Adulthood is What you Make of It.

Really?!?

I've seen a lot of things lately on the meaning of adulthood. Articles, blog posts, etc. - it seems to be coming at me from all angles. So it got me thinking - am I supposed to feel different than I did before? Should I feel like the guy in the cartoon above? I certainly don't think so!

Now, don't get me wrong - I know that I am single, living in a big city and don't have children, so my perspective is a little different. But I also know that there are responsibilities that I have that I didn't have as a child. I have a career and finances to manage, household things that I need to take care of and other obligations that by definition make me an adult. But to me, I still feel like a kid - just with more life experience. 

Two great examples as of late:

• I recently spent a weekend in Cleveland with one of my best childhood friends, Megan. She's a doctor by the way - talk about responsibility! But, our weekend was full of things we used to do as teenagers - including a trip to Cedar Point, where we spent the day riding roller coasters and screaming our heads off. It was an absolute blast, and it almost felt like we were our 15 year-old selves again. 
• And just this morning I caught the reunion of the Backstreet Boys on Good Morning America. Let's just say that my school-girl self resurfaced while watching them perform! Anyone who knows me knows that, as a teenager, I was a HUGE boy band fan and went to every concert I could get tickets to (and you can bet that I will be enjoying one again when the boys tour next year)!

So yes, I am 30 and I am, in fact, an adult. But does that mean I should be tired all the time, grumpy and jaded with life? No. Obviously I have had my bouts of feeling down about getting older (as we all do) but I realize that it's SO important to focus on the other side. See the humor in life, take the time to be goofy and don't take yourself too seriously. And though we may be identified as a grown-ups, it's essential  to realize that it's what you make of your years that define you - not your age.

Protein Power Food - Quinoa.

For a pescatarian like myself, who eats vegetarian most of the time, it’s important for me to get in protein wherever I can. For that, Quinoa has been my go-to for years. It’s full of the stuff, and also contains a lot of fiber – both good for portion control as you don’t have to eat a lot to feel full!

My long-standing recipe is always a good option, but this week I decided that I wanted to add more of a Greek twist. So… ta-da, here’s the new and improved version – which is also lower in calories and fat – and includes an optional spicy yogurt topper. Also, since the dressing isn't mayo-based, this would be a GREAT dish to bring along to a Labor Day BBQ! 

Greek Quinoa Salad with Spicy Yogurt Topper 

Salad:

1 1/4 Cups quinoa, uncooked (follow directions on package to cook, then cool in fridge)
1/4 Cup Kalamata olives, sliced if desired
1/3 Cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 small red onion, diced
1 Cup grape tomatoes (cherry are fine too, just make sure to slice them in half)
1/2 Cup drained and chopped artichoke hearts
½ Cup Chopped cucumber
1/2 Cup crumbled fat free feta cheese

Dressing:

Juice and 1/2 zest from one lemon
3 TBSP olive oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Spicy Yogurt Topper (optional):

3oz. Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt
2 tsp Sriracha sauce
1 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar

Directions:

Prepare Quinoa according to package directions. To cool, place pot uncovered in fridge for a couple of hours. For a quick cool, place pot uncovered in freezer for 15-20 minutes. Transfer cooled quinoa to a large bowl and add in tomatoes, parsley, cucumber, olives, artichokes, onion and cheese. Toss to combine all ingredients and add salt and pepper to taste if preferred.

For the dressing, add all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until combined. Pour over salad and stir with a spatula to evenly disperse throughout salad.

For the optional topper, simply mix all of the ingredients together in a small bowl.  Store separately from salad and add about a tablespoon of the mixture on top each serving.

Recipe serves 6 – (about a heaping cup each), equaling a Weight Watchers PointsPlus® value of 6.

Have any Quinoa recipes you'd like to share? Feel free to leave some ideas in the comments. Here’s to healthy and yummy eating! 

I'm Addicted.

...To Chipotle. If they had a loyalty program, I swear I would have earned 10+ free burrito bowls by now.

And the good news? If you pick the right ingredients (skip the tortilla, no sour cream, light on the cheese, etc.), you've got a colorful and healthy lunch/dinner option - that's Weight Watchers friendly too! Here's my go-to recipe (and I'm not kidding you, I eat this at least 3 times a week).

• White Cilantro Lime Rice
• Black Beans
• Fajita Veggies
• Pico de Gallo
• Salsa Rosa (because I like things spicy)
• Guacamole
• BIG Heap of Lettuce as a topper

1 serving of this goodness equals about 5-6 cups and tops out at a Weight Watchers PointsPlus® value of 11. I'm a quantity girl, so this amount of food makes me VERY happy. So go ahead, dig in!

Not sure what your go-to Chipotle creation amounts to? Check out the Chipotle Nutrition Calculator.

Inspired.

I originally saw this on a friend's fashion blog and thought it appropriate for my life right now.
Serves as a great daily reminder that life is what you make it!

Wedge-Tastic.

Let's just say that I did some shopping this weekend - like the "out everyday for at least a couple of hours" kind of shopping. I'm not complaining, but one result of weight-loss is that you need to buy new clothes. This is definitely a pro because (duh) you get to fill your closet with new items. But it's also a con - because all of these items can put a very big dent in your bank account!

One thing I did score this weekend was an amazing deal on a very versatile wedge sandal. Quite unexpected, I found this pair on sale at Akira and immediately fell in love! I've been looking for a wedge for a while, but they seemed to avail me. Given that this pair was just my size, and a color I would wear well into the Fall season, is a sign that shoe shopping should be a spontaneous event for me!

Wedges are a great item to have in your closet. Although they can be quite fashion-forward, the standard is a classic piece for any wardrobe. A pro of this shoe is that they are actually quite comfortable since they lend support to your entire foot while still extending the leg (like a super-heel!). In fact, one of my favorite reality TV stars and fashion stylists Rachel Zoe is known for wearing them almost daily.

Clearly they are also appropriate for toting around your toddler ;o)

My Chinese Laundry/Akira score!

As I am sure you can tell, my shopping philosophy is that you don't need to spend a lot to look fabulous. I call it the 'looking like a million bucks while spending a hundred' approach. So, I have scoured some fo my favorite sites for some amazing wedges that can be worn now and throughout the year - all for $50 or less - so that you too can find yourself a perfect pair!

'Call it Spring' Mugla Wedge in Teal - $50.00

Michael Antonio Adrian Black Wedge - $49.00

Forever 21 Wedge Booties in Plum - $22.80

Asos Paramount Pointed Wedge in Grey/Yellow - $49.71

Alloy Andrea Wedge - $29.90

Happy Shopping!

Join the Revolution.

Some of you may remember a show on ABC - Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, which aired for 2 seasons and featured school districts in LA and Virginia. Chef Oliver's mission was (and continues to be off-screen) to rid schools of junk food and feed kids nutritious and balanced meals instead. Met with opposition from boards, school officials and even parents, Jamie was usually able to overcome these obstacles to help change the face of the school lunch as we know it.

Not being a parent myself, you may ask why I mention this - and where exactly am I going with it? Well, you're in luck because I'll tell you :)

A fan of the Food Revolution page on Facebook, I am a huge proponent of this cause for 2 reasons:

1. I know people (myself included) who have developed unhealthy habits (which I think stems from things learned from school lunch as a child)
2. Establishing healthy eating habits, like education, should start at an early age. Think about it - I bet you that 98% of what you know was learned between ages 5 and 18!

Also, one of the stats listed on their site is pretty scary - Kids in the US consume an extra 8lbs. a year in sugar from drinking flavored milk. Um...ew. Clearly this is something that needs to change and we're lucky that Jamie Oliver is working so hard to do just that.

So if you're passionate about healthy living, want to make a change in your community, enjoy food, like kids etc. (really anything applies) I encourage you to visit the Food Revolution website. There's so much information to digest (pun ntended) but it's worth the education - and there are even yummy recipes like the one below. I'll totally be making this salad this week!

Picture taken from Food Revolution website.

Happy and VERY Healthy Eating!