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

basil boobie bells

March 25, 2013 by fitfoodiele

immediately after this morning’s class! a good friend of mine told me she was coming to see me and she showed up as promised i know how tough a 5:30am appointment can be to make, and i was so happy to see her again. i expressed my gratitude by kicking her butt, lol! 1 hour of total body conditioning later, we were outta there for the day.

a little later, i took Chiso to an Easter Egg Hunt that was being held at Discovery Green downtown. they always have something going on there for all ages, love it! we made it exactly 3 minutes before it started, but mommy forgot to put money in the meter so we had to speed walk all the way back to the truck. the meter maid actually met us there and had the ticket in hand and everything that fast!!!! he let me make it this time though, thank God. #whew

they let the 0 – 2 kiddos go first, so we made it back in time for Chiso to grab a few eggs. i cherish spending time with my little Stank Tank.

on to tha fooooood! i got some sliced rotisserie chicken from the HEB deli earlier this week, so i chopped it up and topped my spring mix salad with it for meal 3. it also had strawberries, carrots, avocado, tomatoes, pecans, fat-free feta, cracked black pepper, and a couple drizzles of Walden Farms raspberry vinaigrette.

so about those bell peppers! how many pics of these guys did i take? lots.

they were on sale at Kroger at the time 10 for 10 dollars, so i bought a bunch of ‘em.

then we walked to the mailbox later that evening and lookie there! perfect timing for the cover of one of my fave mags! what a coincidence. at least i think that’s what happened. i don’t remember anymore cause this post has been a draft since the end of January sounds about right though.

basil boobie bells

the stuff:

4 large bell peppers
2 large chicken breasts (or ground turkey, ground chicken)
1 cup cooked brown rice (or quinoa, or couscous)
2 garlic cloves
2 tbsp mrs. dash southwest chipotle seasoning
2 tbsp fresh parsley
2 tbsp fresh cilantro
2 tbsp fresh basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1 roma tomato, chopped
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 cup low sodium oregano, garlic tomato sauce
1 – 2 tbsp liquid aminos
1/2 cup goat cheese (or shredded parmesan, or fat-free feta)
no stick cooking spray

do this:

1. preheat your oven to 375 degrees. cut the tops off of your peppers, remove the seeds, and if need be, cut the bottoms to ensure they sit flat in your pan.

2. spray both your baking pan and a medium heated skillet with no-stick cooking spray.

3. add the chopped garlic and onion to the hot skillet, and saute until translucent (2-3 minutes)

4. add raw, chopped chicken, liquid aminos, herbs, and spices; cook through until there is no more pink (5-7 minutes)

5. add the cooked rice, tomato sauce, chopped tomato and goat cheese, then turn off the heat and mix well.

6. situate your peppers into your baking pan, and distribute the mixture evenly between all four peppers.

7. bake for 40-50 minutes or until tender.

8. top with more fresh basil, let them cool, then eat ‘em up.

per bell pepper! remember the stats change depending on your substitutions

let the bell pepper pic collage ensue:

eat arainbow!!!

also, if you haven’t seen it on Instagram yet, i’m running a contest that started yesterday (monday) and will end this FRIDAY! you MUST like the Fit Foodie Le Facebook Fan Page if you haven’t already- i will pick one lucky fan to win something seriously cool. health and fitness related of course! spread the word, please and thank you!

kb lunges & crunches + Athleta product review

February 26, 2013 by fitfoodiele

last night’s meal 5…. ain’t she fine? i took a roasted baked potato, topped it with crumbled 99% lean ground turkey (seasoned with Mrs. Dash no-salt fiesta lime seasoning, fresh parsley, garlic, and liquid aminos) chopped green onion, fresh tomatoes, and a dollop of 0% greek yogurt. finished it off with a sprinkle of more Mrs. Dash and dried parsley.

flavor EXPLOSION in ya mouth!

i cooked the potato like i always do- 450 deg for 45 minutes or until oozy. if you poke holes in it beforehand it won’t ooze, but there’s no fun in that.

after 42 pics from every angle possible, i gobbled it UP. yall know i love the versatility of sweet potatoes- try them with your family and see what they think! you can customize your toppings for sure, just like you would on a normal russet potato. don’t let the sweetness throw you off- it will work out, i promise.

so i’m gonna post LEG exercises all this week, and i’ll start with these two:

1. side lunge w/ squat

1. start position stand with feet shoulder width or closer apart

2.(lunge) keeping your left leg straight, step out to the side with your right leg, and bend at your right knee.

3. (squat) push your heel firmly into the floor while pushing your glutes back and keeping knees behind your toes.

push-off the right leg through your heel to return to the start position.

repeat; 3 x 12, each leg.

above is just a collage of what the lowest point of your lunge/squat should look like^

knees behind your toes
straight opposite leg
back flat
chest up
head up
weight planted firmly into your heels
lift your toes in your shoes
push back up to starting position through your heel, not your toes

Q: can’t you do these with a dumbbell? A: this particular exercise, DEFINITELY. however, the two main differences (ok really the only two in my book) btw kettle bells and dumbbells are the grip/handle and the center of gravity of the weight.

‘once the bell is thrown with force, it must be controlled and stopped with an equal amount of force. you are now working twice as hard to move and stop the bell. these actions and reactions require tremendous efforts to stabilize the body. most of these efforts start with your legs and hips and are controlled with your shoulders and trunk or core.’

kinda hard to do that with a dumbbell… and some will argue that you just can’t get a GREAT, EFFECTIVE full body workout with a dumbbell alone vs. a kettle bell.

well, what do you think?

2. knee to elbow standing crunches

these are fun and all about obliques! they also contribute to balance and core stability. the kettle bell handle is very useful on this one.

1. engage your core while standing with your feet shoulder width apart.

2. drive your right knee up, and simultaneously bring your right elbow down to meet it, crunching your right oblique in the process. same rules apply:

chest up

back straight

core engaged

you can speed it up or take it slower, depending on the weight of your bell. really engage the obliques though by keeping your movements controlled and with a full range of motion. keep it even and hit both sides of course til it burns!

*****

being an instructor has its perks- this outfit is a testament to that! an Athleta (by Gap ) store opened up close to my gym, and they kindly gave the instructors tops and bottoms to model and show off to our members.

sweet deal.

*warning* i took these pics after working out and put this fit to the ultimate test! excuse the sweat stains! among other things

Athleta – Inside Track Knicker 69.00$

great for running, gym training
wide waistband streamlines hips
NeverEnd drawstring means no hunting for ends

lightweight, sleek, stretchy, comfortable, moveable
made of recycled polyester/lyrca spandex
performance fitted, mid-rise, and tight leg

not shorts and not pants- i have always dug the cropped length.

Athleta - Run On Tank 39.00$

running, gym training
ultra flattering style lines
lightweight, silky, breathable, stretchy
polygiene (ployester/spandex)
rear zipper pocket (cards, keys, small items, etc.)
semi-fitted (more ‘flowy’ than skin tight)
reflective detail keeps you visible in low light conditions (for my evening runners!)

if you haven’t checked out Athleta yet, go for it!

i told ya i don’t discriminate- i found the biggest beets i’ve ever seen at wally world (Walmart) and threw them in my basket without hesitation. @ 1.98 for 3 huge bulbs, they are as big as grapefruits!

however i was looking for eggplant, which i did NOT find and had to go elsewhere to get it.

i found some for a great price at Fiesta! i also copped some papaya since it was on sale. lunch was a plate of grilled chicken breasts seasoned with Mrs. Dash garlic and herb seasoning, grilled egg-plant, roasted sweet potatoes, and papaya salsa!

fresh & fit papaya-lime salsa

1/2 diced red bell pepper
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1 cup diced papaya
2 tbsp cilantro
2 tbsp green onion, chopped
juice of half a fresh lime

slice and dice that all up, squeeze the lime over it, refrigerate, top on whatever you like, devour.

WHEW! it’s a lot goin’ on in this post lol! until breakfast, goodnite fit foodies.

1st lululemon product review!!

February 21, 2013 by fitfoodiele

HOT french toast for Chi this morning, oat bran banana pancakes for me! and egg whites. you know the drill.

i didn’t measure for the french toast, but i used whole wheat bread dipped in a mixture of egg whites, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, cinnamon, pure vanilla, and vanilla creme stevia. i topped it with some Walden Farms pancake syrup. Chiso is still in love with bananas and eats a whole one for breakfast every morning, so he can lick his syrupy fingers all he wants since it’s sugar-free!

for lunch, i got fancy with something i make at least 4 times a week cause it’s so QUICK. and i need quick these days.

egg whites, wild tuna, cucumbers, and tomato on some wheat toast with a dollop of guacamustard (avocado and coarse ground mustard whipped into a mousse) and sprinkled with some no-salt Mrs. Dash fiesta lime seasoning. you don’t have to make a tuna tower too, but it’s FUN! right!?

i’m no trained chef, yall! yeah right! yall better stop emailing me with those ‘i can’t do all that’ messages!!! first off, you can, and second, who said you had to!? i do this for kicks cause it makes me happy. ok and to impress Sonny. ultimately though, it also contributes to the fact that wholesome, healthy, nutritious food can taste as great as it looks. presentation is important to me, but above all else, eat what’s good for you, first.

SO, thank youuuuuu for your emails and questions!!! i will continue to do my very best to respond in a timely manner, and even answer some of them in my posts. how bout i do that right now!

Q: are you a PT (personal trainer)?

A: no, guys! i’m a group fitness instructor! a PT is something i’ve considered in the past and it’s just not for me…’officially’ anyway, lol! i am certainly not opposed to the one-on-one thing, but the energy of a riled up group of athletes, the loud music, the microphone…yeah the combo of all that is what i live for. i am in complete love with teaching classes for 24 Hour Fitness and Lifetime, however, i do have intentions of teaching local classes (bootcamp, abs, TKB), in due time.

‘WHAT DO WE WANT?! ‘

‘GAMS!!!!’

‘HOW DO WE GET’EM?!’

pop some squizats!

one of the many lower body exercises you can do for toned, strong, defined, glutes(butt), hamstrings(back of your legs), and quadriceps(front/top of your legs).

TIPS:

lift your toes in your shoes and press your heels into the floor
have an actual seat- like you’re about to sit in a chair
keep your knees behind your toes even at the lowest point of your squat
back flat, chest up, abs in, head up!
your stance determines which part of the legs you work, so switch it up often to target and work more angles (narrow stance, shoulder width stance, wide stance)
inhale down, exhale up
if your knees cave in toward each other as you squat, the weight is too heavy. proper form first. always.
you can hold heavy dumbbells down to your sides, you can sit the dumbbells on your shoulders (my personal fave), use a weighted barbell across the meaty part of your shoulders, or use no weight at all!

i am THRILLED to now be apart of lululemon’s r & d (research and development) team, whoop, whoop! i want to be apart of ALL THINGS LULU!!! no, this does not mean that i am employed by lululemon- it means that as an instructor, my feedback concerning lululemon products is valued and considered. well i have A LOT of that to spare and share

before i get to new items, i’m gonna start my first product review with some things i wear constantly as you can prolly tell via Instagram! i’m currently working on a new section on my blog that i will dedicate to *drum roll* product reviews! it’ll be composed of healthy food products i eat and use in my own recipes, as well as fitness related gear that i wear, use, and support. sooooo, here we go:

lululemon grey and black Wunder Under Pant (WU’s 2012) – 82.00$

second-skin fit – feels like next to nothing, literally!
four-way stretch
designed for yoga, gym, to-and-fro, extremely versatile
stylish!

secret waist pocket (keys, cards, small items, etc.)
wide soft waistband for comfort and eliminating muffin top

light-weight, comfy, moveable, breathable fabric no matter what type of exercise you are doing
the contours and embellishments contribute to a longer, leaner appearance <—-my FAVE!

it never fails- every time i wear them out, people really dig the back of these pants, and i did too! which is what sold me on ‘em. and can i just say i take ‘to-and-fro’ to a whole new level. gym or not, i slip them on and GO! highly recommended!

do you own a pair?

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!

banana berry whole wheat french toast

January 18, 2013 by fitfoodiele

my Chiso is a snotty mc nasty mess this week. after taking him to the child center in a new gym, well, the inevitable happened. new gym, new germs. it’s been a looooong week of coughing, whining, and TLC over here, but we made it to FRIDAAAAAY!

this morning i made another batch of banana berry whole wheat french toast…oh yeah.

but i didn’t burn it this time.

banana berry whole wheat french toast

the stuff:

2 slices Natures Own double fiber wheat bread
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp raw, unsweetened organic coconut flakes
1 egg white
1/4 cup blackberries
1/2 a banana

do this:

combine the egg white, almond milk, cinnamon, and vanilla in a shallow bowl big enough to lay your bread flat in and mix it well. dip both slices of bread (front/back) until it is soaked through. in a medium heated no-stick pan, lay both pieces of bread flat and cook until browned and crispy, about 3-4 minutes. flip! cook that side until crisp for about 3-4 minutes as well. plate it up, then top them with the bananas, blackberries, and a drizzle of Walden Farms pancake syrup. last thing, sprinkle with more cinnamon and coconut flakes!

for the whole shabang:

dessert for breakfast, yes please! low cal, high fiber, full of good carbs, and SWEET.

so….i FINALLY got a Facebook fan page for Fit Foodie Le. i mean, it’s only 2013. i guess i battled with it for so long cause it’s hard as CRAP for me to keep up with social media as it is!!

‘nobody ever said it would be easy…but it WILL be worth it.’

that being said, sometimes i can’t sit down and really write a post like i’d like YET, so i will use the fan page to post quick tid bits of info, recipes, motivation, inspiration and all that good stuff. add me! or ‘Like’ my page rather

alright, last thing- a few people tell me how much they absolutely HATE oatmeal (what is WRONG with them!? j/k) and asked me for some alternative breakfast ideas. when i tell you i was seconds away from posting a pic of some of the Kashi Go Lean Cereal i bought at the store a few days ago my finger came to a screeeeching halt after googling this:

http://www.pleasegodno.com/archives/20-1-cup-Kashi-GoLEAN-Crunch-+-12-cup-milk-Endless-stomach-churning-gas.html

can i just say i was almost commenter 411 cause this very thing happened to me too!!!!! i was like, wait a minute…i adjusted my macros JUST right to have these 2, ok 4, bowls of cereal for my late night snack and the next morning my tummy was straight MUSH. bloating and uncomfy gas is not cool. now does Kashi have this effect on everybody? maybe, maybe not. however, i will have to add it my bloat list along with broccoli. it can take time to figure out which foods YOUR body doesn’t agree with! adjust, bounce back, and keep on truckin’. and Googling

i’ll dedicate a separate post to those breakfast alternatives!

eat better + exercise = a healthier, happier YOU. when you look good, you feel good!

happy FRIDAY!

weekend + peanut butter oatmeal carob chip cookie balls

December 23, 2012 by fitfoodiele

i mean i just wanted to take a selfie of my new top from my sweet coworker, Monica! apparently everybody needed to use the bathroom at the same time.doing his daily ritual.

love it! workout gear is one of my fave ever gifts to receive. it’s Nike, very light weight, has a cool design, and most important, racerback.

we hit the gym and i decided to take a Total Conditioning class instead of my normal weights and cardio routine. taking classes and teaching them are completely different for me concerning the workout part! i do 80%+of the workout with my class, and the rest is coaching, motivating, and walking around checking for great form. before i began teaching, seeing the instructor struggling with me provided some of THE best motivation to keep me going! so i definitely try to provide that for my members. when i’m up there on that podium, it’s like i feel NO burn, seriously! my adrenaline goes crazy the entire time. talk about an endorphin high

where’s waldo?

when i take a class, i feel the burn waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay sooner, LOL. i feel every thing! it’s now me vs me and i go to war with that voice inside my head telling me the burn is too much and to STOP. but i refuse!

i did the class, then 30 min of fat burning cardio and got up outta there.

but not before a progress selfie lol. Chiso and i had a day of Christmas and grocery shopping to get to, and i neglected to pack our lunches. i knew we’d pass by that death trap of a food court at the mall and the smell of fries just might win me over after that workout! so, we had lunch at the gym.

and i’m glad we did! ok more like a snack. i got a smoothie for the first time in MONTHS. i’ve enjoyed eating my fruit instead of drinking it..that’s my only reason. anyway i was super surprised to see that Lifetime now has almond milk substitutions!! what!? they are always one step ahead!

i got an almond delight which did not hit all my macros for meal 2, but it held me over juuuuust enough until we got home. don’t worry, i made up for it.

i chose blueberry and banana for my fruits of choice; the best smoothie combo ever, i know!

cold and creamy.

Chiso loves the chocolate flavor of this milk too, lol! (me too)

‘if it’s here, it’s healthy.’

100% clean menu.

on to the mall!

i spotted this while we were out shopping and did the most obnoxious double take ever. miracle slimming system. no diet and exercise required. 10 minute method. 3.99. it’s called a WORKOUT for a reason, yall! it requires an effort. it’s still on the shelf because unfortunately someone will buy this thing. only real, lasting results come from good nutrition and exercise. that’s it. that’s the secret.

i spent longer grocery shopping than Christmas shopping lol. i saw these in the bulk isle at HEB and gave them a taste…score. they are low in sugar, grain sweetened, carob chips and they taste just like semi sweet chocolate chips! grain sweetened chocolate covered raisins from Whole Foods have been my guilty pleasure for YEARS. it was the only place i could find them for a while, but carob has definitely gotten more popular lately! you’ll see these guys again shortly.

TODAY was leg day and i had a grilled turkey and almond cheese sandwich on Ezekiel bread, a small red delicious apple, and some tomato & cucumber salad from Central Market before hitting the gym.

tryin to shred these puppies!!

had just finished doing my heavy squats here. i went heavy and did 4 sets of 10 of the following: barbel squats, single leg seated presses, hack squats, alternating dumbbell lunges, deadlifts, leg extensions & curls.

then i followed that up with about 10 min of abs.

nice burn!

i’ve been thinking about the kind of cookie i wanted to leave out for Santa, and i tried my hand at some no-bake peanut butter cookie balls that turned out darn good!

No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Carob Chip Cookie Balls

the stuff:

10 tbsp quick oats
2 tbsp carob chips (can totally use any kind of chocolate chips)
2 tbsp agave nectar (can sub honey)
2 tsp pure vanilla
2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
4 tbsp chocolate PB2

do this:

MIX! form into 10 balls and pop them into the fridge until you’re ready to devour. give them at least 30 min though. if they are too sticky for you, add more oats in increments of 1 table-spoon. they were just right for us though! recipe makes 10 balls.

serving size = 1 cookie

low sugar, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free (long as your oats are gluten-free) and YUM-MY.

Chiso looooooooooooved them!

him and his faces.

more, more, more!

ok we ate this entire batch, but we will make plenty more.

Santa will wash them down with a big glass of almond milk!

what kinda cookies will you be leaving out for Santa this year?

runnin the streets

December 5, 2012 by fitfoodiele

i went out this past weekend!!! ok not out out, but it was to a private dinner celebrating my dear friend turning 30. it was held at Perry’s Steakhouse – one of my faaaaaaave places for a magnificent dining experience! always great service, and the food…well, look:

i kept it clean and enjoyed the grilled salmon (sauce on the side) and kept the sautéed spinach that accompanied it. i reeeeeally wanted to sub it for the butternut squash puree, but our waitress quoted me some ungodly price for that small change and i declined. anyway, i made sure i altered my macros to fit this meal in- it was delectable. i’m glad i got my sauce on the side cause i put a little on my fork and it tasted like straight flavored butter!!

my friends were so sweet- they snapped pics of their plates for me that was steak topped with crab with steamed asparagus spears on the side.

here we have pecan crusted red snapper and broccollini florets.

this is totally what i would normally order!! surf and turf, YUM. lobster tail, fillet mignon, and asparagus spears.

quick pic before we got busy! the birthday girl is in the upper right corner:) i’m honored to have been apart of her celebration.

so this is from yesterday’s workout which means this post was supposed to go out yesterday too.

i’d love to have my competition abs/core back! i took this pic immediately after my class- 1 hour of HIIT and some core work at the end.

Q: what’s the best type of cardio? HIIT or steady state?

A: BOTH. incorporate both types into your weekly routine. i do HIIT once or twice a week, and steady state either early in the morning, or after my weights session. switching up the days you do either one will keep your body from plateauing and constantly burning fat.

i sped home to my breakfast- scrambled eggs this time with fat-free feta, dried parsely, and reduced sugar ketchup,

aaaand a bowl of cinnamon oats made with unsweetened almond milk and topped with bananas, more cinnamon, walden farms syrup, and raw, unsweetened coconut flakes.

i bought a crap load of kale at HEB so i’ve been incorporating it into my dishes these past few days! we have here:

ground turkey and egg white kale wraps lol

for another lunch or dinner i had a bowl of torn, raw, kale, roasted sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and lean ground turkey.

but this recipe right here is my fave so far. grilled smokehouse maple shrimp and kale tacos!

with fat-free feta cheese and homemade guacamole.

(1 avocado + half a roma tomato + liquid aminos)

the shrimp was marinated in liquid aminos and smokehouse maple seasoning.

i’m head over heels in love with sautéed kale. oh and those are La Tortilla Factory white-wheat soft wraps.

i posted this on IG the other day- Trader Joe’s cranberry apple butter. i went in looking to replace my fig butter but happily left with this instead after i didn’t see any.

it tastes just like the traditional canned, jellied, cranberry sauce, but fresher and more tart. i’m cool with it! 20 cals, 4g sugar, 5 carbs for 1 tbsp. i do believe it has the lowest calorie and sugar count of all the butters. i missed it on Thanksgiving, but i will definitely be eating some with my Christmas dressing this year!

which means after 30 years of this stuff, i have no more use for it. those stats are outta line for only 1/4 cup serving…i can eat the whole can by myself with my plate. too high in sugar and has high fructose corn syrup at that. no thank you.

got great news and events coming up for 2013 that i’ll be sharing very soon!

which apple butter is your favorite?

plateaus + 30 min shoulder workout

November 27, 2012 by fitfoodiele

the holidays take forever to get here and then they are gone just like that. *tear*

are you back on track from Thanksgiving yet? well how much more time do you need!!?!?! i’m good (now), but if your body seems to have come to a stubborn halt, or if your results seem to be going in reverse:

*lift heavier

*do a completely different set of exercises for a particular muscle group

*add a HIIT workout into your regimen to shock your metabolism (track sprints, bleachers, stair master, hill sprints)

*take a class at your gym! (spin, weights, kickboxing, boot-camp, yoga, etc.)

*do your normal routine in reverse order

i chose a different cardio toy last night! i know it’s super similar to my fave machine (the machine with the feet) but the stride is wider, and there is an incline function. pick machines that use upper and lower body simultaneously cause that gets your heart rate up right away and provides a full body workout/warmup. remember, the more body parts moving, the more calories and fat you burn! you can do HIIT on that thing or steady state cardio, you choose.

i taught my Total Conditioning class this morning and burned about 700 cals, then hit the weights for a quick 30 min shoulder work out. i must share this burn!!

tripleset (using moderate to heavy weight)

seated rear deltoid press 3 x 12

seated lateral raise 3 x 12

seated front deltoid press 3 x 12

***

standing alternating forward dumbbell raises 3 x 24

standing dumbbell T raises 3 x 12

barbel upright row 3 x 12

***

25 heavy barbel shoulder shrugs 4 sets

early morning workout complete and i am done for the day at 7:30am!

we went to Ruggles Green again over the long holiday weekend and i finally ordered something different – organic turkey lettuce wraps.

not bad! i can totally make them at home though. lean ground turkey, black beans, carrots, red peppers, tomatoes, bean sprouts, and corn all nestled inside a thick leaf of crisp iceberg lettuce.

i ordered a 3 cheese kids pizza for Chiso as my former little garbage disposal has become extremely picky. wonder how long that’ll last…

it was a winner.

if he didn’t kill it, we would have.

money well spent. i ordered some of their famous butternut squash too as usual, and whaddaya know- he doesn’t like it anymore

so i handled up on that.

Sonny ordered what i usually get- the grilled fish tacos on corn tortillas.

‘pumpkin? clearly it’s a basketball. ‘

he tried to bounce it and everything!!!

then….fro-yo time. i mean it was right next door.

aaaaalllll those toppings and i never really step outside my comfort zone.

no sugar added vanilla frozen yogurt, mini dark chocolate chips, sprinkles, and whipped cream. 20 cals per ounce – my kinda cheat treat!

creating a fro-yo monster

remember that shrimp i bought that was on sale at the same time fresh salmon was?

i finally defrosted it and threw them in my grill pan along with some raw zucchini for dinner that night. i sprinkled some more of that sweet smokey chipotle paprika and some dried parsley on them first,

and overcooked the heck outta them. shrimp cook so fast it’s not even funny. you’re supposed to do this for all proteins, but take them off the heat just before they are done, cover them with foil, and let them ‘rest’. they will continue cooking from the residual heat. so if you take them off when they are done, they will get chewy on you after they cool a little and they won’t be nearly as juicy.

Ogechi brought me those seasonings at the perfect time cause my HEB has been outta Mc Cormick’s smokehouse maple seasoning for weeks.

we don’t have our Christmas tree up yet. i usually wait until the price drops a little before we go get one. a real one! i love how they make the house smell. we were able to put up a few Christmassy items though.

Chiso did his own thing and wasn’t interested.

matter fact, all those boxes back there were on the floor by the end of the night.

thanks to my little elf!

you know I didn't miss my workout this mornin, but then I fell off the map hanging out with this guy… instagram.com/p/ZeUuKqRuJh/ 7 hours ago
if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you #sorryimnotsorry #liftheavy #buildmuscle #burnfat instagram.com/p/ZeRJsnxuEM/ 7 hours ago
#ffsphotoaday day 17: fitness. just one of the countless reasons I love this stuff. lifting heavy… instagram.com/p/ZbXwnIxuE5/ 1 day ago
yeah I could eat this every day.... fresh from teaching my class and playing catch up with my macros!… instagram.com/p/Za_TZURuCa/ 1 day ago
indeed!!!!!! it's a great day to have a great day yall, happy friday:) gorgeous day in city centre.… instagram.com/p/Za7ynBRuNr/ 1 day ago

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Tag Archives: lunch

La Tortilla Factory Giveaway!!!

family + fitness + food = birthday trifection

basil boobie bells

kb lunges & crunches + Athleta product review

1st lululemon product review!!

WFM KATY <3

banana berry whole wheat french toast

weekend + peanut butter oatmeal carob chip cookie balls

runnin the streets

plateaus + 30 min shoulder workout

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