La Tortilla Factory Giveaway!!!

April 13, 2013 by fitfoodiele

did she say giveaway? YES SHE DID. i am straight blown away, still!

you know those tortillas i am always raving about and using in my recipes like the ones up there^ (quesadillas, wraps, homemade chips, burritos, tacos, etc) well, ahem, because i’ve been showing La Tortilla Factory so much love, they decided to show me some right on back! talk about ‘give it to get it‘, hello!! they go like hot cakes at my Sprouts Farmer’s Market and i have not been able to snag a pack since the grand opening last month. however… they handled up on that and helped a Fit Foodie out, BIG TIME! they sent me a variety pack that included their Smart & Delicious Light flour tortillas,

and some Fiber & Flax White and Yellow corn tortillas.

also, because of them……. i am honored to be hosting my first edible giveaway for all of YOU! not with the ones they sent me though, those are mine. La Tortilla Factory would like to shower one of you lucky ducks with 1,2,3,4 *FIVE* packages of Smart & Delicious light flour tortillas for YO-SELF!!!!! sweet deal, right?

so how the heck do you enter? remember what i said about the jumping through multiple hoops thing… yeah that’s annoying and not gonna happen here. i appreciate simplicity. comment on this post and just tell me why you want the wraps and what you plan to make with them! i wanna know!

now, to INCREASE your chances of winning lol, you can certainly either Like the Fit Foodie Le fan page if you haven’t already,

or, just follow my blog by clicking that follow button up at the top right corner of this page.

be creative with your comments and ideas like i know you can!

rest assured there is a wrap to fit your nutritional needs, whatever they may be. they are tasty AND healthy, and there are plenty to choose from! definitely FFL approved

this was my meal 5 from last night- i perfected the whipped sweet potato recipe for the e-book and enjoyed some with a pan seared tilapia fillet cooked in Bragg liquid aminos and Mrs. Dash onion & herb seasoning! that was all over some fresh, steamed asparagus.

i had some grilled pineapple left over, so i made a super quick ‘salsa’ to go on top of the fish.

grilled pineapple salsa

the stuff:

1 cup grilled pineapple, chopped
2 tbsp red bell pepper, diced
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tbsp fresh lime juice

do this:

chop it all up and mix it together! super quick and easy topping for any protein.

last night we attended a home going celebration for a close family member.

if you’re Nigerian, then you can name every single thing on my plate, especially those wonderful, delicious PLANTAINS!!!! my favorite. if you’re not lol, it’s jollof rice, stewed stock fish and vegetables, spinach, plantains, and there is some super tender goat meat in there somewhere. i’ll be adding more Nigerian dishes to my repertoire, don’t worry.

this boy was so serious with that chicken wing and those greasy lips!!! this was too funny not to post.

you still with me? today, we met up with a former 6 Pack USA client and Instagram #fitfam member @waltlewjr and chowed down on some Ruggles Green eats! good times, good food & good peeps! I had a mixed greens salad topped with jicama, dried blueberries, and tomatoes and tore up that roasted chicken pizza with Chiso. Sonny had the kobe beef burger with sweet potato fries. no fish tacos, this time. s/n: why couldn’t Chiso have smiled like that for our family pictures

the last time i ate RG’s roasted chicken pizza was in 2010 when i was preggo and i ate the entire thing, solo!!! i mean, we.

La Tortilla Factory is also hosting another fun contest on their Facebook Fan Page page for the upcoming Cinco De Mayo holiday! another one of you guys could win more free tortillas, a margarita making machine and fun party decorations just by entering their “Cinco de Mustache” photo contest. the deets are on their FB page- check’em out!

THANK YOU again, La Tortilla Factory!

this contest will run for 1 full week, fyi. so on saturday, April 20th, it’s a wrap.

p. s. we are officially TWO weeks out from the Green 6.2 10k!!! have you registered yet? are you running with Team Fit Foodies?! we’d love to have you! email me if you’re interested: le@fitfoodiele.com.

night!!

family + fitness + food = birthday trifection

April 8, 2013 by fitfoodiele

what a difference a year makes. i feel like i have finally LIVED these past 12 months and it only took me 30 years! i have been spending more time focusing on my passion (fitness, creating and cooking healthier recipes, blogging, etc.) and it has opened up so many doors and avenues beyond my small, limited imagination. i’ve crossed a few things off my bucket list and i have so many more to tackle. however like all things in life, i’m simply striving for progress, not perfection. i am content, appreciative, and so hopeful for what the future holds! i thank God for another year that wasn’t promised, and i’ll walk right behind Him into 31 and all it has to offer! Sonny put a little something together for lil ol’ me for my bday this year and it was … everything. what was it? those 3 simple f’s up there.

*****

i started my saturday morning off how i normally do-

with a GREAT early morning workout! i had way too many cartons of 98 cent strawberries (from HEB) on my island and i planned on incorporating them into our breakfast somehow.

so i diiiiiid. strawberry shortcakes came to mind! i don’t normally eat whipped cream for breakfast lol but hey, the occasion called for it. recipe is coming right up- had to do a little tweaking first. i was given specific instructions to be ready to go by 5pm later that day and to ‘do something with myself’.

i did my best to make my bun as neat as possible. so i’ve said in the past i don’t like shopping for clothes… i should clarify that i don’t like shopping ALL DAY LONG for clothes. i love Urban Outfitters cause 9 times outta 10 i find the cutest thing on the sale rack within minutes. UO keeps my shopping bug alive and kicking cause i almost stepped on it and killed it. it’s become my go to store for a quick, cute outfit or top! i found this black lacy number for 10 whole dollars. what? i thought it was clearly a mistake. i was too through after that awesome find! i even did my nails for the first time in a really, really long time. aaaaand i went to get some eyelash extensions done!!! watch out nah! it was fun to get a little glam.

back pose!

we dropped off our Stank Tank with our ‘rents and headed to a private dinner at Tango & Malbec South American Cuisine.

Mr. Impeccable Taste himself;)

straight to the meal!

aaaaah, the lovely bread bowl. it was filled with real, fried potato chips, bread sticks, and sourdough bread. so hard to resist this thing at any restaurant. if it wasn’t for Sonny, i’d tell them to not even bring it to our table.

our appetizers were Lamb Lolichops and El Calamar (grilled calamari steak) and they were both and cooked and seasoned perfectly.

before we tore it up, we snapped a pic!

my lil appetizer plate. to be honest, the lamb was too rare for me..i don’t do the bloody meat thing, so i gave it to Sonny.

i decided on the Trout topped with mushrooms and carmelized onions for my entrée. i told myself no salmon and no chicken breast!!! i knew Sonny would order some type of steak so i planned to just get a piece of his.

i also had some old, faithful asparagus on the side.

there it is- Como En El’s the name! Sonny’s dish was a combo of beef tenderloin, pork ribs, lamb chops, flank steak sausage and black sausage. the ‘protein platter’!

as we dined, a couple waltzed to music – very nice touch! i enjoyed our dinner and it didn’t end there- complimentary dessert was on the way.

hey i know her! i devoured that tres leches cake and received a little something i wasn’t expecting at all…

a quality camera to take my blogging pics with! i’ve been using my cell for ALL of them as our previous Casio bit the dust a couple months ago. it was right on time.

we ended the evening with more dessert- self serve fro-yo! apparently dancing was on the agenda but after that meal our night was a WRAP.

thanks, Polar! April 7th was the big day.

first thing i did was thank God, then went to make me some birthday pancakes! chocolate peanut butter banana pancakes with chocolate sprinkles.

chocolate peanut butter banana pancakes

the stuff:

half a banana
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp chocolate PB2
2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 packet stevia (optional)
1/2 tsp butter extract
more PB2 for topping

do this:

whip this all up in your blender or food processor, then cook them up like cakes in your skillet. 3-4 minutes on medium heat for each side. top with more PB2 and sprinkles! they are optional too:)

for the entire stack:

i topped mine with more strawberries, and it tasted like a big peanut butter and jelly sammich. omg, YUMMINESS!!!

i didn’t get a sub for my class…no need. i had some gifts to give out too- the gift of sweat.

and i did so with new workout gear, whoop, whoop! that is ALWAYS appreciated, no matter what the occasion! i’ve been #upgraded!

afterwards, we got ready to go take some professional family pictures, and eat some lunch.

lunch where? where else!?!?!? yep, RG.

the weather was perrrrrfect, so we found a great table outside. if you have a little one of age then you know an ipad or any electronic device works wonders to keep their little minds occupied until the food arrives.

we tried the hi-protein hemp empanadas for the first time and WOW. i will definitely be remaking this at home! i LOVED the sweet and savory flavor combo. seasoned ground beef, raisins, cilantro, mozzeralla and cheddar cheeses all stuffed inside a hemp and wheat flour pocket. and yeah, they are fried… you’ve been warned!

before pizza,

after pizza.

i know exactly where he gets his hunger attitude from.

this kids loves some cheese pizza, so of course we ordered him one along with…

grilled fish tacos on corn tortillas! Sonny’s was super spicy,

mine was not.

oh and i got some butternut squash too. it’s the LITTLE THINGS that made my birthday so special and memorable!

clearly the pizza had Chiso’s undivided attention until it was gone.

there was a lambo car show going on at the same time in City Centre so it was definitely alive:

from newer models,

to classics.

#justlooking

very last thing….. more, YES, more fro-yo!

from Red Mango.

and that’s a wrap! thank you so much for reading!

i’m back on track with more EXCITING product reviews, and more GIVEAWAYS!!!!

i’m THRILLED about some of the products i’ll be featuring shortly that YOU will be able to enjoy yourself as well!!! stay tuned

peanut butter chocolate chick cookies

April 3, 2013 by fitfoodiele

happy belated Easter

we got up early and had a big platter of whole wheat french toast with fresh strawberries, blueberries, sliced almonds, cinnamon, and Walden Farms pancake syrup to go with our egg white scramble that morning! my class was canceled cause of the holiday, so we went to my parent’s church on the other side of town.

my granny was also hosting an easter egg hunt for our family at her house, so late saturday night i whipped up the easiest thing i could find for the kiddos! sugar-free Pillsbury brownies.

i split the batter up into two round pans and morphed it into a bunny ‘cake’. remember those!? i made them a few times when i was living at home with my ‘rents. i used cake then, though.

i used the rest of a tub of white icing and some sprinkles; luckily they were Easter colors! when i got to my granny’s house sunday, my cousin found me some jelly beans so i could give Bugs a face. i hope you enjoyed your Easter weekend, however you celebrated:)

yesterday’s IG collage just after teaching my early class….

so when the rain comes, not if…. get in the habit of going straight to God, every time. He has every single answer to every single problem we will ever have. just a reminder

speaking of IG, my girl @jazzythings posted her own pic of these cookies i made below after she found the recipe via Pinterest. she made them look SO darn good!! good enough to make me finally crack open the garbanzo beans that have been sitting in my pantry for weeks! the verdict?

are you kidding me? these are what’s hot in the streets!!! i don’t like being fooled into eating/making something that looks insanely delicious only to make it myself and be highly disappointed. that has happened more times than not on IG!!!! which is why i am taking my time with these ebook recipes to ensure that they not only look good, but taste FANTASTIC. ok, back to these cookies that i was super skeptical about. well, i’m driving the bandwagon now! see for yourself:

peanut butter chocolate chick cookies

the stuff:

2 cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and patted dry

1/2 cup chocolate PB2 (can sub full-fat peanut butter )

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp butter extract

1/4 cup honey (or your fave sweetener)

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (or more..it’s up to you!)

do this:

1. rinse and dry the chickpeas, then put them in to your food processor

2. add the honey, vanilla and butter extracts, and PB2 (mixed with water or unsweetened vanilla almond milk into a pb-like paste first)

3. blend until SMOOTH. dump it all out into a mixing bowl, then fold in the dark chocolate chips.

4. spray your pan with no-stick cooking spray and form/roll into balls by hand. i made about 24 small ones! bake them for 10-12 minutes in a 350 deg oven.

me: ‘hey, Chiso….cookie?’

Chiso: NOMNOMNOMNOMNOM

moving on, i am UUUUBER excited about these ebooks, seriously! i’m cooking and eating, eating and cooking all day every day to make sure the recipes turn out PERFECT. just a teaser!

here are the sweet balsamic baked chicken breasts from monday’s night’s meal prep:

they were for Sonny’s lunches for the next few days. during his lunch yesterday though, he felt the need to call and tell me how tasty this new flavor combo is, whoop whoop!

just one of his: raw carrots, creamy, ripe avocado, roasted brussels sprouts, and cherry tomatoes went alongside the chicken breast.

and fyi, he is now back on the competition trail for a few summer shows and i’m excited for him!!!!!!

yesterday, i went ahead and tried my hand at another favorite of mine that i don’t have often-

healthy, clean, Cajun shrimp n grits bay-beee!!!!!

ok, that’s enough teasers for one post.

i’m glad i have this little taste tester around to help me

last thing- two more Fit Foodies have signed up to run in the Green 6.2 at the end of this month!!!! do you see it over there in the side bar? again, if you’d like to run with us, email me, like right now! the price goes up the closer the race date gets. le@fitfoodiele.com!

Q: have you ever used chickpeas to make dessert?

The Color Run 5k – Houston

March 23, 2013 by fitfoodiele

what.a.BLAST this morning! this was my first time participating in the The Color Run 5k and imo, everything was set up perfectly. because i have a goal of hosting my own 5k one day, i took special note of well, everything. instead of just showing up to run, i tried my best to pay attention to all the minor details that go into making a 5k (or any distance really) so great, fun, and memorable. and BOY am i overwhelmed!!! but hey:

never settle for good, mediocre, or average because you weren’t created to do good, mediocre, or average things!

packet pickup was at Rei and i had never even been inside the store until then. there was soooo much Color Run paraphernalia to choose from it’s not even funny! shorts, fanny packs, drawstring back packs, tanks, frisbees, bandanas, socks,

and sunglasses!

pre-race breakfast was an egg-white omelette (with some shredded and melted parmesan cheese that was thrown on top as it cooked), fresh spinach, tomato, and honey mustard on Nature’s Own double fiber wheat bread. no oatmeal this time as it can come back to haunt ya real quick if you know what i mean, especially on longer runs. no pun intended. L O L. however 5k’s are over rather quickly.

that’s my sweet, fab, supportive friend Kara!

our driver (Sonny) so graciously snapped some pics of us right after we jumped outta the truck and headed to the start line.

i met up with more great friends on our way to the start line- hey Roberto, Ana, and Kara’s fingers! *waving*

i had NO idea how popular this run was!!! our team was set for takeoff at 9am, but we didn’t make it all the way to the front as it was just too crowded. to avoid so many people on the course at once, they created several ‘waves’ and our start time was unexpectedly pushed back more than a little bit. this was terrible because somebody had to drive back across town to teach class in less than 2 hours. yep….me. when i signed up for the race i was so excited about participating i forgot about my class!!!! pushing it, yes, but i knew both could be done. i can’t and won’t let my members down. or waste 50 bucks

i heard somebody was not feelin’ the weather change this morning. it dropped to around 50 degrees outta no where.

but we finished strong. it was bob and weave, stop and go the entire way. this was the first untimed race i’ve ever participated in and it was a true fun run with an emphasis on fun! people were clearly not concerned with breaking any PR’s lol. it’s a huge, family and friends type event for sure, and i DEFINITELY recommend this race for anybody’s very first 5k.

the Fit Foodies meant business though! we turned on our heart rate monitors and did our thing. Kara and i pretty much have the same running pace, so we started and finished together.

Kind Bars! i see these guys in Whole Foods all the time and they look scrumptious, right? they were giving out these two flavors and OH BOY…

this peanut butter and strawberry flavor was uhhhmazing. tasted like a sticky, chewy, pb and jelly bar sammich. these are the only samples i could get my hands on before having to head out.

going and coming, literally. i missed out on tons of pictures and good ol’ fashioned color fun and could not stay to meet up with and party with the other runners at all:( you live and you learn. this was our first Fit Foodies event and we have only just begun to scratch the surface. so seriously, NO WORRIES if you weren’t able to make it this morning, there are too many races coming up to dwell on one! just know that plenty of advanced noticed will be provided next time, you have my word.

we sped across town and made it just in time. did i shower first? heck no! i didn’t have time anyway! 1 hour of total conditioning and a family shoulder workout later,

(alternating punches with dumbbells for 1 minute straight w/ Kara, my bro Brian, my hubby, and i )

TOAST was not the word.

i’m gonna put this in the side bar over there, but the Green 6.2 will be held on April 27th, 2013. that’s next month yall! email me if you’d like to run with the Fit Foodies team. the earlier you register, the cheaper the price. set a goal and let’s go for it, together. le@fitfoodiele.com

alright…had this dressing tonight and it’s definitely gonna be added to the FFL approved list! Walden Farms Raspberry Vinaigrette. it’s great as a salad dressing, but i’m positive it would work as a marinade for fish or chicken too. try it! i like.

250mg of sodium per 2 tbsp and you know the rest: calorie, gluten, fat, sugar, carb, and cholesterol-FREE.

more q & a in the upcoming posts, fyi.

start this week off STRONG!!!

sundayeth-fundayeth

March 17, 2013 by fitfoodiele

a few people on Instagram thought i was referring to almond milk at first i’m sure, LOL. but nope, good ol’ breastfeeding. i…. miss it. i went for 19 months with Chiso and i plan to go just as long if not longer with the rest of the Egwuatu clan (when He says it’s time).

so it’s sunday, which means it was sunday-family-fun-day for us! you can make ANY day family fun day, of course. just as long as you make it a point to spend time together as a family doing whatever makes you guys happy.

my bro-in-law treated us and some more fam to Great Kahn for dinner today- it’s been a while! forgot how awesome this place is.

so it’s like a big salad bar. first you pick your carbs ( i chose brown rice and tortillas as you can see),

then you pick your veggies. i went crazy and stuffed that bowl to the max. spinach, tomatoes, baby corn, zucchini, pineapple, green onion, bok choy, onions, bean sprouts, mushrooms, bell peppers, carrots…..

then you pick a seasoning. or two. or all. i took a spoonful of every. single. one. so serious.

then the proteins! which are of course, yes, raw. when we visited for the very first time, i thought this was super unsanitary;( but i got over it. shrimp, Alaskan cod, and sliced chicken breast tenderloin.

finally, you choose a sauce! you should know by now how i ate mine! on tha siiiiiiiide! i trust no sauce.

what a beautiful stir-fried master piece! they throw it all on the grill and cook it up. it was so tasty, and the price is right @ 8.99 for the lunch special.

Sonny’s bowl was FULL of jalapeños unsurprisingly.

this was the bro-in-laws bowl.

then this happened afterwards as it often does. fro-yoooo! i went light because dairy’s aftermath on my body is not something i look forward to the next day:( so i got a little bit of no sugar added chocolate and vanilla fro yo, some crushed Oreos, slices almonds, sprinkles, and mini chocolate chips.

Sonny got no sugar added vanilla, crushed Oreos, peanut m&m’s, and….. gummy bears? oh, ok “

new flavors up in Swirll – iced mocha and creme brulee! Chiso loved them both. he’s a sampler, just like his mama.

Q: what are your favorite fro-yo toppings and flavors??!? birthday cake is still #1 in my book.

on a sugar high!!

speaking of sugar, here are those instructions for the homemade dark chocolate PB2 cups:

melt 8 tbsp dark chocolate (i used malt sweetened dark chocolate from the bulk bins of HEB).

spoon 1 tbsp of melted chocolate into the bottom of 4 different empty muffin cups (you can use liners if ya want).

pop into the freezer for 15 minutes.

fill with whatever your little heart desires! a tsp of PB2 mixed with unsweetened vanilla almond milk went on top of my frozen dark chocolate bottom layer.

top your filling (make sure it’s completely covered around those edges) with another tbsp of melted chocolate.

freeze for 25-30 more minutes

SWALLOW!

i only left mine in for 15 minutes the second time and it exploded when i tried to make a clean center cut lol! leave it in for the full 25-30 so the filling can harden too.

who needs some monday motivation? *raises hand*. have you been tested lately? every day, huh! whether it be something or someone, expect it. how you handle it is what’s most important… and that’s what God is waiting and watching for. before you let your flesh try to battle these minute annoyances on its own, hold that thought, hold those words, and go to God with it first. He will set everything up for you to overcome it- the place, the time, your surroundings, your words… He’ll not only fix it, but He’ll give you complete peace about it afterwards. our mouths and actions can get us in trouble when we do or say things that are not of Him. i don’t know about you, but i need to be reminded of that CONSTANTLY cause my flesh has a whole heck of a lot to say these days! can you relate to that quote^ up there? only to an extent, right? cause some things NEED to be vocalized. but before you unload on somebody, let Him decide the when, where, what, how, why, and who! put your pride aside and do it His way, first.

nite!

sunday dinner

March 13, 2013 by fitfoodiele

my ‘rents came over to love on their grand baby this past weekend! so of course i whipped up a few things.

i started with a HUUUGE salad complete with romaine mix, fat-free feta, black olives, red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots all drizzled with Braggs liquid aminos, Braggs apple cidar vinegar + a little agave nectar,

and i used up the rest of a papaya to make some papaya-lime salsa.

here’s the original recipe again, but i added strawberries and avocado this time and it was SO much creamier. i highly suggest adding them every time!

this stuff is fabulous paired with seafood! and if you make enough of it, whip out some multi-grain chips or make your own by slicing up a whole wheat tortilla and baking it in the oven until crispy.

roasted, whipped sweet potaters topped with pecans and cinnamon (recipe will be in the ebookie)

and finally, baked, garlic & herb tilapia.

family and food together makes me one happier woman! i sincerely cherish being able to cook for my parents.

then….

for dessert, cinnamon…. apple…. almond cake! the stuff on top is apple whipped cream. it’s sugar-free, fat-free cool whip, diced red delicious apple, and greek yogurt) all blended into a sweet, light, heavenly topping. oh AND, i grinded on some of Trader Joe’s cinnamon sugar

cinnamon apple almond cake

the stuff:

4 tbsp diced apple
3 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tbsp applesauce
1/2 tsp apple pie spice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tsp coconut crystals

do this:

set 1 tbsp of the diced or sliced apples aside along with the coconut crystals, and set your oven to 325 degrees.

mix the wet with the wet and the dry with the dry, then combine. (i made two cakes using my cupcake pan.)

distribute the coconut crystals evenly in the bottom of the two empty cupcake slots, as well as 2 tbsp of the diced/sliced apples (1 tbsp in each slot).

pour the batter on top!

cook for 12-15 minutes, but watch it closely.

take the cakes out, let them cool slightly, then flip them over onto a plate, pineapple upside down cake style. yummmmmmmy!

top with the apple whip, or eat it plain.

2 ‘cup’cakes or 1 big one

**you DON’T have to use the coconut oil if you don’t want to!** i included the nutritional adjustments just in case you omit it, but it does enhance the flavor and texture of the cake a lil bit. your call.

so i was thinking… you wont know what going on over here unless i tell you, duh! i’m working on two books right now which is what’s taking so long. the first will be for our 6 Pack USA clients and is almost complete, then i can really focus on the Fit Foodie Le book! both of them will be available for purchase- you don’t have to be a 6 Pack USA client to access the book and get the recipes though. the Fit Foodie Le book will be a combo of cleaner, healthier, classics like some of the recipes i’ve already shared with you, and tons of new recipes for snacks, dips, dressings, soups, stews, pastas, aaaaagggh!!!!!

i am TOO excited about it and i hope you are too! please be patient though and keep counting down with me.

before i let you go, pleeeease go check out my feature on Fitness, Food, and Style!! i met Dani via Instagram and she is one amazing woman, my goodness. i’m over here struggling to keep my blog alive with one kiddo and she has FOUR!!! what!? she was in the IT industry for a while and became a full-time SAHM (stay at home mom) after the birth of her second child. her blog is super informative for mothers or for anyone striving to just living a healthier life overall. show her some love, please!

BUCKLE UP!!!!!

WFM KATY <3

January 31, 2013 by fitfoodiele

feast your eyes on the awesomeness that is Whole Foods Market…………. KATY, TX.

i pulled up like 3 minutes before go time and hopped my butt right on in line.

they had some great grand opening deals, and fresh wild salmon was one of them! they were selling like hot cakes under that tent up there for 5.99 a lb.

as i neared the door, i heard….music? there was a live orchestra back there, even though you can’t tell at all from this pic. that’s how WFM does it! it didn’t make the weather any warmer, but it was a nice touch.

this is the very first pic of the madness once i stepped foot in the store. this is NOTHIN! there were still a ton of peeps behind me.

the freshest produce ever in life

beautiful berries!

how can you not want one of everything?

so i was caught on camera using my own camera. (l) #awkward! i have no idea what station he was affiliated with but i do hope it was a major network LOL

beans, beans, the musical fruit!

the beloved bulk bins. i couldn’t pass up getting a couple scoops of pumpkin flax granola.

this is THE cleanest this area will ever be in life. lol

ok i have a confession. my phone straight DIED a few minutes after i took this pic and i was devastated. seriously. i went to bed with a full battery and did not put it on the charger and because i have soooooo much crap on my phone these days and have yet to order an SD card. which means my battery is toast in a matter of hours. soooooo, i sped through the store and came back a few hours later with my bro for lunch. hey i had a dr’s appointment and was out anyway

i’ll pick back up where i left off-

fresh

meat!

would i like a sample? do you know who i am?

‘air chilled’ is a new term i said i’d google later. the tender was super juicy!

right, Matt?

and wow, that camera man was still there.

these were so cute. and true.

we rounded a corner of the store and walked past the gourmet grilled cheese and specialty beer station.

it was a little after lunch time here and the store was CRACKIN’.

and then we saw a walking banana and had to get a pic! and yes…i’ve officially been #photobombed by the lovely shopper behind us.

twice, smh!!!! who does these types of things!? i thought you only photobombed people you know!

we kept going and passed the delectable desserts…

just looking!

they had pizza samples left and right, mmmmm.

next up was the prepared foods section.

man…food presentation at its finest. *DROOLING*

this was matt’s incentive for coming with me. free lunch! he got a sammich at the sammich station.

gettin’ mo samples…sushi samples.

it was a shrimp, avocado, multigrain rice roll; lovely combo!

we turned around and saw several fresh food bars like the olive one above,

and this multicultural one. variety is something WF never lacks!

so many overwhelming options to choose from.

and uuuuuuuuweeeeeeee that 8.49 per lb. hurts my HEART! especially when i remember when it was 2.99………

last thing on this side of the store was the cool coffee bar.

more samples on the way to checkout- this tasted like kombaucha soda. not bad!

i meant to get some canned tuna while i was there so i cut through the frozen foods aisle and ran into this thing- i thought it just rotated commercials and advertisements all day long, but nope, i touched the screen and was wowed immediately!

‘touch a produce item for recipes and information.’

um, OK!!!

recipes, ideas, and tips galore! what a fantastic tool!

wait, how did i end up here? focus!!!

got the tuna and headed to checkout, but not before passing up the to-go bakery case…. YUMMERS

seating area was CRAY-CRAY so we went home to eat.

i’m sure this area will be boomin’ once Houston weather warms back up.

more samples outside!? of course! just some grilled fillet mignon, no big deal.

they even have their very own food truck(s). i’m not surprised!

smelled amazing…

i’ll save it for the next trip.

OH, a lady was standing at the door on our way out with a basket FULL of free grocery bags! i loved this pattern the second i saw it.

juuuust expanding my grocery bag collection.

see, i didn’t do too bad at all! this was nothin.

tuna, kettlecorn, bell peppers (5 for 5 dollar deal), pumpkin flax granola, and a loaf of seeduction bread for my mama.

aaaand the very last #foodie shot- half of Matt’s reuben flat bread wrap. delish!

i think ALL but like one of my friends can stand grocery shopping lol!

Q: have you ever attended a store’s grand opening? any store!

chicken PB2 pad thai + TJ’s trip

January 26, 2013 by fitfoodiele

let’s pretend today is yesterday, ok? ok.

i made pb chicken pad thai for an Instagram challenge last night for dinner. IG can be so addictive! i’ve been seeing a number of ‘i need to get away from technology and focus on my life and the plan God has for me….etc.’ posts lately from some of the health and fitness peeps i follow. it’s admirable, long as it’s not a publicity stunt or anything. it takes a LOT to step away from technology for a few hours, days, or even weeks nowadays. anyway, i get it. what is IG to you though anyway? a ‘likes’ contest? are you secretly competing with someone? a business opportunity? marketing tool? searching for who can flex the hardest? seeing what celebs are up to? seeing who can make their plate of food the prettiest? finding who can wear the least amount of clothes? lmbo (not really). i said all that to say it’s cool to be inspired and build off of what you see in your feed, but stay true to YOURSELF. after all, it’s your account. it’s tough to be original once your mind has been tainted with what everybody else is doing. on top of all that, IG can be a huuuuge distraction, like facebook. sometimes you gotta put the phone down, log off your computer and just live….. technology-free.

*inhale….exhale*

so i adapted this from my own PB2 Shrimp Pad Thai recipe, but i used chicken breasts and fettucine miracle noodles instead of kelp.

aaaand i added a yellow bell pepper along with the red. everything else is the same.

ooooh these noodles are simply amazing and went PERFECT with this dish i tell you, perfect. my relationship with kelp is officially OVER, thanks to my affair with miracle noodles. *chunks deuce*

eye-popping color and freshness goin’ on up in that pot!

letting the flavors marry for the last few minutes…

and bam! plated up! no cashews….i used pistachios and it was an even exchange. ok, the pistachios really was the last thing i altered, whoops.

yummay & healthay.

i worked the leggies at the gym this morning! how do i get my calves to pop? 4 x 25 of calve raises in between leg press sets.

flexin’ in btw squat sets.

afterwards, my Stank Tank and i had lunch in the Life Cafe that started out with some Snikiddy grilled cheese puffs.

we’re fans of Snikiddy all natural snacks- they sell the huuuuge bags in sams and costco, fyi.

i ordered half a cheese pizza with whole wheat crust 2% mozzarella for Chiso (yes more cheeeeese),

and a turkey avocado sammich on Udi’s gluten-free whole grain bread for moi. this was my first time having Udi’s bread and i liked it cause it was thick and actually kinda sweet, like challah bread or even a coarse pound cake! however, like Ezekiel, the slices are kinda small, and the price is kinda big. Natures Own and Sara Lee have the regular size bread and for less cals and price.

nevertheless, both halves were gone in about 2 minutes.

the weather was GORGEOUS, so we took to the courtyard for a little bit to play. funny, i remember bringing Chi out here and all he could do was crawl and watch the other kids play and jump over him. yeah, i had a moment.

our next stop- Trader Joe’s Houston numero TWO!!!! i took this pic from the car so i wouldn’t seem like an, i don’t know…TJ’s stan?

they said it was coming…and it’s here. crunchy cookie butter. *shakes first*

i walked down this aisle for f…o…r…e…v…e..r. TJ’s literally has chocolate covered everything you can think of. some of THE oddest combos just go together.

i didn’t do too bad- walked away with only a handful of items i don’t need, like these. cinnamon sugar (15 cals per tsp) and sugar chocolate coffee bean (calorie-free) ‘sprinkles’ or dust, or whatever you wanna call it.

first victim – PB2 topped whole wheat toast.

so…how are yours coming along?

whether short-term or long, sow your seeds NOW and as often as possible, and knock’em out one by one. happy to be sharing some of mine very soon!

curtsy lunges and holiday play

January 21, 2013 by fitfoodiele

what a blessed day. but every day is a blessed day, right? right. i did not wake up this morning expecting to reach 4k followers on Instagram, i’ll tell you that much! super humbling moment. i love fitness as much as i love eating and gosh darn it i just want to do both all day every day and inspire tons of people along the way.

so THANK YOU again x’s infinity to my followers and my readers! IG is a true health and fitness motivational powerhouse, man!!!! one of the best sources to date in my book. get some Instagram in ya life!

my goal was to actually sleep in this morning, but i popped right on up at 7am as usual. so i got on up and made half of my breakfast for some energy (2 egg whites, 1/2 cup of oatmeal), left my boys sleeping, and hit the gym. just the usual up there- oatmeal pancakes with bananas and cinnamon with some egg whites and low sugar ketchup. i ate the rest when i got back home- 2 more egg whites and another half a cup of oatmeal. hey, i’m 5’10

how did you spend your MLK holiday? Chiso’s uncle Matt finished putting his new car together this weekend, so we took it for a spin today.

great weather for a walk, and physical activity is always a plus.

in addition to ‘no!’ Chi’s fave word is now ‘mine! mine! mine!’

while we were out in the park, i seized the opp to take a few pics of one of my fave leg exercises for an Instagram challenge i’m participating in. if you have a set of dumbbells at home, try them:

curtsy lunges!

they work the outside of your glutes and hams nicely.

a. swing your left foot around and down to the outside of your right leg while dropping your left knee straight down at a 90 degree angle. make sure all your weight is bearing down in your right heel- you can even lift your toes in your shoe to ensure that weight is where it’s supposed to be.

**keep your back, neck, and head all in alignment! which translates into: back flat, chest up, head up. **

b. push up strong into your right heel and bring your left foot back to the starting position while flexing and pointing your left foot/toe. you can even add an upright row holding your dumbbells as show in the pic for a full body exercise.

repeat on the other side until it burrrrrrrrrrrrns!

for lunch back home, i made some tri-pepper tuna sliders for us. i still have a couple bell peppers left from that sale and i’ve been putting them in everything.

i didn’t measure on this one at all yall- here’s what i used though: 3 cans wild tuna packed in water, handful of chopped red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, and orange bell pepper, big dollop of 0% greek yogurt, couple tablespoons of brown or dijon mustard, fresh cilantro, parsley, 2 tablespoons of coconut aminos, and some low-sodium lemon pepper seasoning.

i put all that on a toasted, light, multigrain Thomas english muffin, and topped them with some creamy, ripe avocado and some sweet, smoky chipotle seasoning.

Q: what are coconut aminos?

A: another ~~expensive~~ GREAT super low sodium, healthy, all natural soy sauce alternative!

Bragg’s Liquid Aminos are AWESOME too, and i’ll continue to use them to flavor my lean proteins, but i like these cause they have a sweetness to them that is simply wonderful for any type of sauce. and nope, it doesn’t taste like coconut at all. you can find it at the fabulous HEB in the natural foods section, and definitely Whole Foods. Kroger’s natural foods section has expanded like crazy recently (well the one by my house anyway) so i wouldn’t be surprised if they carried it too. look around!

those stats are FFL approved! that price tag isn’t though

fantastic soy sauce alternative, and great for making delicious, flavorful dressings, marinades, and sauces! found at Whole Foods for sure.

(1 tsp serving)

5 cals
0g fat
113 mg sodium
1g carb
0g sugar

it’s:

100% organic
raw
gluten-free
soy-free
contains 17 amino acids
vegan!

i only post quotes that speak to me…and this one did just that. we’ve only got one body! no extra men in this game. start doing better and living healthier right now.

do you sleep in on holidays or get up and hit the gym early anyway?

sunday, sweat, & salmon

January 13, 2013 by fitfoodiele

i must start this post out by giving a HUUUUUGE congrats to everyone that participated in the Chevron Houston Half and Full Marathon races this morning!!!! my Facebook feed is blowing the heck up right now with pics of friends i had no idea were even running this year! the weather wasn’t the greatest, but i am so thrilled to see people sticking to their goals, breaking PR’s and just being such HEALTHY examples. AWESOME job, all runners!

i had this bad boy a few days ago- my protein filled breakfast sammie.

it’s got 2 egg whites and 2 oz of lean grilled chicken breast previously dipped in some calorie-free, carb-free, fat-free, Walden Farms pancake syrup and sandwiched between a Thomas light, multigrain english muffin. who needs a high-priced drive-through breakfast sandwich when you can make these right at home? my family doesn’t.

before heading out to church this morning, i had another one and added some dijon mustard for some tang. some cheese will make it even better! stats: 225 cals, 3g fat, 26.6 carbs, 8g fiber, and a WHOPPING 30g of protein! YUP!

so today was the launch of 24 Hour Fitness’s new Total Body Conditioning format (HIIT) and i had so much fun sweating it out with the members! please, allow me to give just one more shout out to my amazing husband for his support.

weights? yes. cardio? not a big fan. nevertheless, he was in my front row doing his thing and making crazy faces at me as usual.

this is my 5th year teaching and i always, and i mean always, get butterflies in my tummy right before class. i don’t think that feeling will ever leave me. soon as i put that mic on…

it’s ON!!

i feel unstoppable when i am in my zone!

they made breaking a sweat look FANTASTIC. so inspiring.

i was on such a natural high which called for rr selfies- it was a modest turn out and i KNOW the class will only grow to be bigger and better in the coming weeks. i just love family gym dates! heeeey, Chiso

so salmon is STILL on sale at HEB this week *big cheese*. the price did go up a dollar, but it’s still a couple dollars lower than regular price. i couldn’t pass it up. soooo, here are more healthy, fresh salmon meal ideas:

salmon is amazing when paired with fresh dill, but i didn’t have any. i used another toasted Thomas english muffin, broke apart some of the baked salmon and put it on one side, and i slathered the other half of the muffin with a homemade no-fat cream cheese & green onion spread. i smell a salmon, dill, chive, cream cheese dip coming soon, don’t you!? no pun intended.

fresh blackberries are on sale too! i made a spring mix salad for lunch one day last week and threw a few on top for one of my meal 5′s. grilled squash, roasted new potatoes and a hunk of garlic and herb salmon went right along with it. i roast or grill my food A LOT- you create so much flavor! steamed is my least fave…

yesterday, my fam got together at my grandma’s house for a huge pot luck style brunch. what did i volunteer to make? banana pancakes, duuuuuh!

i quadrupled my original recipe and blended 3/4th of the oats in a powder but i left 1 cup whole for texture. you already know the ingredients, so i’ll spare ya.

all griddled up and ready to be devoured.

if you gone do brunch, do it right! i brought sliced fresh bananas, chopped pecans, Cary’s sugar-free syrup, and whipped cream along to top them. we also had:

a beautiful concoction of fresh, ripe fresh fruit brought by my cousin Anne,

eggies made with love by my aunts,

french toast (made with organic, low-fat milk, right, Kristy!)

here’s one end of the table,

this thing was soooooo sweet and delectable! i had to know what the crust was and found out it was a big sugar cookie, yum! topped with cool whip, cinnamon, and fresh fruit. awesome idea that i WILL be stealing and tweaking lol.

aaaand here’s the other end.