What We Are Eating Wednesday: Vacations

By the end of last summer, I had been working soooo hard counting macros and incorporating weights into my workouts and I was totally on track. We take a trip every year with my husband’s family to Newport Beach and I was determined to stay on track while there. I realized quickly how inconvenient and annoying that was. I was not only inconveniencing myself, but others as well. I enjoyed a few treats, but the extra amount of work it took to try and eat exactly like I do at home was ridiculous. Recently, I decided on a family trip, to just enjoy and not worry about healthy eating at all. That was NOT a good choice either, I felt sick and uncomfortable the whole time. My body simply wasn’t used to eating that way. SO. I decided I needed to find balance. I want to enjoy my vacations! That means allowing for treats and splurges, but not going hog wild so I feel sick the whole time and miserable. Here are a few things I’ve learned through trial and error. 🥘 Try to eat smaller, healthier meals for at least two of your meals per day. The third meal can be a bit more of a splurge. 🥘 On your non-splurge meals, try to eat high protein and high veggies. 🥘 Don’t drink your calories unless it’s absolutely worth it. 🥘Stay active. Try to get a workout, hike, or walk in, every day. 🥘 Plan for treats. This trip I knew I wanted my favorite donuts, and I knew I wanted my dad to make his pancakes 🥞 for me, so I planned the days I would do that. 🥘 If eating out a lot, try to make healthier choices where possible, skip the bread beforehand, skip the chips and salsa, get dressing on the side, etc. 🥘 Most of all, just be AWARE. Make conscious choices, and plan ahead!! Some of us travel a lot, others not so much, so you may choose to have your whole vacation as a splurge and that’s ok, as long as it is your choice! If you travel a lot, your whole life can become one big splurge, so make choices accordingly! What do you do to make healthy choices on vacation? 

Self-Care Saturday: Slapfish

🐠 Y’ALL NEED SLAPFISH. 🐠 Our mom is an avid fish ‘n chips fan, so we’ve gotten to try fish ‘n chips in California, Boston, England, New Zealand, and basically anywhere they sell it, right mom? 😋@tellyh654

And let me tell you, the fish ‘n chips at @slapfish in Lehi, Utah were the best I’ve had in Utah by far! Also, i ordered a delicious fish taco and I got lobster taquitos for free for being a @yelpslc elite! 😎👏🏻

I gave this little joint 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. So grant your fish wish, do yourself a fish favor and order some fish and chips at @slapfish if you are a Utah resident (they have one in Lehi, Sandy, and Park City). #selfcaresaturday
-Anna 

Gingerbread Cookies

🎄 CHRISTMAS IN JUNE!🎄

This is our Grandma’s gingerbread recipe. This recipe makes the best gingerbread cookies I’ve ever tried, and you guys know me, I’ve eaten a lot of EVERYTHING 😋👏🏻Plus, you don’t need to wait until Christmas to whip up these bad boys!

                                  

What We Are Eating Wednesdays: Summer Meals

☀️ SUMMER MEALS ☀️

I LOVE summer food because it’s fresh, easy and DELICIOUS!! And guess what?! Most of the time, when we grill, we only use one seasoning. Swipe to see what it is! It has been a game changer for us. Adds so much flavor and it’s so simple! (Thanks @jodiemmurphy for introducing us to it. Now if we can only get us a @traegergrills ❤️❤️❤️). We don’t even add oil to our chicken or anything, just the garlic salt/parsley mixture, and grill! I also add it to our veggies, as well as potatoes. (In the foil.) I love the grill basket pictured which is Pampered Chef and I got it from my friend @theveryhungrycaligirl. Add some watermelon and you have yourself an amazing summer meal! What’s your favorite summer meal?

What We Are Eating Wednesday: Egg Cups

It’s me, Anna. Ever wonder how you can POSSIBLY eat enough protein to hit your macro goals? 🙋🏼‍♀️

This grab-and-go egg cup is one of my favorite make-ahead breakfast recipes. I originally got the idea from ketoconnect.net, but modified it to my liking.

🥚 preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
🥚 cook six pieces of turkey bacon. Chop up into small pieces.
🥚 slice 2 green onions. Set aside.
🥚 grease a muffin tin.
🥚 crack an egg into each spot.
🥚 using a fork, break up each egg yolk and whisk lightly. Salt and pepper each.
🥚 add your mix-ins (green onion, turkey bacon pieces, and shredded cheese are my favorites) and stir.
🥚 cook in oven for 25-30 minutes.
🥚 serve with ketchup, salsa, or avocado.
🥚 once cooled, place leftovers in a Tupperware and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

🍳 it’s so delicious, and easy for my breakfasts for the whole week. Just pop it on a papertowel, microwave for 30-45 seconds, and off you go!

Have an egg-cellent day my friends! And don’t forget to enter the #jomochallenge to win rad prizes 🤙🏻

What We Are Eating Wednesday: Pantry Organization

After my post yesterday on simplifying, I had some interest in my pantry. I wanted to share what I did. It honestly has made things so easy and nice especially with kids and knowing everything I have and what I need to replenish. Swipe for pictures of the items I bought for organization. I also bought chalk pen labels on amazon and used little baskets from target or clear bins I already had. I labeled the containers that are staples that I always have around the house. For example: sugar, flour, etc. I keep the rows of containers right at the front of the shelf and with the dead space behind, I put any excess of that particular item for refilling. The other side of my pantry may need to be a separate post, but the goal is to have everything where it is accessible, contained and visible. When we moved into our new house, the Oxo sets were on sale and I bought two big sets. I also had a few containers already. You can get random ones at Ross, TJ Maxx, etc. They keep everything fresh and they are clear so you can see what’s inside and how much is left. Honestly, this room in my home brings me so much joy! 😂 But that’s what we want, to feel joy in our homes and not to feel overwhelmed or stressed. Comment below with questions!

Parenting Tuesday: Pregnancy Fitness

Happy Tuesday!! I officially have less than 3 months until this baby joins us. Feels so close yet so, very, far. 🙈😂 This pregnancy has been very different in a lot of ways, but the two I want to talk about are fitness and eating. This time around, since after the first trimester, I’ve been counting macros and eating really clean. I’ve been eating a protein-heavy diet and working hard to incorporate tons of veggies. I have been so proud of myself for the many unhealthy cravings I have said no to and for the self control I’ve been able to have. It is SO hard when you’re pregnant! All I want are donuts, cookies, cereal and bread. And we all know none of those hold much nutritional value. I have also added in a regular weight lifting routine on top of my cardio. I feel stronger and can’t believe what my body can still do. I was marveling at how things have changed even since 6 years ago when pregnant with my first. I was told if you hadn’t been exercising, it was dangerous to start in pregnancy, and that lifting heavy weights can be dangerous. Oh how different that is now! One of the main ways I have stayed on track is accountability. I have been working with @shapebynat, she gave me workouts, recipe ideas, and a personalized macro count. Every time I want to give up, I remember that I have her in my corner and I remember why I bought her program in the first place! I highly recommend working with a coach, especially in pregnancy when it can be so easy to give up! 

Self-Care Saturday: Gurus

Self-Care Saturday today was lunch at Guru’s with my sis @christinapendleton. Their sweet potato fries are unmatched! Good company good food! 😋

What We Are Eating Wednesday: Frosting Tip

Hey! It’s me, Anna. For #whatweareeatingwednesday I wanted to share a fun, easy baking tip I learned the other day after a rather thorough Pinterest meta-analysis 😏
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How to pipe swirly two-toned frosting (swipe for pics of the process): 
1) Make two different frostings (in the picture I used peanut butter cream cheese and chocolate cream cheese)
2) Spoon two logs of frosting length-wise onto a sheet of Serran wrap spread on a counter top 
3) Wrap Saran wrap around both logs so they touch.
4) Hold both ends and swing like “a mini jump rope” (got that from Pinterest haha!)
5) Cut the end off one corner of a ziploc bag, insert a tip (optional) into hole and then stick your newly-twisted-Serran-log-thing inside
6) Thread one plastic wrap twisted end through the hole, snip off excess, zip the ziploc closed and you’re ready to go!!
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*Make sure your frosting is room temperature when you actually start to frost. Much easier that way! Happy baking! 🧁 

What We Are Eating Wednesday: Gluten Free Snacks

Welcome to another installment of Katie’s fav gluten-free foods for #whatweareeatingwednesday . Today’s theme is snacks. These are mainstream foods that anyone would enjoy, gluten free or not. Picture #1: These delightful little Citterio meat and cheese packs from Costco are delicious, especially with picture #2, my all time favorite Milton gluten-free crackers (which can also be found at Costco). Picture #3 features Brazi bites, which I consider dessert these days now that I’m doing somewhat of a sweets cleanse. They are little Brazilian cheese breads made with tapioca flour and awesomeness. Pop them in the oven for 20 minutes and you have some mighty tasty little morsels. Picture #4 is a yummy GF oatmeal cookie granola bar from Annie’s Homegrown. ILISM. 

Parenting Tuesday: Muffin Tray Lunch

We are back from vacation, which means no more funnel cake for breakfast 😭😂🙈. I am back to trying to give my boys a healthy, balanced lunch that will be fun for them to eat. I got this snack tray idea a while back from @merricksart but I turned mine into a lunch tray! I tray to add a main food item/protein, some dairy, fruit, veggies, grain and a little treat. The boys loooove eating lunch with a toothpick and they love the variety of foods. Swipe to see some different trays I’ve made in the past.

What We Are Eating Wednesday: Treat Yo'self

Hello everyone, my name is Anna and I just finished studying the human brain 🧠 for 7 HOURS. 7!!!!! I can’t even use my brain to think about anything else right now so I’m going to throw it back to something that makes me happy for today’s post.

And let me tell you, how can Cookie dough Oreo @nielsenscustard not make you happy?!? I’ll answer that for you, it’s impossible.

If you wanna pull a Donna and Tom (for my Parks and Rec) and have a #treatyoself moment, this is a good place to do it 😏👏🏻

2 Gluten Free Dinner Recipes

Here are two recipes I've tried recently that I absolutely loved:

Chicken Enchilada Chili Soup (copycat of Zupas soup by the same name)
http://burntapple.com/2014/03/19/zupas-chicken-enchilada-chili-soup/
(I used cornstarch to thicken the soup instead of flour)

Weeknight Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti Bake
https://www.melskitchencafe.com/weeknight-spaghetti-squash-spaghetti-bake/
I couldn't believe how delicious this was. I ate it for leftovers all week!

Self-Care Saturday: Self-Monitoring

“Call a truce, stop the food fight! Give yourself unconditional permission to eat.” (From the book Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole) 

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I think this is a wonderful way to do #selfcare, to develop a positive relationship with food! And my sisters and I have all tried it! However, as @ktkarrots mentioned on our instastory recently...we were all blessed (cursed) with an INTENSE sweet tooth. So what happens when we give ourselves unconditional permission to eat you ask? Well, I personally, eat a lot of treats. At least one a day. 

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So, over time, I’ve developed a new system for myself. I want to stop the food fight too, but I need more rules when it comes to sugar. I try to not eat treats throughout the school/work week. But, when it comes to the weekend, I don’t just let it be a free-for-all. I try my best to pay attention to my body, and be reasonable about the amount of treats I eat so I don’t feel gross the whole weekend! -Anna

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How do you monitor your sugar intake? 

What We Are Eating Wednesday: Gut Health

“All disease begins in the gut.” -Hippocrates

Mic 🎤 drop.

But seriously, let’s gut together yeah, yeah, yeah and talk about my gut health journey today!

Have you ever had thrush in your mouth and throat? I have. I don’t want you to ever have it if you haven’t. 😭

Spring of 2018 was probably the most unhealthy I’ve ever been. Since then, I have worked at healing my gut and have benefitted in so many ways. A few are: no sickness!!, digestive issues gone, more energy, weight loss, got pregnant in just 3 months, less morning sickness.

Check out our stories today to hear my gut health story and ask any questions you have!

What We Are Eating Wednesday: NOLA

It’s #wwew (what we are eating Wednesday)! I (Anna) went to New Orleans, Louisiana for a occupational therapy conference last week, and I had a BLAST. Seriously, that place is like the soul of art and music in America!
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While I was there I was all about the food (as always), and wrote @yelp reviews on everywhere I went. SO, I’ve compiled the 5 things you MUST try when you go to New Orleans, and some good restaurants to try.
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1) OBVIOUSLY beignets. I had them like 4 separate times in 4 days 😅and by far the best were from Cafe Beignet. Plus they have live jazz music there!
2) bread pudding! I’ve always been weirded out by the concept of “bread” in my “pudding” but oh man it is HEAVENLY. I had this two times and my favorite was the French Toast bread pudding from Dickie Brennan’s.
3) traditional (or at least mostly) creole food. I got this when I ordered “the taste of New Orleans” from Oceana. DELISH. Red beans and rice, gumbo, androuille sausage...
4) pralines. I didn’t know this existed. It’s a yummy maple-y sugar-y Candy cookie thing. Laura’s candies was top notch in this department and they even let you try all the flavors first. Original is the best in my opinion.
5) seafood pasta. this is technically not a “restaurant” but we went on dinner jazz cruise on the “Chez Natchez” and it was SO fun. And the dinner buffet and seafood pasta there was delicious! And lastly, Cafe Amelie was charming in every way possible, and their jambalya and crawfish pastas were TDF (to die for 😋).

New Orleans is an incredibly fun palace to visit! Let me know if you decide to book a plane ticket now that you’ve seen all the food 🤣

What We are Eating Wednesday: Daily Line-up

Happy #wiew! Or, #whatimeatingwednesday. Here’s a typical lineup of what I’ve been eating lately. I got a personalized macro plan from @shapebynat for my #pregnancy and I’m finally in a good groove. I mix it up but this is what I’ve been into as of late. 

Breakfast: protein pancakes adapted from @iheartmacros recipe. 

Lunch: a yummy egg/egg white scramble

For a snack I will have a homemade protein ball or a @g2gbar 

Dinner: all the @lillielovesmacros recipes! Love this turkey/mushroom meatball one coupled with spaghetti squash or cauli gnocchi!

And then I always have a macro cap! Either a protein brownie, chia pudding/fruit bowl, chocolate pb protein shake, something yummy! For those interested, all of this is about 1800 cals, 162 p, 168 c, 60 f.