Announcements:
1) Enter my Zevia giveaway. It ends tomorrow!
2) Feel free to Ask Me Anything!
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Exercise
It’s been a beautiful day! Despite sore calves from yesterday’s 6-miler, I just had to run outside. I planned on keeping today’s run short, but once I warmed up, my calves didn’t bother me at all, so I held out for 6 miles.
But right now my calves are on fire! Usually plyometrics (which I haven’t done in 2 weeks) make my calves sore but never running- until now, I guess.
100 Pushup Challenge Update:
In case you’re wondering, I’ve been sticking with the 100 Pushup Challenge! The most I’ve been able to do is 10, but that is only every once in awhile. Five is my usual- a vast improvement over one!!!
Breakfast
I brought back an old friend!
Oh, Green Monster, I’ve missed you!
After making coconut butter (see below), I got the bright idea to whip up a Green Monster before I thoroughly cleaned the coconut butter residue from my Ninja food processor. The concept is similar to popular oats in a nut butter jar trick. YUM!
Tropical Green Monster:
- 1 cup vanilla soymilk
- 2 TBSP flax seeds
- 3 kale leaves (de-stemmed)
- 13 chunks frozen pineapple
- coconut butter residue
Twas the best GM I’ve ever created! And I’m not just saying that. Usually, GM’s need a banana for sweetness but not when they contain pineapple. Pineapple cuts through the kale bitterness all on its own.
I try to avoid adding frozen banana to my GM’s whenever possible. Fresh bananas are A-Ok in my book, but I find frozen ones much less desirable.
Anyone else think frozen bananas smell and taste kinda funky?
Snack
I don’t usually document snacks, but this one came to me all the way from England, so I thought it deserved some blog space.
Tamzin sent this Grizzly Bar along with my giveaway prize. I had it as a midmorning snack, and it was delicious. I’d never had currants before, but today I learned that I like ‘em!
Lunch
Homemade pimento cheese sammie, orange slices, and okra. My mom hooked me up with some major pimento cheese leftovers, so I will probably be eating this same sandwich all week. That’s fine with me!
I also had one of my last few Zevias. 
I had this Sensible Foods “crunch dried” Cherry Berry mix as an after lunch “dessert.” Ending lunch with something sweet helps me avoid the notorious office candy bowl!
Dinner
It’s been awhile since I’ve eaten meat, so I figured it was a good idea to finally fry up this Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage Trader Joe’s purchase.
Not so bad.
I added some whole wheat pasta noodles (plus a red pepper sprinkle) and some Sriracha spiced brussel sprouts.
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In other news, I made coconut butter! I’ve never tried Artisana Coconut Butter, but I hear its pretty expensive! It’s supposed to be rather delicious, so I took the lead from other bloggers and decided to create a homemade version.
Unsweetened, dried (sulfate containing) coconut.
Ninjafied for about 10 minutes.
Turns into this.
Not too shabby! I now have coconut butter to use as an oatmeal or muffin topper. And, this stuff is rather good.
However, it’s not as amazing as I was expecting. I’m glad I made it on my own because I didn’t find the taste to be worth $10. Pretty darn good for $2.50 though!
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Question: What’s one food item you continually splurge on?
I LOVE frozen bananas! I actually love them more than fresh! But I know what you mean – sometimes they smell rotten after being frozen.
I love Trader Joe’s chicken sausages. They have so many good flavors. I haven’t had any in awhile though
I would have to say my biggest splurge is all the produce we buy. Also greek yogurt and natural peanut butter. They are so much better for you that I will always buy them, even with the much cheaper options right beside them.
You dinner is right up my alley! I continually splurge on wine, but I guess that doesn’t count as a food. Hmm… I guess I slurge on organic chicken and organic eggs.
I think seeing Sriracha on your blog so often was what really convinced me to finally buy it!
Awesome job on the pushups! Sadly that has fallen by the wayside for me with all of the planning craziness going on. No excuses, but I am a bad challenger!
I always splurge on greek yogurt and nut butters. Lately it’s been kombucha and organic produce. Ooohh and hazelnut agave nectar- love that stuff!!
oh green monster, i’ve never had you! i want to though, but i need a blender first. hmm…i’m not sure what’s considered a “splurge” purchase but i def don’t skimp on organic, local fresh fruits and veggies!
The coconut butter looks like it turned out perfectly! Is it smooth or gritty? Cuz I might have to make some of my own (after I finish the Artisana that is)
I splurge on way too many things (spending wise). Case in point: coconut butter
I have such a hard time doing push ups! I rarely do them for this reason, I know I should though!
I’ve never heard of Zevia before…. I’m going to google and see if they sell it in Canada!
Hmmm I splurge on way too many foods! I dont mind. Tasty, healthy foods are worth it to me!
I splurge on greek yogurt and frozen berries. Both make me way too happy to give up!
holy crap:
1. the ninja is a serious beast!
2. the coconut butter…amazing! I just posted about it today too…i havent gone there but made ample reference to it in my post today! Too ironic!
An English bar I haven’t tried! I must find me one of those
I always splurge on decent cereal, or nice chicken, good apples, Greek yogurt..lots of things, but when I see a bargain I nab it asap to try and make up for it
What foods do I continue to splurge on?
Why, Tab and cheez-its, of course.
But I do keep reading your fine blog, so maybe some day I can be “converted”.
I splurge on…(you should know this) peanut butter! BTW glad to hear your review on the taste of coconut butter..that stuff is all over the blog world lately!
I splurge on my nut butters! I love them..but now I want to attempt to make coconut butter at home.
I really want to try okra, it looks great.
I splurge on organic greek yogurt and whole foods anything… i think clif/luna/lara bars are expensive, but so worth it in my opinion!
What is your favorite food youre missing from overseas?
I thought the same thing about the coconut butter. I think it is mighty tasty but not worth $15 a jar! I am glad I learned to make my own before I bought a jar. People have been raving so much about it, I was really tempted!
I definitelty splurge on baking ingredients (err…just bought a $10 bag of raw cacao).
Love your green monster pineapple variation. I, too, think that frozen bananas are little weird. I prefer them fresh! With lots of nut butter
Good job on the 100 pushup challenge. I have ZERO upper body strength.
100 pushups! Good for you… holy wow.
The coconut butter looks good.
I eat tons of Almond butter
100 push ups…wow. That would be amazing! I do well to get through the push ups on the body pump tracks! haha!
I continually splurge on kombucha!!!!
So cool that you made your own coconut butter! I splurge on Greek yogurt a lot! Gets very expensive!
2.50 for that big jar of homemade goodness?!? I’m sold!!!
Don’t you just love it when the weather is so nice that you feel physically COMPELLED to go outside?? It’s been that way here, too
I always splurge on Mexican food…I can’t hardly help myself with chips and salsa…and guacamole…not a chance
I loved seeing all the GM’s today and everyone’s spin on them!
And raw okra…you go, girl!
glad you had such a great run
i splurge on wine too…..(someone else wrote that and I agree)
have a great st. pattys day!
Glad you like ya grizzly bar! I splurge on most of my food products, health food here is pricey! x
ahh yay for good runs! i splurge on GREEK YOGURT!
greek yogurt of course. sigh…i dont know why i keep buying oikos by the cup. they’re like $2 each. i’m just a poor college student with good taste!
i have a ninja too! i always wondered if it could make nut butters – like if its strong enough. have you tried that yet?
I have never tried a green monster. Somehow the color green just doesn’t do a thing for me. I guess I’m a if it doesn’t look good, I won’t eat it person. But I see so many people on here making them. Should I just break down and give it a try?
Your coconut butter looks awesome! Love the idea of a tropical GM too. I splurge on Greek yogurt – $6/500ml, ugh.
I splurge on smoked salmon. I love the stuff up!
p.s. MUST MAKE COCONUT BUTTER!!!
It’s actually been beautiful here, too! And chicken sausage … nom nom nom nom nom.
I never even heard of coconut butter but I’m salivating. I love love love coconut!
that green monster looks refreshing! I actually love frozen naners because they make it extra thick and frothy. I’ve never tried to make my own coconut butter, but I bet it was worth saving a little money. I’m always splurging on sports foods like gels, bars, mixes, etc or new things to try because they are just convenient!
homemade coconut butter! what an amazinggggg creation! I still havent tried it
ohh what DONT I splurge on?! almond milk, 6oz containers of greek yog, lots of nut butter
I will have to try a green monster with pineapple instead of banana. I love pineapples so I bet I’d love it. I’ve never tried kale in a green monster either.
I splurge on….COCONUT BUTTER!
And nut butters, for sure. It’s totally worth it, though, since they make up about 1/4 of my daily eats!
green smoothies!!! chicken sausages!!! LIKEYYYYY.
i continually splurge on bagels, PB, protein bars (For the purse), and good bread!!!
Trader Joe’s does have great chicken sausages! Love all your eats. Especially the pimento cheese sandwich!
Homemade coconut butter looks pretty easy and delicious. I always spend a lot on almond butter, but it lasts a while and I love it. Oh, and greek yogurt gets expensive too!
I think Id have to go with Almond Butter – even though I dont really think $5 is unreasonable. The same with Greek Yogurt – except when you eat so much it adds up!
[...] have made coconut butter before, but I used prepackaged, dried [...]
[...] it is really easy to make. Homemade coconut butter – who knew? All the recipes I’ve found are essentially the same – although I did find one which called for the addition of coconut [...]