Simple, Easy, Delicious, Healthy Soup Recipe!

Happy Tuesday!

Last night, I was craving something warm and full of flavor...I decided to make my mom's famous Mexican Soup and home-made cornbread!

It is fiber and protein rich, low in calories, and absolutely delish.

It's incredibly easy, and it only take 15 minutes of preparation. I made a mongo-huge pot of it so that I can take it to work for lunch this week. 

I know, I'm genius. 

Here is what you need (to make a mongo huge pot): 

1 tsp Olive Oil

2 Cans of Whole Corn 

2 Cans of Black Beans

1 Can of Kidney Beans

1 Pound of Fat Free Ground Turkey (or chicken!)

3 Bell Peppers

1 Onion

2 Large Cans of Stewed Tomatoes (with no sodium!)

Cumin

Dried Red Pepper

Salt

Black Pepper

Curry

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder (no sodium!)

 Optional (AKA the fattening stuff): 

Olives

Cheese

Sour Cream

For Garnish: 

1 Avocado

What to do: 

1. Chop the onion, and put it in a somewhat large skillet with 1 tsp of olive oil. Mix it around, and let the onion cook for about one minute.

2. Add the ground turkey to the skillet and let it simmer until the meat is cooked through.

3. Meanwhile: Put the two cans of stewed tomatoes into a large pot, along with the beans, corn, and seasonings to taste (don't put the red pepper in yet or you won't be able to eat the soup because it will be way too spicy!). Mix the ingredients together, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer at medium heat.

4. Once the meat has browned, add it to the pot. Cover and let it simmer for 30 minutes. 

5. Now, go read a book while the soup simmers and the flavors deepen!

If you want to make the cornbread, this is the time to do it. 

Here is what you need: 

Home-style cornbread: 

2 Cups Cornmeal

1 1/4 Cups Fat Free Milk (almond milk works as well)

1 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Cup Honey (I use organic raw honey - clover honey is too sweet)

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 Cup Oil (I use Grape Seed Oil - Vegetable & Canola work as well)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees F. 

2. Combine dry ingredients, then wet ingredients in a bowl and stir

3. Coat an 8x8 (or 9x9) baking pan with oil

4. Pour batter into pan

5. Put in the oven, and let it bake for 20 min.

And...voila! 

6. Back to the soup! Now that the it has simmered for a while, go ahead and add the bell peppers. I don't like to add them too soon, because I like them somewhat crunchy. 

7. Add 1 TSP (not tablespoon!!) of red pepper to the soup, and let it sit for 5 more minutes. 

8. Pour into bowls, top with cheese/avocado/sour cream (I just did cheese) and consume!

Los Angeles Half Marathon Recap!!!

Hola mi amigos!!!

The Los Angeles Rock N Roll Marathon was YESTERDAY, and I must say that I can't believe it came and went so quickly...all of that training leads up to three hours of non-stop excitement (and PAIN) and then it is over (sadface). 

 

 Danica and I arrived in L.A. around 3:30 pm on Saturday. We rushed to our hotel, checked in, and walked the .8 miles to the expo at the L.A. Convention Center. 

It was pretty standard: 

After getting our bags filled with fun samples of things like peanut butter GU and muscle relief gels, we headed to Yard House to grab some grub. 

 

(Above: the delicious Ahi Tuna Sandwich on Rye, with good 'ole french fries. Can't go wrong, my friends.)

(Above: This green iced tea is amazing! It is infused with Jasmine. yum.)

We went back to our hotel right after dinner, watched some TMZ, and fell asleep. 

In the wee hours of the morning, I woke to this: 

I did about 30 minutes of yoga to warm up, woke Danica, changed, ate a Cliff Bar, drank some Mamma Chia, and we were off!!!

Pre-race was pretty exciting: 

Lots and lots of people!!!!

(Our shoe trackers)

And at 7:52, we started running! 

 I have to say, one of the best things about this Half Marathon was that it was Halloween themed! I saw some pretty crazy/cute/scary/disturbing costumes. 

One of my favorite: 

I also loved the cute cheerleaders: 

At mile 3, we toured the USC Colosseum : 

 

Around mile 6, my right knee started to HURT...like burning, awful, crazy hurt, but I pushed through until mile 8 when I couldn't take it anymore. I walked mile 8, and started running again at mile 9. 

SOME WORD OF ADVICE: 

If you are injured, and are determined to push through a race no matter how awful it gets, DON'T STOP RUNNING, because when you start to run again, it hurts 10X MORE!!!!!

(This is my "I'm happy cause I'm running but what the blankitee blank did I get myself into!!??" face. )

Anyways: 

Mile 9 brought on the dreaded hill: 

And after mile 9, my knees were not only in pain, but my HIPS started to hurt too! 

I cannot tell you how disappointing it was.

Oh, well. 

I walked miles 10 and 11, then ran 12-13. 

That mile marker was such a beautiful thing to behold. Ha. 

I crossed the finish line in 2:46...my goal was 2:15, but I blame that on my walking 3 of the 13.1 miles. 

Overall, it was a fun race, but let's be honest, Los Angeles is not a pretty city, and it was 86 degrees outside, and my knees were on fire for 7 of those miles, so it wasn't exactly as FUN as I had expected/daydreamed about. 

I met up with Danica after I crossed the finish line, and found out that she ran it in 2:10! GOOOOO DANICA!!

We camped out at L.A. Live for about an hour, resting our exhausted knees/shins/hips/feet. 

 

And then headed over to California Pizza Kitchen for some much needed FOOD!!

(This pear and Gorgonzola pizza hit the spot!)

All I can say, is that I am GLAD IT IS OVER!!!

(here is a lovely, beautiful, sweaty post-race picture for you)

Now, it's time to go to the doctor and RELAX!!! 

<3 Beth

The Beauty of Eggs

It is now 10:23 am, and after three full hours, I am still 100% full from my 3-egg broccoli breakfast.

Week 2 Half Marathon Training Update!!

How Half Marathon Training Isn't What You Think It Would Be

Training for the Los Angeles Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon hasn't been as easy as I expected. 

To begin, I am not a lover of running. It's more of a casual dating relationship.  I run because it makes sense, I am addicted to endorphins, and nothing beats the burning-in-the-lungs / eek-I-am-going-to-die feeling that running brings. 

However, I am NOT a fan of the injuries (an Achilles tendon issue, calf issues, and shin soreness) that running brings. Sure, part of it is my fault for pushing my body to the max, but that is what I want in a good work out and I don't want to worry whether or not I am injuring my body. I just want to run faster and longer every time I lace my trainers, instead of waiting and waiting for my body to be ready to increase mileage.

Training for the week:

Monday: 3 Miles easy, 20 Minutes Pilates

Tuesday: 3 Miles easy, 20 Minutes Stretching

Wednesday: 2 Miles easy, 20 minutes Pilates

Thursday: 4 Miles easy, 20 Minutes Stretching

Friday: Rest

Saturday: 4 Miles easy, 30 Minutes Pilates, Lots and Lots of Stretching

Last night Joel and I headed to the tiny gym at our apartment complex to knock out some treadmill fun, and I dared Joel to wear a headband, and he did! 

Everyone stared at him like he was a crazy person. It was awesome. 

I am very jealous of my husband because he runs way faster than me and can run way longer than me and he doesn't even have to try. Humph. Boys. 

Here is a super pretty post-workout pic for you to enjoy. 

Breakfast this morning looked like: 

(Peanut Butter Sandwich with Ezekiel Bread, berries, and 1 tsp honey!) 

This baby kept me full until 11:30! (five hours!) 

Went grocery shopping for LBN approved eats: 

And made a delicious pasta for dinner: 

1/2 cup whole wheat pasta

bell peppers

olives

mushrooms

broccoli

1 tbs feta cheese

canned roma tomato for the sauce (spiced with red pepper, basil, and 1/2 tsp salt)

1 tsp garlic 

 4 oz grilled chicken

It was delish! Super spicy though. It made me cry!!! 

Have a fab Wednesday!

<3 Beth

 

Nutrition Tuesdays: Are YOU Getting Enough Calcium?

Bonjour! 

Let's get right down to it:

 

You need at least 1,000 mg of CALCIUM per day (source).

And, if you are over the age of 50, you need 1,300 to 1,500 mg of calcium per day (same source).               

Calcium is one of the most important minerals because: 

                "Bone itself undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption and deposition of calcium into new bone. The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes with age. Bone formation exceeds resorption in periods of growth in children and adolescents, whereas in early and middle adulthood both processes are relatively equal. In aging adults, particularly among postmenopausal women, bone breakdown exceeds formation, resulting in bone loss that increases the risk of osteoporosis over time"

               - Office of Dietary Supplements (source).

(source)                

Calcium is so important in the process of building strong bones, and when supplemented with exercise, it can have a dramatic affect in keeping your bones healthy for life! 

               "One of the best methods to maintain current bone mineral density is through physical activity. Activity increases the physical stresses on bone. These stresses help activate the osteoblasts and favor bone deposition (source)."

               Here are some food options that will naturally increase your calcium intake: 

              Skim Milk/Skim Milk Products - this is the ultimate source of calcium, boasting of 504 mg of calcium per cup! The only unfortunate thing about milk is that the majority of the calories in it are sugar calories. (source).

              Skim milk does, however, work as a great post-workout meal; because of the sugar, it offers a great combination of sugars to protein, and is quickly absorbed into the body.

              Spinach - Spinach has anywhere from 250 to 295 mg per cup! This is great news for those who are lactose intolerant! Dark green veggies also have good amounts of calcium, but spinach and other collard greens have the highest percentage per cup.  (Source)

         

The salad on the right has 2 cups of spinach (about 500 mg), and the salad on the left has 3 cups! 

     

                  Beans - Beans (especially soy beans and white beans) boast about 200-250 mg of calcium per cup. They are also high in protein and fiber! Beans make a great addition to salads, and you can also blend them in a food processor with some olive oil, lemon, and pepper to create a veggie dip.(source)

This salad has 2 cups of spinach, 1/2 cup of kidney beans, and 2 tablespoons of white bean hummus!
Lots of calcium in this nutritious lunch :)

 Try your best to obtain your daily vitamins through FOOD! Obviously, all organic, natural vitamins are great when FDA approved, but many supplements are NOT FDA approved and can actually harm you.

(source).

Have a great Tuesday! 


<3 Beth

Can't sleep?? Try these stretches!

For me, good sleep is hard to come by. I have a difficult time relaxing, and my mind thinks and spins and goes and goes at like a million miles an hour. Sometimes it takes at least 20 minutes of lying in bed to actually fall asleep. 

But sleep is so so so important! It helps our bodies recharge, heal, and prepare for the next day. 

If you are having a hard time falling asleep, try doing these stretches after you have brushed your teeth and are about to get into bed. It will help re-align your spine and allow your muscles to relax/stretch after a long day!

Some eats from the weekend: 

(of course, I can't go 7 days without going to Olive Pit - rare ahi Mediterranean salad with balsamic/lemon dressing...SO GOOD!)

Sleep well and stay clean!!!

<3 Beth