Halloween Candy under 100 Calories

If you are anything like me, the only appealing thing about Halloween is the excuse to have a few extra pieces of candy. Preferably guilt-free.

I am also a chocoholic-and I am assuming you are too.

Here's the breakdown of the good stuff.

1 snack size Almond Joy: 91 calories

1 Reese's Cup:87.6 calories

3 Hershey Kisses: 90 calories

1 fun size pack of M&M's: 73 calories

It's Halloween; you can have as many pieces as you want. 100 calories is just an easy number to calculate by.They only sell Reese's pumpkins once a year, so enjoy them while you can!

kitchen sink cookies

Today a first happened: I developed a recipe while I was running.

I made the cookies as soon as I showered afterwards while the recipe was fresh in my brain.

Here they are:

Kitchen Sink Cookies

because they contain everything in your kitchen

yields about 40 cookies

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal

coconut

chocolate chips

dried cranberries

Mix applesauce, yogurt and sugars together.

Add in eggs.

Add in baking soda and salt.

Add the flour until just mixed in.

Stir in the oatmeal.

Fold in the coconut, chocolate chips and cranberries.

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

My favorite part of these cookies is the color.

They taste pretty good too. 

camping aka how not to stay fit and full

This weekend was a good one, and boy am I feeling it today!

I went camping with a group of girls from CRU and it was a lot of fun.

I don't think I can justify how much I ate on the trip, but it's okay.

Everything in moderation, right?!

We had something I had never heard of before for dinner... "mountain pies"

not my picture.

I was glad that there weren't hot dogs and hamburgers and this was an interesting choice!

I put cheese and sauce in mine-how boring.

We also made dessert ones with chocolate and marshmellows.

They were heavenly!

great friends.

3 of us are nutrition majors!

Only three more weeks until race day and I missed my long run this weekend! I am trying not to get too nervous about race day. I did it last year so I know that I can do it, but it's coming quickly!!

letting go

As always in October, I spent a lot of time reflecting on the last three years of my life. I also spent a lot of time this month being sad because I was thinking about a time in my life that was so heart-breaking for me. Do you know what I realized?

I need to let the past go.

I had fooled myself into thinking that I let it go, but the truth is that when I eat too much or get a bad grade on a test, you're not good enough comes back into my head. When I see a guy that I want to talk to, you are boring plays in my ear and I don't.

I still hear all of the things that he said to me years ago.

The feeling of being inadequate has plagued me ever since he left.

Want to know a secret?

I run about 30 miles a week, yet I don't consider myself a runner.

I ran a marathon and am going to run another and I don't consider myself a runner.

WHY?!

Because I'm not the fastest and I'm not the best.

It's the sad, honest truth and I need to get over it.

I have somehow cemented into my brain that since I wasn't good enough for him, I am not good enough period.

This is a lie and I have believed it for exactly three years.

Today, October 25, 2013, I am letting it go.

I am good enough and I am going to keep my face towards the sunshine.

--

Do you have anything that you need to let go?

secret weapon: applesauce

It's no secret that I love applesauce.

I put it on my dinner every night.

Pizza? Chili? A sandwich?

It's good on everything.

After 20 years of experience, I have discovered the best time to have applesauce:

while running.

When I was training for my first race, everyone told me to have gels or drink Gatorade after an hour. I couldn't stomach either of those while running, so I researched.

I read on SkinnyRunner about how she fuels with candy or anything to keep her blood sugar up.

The next time I went on a long run, I brought a pouch of applesauce and the rest is history.

*I like to keep them in the freezer and then take them out when I start running. It will be mostly thawed after an hour or so when you need it.*

What do you refuel with?

Helping the hungry

Last month I read an article in that has stayed with me. It seems that each week, my eyes have been opened to more hunger than I would have noticed in the past.

In high school, volunteering at a soup kitchen or food pantry was required on multiple occasions.

I enjoyed the experience, but once I fulfilled the requirements I was out of there.

My life (and priorities!) have changed now and I am anxious to get back to helping others.

The holiday season is among us and how sad is it that 842 MILLION people in the world don't have enough to eat?

They are sad truths, but we can help.

Tomorrow begins my first day at the local food bank, and I am excited to make a difference.

You can too! 

To find a food bank near you, go here

 hunger stats

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Women's Health Wednesday

I loved Carrie Underwood on this month's Women's Health!

An article that made me think was How to Live in the Now by Tori Rodriguez.

This addressed an issue that I am so guilty of, and a huge reason why I haven't had time to blog!

anxiety.

The article talks about being mindful of thoughts and actions.

"Mindfulness means letting your thoughts come and go without rushing to figure out what they mean" (pg. 88).

I am not going to lie-I have been dealing with an extreme amount of anxiety this month.

I randomly burst into tears and my eating and sleeping habits are getting out of order.

What is most irritating is that I cannot figure out the cause of this anxiety.

Reading How to Live in the Now inspired me to take time out of each day to meditate or do some yoga. I pray each day, but I think that meditating is different. Focusing on the now instead of what will I do when I graduate?! Will hopefully help me to ease these anxiety symptoms.

Do you have any tricks for relieving anxiety?

TRY IT: desert pepper salsa

I have found the perfect salsa and I feel it necessary to share with you.

Beware: this has a little spice (which I love) but some people don't.

I  love it and think you will too:)

not a sponsored post-this stuff is just amazing.

you can't do everything

Hi there! It's been a while, hasn't it?

Honestly, I have had nothing to contribute food or health wise.

I also have had zero time to even log into blogger! 

It's crazy actually having a life and things to do.

This month has been a lesson for me.

Between marathon training, Girls on the Run, trying to get awesome grades and also a social life...I am being stretched to the limits. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving break in a month!

Hopefully I will be back here soon!

late to the party

Call me crazy, but it took me twenty years to discover that I love peanut butter!

I never hated it but it wasn't something I would crave.

Now I need a little every day in order to ensure happiness :)

Why is peanut butter good for us?

1. Monounsaturated fat: the good kind!

2. Vitamin E, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B6.

3. Packed with fiber & protein to keep us feeling full.

I'm not saying you should eat a whole jar of PB, but a little each day is perfectly acceptable. My favorite way to eat it is on banana slices with some dark chocolate chips and coconut. YUM!

October in Massachusetts

This weekend I went to visit my twin sister in Massachusetts.

Each time I visit I want to move up there! 

Friday night we had dinner in the city 

On Saturday we ran the Women's Health RUN 10 FEED 10 race.

I loved running in Boston! I want to move here one day just to run. It was glorious!

Later we went apple picking and a relaxing rest of the weekend. 

One of the (un-pictured) highlights of my weekend was giving Rachel some cooking lessons. We may be twins, but we are very different! Cooking is my passion and it's....not hers. She has been known to start frequent microwave fires while trying to melt chocolate chips.

It was a fun weekend and even better-I still have two days off from school.

I am excited to get back into blogging and spend time with the rest of my family!

stress-eating

Have you ever been so stressed that you wake up in the middle of the night and eat half a box of crackers with peanut butter?

Yeah....neither have I. 

Want to know what I have discovered over the past few days?

I am a major stress-eater.

I know I can't be the only one!

The worst part about it is never feeling full. 

I did some research and here are five filling options for when you are feeling stressed.

1. Asparagus: contains folic acid, a mood stabilizer.

2. Almonds: Vitamin E, which helps to fight free radicals (BAD!) that come along with stress.

3.Salmon: contains Omega-3 fatty acids that boost brain function, helping you cope effectively.

4. Dark Chocolate: aids endorphin production

5. Drink water & go for a walk: fresh air and a cool drink can get your blood moving and kick your endorphins into high gear.

Tyra knows what's up!

I don't know about you...but I think I am going to reach for a piece of dark chocolate next time I am stressed. 

October 1

For the past few years, this month has been particularly rough for me. 

I am determined to make this one great and enjoy it with friends and family.

I am welcoming October this year!