Menu Planning and Healthy Almond Crescents (GF/low sugar)

Almost 2014, can you believe it?! After a week (okay more) of eating cookies, drinking wine and snacking on junk all day I need to get back to my eating plan. I am happy to be joining Laura’s January reset just in time to start training for Boston Marathon. I decided this time around I will improve on my diet even more, eliminate the foods I know negatively impact my training: dairy, sugars, processed junk and increase those that help me: veggies, fruit, protein, whole foods. Who else is ready to get back to healthy eating after the holidays?

So what’s for dinners this week…
Sunday: Veggie pizza with GF crust
Monday: Pre run protein shake
Tuesday: New Year’s take out: Thai probably
Wednesday: Chipotle butternut squash  
Thursday: Crock pot chickpea wild rice soup
Friday: Spaghetti squash with marinara and veg “meat”balls
Saturday: Chili

What is on your menu this week?

Now with this being week 1 of Boston training and final week of Dopey training my plan looks a little crazy!!
Sunday: 10-12 mile run (on treadmill since it is -20 outside)
Monday: Strength and 4 mile tempo run
Tuesday: Yoga/Core
Wednesday:  14 mile race and strength
Thursday: 1 hour bike and core
Friday: 5 x ½ mile repeats
Saturday: 6-8 miles easy run and strength

And now for my final cookie recipe, but I am happy to say I made them healthier than we used to. This is a childhood recipe and I was able to make GF and lower fat and sugar without effecting the taste!! I'm even happier that I stopped eating cookies and froze some for later! 
Photo: We did it! Healthy gluten free almond crescents

Almond Crescents
1/4 cup applesauce
¼ cup butter (or vegan spread, coconut oil might work too)                                                            
1/4 cup organic sugar                                                                                                                
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp almond extract
1 1/4 cups flour (can use WW or GF- I used 1 cup oat and ¼ cup almond)
1/2 cup ground almonds

Cream butter, applesauce and sugar, add extracts. Mix in flour and almonds. Take 1 Tbl. dough and shape into log and bend into crescent shape. Put on greased cookie sheet. Bake 12-15 min at 350

Comments

  1. Run DMTDecember 29, 2013 at 9:23 AM

    It's nice to indulge a little here and there and then get back on track to healthy eating. Your cookies look great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Angela @ Happy Fit MamaDecember 29, 2013 at 9:31 AM

    I'm so over indulging! But those cookies look awesome. Pinning for future cookie cravings!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mommy Run FastDecember 29, 2013 at 10:08 AM

    Aww, love your little helper rolling out the dough! Chickpea wild rice soup sounds delicious! Yes, I'm very ready for the detox too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Betsy HartDecember 29, 2013 at 2:23 PM

    Those look really good!

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownDecember 29, 2013 at 3:02 PM

    I'm TOTALLY ready to get back to healthy eating!! And I don't know how you're going to do 10-12 miles on the treadmill! I'm trying to force myself on mine for just one mile! Good luck :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownDecember 29, 2013 at 5:34 PM

    Your menu sounds so yummy for this week!

    ReplyDelete
  7. SarahDecember 30, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    We are doing take-out for New Years Eve as well - I think I've talked hubby into sushi! Probably some chicken teriyaki for the kiddo, although if I know him, he'll be stealing all our sushi in just a few years.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GoMacro Thrive Review and Giveaway!

Image
All runners know that post marathon week(s) are filled with the fight to keep eating healthy yet indulge a little. I try to carry healthy snacks wherever I go to avoid the munchies. Needing gluten free makes finding healthy foods quick even tougher. I have my go to foods but love finding new options with such variety. I think my only complaint is the carb to protein ratio which for each bar is 3 or 4:1. I prefer a snack more along the 2:1 carb to protein ratio. To help this I add a few extra nuts to the bars when I have them for a snack, problem solved! Like all GoMacro products, Thrive are USDA-Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, Gluten-Free certified, 100% Vegan, and soy-free. Thrive is currently available to purchase online and will become available to Whole Foods this month! GoMacro is offering 30% off to all my readers with code Thrive30 for online purchases Here The Thrive Bars come in 6 flavors: Caramel Coconut, Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip, Blueberry
Read more

Turkey Day 5K

Image
We have run this "race" many times, through name and sponsor changes, course changes and nasty weather. This year I went into it with hopes of a PR considering the perfect weather, but I failed to think about the massive amounts of people who would decide to run now that it wouldn't be too cold. I'm not sure the exact numbers but there had to be well over 5000 people, many who had no clue how to line up for a race. I lost track of the extreme numbers of walkers, kids, strollers and dogs I passed after it took almost 10 minutes to cross the start line! I spent much of my time weaving and trying not to trip over dog leashes or people stopping in mid course. I pleased to hit Mile 1 with a 7:40, still 1 minute over where I hoped but I figured much slower given the conditions. I finally found a guy to follow who making a path through the course and was able to hold that pace with a little trail running through the downtown parks. I didn't care since it was Nove
Read more

A few Races...

Image
Stillwater half was my final pre-marathon race. The weather was a mess, hot humid and gross! I ran with the 1:40 pacer to keep a nice pace and actually held myself back the first haf but yikes then we turned to the road and no shade and it all faded! I struggled to keep the "easy" pace as did everyone around me. I was happy to finish just 45 secs behind the pacer 1:40:45 and not too far off my goal of 1:38. That heat was brutal... Photo credit Stillwater Gazette Grandmas Marathon  For those who don't follow me on IG  @marathonmom28  here is the short version... I started great, on pace to PR then I became hypothermic (yes in June) and once the rain started it was painful (thank you Raynaud's). I finally walked off the course between mile 19-20 where Matt met me with dry clothes and a warm car. Grandmas this is strike 3, I think I am done!  I spent the car ride home thinking of next races and wondering if I could jump back in, (dumb I know). As we drove
Read more