Monthly Archives: January 2013

Native Foods – A Vegan’s Paradise

One of the struggles that Mike and I have faced since turning to a mostly plant based diet has been finding places to eat out. I have no issues cooking 100% vegan meals that I find absolutely delicious but the times I feel most frustrated the diet is when we are eating out. We are lucky to have a few restaurants in Encinitas which have vegan options but it means that we end up eating at the same four places over and over. We tend to eat brunch/lunch out both days on the weekend and we eat dinner out at least once a week and we basically rotate three restaurants in, or on occasion, eat something vegetarian but not vegan from somewhere else (last weekend we had Thai food for example and didn’t ask them to hold the egg/fish sauce). We also tend to eat eggs out at breakfast about once a week which allows us one additional restaurant thrown in.

It has now been seven months since we made the switch and needless to say, these four restaurants (three of which we order only one thing off the menu every time with rarely any variety) are getting a little old. We still love them, but I couldn’t have been any happier when I read a fellow San Diego vegetarian runner’s blog about a popular vegan restaurant opening up a location in San Diego. Not only San Diego – in Encinitas, the small beach town just north of San Diego proper where I live!

I clicked the link to the restaurant website, scanned the menu and was literally jumping for joy with excitement. I couldn’t even decide what to try first because for the first time in a very long time, I could eat every single thing on the menu. And not only could I eat it all, I actually liked it all!

Of course I had to share the news with the Twittersphere immediately, namely my BFF and fellow plant based eater, Asia. Immediately a plan was hatched to check out the restaurant the next night (i.e. last night!).

Since Mike is out of town, Asia, Jeremy and I headed to Native Foods last night (with plans to return with Mike of course). Asia and Jeremy had actually already eaten at a Native Foods in LA once (they found it using the Happy Cow app which helps vegetarians and vegans find veg-friendly restaurants near them on the go) and they loved it.

Caribbean Jerk Salad

Since I had a big lunch, I opted for the Caribbean Jerk Kale Salad (Jerk seasoned Native Tempeh, avocado, chopped mango, red peppers and onion tossed with crunchy kale in a creamy jalapeno cilantro dressing. Garnished with green onion and shredded coconut.) but Asia and Jeremy gave me bites of their more decadent dishes (the Chicken Run Ranch Burger and Bistro Steak Sandwich). They also ordered the Native Chicken Wings appetizer and gave me a bite of that. As someone who grew up eating fried chicken strips, I must say, these were just as good (if not better?)!

Native Chicken Wings

Everything was AMAZING. Asia and Jeremy’s sandwiches were delicious and less greasy versions of their animal-based counterparts and my salad was refreshing and incredibly flavorful. Asia’s sandwich came with sweet potato fries since she ordered the daily special (usually you have to pay extra for sides but if it’s a daily special they are free!) and she was nice enough to share some with me. I was happy that these were delicious as well.

Asia and Jeremy with their Feast!

My only concern with the menu was the abundance of fake meats. I really try to avoid processed fake meats, especially ones with soy (besides tempeh which is fermented soy and is ok in my book). However, when we arrived I was glad to see a description of their fake meats which explained that the main ingredient in the majority of them was either tempeh or seitan. I’d actually never had seitan but the description on the menu indicated it is a wheat-based whole protein that has a similar flavor to meats. This is what Native Foods uses in the majority of their mock meat type dishes like the chicken and steak sandwiches. They also make the tempeh and seitan from scratch, so it’s likely to have less of the weird stuff that is put into processed meats you find at the grocery store.

I definitely see a long and fulfilling relationship with Native Foods in my future. My only qualm is that it is a big pricey ($11 after tax for my salad which honestly wouldn’t have been enough food for me had I not had Asia and Jeremy there to share some scraps of theirs with me ). I could definitely see Mike and I coming here and regularly spending $30 on lunch and it’s not even a full service restaurant (you order at the counter). As long as we limit ourselves to one trip a week this place won’t break the bank and will provide delicious vegan comfort foods after long runs.

Have you ever been to Native Foods or another 100% plant based restaurant?

Racing a Champ

10 Day Countdown Begins!

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For me, 10 days before a race is a milestone. It is commonly cited that you can gain no more fitness that will be benefit your race after the 10 day mark. This means that the last speed work session is done and all you can do at this point is focus on nutrition, rest, and NOT running too hard or much in the meantime.

Another one of my favorite things about the 10 day countdown is this:
66 and cloudy on race day!?!? Yes please!

Last year on race day it was sunny and in the 70s. Yes, in January it was in the mid 70s. It was a gorgeous day but clearly not ideal for racing. This year, with a high of 66 (yes I do know that this forecast could dramatically change in the next 10 days but work with me here), that means that by the time I finish the half marathon around 10 a.m., I doubt the temps will have even reached 60. Perfect racing weather and perfect PR weather.

Surf City Marathon 2012- Beach Weather, Not Race Weather

Surf City Marathon 2012- Beach Weather is Not Ideal Race Weather

Taper Time

So yes, it is taper time now. Sometimes I welcome the taper and other times it makes me antsy. Since I’ve been training pretty hard now since the end of September, I’m welcoming this short reprieve in my intense training plan. Instead of waking up and running in the cold darkness three to four days a week, I only actually ran before 6 a.m. once this week! Although, I do admit I kind of miss going on Daily Mile and seeing a weekly mileage number in the 50s.

My Last 50+ Mile Week

I wasn’t sure exactly how to adjust the three week marathon taper I had already mapped out according to my Pfitzinger 18/55 plan since now I am doing the half marathon instead of the full, but what I ended up doing was shaving a couple of miles off my weekend long runs, dropping one run last week in favor of sleeping in, and maintaining the intensity of my runs. Basically my goal was to get some quality workouts in that will improve my speed, but not overload my body with even more long runs (I’ve literally been running 16-20 mile long runs every weekend for three months).

For example, two weekends ago I was supposed to run 20 miles at a “general aerobic” pace according to Pfizginer’s plan. Since I’ve already ran 20 miles twice in this training cycle and plan to again twice in the next cycle, I figured my body would benefit more from some speed and a shorter run. Instead, I ran 16 miles with the first 4 being easy and the last 12 being a bit faster (8:20-8:30) with an overall pace of 8:45. I would have probably run the 20 miles at 9:15-9:20 average. Last weekend I was supposed to do my 10k tune-up race on Saturday (or a simulated tempo workout), which I did, and then I was to run 16 miles. Instead, I ran 14.

I’ve been continuing to do my interval workouts, mostly Yasso 800′s instead of the scheduled speed workouts. I’ve been feeling great during my interval workouts and have found that the 7 min/mile that I was really struggling to maintain during my 800s is getting easier (still a challenge of course). I’m gaining confidence that I’ll be able to complete 10 of them at this pace before Eugene which would indicate I’m ready to run a 3:35 marathon. This week I followed Pftiz’s plan and did some 1 mile repeats. I think I had a bit of of taper sluggishness but I still had a good workout. That workout put the nail in the coffin – my half marathon pace can’t be improved anymore, just ruined!

The plan for next week is to sleep as much as possible and to eat healthy foods. I will still do my yoga class on Monday but I’m going to skip my strength workout on Thursday and I’ll get at least one Ab Ripper session in. Since the new year I have been really good about keeping my diet very clean and mostly vegan. This last week Mike and I busted out some wine a couple of nights and I have plans with friends involving alcohol both nights this weekend (trust me, not ragers or anything) but next week I plan to not to drink at all. In the past, I can tell a difference in a race when I’ve been eating poorly (always the case at AFC in August it seems) compared to when I’ve been eating healthy. I really want to get that sub 1:45 at Surf City next Sunday and I don’t want to do anything to mess it up!

Do you like the taper? Do you also obsessively check the weather or try to avoid it completely before a race?

Workout Jams

9 Replies

Ready to Race With Music at LB Half

I hate to break it to you, but I’m not one of those zen runners who can run countless miles solo with only my thoughts and the sound of nature for company. I bring music with me on every run – no matter how short. I even bring music with me on long runs with friends in case there is a break in the conversation. I love music and I always create playlists for races I’m training for. I’m not claiming to have “good” taste in music – I tend to follow the crowd and most of my music library has seen the top of the Billboard charts at some point in it’s lifetime and you won’t ever hear me complaining that my favorite local band “sold out” for fame.

Start of AFC Half – Turning the Music UP!

As of late, however, I realized that my running playlists needed some serious upgrades. I’ve been running pretty consistently for three years now and it seems like most of my playlists have at least half the songs in common with each other. So I went to the internet for help and have constructed a new playlist (still in progress) that I have called the “BQ Mix.” I’m hoping that listening to these songs during my BQ attempt at Eugene will bring back memories of times that I pushed through the pain on hard training runs and inspire me to go for it! Or, worst case, at least they keep me entertained during the 3 1/2 ish hours I’m out on the course.

Excuse the accidental repeat song

First, I’ll give you a list of my classic ‘Go To’ playlist songs and then I’ll provide some of my most recent additions to my iTunes library.I found some of my most recent ones by doing a Google search of running songs as well as adding some songs I wouldn’t typically think to add that I already had in my iTunes library (some country).

Go To Running Songs

Til I Collapse – Eminem
Fantasy Girl – Baby Bash
That’s Not My Name – Ting Tings (for some reason this song reminds me of when I trained for my first half all by myself back in January 2009)
I Like It – Pitbull
Paralyzer – Finger Eleven
Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
Hot N Cold – Pink
Since You’ve Been Gone – Kelly Clarkson
Lookin’ For a Good Time – Lade Antebellum
I’m in Miami Bitch – LMFAO
Party Rock Anthum – LMFAO
See You Again – Miley Cyrus (yes I just wrote that)
Raise Your Glass – Pink
SOS – Rhianna
We Found Love – Calvin Harris
She Wolf – Shakira
OMG – Usher
What the Hell – Avril Lavigne
3- Britney Spears
Tonight (I’m Loving You) – Enrique Iglesias
Bulletproof – La Roux
Just Dance – Lady Gaga
Don’t Stop the Music – Rhianna
Push It – Salt n Pepper (great for getting through some tough spots in a race!)
Lose Yourself – Eminem
More- Usher
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga

Recently Added Music:

Mr. Brightside – The Killers
Human – The Killers
The Beautiful People – Marilyn Manson
We Are Young – Fun
Inside Out – Eve 6
Forget You – Cee Lo Green (my new favorite!)
Feel So Close – Calvin Harris
Payphone – Maroon 5
Dog Days Are Over – Florence and the Machine
Scream & Shout – will.i.am feat. Britney Spears
Red – Taylor Swift
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous – Good Charlotte
Do My Thing – Estelle

Do you listen to music when you run? What are your favorite songs!? Please help me complete my BQ Mix!

Pardon My Dust

Strength Training Circuit for Runners

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After I made the big decision to switch from Surf City Marathon to the half in order to ensure I show up to the start line of Eugene BQ ready, I came to the realization that I no longer have the excuse of being a “high volume” runner with a marathon in a few weeks (or months….) to justify avoiding strength training. I’ve been looking forward to getting back to weight lifting for a while now and although I plan to really dedicate time to it by completing P90X2 later this year, I know that now is the time to get started.

Knock on wood, I’ve never really been injured (I had some knee pain during IM training but luckily it only required me to cut short a few long bike rides and wouldn’t have been considered a serious injury) and although I’m sure there are a lot of factors that have gone into that, I think part of the reason is that before I went all endurance-agro, I build some serious muscle and core strength with P90X. After I finished my first round of P90X religiously, Mike and I attempted to incorporate the workouts into a second round modified around triathlon. It wasn’t easy to get in the workouts no top of swim-bike-run and ultimately we ended up skipping a lot of them. Then in October I tried Insanity, also modified to accommodate triathlon and marathon training. The good news is I was still strength training, just not as often as before.

From January-June during Ironman training I tried to get in yoga once a week plus at least one or two core workouts (usually Ab Ripper). Some weeks I was successful and other weeks I didn’t do anything but swim, bike and run. There wasn’t a single weight lifted in this period. At some point I tried to do a pull-up and discovered I still could do one so I figured I wasn’t losing THAT much muscle. After the race, I dabbled in various group fitness classes, did some P90X yoga, and then started up at Dailey Method. Although I love TDM, there is nothing that can replace a good weight session (plus my membership expired and I’m trying to save money so I decided not to renew). While we were in Belize in November, the eco-lodge we stayed at had a pull-up bar. I tried a pull-up and failed. I knew then that I had lost some serious strength (also could have been spending a lot of time in a bikini…).

So, starting last week, I’ve dedicated myself to going to the gym at least one day a week (during lunch!) to get in a 45 minute strength training routine. This is in addition to the weekly Monday lunchtime yoga class I’ve been going to and the 1-2 times a week I’ve been doing Ab Ripper! I no longer can stand going to the gym and wandering around weight machines aimlessly doing reps, so I knew I had to put together a plan for myself. I used a couple of different articles I found online about strength training for runners as well as my own knowledge of strength training and made myself a full body strength training working that I could complete two times in about 45 minutes. I tried to do as few isolation moves as possible, favoring combination moves in order to be more efficient.

Here’s what I did (12-20 reps for weight bearing exercises, to failure for planks and push-ups):

Split Leg Squats (lunge with back leg on a bench or step) with Overhead Press
Low Plank
Sumo Squat with an Upright Row
Push-Ups
Squats with Bicep Curls (this turned into squats and then bicep curls because I found it hard to focus on them together)
Lateral Lunges
Side Plank
Straight Leg Deadlift with a Row
Tricep Kickback (while in a slight squat for leg work)
Plank Punches (hold a high plank and alternate punching in front of you)
Bicycle Crunches (25 each side)

After I was finished, I repeated!

Luckily I brought a shower gear because both times I did this routine I was very sweaty! It was harder than I thought but a great workout. As expected, I was VERY sore on Friday after completing this workout last week. Unfortunately the soreness lasted until Sunday but I knew that it wouldn’t be easy getting back into things. I’m hoping that after today’s workout that I’m not quite as sore. Despite the soreness, I still had a great long run on Sunday so I think it’s not affecting my runs too much.

I’m hoping to continue this routine and eventually add in a second day of weight lifting. If not, I think that yoga, this routine and a couple sessions of good ol’ Ab Ripper will keep me strong enough during Eugene Marathon training to prevent injury (knock on wood again).

Tip: Print out the workout and bring it with you to the gym and mark your weight and reps as you complete it. I found it much more motivating doing this!

Do you strength train while marathon training? What kind of workouts do you do?

Brrrrrr!!!

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This Southern California coast born and raised girl has not been happy with the weather lately. A cold front has come through Southern California and has brought some seriously frigid weather with it. Temperatures in the 30s (mornings/nights) and 40s (day!) may not seem extreme to many, but for someone who doesn’t own long underwear, mittens (until a week ago), or much in the way of warm jackets, it’s been pretty uncomfortable at times!

If I’m Lucky, Mike Will Join Me For a Freezing Run (in shorts)

The hardest part for me has been those chilly pre-dawn runs. Waking up at 5:30 to run X number of miles is hard enough, but worse knowing that you have to leave your warm bed for the freezing pavement. Even on my weekend long runs which I’ve been delaying until 8:30-9:30 AM require layers and long sleeves. Coming from someone who HAS to wear a tank when she races, this is an extreme circumstance. For Christmas I got a Lululemon beanie and Lululemon running gloves (with touchscreen friendly finger tips!) which added to my pitiful collection of “winter running gear” which is mostly comprised of free long sleeve racing shirts I got at the Carlsbad half marathon and the Turkey Trot as well as a long sleeve cycling pull-over and a bright yellow cycling jacket (this is to be worn only in extreme circumstances).

You may be wondering why I don’t go out and buy more winter friendly gear? Well, I guess I’m cheap. Considering that it’s only this cold 1-2 months of the year and I don’t plan on being a crazy winter training freak for the rest of my life (maybe just a few more years?), I don’t want to invest in a $100-200 winter running jacket. Instead, I just want to complain to you about it here.

My Pile of Clothes Set Out The Night Before a Early Morning Run

So instead of laying out some dough for real gear, here’s Nicole’s “How to Survive Winter Running Without Purchasing Anything” list (add an additional layer for each 15 degree drop in temperature):

Undershirt (a moisture-wicking tank that normally would be worn solo in the summer)
Long sleeve technical t-shirt, preferably free race schwag
Thin running jacket (usually worn post-workout in the summer to stay warm on those chilly 60 degree nights) or cycling jacket
The longest running pants you own (note: it’s ok to wear these a few times without washing – justify it by telling yourself you don’t sweat as much in the cold).
Running beanie placed under running hat
Running gloves (substitute for old tube socks if you’re really in a bind)

Moral of the story – layer layer layer and you can survive the winter without breaking the bank!

At Least Early Morning Running Can Be Beautiful!

How do you keep warm in the winter!?

PS Jimmy Kimmel makes fun of So Cal “cold weather” complainers:

VegaSport Recovery Shake

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I’ve found that I recover better and faster when I have a recovery drink immediately after hard workouts. I don’t need to remind you of the recovery benefits of replacing lost glycogen to your muscles – I’m sure you’ve heard it enough times.

Since turning to a more plant-based diet, I hadn’t been using a recovery drink. After spending a fortune on the Ironman, I decided I’d try to go without one for a while. Since I wasn’t training hard, it didn’t matter as much. However, once I got into some heavy marathon training, I knew I needed something to drink immediately following my workouts.

My requirements for a recovery drink are:

1) Vegan (most recovery drinks get their protein from casein or whey)

2) Non Soy Based

3) Contains branch chain amino acids and/or glutamine

4) Tasty & mixes well into a smoothie type drink

After some research, Mike and I decided to try VegaOne’s VegaSport Performance Protein. VegaOne is a vegan supplement company created by vegan pro-triathlete Brendan Brazier and is highly reviewed on many websites. We decided to give it a try after all the hype we’d heard. We purchased a Mixed Berry flavor tub and a Chocolate flavor tub. We knew based on the nutrition facts that it fit 1-3 of our requirements, but we weren’t sure if it’d also be tasty.

One scoop of VegaSport Performance Protein contains 110 calories and 25 grams of plant-based protein! The protein is not soy, rather it is a combination of pea, sancha inchi (a rich, plant-based source of the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is a key component of serotonin production), sprouted whole grain brown rice, hemp and alfalfa protein. It also contains 5,543 mg of branched chain amino acids and 5,000 mg of glutamine.

After our next workout, we tried the powder mixed just with 8 ounces of water. It wasn’t bad tasting – not many protein shakes are great mixed with water (I can honestly say Shakeology is the only shake I’ve ever tasted that is thick and delicious with just water). However, the next time we blended it with a few other ingredients and it was quite delicious! The drink is definitely drinkable on its own, but I recommend it blended not only for taste, but also for the added carbohydrates (the powder itself only has 6g carbohydrates). Although VegaSport has a lot of protein, it is lacking a bit in carbs which are necessary for recovery.

Ingredients

After some experimentation, my perfect VegaSport recovery drink is:

1 scoop VegaSport (6g carbs/26 g protein)
1 cup almond milk (16 g carbs)
1 full banana (24 g carbs)
1/2 cup organic frozen mixed berries (8g carbs)
1 tsp Spirulina (2g protein)

Blend and enjoy!

The addition of the almond milk gets the total carbs up to 54 so the carb:protein ratio is now 2:1 instead of 1:4 (3:1 is actually ideal but typically I eat a full meal soon after I have this shake which helps). On early morning tough runs I typically just drink the powder with water and then have a big bowl of oatmeal with banana within 30 minutes of my workout for my carbohydrate intake. When I do an easy workout or run, I usually skip the recovery drink so that it lasts longer.

Do you use a recovery supplement?

P90X or Insanity?

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I’ve had several people ask me recently which is better – P90X or Insanity. I believe both programs are awesome ways to get in shape with the comfort and convenience of your own home. I’ve had success with both programs, but personally I prefer one over the other, especially for runners who are also training for a race at the same time.

Insanity vs. P90X

P90X Lifting!

To start, here are the some of the differences in the programs:

P90X is 90 days, Insanity is 60 days.
The average P90X workout is 1 hour 15 minutes. The average Insanity workout is 45 minutes.
P90X includes weight lifting (i.e. you have to own weights) and Insanity requires no equipment
P90X includes two days of cardio whereas Insanity has cardio included daily.
P90X has three phases, each three weeks long with one recovery week. Insanity has two phases and one recovery week.
P90X Fit Test is completed only at the beginning and end of the program. Insanity fit test is completed every few weeks to measure progress.
P90X nutrition plan has 3 phases, Insanity nutrition plan is the same throughout (with an increase in calories during the 2nd phase).
P90X is led by Tony Horton, a personality that some hate and some love (I personally love him) and Insanity is led by Shaun T, who has a very in your face attitude toward fitness.

P90X (My P90X Results Here)

My P90X Results!

Pros

P90X is a strength training program. If you follow the program as intended, you will see some serious changes in your body.
Although it is primarily strength, you will see increases in cardiovascular health and flexibility through the plyometrics and yoga DVDs.
If you plan on training for a running or endurance event while completing P90X, you will find it is a nice complement. Since only two of the workouts are serious leg exercises, your legs will get stronger but won’t constantly be fatigued and affect your runs. Schedule your runs on upper body days.
The P90X Nutrition plan fits well into an average person’s eating schedule – three meals and two snacks a day and is fairly easy to follow, especially once you figure out your portion sizes.
I personally think that you will get more impressive results with P90X. The weight lifting component won’t make you (as a girl) bulk up – instead, it will create a thin body with lean muscle!
P90X has such a variety of workouts that you will never get bored.
P90X comes with worksheets to track your progress as you do each workout. I found these extremely motivating because I would look at my prior week’s workout and always try to do more reps or increase my weights. I think this was a huge factor in my success.

Cons

P90X requires equipment so it not as easy to do on the go and also there is more initial investment to purchase weights and a pull-up bar (or you can use bands which can be taken to hotel rooms).
Some people really dislike Tony Horton and his corny jokes.
P90X workouts are an average of 1 hour 15 minutes, 6 days a week which could be time consuming for some.

Insanity (My Insanity Results Here)

Doing Insanity!

Pros

Insanity is a very intense cardio program. It will increase your cardiovascular fitness and burn a ton of calories. You will literally be dripping sweat within the first 5 minutes.
Since Insanity’s workouts are fairly short so it fits well into a busy schedule.
Insanity can easily be completed in hotel rooms and on the go since it requires no equipment.
Since you do Insanity’s fit test so often, you will see tangible results in your cardiovascular fitness and strength which provide motivation to keep going.

Cons

Since Insanity is SO cardio focused and leg-focused, I found that it affected my runs. My legs were often tired and it had a negative affect on my attitude during runs as well as my performance during them.
Without weights, I found that Insanity didn’t give me as much of a sculpted look as I had hoped. Although the program definitely builds muscle, I found that I had more success with P90X.
Since Insanity is so repetitive, I found it boring at times.
Insanity won’t provide you with a ripped upper body. Although you may see some changes in your upper body, not a significant portion of the workouts emphasize upper body.
I had a harder time following the Insanity Nutrition Plan because it is based on 5 small meals a day. I didn’t like eating a mini meal at 10 a.m. and another at 2 p.m.

In Sum

I always recommend P90X over Insanity, especially to runners who are looking to complete the program while training for a race. Although the workouts are shorter with Insanity, I found the intensity on my legs affected my runs. P90X, on the other hand, worked well to compliment my runs. I found the P90X nutrition plan easier to fit into my lifestyle than Insanity’s.

Regardless of which program you chose, your results will be based on your level of effort. Following the nutrition plan is key (or a variation of it) and getting all your workouts in is important. More important than always doing the workouts is always doing your best and pushing it hard. As Tony says, You have to BRING IT!

Disclaimer – It’s hard for me to completely judge the differences since I had weight to lose before starting P90X and I followed the nutrition plan very strictly during P90X. I had amazing results with P90X. When I did Insanity, I was already in fairly good shape and didn’t follow the nutrition plan (yet still lost a bit of weight without dieting). I also only did 3-4 Insanity workouts a week and combined it with triathlon/running.

For more information about P90X or Insanity or to purchase a program, check out my Beachbody website here!

Also, I have all my P90X information on my P90X Resources page. I documented how I combined P90X with running.

Tempeh Vegan Burritos

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I really enjoy cooking and have been cooking for myself since I was 19 years old. After gaining the Freshman 15, I spent the summer between Freshman and Sophomore years of college learning to cook healthy food to aid in the process of losing the weight. At first it was pretty basic and involved what I thought were healthy processed food alternatives to my favorite unhealthy things (such as non-fat american cheese on egg beaters, using “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” in my packaged rice dish served with broccoli, baked lays with salsa, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, etc), but over time, I started moving toward a more whole foods diet.

In the beginning my meals were quite plain - about three times a week I’d eat a chicken breast with a baked potato and a frozen veggie medley. Over the years my diet has changed and I’ve learned to cook a lot of different dishes using a variety of ingredients. Most healthy, some not, but in general I eat very healthfully at home and keep the splurges to meals out or parties. One of my favorite things to eat (and the thing Mike seems to enjoy most), is a homemade healthy burrito. Before I stopped cooking with meat I made chicken or ground turkey tacos/burritos but now I use tempeh (if you don’t know what this amazing product is, check it out here. It is the only soy product I use because it is fermented so it doesn’t have the same negative effects that other soy products do).

Sometimes I use recipes to cook and sometimes I just make things up. This burrito was created by me. This recipe is perfect for Mike and I because it makes 3 huge burritos. I eat one and he eats two! You could easily make 4 burritos out of it as well. We usually have some leftover black beans that you can serve on the side as well.

Tempeh Vegan Burritos (makes 3 large burritos or four small burritos)

Ingredients:

1 package organic tempeh
2 cloves of garlic
Red bell pepper, sliced (for all veggies, use as many as you prefer)
Mushrooms, chopped
Kale, sliced (a handful works here)
Sliced onion
Oil of your choice (I used sunflower this time)
Cajun seasoning & salt (to taste)
1 can organic black beans
3 Ezekiel sprouted grain tortillas
Guacamole (I make mine at home with avocado, onion and tomato only)

Steps

In a large skillet, warm the oil and the garlic and then add onion, peppers, mushrooms and kale.
Sprinkle salt and cajun seasoning over the vegetables and saute over medium heat.
Crumble the tempeh and in a separate skillet, warm a little oil and add the tempeh, cooking over medium to high heat (for crispiness!). You can also add more seasoning here for extra flavor.
While the tempeh and veggies are cooking, warm the black beans in a separate sauce pan over medium heat (I don’t drain or rinse the beans but later use a slated spoon to scoop them out of the water/sludge).
Meanwhile, prepare the guacamole.
Once veggies are soft, black beans are warm and the tempeh is heated through and crispy, add a little of each to a warmed (microwave 20-30 seconds) tortilla, along with as much guacamole and salsa as you wish.
Enjoy!

No I’m Not a Food Photographer

Nutrition Facts

This vegan burrito is full of protein, fiber and nutrients. Perfect for fueling long runs and big workouts. And it’s also delicious!

1 Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Tortilla – 6 g protein, 5 g dietary fiber, 150 calories
1 package Organic Sprouted Tempeh – 40 g protein (13 per burrito), 18 g dietary fiber (6 per burrito), 240 calories per serving
1/2 cup black beans – 7 g protein, 4g dietary fiber, 100 calories
Peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, kale – no need to explain why these are good for you!
I’d estimate there is about 650 calories, 26-28 g of protein and 30 g of dietary protein per burrito, depending on how much guacamole and oil you use ( I use about 1/5-1/4 an avocado per burrito and about 1 tbsp oil in total)

What is your favorite healthy Mexican food dish?

Fitness Fatale

Conquering Fitness Goals One at a Time