Endurance Foods-Spinach

by Janet on August 31, 2010

How is your season going?  Mine is coming to an end with a 5K  and 5 mile run yet to go.  I am especially excited about the 5 mile trail run.  It is with the Woodstock folks where you can run any distance from 3.1 miles to 100 miles. 100 miles…Yikes!  I will be vounteering at the 100 mile run, but won’t be participating in it; at least, not THIS year.  :)

There is something about “trail runs” that is especially intriguing to me.  Probably, because it is so much more scenic and challenging than a road run…This run will be on Pottowotami, which is known for its hills, turns, boulders, tree roots and cute little “crawly creatures” along the way.  Now THAT is scenic :)

What shall we eat to get ready for the Autumn season?  Why not spinach?

Spinach is certainly a part of Bob Seebohar’s Metabolic Efficiency diet, and you KNOW that I support all of Bob’s work!

Typically, I think of spinach as a Spring vegetable, but we have a “late crop” reviving itself in our garden, so just had to send this along to you.  Spinach is definitely a SUPER FOOD!  Look what it has to offer:

Spinach (or) kale, collards, Swiss chard, mustard greens, turnip greens, bok choy, romaine lettuce.

They contain: A synergy of multiple nutrients/phytonutrients, low in calories, lutein/zeaxanthin, beta-carotene, plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids, glutathione, alpha lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, B vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, polyphenols, betaine.

Servings: 1 cup steamed or 2 cups raw most days.

Benefits: heart health, reduce risk of cancer, reduce risk of macular degeneration, reduce risk of cataracts, reduce risk of stroke.

Of course, we always need a recipe to go along with our Super Food, and, of course, it will have quinoa in it…   Here goes:

Quinoa-Spinach Soup

Makes 4-5 servings

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1/2 cup quinoa
4 cups vegetable broth or 2 (14.5 oz) cans vegetable broth
1/2 chopped onion
1/2 diced carrot
2 cups spinach, washed and chopped coarsely
salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

Rinse quinoa before cooking to remove the coating of a bitter substance called saponins.

Bring water to a boil.

Stir in quinoa, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add broth, onion and carrot

Simmer for 15 minutes.

Stir in spinach, allow to wilt in soup

Salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy!

Nutrition facts: 100 calories; 18 gm carbohydrates; 4 gm protein; 1 gm fat

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Practical Sports Nutrition

by Janet on August 25, 2010

Thank you for your emails.  I am glad that you are enjoying “endurance foods” for athletes.  I also appreciate that you are wondering what I have been doing this summer.

For the better part of the summer, I have been getting back on track with my swim, bike, run work-outs.  After a major pulled ham string (trail run + sand hill= OUCH!) two summers ago, a surgical muscle biopsy in my thigh a year ago, and wrist surgery the beginning of this year, recovery and return to triathlons has been slower than I was hoping and YES praying for!

It has been great fun and an inspiration to me while volunteering at our local Running Fit triathlons!  I just feels so good to be amongst athletes (like you) and be encourged by encouraging YOU.

I do have a couple of runs coming up~Sept. 11 at St. Paul Lutheran Church (my home church) a 5K to benefit Love Inc. 

The second one is Sept.25 a Woodstock race; the distances are 3.1 miles – 100 miles.  I thought about doing the 100 miles, (no-I  dreamed about doing the 100 miles :) ) but chose the 5 miles instead… :)

Tie-dye t-shirt here I come!

…and back to serious training, here I am!

How are YOU beginning the Autumn season?  I would love to hear from you!

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Endurance Foods – Broccoli

August 16, 2010

Do you love broccoli as much as I do? Raw, steamed, sauted, with cheese, without cheese, any way you eat it-broccoli is the best!
Broccoli, like all veggies, fit in perfectly with Bob Seebohar’s Metabolic Efficiency Training food plan.
For some athletes, broccoli may cause G.I distress, so you may want to save it for non-competition days.  [...]

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Endurance Foods-Blueberries

June 16, 2010

I LOVE BLUEBERRIES! They are the perfect summer food-eat them before a work-out or competition. Fit them in with Bob Seebohar’s Metabolic Efficiency Training food plan.
Let’s see what “Super Foods” has to say about the beautiful blueberry and its side-kicks.
Blueberries (or) purple grapes, cranberries, boysenberries, raspberries, strawberries, currants (fresh, frozen or dried)
They contain: phytonutrients, salicylic [...]

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Endurance Foods-Beans

June 12, 2010

Here is our first super food-beans (all beans are included in this super food).
1. Beans
Pinto, navy, Great Northern, lima, garbanzo, lentils, green beans, sugar snap peas and green peas.
They contain: low fat protein, fiber, B vitamins, iron, folate, potassium, magnesium, phytonutrients.
Servings: try to eat at least four ½ cup servings.
Benefits: Control blood sugar, weight management, [...]

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Endurance Foods

June 9, 2010

Lately, I have been getting alot of questions on “what are the best foods,”  “are there really super foods?”  “What foods should I eat for endurance?!”
So, let’s explore what many call “endurance foods,” also called “super foods.”  Actually, these foods we will be exploring, and the info about them, come straight from one of my favorite books “Super [...]

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The Power of saying “Thank You”

May 31, 2010

This is a reprint from August 2006
Last week we took my almost 90 year old dad to the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. He was a bomber pilot in World War II, 448th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. The B24 that my dad flew was on display at the museum. It was our son [...]

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Your Best?

May 23, 2010

Are you into Spring training?  I am!  and…I love it!
What has been your best swim?  bike?  ride?   How do I define “best?”  I don’t; you do.  Whatever “best” means to you…  It may be fastest or farthest; perhaps a feeling you got; experience you had; or a combination of those.
My best  swim was my first one this [...]

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Spring Training

May 4, 2010

I have started “Spring Training;” have you?
There is a great triathlon in August; the one I typically do-or DID before a few injuries…But, I am back!  Just need to get my wrist healed so that I can swim again.
Yesterday was my first time out in training. Ran 3 miles 32 minutes 10 seconds and that was with resting [...]

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Practical Sports Nutrition-Distance Running, con’t

April 26, 2010

 

Top Three Nutrition Tips for Improving Performance

1. Drink enough fluid.
All the training in the world won’tmake you a better runner if you
are dehydrated.
Develop a fluid plan and stick with it. Choose a sport drink to
replace fluids, provide carbohydrate, and electrolytes. Find
a flavor of sport drink that you can enjoy during
exercise—the drink flavor you like at [...]

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