Friday, May 23, 2014

Plan May 25 - 31

Monday

Memorial Day!

RR PV Southern Fried Seitan, Chilled and Dilled Green Beans

Tuesday
Yoga
Pilates
HH Green Bean Pasta Salad

Wednesday
Yoga
5ivc - Springtime stuffed sweet potato & Maxx's marvelous greens

Thursday
Yoga
Vegan field trip with Mia
http://thesimpleveganista.blogspot.com/2012/12/smoky-chipolte-maple-tofu-sandwich.html

Friday
Yoga
Pilates
5ivc - BBQ tempeh wraps with Polenta wedges

Saturday
Social events
TSV citrus marinade tofu & soba noodles

Sunday
Yoga
Monster salad

I was too ambitious last week, and didn't even dent what I wanted to complete. I've been having headaches, and finally went to the doctor, who laughed at me and said "I know you're hurting, because you NEVER come in." That's true. The last time I went to the doctor was 2+ years ago, when I had pink eye.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to doctors. I go to my lady doctor regularly for check ups. I get my teeth cleaned every 6 months. I'm just mostly healthy, and of the opinion that my body can heal itself.

Anyway, I ended up having to go to the hospital to get some tests done and a CAT scan. Luckily,  it isn't a tumor, but something called cluster headaches. They could be caused by seasonal allergies. I've been doing some research, and another trigger for cluster headaches could be hypothalmia, which can cause the brain to swell due to low sodium. My sodium blood count was quite low yesterday, and apparently people who participate in endurance sports (ie. distance running) without replacing sodium are prone to this.  The hypothalmia could also explain why I cramped up during my race last week, and also why I've been sleeping so much. I'll be drinking Gatorade this week! In the meantime, though, my doctor told me no running for the next two weeks. :( All of my exercise has to be indoors and easy on the brain (no bouncing or jostling my brain), so I'll be embracing my inner yogi this next two weeks.


Anyway, sorry there weren't pictures from my kitchen and new recipe reviews last week.

This week, I'm going to simplify.
I'm attempting to make simple,  few ingredient meals.  Yoga or meditation every day. Not running will not only be hard for me,  but also for my puppies! 

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Vegan eating out, Wildwood, NJ

Wildwood, NJ
The Wild Burrito
Bagel Time
Capt'n Jacks
Boardwalk food
Poppi's pizza

Rob and I visited Wildwood, NJ for the weekend so I could run the Wilds half marathon. It was our first visit here, generally we go to Ocean City, MD, but we were pleasantly surprised, and will return!

There is only one vegetarian restaurant listed in town, Epicure, but they were not open yet for the season. Not to worry, though, I found plenty to eat!  Friday night we found a great little spot called The Wild Burrito. A locally owned modern tex-mex joint, the owner and cook, Joe, is very conscious about ingredients!
This place is very veg-friendly, and BYOB, it should be noted.


Vegan options on the menu included A tofu burrito, BBQ seitan, and avocado fries. We HAD to start with those.


These were served with a chipotle ranch, veg, but not vegan, but I found these to be incredibly tasty with just a bit of hot sauce.


They're rolled in coconut milk, tortilla chips, and plantains.  I got the tofu and black bean tortilla, which also came with generous onion and peppers. This was very filling, and inexpensive.

We had a chance to chat with Joe,  who, most days, is the sole employee. He has been in business for three years, and this summer will be expanding his vegan menu to include vegan cheese!  Not only is Joe a good person, but we found out he is also a runner,  and would be running the half on Sunday.


He told us he was hosting an after party after the race, and we promised to return.

For breakfast Saturday morning, we walked a few blocks from our motel to Bagel Time.
I was pleasantly surprised right away by our waitress, Raven's vegan knowledge.  She told us that all of their gluten free bagels were vegan, and asked if it was okay that our bagels went through the same toaster!

There were not only many flavors of vegan, gluten free bagels, but there were also options for spreads (tofu, hummus, peanut butter, jelly).

I got the blueberry bagel with pb&j, and Rob got the everything bagel with hummus and roasted red pepper. Then we went halvsies.
The hummus and roasted red pepper was exactly that, a nice, big chunk of pepper on the bagel.

We talked with the owner and chef, Angelo, and he, too, is expanding his vegan options for the summer months.  They will soon have a portabella sandwich option on the menu.

On the Boardwalk, there are not too many vegan options, but if you look, there are always tasty finds.
At Capt'n Jacks, not only did they have sweet potato fries and a hummus platter on the menu, their bloody mary mix was vegan.  (I've found most bartenders are more than happy to hand you the bottle of mix and let you read the ingredients!)  We got the Hummus, and were pleased with the three flavors.



Later on the boardwalk, I noticed a sign for Plantanios Fritos (Fried Plantains!).  I ordered them, and was very happy when I saw the gal behind the counter take a fresh Plantain, peel it, slice it, and fry.  They even didn't add any salt or flavorings for me- who needs that?  They were delicious just as they were.

 
Before my half marathon in March, I ate vegan pizza the night before- carbohydrate loading, you know?  So we went to check out a locally owned brick oven pizzeria, Poppis.   This establishment is also BYOB.  Apparently, there are a limited number of liquor licenses on the island, so most new businesses are BYOB.  I thought it was great!  Rob brought in a large beer, and I had a mini-merlot, and they even brought us over an ice bucket to keep things cold!
I ordered a thin crust, cheese-less, mushroom pizza.  Our waitress, Bianca, called it a "Tomato pie" which I thought was adorable.  She even brought me extra marinara sauce to dip my crusts in. Yum.
Because the pizzas are cooked in a brick oven, they are cooked quickly, and it is traditional to have some black edges.  Apparently, that means the center of the pizza is cooked perfectly.


So, after my race, before we left town, we had to stop back by The Wild Burrito.  True to his word, Joe was hustling, giving away free tacos and beers!  I got the BBQ Seitan tacos, and goodness gracious, those were worth the trip!  So very tasty!  When I tried to pay Joe for the food, he refused the money.  I threw it in the donation bucket instead.  At the end of the day, I guess he raised more than $700 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.  Well done!


Monday, May 19, 2014

Race recap, Wild Half Marathon 5/18/14

On Sunday, I ran the Wild Half Marathon, in Wildwood, NJ.
It was a beautiful course that ran the length of the island, most of which on the boardwalk.
It was our first trip here, but we had a great time. Rob ran the 8k the same day.
Aroud mile 5, I met this fantastic runner, Val, who happens to live very close to the school where I got my teaching start. We ran together until about mile 10, and had lots of fun chatting and sharing stories.
At mile 10, my stomach started to cramp, so I ducked off to a port-a-potty, and walked for a bit.
I finished in 3:19, about 8 minutes slower than my March half, 
but I'm still pleased with my results.
For this race, I did not train as hard, or eat as mindfully as I did for March, 
but I was still able to finish, and not too poorly.

All in all, we liked Wildwood, and I want to run this again next year. We made a whole weekend of it (I even got a haircut) and enjoyed the town and race support. One of the perks of this race was the amusement park wristbands, so we walked the piers and rode the roller coasters, too!
We took the ferry to DE on the way home and met some fellow vegans on board! 
Life is always an adventure with my Love!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Plan May 19-25

Monday
Rest Day!
Breakfast Sandwich
Brussels Sprouts
Mango Smoothie
CK Mediterranean Broccoli and Barley Salad

Tuesday
KP HHL Sassy Green Kick-Start Smoothie
Yoga
Pilates
Leftover Broccoli and Barley Salad with Brussels Sprouts
Fruit
CK Kale Waldorf Salad with Avocado Astoria Dressing

Wednesday
Vega Shake
Run 3
KP HHL Fresh Blackberry Buzz Smoothie
Leftover Kale Waldorf Salad
Fruit
SV Happy Hour- Nothing Rhymes with Citrus (Tofu-Citrus dippers, Citrus Soba, Grilled Pineapple Salad)

Thursday
Walk
KP HHL C-Green Detox Smoothie
Pilates
Leftovers from Happy Hour
Fruit
Trivia Tacos

Friday
Vega Shake
Run 3
KP HHL Strawberry-Chia Synergy Smoothie
Monster Salad
CK French Lentils with Asparagus and Shallots

Saturday
Walk
KP HHL Green Aloe Detox Smoothie
Leftover French Lentils
ODV Greek Gyro Salad

Sunday
Walk
KP HHL Pina-Vocado Smoothie
Leftover Greek Gyro Salad
HHLL Pineapple Stir Fry

Monday
Memorial Day!
Run 3
KP HHL Super Blue Recharge Smoothie
RR PV Southern Fried Seitan, Chilled and Dilled Green Beans

Well, This is a daunting meal plan week!  The semester is over, and summer semester starts this week, but I'm only teaching two online courses, so I'm feeling rather free.
I'm taking some rest this week, after my half on Sunday.  Will continue to do Yoga and Pilates, even though Cari won't be joining me this week! :(

So I pulled out some recipes I want to try.
CK- I'm testing again this week for Cupcakes and Kale
KP HHL- from the book 365 Vegan Smoothies by Kathy Patalsky of Healthy-Happy-Life.  I'm starting at page 1, and seeing what happens.
SV- The Sexy Vegan's Happy Hour at Home.  These seem perfect for Winesdays.  I'd like to try a few of these this summer.
RR PV- Robin Robertson's Party Vegan
ODV- One Dish Vegan, also by Robin Robertson
HHLL- My tried and true, Happy Herbivore Light and Lean

I'm not really sure what we're doing for Memorial Day yet.  In years past, we've ridden in the Rolling Thunder ride to DC. We'll see what we do this year!

Otherwise, I'll be working on my Literature Review for my dissertation.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Vegan eating out, Newark, DE

Home Grown Cafe
Newark, DE
This veg-friendly is one I would go out of my way to return to.
Rob and I stopped here on the our way up to New Jersey for the weekend. 
Newark is the home of the University of Delaware, and I always love a college town.
Home Grown Cafe had great reviews on happycow.net
We sat at the bar, and started off with  a beer. John, the bartender was super friendly.
 I got a wheat beer, and Rob had a IPA, and then an ale. (I was driving!) 
Often, when we go out, Rob and I like going "halvsies" where we each order something vegan, and then share. 
We started with the seitan "chicken" bites with a sesame dipping sauce. Rob got some spicy jalapeños on the side (they were fresh, and much spicier than jar peppers)?
Then we shared the "All American" with vegan bacon, vegan cheddar, and tofu. A green salad with tahini vinagrette on the side. Very, very yummy.
The really great thing about this place is that they don't have a special veg menu with limited menu.
What they do is on their regular menu, they have one star next to items that are already, or can easily be made vegetarian, 
and two stars next to any item that is already, or can easily be made vegan! 
There were so many options for me, I can't wait to go back!
The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, and the food was delicious!

Monday, May 12, 2014

Photographic evidence 5/12

For daily feed of my photos, follow me on twitter or instagram @zuzubeat
Had a fantastic Mothers day with my girl!
Copper, the vigilant watchdog.
My battle wound from breaking up a dogfight.
Midweek monster salad.


Awesome vegan nacho bowls on Monday, plus prepped tofu for Tuesday, peanuts and Kahlua (a gift from Rob) and a wet Jack looking in.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Plan May 12-18

Monday
Run 5
Breakfast sandwich
Protien shake
Indian food Leftovers
Fruit
Egg-free salad sandwich EHH

Tuesday
Run 3
Breakfast sandwich
Protien shake
Yoga
Pilates
Leftovers
Trivia
Vegan pasta

Wednesday
Run 5
Breakfast sandwich
Protien shake
Monster salad
Fruit
Mia's tacos
Winesday

Thursday
Run 3
Breakfast sandwich
Protien shake
Leftovers
Fruit
Hummus and veggies
Commencement

Friday
Breakfast sandwich
Protien shake
Other meals TBD

Saturday
Yoga on the beach
Vegan breakfast burrito
Other meals TBD

Sunday
Wilds Half Marathon!
Protien shake
Other meals TBD

Last week, I was so busy with finals that I didn't stick too well to my meal plan, so there are lots of ingredients still in my fridge, so I'll be improvising with Leftovers rather than buying more groceries.

Rob and I are headed up to NJ this weekend. Thursday is our 4 year wedding anniversary, so we're really looking forward to the trip. I will be running the Wild Half Marathon, and he's going to do the 8k. Wildwood looks like a neat seaside town, and we always have great adventures together.

I'm done giving my finals, I just have a pile of grading to get through early this week, as graduation is on Thursday.

Cari and I are taking some classes at the college this summer, last week I tried out spinning and pilates. This week we will add in yoga.

EHH Everyday Happy Herbivore- Lindsay Nixon

Sunday, May 4, 2014

An extremely nerdy post on math & running

Distance running/walking/swimming is perfect for the nerd like me, because it gives me lots and lots of time to think.
I think about solving all the worlds problems.
I think about new verses to songs that haven't been written.
I think about birds and turtles and grass and sky.
I think about numbers.  A lot.

What's my pace?
How many laps have I swum, miles have I run, steps have I taken?
I do calculations in my head for hours (I've now swum 1/72 of the laps I need for a mile, I'm now at the 1/4 point in my run...)

So, while I was mulling over all of these numbers in my head the other day, I came across something pretty neat.

Most races are plotted in kilometers.  Most Americans think in miles.  So we runners are always thinking "Now, how many miles is that?"

For instance, a 5k is estimated at 3.1 miles. Meaning that each mile is approximately 1.6 kilometers.
(5k=3.10686m)

1.6 is very close to my favorite number.

My favorite number is an irrational number that is derived from dividing the sum of 1 and the square root of 5 by 2.
1.618033989
My favorite number is Phi, otherwise known as the Golden Ratio.

The Golden Ratio has long been hailed in art and science as the most beautiful number.  It is found in nature in the number of seeds in flowers, the spiral of a sea shell, the branches of a tree, and in pretty much anything we find attractive.


So, thinking about this golden ratio, lead me to thinking about the Fibonacci Sequence, which is based off of this beautiful, irrational number.  This sequence is recursive, wherein each subsequent term in the sequence is the sum of the two previous terms.

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144....

Now, let me get back to my running thoughts.  I know that 5k3miles.  Rob is running an 8k next month.  8/1.6= 5miles.  Do you see those numbers in the sequence?  Cool, right?  So now I can estimate that if I was running a 13k, I'd be running approximately 8 miles.  Each time I want to compare kilometers to miles, I can just look at the previous term in the sequence.  

If I want to compare miles to kilometers I can just go the opposite direction. For instance, if I just passed the two mile mark, I can estimate that I've run 3 kilometers (And I will have, 2m3.2k).

Now what about numbers that are not part of the Fibonacci Sequence?  That's easy, too.  Just look for the sum of terms in the sequence. Like this:

On Friday, I earned a medal for 16k. 16/1.6=10 miles.  Let's check it with the sequence: 16=13+3. 13k=8m, 3k=2m. 8+2=10miles.  16k9.94m It works!

So now, I have to plan to run for Stations 5 and 6 of the Lost Virtual series, which are 23 and 42k, respectively.  How many miles is that?

1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144....

23k=21k+2k
21k=13 miles
2k=1 mile
23k=14 miles according to the sequence
23k14.29m

Pretty close!

42k=34k+8k
34k=21 miles
8k=5 miles
42k=26 miles
42k=26.1m


 Math is Cool.  And calculating the Fibonacci Sequence distracts me from mile 10.  So it works for everyone!