BREAKFAST
Mmmmm, breakfast. My absolute favorite meal of the day. It's the reason I get up in the morning. I've been known to try sleeping in on a weekend, only to be forced out of bed my the rumble in my belly. Although this morning I felt surprisingly not hungry. I never skip breakfast, no matter what. It's an important metabolism-firing meal and I want to start the day right.
Breakfast today was the leftover half a Rock Lobster and Asparagus Omelette from yesterday's brunch. Even half this thing feels huge. It should fill me up until lunchtime. I coupled it with 1/4 cup of (lite) Coconut Quinoa, half a Pink Grapefruit, some Blueberries for an antioxidant boost, and my usual Green Tea. Bring on the day!
Breakfast today was the leftover half a Rock Lobster and Asparagus Omelette from yesterday's brunch. Even half this thing feels huge. It should fill me up until lunchtime. I coupled it with 1/4 cup of (lite) Coconut Quinoa, half a Pink Grapefruit, some Blueberries for an antioxidant boost, and my usual Green Tea. Bring on the day!
LUNCH
The sun was shining this morning, so I decided to walk the 30 minutes to the train that takes me right to my office. (My other option is only 3 mins walk from my apartment, with 10 mins at the other end). Once I got going, I couldn't stop. I ended up power walking all the way to work. 1 hour of exercise down. Thanks to the cold winter air, I didn't work up much of a sweat.
Lunch at work always focuses on being versatile and easily transportable while kicking goals in the balanced and delicious domains. I whipped up a pot of fat free Pumpkin Leek Soup yesterday. It should last me all week. I grabbed a mug full today, grilled a lean Organic Grass‐Fed Burger (4 oz portion controlled), wrapped it inside a crunchy, blossoming Mustard Green Leaf and topped off my meal with an apple. But not just any apple. A Pink Lady!
I luuuurve Pink Ladies. In fact, I'm a bit of an apple snob. I only eat Pink Ladies, Macintosh, Galas and Jonathans. Those four are permanent members of the crunchy‐sweet apple club. Oh, and if I'm in a green mood, I'll sometimes go a Granny Smith. (You can keep your Golden Delicious and your Honeycrisps, thanks. Great names, but the taste is all wrong).
Lunch at work always focuses on being versatile and easily transportable while kicking goals in the balanced and delicious domains. I whipped up a pot of fat free Pumpkin Leek Soup yesterday. It should last me all week. I grabbed a mug full today, grilled a lean Organic Grass‐Fed Burger (4 oz portion controlled), wrapped it inside a crunchy, blossoming Mustard Green Leaf and topped off my meal with an apple. But not just any apple. A Pink Lady!
I luuuurve Pink Ladies. In fact, I'm a bit of an apple snob. I only eat Pink Ladies, Macintosh, Galas and Jonathans. Those four are permanent members of the crunchy‐sweet apple club. Oh, and if I'm in a green mood, I'll sometimes go a Granny Smith. (You can keep your Golden Delicious and your Honeycrisps, thanks. Great names, but the taste is all wrong).
AFTERNOON SNACK
One of my golden rules for Eating True Before 'I Do' dictates one afternoon snack. I've been in the naughty habit of eating multiple snacks between meals, (probably my biggest scale-raiser. Healthy or not, too many calories = too much food), so it's a struggle getting my body used to the habit of less food. I find if I eat my afternoon snack too early, I get really grumpy by the time I've made it home for dinner. My saving grace? Herbal tea. I had one cup of Licorice Tea to stave off those hunger pangs ....
Then half an hour later I had another cup of herbal tea: Tazo Passion.
I'm making myself wait until 4pm to eat my snack. I figure this will keep me going for the 2.5 hours before I get home from work. Today I ate 4 slices of Applegate Farms Turkey Bologna....
I threw in 2 almonds for a bit of good natural fat....
And topped off my balanced snack with 8 fresh Strawberries.
Yum! Ooooh I love fruit. Since giving sugar the boot, fruit tastes to me like the most luscious dessert in the world. The vibrant natural colors of organic fruit always suck me in much more solidly than the sickly contrast of a dirty old cupcake. After developing a gluten intolerance it's much easier for me to bypass baked goods without any regrets. I have far too many memories of painful stomach aches that overwhelm any temptation with cakes and cookies. Still, there are always gluten-free versions available of all those treats, especially in the culinary melting pot that is New York City.
Yum! Ooooh I love fruit. Since giving sugar the boot, fruit tastes to me like the most luscious dessert in the world. The vibrant natural colors of organic fruit always suck me in much more solidly than the sickly contrast of a dirty old cupcake. After developing a gluten intolerance it's much easier for me to bypass baked goods without any regrets. I have far too many memories of painful stomach aches that overwhelm any temptation with cakes and cookies. Still, there are always gluten-free versions available of all those treats, especially in the culinary melting pot that is New York City.
DINNER
Dinner: Chili Ginger Chicken Cashew Stirfry.
It was bursting with fresh veggies and soaked in wheat‐free Tamari Sauce and Chinese Rice Vinegar. I also threw in a spoonful of Olive Tapenade for some flavor intensity.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Stirfry 3 oz chicken breast with 3 cups vegetables, 1 clove garlic and 1 tsp chopped ginger root. Add water, tamari sauce, Chinese rice vinegar and 1/2 Tbs olive tapenade.
For dessert I snuck in 2 x Coconut Water Icy‐pops. Hey, at a mere 20 calories a pop, why stop at one?
It was bursting with fresh veggies and soaked in wheat‐free Tamari Sauce and Chinese Rice Vinegar. I also threw in a spoonful of Olive Tapenade for some flavor intensity.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Stirfry 3 oz chicken breast with 3 cups vegetables, 1 clove garlic and 1 tsp chopped ginger root. Add water, tamari sauce, Chinese rice vinegar and 1/2 Tbs olive tapenade.
For dessert I snuck in 2 x Coconut Water Icy‐pops. Hey, at a mere 20 calories a pop, why stop at one?
PRE-BEDTIME SNACK
Pre-bedtime Snack: Pink Grapefruit Parfait.
So easy to make, so pretty and so scrumptious.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Scoop out half a mini tub of high-protein Plain Fage 2% Strained Greek Yoghurt. (It's so thick and creamy). Peel and chop half a Pink Grapefruit and sprinkle with 1/2 Tbs of Slivered Almonds.
A word on 2% Fage. I am totally obsessed! My fridge is currently bursting with 10 tubs as it's my go-to protein source when I'm craving something lighter than meat or eggs. The full-fat Fage is a bit too fat-heavy, and the 0% Fat Fage is still thick and creamy, but lacks a little on the mouthfeel. 2% Fage is the perfect balance and has not a whiff of the bitterness you often find in plain yoghurts. (Trust me, I've tried 'em all).
So easy to make, so pretty and so scrumptious.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Scoop out half a mini tub of high-protein Plain Fage 2% Strained Greek Yoghurt. (It's so thick and creamy). Peel and chop half a Pink Grapefruit and sprinkle with 1/2 Tbs of Slivered Almonds.
A word on 2% Fage. I am totally obsessed! My fridge is currently bursting with 10 tubs as it's my go-to protein source when I'm craving something lighter than meat or eggs. The full-fat Fage is a bit too fat-heavy, and the 0% Fat Fage is still thick and creamy, but lacks a little on the mouthfeel. 2% Fage is the perfect balance and has not a whiff of the bitterness you often find in plain yoghurts. (Trust me, I've tried 'em all).
STATS
CALORIES: 1204
DEFICIT: 935
EXERCISE: Walk briskly 80 mins + Elliptical Trainer 20 mins + Bicycle 5 mins + Weights Machines 15 mins
DEFICIT: 935
EXERCISE: Walk briskly 80 mins + Elliptical Trainer 20 mins + Bicycle 5 mins + Weights Machines 15 mins