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.
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?
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!
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! Â Breakfast is served. Â Ahhhhhh.
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?
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:Â 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! There’s bananas under there somewhere and probably a plumb or nectarine. I warned you I was horrible at this!
Snack 4:00ish:Â 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:
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.
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?
I am reading before I eat breakfast right now and now you got me hungry! Seriously though I am so with you on being lazy with the cleanup and am all for anything that can make my life a bit easier with that. But Kevin is the type that does love to cook and makes a mess doing it. So, even if I am not cooking the meal per say, I get to many times cleanup after he does. So, not fun, but yet the boy can cook. I guess I just take the good with the bad on that though, but totally got to look into this machine now to maybe take away some of the cleanup mess around here!
Oh how I wish someone would cook for me! My husband is actually a really good cook but he rarely does it because of his work schedule. I think I would take all the clean-up for regular meals made by someone else…I think…:-)
I want to dive face first into that bowl of granola. That stuff is my weakness. I can’t stop. Won’t stop!
Amen sister!!!
MY MIL got me that Ninja for Christmas and I’ve actually liked her ever since. Haha! I use it probably 5 days out of 7. If not for breakfast then a post workout smoothie or whatever. That thing can chop through anything.
Thank you for also sharing about your food because I’ve often wondered. After reading this I think I’m doing okay. Or at least not as bad as I thought. Ha!
You’re welcome!! And YES to the easy peasy Ninja and it’s fabulous chopping abilities.
This is awesome!! I am happy to hear that you don’t deny yourself the fun stuff once in a while, in my head you eat tons of kale and seaweed for breakfast lunch and dinner LOL. You took some great pics because all of a sudden I am hungry for a second breakfast! The ninja is awesome and super powerful, I am a fan!!
I’m glad you can tolerate the pictures and YES, I eat all kinds of food. Kale and spinach pretty much stay in my smoothies 🙂
Cooking, prepping, chopping, planning, shopping…such a pain in the keester! We keep it simple too. Our dinners would look identical.
Then we really need to have dinner together!
You’re not alone; I feel like I eat all the time, pregnant or not. My typical snacks are green smoothies, larabars (homemade, if I’m not being lazy), and cheese + fruit.
Homemade? OMG that is too much for me but I love that you can do it…and I would love it even more if I could eat them 🙂
I have a blender but that Ninja sound pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing your typical food day with us! I always wondered how all of you elite athletes fuel yourselves. That has always been something that I have a hard time mastering.
Eating is just hard. I tend to eat the same things because it’s easy and I’m lazy about it. I definitely like to try new things and, of course, I’m sure I could fuel better but it’s not high on the list and, what I’m doing seems to be working 🙂
PS – The Ninja is awesome. It cuts though ice like butter!
The salsa is divine! And good reminder about the veggies-perfect for any protien! Yummo!
I know you love it:-) I really love blending my veggies if I’m not roasting them…
Now I know what to make in the Ninja ..lol Someone gave me one a few months ago. .SALSA & Mango shakes there shall be. Btw you are far from lazy! :-))
Saw what you made on Twitter and I love it. You must use the Ninja!!!
I love this post for so many reasons. First, I am so glad to hear I am not the only one who despises cooking and prefers meals to be quick and easy. It is so hard though and you sparked some great ideas for me to try (some maybe even my girlies will try – HUGE props for you there if Keira actually eats something from this). Do you just eat your salsa as a snack plain, like spoon it up or do you have a favorite food to dip in it? My husband has been big into fruit blends lately so I will have to bend your ear on some of your fav combos for those drinks.
I think most people would read this and think you are super strict with your diet, but I think you make awesome choices and are eating what you like an knows what makes your body feel good! I have told you this before, but I will say it again, you are a great model for moderation and balance! I know you eat so well daily but are always ready to enjoy the yummy and tasty “treats” when the cravings come or out with friends. Thanks for the great food ideas and the lack of prep an clean up that is needed for these! Now I just have to get to the grocery store….
We’ll have to chat all about this on our next 18 or 20 miler! First of all, thank you, as you know how crazy this all can be. Second, I forgot to add that I usually eat the salsa with those blue corn chips or I put it on the fish tacos, or in a salad with avocado and spinach. We’ll have to talk details about the fruit blends. Ninja gave me a great (simple) recipe book so I can let you borrow it 🙂
You called it the “Nurti” Ninja in paragraph #8. I am the grammar police and you are under ARREST!
Fortunately for you, Nurti sounds better. You can do no wrong, girlfriend.
I told you I was lazy!!!
I stayed with a friend over the weekend who has smoothies every morning. She makes them for her husband to bring to work, for herself and for their two year old daughter. I loved the idea!
Did she make one for you? What’s up with that?? 🙂
I love fig bars! They are the best! I’ve been using Naturebox for my snacking lately since I snack all.the.time. It’s been such a huge help! Your brussel sprouts look so good.
I’ve heard of Naturebox and I may have to look into it again. You know I have and love Runnerbox but I could definitely use more food around here! I’m so glad you find the BS appealing 🙂 Thanks Britt!
Allie! This is awesome! I have a similar “miracle worker”: the Nutribullet. The Hubs came home with one around Christmas after we both tired of my bitching and moaning about my inability to loose the baby weight I had amassed while pregnant with Kennedy…
P.S. I have to second Marisa: You are FAR from Lazy!
xo
So glad you know and love the Nutribullet! And thanks for the non-lazy vote of confidence 🙂
I like that. A second breakfast! I’ve always had one too. And then snack. And then lunch!
I do tend to eat late night dessert, though, which is probably not the best thing. Not every night! And it’s usually only organic popcorn with some organic butter. Not terrible.
Um, Tamara, I don’t think popcorn counts at all as a “dessert.” We need to get you some cake! 🙂 I’m glad I’m not the only one who eats multiple breakfasts!!
I’m sort of the opposite – I don’t usually eat until close to noon and somedays it is later. But, I like to cook and try new recipes all the time!!! I’m not a huge snacker – I pretty much eat all my calories in one meal and maybe a small snack – I know it doesn’t work for everyone but it works for me right now.
Noon? OMG. I think I would be dead by noon if I didn’t eat. I guess it’s all what you get used to, right? I really wish I liked to cook more. I mean, I DO it, but I’m usually not all that excited about it 🙂 Thanks Kim!
Ok, now that I’m not living on candy bars and fries, I think I need this. I’ve always been a chewer too, but i think this would be perfect for those snack cravings when you’re not starving, but just need something to feel in the gaps 🙂 For the most part I eat most of my calories before noon. Breakfast at 5am, 2nd breakfast at 8:30, mid-morning snack around 10, lunch (11:30ish) followed by light snack (3 or 4) and light dinner (6:30ish)
It’s perfect for you!…plus it makes meals a lot easier and who doesn’t love that?
This was so awesome to read – I love finding out what others eat. My magic bullet is on it’s last legs…I need to look at the Ninja! ANd yes…every couple of hours is perfect…if not exhausting!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! You should definitely look into upgrading your bullet – sounds like it’s time!!
I have a new love affair with granola, especially after trying Ilene’s!
I eat it for breakfast and er, later for a snack. I also eat some Greek yogurt with fruit between lunch and dinner. Yeah, I eat like 5 times a day too!
So, where does ice cream fit into your diet? 🙂
I should really do a whole separate post on all the desserts I eat…although it would be a short one. My husband and I last took the kids for ice cream on a random Saturday afternoon. I had Raspberry Chocolate Chip in a sugar cone and it was divine!!!
I like to eat all.the.things too! Although confession: I ate granola with coconut milk for breakfast and lunch. Because..well….It’s here! I totally want a Ninja so that I can make that salsa. Thanks for the mention! xo
I don’t blame you one bit!! 🙂
That salsa sounds so yummy! My kids would gobble it up. It’s so important to find things they love that they will eat all the time and it is good for them. You make awesome choices with your food but I’m glad you don’t deny yourselves some guilty pleasures too!
No way! What fun would that be? I hope you make the salsa for your kids – they would totally devour it!!
I love anything roasted. I do not like to drink my calories either, and have never tried a juicer / blender. Maybe one day…
Roasting is the way to go!! Thanks Karen 🙂