challenge.

I've been reading nutrition labels like crazy lately. In order for specific foods to be consumed the ingredient list shouldn't be a mile long and I must be able to pronounce most of the words. With this whole Taco Bell "meat filling" lawsuit, I've been really thinking about the ingredients fast food restaurants use. Of course I know they aren't great, but what exactly goes into some of our favorite quick choices? I did a little research.


McDonald's Big Mac - Much more than the Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun...

bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, enzymes, water,high fructose corn syrup, sugar, soybean oil and/or partially hydrogenated soybean oil, 

salt, 

calcium sulfate, 

calcium carbonate,

 wheat gluten, 

ammonium sulfate, 

ammonium chloride, 

sodium stearoyl lactylate, 

datem, a

scorbic acid, 

azodicarbonamide, 

mono- and diglycerides, 

ethoxylated monoglycerides, 

monocalcium phosphate, 

enzymes, 

guar gum, 

calcium peroxide, 

soy flour, 

calcium propionate, 

sodium propionate, 

soy lecithin, 

sesame seed, 

Soybean oil, 

diced pickles, 

high fructose corn syrup, 

sugar, 

vinegar, 

corn syrup, 

salt, 

calcium chloride, x

anthan gum, 

potassium sorbate,

 spice extractives, 

polysorbate 80, 

distilled vinegar, 

water, 

egg yolks, 

high fructose corn syrup, 

onion powder, 

mustard seed,

 salt,

 spices, 

propylene glycol alginate,  s

odium benzoate, 

mustard bran, 

sugar, 

garlic powder, 

MSG, 

caramel color, 

extractives of paprika, 

soy lecithin, 

turmeric (color), 

calcium disodium EDTA

Chipotle Cilantro Lime Rice - 

soy oil, cilantro. white basmati rice, water, salt, lime

Subway 9-Grain Bread - less than 2% whole grains??

Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, barley malt, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, yeast, high fructose corn syrup, whole wheat flour, wheat gluten, contains 2% or less of the following: oat fiber, soybean oil, salt, wheat bran, rolled wheat, rye nuggets, dough conditioners (DATEM, sodium stearoyl lactylate), yeast nutrients (calcium sulfate, ammonium sulfate), degermed yellow corn meal, rolled oats, rye flakes, caramel color, triticale flakes, parboiled brown rice, refinery syrup, honey, barley flakes, flaxseed, millet, sorghum flour

Wendy's Crispy Chicken Nuggets - 

Chicken Breast, Water, Modified Corn Starch, Sodium Phosphates, Salt, Whey Protein Concentrate. Battered and Breaded with: Wheat Flour, Water, Bleached Wheat Flour, Salt, Modified Corn Starch, Spices, Leavening (sodium bicarbonate, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate), Dextrose, Yellow Corn Flour, Yeast, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Spice Extractives, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Xanthan Gum. Cooked in Vegetable Oil (soybean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural flavor [vegetable], citric acid [preservative], dimethylpolysiloxane [anti-foaming agent])

Although Wendy's nuggets have a lot of ingredients (all in the breading), at least they are made with actual chicken - unlike McDonald's:

chicken yogurt anyone?

After reading about a group on Facebook for a "No Fast Food February," I'm extending the challenge to you. Although I rarely eat fast food anymore, I'm actively taking the month of February off. Everyone's definition of fast food is different. For me, the following will not be allowed:

• all drive-through restaurants
• Subway
• favorite burrito making hot spots
• pizza delivery places
• strip mall Chinese eateries

Since February IS the shortest month of the year, I believe everyone will find success. 

you've been challenged.

(p.s. - pardon the awkward spacing and font craziness going on. I'm working on moving over to Word Press. hold your horses!)

the secret life of a twentysomething.

I've decided that Jason Priestley is the King of Teenville. I am involved in not one, but TWO (!!) teen dramas he is a part of. The ever awesome 90210 has been a project of mine over the past year.

I think I'm on season six of this masterpiece. What will they get into next??

and recently (I say embarrassingly) I've been enjoying watching The Secret Life of an American Teenager. Yeeeeeah.

There was a stop and rewind moment when Jason Priestley's name appeared at the bottom of the screen. He directed or produced some episodes. This teenage 40-year-old can do no wrong (except for his tragic hairstyle wave).

Mrs. Brandon Walsh....

someone save me. sigh.

blank stare.

I really wanted to blog this week but have had nothing exciting to write about. So pardon this post for being spastic.


Last night I made Whole Foods Layered Vegetable Enchiladas. Since my pictures are on my camera which is buried deep in a laundry basket full of sweaters...you get their photo:

Super excited about lunch today : )


With plans to make my way into the big girl healthy living blogger world, I bought an item today that will help me a lot. I am now the proud owner of a BRAND NEW Mac mini. ta daaaa!

It was such a good deal, I had to. I can finally get rid of the Gateway monster that sounds like death when it starts up. Yay!


As for exercise, I've taken this whole week off running. Next week starts training for my races coming up in the spring and figured I'd give myself a full week of rest. Plus my right leg has been bothering me a bit, so rest is exactly what I needed.


Cardio and weight machines have become my best friends lately. I'm convinced that mixing running with cardio and strength is the perfect race training method. Speaking of which, I must sit down and set my training schedule A-sap.


Weeeelp, that's all I gots for now.


toodle-loo.

a chili run.

First off,
everyone wish my beautiful mother a Happy Birthday! She rules.


With the help of my new favorite book,

i am determined to become a better runner. This means bundling up and facing the snow covered streets:

I registered for another race this week. The runcbus ten miler on April 10th in Gahanna, Ohio. I signed up to get a free $90 New Balance wind breaker help with half marathon training.


Oh, and I got new shoes! Nike+ Free Run:

These are brilliant running shoes. Very light with minimal support. They force you to strike on the balls of your feet instead of the heal. I actually have to train myself to run in them to prevent injury, but it'll be so worth it.


I may also be joining a training team, there is an informational meeting next week. I'll keep ya'll posted.


moving on...


I've been seeing this recipe for Whole Foods Lentil Chili all over the place. My mom wanted chili for her birthday, so chili she gets.


Ingredients
8 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided 
1 medium yellow onion, chopped 
1 large red bell pepper, chopped (I used green)
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
4 teaspoons salt-free chili powder 
1 (16-ounce) package brown lentils (about 2 1/4 cups lentils) 
2 (15-ounce) cans no-salt-added diced tomatoes 
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (I left out)


(I added carrots and black beans - because I love them)

Bring 3/4 cup broth to a simmer in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion, bell pepper, (carrot) and garlic and cook about 8 minutes or until onion is translucent and pepper is tender. Stir in chili powder and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add lentils, tomatoes and remaining 7 1/4 cups broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, partially covered, 30 minutes or until lentils are almost tender. Uncover (add 2 cans of black beans - rinsed) and cook 10 minutes longer. Stir in cilantro and serve.

I made this last night for dinner tonight, next day chili is always best. 


Thanks to Whole Foods for another awesome recipe!

resolutionary.

I know resolutionary isn't a word, but it sounds like it could be. Sometimes I have a strange gift for making up words - lucky me.


resolutionary -  markedly new or introducing radical change...in the new year.


I've never really been one to make resolutions; shouldn't we always be working on bettering ourselves? But this year, with a desire to drastically change my life, I have set a few goals for myself:

• Run a half marathon

I signed up Wednesday for the Cleveland Half on May 15th. I know I said I was going to do the full marathon but after much thought, I just don't think I will be able to do it alone. Running for 4-5 hours with no one to talk to, no one to keep my mind off the stress on my body - I just don't think it's possible for me to succeed. With full confidence in the half marathon, I am excited to finally run my longest race.

• Compliment others more. Don't you feel awesome when someone comments on your hair or shirt? I know I do, so I'd like to make others feel happy too!

• Lighten my load. I have too much stuff for one little person. If I haven't worn it in a year - it's gone. Do I really need 37 snow hats? GONE!

• Make small, weekly goals regarding my health and fitness. When someone sets huge, unrealistic goals they probably will fail. Setting easily attainable goals to accomplish will push you to keep making more. With a list or calender full of check marks you are bound to feel better about yourself and what you've done.

Here are some of the things that are on my calender for this month:

      -Eat vegan/vegetarian

      -1 minute of plank exercise a day

      -Gym 5 days a week

      -Run 2 miles, 3x a week

      -Yoga 2x a week

      -Resistant band ab workout 3x a week

Slowly checking these items off is keeping me on track, and keeping my motivation high. Getting me in shape to start training for the half marathon is my first priority.

I know a lot of you have goals to lose weight or get in shape, and I have no doubt that you will be able to do it. Keep your eye on the prize!

If you need help with ideas of what to eat or how much to eat or just some workout motivation, please call, email, facebook, twitter...I would be so happy to help.

eats.

I have been eating vegan all this week - a much needed cleanse after the holidays. I wanted to leave you with a recipe I came up with for stuffed peppers.

• brown rice
• favorite marinara sauce
• green peppers
• carrots
• black beans
• pine nuts
• corn
• butternut squash

Depending on how many peppers you plan on, make enough rice to fill them all. There really is no science here, throw in whatever and however much stuff you want.

Cook rice according to directions, add vegetables, beans, nuts, coat with marinara sauce.

Cut off tops of green peppers, remove seeds and ribs, fill with rice mixture. Place filled peppers in a deep pan filled with about a 1/2 inch of water - this will help steam everything to perfection.

Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes (or until peppers are cooked) on lowest rack in oven.

be resolutionary!