Recipe: Frittata with Asparagus, Bell Peppers and Parmigiano

I know, it's been awhile. I have pretty much just been working and going outside since it has been ridiculously nice out! Which has definitely helped motivate me to get outside and walk. That has been the most positive thing to happen lately, which also sucks considering it means global warming is happening really quickly. But enough about my fears about the end of the world. 

I've tried a few recipes from the 400 Calorie Fix book and cookbook and they have all been delicious. I haven't been able to get all my meals to be 400 calories yet, and it's been hard not to snack. But I'm working on it! I have been frustrated lately because I have been more active and most days have kept my calories between 1600 and 1800. However, I have not lost anything, not even a pound. I know the scale isn't the only way to measure success, but unfortunately I haven't really felt a difference in how clothes fit either. I have been feeling better, which is awesome, but it's frustrating. I thought it might have to do with a medication I was taking, and now I just started a different one that should be better, so we'll see. 

Now onto this delicious frittata. It is from the 400 Calorie Fix Cookbook, and each wedge is only 270 calories! This plus a 100 calorie Thomas English Muffin with Land O'Lakes Light Butter with Canola Oil was only 420 calories. 

Frittata with Asparagus, Basil, and Parmigiano Reggiano

(Adapted from the 400 Calorie Fix Cookbook)

Makes 4 servings

• 1 large baking potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 4 large eggs (the recipe also called for 4 large egg whites, but I hate wasting yolks. If you use the extra egg whites it will make it more light and fluffy)
• 1/2 cup fat-free milk
• 1/4 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (recipe calls for Pecorino Romano, either works!)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 pound asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces

1. Preheat the broiler (or oven to 450 degrees if you don't have a broiler to use)

2. Place the potato in a saucepan with enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, or until the potato cubes are tender but still hold their shape. Drain and set aside.

3. Meanwhile, beat together the eggs, milk, cheese, basil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. 

4. Heat the oil in a 10 inch broiler proof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften. Add the asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir int he potatoes and cook for 1 minute. 

5. Reduce the heat to medium, pour in the egg mixture, and stir gently to combine. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, or until the eggs are set. Transfer the skillet to the broiler and cook 5 inches from the heat for 1 to 2 minutes to brown the top. Let the frittata stand for 5 minutes before cutting into 4 wedges.

Enjoy! 

Yoga Sculpt

First of all, I'm not at the point of doing this position yet ha. I took another class at Barre Bliss, this time Yoga Sculpt. Now this was my kind class! It was a combination of yoga, cardio, calisthenics and weight training.  Parts of it were challenging, but otherwise it was great and I felt great afterwards. I was sore the next day but not incredibly sore. I'm not sure if this class was better because of the content, or the instructor, or both. Either way I am looking forward to taking more classes! Friday morning I'm taking a Ballet Barre class, which focuses more on ballet than the pilates we did in the Barre Bliss class. I also went for a walk around Lake Harriet yesterday instead of taking a class since it was RIDICULOUSLY nice out here. 

I've still been struggling with eating well. I still crave sweets like crazy and it's really hard to cut them out all together. I did discover a delicious flavor of Stonyfield organic yogurt called Chocolate Underground. It's low-fat and filled with protein (and some sugar). I had it as a snack with strawberries and almonds the other day and it was perfect. 

The biggest thing besides sugar that I have been struggling with is portion control. One thing that has really helped is a book I found called 400 Calorie Fix. It is a diet book from the editors of Prevention magazine, but it's full of delicious recipes. It really helps you think about the portions you're eating and how much you really need. It also has great tips about eating out and making quick meals. For a person my size who is moderately active they say I should eat between 3-4 400 calorie meals a day. They have a quick slim 2 week plan where you only eat 3 meals a day... which has been hard for me because I love to snack! It's also been hard trying to schedule meals around work and whether that means eating one meal in the morning, one in the late afternoon and then one after work... It's been a process. I've been trying to buckle down and just do this for 2 weeks but it also just seems like not enough food. So I think I'm going to stick with the 1600 limit and see how that goes. 

I'll keep you updated on how this week is going! 

Be well,

Pretty Great Little Saturday

Yep, I started out the day with a delicious chocolate cupcake. I had gotten it at Lund's last night and planned on eating it then to start today out fresh, but then I was too full after dinner. So I thought hey, why not just eat it first thing today? I can if I want to. It looked more delicious than these cupcakes, but I forgot to take a picture. Oh well.

So after a relaxing morning, the boyfriend and I went to the gym. This was his first time back in awhile, and my first time at this particular Snap Fitness. It was nothing exciting, walked on the treadmill at an incline for a half hour, which was enough for me at the time. I always get REALLY red in the face when working out, and sure enough this time was no different. It felt good at least.

I spent the afternoon getting ready to go grocery shopping, which means figuring out coupons of course. It's like I want to stock up on all this healthy food but then I need to think about how much I will actually be home this week... which isn't that much. Working at a restaurant does have its perks, like the shift meal. So then I just have to think about what I will feel like eating before work, or after work depending on the day.

I decided to go to the store in the early evening to avoid the crazy Saturday shoppers... but of course there was still tons of people there thanks to the Super Bowl. I ended up getting some random healthy stuff for the week (bananas, peppers, yogurt, bread, oatmeal, whole wheat waffles), and lean ground beef for bolognese that I will make Monday night and eat the next couple of days.

The boyfriend's parents are coming over for the game tomorrow so I'm making my famous guacamole, plus I will be getting some meat and cheese from work. His mom is making sloppy joes and bringing them over, yes! So I just have to work before that then come home and make cookies and guacamole.

Overall I ate mostly well today, but I did have a couple of cream cheese puffs from Lee Ann Chin. They were totally worth it. Those plus who knows how many calories in the cupcake (my lovely food diary app says about 420 calories, ah!) pushed me over the edge of my "1600 calorie plan." Tomorrow's a new day, and as long as I eat a healthy and balanced breakfast and lunch I should be good for Super Bowl party time.

So far I've walked 7174 steps today, and by the time I go to sleep it will probably be 7500. The average steps per day for women are 5210 so I beat that at least! I work at 10 am tomorrow so I plan on getting up and doing some yoga before showering and heading to work.

Until tomorrow,

Well that was quick

So it turns out I spoke a little bit too soon with that last post... I have fallen off the wagon. I've had a Diet Coke a day for the past few days, I think the temptation at work became too much. But that's okay, it happens. Starting tomorrow I'm back to it, including eating healthy. I haven't been eating all junk, but definitely a lot of carbs and sweets.

I've come to realize that I definitely need to step up working out in combination with eating less. I've tried to cut down calories but I keep going over every day, which just means I need to eat more whole foods and less junk. It's just so hard for me to give up all sweets! Somehow I've trained myself to want something sweet after every meal, which is not necessary. I just need to find smarter picks that won't make me crave more.

I have also tried planning out my meals either the night before or the start of the day... and it doesn't work for me. I usually end up craving different things than I've planned and then I go way off plan. This is why I need to have all different kinds of healthy food around me at all times, so I can always make a good decision. Right now I'm going to focus on getting the correct number of servings of each food group every day. That is something that is achievable and yet has enough spontaneity in it that I won't feel like I'm eating the same thing every day.

I'm going to go cold turkey on Diet Coke again tomorrow and this time it will stick! Soda is everywhere and it's just so tough to avoid it, but I am tougher. I won't put chemicals in my body anymore. I just need to remember that if I need caffeine (which is the main reason I would drink Diet Coke), I can always have a cup of coffee, or a cup of tea.

Now on to the awesome shoes pictured at the top. I just bought those as a motivator and I'm so excited! They're Reebok EasyTone shoes, and I got them for $35 when they're normally priced at $99! If you've never been to 6pm.com you need to check it out now, especially because it's free shipping right now. I also bought a fancy pedometer at Walgreens thanks to their Walk with Walgreens program! You enter in your daily steps and earn coupons (another one of my obsessions), and when you register you get a $5 off pedometer coupon. I combined that with a sale this week for $5 off and I got an awesome pedometer for $21.99!

Anyway enough about saving and coupons. Both the new shoes and the pedometer are going to help me step up my workouts. I'm starting a yoga class next week, and I'm going to at least go for a walk every day to get my steps up to 10,000. I also just got a kickboxing dvd which I'm excited to start.

Most posts won't be this long, sorry! Another goal of mine is to blog something every day, even if it's just a link to a recipe I tried.

Until tomorrow,