I have been a slacker

Not really - but I've been traveling a lot and that gets me out of my routine.

However, I think I will have some interesting insights and recipes to share over the next several weeks as I make an effort to "clean up" my diet in preparation for the marathon.  I want my cells to be clean and hydrated by October 9th so I can conquer the miles and altitude.

Everyone's system is different.  There is a huge variance in the type of nutrition one person needs vs. another, which is why, thank goodness, there are so many foods, supplements, and beverages out there to keep us healthy and our tummies happy.  I am a person who needs carbohydrates and fatty acids.  Every once in a while my system starts screaming for extra protein, extra sugar, extra fiber, etc., but overall, I need my whole grains and my healthy fats.  I was getting a little tired of the after-taste my flax seed supplements, so when I ran out, I went to Whole Foods and asked for their best vegetarian EFA supplement.  The employee I spoke to recommended chia seeds.  In the mornings, I now down my greens powder with a small scoop of ground chia in 1/2 cup water like a shot.  Then I take my vitamins and eat my breakfast.  Supposedly chia is loaded with healthy fats, antioxidants, and properties that keep your metabolism efficient and your cells hydrated.  Woah!  I'm only three days into the regimen, but I have noticed that I don't need a mid-morning snack.  Since my serving of chia has about 60 calories and my greens have 30, that's a good thing.

Last night I made soba noodle salad, similar to the recipe I posted a few weeks ago, but I added micro greens, more colors of peppers, broccoli slaw, and edamame.  I topped the salad with two boiled eggs and it was absolutely delicious and so filling!  Cherries for dessert.  They were on sale, and I couldn't resist.  I think if cherries could be in season year-long I would eat a lot less refined sugars.

The person who purchases the groceries at work has decided that we should all restrict our diets to lunch meats, sliced cheese, Yoplait yogurt, Hershey's candies (read: not 80% cacao organic candy bars) and Pringles and Doritos chips.  A recipe for a cell-wide free radical party.  How much cellular inflammation could result from a diet of the above, msg and nitrate enriched processed food?  *shudder*  I'm back to exclusively bringing my own food, except breakfast bread.  We do have English muffins, yay.  My breakfast protein, lunch, and snacks come to work with me.  Lately I'm a big fan of almonds roasted with Bragg's Aminos.