Today I did something that I haven't done in years....
I went to Taco Bueno.
A little background....Taco Bueno is awesome. It was a regular for me in high school. My crew would be there for lunch at least once a week. We always purchased the number 3. What was the number 3 you ask? Pure awesomeness. A mexi dips and chips (double beans, no guac!) and a muchaco. Total cost = $4.08.
We would arrive with exact change. I didn't get the guacamole because I thought it was gross. I didn't try guacamole until my honeymoon and now I am obsessed with it. I loved that thick pita like bread on the muchaco. I loved the cheese, the beans, the pure lard fest that went on ever single time I walked in that place.
Since I was swimming two hours a day and then usually going to some sort of softball or soccer practice it wasn't a big deal. Plus, I was seventeen. Oh seventeen year old metabolism!
Today's visit was different. I'm not sure what drew me to the TB today, but something did. I took a look at the menu and nothing really appealed to me....nothing I mean that would normally appeal to me at Taco Bueno. No tostadas, no bean burritos, not mexi dips and chips. I ordered a chicken taco salad sans cheese. I wasn't sure what else was on it, but I arrived home to find heaven in a take out bag. I scooped the sour cream off. I've never been a huge fan of sour cream anyway so no loss there. Then I saw it...a large, lovely scoop of guacamole. My first guacamole experience at Taco Bueno! I was excited this time.
I have to say the salad was quite good. I didn't eat the taco shell and I was quite satisfied when I was finished. The chicken was tasty, the lettuce and tomatoes were very fresh, I had plenty of salsa and lots of guacamole. I was a happy girl. Don't be afraid of fast food places. Honestly, I think fast food Mexican is about as good as you can get. There is always some sort of salad with lean protein and healthy fat. Today was a good reminder that there is no excuse to eat unhealthy...not even at Taco Bueno!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I've Become Obsessed With...
...Eggs.
Every other day I boil four. I have four going right now. I love the sounds of the rolling boil. I've been eating two every morning. I know, two eggs a day. Wow. I only eat one yolk. I give the other one to my dog. She loves it. The great thing about eggs is that they are super easy and super tasty. I pair them with a simple fruit like blueberries or grapefruit and add a spoonful of nut butter and I am on my way to a terrific day.
Eggs are cheap and easy to manage. You don't have to use them right away like other proteins (chicken, turkey, etc.). I know there is a lot of conflicting thought on eggs and paleo, but I happen to think they are a perfect food. Pick up a carton today and start your day off right with some super protein.
Every other day I boil four. I have four going right now. I love the sounds of the rolling boil. I've been eating two every morning. I know, two eggs a day. Wow. I only eat one yolk. I give the other one to my dog. She loves it. The great thing about eggs is that they are super easy and super tasty. I pair them with a simple fruit like blueberries or grapefruit and add a spoonful of nut butter and I am on my way to a terrific day.
Eggs are cheap and easy to manage. You don't have to use them right away like other proteins (chicken, turkey, etc.). I know there is a lot of conflicting thought on eggs and paleo, but I happen to think they are a perfect food. Pick up a carton today and start your day off right with some super protein.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Biggest Change
Four days into my "realistic resolution" and things are going great. Yesterday I had some talapia with verde salsa and broccoli for breakfast. Yes, broccoli. Even during my strict strict paleo days I never had broccoli for breakfast, but it was fantastic. Once you get out of the mindset that breakfast should be sweet you can eat anything.
Eating broccoli, however, isn't the biggest change this week. It is how much water I have been drinking. I have two lovely ladies to thank for that. For Christmas I was given a super fabulous pink Camelbak water bottle. It is my new best friend. I now have 24 ounces of pure, clean water by my side at all times. I carry it around the house, drink it while I work, keep it in my car, put it on my bedside stand at night...it is my shadow. My pink shadow.
I've always loved water, but if it isn't in front of me I don't think about drinking water. If I see it then I drink it. It just proves you should keep bad things out of your sight and keep the good things within reach! Nothing keeps me feeling better during the day than water. I also like having my own bottle so I don't just run through store bought water bottles all the time. It is so much cheaper and eco friendly! Tap water is A-OK in my book.
Also, if you were concerned about my lack of almond butter (Allison)...we are getting a Whole Foods. It is scheduled to open at the end of 2011 so for now I'm still on the look out!
Eating broccoli, however, isn't the biggest change this week. It is how much water I have been drinking. I have two lovely ladies to thank for that. For Christmas I was given a super fabulous pink Camelbak water bottle. It is my new best friend. I now have 24 ounces of pure, clean water by my side at all times. I carry it around the house, drink it while I work, keep it in my car, put it on my bedside stand at night...it is my shadow. My pink shadow.
I've always loved water, but if it isn't in front of me I don't think about drinking water. If I see it then I drink it. It just proves you should keep bad things out of your sight and keep the good things within reach! Nothing keeps me feeling better during the day than water. I also like having my own bottle so I don't just run through store bought water bottles all the time. It is so much cheaper and eco friendly! Tap water is A-OK in my book.
Also, if you were concerned about my lack of almond butter (Allison)...we are getting a Whole Foods. It is scheduled to open at the end of 2011 so for now I'm still on the look out!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Re-Stocking
So we moved.
Again.
Long, good story, but for the short version...we moved from Oklahoma to Michigan this summer and from Michigan to a different part of Oklahoma in November. Needless to say, my life has been in a bit of turmoil the last few months.
Today I went to the store. After a few weeks of holiday traveling it was finally time to restock the kitchen. I hadn't replenished anything since the move. I confess, the majority of our meals the last six weeks have not been cooked at home.
It is amazing the things that I'm so used to having on hand that make cooking healthy so easy. Coconut oil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, low sugar Italian dressing....I could go on and on....
Today I had the grocery bill to prove I was out of everything. Thankfully, after a good, calculated sweep through the neighborhood Wal Mart I think our house is ready to start cooking...literally. Eggs, chicken, pork, fresh green beans, carrots, celery (which will be the boat for my gobs of peanut butter).
Speaking of peanut butter, I'm on the search for some good almond butter. I don't have a place close to our new home where I have found almond butter. Natural peanut butter is going to have to do for now...which works for me because it is still delicious and I love it on celery. So does the Mr. I was going back and for between Smuckers natural and organic peanut butter. Same basic nutrition. Deciding factor....the organic cost $1.50 more. Sheesh! Natural won.
Again.
Long, good story, but for the short version...we moved from Oklahoma to Michigan this summer and from Michigan to a different part of Oklahoma in November. Needless to say, my life has been in a bit of turmoil the last few months.
Today I went to the store. After a few weeks of holiday traveling it was finally time to restock the kitchen. I hadn't replenished anything since the move. I confess, the majority of our meals the last six weeks have not been cooked at home.
It is amazing the things that I'm so used to having on hand that make cooking healthy so easy. Coconut oil, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt, low sugar Italian dressing....I could go on and on....
Today I had the grocery bill to prove I was out of everything. Thankfully, after a good, calculated sweep through the neighborhood Wal Mart I think our house is ready to start cooking...literally. Eggs, chicken, pork, fresh green beans, carrots, celery (which will be the boat for my gobs of peanut butter).
Speaking of peanut butter, I'm on the search for some good almond butter. I don't have a place close to our new home where I have found almond butter. Natural peanut butter is going to have to do for now...which works for me because it is still delicious and I love it on celery. So does the Mr. I was going back and for between Smuckers natural and organic peanut butter. Same basic nutrition. Deciding factor....the organic cost $1.50 more. Sheesh! Natural won.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Realistic Resolutions
I like New Year's resolutions in theory, but I hate them in practicality. I think people wanting to change and better themselves is fantastic. Deciding for yourself that a change needs to be made is amazing. No one is making the decision for you. You are making it for yourself. However, let's be real. How many people truly stick to a resolution for longer than a month? A week? A day?
Not many.
Too much too fast.
What happens to people who make the ever popular "I'm going to lose weight" resolution? They start going to the gym every day and after a week they are burnt out because they have never worked out before. Next thing you know they are back into the same routine of doing nothing.
Same thing with your diet. Saying, "Starting Monday I'm never eating (insert food) ever again." How practical is that? Now, I know when I started this blog I went "strict" paleo for a month. I kept to it. However, I had zoned before, I already ate very low grainy carb and loved lean meats. The change was not too drastic for me...it was a natural, challenging step.
I say all of this to encourage everyone to be realistic and practical in their healthy resolutions this year. Truly examine your situation and what your end goal is. What is that throws you off track? Do you need extra "me" time? Do you need to take a different route to work to avoid that donut shop on the way to work? Do you need to try to cook at home one more night a week instead of going out? Some examples:
If your goal is to work out more and you haven't worked out much in your life...shoot for two to three days a week of fifteen to twenty minutes and increase as you get more comfortable.
If you want to start running, but have never really ran any kind of distance before start slow. Run a half a mile three days a week for two weeks. The next week increase to 3/4 of a mile. Two weeks later try a mile. Before you know it you'll be running three miles like it is no big deal without feeling overwhelmed by the idea!
If you want to eat better find that one thing you think is causing you problems and limit it to twice a week (if it is an every day sort of thing). After a few weeks move to once a week and then cut it out completely. You have to let your body adjust. Sometimes shocking it to intensely too fast can cause you to get back into your bad habit and you'll never give yourself a chance to succeed.
I say all of this as I share my realistic resolution:
Eat a healthy, clean breakfast everyday.
For me, if I eat a great, paleo/zone friendly breakfast in the morning I have automatically set myself up for a great day. I already feel better. I am inclined to continue with healthy snacks and lunch. If I wake up and end up eating nothing or something not desirable my day, as far as eating is concerned, can fall off track fast.
2011 will be the year of a healthy, clean breakfast. Eggs, lean meats, nuts and lots of berries and grapefruit!
What is your realistic resolution for 2011?
P.S. I'm also going to try to blog at least once a week. Blogging helps hold me accountable even if I don't know how many people read it. Find something to help hold you accountable and stick with it.
Good luck and happy New Year!
Not many.
Too much too fast.
What happens to people who make the ever popular "I'm going to lose weight" resolution? They start going to the gym every day and after a week they are burnt out because they have never worked out before. Next thing you know they are back into the same routine of doing nothing.
Same thing with your diet. Saying, "Starting Monday I'm never eating (insert food) ever again." How practical is that? Now, I know when I started this blog I went "strict" paleo for a month. I kept to it. However, I had zoned before, I already ate very low grainy carb and loved lean meats. The change was not too drastic for me...it was a natural, challenging step.
I say all of this to encourage everyone to be realistic and practical in their healthy resolutions this year. Truly examine your situation and what your end goal is. What is that throws you off track? Do you need extra "me" time? Do you need to take a different route to work to avoid that donut shop on the way to work? Do you need to try to cook at home one more night a week instead of going out? Some examples:
If your goal is to work out more and you haven't worked out much in your life...shoot for two to three days a week of fifteen to twenty minutes and increase as you get more comfortable.
If you want to start running, but have never really ran any kind of distance before start slow. Run a half a mile three days a week for two weeks. The next week increase to 3/4 of a mile. Two weeks later try a mile. Before you know it you'll be running three miles like it is no big deal without feeling overwhelmed by the idea!
If you want to eat better find that one thing you think is causing you problems and limit it to twice a week (if it is an every day sort of thing). After a few weeks move to once a week and then cut it out completely. You have to let your body adjust. Sometimes shocking it to intensely too fast can cause you to get back into your bad habit and you'll never give yourself a chance to succeed.
I say all of this as I share my realistic resolution:
Eat a healthy, clean breakfast everyday.
For me, if I eat a great, paleo/zone friendly breakfast in the morning I have automatically set myself up for a great day. I already feel better. I am inclined to continue with healthy snacks and lunch. If I wake up and end up eating nothing or something not desirable my day, as far as eating is concerned, can fall off track fast.
2011 will be the year of a healthy, clean breakfast. Eggs, lean meats, nuts and lots of berries and grapefruit!
What is your realistic resolution for 2011?
P.S. I'm also going to try to blog at least once a week. Blogging helps hold me accountable even if I don't know how many people read it. Find something to help hold you accountable and stick with it.
Good luck and happy New Year!
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