A Greener Birthday

March 8th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (10 Comments)

My biggest gal turned 9 years old today. NINE! I guess that means I must have been 16 when she was born because I can’t possibly be a day over 25 myself.

(What?)

Ava’s birthday breakfast request was bagels, and so bagels it was.  After Deep Nutrition, bagels became more of a treat around here – this is why it was a birthday request. Bagels have been missed!

Some greens still managed to elbow their way into the birthday breakfast line up – a spinach and mushroom omelet with half a French Toast bagel (awesome!) and cream cheese.

Spinach and Mushroom Omelet  Read more...

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Almost-But-Not-Quite Raspberry Cheesecake Smoothie

March 6th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (Comments Off on Almost-But-Not-Quite Raspberry Cheesecake Smoothie)

I am on a green smoothie kick. This Greener March Challenge has gone straight to my head.  And straight to my blender.  And then straight to my stomach.  I haven’t made green smoothies in ages, and now I can’t seem to stop.

None of my the avocados from my most recent haul are ripe yet, otherwise I would have made an avocado smoothie again.  I still wanted a smoothie for breakfast today though, so I tried to come up with something different this morning – hopefully just as good as that avocado smoothie.  Read more...

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Smoothie Math Fail

March 5th, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (5 Comments)

Have you ever made something really, really good – but then just plain forgot to ever make it again?

Maybe it’s because it’s too painful to remember. Our brain knows that we will feel so sad we don’t have that delicious food item in front of us at this very moment, it protects us from the pain and won’t allow us to relive it. Not even a little memory jog so you can make it again. It’s like PTSD, except from food. I’ve got Post Traumatic Smoothie Disorder.  Read more...

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Saturday Greenery

March 2nd, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (6 Comments)

It’s Day 2 of The Greener March Challenge! Here’s today’s lunchtime salad – KAPOW!

Saturday Salad

Oh, wait. I mean, Hi! Did you eat something leafy and green yesterday? And today already too? High five!

If you’re about to become a lean green eating machine for the next 30 days or so, we should talk about salad sooner rather than later.

If you’re already a salad shooting pro, please share your salad secrets with us!  But if salad is something you’re only feeling so-so about, let’s talk about how to make salad time quick and easy. Because when it’s quick and easy, it’s more likely to happen.  Read more...

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The Greener March Challenge

March 1st, 2013 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (10 Comments)

It’s March 1. It’s time to start thinking spring.  It’s time starting thinking green.

In my post about choices leading to habits, I mentioned the role that green smoothies played in my journey to better, more enjoyable running.   Devann left a comment on that post about rounding up some friends to do a 30 day green smoothie challenge and she invited me to join them.

I like it.  Let’s do it.  Read more...

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Let’s Grow Green

April 5th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (5 Comments)

It’s that time of year again. Here in Zone 6A the early spring like weather is upon us and has been hanging around for a while now. It’s time get some greens and spring vegetables in the ground.

Spring Greens

First up, I did my part in expanding one of our small, city lot beds into an ever-so-slightly bigger bed.

More Space

“my part” = moving the boarder to the edge of the tilled soil that Zak dug up a couple weeks ago.

One Foot Bigger

more garden = less grass to mow. Check it.

Slightly Bigger Garden Bed  Read more...

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We Called in Sick

October 26th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Lunch - (3 Comments)

We didn’t have anything official on the agenda today, so we didn’t really call in sick. But we’ve been goofing around today for sure. Stay at home mom’s and homeschooled kids get a day off once in a while too, right?

Right.

We had breakfast together, we got dressed and then we went about our business.

The girls set up shop in the upstairs foyer.

Set Up Shop

I found Barbie hanging from the register in the kitchen. When I asked no one in particular what this was all about,

Hang Up Barbie

Maxine responded, “So I know where she is.”  Read more...

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Salad Habits

September 29th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (5 Comments)

There are plenty of good reasons to eat a salad – but I know that if I don’t make salad eating easy, it’s less likely to happen.

I went a stretch of days without eating a salad (gasp!) and it took me a second to realize it was because I’d fallen behind on food prep.

Salad Prep

I’m all caught up now though!  A bunch of greens have been torn up and washed and are ready to go – now I’ve got a couple days worth of leafy handfuls to throw into large bowls and then doll up for quick and healthy meals.  Read more...

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The Real Reason I Love Spinach

September 20th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Vegetable Lovin' - (8 Comments)

Have you ever listened to someone go completely overboard when they talk about their love of spinach?

I have. I’m sure I’ve done it myself. I’ve probably done it right here on this very Internet.

Oh I just LOOOOVE spinach!  I put it in smoothies! I wear spinach in my hair! On purpose!

Spinach is sooooo good for you that I can’t help but use tons of exclamation points and extra vowels when I write about it!!!!  I love spinach so much that we go for long walks on the beach and write romantic poems and naughty limericks to each other.  Read more...

It’s Not Peachy Being Green

September 8th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (5 Comments)

Right Kermie?

Kermit the Frog

(something like that.)

Random fact: my kids never took any interest in Sesame Street. I WAS TOTALLY LOOKING FORWARD RELIVING MY CHILDHOOD, GIRLS! That was part of the reason I had kids in the first place.

Anyways.

Peaches! More peaches! Peaches are turning out to be one of my new favorite smoothie additions.

Ginger Peach Green Smoothie

They are just so… peachy?

Load Up Smoothie Ingredients

Layered with frozen banana slices and some spinach, they make a great smoothie trio.

My other new favorite smoothie additive –

Grind Your Ginger  Read more...

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