Uncategorized

I first started running in the eighth grade for my middle school’s cross country team. Back then, my race day lunch was always the same – a double-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwich from our school’s cafeteria – loaded up with heaping gobs of (processed) peanut butter and spilling with jelly. It was comforting, tasty, and something I could trust to keep me full through warm-ups hours later.

As training and race day routines have evolved, the love for peanut butter and jelly has never died. But I’ve gotten much more discriminating with what I put in my body, and I now hold my food to higher standards.

Behold, a new pre-workout (and snack) solution: these upgraded Almond Butter & Jelly Snack Bars. I swap processed peanut butter for natural almond butter, use unsweetened or fruit juice sweetened strawberry jelly, and make them into bar form – much more portable, and easy to take on-the-go. I hope you give them a try for yourself!

Print

A couple of weeks ago on my Instagram stories I asked what recipes people wanted to see more of. A recurring theme quickly emerged: you wanted “fast”, “easy”, “prep-ahead”, “one-bowl”, “one-pan”… etc.

These Crispy Chickpea Patties not only fit the bill, but they’re fresh and full of light Spring flavors, while still being hearty enough to keep you full all afternoon or evening. You only need six ingredients to make them (not counting salt, pepper, and olive oil for frying… but you should have those on hand already). AND, you’ll only dirty one bowl and one pan to make them. They come together in under half an hour and are delicious served with a super easy Dill-Yogurt Dressing.

Ingredients:

Chickpea Patties

• 1 can chickpeas
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup almond flour
• 2 eggs, whisked
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 heaping tbsp minced garlic
• Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
• Olive oil, for frying

Dill-Yogurt Dressing

• 1 cup dairy-free yogurt (I like this cashew yogurt and this coconut yogurt)
• 1/4 cup avocado oil mayonnaise
• 1/4 tsp sea alt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp dried dill

Instructions:

1. Drain chickpeas and either mash by hand with a potato masher, OR toss into either a high-speed blender or food processor. Pulse for just 10-15 seconds, until chickpeas are mashed but still retain a good texture. If a few chickpeas are still whole, that’s great.
2. Transfer chickpeas to a large mixing bowl, add in remaining ingredients (except olive oil), and combine.
3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add a few tablespoons of olive oil, and once the oil starts to shimmer, add in your patties. You can either use a 1/4 cup or 1/2 cup measuring cup to evenly form your patties, depending on how large you want them to be. Make sure they’re packed in tightly, so that they hold together while cooking. Cook until crispy and golden brown on the bottom, and then flip.
4. While patties are cooking, whisk together ingredients for the Dill-Yogurt Dressing in a small mixing bowl, let sit for 5-6 minutes, and then serve dolloped on top of the patties.
5. Enjoy!

I think that everyone — but especially women — go through a unique relationship with food over the course of their lives. Today I’m sharing the changes I’ve made over the past several years that have had the biggest impact on my body composition, performance, and happiness.

Could I be leaner than I am right now? Yes. Do I want to be? Yes, because I’m always working to improve myself — but not by much. Whereas in the past, I thought skinniness = happiness on an infinite ascending curve (where happiness increases as skinniness increases, and there is no endpoint), I now have a clear sense of where my “healthy median” is: where I feel energized day-to-day, I’m not hungry all the time, I can recover well from training, and my hormones are functioning at healthy, happy levels. I try not to stray too far above or below this set point.

Also — Note that I listed three things in the title, and the most important of those is without a doubt happiness. If the way you’re eating is consistently detracting from your happiness, and if the way you’re fueling isn’t consistently making you feel good… you probably need to make some changes of your own.

My best changes from the past several years

1. I stopped being afraid to eat more. I stopped calorie counting many years ago, but for me, I still had some picture in my head of what was and wasn’t a reasonable amount for me to be eating (???!). I had to completely throw out the drawing board and write a new one. I once had a nutritionist tell me that at 5’8”, my body is a “stretch limousine, not a taxi cab.” Things that you have to take into consideration when deciding how much food is right for you:

• Your activity levels – Including and outside of exercising. If you have a more active day job, or more active weekends, for example, you need to take this into account. If you’re a fidgety person who hates sitting (like me), you need to take this into account. (Google “NEAT.”) If you’re running 40-60 miles a week, or if your mileage has just jumped up, you need to take this into account.
• Your height and weight – Larger people need more fuel. It’s science. Even if you are larger for your frame but trying to lose weight, your starting energy expenditure is going to be higher than someone who is smaller and of the same frame size. So take this into account and don’t make drastic cuts. The same thing applies if you are tall and thin. Your body needs more fuel than someone who is 4” shorter than you, just at baseline.
• Your metabolism – There’s a lot of mixed research on metabolism speed, but from my personal experience amongst teammates and friends, I do think metabolisms vary. In college I had a friend of almost the exact same height and of a similar build. We were running similar mileage and doing the exact same workouts. But she ate like a bird and I was always starving. I think that as adults, most people can identify whether they’re someone with a “fast”, “slow”, or “normal” metabolism. I’ve had a fast metabolism since I was young, and my mom and brothers are the same way. I would encourage you to resist comparing the amount of food you need to what others are eating, as bodies are so individual.

2. I started frontloading my calories. This has made a HUGE difference in the way that I fuel. Step 1a was eating more overall, and step 1b was redistributing my calories. Before the cycle would look like this – Start the day eating the way I “thought” I should be eating. End up hungry an hour or hour and a half after eating. Have a massive blood sugar drop around 2 PM. End up at the mercy of my low blood sugar, sometimes making poorer food choices, and all of the time consuming the majority of my calories in the second half of my day. Now, I eat proactively instead of reactively. I always have a very big breakfast plus a mid-morning snack when needed, and I’ve made my lunches more hearty. As a result, I feel much more well-fueled. I’m eating the majority of my calories during the time of day I’m most active (and need them the most). Come dinnertime, I’m not eating a massive meal, and afterwards, I’m satisfied and not having crazy cravings.

3. I stopped depriving myself. No foods, except what I’m allergic to, are off limits to me. I don’t believe that “fit people” only eat protein, brown rice, and vegetables. Fit people eat all foods, they just prioritize foods that are good for their body and make them feel good.

The other side of this: when you prioritize fueling your body with healthy, from-the-earth and –farm ingredients, your taste buds start to change. In turn, you start craving low-nutrient foods less. It takes trusting your body to realize that allowing yourself to eat “bad” foods does not mean your body is going to want “bad” foods all the time. Now, I honor whatever cravings my body has, I enjoy it, and I move on. I don’t say “I shouldn’t eat that” and I stand up for myself when people say “You’re really going to eat that?!” Eating junk food no longer turns into a weeklong downward spiral of despair, self-hatred, and overeating/trying to compensate. It has taken me a lot of years to get to this place, but it’s been so incredibly worth it. Fight against diet culture, stand up for yourself, and start honoring your body’s cravings instead of fighting against them. A great book on this topic is Melissa Hartwig’s Food Freedom Forever.

4. I started eating more fat. This was a huge dietary change I made after my freshman year of college, which was disastrous for me running-wise. Eventually I’ll dedicate a whole separate post to this (because I feel so strongly about it!), but simply put: FEMALE RUNNERS NEED FAT!! When most people try to “diet” or even “eat healthier”, fats and carbs are two of the foods that are usually first to go. But fat is so important not only for appetite regulation (eating too low fat of a diet will make you hungry all the time, and can give you crazy sugar cravings especially), but it’s also incredibly important for female hormonal health. A good training diet is plentiful in healthy oils, avocados, natural nut butters, fatty fish, egg yolks, etc.

5. Non-nutrition-related… I started consistently strength training. The famous longtime University of Colorado coach once said that strength training is even more important for females than it is for males – because of hormones, bone health, and body composition, and I can’t agree more. Research shows resistance training:

• Improves bone density
• Improves hormonal health (in both males and females… but in different ways)
• Changes body composition in favorable ways, even in otherwise active people
• Creates resistance to injury
• And so much more

Since committing to lifting more consistently than ever before, I’ve watched my body undergo changes I’m really proud of, and without having to make any crazy changes to my diet. I can eat more at rest (muscle is active tissue and actually burns calories, whereas fat does not), my abs are tighter and more toned despite not doing a ton of targeted “ab work”, my legs are more shapely and defined, my back and arms are more developed, and my waist has actually shrunk. My body is not perfect by any means, and I still have a lot of things I want to improve, but noticing all these changes has been fun. The benefits of lifting will also become a separate post at some point!

I want to know: As you look back on the past several years, what are the best changes you’ve made for your body and happiness?!

I’m so excited to team up with Christie Wang of @fitwithchristie on Instagram and the blog at https://www.christiewang.co/blog for this post! Christie is a Boston-based Pilates instructor (she’s incredible), and has been living in the city for the past seven years. I’m just an hour south of Boston in Providence, RI and despite having a city of my own, drive up to be in Boston just about as often as I can.

As lovers of all things food AND running, we combined our knowledge to create a list of the very best places to eat and run in the city. For all those coming into the city this weekend for the Boston Marathon, good luck, and we hope you get to soak in all the city has to offer!

Best Places to Eat – Daytime:

– Tatte – This could just as easily fall into the “Best Cup of Coffee” category as in the “Best Places to Eat” category. Tatte is a Boston staple with the most beautiful of interiors, European-quality baked goods, and menu items that are just as good (try their shakshuka — they’re famous for it!). Check their website for locations, as they have a couple cafe locations throughout the city.

– Flour Cafe – Another Boston cafe staple, Flour is famous for their sticky buns. Beyond just sweets, we’d recommend the hearty sweet potato sandwich and soups. They also have several locations throughout the city.

– Jugos Supremo – Jugos’ flagship location, attached to the train station, has long been a staple for commuters and people new to the city. The convenience can’t be beat, and you can get ridiculously fresh juices, smoothies, bowls, toasts, and other healthy take-away goods. Now, they have a second location, Jugos Supremo, with an expanded menu that includes sit-down items such as more elaborate toasts, egg dishes, even Belgian waffles. You can expect the freshest fruits and vegetables, all local ingredients, and the fact that all their nut milks are housemade.

502 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA 02118

– Mother Juice – Just a couple blocks from the Boston Marathon finish line, you’ll want everything on Mother Juice’s menu. It is totally plant-based but could convert even the biggest meat-eating skeptics. Try their big salad bowls (pictured below: BBQ Chickpea), smoothies, overnight oat bowls, and energy balls.

291 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02115

– Eataly – A great post-race option right next to the finish line, Eataly has several mini-restaurants within it (for incredible salad, pasta, bread, and wine). Plus, shop their selection of meats, cheeses, and baked goods to bring home.

Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199

– FoMu – For the BEST vegan ice cream, in flavors such as Bourbon Maple Walnut, Magic Bar, Salted Caramel, and Sweet Lavender. FoMu has locations in Allston, Jamaica Plain, Fenway, and the South End.

Best Places to Eat – Pre- or Post-Race Dinner:

– Myers and Chang – Located in the South End neighborhood, just a few blocks away from the finish line, this Asian fusion restaurant offers a popular Dim Sum brunch on weekends and Cheap Date Prix Fixe on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Expect flavorful Asian style dishes presented in a “small plates” format.

1145 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118

– Citrus and Salt – A “coastal Mexican” foodie paradise that has Instagram-worthy cocktails. Their Sunday brunch is a fan favorite. If you have a big appetite, try the waffle tacos! If you’re just stopping by for drinks, get margaritas and a whole vat of their guacamole – it’s that good.

142 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116

– Lolita – Another incredible Mexican restaurant in Boston, you can expect free chips and salsa at the start of your meal and cotton candy to finish things off with a sweet touch. The spicy cucumber margaritas are my favorite.

In Back Bay and the Seaport

– Pammy’s – This Italian inspired restaurant is in the heart of Cambridge. People love it for their hearty pastas and incredible cocktail selection.

928 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

– Oleana – Oleana is on the fancy side but, it’s worth the reservation (usually booked a few weeks out on a weekend night). It’s a very vegan friendly Mediterranean style restaurant. You can either order everything in a small plates, shared fashion or go with their incredible tasting menus (opt wine pairings). I’d highly suggest the veggie tasting menu. If you have any dietary restrictions, just let them know and they’ll happily adjust. As a bonus, if you love sweets, go for their well known Baked Alaska.

134 Hampshire St, Cambridge MA, 02139

Best cup of coffee:

Dunkin Donuts may well be the official coffee chain of Boston (locals are fervently loyal), but don’t let that stop you from experiencing a city that has an incredible coffee scene. Here are our picks for the best cups in Boston…

– Pavement Coffeehouse – A local Boston brand. Try one their specialty lattes for something fun (they carry oat milk, which we love), or a pour-over for something classic. They also have great bagels and light bites.

With locations in Allston, Berklee, Boston University, Fenway, Symphony, Newbury, Brighton, and Harvard Square

– Caffe Nero – The best of European coffee in Boston. Come for the gorgeous, moody vibes and great espresso.

They have locations all over the city. Check their cafe map here to find the closest one near you.

– Gracenote – Super cute decor and delicious, artisanal coffee tucked in the Leather District of Boston. A must-stop if you’re in the area.

108 Lincoln St, Boston, MA 02111

– Ogawa – Created by Japanese coffee artisans, Ogawa is distinctly unlike any of the other coffee spots on this list. Stop in for something different, and to try all the matcha-flavored things. They also have a full food menu if you want something more than just a light bite.

10 Milk Street, Boston, MA 02108

– Blue Bottle – There are only a few locations of Blue Bottle in the world — this is a must-stop! Try their signature New Orleans iced coffee.

Located right in the Prudential Center (by the Boston Marathon finish line), but also has locations in Harvard Square and the Exchange

Best places to run:

– The Charles River – You can find a great full map of the river here. To run the Charles, just pick two bridges and make a loop. The Charles loop “unofficially” ends at the Museum of Natural Sciences, and you can take the river all the way out past Harvard, MIT, Boston University, and into Watertown and Newton.

– The Common – Try the long hill for hill sprints or hill reps. It’s about 1 mile to cover the whole diameter of the common and the “big hill” closest to Beacon St is .25 miles, for reference! This is one of the only “big hills” in the Downtown Boston area so, you’ll catch many of the run groups doing hill repeats here on any weekday night.

– The Emerald Necklace – This pathway starts in Fenway and spits you right at Jamaica Pond.

– The Chestnut Hill Reservoir – Affectionately called “the Res”, it’s a beautiful 1.5 mile path right off of Boston College’s campus.

– The Newton Carriage Trails – Run the toughest parts of the Boston Marathon course along the beautiful carriage roads of Newton. You’ll pass some of Boston’s most beautiful homes and get some hills in to boot.

Have you ever been to Boston before? Do you have any favorite spots you think we missed?! Would love to hear in the comments!

Cold + flu season has hit our area really hard, and after coming down with three separate bugs since this fall, I’m trying to be more proactive about building up my immunity.

Enter my new go-to smoothie: packed with Vitamin C in the form of whole fruits (no processed, sugary fruit juice), probiotics from coconut yogurt, and extra hydration from coconut water, this drink is a super-potent immunity tonic that will build up your body + help ward off sickness. It’s also great for nipping things in the bud when you feel something coming on.

And the best part — it tastes just like the creamsicles you ate growing up!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ice
• 2 whole navel oranges, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut yogurt
• 1/4 cup coconut water
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions: Combine ingredients in a high-speed blender in the order listed (ice first, vanilla extract last). When peeling your oranges, try to remove as much of the white pith as possible, as this will make your smoothie bitter. Blend until frothy, and serve immediately for maximum freshness.

I know people are divided on this — should cookies be healthy?! Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of eating a cookie? If you’re going to eat a cookie, shouldn’t you just eat a big, full-fat, white-flour, and refined-sugar-full cookie?

Well, I think that’s up to you.

Some people believe the body is a temple. Some people believe the body is a temple we bring sacrifices of chocolate and wine to.

Personally, I believe in honoring your cravings and not making any foods off limits (allergies and medical conditions aside) — but if I want something super indulgent, I like to either go out and eat it, or buy one and bring it home. If I want to make a big batch of cookies to keep around the house and eat throughout the week, I want it to be a healthy-ish cookie.

What meets the “healthy-ish” criteria?

• Mostly whole grain flours. Even when I used a gluten-free all-purpose flour, I chose an AP flour with a chickpea flour base (Bob’s Red Mill brand… my favorite). I tried to limit starchier and/or flours that are more highly processed (read: stripped of most nutrients).
• Refined sugar free. All the cookies I chose are made with either coconut sugar, honey, real maple syrup, or molasses.
• All healthy fats. Instead of butter, lard, shortening (even more processed vegetable oils), I used nut butters, olive oil, and coconut oil.

Without further ado, here is a round-up of my top healthy-ish Christmas cookies (and other treats) to make this season.

The Toasted Pine Nut’s Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ambitious Kitchen’s Paleo Ginger Molasses Cookies

Kale Junkie’s Life Changing Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Clean Eats by Tay’s Vegan Soft-Baked Snickerdoodle Cookies

Dani Nemeh’s Gingerbread Truffles

The Healthy Maven’s Healthy Peppermint Chocolate Cookies

Sammy Eason’s Vegan Gingersnap Pillow Cookies

Oh She Glows’ Jumbo Chocolate Chunk Cookies (I added flaky sea salt, and it was out of this world.)

Pollen and Grace’s Vegan Maca + Cacao Truffles