Friday Favorites: How to get in your Veggies!

If you've worked with me, done my programs, or have been following me for some time now, you know that I'm always preaching to get your veggies in at every meal! Well today for my Friday Favorites post I wanted to share with you my 5 favorite ways to sneak in those veggies, especially the green ones! Click the links to download my recipe PDF's and if you want more of these amazing recipes along side an awesome, kick butt workout program, sculpting your body in 8 weeks, click HERE to get my Sculpted for Summer program! Available no until the end of April, soooo don't miss it! 

Ok so here we go, my 5 favorite ways to get in your veggies!

1) Replace those Grains with Veggies! It's a simple step but can make a huge difference. You can make veggies the base to any meal! Some of my favorites are Cauliflower rice, Spiralized Zoodles, Shredded Carrots, and of course just a bed of leafy greens with all the delicious toppings (spinach, arugula, kale, etc.) (Check out one of my favorite veggie based recipes HERE)

2) Frozen in my smoothies. Did you know that you can freeze veggies? I've heard the concern of not wanting to buy too much produce for the fear it will go bad before you get the chance to eat it. Weeeell Fear no more! Just before that tipping point of going bad, take those green leafy vegetables and put them in a zip-lock and stick them in the freezer! You can also do this with Cucumbers and zucchini. Peel, cut in half, and freeze. These greens will be perfect to throw into your morning smoothie, adding good texture and bulk without sugar or a lot of calories.  (Check out some of my favorite Green Smoothie Recipes HERE)

3) Shredded in my Oats. This one may sound a little crazy. Why would you every put vegetables in your oatmeal? But trust me, it adds bulk without the sugar, and you can't even taste it! You can still have a sweeter breakfast with veggies included, best of both worlds. Some of my favorite ways to do this are shredded up Zucchini, or those frozen greens I was talking about. Stir them up in your oats, add in your other flavoring & liquids and heat them up in the microwave or stove top. (Here's a recipe for some Zucchini Oats to try out - plus some more of my favorite oaties.

4) Shredded in baked goods. I love to bake, and I also love to eat what I've baked :) So lets make this a win win and sneak some veggies into those baked goods! If you have little kids who don't like eating veggies this is a great way to get around that. You can put shredded or blended veggies into pancake batter, quick bread, muffins, waffles, etc. Some favs are zucchini and carrots. Here's one of my favorite carrot muffin recipes.

5) And of course, the easy way out, Super green powders! If you just need something quick, extremely easy, and feel like you're not getting enough veggies in your meals, or you rather drink your greens than create a meal with vegetables, you may want to try a green powder. The trick is picking the right one. I'm not an expert on this stuff, because I love cooking and eating whole veggies, but I've recruited some back up. Check out this article from Barbend.com that ranks the best super green powders out there! Lots of good information so make sure to check it out. 

Well thanks for following along and reading. I'd love to hear what your favorite ways are to sneak in some extra veggies, comment below! 

FRIDAY FAVORITES: Altra Escalante Product Review

If you’ve been following along for a descent amount of time you know that I love my Altra’s! If you’ve met me in person, I was probably wearing them. Some may call it a slight addiction, but I say when you’ve found a great thing, stick with it! I love their story. If you aren’t familiar with it, here’s a little excerpt from the founder, Golden Harper:

“For decades, virtually every running shoe has featured pointy toe boxes and heels that were twice as thick and heavy as the forefoot. While shoe companies claimed this design would protect your body from running injuries, the scientific research did not agree.

After unsuccessfully lobbying shoe companies for years to change their design, I decided to modify shoes into something that could encourage low impact running technique and prevent injury.

Using the research as my guide, I went to work with my trusty toaster oven to try and solve my customers’ injury problems. I melted outsoles off of traditional running shoes and removed the excess heel elevation. It was ugly, but it worked! I coined the term "Zero Drop™" to describe how the level cushioning no longer dropped from the heel down to the forefoot. We enlisted our local shoe cobbler to modify our customers’ current running shoes to Zero Drop™. This worked so well at reducing injuries that we had nearly 1,000 customers buy and modify their shoes that first year!” You can read the rest of the companies story here.

My love for Altra’s started about 3 years ago. It was pretty much love at first run. What’s there to love about them? Well if you’re asking this question you most likely have never tried them on, so I’ll fill you in with the inside scoop, then go get your feet in some and discover for yourself! 

The amazing thing with Altra’s is their signature design. The foot shaped toe box and the zero drop platform. What does this mean? Well first of all, the foot shaped toe box allows your toes to splay into a natural position, allowing your big toe to give your arch more support and releasing pressure from bunions and other foot issues. Seems like all shoes should be made in the shape of your feet right? duh! Second of all, the term “ZERO DROP™” was coined to describe the level cushioning and perfect weight balance from heel to forefoot. This natural balance aligns the feet, back, and body posture for less impact. It also strengthens the Achilles and lower calf muscles that have been weakened over a lifetime of running on elevated heels. If you’re coming from a traditional shoe with a heel to toe drop, you will want to transition into the Zero Drop. I will say I experienced some lower calf soreness for a couple months while transitioning into Altra’s, but it does go away, and its worth the process in the long run. Read what Altra suggests here for transitioning.

You get this natural fit, barefoot feel, but with the benefits of cushion! What I love about altra’s line up is there’s something for everyone and all terrain. When I saw the new Escalante coming out I knew I had to get my hands on them. I’ll admit, Altra’s design & look hasn’t been the best in years past, but with this shoe I feel like they’ve come a LONG WAY. I’ve already had so many compliments on them, and I’ve only had them for about a week (we all know we want our shoes to look good as well right!) So after a couple of runs in them and a workout in the gym, here are my thoughts. THEY’RE AMAZING! And I’m not just saying that. 

• First of all I love the look. I have the black and grey ones and I love the neutral colors. I don’t have any Altra’s this color and I love the change from the pinks and bright blues. They go with everything. 
• I love the feel. They have a sock like fit. The upper material is stretchy and moldable, and the sole is soft, but not too soft, super light weight, flexible, and just the right amount of cushion. 
• I love the run. These shoes are equipped with Altra’s latest and greatest EGO midsole. Altra EGO offers the holy grail of running shoe cushioning, comfortable and soft, yet lively and resilient. With increased responsiveness and thinner cushioning, Altra EGO combines a closer to ground feel with the comfort of a plush ride. 

So there you have it, a little more about Altra, the brand, and why I love them! If you haven’t tried them, now is a great time to jump on the wagon with this brand new shoe, the Escalante. If you don't have a retailer close to you, no worries. When you order from their website you get free shipping both ways! That means if you don't like them or have the wrong size, or whatever the issue might be, you can return them within 30 days of purchase, full refund, and they even send you a shipping label to send them back! Pretty cool. Here’s a direct link to check them out

Let me know how it goes and if you have any other questions about the product! 

BodyDesignbyBrit Altra Link

FRIDAY FAVORITES: Trader Joe's List

Its been a while since I've shared my Friday Favorites with ya'll so I thought I'd bring it back with some of my favorite Trader Joe's ingredients as of late. If you read my last post you learned that I'm all about efficiency in the kitchen. A healthy lifestyle means homemade & home prepped meals, but it doesn't have to be time consuming or boring. Check out some of my favs and why I love them!

This Thai Curry Sauce has been one of my best friends lately :) Throw it in the crock put over some pork or chicken, shred it up and serve with sautéed bell peppers, steamed broccoli, carrots, all the veggies! Easy Thai dinner. Can use This awesome Riced Cauliflower as well, amazing! Takes away the hassle of the food processor cauliflower mess, and gives you a quick and easy low carb base to your meal. 

another saucy time saver! This enchilada sauce is what I make my pulled pork/chicken mexican salads with. You put the roast in the crock pot, and pour this sauce over, cook on low for 5-6 hours and wala! Shred it up, serve over lettuce with beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, avocado, and salsa, so good!

This Risotta is a quick and easy side dish with any meal. I added about 2 cups of Quinoa I had already cooked to this mixture and there was plenty of flavor and it added bulk to take it further, we love leftovers here!

When I spend time on a main course meat, or something fancy, and I don't have time to make a salad or green I throw this bag of green beans in the microwave and it gets the job done. Always have some green on your plate is a great motto to live by and this microwavable bag helps sooo much! stir in a little butter and salt and pepper when they're done and in 3 minutes you have a complete meal. (picture is of the empty bag, the process was so fast I didn't even get a picture!)

Alright I'm a big fan of salsa and this is my new favorite! The tomatillo and the mangoes is a fabulous combo. I put a couple spoonfuls on my taco salad instead of dressing, or on my veggie scrambled eggs for breakfast. Adds amazing sweet and spicy flavor.

Individual Guac packs! The larger pouches always go brown before we can finish them off so these packs are perfect for 2. Spread it on your toast, on eggs, Taco salad, quesadilla, tuna salad, so many possibilities! 

Alright, last but no least, I was a little maxed out with hummus, so I tried this Tahini sauce instead. I have been thrilled with my choice! amazing flavor, tasted great with carrots, celery, cucumber, I even spread it on a piece of Dave's Killer Bread, put some turkey, tomatoes, spinach, and broiled cheese on top for an amazing turkey melt open-faced sandwhich. The Tahini sauce was the key ingredient. 

I'd love to hear your favorites! Leave me a comment with your quick and healthy go to ingredients!

REVIEW: renew float spa

Alright today I got to try something totally new and amazing. I had the opportunity to try out  Renew Float Spa for a float! What is floating you may ask (well I didn't know either) but here's what I learned:

Imagine what it feels like to be floating in space, no gravity, completely dark, completely silent, the perfect environment for tranquility. You step into this big white pod which contains 10 inches of water that is the same temperature as your body - 93.5 degrees, as well as the air temperature. The water contains a whole lot of Epsom Salt which creates a buoyancy for your body that removes the effects of gravity on your body. You feel completely weightless, allowing every single muscle in your body to fully relax. With the water and air temperature being equal to your body, you lose track of where your body ends and the water and air begins. You are completely distraction free, and your mind goes into a state of calmness with a rush of dopamine and endorphins. You get a full hour in the pod, first 5 minutes with soft music playing to get you in the zone, then 50 minutes of dark and silence, then for the last 5 minutes the soft music returns for your to come back to earth. Its the craziest feeling! I think at one point I fell asleep and when I came back to life I seriously felt like I was on the moon! 

Some of the Benefits of floating include:

Feelings of deep calm & relaxation, flow of feel-good endorphins, relieves stress, refreshes & rejuvenates the body, improve sleep patterns, reduces rehab and recovery time, relieves chronic pain (arthritis, headaches), improves blood circulation, Decreases production of cortisol, lactic acid and adrenaline, improves clarity of though and concentration, facilitates deeper meditation, Synchronizes left/right hemispheres of the brain, and so much more! 

So to sum up my experience, I thought it was an amazing must try. In my opinion it's a little bit over priced, but you get a discount on your first time so that's a bonus! Since it is on the pricier side I would schedule it after a grueling physical activity that you are sore from, or before an event that may be causing you anxiety or need some extra serenity going into. My favorite part of the experience was the feeling of being completely weightless that I have never felt before! Also when you get out your body feels relaxed and energized and the epsom salt does wonders. This would be an awesome and unique gift card Christmas present for a friend or family member! Lots of these float spas are poppin up, so if you're not in Spokane, search the one nearest you!

You can find them here: www.renewfloat.com and insta: @renewfloat

ALTRA FOOTWEAR: Why its my shoe of choice!

Running is always more enjoyable with the right shoes! With Marathon season in full swing, I wanted to shed some light on my favorite running shoes for you guys. 

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Last year around this time I was training for my first ever marathon! It was kind of a last minute decision. One of my clients was signed up for the Jordan River Marathon, May 30th, as a trial race for a bigger one she had coming up. She ended up being out of town and since the race entry can't be refunded, she asked if I would want to take her spot. I jumped on it! I had been wanting to run a marathon but it was one of those things that I wasn't going out of my way to sign up for on my own. So this was the perfect time to go for it. (It's one of those things that you can't think about for too long haha)

My training was going great, I was increasing my long run mileage to 10 miles, 12, 15, and I eventually got up to a 20 mile run a couple of weeks before the marathon. I was only running about 3 times per week, and continued my weight training + HIIT workouts in between. With a few lighter runs leading up to the race I noticed the outside of my foot started aching again (I had this issue about 6 months before but it had gone away with some calf massaging and icing). It was right at the metatarsal joint of my outside toe. It hurt to walk more than it hurt to run, so I thought I would be ok. I expressed the issue to my co-workers at Altra and they suggested that I change shoes. This obviously made me a little nervous since it was the day before the Marathon! I didn't know what to do! I didn't have many options. 

At this point I had been running in Altra shoes for almost 3 years, and I hadn't had any problems, my feet always felt amazing. I had a little calf soreness the first couple of months (which is totally normal when starting out with a zero drop shoe). One of the Altra co-founders suggested that the shoe I had been training in was becoming too broken in and now a little too soft for my foot, causing my metatarsal joints to sink in and strain a bit. He suggested a firmer shoe for the race, the Impulse. This was a brand new shoe, not even out to market yet, but I just happened to be the size of Altra's sample shoes so I had a pair. I took a quick jog around the parking lot in them and they felt great! 

So without running more than .25 miles in the shoes, I laced up Saturday morning, made it to my 6am race check in, and hoped for the best. I was amazed! I only felt my foot pain in the last 8 miles, but I think everyone feels a little pain going into the final miles of a marathon. I didn't go into the race with any specific goals other than to just finish but I actually was very pleased with the results! 3:38. If I would've known that the boston qualifying time was 3:35 I would've pushed just a tad harder. But for my first, spur of the moment Marathon I was pretty dang stoked! And my claim to fame is I was the first women to run a marathon in the Altra Impluse, pretty cool right? haha I'll take it

I share this story to express the awesomeness of Altra shoes! How many shoes do you think you could put on the day of a marathon for the first time and have them feel great! Once you adjust to Altra shoes from your current brand, you will have a hard time going back :)

This is because of the natural fitting design of Altra's. They have a foot shaped toe box design. This allows your toes to splay out, releasing pressure that can cause bunions, arch pain, and other issues. Along with the foot shaped toe box, all Altra shoes are built on a Zero Drop platform. This means that your heel and toes are the same distance off the ground. There is no drop from how high your heel is to your toes. This encourages a natural foot strike, landing on the middle of your foot rather than striking hard with your heel. This decreases the blow to your knees and shins. I used to get shin splints all the time but never have with Altra's. They have an awesome line up for the light weight fast pace runners (like the One2.5), to the high cushion - trail blazing runners (such as the Paradigm, or the Olympus for trail). They even have a Neoshell Polartec shoe that is water resistant for those rainy days or snowy running. 

Altra's Top selling shoe is the Intuition 3.5. It is an awesome all around shoe. Moderate cushion, Neutral support, built for road. I love mine in the gym or just walking around as well. 

There second best selling shoe is the Lone Peak 2.5 which is seriously my favorite! Working iwth Altra, I was encouraged to try out trail running and I fell in love! These shoes are why. They have a great tread on the bottom, with a built in rock protection, so you can cruise up and down the mountain without a worry about slipping or rocks bruising your feet. Also I think they're the best looking with the best colors :) Very important

The Third most popular shoe, and my marathon training shoe, is the Torin 2.0. a higher cushion, neutral road shoe. So comfortable you won't want to take them off!

One of my favorites for light runs and cross training is the One 2.5. It is super light weight so it is always my go to for traveling as well. It won't add much weight to your bag!

There's many other options to explore with Altra but I wanted to highlight my top picks for you. If you've never given Altra's a try, I highly recommend them! They have a 30 day return policy, so you can't lose! And a little side note - fun fact, I managed their customer service office for a few years so I can hopefully answer most questions you may have so feel free to comment on this post if you want to know more! You can also check out this review from Runner's World about there up and coming gear and future innovations. HAPPY RUNNING!