I realize I’m going to sound very contradictory with today’s recipe (not the slow carb way I wrote about Monday), but it is what it is. Our family is very fortunate this week to have my brother-in-law and his girlfriend (Carrie) visiting from Chicago. Of course we are just happy to see them, but there is another reason we are excited to have them here. Carrie graduated from the Johson and Wales Culinary Program. Her specialty is sauces and her favorite is Italian food…tonight she is making Alfredo. Although I am trying to eat healthy the next week before my marathon on Oct. 31, there is no way I’m passing up “Garlicky Alfredo” made by someone who really knows what she’s doing. Although I definitely know how to feed lots of people, my kids will never say that I am a chef… and I am OK with that. Needless to say, the whole family appreciates a real chef. [Read more…]
Carrie’s Delicious Garlicky Alfredo
9 Kid Fridays
Jen’s Runnings and Ramblings…life of an inconsistent runner….
These are some blogs/websites I follow on twitter and that I think are interesting and fun to read! I had to include the Marine Corps Marathon site since I visit almost everyday for info on hotel, parking, etc. They have some inspirational stories of marines, soldiers, and sailors and their families who are involved with the marathon in some way. My family is running in a 5K race in Charlotte tomorrow…the Big South 5K! What are you doing? Have a great Friday and a super kid-fit weekend!
Love Those Lentils!
As I near the end of my marathon training I am mindful of healthy eating, and on the lookout for yummy, good-for-you meals that are high in carbohydrates. The weather is beginning to cool and for me that’s always a good excuse to make soup. Convincing my family that soup (and bread) is a complete meal is another story.
But my family does like my curried lentil soup. When we used to live in Bloomington, Indiana when my husband was in law school, I used to stop by this great health food store where they would make a soup of the day. Their lentil soup was incredible – I sooo wish I had asked for a recipe! Because they made soup everyday, they had a base of veggies to work from, and I think that might be what made it so good. Whatever their secret, it worked! [Read more…]
A Few Thoughts About Conference Realignment and Amateur Sports
It may appear that I am drifting a little off topic today, but I actually think it has a lot to do with what 9 Kid Fitness is all about. Those of us who are my age were some of the first females to really benefit from the opportunities that sports opened up to women in college and beyond. Although I did not (nor do most) go on to play college athletics, organized sports continue to have an impact on our lives in a positive way. And many of us now have kids playing high school and college sports. I am worried that the athletic pursuit for young women (and men) might be squeezed out or at least impacted by what is happening with college football.
We have been hearing a lot lately about the possible realignment of many of the bigger college sports conferences. Although I am fairly (if not totally) ignorant about all that’s going on, I do understand that what is driving a lot of it is the popularity of football in terms of fan support and TV revenue. Just like most Americans, I like football, but as a cross country coach and as a parent of “non-football sport” athletes, I also have to wonder how it will ultimately affect the other sports, and frankly amateur athletics in general. At a recent cross country meet I started to wonder about all of this when I saw a young man run like the wind. [Read more…]
Healthy Apple Cobbler…Really!
As a rule I don’t like those desserts that are touted as healthy. I mean, come on…dessert is dessert; that’s the whole point. But this apple cobbler is truly an exception to my rule. I think one of the keys in this recipe is to use flavorful apples like granny smith, gala, and fuji. They are tart, but sweet and so the sugar is less important in the recipe (although you still gotta have it). Although it calls for real butter and a little sugar, in my book that equals pure ingredients not necessarily unhealthy ones. But you can substitute with other ingredients too. As fall approaches and the days are a little cooler (it’s in the 60’s today in Charlotte), apples are all over the grocery stores. So grab some and enjoy this awesome cobbler recipe that I tweeked from one I found in Bon Appetit. Although the miso isn’t cheap, its worth it for this recipe. [Read more…]
Local Fitness Promotions Online…a Good Deal?
I bought a “deal” today online. Although I have been receiving group coupon promotions on my phone, I usually don’t give them much more than a glance. But this one I had to re-read three times to see if I had it right: 20 outdoor boot camp or yoga classes, five oxygen therapy sessions (whatever that is), three 45 minute Far Infrared Jade massages (whatever those are) + 15 minute foot massage, two personal training sessions, 30 Day Diet Plan and Body Fat Evaluation, RMR (metabolic rate) testing…. for $20 from Anytime Fitness. Too good to be true? Maybe. I mean they claim the value at $534, and say it is a savings of 96% ($514)! I was number 165 to accept the promotion. That’s a lot of people for a fitness class, not to mention to schedule massages and “oxygen therapy” sessions. [Read more…]
September = Apples (+ Oatmeal)
When I was in college I did an Outward Bound expedition in the Pacific Crest mountains in Washington state. Every morning we had oatmeal…and by the end of the 22-day trek, we were connoisseurs of oatmeal. Fresh fruit was only a luxury at resupply, so we made do with dried apples and cranberries. We also had cashews, almonds and peanuts…and butter. I still love a good bowl of oatmeal, and since it’s September and apple season has begun, it’s a perfect time to pair the two for breakfast. I made a pot of oatmeal this morning, and put the fixings in small bowls so the kids could add their own. We had apples, cranberries, walnuts, raisins, almonds, brown sugar, and syrup.
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One of Coach Dan’s Favorites: Kenyan Outbacks
I don’t know about you, but sometimes the same old run can get a little stale. As a cross country coach, I am always looking for something different that is both challenging and fun at the same time. I asked Coach Dan for a favorite running workout and he told me about Kenyan Outbacks. After doing this today with my cross country runners, I realized that I could also include it as a part of my marathon training. I can’t wait to tell my running buddies about it…I know my friend, Susan will be up for it! Even if you run solo, this is a different way to get some fast stuff in without doing a full blown speed workout on a track (something I usually avoid like the plague). Coach Dan used this a lot when he was coaching his running club in Minnesota in preparation for their marathons. [Read more…]
Nine Ways to Drop a Few Pounds
I asked physical therapist Alan Tyson what he suggests for quick nutritional tips for dropping a few pounds…here’s what the two of us came up with…
1. Eat less….More often. Instead of eating three square meals a day, break down your meals into smaller ones, about 5-6 a day. This way we don’t get to the point of “famished”, which is when we can overeat. This also provides us with a sustained source of energy, and can help keep blood sugar levels more stabilized. [Read more…]
Nine of my Favorite Foods…That Also Happen to Boost the Immune System
One of my biggest pet-peeves is reading about foods that are good for me, but are so unappealing to my taste buds. I always imagine myself holding my nose and eating whatever it is, so that at least I get the health benefits. But I know I’m sacrificing taste for health. So I came up with the following list of my favorite (healthy) foods, which also happen to help boost the immune system… and I promise you won’t have to hold your nose! [Read more…]
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