Hi friends! What’s new? Things are on the up and up here. Mazen is loving this weather, and so am I! I took him to the park recently and he was so tuckered out by the time we walked back home that I had to carry him up the big hill to our house (“UP! UP!”). It was quite the bonus workout, but I’m thankful he still loves to snuggle in my arms. He’s a mama’s boy for sure! I think our time outside is paying off because I already feel lighter all over.
OK I lied. There was more Irish Soda Bread to come!! Matt made me one extra loaf that I savored throughout the week.
Breakfast #1 – ISB (I accidentally typed IBS!) with eggs and kiwi. A little OJ on the side leftover from a picnic.
Next up: a yogurt mess with jam, sunbutter, lots of chia seeds and banana. This was so good on one of our first warm mornings!
More delicious Irish Soda. With more eggs, banana and sunbutter. Coffee to sip. Breakfast of champs!
And lastly, a bowl of yogurt with dunked cinnamon chip bread and kiwi. A strange combo that was surprisingly fun in texture!
S: Soccer game! A beautiful sunny day for a great game. We tied in the last minute of the game – otherwise we would have won!
M: Total Rest + rain.
T: Walked to the gym + small group with Erin!
We did a “chip workout” where we chipped away at a goal of:
5 minutes plank // 75 lunges holding a weight in the air // 75 pushups // 5 minutes jump rope // 5 minutes wall sits // 75 kettlebell rows // 75 crunches // 5 minutes wall squats on a bosu
You can do these in any interval you want, but your goal is to complete all of the numbers and time. MAN was it hard! We didn’t even finish in 30 minutes. I rotated through and only finished the pushups (broke my record of 37 and did 45 in a row!) and the rows. I got an ab cramp during the crunches that took me out!
W: Walked to the gym again and did athletic conditioning class. Thankfully it was a lot of running and jumping and not much on the pushup front because I was pretty sore from the day before! We did a lot of sprints and even headed outside!
TH: I changed things up a bit and went for a run first thing in the morning after Mazen’s breakfast. I covered about 3 miles and then came home to shower and later we walked to the gym for an activity. I worked in the café while Mazen played with his friends. 5 miles covered!
F: Walk to the gym + training with Erin + 20 minutes of cardio.
SAT: Evening soccer game!!!
Irish Soda grilled cheese!! (I had this on a yogurt-for-breakfast day so as not to overload on bread). This was stuffed with the most wonderful melted white cheddar cheese. Served with a simple spinach salad and half a mango that I had fun digging out with my grapefruit spoon.
Leftover tilapia over cabbage + carrots with soba noodles from Cook Smarts dinners – see below!
More leftover carrot/cabbage/noodles over a salad with hot smoked salmon and cheese. Toast on the side.
Leftover kale + farro soup with kale pesto and cheese on top. An all-in-one lunch!
And some leftovers {turkey + rice} atop a salad plus sweet potato fries! Mazen stole half of my fries – that sneak!
Our Sunday night dinner was Quick + Easy Tostadas so starting with Monday… here’s our Cook Smarts for the week!
M: Baked Tilapia and Sautéed Cabbage with kale-herb sauce. This was probably the healthiest meal I’ve had all year! I added parmesan cheese on top, but there was still so much greeeeeeen with the kale-herb sauce too! If we had had bread in the house or rice cooked I would have added some. Yum!
T: Chicken Soba Noodles with carrots and cabbage. Loved this!!! Super delicious. Mazen loved the noodles (“doots”)
W: Chicken Picatta with Broccoli and Farro. This meal rocked! Farro is my new favorite food. It’s like a cross between wheatberries and rice – lots of chew! It cooked up nicely in the rice cooker.
TH: Kale + Farro Soup. Another winner, this soup tasted so healthy. Loved the differing textures and the kale pesto on top!
Hope you are enjoying some spring weather and spring eats!
Katie says
You inspire me so much in every area of life! Parenting, Exercise & Nutrition. 🙂
KathEats says
You are too sweet
Carrie says
Agreed! (Minus the parenting part though, bc I don’t have any kids yet!)
Ali @ Peaches and Football says
Yummy! I need to learn how to make good sweet potato fries. I’ve tried them in restaurants a few times and have never finished them. I LOVE cooked sweet potato and can’t figure out why the fry variety seems less than stellar but LOOK so good. I’m thinking it has to do with the seasonings. Definitely need to try making some.
jill says
My husband doesn’t love them either, but I could (and do) eat them by the pound. I think it’s more that I use them as a vehicle for the chipotle-mayo dip that I make. We just slice the sweet potatoes into (not-too-thick) wedges, toss with a little olive oil, and sprinkle them with kosher salt. Takes about 35 minutes at 400 degrees. Freaking delicious.
Tonya says
Try tossing them in some cornstarch for crispness.
Kaila @healthyhelperblog! says
Love that little sip of OJ….no food goes to waste!!! That’s my motto as well! Use it all up 🙂
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats says
Oh gosh that chip workout sounds rough, but I’m sure a lot more motivating and fun with a workout buddy! I’m hoping the weather will keep improving here in Chicago, I desperately miss spending time outside!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
I never even had a SLICE of irish soda bread this year…that’s just NOT okay! 😉
Shel@PeachyPalate says
Mighty use of the kale pesto! Looks incredible!!! Love the finely shredded cabbage with the fish!
Leah @ goodnight cheese says
Looks like a nice week! Though I was confused when you said that you’ve been playing in the park with Mazen, but didn’t put that in your workouts. Do you count that as exercise for yourself, or do you more just let him roam around and explore?
KathEats says
No I let those act as a bonus
Becky@TheSavedRunner says
All of your food looks great! That workout looks awesome and super tough! I might have to give it a try!
Tatum @ Eats From The Oil Patch says
That soba salad looks delicious!!
Mallory says
I’d love to try farro! I deverged from my usual rice or quinoa this week with a barley/spelt mix and I agree – love the chew!
Also, just an FYI, your beautiful photos are looking a little more pixelly today. It could be my browser. I’m on Google Chrome for iPad.
KathEats says
Someone else just said they were bright and crisp so I’m tempted to think it’s your ipad? I haven’t changed anything in my processing
Leslee @ Her Happy Balance says
Your Cook Smarts meals always look fabulous. And just wondering, what camera do you use to take your photos? They are very bright and clear and I’m currently in the market for a new tech toy 🙂
KathEats says
Thanks I have a Canon Mark II. Love it!
Alexandra says
I’ve never had Irish Soda Bread. What does it compare to (if anything… haha)?
KathEats says
Its like a raisin bread with a buttermilk taste
Alex @ Kenzie Life says
That cabbage and kale looks AMAZING! I really love cabbage (that comes from the Romanian half of me 😉 ) but with the kale and herb sauce it just looks so refreshing! I think all Great Harvests should do a take on ISB throughout the year, like with cranberries instead of raisins in the fall, because it’s too good to only have once a year!
Erin Shmidt says
Those kiwis look so good. And little boy snuggles are just the best! Thanks for the Pippin Farm recommendation on your blog. We traveled there this weekend and it was like a fun getaway!!
KathEats says
Awesome! Love that place
Tracy says
I love how the Cook Smarts menus overlap ingredients! Cabbage…Kale…farro…makes it so much easier to shop for without having leftovers that could go to waste or plan another use. So efficient!
And Irish Soda bread…you’re killing me!! I miss it already 🙁
Becky says
You’re working in the cafe at the gym? What’s the scoop on that?
KathEats says
Working on my laptop in the cafe seating area : )
Lauren @ Focused To Be Fit says
That ‘chip workout’ sounds great! I love internals like that to change things up! Food looks good as always!
Lauren @ Fun, Fit, and Fabulous! says
Your Chip Away workouts sounds fabulously torturous! I’ll have to remember that one for the future!!
JennieM says
45 pushups in.a.row? I am pretty proud of my 20 “girl” pushups, but 45??? Wow!
Amelia @ Eating Made Easy says
Have you seen the recent news about tilapia? It’s supposedly one of the lowest quality fish on the market, since it’s usually farmed & fed a “Western” diet. Not to rain on your fish parade just wanted to mention 🙂
KathEats says
Yeah it’s not ever one of my top choices but the guy at whole foods said it was good that day. .. and my recipe called for it. We had pollak tonight and loved it!
Micki says
It also has the highest level of mercury of any fish. Years ago, I read it should be limited to once per month for women of child bearing age. In comparison, 1-2 servings per week of canned tuna fish in water is permitted. Interesting how diet choices can effect the reproductive and hormonal systems.
KathEats says
Tilapia? I don’t think so. It’s mostly farmed. Has something changed that I’m not aware of?
Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs says
Sounds like a great week all around! 🙂
Livi says
Your kiwis and mangoes look so delicious!
Polly @ Tasty Food Project says
The chicken soba noodles looks delicious! I haven’t cooked soba noodles in a long time!
Andie says
I love your beautiful pottery mugs!
Jamie says
HI Kath,
I recently read a disturbing article about farmed fish, what they’re fed, pesticides etc, Tilapia and salmon (two of my favorites) being the worst. Fish makes up a huge part of my diet, I’m anemic and I don’t eat much meat and I really feel like I need it for the protein and iron it provides! In the past I haven’t really worried about whether or not fish is farmed but the big bags of frozen fish I buy are, and wild-caught fish is very expensive. Do you always buy wild-caught? Do you have any advice about keeping seafood in your diet when it’s hard to find wild-caught and inexpensive? Maybe you could do a post sometime about the benefits of wild-caught fish and pasture raised meat, and tips for getting them on a budget! Thanks for your help.
Jamie
KathEats says
The practices of fish farming are really sad, aren’t they. I always buy wild salmon because it’s such much more nutrient dense. Check out Seafood Watch – they have amazing resources and an app you can consult when you’re standing at the fish counter. I have found the best bang for your buck to be buying frozen versions of wild caught fish. The wild salmon at Whole Foods that is frozen is much cheaper than the fresh. And if you like tilapia, try catfish!
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves says
That’s one insane chipper!
And now I want some grilled cheese on ISB!
sara says
I love farro, but hate being a slave to stove top when making it. what ratio of w:farro did you use in the rice cooker?
KathEats says
Pretty sure it was 2:1 water to farro