It’s Friday! Wahoo! I’m particularly excited this Friday and I’ll share why in just a minute. I’ve given you lots of tasty food and tips this week, including this Fit and Delicious Peach Crumble, a beverage that you shouldn’t be drinking, my thoughts on childhood vegetarianism, and lastly my top three tips for eating healthy on the go. With all that information to read, in case you missed any of it, today’s post is light and fun!

One of my favorite things to do make memories, but if I’m never look back to reminisce those memories, what’s the point in making memories anyway? With summer quickly coming to an end, I want to look back and share my top fifteen 2013 summertime memories, and at the end I want you to share yours too! In no particular order they are…

1.  My hubby showing up at the beach after declaring he was going to have to miss out on this years trip because of work

2.  Spending time with my brother and sister-in-law in their fun little town

3. Time spent with my girls in Grayton Beach for a dear friends bachelorette and then again at the wedding

4. Pursing my dreams and opening my own company, The Gypsy Dietitian, LLC and seeing my site grow

5. Opening my VitaMix on my birthday from my parents as a birthday/Mayo graduation gift

6. Hosting the July Yoga Challenge (Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4) that so many of you participated in

7. Making this Red, White and Blue cake for my dad and family on Father’s Day and Dustin’s family at the beach

7. Our trip to Asheville/ the Biltmore and being able to go on so many road trips with the hub

8. Spending time with my mom in the kitchen exploring new recipes

9. Catching up with dear high school friends before one moves to Texas that just means a trip to Texas is in store!

10. Late night chats with my mom and friends on my parent’s front porch

11. Getting to workout with Dustin so frequently – he challenges me to be my best self

12.Time with Dustin’s family at the beach

13.  Spending time with my pups, including on the beach!

14. Connecting with so many incredible dietitians and fellow bloggers including (but not limited too!):

• Steph from Food Coach Me
• Lindsay from The Lean Green Bean
• Margaret from Breaking the Sugar Habit 
• Gina from Dietitians Eat Chocolate Too
• Shashi from Runnin Sri Lankan 
• Rachel from The Fresh Plate
• Hillary from Nutrition on the Run

15. And lastly, the reason I am excited for this post… The hub and I are off to San Fran this weekend to spend a week exploring wine country, downtown, Lake Tahoe, a Giants game and Half Moon Bay! I’ve been waiting for this trip for what seems like my entire life! With that being said, I’ve prepared a lot of great post for you next week so stay tuned!

{Photo Source}

What are a few of your favorite summer memories?! Please share!

Have an AWESOME weekend! Talk to you from Cali!

Good health!

The post Fun Friday: Summertime Memories appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

Hi friends! Happy Hump Day! After staying up a little too late last night, lost in the link world (Does that ever happen to you? You click on one link, which leads to another, which leads to another? I’m sure I’m not the only one!), I ended up sleeping a little later than I planned this morning. Even though my motivator, workout partner and husband isn’t here (he caught a flight out yesterday), I still pushed myself straight out the door and to the gym for my oh so favorite leg day. I did a workout similar to this one, but added a little something to the end that I will share with you later this week, because I’ve got something more delicious to share today!

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

This recipe is easy to make, incredibly healthy and super tasty!

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Recipe adapted from here

Serves: 3 as an entree, 6 as a side

Ingredients:

• 3-8″ long zucchini, cut in half length-wise
• 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 cup Vidalia onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup tomatoes, diced
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas (if canned, drained and rinsed first)
• 1/2 cup mixed greens, packed (I used Arugula; kale or spinach would work too)
• 1/4 cup diced olives (optional)
• 1 tbsp herbs de provence or dried Italian seasoning
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Scoop out the insides of the four zucchini halves and chop it into small pieces. Melt the coconut oil in a large pan over medium heat.
2. Once the pan is hot, sauteing the onion and garlic together until the onion starts to turn clear. Next, place the bell peppers, tomatoes, scooped zucchini, chickpeas, greens and herbs into the pan and saute until the greens are wilted.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F and get a large baking dish.
4. Add the olives, salt and pepper to taste.
5. Fill the zucchini “boats” up, with equal amounts of the filling and place in the baking dish.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, and serve warm.

We didn’t add any vegan cheese/regular cheese to ours, but it would probably be pretty tasty with a tiny bit sprinkled on top!

Black bean burgers topped with avocado and homemade salsa (not pictured), stuffed zucchini boats, and green beans straight from the garden. We also had a delicious heirloom tomato salad (not pictured)- a perfect summertime recipe that I will share soon!

Easy clean up and and great leftovers!

–

In other completely random news, my sister recently got a kitten and we’ve been trying to introduce the Boxers to him but are having no such luck. Any ideas? If so, please share!

I absolutely do not trust that if I put the kitten down they will not swallow him whole.

Have a great rest of the day!

Good health!

The post Wellness Wednesday, Recipe Edition: Stuffed Zucchini Boats appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

Hi friends! How was your holiday? It feels like Monday over here, but thankfully it’s FRIDAY! I’m moving slow, if you can’t already tell.

It seems as though we are setting a 2013 low key holiday trend. After a super calm New Year’s Eve, the 4th of July followed suit. We drove ~ seven hours home, stopped at Whole Foods for lunch,worked out, and then grilled out with Dustin’s parents last night.

Fresh collard greens, sweet potato rounds, grilled squash, homemade (vegan, gluten-free) corn bread, fresh corn, grilled green beans, garden tomatoes and onion. 

Good food and good company, yes, but no fireworks, no beach, no picnics… nada. I guess that’s what a seven hour car ride will do to you.

Two foodies making our way home!

But no worries, I will be making up for my lack of 4th of July plans by heading back to the beach tomorrow, so today’s post is rather short because I have a huge to-do list to tackle in order to get ready.  I just picked up some groceries that I will need and won’t be able to get down there so kitchen madness and to-list tackling are about to begin.

1. I’m prepping my mom’s delicious black bean burger recipe (I’ll share it soon!) to freeze some patties in order to be grill ready after long days on the beach.
2. I’m recreating some Core Warrior Meal Bars for Dustin since he will have some long baseball days while I am away.
3. I haven’t started packing (or finished the laundry since we just returned home yesterday).
4. I plan on squeezing in an afternoon/evening workout, especially since I will be gym-less for the next seven days (I’m sure my body will be happy for the break!),  but I’ll definitely be bringing our TRX straps and yoga mat as well as my interval timer for some beach sprints with my pups.
5. Pack up my foodie traveling essentials.
6. Whip up these homemade dog treats.
7. And wash the pups in prep for a long car ride down! (If they could tell you, they would let you know that they are more excited to return to the beach than anyone!)

I have some awesome posts in store for you from the beach, including the continuation of the July Yoga Challenge (don’t forget to send me your pictures from this past week and to check back for next weeks pose!), the idea of being quiet and listening more, foods that you should be eating everyday and more fun topics! While away I plan on doing a lot of reading, writing, podcast listening, beach walking and relaxing. My kind of week!

Anyways, what did you do for the 4th? We’re you low key like us or did you do something adventurous and exciting? I’d love to hear what your holiday looked like!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend (and that it stops raining especially at the beach!)

Good health!

The post TGIF! appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

Hi there! I hope your Tuesday is off to a good start! So far so good over here! I started the day on my yoga mat this morning and had some unexpected four-legged company.

 One with a baseball ready to play fetch.

And the other stalled out, waiting to be pet. Oh how I love these guys.

For some reason, every time I roll out my mat they both seem to think its play time for them. They make every practice an even happier one, so I’m okay with their large paws intruding my downward dog space. Maybe I should check out Ruff Yoga after all.

Anyway, this weeks Tip of The Week Tuesday post involves activity and exercise. I want to encourage you to mix it up and do the things that you enjoy doing whether it be hitting the gym hard five days a week or walking in your neighborhood when you get home from work. Do any activity that makes you happy.

Dustin and I usually workout together five to six days a week. Four of those days are spent in the gym lifting weights and the other two are spent doing some sort of cardio or yoga. At the end of last week, however, both of us felt as if our bodies needed a break. Because of that we decided to listen to our bodies, take a week away from the gym and spend this week doing things that are still active and challenging but are far from any gym experience.

By mixing it up and taking a little bit of time away, you will not only allow your body a chance to recover and replenish, but you will also allow your brain and soul a chance to become reinspired, reinvigorated and avoid burnout. It’s easy to get into a fitness/exercise routine, repeating the same thing day in and day out, but we should always question whether or not what we are doing is making us happy? Are we enjoying the time we spend exercising? Or are we dreading it every single day, knowing that any day could be our last day that we actually show up, press play or take off. It’s not just about the long term goal of “getting healthier” or “losing weight,” it’s in the journey that we grow, learn and live.

Yesterday we took the pups to the park for what was supposed to be 30 minutes of sprint sets, but unfortunatley not even five minutes in, the hot Georgia heat caused our two rambunctious, non-stop Boxers to move at a snails pace. Luckily they were able to participate in a light jog, so I stayed behind with them while the hub took off. It’s a lot of fun to included the pups in our daily fitness time. Today we grabbed the bikes and hit the fields; they were so excited to join in on the excitement, not only that but to get a little dirty too!

 Sometimes it’s just fun to wonder – to have no plan and to feel like a kid again. Running, moving, dancing, biking – whatever it may be, just mixing it up and keeping it fun.

How about you – are you the type to hit the gym everyday with a set plan and no time for play like us normally, or are you like us this week, listening to your body – doing whatever it feels that day? It certainly feels good to go with the flow and simply enjoy the journey.

I hope you have a great afternoon!

Good health!

The post TOTW Tuesday: Mix It Up appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

It sure feels good to have my running partners back!

I almost made the shot!

This morning, my pups and I hit the local park for a four mile run/walk to enjoy this beautiful (still slightly chilly!) weather. Although the three of us haven’t shared a run together in quite some time, these two haven’t slowed down a bit these past few months. More or less, this is a pretty standard day for them…

They are crazier than one could ever imagine but I couldn’t love them more!

Dustin and I had a wonderful Easter with both families, cooked and ate lots of good food and celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

All my siblings in one house!

The celebration continued up at Dustin’s parents house yesterday since it was Opening Day for the 2013 baseball season! It’s a big day in the Evans household and I love it! This year, for the first time ever, we cheered on two teams, both the Braves and the Mariners. We were happy with two Ws and some delicious food, al fresco!

The grill master and number one Braves fan doing his work

Grilled asparagus, corn, broccoli, carrots and roasted potatoes for me and ribs and chicken for the rest! It was veggie heaven! We enjoyed what will hopefully be one of the last nights cold enough for a fire (wishful thinking, right?) after dinner. Why can’t every Monday be like this?

My lap dog had had enough by the end of the night

The hubby hit the road today so I hit the books, fueled by this delicious, nutrient packed green smoothie.

In it went baby romaine leaves, Warrior Blend Vanilla Raw Protein, spirulina, flax meal, maca powder, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, lemon and almond milk! It was delicious and so green because of the spirulina!

I hope you have a wonderful Tuesday evening! More studying for me!

Good health!

The post Lately Through Pictures and a Smoothie Recipe appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.

Two times the fun with this crowd!

A Double Boxer Run? What in the world is that?

“Slow down, Gunner. Boss, quit biting his ear. Would y’all come on? Your leash can’t taste that good. Another bathroom break? Already? Don’t be scared of the cars, Gunner. Boss, this isn’t play time. Run straight. Watch where your going. Quit looking back at me. Let’s gooo.”

There you go. The definition for Double Boxer Run.  And this is what it looks like…

Absolute chaos for the first five minutes.

Making sure that Boss and Gunner get exercise is a priority for me.  Not only because they are monsters when they don’t get enough playtime (insert two large dogs wrestling on the couch here) but helping them live long, healthy lives is also important to me.  I want B & G, as I like to call them, to live for as long as they possibly can; I certainly hope they will be a part of our children’s lives, years and years down then road.  I’m sure you understand if you have family members that just happen to be dogs, as well

After teaching yoga this morning, I planned on getting in a little cardio myself when I got out of class.  It would have been rather selfish of me to just leave these two behind just because I thought they couldn’t keep up or would slow me down. So instead of leaving two wild Boxers, full of energy at the house, today was the first time I decided to let Gunner join in on mine and Boss’ run, maybe a little late (he is 10 months old now), but better late than never, I guess.  Boss was just the opposite. We got Boss just a few months before I began training for my first half-marathon back in April 2010, so at six-months, Boss was running just that, six miles (or more on other days). He absolutely loved the early morning runs, however, Dustin thinks that running that much at such a young age may have stunted his growth. Because 65 pounds is small, right? Dustin says that he is “small for a Boxer.” If he’s small, I’d hate to own a large dog. So because of this, in order to let Gunner grow to his full potential (he is 10 months and already 60 pounds) I took it easy on the little guy through his youth

However, lack of experience or not, Gunner actually really surprised me today.   I was expecting a 1 minute run, followed by 1 minute of walking for about 30 minutes or so. Oh no, they had other plans.  Thirty minutes of straight running. No breaks allowed. Last time I play them for lazy fools!

Gunner was so excited to be included…

Now these two monsters have been silenced by exhaustion (and destroying our guest bed)…ahhhh, finally a little peace!

What about you? Do you like to exercise with your pups? More trouble than it’s worth or absolutely necessary? Absolutely necessary for these two!

Good health!

Ashley

The post A Double Boxer Run appeared first on The Gypsy Dietitian.