond Milk, like the Vanilla, Un-sweeted kind. I usually have a few handfuls of fruit as well – blueberries, strawberries, mango – whatever is in the fridge…and there is always fruit in the fridge!

Snack 11:00AM: I need fuel after my workout! I usually eat a VEGA bar or some kind of fruit/nut mix. Something easy (because I’m lazy!) that I can take with me and eat in the car, or right after I get out of the shower at home. I usually wash it down with some water or Gatorade, depending on what I did for a workout.

Lunch around 1:00 or 2:00PM: Typically I have a huge fruit salad with greek yogurt and granola. Some of my favorite granola is Hippie Chick, made with love from Ilene Evans in Oak Island, NC. (place your order online!) Depending on how much I did, I’ll add a piece of whole wheat bread with natural peanut butter (Teddy’s) and/or a Chia Bar so I feel like a true Health Warrior!

Come to mama!

Come to mama! There’s bananas under there somewhere and probably a plumb or nectarine. I warned you I was horrible at this!

Snack 4:00ish: You’re starting to see that I need to eat every few hours, right? Around 4 I start to get hungry for dinner and not even the kids eat this early so…time for another snack! At this hour I try to delve into veggies of some sort but my absolute favorite snack is my homemade salsa. It’s the easiest recipe and truly the best salsa. Plus, you can make it in the Ninja. You’re welcome:

salsarecipe

 

I feel like my eating is a workout in itself. Anyone else getting that? No wonder I hate to cook and plan meals – I eat too often!

Ok, so here we finally are at dinner! Usually I eat with the kids around 6pm because I just can’t wait any longer and my husband doesn’t tend to eat until 7:30 or 8pm.

Dinner 6:00PM: My favorite go-to dinner is salmon, seared in a pan with some spices, and a giant tray of roasted veggies! Roasted vegetables are one of the easiest things to make, they are so good for you and I usually have some leftovers for the next day or two. My favorite roasters are Brussels’s sprouts, carrots, asparagus, mushrooms, summer squash and peppers. Any root veggie will do! I simply chop them up, put them on a tray with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast at 450 for 20-25 minutes. Perfection.

I told you I can't take pictures of food! This looks gross but it's actually delicious. I swear!

This looks gross but it’s actually delicious. I swear!

Other dinner options are whole wheat pasta with veggies or, I love making shrimp soft tacos (whole wheat wraps) with avocado, shredded cheese, tomato and, of course, my homemade salsa!

Now, after all this food talk and food photos, I’m hungry. I wonder if I have a fig bar around here…

[Tweet “Eat the #lazy way @NinjaKitchen all day long! #foodisfuel “]

What’s your favorite meal?

Have any good snacking options?

Have you tried any Ninja Kitchen smoothies or side dishes?

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