Cookie Butter and the Need for Speed

With the hundreds and thousands of diet, health, fitness, nutrition, lifestyle books that are littering the shelves of bookstores, sometimes it can be hard to parse through the crap and get to the good stuff. In my health journey (which started back in my junior year of highschool), I’ve waded through a lot of crap.

One of my favorite past-times used to be going to Barnes & Noble, plopping down with a pile of books, and pouring through them. I’ve read Atkins, South Beach, Skinny Bitch, Body for Life…you name it, I’ve probably read it!

I’ve gotten to the point in my life where I don’t adhere to any one specific way of eating, but rather apply lots of tenets from my own personal research that I’ve tested on myself. I prefer not to pigeonhole myself by saying I’m a blank-a-tarian, but rather try to get as many fresh vegetables and fruits into my body as much as possible. That’s simply what makes me feel like I’m at my absolute best!

I always love lending my favorite health books out or recommending them to people, because I believe it’s so important to educate yourself about the messy food industry and understand what exactly you’re putting in your body.

In no particular order, here are some of my favorite books and movies that deal with health, fitness, and the food industry.

Books

Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman
Thrive by Brendan Brazier
Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto by Michael Pollan
Food Matters by Mark Bittman
The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell
Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder
Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
Born to Run by Christopher McDougall
Wheat Belly by William Davis
Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko

Movies

Food, Inc.
Food Matters
Forks Over Knives
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

Hopping down off my soapbox now!

After work last night, I trekked a mile up to Trader Joe’s in Brooklyn (can’t wait to move so we live closer!) for a few items to help us limp through the rest of the grocery-less week. I picked up some necessities, and some treats.

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts
• Granny Smith apples
• Almond Butter
• Cookie Butter
• Sesame honey almonds
• Wasabi seaweed snacks

And dinner was a total mishmash of items in the fridge. I had a makeshift taco salad bowl with romaine, Mexican blend cheese, pinto beans, brown rice, and salsa.

With some roasted cauliflower on the side. What can I say? I get weird cravings. I seasoned it with extra virgin olive oil, garlic power, paprika, salt, pepper, onion power, and cajun spice. Delish!

This morning it was run time again! After knocking out 14 miles last Saturday, I’m super confident about running for the full half marathon, and am trying to work on speed now. This weekend, I’m on a mission to get to a track in Jersey City and do a legit speed workout.

I alternated my run this morning with 1/2 mile normal speed around 9:30/mile, then 1/2 mile around 8:30/mile. I switched back and forth for 4 miles and felt wonderful!

And after buying cookie butter from TJ’s last night, you KNOW I had to have some for breakfast! I drank a fresh juice first, then munched on 1/2 a grapefruit, then capped the meal off with a piece of Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin toast topped with cookie butter.

Un-freaking-real. Kman kept asking, “How does this stuff even EXIST?! It is SO GOOD!”

And at only 90 calories per tablespoon, it doesn’t even feel like a guilty treat! If you have self-control, I highly suggest picking up a jar…I think I’ll have to hide it from Kman so he doesn’t eat the entire jar.

After work, we’re headed to the East Village for dinner and a concert, so tonight should be super fun!

Question: Have you tried cookie butter? If not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

If you dig this, you might also enjoy: