Friday, February 19, 2010 at 03:55 PM
Thank goodness that it’s Friday because I am feeling really stressed today. I realize that I juggle a lot (CNC, NuVal, Health, OpenSky, Gordon’s, writing a book), so stress is expected in my life, but today it’s totally overwhelming me. 
I know that I am very fortunate to have all of these wonderful opportunities– I just needed to vent for a minute, ya know? As my husband always says: “It will all work out.”
Snack
When I arrived at NuVal, I immediately made myself a hot cup of Rooibos tea with a squirt of agave nectar. It warmed me right up. The weather is in the 40’s today, but I was still really cold this morning.
Lunch
For lunch, I dug into a homemade salad.
In the mix:
- Romaine hearts
- Spinach
- Grape tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Red onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Mushrooms
- Crumbled blue cheese
I also had a Siggi’s Orange & Ginger yogurt, which was absolutely divine. It was such a treat! 
A little while later, I made a “mocha” by mixing a packet of sugar-free hot cocoa with some coffee. It was just okay, so I only drank about half of it.
When I got home from work, I made myself a whole wheat Sandwich Thin with peanut butter and banana slices.
I was so hungry. It definitely hit the spot!
Agave Nectar
I’ve received quite a few questions about agave nectar. Like many of you, I’ve read some negative articles floating around the internet about agave nectar and the health benefits associated with it. I’m not really sure what to think about these statements. But, from talking with my Registered Dietitian friend about agave nectar, HFCS, table sugar, etc., we basically came to the conclusion that sugar is sugar. I’m not a RD, so I really shouldn’t comment on the health benefits/risks related to agave nectar and sugar, but in case you have any questions, here’s some info that might help you make your own decision:
What do you think about agave nectar and its claims?
P.S. Can someone please come take these cashews away from me!?! I’ve eaten like 50 of them while writing this blog post!
Posted by: Tina
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: agave nectar
Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 01:49 PM
These Banana Oatmeal Chip cookies taste way too delicious to be good for you. Surprisingly, they are equally nutritious as they are delicious! Super star ingredients include: ground flaxseed meal, banana, soy milk, agave nectar, whole wheat flour, walnuts, and canola oil. Sounds like an all-star cast to me! Added bonus: these cookies are vegan! 
Makes approximately 25 cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup oats
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed meal
- 1/4 cup agave nectar
- 1/4 cup soy milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 1 ripe banana
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup walnuts (optional)
Check out the chunks of chocolate chips and walnuts! Holy yum!
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350*F.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well until batter is blended evenly.
- Use a tablespoon to portion cookies on a greased baking sheet, approximately 1-2 inches apart.
- Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove cookies from baking sheet and allow to cool on wire rack.
- Eat and enjoy!
Make sure you give this recipe a try! You will not be disappointed!!
Posted by: Tina
Posted in: Uncategorized, recipe
Tags: agave nectar, banana, chocolate chips, oatmeal, walnuts
Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Good morning! After my less than nutritious food choices yesterday, I’m off to a great start this morning! I even woke up and ran 6.25 miles before work! Watch out, the healthy train is back in motion! (I’m such a dork!)
Breakfast this morning was dominated by Barney Butter (aka the greatest nut butter on earth). I enjoyed 2 enormous scoops with my oats today.
Also in the mix: whole cranberries, sliced almonds, and ground flaxseed meal.
For the cranberries, I added them to my oats before putting the oat mixture in the microwave. After about 2 minutes, the cranberries came out warm, soft, and tangy.
At work, I made my usual mug of java– today, Italian Roast with vanilla soy milk and agave nectar. Under my mug is 9 pages of meeting minutes that I have to type up this morning. Fuuuuun!
Over-Packing and the QOTD
So, guys, I have an over-packing problem… a pretty serious one, actually. Packing for our week-long honeymoon took me days… and I still packed way too much! Even just going away for a weekend poses all sorts of problems for me. I’m one of those people who pack for every possible occasion and every possible weather situation. This is great because I have all kinds of clothing (and stuff) to chose from, but it’s insane because I bring so much (crap) with me!
Our weekend trip to NYC is only 2 days long, but I started packing last night. I know, it’s ridiculous. However, packing has gone fairly well so far… no major over-packing issues. Last night in the middle of planning what to bring, I actually googled some tips for not over-packing, which were very helpful and might actually make a difference! Some of my favorite tips are below.
- Try to match up just enough outfits for number of days you are going on vacation. Reusing articles of clothing to make new outfits gives you a large variety with a smaller amount of clothing. One way to do this is to have the majority be staple colors such as whites, beige, browns and black. Throw in a few colored or patterned pieces to add variety.
- The easiest way to have a lot of options is to pack accessories. Shoes are too bulky to carry a lot of, but be sure to have a casual pair and a slightly dressier pair. Remember, you can buy cheap flip flops just about anywhere, and you can throw them out at the airport before coming back home. Women especially can pack things like scarves, belts, and inexpensive jewelry, which will make any outfit unique.
- Pack the clothes into the suitcase by rolling them. For shirts fold lengthwise before rolling, for pants fold in half lengthwise and then half horizontally. This allows you to fit more into a small suitcase. Be sure to keep clothes that wrinkle easily on the top.
- If all else fails, just pack as usual, then take half away. You probably will not need most of it, and unless you are trekking into rural or uncivilized areas of the world, you will be able to pick up anything you couldn’t pack.
Do you tend to over-pack? How do you prevent over-packing?
Posted by: Tina
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: agave nectar, almonds, cranberries, ground flaxseed
