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Nutrition Failure

I have three main obstacles preventing me from being the best possible triathlete I could be.  Two of them I have no control over, time and money.  I can't make more hours in the day than there are, and my money situation isn't going to change any time soon.  The third obstacle is my nutrition.  This is the one area that I can fix, and I'm having a very hard time with it.  I want to eat right, and want to fuel my body properly, but need lots of help in this area.

Now that the holiday's are past, and we are back into more of a normal routine, I'm trying to force myself into healthy eating habits, and trying to drag the two non-willing members of my family with me.  The trouble is, I'm not really good at the planning healthy meals.  Dinner's I'm pretty good at.  I have been getting better and better at planning a weeks worth of healthy meals, and the boys usually eat them.  But breakfast and lunch I'm not so good at.  Especially since I have to pack them both to bring to work.  That, and when I get stressed out, I shut down and stop eating.  This break up is causing me lots of those days.  I still tend to think of a Starbucks venti pumpkin spice latte as a lunch.  I know it's not, but it fills me, and it tastes REALLY good. 

So, I'm turning to you all.  My loyal readers and friends.  I need help!  I need quick, convenient, healthy meals for breakfast and lunch.   And I need to make sure that I'm actually eating enough to fuel the work out's I will be having to do to complete a 70.3 this fall.  Coffee is not going to get me across the finish line.  It might get me going in the morning, but I need more than that.  What do you eat for breakfast?  What do you pack for lunch?  Help me fix the one obstacle that I have some control over!

Comments

Debbie said…
I'm not the best at practicing what I preach, but I'll tell you what I am trying to do. I'm a big fan of Tosca Reno and her Eat Clean lifestyle. As for the boys, try the Deceptively Delicious cookbook to sneak in some heathy food into their diets. One day I'll do this myself. 2010 was the year to get my fitness on track and 2011 is my nutrition year. We need to send good nutrition vibes to each other! :)
Anonymous said…
Breakfast: Yogurt + mango + blueberries in the blender.

Lunch: chicken on a great big salad.

Snacks in between: fruit. luna bars, cliff bars. Heck you can make good nutrition bars!

In training fuel: 1/2 strength apple juice!

Kids: I have a son with special needs who has texture issues. I make him something seperate!
Kerrie said…
I'm proud of you for trying to make this change!

My favorite breakfasts lately:
Kashi Go Lean with fat free Greek yogurt and mulberries

Oatmeal, made with milk instead of water and I add unsweetened applesauce and pumpkin pie spice afterward, and a few chopped pecans

Arnold Sandwich thin in seedless rye, or a slice of pumpernickel bread, with 2 oz smoked salmon and 2 Tbsp light cream cheese

whole wheat english muffin, egg fried in olive oil, slice canadian bacon, 1/2 slice American cheese (I don't like the low fat ones so I have half a slice of regular). If you don't have time to cook much, you can make egg muffin cups ahead of time like on Sunday night (Google them, they're a popular South Beach Diet recipe) with spinach or other veggies in them and slap one in an english muffin.

Lunches: sandwich thins again, or whole wheat pita or tortilla, with some lean lunchmeat or pre-cooked roasted meat and light cheese, mustard, and veggies.

Soup

Salad, serve inside a pita or wwrap (you'll need the good carbs)

Healthy leftovers from the night before. If you have a dinner you like, make double and portion the extra in single-serving containers so you can quickly grab one in the morning on your way out the door.

Snacks: stash fruit in your desk at the beginning of the week, bring string cheese, yogurt, whole grain crackers or granola bars (something like Kashi, not Quaker chewy chocolate-dipped)

I really like Larabars, in the natural section at Wegmans. They're just dried fruit and nuts, great for energy or to tide you over if you've forgotten to pack a meal. They're about 200 calories.

The key is to plan ahead: on Sundays, plan out all meals and snacks for the week and post on the fridge. Review the plan for the next day each night. Leave no room for waffling or getting to the point where you have nothing planned and are starving. Stash food in your desk so you stay away from the vending machine.
Unknown said…
It may not be the answer you want to hear but I read RACING WEIGHT and it was great to understand how much you need to eat, when and even has recipes. I would highly recommend.
Jason said…
Caroline - I have been following you on twitter and that is how I came across this post.

Nutrition is going to an ongoing challenge regardless of how well you do it b/c your body will change and your circumstances will as well.

I have become truly wrapped up in my nutrition but do not treat it as a end all be all. If I 'cheat' I do not feel guilty about it and regroup for the next meal.

I typically eat 5-6 times per day in smaller calories and it helps me stave off hunger quite easily. I have also recently moved to a more plant based diet and have noticed that I am leaner, stronger and faster in that time. I have also lost 6 lbs.

As you may or may not know I put together a full day's menu every Thursday called the Athlete's Plate. I am also in the process of turning that into a cookbook with about 40-50 recipes and should be done in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime check out the recipes and the dishes on my site at www.baha703ironman.com and look for the menu at the top and select Athlete's Plate.

Jason
www.baha703ironman.com
www.marathonmakeover.com
kristin said…
omg caroline - i am going through the same struggles with nutrition. i do find that a grilled pb and j or grilled almond butter and jelly (i do in the george forman) is good hot or cold. your lucky your kids will eat what you make. my 5 yo wont touch anything but noodles and butter. yogurt is always good and easy to pack. fruit and peanut butter. hummus or guacamole w veggies...btw - check out jasons website. he's awesome!!

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