Grilled mushroom with pesto and goat cheese

There's something about the taste of grilled food that makes my taste buds excited.
And this is coming from a vegetarian!

On Sunday evening, Karel and I decided to fire-up the outdoor grill for a delicious dinner to finish a great weekend of training. Although my training volume/intensity is low relative to Karel (who is training for Ironman Mont Tremblant in a few weeks), we were both in need of a good meal to nourish and fuel our bodies.

My garden is overflowing with basil so the first thing that came to mind was pesto. I just love pesto on a grilled mushroom (thanks Katie Malone for the idea!) and as I was feeling extra creative, I didn't follow a recipe but instead, I made up my own -  a handful of fresh basil, a small handful of Parmesan and Asiago shredded cheese, a few long drizzles of olive oil and a sliced clove of garlic all into a food processor. My pesto was extra garlicky and had a nice kick to it.
(I found this recipe for you in case you want to make your own pesto at home)

While Karel had his grass-fed beef burger cooking on the grill (he has a special spot on the grill for his meat so that my food doesn't touch his), I built our grilled mushrooms.

Grilled mushroom with pesto and goat cheese
-1 large portobello mushroom cap (stem removed)
-Pesto (to cover the mushroom)
-Goat cheese (crumbled on top)
-Sliced baby tomatoes (from my garden)
-Olive oil (just a drizzle to give it a little more flavor)
-Shredded Parmesan and Asiago cheese (a nice salty taste)
-Salt (just a pinch)

The mushrooms do not need a long time to cook (~4-8 minutes depending on the heat of the grill, position of the rack with the mushroom and the size of your mushroom) and to help the presentation, I keep the mushroom on tinfoil, instead of directly on the grill rack.

To go with our grilled mushroom (and Karel's meat patty), we grilled a few boiled potatoes that I had left over from dinner on Saturday, when I made homemade mashed potatoes.  I find that boiling potatoes ahead of time helps for quicker cooking on the grill.

To prep the gold potatoes, I sliced them in half, coated the bottoms with olive oil and sprinkled with salt. Karel grilled face down, directly on the grill.

And to change things up, instead of a salad, I kept it simple with a large handful of Leasa alfalfa sprouts.
Did you know that 1 cup sprouts has 3g of protein??

If you find yourself in a food rut, consider grilling food (whether outside or in your oven) as it can change up the taste and texture of your food, giving you a new exciting taste-bud happy experience every time you eat.

The versatile egg salad

A salad: 

"A dish of various mixtures of raw or cooked vegetables, usually seasoned with oil, vinegar, or other dressing and sometimes accompanied by meat, fish, or other ingredients."

I realize that for some, the thought of eating only veggies for a meal is boring but for others, the thought of eating only veggies for a meal is satisfying.If you love veggies, you are probably smiling right now thinking of veggies whereas those who have yet to appreciate veggies, are cringing at the thought of eating those crunchy, tasteless food stuffs. 

Plants are Mother Earth's best sources of vitamins and minerals so consider them to be the most delicious way that you can take a multi-vitamin. 

What's not to love about a salad? The beauty of a salad is that YOU can create a meal that leaves you and your tummy happy. 

Essentially it is a plant-strong meal but you can dress it up however you want. 

As a 22-year lacto-ovo vegetarian, you'd think that I eat a lot of salads, soups and stir fry's since I don't eat meat (which is true) but why should salads be limited to only those who choose to not eat meat? 

Well, that's just silly! 

The only two things that differ from me and Karel when we eat are sometimes our protein choices are different and so are our portions. 

Both of us our plant strong athletes because we both need plants to be healthy and to perform well as endurance athletes. 

Here are a few delicious salad ideas using my versatile egg salad recipe (pictured above): 

(On the side of the salad are roasted yellow and purple potatoes. I cut into quarters, tossed in olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika and roasted in the oven at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown on edges.  We LOVE potatoes.)

Basic Trimarni egg salad

6 hardboiled eggs (3 whites, 3 whole)
2 stalks celery - chopped
Small handful baby carrots - chopped
1/4-1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup cooked corn
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup chickpeas
1/2 cup chopped red peppers
1-3 spoonfuls 0% Greek yogurt
Salt, pepper, parsley- any other seasonings that you like

1. Mix together and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. 

For meat eaters: 
Keep (or omit) the eggs, add chicken or tuna fish

For vegans: 
Omit the eggs and add crumbled firm tofu and use veganaise instead of yogurt.
Optional, add cooked lentils and beans.

For non-veggie lovers: 
Omit the eggs and the yogurt and add 1/2 - 1 cup of your favorite store-bought salsa for a veggie-packed salsa to serve with chips or on a baked potato. Add a little spicy mustard, hot sauce or horseradish for an extra kick.
(Veggie lovers can still enjoy this delicious salsa idea)

There are so many variations of this egg salad. Start with the eggs (or tofu) and finish with the Greek yogurt, veganaise or olive oil based mayo and have so much fun creating your own delicious salad!

Happy Eating!

Fueling for St. Croix 70.3!

5:30am Wed track workout

4pm Wed swim workout

It's no shocker that my busy life is filled with activity and I love challenging my body and mind with a swim-bike-run lifestyle. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog, it's likely you feel the same way about your life (perhaps maybe a different activity/sport)

But my amazing body allows me to do so much, both in life and with triathlons and I constantly remind myself that the food I eat has the opportunity to enhance my life, fuel my workouts and reduce risk for disease. 

Food is so powerful!

In October of 2011, I had the great opportunity to write an article for Ironman called "Fueling Kona: Your Daily Plate" This article was special to me not only because I was able to share my passion for seeing food for fuel and for health but also because I was participating in the 2011 Ironman World Championship and my article was featured during Ironman Kona race week. 

Here are two recent creations that I have used to fuel our active lifestyle. 

24 more days until St. Croix 70.3!!!

A beautiful spring performance boosting salad. Hydrating cucumbers, antioxidant rich sweet peppers, fermented soy protein (tempeh), heart happy avocado, gut healthy quinoa and beans and nitrate-rich arugula.

Roasted red potatoes (400-degree oven, toss raw sliced red potatoes into wedges and toss in a little olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and cracked pepper). Bake for 40-50 min or until golden brown and soft. 

Roasted veggies and toasted quinoa (cooked quinoa added to sliced onions and sweet bell peppers, cooked in 400 degree oven in casserole dish for 25-35 minutes) on a bed of arugula with roasted red potatoes (above) and a side of Daisy brand cottage cheese.

And let's not forget the yummy snacks!

Yum...pistachios.

Yum....Edamame.

A late afternoon/pre-meal plant strong snack that will make you feel great inside and only takes 5 minutes to make, is exactly what you want to crave after a long, busy day of work. 
Pre-washed mixed greens
1/4 avocado
Baby tomatoes 
Baby carrots 
Fruit slices (ex apple)
Cottage cheese (or 10g protein of your choice)
Small handful muesli for a crunch

And with your well-fueled body, how about 10-stability ball push-ups to start your day each morning?

And 10-stability ball tricep dips.

2 weeks post IM KONA (recipes and pics)

Wow - I can't believe it's been two weeks since IM KONA.

After a few days, the aches, burns and chaffing subsided and that was a sign that I was officially in my off-season...and  I'm totally enjoying every day of it! Three full weeks of no weight bearing activity (ex. no running, plyometrics, etc.), no workout structure and no alarms. There's plenty of time to catch up on house chores, be super creative in the kitchen, take longer walks with Campy and just give a little TLC for my awesome body for what it allowed me to do this summer. And to rest up for a very exciting season of destination races: St. Croix 70.3 (May), IM Austria (June), IMWI (July). There's a lot of work to do in the off season after my recovery period and I am really excited to set new goals and to enjoy another exciting year with my healthy body.

Just to recap the past few weeks, there have been no post-race blues, no guilty feelings about no structured activity (typically 30-60 min of working out a day - swim, elliptical, walking, core/hip work. I've only biked once on my road bike) and a lot of transitions with Trimarni Coaching and Nutrition. There will be many exciting announcements to come but in the mean time I have been working on new services, camps/clinics, discussing coaching with potential athletes (love working with athletes who love hard work and dreaming big!) and Karel now offering Retul fitting and his pre-race "valet" bike tune-up service (IMFL is around the corner and there are many bikes in Jax that are now faster thanks to Karel working his magic on them).

And to summarize the past two weeks in pictures, I must say that my life post Triathlon season doesn't look much different than the training for two Ironmans over the past 22 weeks. Triathlons are my lifestyle, not my life. I will never stop eating for health as I know the same foods that help reduce risk for disease also help to fuel my active lifestyle. 

Can't beat this fall weather! I love my Campy walks!

What a stud - IRON DOGGY!

Sauteed kale with olive oil, tossed in a skillet with a stir fry of corn, cooked quinoa, mushrooms and onions - topped with asiago cheese. Side of cottage cheese (Daisy Brand 2%) and pineapples.

Road bike spin followed by a shop at the farmers market. Not a bad problem to have a bag overflowing with seasonal fruits and veggies. 

Putting my farmers market finds to good use - rye bread with scrambled eggs and fresh strawberries and a side of sauteed kale, onions, garlic, red peppers. 

Thin roasted, crunchy potatoes (425 degrees, slice thin and toss in olive oil and season with salt/pepper and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown) and a stir fry of quinoa, peas, tofu, tomatoes, chickpeas and mushrooms. 

Working at Baptist Medical Center South - I always leave with a better appreciation of my health and feeling so incredibly thankful that my body allows me to do what I choose to do with it. I also learn something new every time I see patient. Luckily, the day I worked last week wasn't filled with Cancer patients. Those days are always hard on my heart. 

Trimarni stew - broccoli, chickpeas, black beans, tofuy, garlic, onions, peppers, quinoa (or brown rice) + marinara sauce (about 1/2 - 1 cup) + water to meet consistency needs. Cook covered on low heat for 1 hour and plan for leftovers (they will taste great the next day).

Karel's Czech inspired egg salad - dill pickles, tomatoes, leeks, green pepper, eggs (hardboiled) and greek yogurt (0% Fage) on a bed of mixed greens. 

I spoke at 1st Place Sports as part of a panel of experts to a group of half marathon and marathon runners. My talk was on pre and during sport nutrition for training and racing. I gave away a lot of my special tips and suggestions and had lots of props. 

What a perfect combo for a snack (or pre dinner munchies) - cucumbers and feta cheese

Oh - SURPRISE! I got a new bike - thank you Karel!! 

.......Which means Trimarni and her one of a kind, custom paint job, is for sale! Email me if you are interested in the price and specs on the bike (Karel has kept this bike maintained since I got her with tune-ups at least every 2 weeks). 

And now - happy times are ahead. This weekend - Campy is taking his first trip to Miarmi for Miami 70.3 to watch Karel race and to cheer on all the amazing athletes (like Trimarni athlete Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point) who is doing her first ever half Ironman!

After 12 weeks of working together - coach and athlete are reunited at last!

That bike (and the legs behind it) have the need for speed! 

I love making memories with these two!


Happy 5 year anniversary (10/26/08) Karel!! I can't wait to keep making memories with you (and Campy)

What a lucky doggy!

Great times in Miami! Can't wait for race day tomorrow! 

Garden-friendly dinner: Fueled by plants

Do you live a busy lifestyle?
Do you stay active morning 'til night?
Do you have more on your plate than your mind can handle?
Do you need more hours in the day to tackle your never-ending to-do list?
Do you hate getting sick?
Do you love traveling?
Do you love pushing your body for fitness gains?
Do you love to compete in athletic events?
Do you love to use your brain?
Do you want to reduce your risk for disease/illness to live a quality-filled life?
Do you enjoy being spontaneous with your life?
Do you love your life, your family, your job, your friends, your children, your furry ones?

The only way you can function well in life is by having a functioning body and mind. You only have one place to live for the rest of your life and your body is your home so you have to take care of it. It is up to you to keep the foundation strong and to constantly tune-it-up to keep it in top-notch condition. You can ease up every now and then for what you do most of the time matters more than what you do occasionally.

There are many people who rely on a wake-up call to change dietary habits. There's nothing wrong with that for if life gives you a call to wake-up, consider yourself lucky that you have another chance at healthy living. For others, life doesn't seem worth it to change or change is just too hard, difficult and time-consuming.

Regardless of where you are in your life and your relationship with food and your body, find a way to make progress. No need to be perfect, just focus on yourself and what you can do to set yourself up for a better tomorrow.

For a plant-strong dinner to keep your immune system in optimal health, your muscles fueled, your GI tract happy and your brain thinking clearly, consider using your oven for an easy meal that needs little attention to prep. And the best part....it tastes great!!

Enjoy!

Roasted potatoes, grains and veggies

Whole grains of your choice - I used wild rice, barley and spelt berries (I made a big batch for leftovers)
Sliced mushrooms
Firm tofu (sliced)
Corn (frozen)
Red bell pepper (sliced)
1 extra large clove of garlic (thick slices, peeled)
White potato (large, sliced)
Sweet potato (large, sliced)
Sunflower oil

Spices of your liking - turmeric, salt (sprinkle), oregano, garlic

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cook grains according to package (it took me 1.5 hours to prep my grains so you may want to do this the day before or on the weekend and plan for leftovers).
3. On a large baking sheet, drizzle oil (about 1/2-1 tbsp) to lightly cover baking sheet and toss white potatoes (sliced) in the oil and sprinkle with spices. Add mushrooms and garlic (cover garlic slices in the mushrooms so the garlic doesn't burn on the sheet).
4. Repeat the same thing on separate baking sheet with oil, sweet potatoes, mushrooms and garlic.
5. In a casserole dish, drizzle a little oil and toss tofu, corn and peppers (the casserole dish will keep the veggies soft without browning but if you like them brown, you can cook them on another baking dish). 

6. Bake items prepared for steps #3-5 in oven with potatoes on bottom rack and casserole dish on the top.
7. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown. 

Toppings (optional): greek yogurt for dipping, shredded cheese on potatoes, nuts/seeds for a crunch, greens for a bit more color, salsa for spice.