{FOOD FOOD FOOD}

I got the sweetest email from one of my dear friends who in spirit is doing this competition with us...she is 6 maybe 7 months pregnant and holy cow she is a machine!  Not only did she run our 180 mile relay through the Tetons at 5 months pregnant, but she just finished a 20K up in Driggs being 6 months pregnant!  She is amazing!  She sent me an email with some AWESOME ideas that I know you'll all love!

Breakfast:

*Eggs (scrambled with salsa, mix in spinach, avocado, tomatoes etc)(or with good ol cheese melted on top) boiled w salt, "dunky" eggs with whole wheat toast dunked into yellow part)
*Oatmeal-especially steel cut oats w/ honey or brn sugar, and a little cream(with huckleberries or blueberries)(Or top it with cinnamon, nuts, raisins) (We also buy a brand of hot wheat cereal called Red River that is amazing! Zoom is good too.)
*Fruit-endless possibilities( plain, smoothie, cut up on hot or cold cereal)The way I see fruit is carbs+sugars=ENERGY!
*Greek yogurt (pair with fruit and low sugar granola..so yummy, tons of protein!)
*10 grain waffles or pancakes (Im sure there is a delicious recipe out there...but I cheat and use Bob's Redmill package from Winco. Super fast, and really good and filling for my strong sexy husband! ;)
*We of course throw in meat- which we(by we I mean my hubby) usually hunt and then do our "own" meat, or go in half way on buying a beef cow or pig and then do it ourselves..this way we know what stuff goes in..and it is much cheaper!(and better!)

LUNCHES-
*Salads!! Mix in meat (fresh, or canned turkey, chicken, tuna, or salmon or diced grilled chicken(cook and freeze to have on hand) Also you can marinate the chicken in taco seasoning for taco salads, or you could season w cumin and garlic for a totally diff flavor)Salads fill you up(if you eat enough, and they are filled w fiber, and are low cal) Also use sprouts or olives to liven up a salad. Another good mix is salad topped with diced apple, walnuts, blue cheese crumbles, and chicken)
*Shrimp- (0% fat, 18 grams of protein per 5 oz.) You can dip them in "sugar-free ketchup", w some horseradish sauce mixed in.
*V8 juice(buy low sodium..although the regular kind is much more flavorful..but you get used to not as much salt after a bit)(These are good heated too, with some whole wheat crackers,(or Mela toast) and a cheese stick)
*I LOVe this idea from Jenna- Mission Whole wheat Wraps, carb balance, small size- slathered with a low fat laughing cow swiss cheese wedge, filled with fresh tomato, cucumber spears, lettuce, and whatever you want to pack in there produce-wise. I also put in a piece of turkey(they have preservative and nitrate free in the most meat sections, not in Deli tho) SO delish!
*I love steamed spinach, swiss chard or broccoli with a little butter and salt.

SNACKS:
*Nuts (Almonds,etc. but I love trail mix!)
*yogurt w honey, or fruit, or granola
*cottage cheese (I like to cut up tomato to top it)
*string cheese(skim mozz)
*Laughing cow cheese wedge
*carrot and celery sticks, and red and green pepper slices, cucumber spears,
*Grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cantalope slices, apricots, plums...etc
*Apple slices w peanut butter or almond butter
*Bannana with peanut or almond butter
*Applesauce(I do homeade w nothing added)
*Prunes (with a couple nuts)
*Pickles (I love them with a bite of sharp cheddar cheese)
*Fruit Leather (basically any blended(pureed) fruit, slathered out on heavy duty plastic wrap and baked in oven on lowest temp 8-10 hrs) (can mix fruits..I like apricot, plum, throw in a bannana ..just use what you have or what is in abundance!)
*Jerky
*Homeade pudding(usually suger free, but be careful with sugar free stuff)(Make it w skim milk..this helps curb suger attacks!) (You can also do a yummy dessert with suger free Key Lime pudding in a graham cracker crust w sugar free whip topping or just plain whipped cream)
*Choc Flavored Graham crackers with fat free whipped cream..make in an "ice cream" sandwich manner and freeze them. Everyone loves these and they really are way low cal)
*Pretzels
*Dark Chocolate(although milk is my fav hands down ;)
*Jenna's Black-Bean Salsa (which I love..thanks Jenna) Start with can or two of black beans, diced tomatoes, can add canned or frozen corn, diced cucumber, avocado, cilantro and squeeze lime over it...use as a dip..its pretty much a meal for me!)(Also Im sure there are a lot of variations, just like in any recipe ;)

DINNERS:
*Brown rice (this will keep expanding as its in your tummy and be very filling) Dice up green onion, carrots, ham, and scramble an egg in it when almost done for FRIED RICE! Use low sodium soy sauce)
*Fish fillets or chicken breasts, tuna...with any thing..salads, whole wheat pasta, rice, etc) You could do chicken with Terriaki sauce and rice with steamed veggies.
*Recipe idea- Acorn Squash cooked and diced up, with low cal marinara and grilled diced chicken over top. Season w salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic. Green salad on side.

There are so many possibilities and its fun to eat healthy! These were just some ideas I thought I'd share. Hope they helped someone! May the force be with you ladies(and myself!)

Love, Nashina

                                                                    (here she is running her first leg)