Justins Nut Butter

I am continuing some of my favorite healthy food secrets, it seems like I am on a roll. I think of food as fuel for running and training, and for feeling good in life! So, I just want to share some of the healthy things I have found.

I have been eating and following Justins Nut Butter for about 3 years. I discovered it through reading my favorite triathlete's Blog (Desiree Ficker). I could only find it at Whole Foods,
but now you can find it at REI or HEB (local, here in Texas), which is awesome. I love to carry the little packets in my car or purse for a quick, healthy snack. I also pack them in my daughter's lunch with crackers or apples for neat and easy squeeze snacks. My daughter especially loves the Honey Peanut Butter. I love the Almond butter and I just saw that they have a new Hazelnut Butter, that sounds delicious!

So, you ask "why have a nut butter or this kind for a snack?" Well, it is all natural, high protein snack without any fillers or preservatives. It tastes wonderful, too!

Beef???????

So much to say about this and don't know where to start!! I had a friend I adore refer me to the Texas Beef Council Team. I checked it out and found out that they sponsor you in races. I thought great and didn't know much else about it until I did the webinar today.

I did learn a lot...I am a nutrition/fitness/health junkie....beef has a lot of health benefits. It is a powerhouse for protein. b vitamins and monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fat is the good stuff!..think olive oil, avocados...and you should not be scared of fats....remember moderation. Being sponsored and powered by beef will be on my shirts that I wear in the races that they will sponsor for me and the team.

Well, I posted my knowledge on Twitter and Face book, unknowing that it is a such HOT topic. I am not going to pretend that I have had my doubts about beef and watch how much I eat (but I do that with everything). But, in the last 10 years I have certainly ate more beef (and felt good about it) than I did in my 20's. I was advised my my doctor to eat more lean beef and meats in my 20's for protein (because I was lacking). I also craved beef when I was pregnant...could not stomach my favorite fish-salmon! It was so hard and so confusing for my health-nut personality.

Fast forward to the 2000's and I have read about how beef has heart healthy fat and grass fed beef has even more heart healthy fat the conventional beef.

My motto is always "moderation"..here is a quote from Mens Fitness that says that and more..

* A three-ounce serving of lean beef contributes less than 10 percent of calories to a 2000-calorie diet, yet it supplies more than 10 percent of the Daily Value for nine essential nutrients.

I hope you will do your own research and see that beef is not the "bad guy" that is is portrayed to be!!

Miso Mayo

As I write this I am enjoying my Miso Mayo with carrots!

This stuff is so yummy and thanks to my daughter being hungry at Whole Foods, we tried it at a sampling! It is so good and better for you than real Mayo. You can use it as a dipping sauce (as I do with carrots), a sandwich spread, with tuna or in potato salad.

So, what is it you ask???? Well, it is made of fermented soybean paste from Hawaii. Funny thing, I fell in love with Miso soup on my honeymoon in Hawaii!!! So, Miso Mayo is high in protein, vitamin B-12, and 8 essential amino acids. It is also a living, cultured food and low in sodium..Did I mention it is yummy!! or in my daughter's words yummerful??

The Miso Mayo website also says that it has UMAMI (a japanese word for the 5th taste sensation. You need to check out the Miso Mayo site to read about it...it also has recipes.

One last important thing, it is vegan. I am not vegan, wish I could be!!

You can purchase it at Whole Foods or order it online.

Happy Healthy eating!!

Love Greek Gods Yogurt!

My favorite foodie find of late has been the Honey flavored Greek Gods yogurt. I can find it at my local HEB or Whole Foods. I buy it by the large container (16 oz). It is great with fresh blueberries, raspberries and cacao nibs or plain. I have to explain that I am not a yogurt lover, but I love this yogurt! I know that I should eat yogurt for health reasons (they say that yogurt helps build stronger bones, enhances immunity, lowers blood pressure, and may even have anticancer and weight-loss effects), but normally couldn't stomach it. Not anymore!!..Greek Gods is thick, creamy and decadent for yogurt!

Just looking at the nutrition side, the sugars are much less in Greek Gods yogurt than traditional yogurt (even light yogurt). I compared it to Yoplait. It looks like the Fig and Honey flavored have the highest of the Greek Gods, but most of their yogurts are lower in sugars.

If you check out their site, they have a lot of recipes, too. Check it out and tell me if you agree or don't. I would love to hear about your favorite yogurt, too!

Sun Harvest Anyone?

We are all looking for ways to save money and eat healthy, right? Well, I feel like I found a secret!

First, I have always loved Whole Foods, Central Market and our local farmers market for fresh, organic produce. However, it is always pricey. The sales are normally okay. But, the sales prices at Whole Foods or Central Market just bring the prices down to level at my local fav-HEB.

The other day, I was leaving a movie with my daughter and saw Sun Harvest...an old grocery that I used to frequent in the mid-90's...Yes, that long the mid-90's. I hadn't stepped foot in one in over 10 years. I stopped going because we moved to the suburbs and just forgot about it because it didn't make much of an impression on me.

Well, it did yesterday!! Wednesday...they have double sale day..meaning they have two overlapping weekly sales going on...just like Whole foods, but better prices. I got blueberries for .99 a carton, red delicious apples for .88, pears for .88, Romaine lettuce .97 and Red leaf lettuce for .77. I am quoting the non-organic fruit and veggie prices, but the organic are good, too. The produce prices are unbelievable. I did check the rest of the store for milk and dry goods. They seem to be in line with most stores. The meat department also has incredible sales, too. But, I didn't try the meat and I don't want to recommend without trying.

I am going to stop in again next week and see how it compares. You also get .05 off if you bring your own bag...just like Whole Foods!

Check it out!!

Summer Mornings at Barton Springs

I have been swimming at Barton Springs in the mornings before 9. It seems that everyone else in the city is doing the same, because it is very busy! There is a whole culture of Barton Springs early morning swimmers. I am amazed at how different it is in the early mornings compared to the afternoons when I take my daughter.

Everyone is so serious and alive with working out in the mornings. Mostly triathletes, runners and older folks swimming with joy. The afternoons are more subdued and relaxed with a little bit of funkiness. In the afternoons, most people are just soaking themselves in the pool trying to cool off.

It is a wonderful jewel that Austin has! no matter what you want to do.

Summer Running

I have not been blogging lately!! I have been injured! and am still recovering! Is it because I turned 40 this year that it takes so long to recover!

I have been injured since the beginning of June! I tripped while running and landed on my knees (but mostly my right knee). I have been running very sporadically and swimming a lot.

I think I am in denial that I am injured! Is this a common thing for runners? Denial of injuries?