Tailgate Snacks

Hello, hello! How are you guys doing? I hope you're finishing off a wonderful week. It's hard for my week to be anything but wonderful when you get a day off in the middle of it. I think I'm going to start a petition for that to be an actual thing. I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed my fall holiday. Casually waking up, a slow morning, new recipes, lots of time spent in the sunshine, hours of baking, and a whole lot of downtime. If that didn't revive me for a full school day, I don't know what would. Plus, I got to be the fall treats fairy for the English department on Thursday, and you guys know how much I love baking for other people. I was told that I'm going to make a good wife one day. The operative phrase being one day.

It's fall, so that means lots and lots of pumpkin. Or does that make me a basic white girl?

But we're going to switch gears a little bit. I mentioned in yesterday's post that I welcome the start of fall because it means football season. I can spend hours just sitting on the couch watching football. If it's not Texas breaking my heart, it's the Texans. Or the Eagles. Or the Colts. So while it would be easy to drown my football sorrows in comfort food, I'll feel better if I make smart snacking choices. Because let's be honest - snacking is part of football season. My dad has been known to order Philadelphia Cheesesteaks FROM PHILADELPHIA to eat while watching an Eagles game. That may not be the healthiest choice, but hey, we're allowed an indulgence or two every now and again. But just because we find ourselves glued to the television screen on game day, doesn't mean we have to succumb to wearing our stretchy pants. The Texans may fumble the ball more than I would care to admit, but over at Nuts.com, they believe that game day food choices don't have to be a fumble.

And Texas football is a fumble no more! Hopefully, anyway.

But while everyone else is enjoying nachos, seven-layer dips, and other delicious appetizers, you don't want to be the one who is over there munching on the raw broccoli. And lucky for you, healthy eating doesn't have to be boring. There are ample crowd-pleasing game-time snacks that won't pack on the pounds. And you'll find some of my favorites below.

Fajitas
Mexican food and football go together like the words Hook'em and Horns. Especially down here in Texas. But Mexican food is not always the healthiest choice. Chips and cheese and sour cream all taste good, but I think we can all agree that they leave you feeling less than your best. I am not sure that I would have come up with the idea of fajitas on my own, but I came home one day to my parents cooking up a bunch of fajita meat before an Eagles game one Sunday. All you need is some lean chicken and/or beef, bell peppers, onions, guacamole, maybe a little bit of cheese, and corn tortillas. As well as any spices that you may desire. Throw the meat and veggies into a pan, stick it it into the oven, scoop them into the tortillas, and garnish them as you wish. Healthy and delicious.

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Quinoa Pizza Bites
Pizza is another game-day go-to. Sure, it may be easier to call up Domino's or Pizza Hut and have the pizza delivered right to your door, but I guarantee you won't regret making these quinoa pizza bites. Quinoa is all the rage these days anyway, so this is perfect if you happen to find yourself with some leftover quinoa. These pizza bites are easy, customizable, kid-friendly, and there's just no way you can feel guilty after popping one (or two or three or four) into your mouth.

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Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
Hot wings are another classic game-day snack. They're spicy, they're messy, they're tasty, and let's just be honest. We've all found ourselves licking our fingers with 10 clean bones on the plate below us. It can be hard to stop sometimes! But with these buffalo cauliflower bites, you don't have to feel guilty. And I'll be the first one to say that I am not a huge fan of cauliflower. I'll eat it, but it's not my first choice. But these cauliflower bites are delicious. If you're not dairy-intolerant, you can certainly use regular butter in place of vegan margarine, but I will recommend that you don't cut these pieces too small. You want a nice big "wing" to bite into. And hey, let yourself indulge a little bit and dip these into your favorite ranch dressing.

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Healthified Mozzarella Sticks
Who doesn't love a good mozzarella stick? I have never cared much for Sonic, but I used to salivate over their mozzarella sticks. And it doesn't take a genius to know that fried cheese is not the best choice. But the good news is that there are ways to make them healthier. This recipe bakes instead of fries, uses no butter, and calls for store-bought cheese sticks. Doesn't get much better than that!

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Black Bean Corn and Avocado Dip
Chips and dip is a serious part of game-day. It's something you eat so mindlessly that you don't even realize that your pants are suddenly fitting a little bit tighter. And you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't enjoy a good seven-layer dip. Well, this dip might not be seven layers, but it is one that will have you fighting your neighbor for the last few scoops. This black bean corn and avocado dip is all the taste, without the guilt. And if you choose pita chips over Tostitos, you're really rocking and rolling.

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Chocolate Covered Strawberries
What is football without dessert? My favorite part of going to sports games as a kid was definitely the soft serve ice cream. And who doesn't love curling up with a bowl of Blue Bell while cheering your team onto victory? While that's all good and nostalgic, these chocolate covered strawberries will not only please the waistline and palette, but that will be sure to impress your guests. Dipped in chocolate and decorated with white icing, the only fumble you'll make is not giving one of these a try.

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I hope this post gets you guys ready for this weekend's games. I'm hoping I can cheer the Texans onto their first win, but I'm not holding onto too much hope. Before you call me a pessimist, you have to understand that I grew up in Houston. And I know that our teams are more than capable of imploding at the last minute. Cough, Astros, cough. Not pessimistic; just realistic. Anyway, I want to give a special shout out to Nuts.com for giving me the opportunity to talk about my favorite healthy game-day snacks. And if you're looking for even more healthy snacks, please check out their Healthy Snacks page. Because they're absolutely right - healthy snacking is one of the keys to diet success. And healthy eating doesn't have to be bland or boring. You just have to get creative. And I hope this helped get your creative juices flowing. Because with these recipes, you can have your cake and eat it, too.

Things I'm Loving Friday XXXVII

Hola from Mexico! Cheyney and I arrived on the island of Cozumel yesterday afternoon, where we immediately checked into our hotel, changed into our bathing suits, and hit the beach for our first open water dive of the trip. It was absolutely incredible, and within minutes of going underwater, we ran into a seahorse, a stingray, a puffer fish, and so much more. I'm obsessed.

Don't Be Like Me
I absolutely loved this article. And I plan on reading it with my kids at the start of this upcoming school year. Bill Gates is the poster child for those who aren't so fond of the education system. I can't tell you how many of my students jumped at the opportunity to write about how education is not necessary in order to be considered successful. And I'm sure you can guess who they used as their examples. While I absolutely believe there are many definitions of success, I also strongly believe in the value of a college education. Or some form of higher education. Because we live in a world where basic skills just don't cut it anymore. And even more than the specific skill set that is gained, students learn how to see something through to the end. Something that I watched my students struggle with day in and day out.

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Merona Reversible Tote Handbag
Okay, I know I'm supposed to be refraining from shopping. But one, I did say clothes - nothing about bags - and two, I have actually been on the lookout for a big, fun-colored tote bag ever since Amira brought one with her on our trip to San Francisco. And I felt as though I deserved something while making a return at Target. Sidenote: Shout out to Target for making a return no problem without me having had a receipt. Anyway, this bright pink (and taupe! It's reversible!) tote bag caught my eye, and after looking at the price tag, I couldn't resist buying it. It's roomy, it's such a fun color, and it is going to make the perfect back-to-school teacher bag. I'll admit it - normally, I'm a bag snob. But this one was just too good to pass up.

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Quinoa
Whether it's my favorite quinoa [pronouned: KEEN-wah] salad with salmon from Hungry's (or Zoe's Kitchen), or the quinoa I whipped up myself to use in one of my own salads - recipe to come - I can't seem to get enough. It's easy enough to cook, it is extremely versatile, and it is full of important nutrients. It tastes great, and it's so easy to incorporate into so many different recipes. Salads, chili, breakfasts, and meatballs - the possibilities really are endless.

52 Reasons to Run a Marathon
Remember that marathon I signed up for? It's still a ways away, but it's still constantly in the back of my mind. There are so many articles out there that highlight the reasons why running a marathon is not a good idea, but why put such a negative spin on something that is such a positive force in so many people's life? After reading this article, I braved the Texas heat and went out for a five-mile run. I had to laugh and nod along with numbers 9-12, but number 26 was my personal favorite. I run because I can, because I have that option, and that will keep me lacing up my running shoes every single time.

15 American Habits I Lost in Barcelona
It's been awhile since I studied abroad. Three summers, in fact. But I've been living vicariously through the photos of my friends who are gallivanting around Europe this summer, anxiously awaiting my turn to go back. And as I think back to my time in Barcelona, I think about all that I learned, and while Europe and America share many qualities, there are many differences, too. I am notoriously bad with directions. If I didn't have my iPhone GPS, I truly wouldn't know in which direction to go half the time. But in Europe, I turned off my data, meaning I had to (gasp!) actually learn how to read a map. And not to toot my own horn, but I got pretty good at it. I absolutely loved the Subway system, and it was refreshing to nix the gym and run outside, discovering many of the hidden gems that Barcelona had to offer. I think this article so clearly highlights the many, many things that can be learned while spending time abroad.

The Things They Carried
I'm well on my way to crossing yet another book off of my Summer To-Do List. And this is a book that I should have picked up a long time ago. In fact, it was one of the choices on one of my own summer reading lists many years ago, but I passed right over it, dismissing it because I thought a war story just wasn't really my thing. And while the novel is of course a war story, it is also about love and emotional baggage, the memories that we carry with us, life, death, loyalty, and the power of stories. Not only am I absolutely loving the novel itself, but I love getting out of my "book comfort zone," and picking up books that I once would have shunned.

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Hasta luego!

Things I'm Loving Friday XXVIII

Happy Good Friday! I hope you are lucky enough to have today off of work, because I know that I am going to thoroughly enjoy it. This week was crazy enough, as we only had two "normal" days of school, and on Tuesday, I'll admit that I put on a movie for my kiddos. It was related to what we are doing, kind of. But after spending five hours taking a STAAR test the day before, I felt as though they deserved a day off. What's better is that this was the first of three four-day weeks for me. A holiday, and then a long-long weekend vacation. I'll take it.

And I'm hoping to both be productive, and have a restful day today. Because I will have a sub two out of the next six school days, I do have a little bit of work to do in preparation for he sub. Often times it's more work to prepare for a sub than it is to just go to work, but I have no qualms about enjoying one of the most beautiful cities in America while leaving detailed instructions for a sub. I just don't.

But enough about that. Let's move on to our regularly scheduled events - Things I'm Loving Friday. 

Life is______. 
I've read another one of Judah Smith's books, Jesus is______," and I absolutely loved it. His writing style is so me - he's funny, he's relatable, and he's real. He understands and admits that no one is perfect, and that we are hardwired to make mistakes. He doesn't give us a laundry list of rules to follow, rather, he offers tips on how to live life to the fullest. Life s ______. is a good read for absolutely anyone, and a good reminder of just how much we are loved.

Easter-Themed M&M's
You can always count on M&M's to get into the holiday spirit, and I'm the sucker that buys the special holiday-themed M&M's every single holiday. Because it's almost guaranteed that they will make an appearance on my Instagram. This time? I'm planning on making a Mini-M&M Layer Cake. I say mini because I bought the cutest four-inch springform pans, and instead of decorating the outside of the cake with Cadbury Creme Eggs like the creator of this recipe, I am going to use these Easter-themed M&M's. Because they're more in demand in my house, anyway.

26 Things No One Tells You About Running
This article from Run, Selfie, Repeat hits the nail on the head. I've said it before but if you think running is cheap therapy? Don't sign up for any races. I, along with Sarah, am probably the world's fastest walker, and am convinced that we should be competing at Rio in 2016. Even if it's (literally) freezing outside, I still sweat like it's over 100. And while my friends, nor you guys, probably care how much or how far I run, I wouldn't trade this form of exercise for anything else. And I'm so glad to be back in the running game. 

Dropout Nation
I showed this documentary to my students the Tuesday after STAAR, because after six months of essays, short answer responses, and reading practice, I think a one-day break is sufficient, right? And I didn't just put on any old movie. One of my co-workers told me about this documentary, focused on what used to be called the "Dropout Factory," and I made sure to watch it over spring break. Surprise! This Dropout Factory is actually Sharpstown High School, a high school located very close to Bellaire. This documentary chronicles the lives of four Sharpstown students, and the teachers who are fighting that daily battle to get these students to graduate. You can watch it for free on PBS.org, and I highly recommend it if you find yourself with two additional hours. 

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25 Healthy Snacks for Runners
If you're a long-time runner, you probably have your snack routine down. If you're new to running, this article was written just for you. And heck, even if you've been running for years, maybe this article will bring a little variety to your daily snackage. I'm not one for chocolate milk or cottage cheese, but they're perfect post-run treats. You'll find lots of protein on this list, as active people often need a little bit more than the daily recommendation. I'm personally excited to try the English muffin pizzas (sans dairy cheese, of course), and I'm still looking for ways to exceed my already-too low daily calcium requirement.

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Have a great GOOD Friday! Here's to a weekend of crawfish, basketball, family, friends, (hopefully) some sunshine, and most of all, a celebration of the resurrection of our sweet Savior. 

January Mileage + Road Trip Snacks

This post will be short and sweet, as I am about to hit the road to Dallas for Sarah's wedding. But it is mainly to hold myself accountable for the miles that I hope to run before the year is over.

By the way, is anyone else having a hard time believing that January is already over? Where in the world has the time gone? I know they say the spring semester moves much slower than the fall, but I'm honestly having a hard time believing that. I'm sure things will slow down once the dreaded STAAR test is over and done with, but for now, I feel as though things are moving 100 miles/minute!

Workout

I thought about leaving for Dallas yesterday. But I just couldn't justify missing a day of school with just TWO months (yikes) left until the STAAR test. That, and getting a sub is often more work than just showing up to school. And leaving Friday after school would have put me in more traffic than I was probably willing to put up with, so leaving early today was truly my best option. And I knew that between driving home from Dallas after what should be a fun wedding weekend, and Super Bowl Sunday, a workout probably won't be happening. So I am happy that I was able to log a couple of miles this morning before leaving.

So, I went to sleep nice and early last night, with the intent of waking up early to get my run out of the way so that I would be sure to have enough time to get all of my belongings together for a night in Dallas. I woke up around 7:30am and went for my usual 5.2 mile run around my neighborhood, a little faster than usual this time. As much as I loved the warmer temperatures this week, the cooler weather is ideal for running, especially in the morning. So, it felt great to stretch my legs a bit before sitting in the car for over four hours.

January Mileage

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, this is mainly to hold myself accountable for the miles that I told myself (and Amira) I would run. If I make myself report my mileage on the blog each month, then hopefully I won't check in with something low like 25 miles, because that certainly won't see me hitting my goal of 1007.5 miles. So, the total number of miles that I ran in January is ... drumroll, please ...

113.3 miles

That's a bit more than the number of miles I hope to hit each month (84), but I am glad to be starting out ahead, rather than in the hole. Because it's inevitable during those summer months, as well as volleyball season, that I will fall behind a little bit. So I may as well build up the mileage while I have the chance.

Road Trip Snacks

Because I am going to be in the car for around 10 hours (ugh) this weekend, I made the conscious decision to be smart about my road trip snacks, so that I wouldn't be tempted to stop at McDonald's or the first place I saw on the side of the road when my stomach was twisting with hunger. Not that McDonald's doesn't have any redeeming qualities, because it does. But fast food combined with long periods of sitting doesn't always sit well in my stomach. In order to remedy that, I made sure that my car was stocked full of healthy snacks, that are easy to eat while driving, of course.

We have:

• Cuties
• Mini Honeycrisp Apples
• No Bake Energy Bites*
• Luna Minis
• Grapes

And of course, a CamelBak filled with water, plus a few additional water bottles as well. Can't be getting dehydrated now, can we?

Granted, I don't plan on eating all of these snacks in one sitting, rather, I hope to spread them out throughout the course of my trip. Failing to plan is planning to fail, so this list is exactly how I plan to avoid that. Other great snacks would be nuts of any kind (a great chip replacement), as well as carrot and celery sticks (but because I prefer to pair those two snacks with hummus, I'm leaving them at home this round).

*I believe I have put a similar, or maybe this exact, recipe on the before, but because I know it has been awhile (I promise that one of these days I will get my blog organized by pages and tags and I don't know, maybe update my age?), so I'll post it again for you guys. These recipes are all over the Internet, so I'm just joining the ranks of many, many others, and many, many variations. 

*No Bake Energy Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (I have tried making these with almond butter, and they just don't hold as well)
• 1/2 cup coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 tbsp. flax seed
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Pinch of cinnamon

Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl and stir.

2. Place bowl in the refrigerator and let chill for at least half an hour.
3. Remove from refrigerator and roll into little balls - you can make these as big or as small as you would like.
4. Store balls in an airtight container kept in the refrigerator for up to one week (if they last that long).
5. Enjoy!

To me, these things always taste more like dessert than something healthy. But isn't that the ultimate goal? These are perfect to pop before a workout, and they're absolutely acceptable to eat just because. The oats provide some healthy carbs, the peanut butter some healthy protein, and the chocolate, well, what's a day without chocolate?


I hope you guys enjoy your weekend. See you for Survey Sunday!