My Healthy Eating Plan!

Happy Sunday!

It's beautiful here in Maryland! 

A perfect day to have the windows open 

and to go for a long run along the water. 

This is the halfway point on our run - it's gorgeous!

We are all focused on being healthy around here. Mr. D always has been and over the years, I've s-l-o-w-l-y adopted it. I've long been an exercise fanatic and work out everyday before school. It's the BEST time to be at the gym...no waiting, no distractions, and almost no other obsessed dedicated people there at 4:30 am! 

I can get in and out of the gym in 50 minutes. If I went at 

"prime time," it would take at least 90 minutes! 

If I had my way, I would only lift weights, but unfortunately at my age I have to now include healthy doses of cardio (ugh!). So now, I lift 3-4 days, and do a modified H.I.I.T. workout 3 times a week on either the treadmill or elliptical, plus one long run outdoors on Sundays. When I'm indoors, I'll indulge in watching these organizational videos to pass the time while on the machines.
I don't know why it works, but it does! 

One other area I also focus on is healthy eating. My non-negotiables for meals around here are healthy, filling, and QUICK! I follow the Whole 30 plan, which seems extreme, but I just feel SO much better when I'm on it! You can read more about it here... it's basically no gluten, no dairy, no sugar, and no alcohol. The idea is to eliminate these potentially toxic ingredients for 30 days and then slowly reintroduce them to see how your body reacts. I've done this and realized my body is fine with dairy, so-so with gluten, and despises sugar and alcohol (BOOOOO!). Seriously, boo :(

So for the past year or so, I've avoided sugar and alcohol like the plague and I grudgingly admit that I feel fantastic! If I even have a bunch of fruit now without protein and healthy fats to balance it, it literally makes me feel shaky and ill. It will feel like I ate a king-size bag of skittles! I can't imagine what would happen if I had a glass of wine now. And, yes, I am VERY aware of how boring and old I sound. My friends have been very sweet and accommodating, especially because "happy hour" now describes a Friday night spin class instead of relaxing with an adult beverage ;)

My entire teaching career I've cooked ahead. Not because I'm just so organized, but because I absolutely LOVE eating! Food prep is done about once a month and includes cranking the tunes and forming an assembly line. 

Here's a pic of what it looks like about halfway through:

The small containers are full of cooked ground turkey with taco seasoning. I purchase 6+ packages, cook them all at once, and then store them in the freezer. I put all the containers in those jumbo Hefty ziploc bags so they don't fall everywhere. The crockpot is full of chicken breast with seasonings and a couple cups of water. I'll cook it all day so it's easy to shred and then divide it up into single servings. The little containers are the perfect topping for a taco salad or tossing in a pan with veggies for a quick stir fry. I'll make these huge batches about once a month. It's worth the 1.5 hours (start to finish) and saves us money!

Every week I cook a "casserole" (pictured above) for my breakfasts. I just mix 5-6 eggs with 2 large cans of chicken breast. I pour in egg whites, toss in fresh spinach and basil leaves, and sprinkle in seasonings. I whisk it all up and bake at 425 for about a hour. It does NOT taste amazing and I would never serve it for guests, but I really like it for super quick breakfasts between my workouts and driving to school. 

I also keep my freezer stocked with frozen veggies and cooked shrimp. My refrigerator always has hard boiled eggs and washed spinach (ready for a quick salad or toss in an omelet). I also keep a bowl of fresh veggies and fruits on my counter at all times (avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc). 

I drink at least a gallon of water per day (that's fun as a teacher!) and at least 2 cups of coffee (black). On weekends, I'll have some club soda and/or tea depending on if it's warm or freezing out. 

I'm definitely not suggesting that all the above food preparation is yummy and gourmet, but by doing this consistently, I always have a healthy meal no more than 5 minutes away :)

The only thing I would change? The top of my wishlist is glass containers for all my single servings. I'm very wary of using all the plastic, but I also need 50+ of them and can't yet afford glass :( If you know of any fantastic deals on BPA-free containers in mass quantities, please pass it on!

Does anyone have any tried and true healthy strategies to share?

I'd love to hear from you!

Update! I just posted my first-ever clipart product

- for free! My students absolutely adore these characters - I hope your students ♥ them, too!

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