Super Granola

I make regular granola and I make quinoa granola (quinoa, flax, agave, and cinnamon - bake for 10 mins).  This morning I woke up and wondered why I've never combined these two ideas.  So...I present to you: 

Super Granola

116 calories per 1/4 cup serving (or 58 calories for a small 1/8 cup serving); high in fiber, protein, and Omega-3; and very easy to make.  A perfect addition to a breakfast of plain Greek yogurt with a little honey mixed in and blueberries.

Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats (I used Bob's Red Mill's GF Oats)
1 cup raw quinoa (I used red, regular would work just fine)
2 Tbsp raw chia seeds
5 Tbsp flax seed meal
1/3 cup agave nectar
Cinnamon, Pumpkin Pie Spice, and Salt to taste

Mix all ingredients together and bake on a silicon baking mat for 25-35 mins at 350F.  Stir after 10 mins, 15 mins, 20 mins, and 25 mins, always stirring the outsides inward to prevent burning.  Enjoy!

Outside > Inside

After an excellent week, I thought I'd top the week off with a nice longer training walk!  More than anything, I really wanted to test out my foot to see if it would still hurt on long walks.  Since my foot started bothering me last Thursday, I rested on Friday and Saturday.  I then did Ripped in 30 both Sunday and Monday with no pain.  Then, finally, I was back to the gym to walk!  5 miles Tuesday and 4.75 miles (and a 75 min yoga class) on Thursday.  All in all - I think my foot is definitely getting better!  I had very little pain this week.  I have been thinking that some of the issue was walking on the indoor track, which puts pressure on one foot during your entire walk as you are constantly going in a circle (7 laps to a mile) and the treadmill.  Indoor walks just don't agree with my feet! 

Plus, let's face it, the gym is awful.  It is always so hot and stuffy and there are too many people around!  I love to get out in the fresh air!  So, since this morning was bright, sunny, and fairly warm so I thought I'd go check out the park! 

Beautifully sunny winter day turned cloudy...
(sorry for bad photo quality - I only had my cell with me.)

I was so happy to see that the path around the park was both plowed and salted!  I don't know if I have ever been so excited to see a cleared walkway!  I set out to do 4 or 5 miles but decided to seize the fresh air and sunny weather and do a longer training walk.  I have been stuck inside way too much lately!

So....8.5 miles in 1 hour, 57 minutes!  Much better than my last 8-miler, which was around 1 hour, 56 mins.  While I'm not super concerned about my half marathon time, I would be super happy if I could finish at the pace I walked at today (4.36 mph - about 13 mins, 45s).  I can do faster (one of my miles today was around 12 mins, 30s) but I don't want to worry about burning out early on in the half so I'm attempting to learn pacing.

Tomorrow is cross training!

For the Veggie Lovers

It's that time of year when really, really good and fresh produce is getting harder to find and more expensive.  I had to go to three stores to find kale this week.  It was well worth it to eat this last night.  Drum roll please................................................................

Winter Veggie Heaven

In the giant skillet:  2 big chopped kale leaves, leftover butternut squash (baked with smoked paprika, s, and p), handful of sliced portabella mushrooms, sliced small white onion, 1/2 cup cooked blackeye peas, 1 tsp garlic oil, 1/2 cup water.  Cook for 20 mins or until kale is cooked to your liking.  Enjoy the giant plate of food as this serves one for only 288 calories!

I love meals like this - healthy, full of nutrients, and so colorful and pretty!  Hm...I see this in my future for lunch today!