Reason #28 Why California is the Best… Avocados

Hello! Today’s post is all about Reason #28 Why California is the Best… Avocados! I visited an avocado orchard in Irvine – just one city over from where I live. Boom! The California Avocado Commission and Vons invited a group of bloggers to tour the field and have the most avocado-y lunch ever.

I was super excited because they said there would be a Guacamole Eating Contest! I can dominate that! But it turns out it was a Guacamole Making contest. Oh well, I still ate the most out of anyone.

The California Avocado Commission offices and this orchard are in Irvine, CA – that’s basically my backyard. I love when I can get local produce like this.

Check out the Pacific Ocean way out in the distance of this pic…

Baby avocados!

Next year’s avocado crops are lil babies right now. They will be ready to be picked between January and July.

I learned a few things too! All this time I considered myself an avocado expert since my parents’ have avocado trees and I eat approximately 22 avocados a week. 

I always just pull avocados off the tree when I pick them. You’re supposed to leave a tiny piece of stem, that helps prevent disease that can get into the avocado from the stem spot.

We have a fruit picker with a claw on it but this has a little clipper thing to cut it…

We had lunch outside. It was a magical avocado picnic…

Vegan Cauliflower Ceviche – so good! This would be a great dish to bring to a potluck.

BBQ Tri-tip with Avocado Chimchurri – I’m usually not a beef person but I tried this since it was fancy.

This. This this this. Avocado Potato Salad. I love avocados. I love potatoes. Put them together and it’s magic.

Kale salad with avocado dressing.

Chipotle Portabella Mushrooms topped with avocado relish. This is how vegans don’t miss meat.

Even the dessert had avocado!!

These are key lime pudding shots.

We ended the day with our guacamole making contest. I think we all won.

Question: What’s your favorite way to have avocado?

The post Reason #28 Why California is the Best… Avocados appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

source http://runeatrepeat.com/2017/06/30/reason-28-why-california-is-the-best-avocados/

How I Deal with Rejection and Mean Stuff…

It’s hard to deal with feeling rejection when someone says something mean to you.

It sucks when someone isn’t a fan of what you have going on… but it’s a part of life.

The faster we can get back up after being knocked down the better.

You can’t change the people around you. But you can change yourself and how you react to adversity.

I’m sharing a story about how someone was a great example of that to me. It’s something I’ve tried to keep in mind when I get mean comments or post something on the blog or Instagram that doesn’t do well.

Focus on people who like and support you. Those are your people. Those people want your time and attention.

You deserve to be around people who are curious and kind and want to be on your side.

The post How I Deal with Rejection and Mean Stuff… appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

source http://runeatrepeat.com/2017/06/29/how-i-deal-with-rejection-and-mean-stuff/

What I’m Really Eating. Kinda.

I get a lot of questions from runners or readers or runners who are also readers but probably not reading while they’re running… asking for posts and pictures of what I’m eating. Seeing what exactly other people eat is interesting. Even if I have zero desire to change my diet or cooking methods – if someone is posting a day of eats or if I see it in a magazine or on TV – I stop and check it out.

And it’s particularly helpful for runners, especially new runners to see tips and good examples of how to fuel.

But I’m not always a good example. Heck, I’m rarely a good example.

At least on the internet.

In ‘real life’ I do eat a lot.

AND in ‘real life’ I do eat a lot of vegetables and whole grains and healthy fats.

But most of that is thrown together in between writing projects and doing laundry and responding to emails while talking on the phone. And my new method of making salads involves putting most of the stuff that makes a salad pretty to photograph on the bottom. I put protein and roasted veggies and beans or whatever else – in the bowl and then top with greens and dressing.

(I personally think this is genius since those other goodies taste good as is and the greens are what need a little dressing.)

My point is – it doesn’t really beg to be photographed.

Things that do beg to be photographed: donuts, pizza, sushi, cookies…

So there are a lot of those pics floating around on my phone. And that’s a big part of the reason I don’t share more ‘what I ate’ pictures.

Example: This weekend on Catalina Island I ate fries and a cookie and ice cream.

I also went home and had a big salad.

Oh, and I ate all the M&Ms out of the trail mix I brought along on the way home.

I started the day with a green smoothie:

But I ate some of my brother’s hash brown bites on the boat ride over there.

I’m eating a lot of watermelon right now (not right this second, but in general since it’s in season).

Okay, right this second too.

And I was randomly craving a bran muffin so I got one from the bakery and had it with milk as a pre-dinner snack yesterday.

I have lost weight recently – and I definitely want to share what I did to lose weight if you’re interested.

But I still overeat sometimes – even while trying to practice intuitive eating.

I eat a lot of healthy foods. But I did recently go the donut shop and get 2 donuts and 6 donut holes and eat all of it without making it a big deal on the blog.

Sometimes the balance isn’t a steady line – it’s a course with a lot of ups and downs that evens out in the big picture.

I eat a lot of the same foods everyday – but that is because I like them, not because those are the only foods I think are acceptable. My favorite healthy foods are pretty much the same all the time and so are my favorite treats.

Today I’ve had half a Quest Bar and iced coffee before my run.

Post run I had yogurt and fruit with nuts.

Then went to an event with California Avocados where I had half a pack of these apricot crackers upon arrival.

Lunch was the most epic avocado everything meal. (more on that soon)

And I just got home where another watermelon is calling my name.

I’ll probably have lean ground turkey with veggies and carrot noodles for dinner.

And I’m super into having a spoonful (or two) of CRUNCHY peanut butter for dessert.

I think it’s a pretty good 80% healthy / 20% indulgent balance. But it’s something I should keep better track of if I want to make sure I’m fueling in the best way possible for half or full marathon training. <- Light bulb!  To be honest, that just came to me right now because I usually make an effort NOT to keep track of anything too closely because I don’t want to obsess over it (or at least that’s what I’ve told myself).

I just wanted to share that I don’t usually post a full day of eats simply because all the Instagram accounts and Pinterest boards around now seem to have hired Martha Stewart’s personal photographer and food stylist. Everything is so perfect and delicious and the lighting is dreamy… And my salad with Sriracha and random veggies that are going to go bad if I don’t eat them today – doesn’t make healthy eating appealing.

But since I’ve been getting more requests I’ll share more meals here and on Instagram and Instagram stories (I post everything on Insta to Facebook too so if you’re not on IG, check it out there). They won’t be super fancy pictures but it can be a better picture of healthy and fun fuel.

So, I don’t know where I’m going with this now… but I just wanted to share what I’m eating.

And by ‘share’ I mean talk about it – NOT actually share any of my food.

If you need me – I’ll be in the kitchen making out with the watermelon.

Question: Can you name everything you ate yesterday?

(Don’t actually name anything – I’m just curious if you remember what you ate.)

The post What I’m Really Eating. Kinda. appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

source http://runeatrepeat.com/2017/06/28/what-im-really-eating-kinda/

How to Make Chickpeas in the CrockPot and 10 Random Things

1. My hair got crazy tangled on Catalina and probably on the boat ride back yesterday. This morning my usual runner braids were crazy ratty.

2. I’m excited about eating everything in the form of Red, White and Blue foods for the next week. I’m a situational dresser and apparently I’m a situational eater too!

3. I made trail mix for Catalina, or as my lil brother calls it – M&Ms with obstacles.

4. I don’t know what kind of melon this is – but I got it from the 99 cent store and it was delicious. I think it’s a golden melon, but I’m not sure.

5. I ate one of the ingredients from my latest Blue Apron delivery before making the meal! So busted. I replaced it, but still I feel like I should be embarrassed.

6. I went to Costco today and this quesadilla sample is the best part of my day so far!

7. A few people have asked if I really like the Squatty Potty.

Yes. I do. I’m a fan.

Fun fact: The company contacted me a few years ago to potentially review the Squatty Potty and I turned it down. I thought it was weird. But since going to China I really think that’s the way to go. Literally.

8. I really was hoping I could use this seasoning instead of Trader Joe’s Everything Bagel seasoning. I love the Everything Bagel stuff but I already use a lot of salt in my food and don’t want to start using this a lot (which is what would happen because I don’t do moderation). It’s not as good but I’m working on a few different spice combinations for this.

9. I’m still dealing with the Moth Ball situation of 2017. I for sure made myself sick from them and am still washing everything in vinegar to get the smell out and then washing it regular style. I was taking a pic of my Spark and the blankets in the background when Vegas photo-bombed. I love when he does that.

10. I’m not super into any reality show in particular right now but Southern Charm is on as I’m writing this because I allow myself to turn on the TV after 5pm PST. Every now and then I’ll get super into a show, but I’m just whatever about all of them. I do like the Southern Charm Savannah people too so I watch that one sometimes too.

But I’ve started to watch Mad Men so we’ll see how that goes!

 

Making Chickpeas in the CrockPot

I watched What the Health last week. I didn’t love it and have some conflicting thoughts on it. But I do think it’s extremely important to eat well to feel good. I want to get back into eating more plant protein instead of animal protein so I made a massive amount of chickpeas!

I soaked them overnight in water:

This morning I put them in the crockpot with water and tons of onions and garlic. I set it on low for about 5 hours. Cook until they are your desired firmness (softness?). It depends on your crockpot and how much you’re cooking.

I strained them and set them aside to cool before covering and putting it in the fridge.

Oh, and I added salt and ate some with lunch.

I’m a fan of making beans in the crockpot! It’s so much easier than watching it on the stove.

Now I need to make hummus or chickpea salad or falafel! I’ll probably just eat them all straight though – I really love chickpeas. A lot.

Question: What are you having for dinner tonight?

Me: I think quinoa with chickpeas and a package of frozen veggies. It needs hummus though!

The post How to Make Chickpeas in the CrockPot and 10 Random Things appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

source http://runeatrepeat.com/2017/06/26/how-to-make-chickpeas-in-the-crockpot-and-10-random-things/