Three Tips for Race Week

After six months of training and waiting, the week of our Ten Miler race is finally here! The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Ten Miler is this coming Saturday and we begin running at ten a night! 

The week leading up to a race is important for race day performance. Though this race is a 'fun run' and not a competitive event, it is still important to practice healthy habits all week long! Do these things all week for a happy and healthy race day!

just three days 'til race weekend begins! 

Toasted Marshmallow and Butternut Squash Bake

We are seriously obsessed with the fall season.  Fall brings delicious food but that doesn't mean you have to cut on taste or cheat your diet.  Butternut squash is super healthy and is perfect to bring into your fall food list.  This gourd is low in fat and high in potassium and vitamin A.  Due to the antioxidant levels, the butternut squash can actually help prevent inflammation; perfect for those after-workouts when you worked out just a little too hard! 

Try our new butternut squash dessert recipe for some fall fun! 

Weekend Abs

Happy Saturday everyone! Hope you are enjoying your weekend so far-it's going to be a great one!

Weekends are crucial to maintaining your healthy habits. By incorporating weekend activities with friends and family, it helps to stay on track and motivate you to keep it up through the week.

That's why we created a short and sweet weekend workout for you that is easy to fit in on your busy schedule! Grab your friends for this ab workout that will keep you fit all weekend long!

started our morning with a walk and a PSL

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

It's true what they say, "you are what you eat".  So why not eat healthy?  Eating healthy doesn't have to be gross or boring.  It can actually be quite fun trying to mix and create your own flavors.  You are going to love these sweet potatoes that have a kick!

Sweet Potatoes are known for their super high-levels of beta-carotene and Vitamin C.  Our bodies actually transform beta-carotene into Vitamin A (which is an essential nutrient).  Vitamin A is great for healthy skin, a healthy immune system, and for good eyesight!  So eat your sweet potatoes!

Did you know? Sweet potatoes are actually a great post-workout snack because they provide you with vitamins and antioxidants but are naturally carbohydrate dense.  This makes it a better choice than, let's say bread. 

 Roasted Sweet Potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar (we use Splenda brown sugar blend)
dash of cayenne pepper (can substitute for cinnamon if you don't want it so spicy)

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

2. Cut the sweet potato into thin slices 

3. Put sweet potatoes, olive oil, brown sugar, and cayenne in a bowl and mix together (we prefer to use our hands as the mixer!)

4. Lay out on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-15 mins or until the sweet potatoes are fork tender!

YUM!

We served our sweet potatoes with asparagus and our homemade, healthy pulled pork.  
What did you serve these sweet potatoes with? Comment below and let us know!

XOXO,
J&L

Pushing Through Tough Workouts

Keeping your motivation strong through each and every workout is usually easier said than done.  Motivating yourself to workout can be hard enough-then how do you motivate to keep going through a tough workout. 

Today, around mile two (of my four mile run), I realized my battery was dangerously low on my iPod Shuffle. I was really in my stride and jamming to an awesome playlist, when my iPod quit on me-I was halfway through my workout and felt my motivate die with my iPod! I kept going, but was completely thrown off. How was I supposed to continue my run when I was over two miles from home and I totally lost my motivation? 

needed a better excuse than a dead iPod to stop!

Post-Run Snacking

Two of the best feelings after a run is 1. Accomplishing that run and 2. Treating yourself to a refreshing snack post-workout. Getting through that tough run does a body good, so be sure to nourish yourself with the right foods and drinks!

Your post-run snack should be a mix of proteins and the right carbohydrates. With lots of healthy options, which kind of snack is the right one to choose?

one of our favorite post-workout snack. don't forget that water ;)

Chicken Slider Burgers

Sometimes when I'm grocery shopping I like to look for new, fun products that will change up my dinner menu.  This week when shopping at Publix, I discovered these pre-made chicken patties!   

They are perfect when you have that burger craving and want a healthy option!  They also cook great on an outdoor or indoor grill. 

We recommend putting these chicken sliders on healthy whole wheat buns and topping with lettuce, tomato, and onion. (If you are looking to splurge, add a little cheese for an extra treat!) Mmmmm.  They have 4 grams of fat per serving, which is TWO WHOLE BURGERS!  

This brand is excellent because not only is it excellent for you, but these chickens are naturally-farmed raised and have an all vegetarian diet.  You can find this great product, here!

Let us know if you tried these awesome chicken burgers and what you thought of them!

XOXO, 
J&L

Setting and Achieving Goals

Whether you are a beginner to running or a seasoned marathoner, training plans are essential for race day success. By setting a goal and working towards it, you stay on track and are motivated to accomplish whatever is at the finish line!

I signed up for my first big race in August 2012 for a half marathon- that was just less six months away from the big race day! As intimidating as a race sounds, I set my goal, focused, and achieved my it! With hard work and determination you can do anything you want!

one of my favorite inspirational quotes

The key to accomplishing your health and fitness goals is to start small. Beginning with a mammoth of a goal can seem daunting and overwhelming. You know that you want to give your diet a makeover? Start by adding veggies to every meal. Want to up your weekly milage? Run an extra five minutes longer than your normal run. By thinking short term versus long term, you are more likely to stick to your motives and achieve what you want! Your smaller, short term goals help you tackle that big obstacle that you are working for!

in just two weeks until we'll be running past this bad boy

After my first half marathon I was hooked! I quickly set another goal I wanted to accomplish. I signed up for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Ten Miler Weekend at Disney World this fall; this big goal helped me achieve my smaller, day-to-day goals. The race is in just two weeks! :)

What goals have you set for yourself? Share your progress with us!

XOXO,

L&J

Shrimp Stir-fry

This week we have an excellent recipe that is super easy and healthy for dinner!  Tonight we are cooking up some healthy chinese and it is delicious!!  If you are in a hurry and want to keep the calories low then you will love our Stir-fry recipe.  For one serving, this stir fry only contains 348 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and has 20 grams of protein! WHAT?!?

Shrimp Stir-fry
makes about 3 servings

1/2 package of whole grain Udon noodles (we used these, and you can pick them up at whole foods!)
20-25 large raw shrimp
3 cups of frozen stir-fry veggies
3 tablespoons of sesame ginger marinade
olive oil, as needed


In a large pot, boil the noodles according to the packaging.

In a wok or saute pan, heat a dime-sized amount of olive oil in a pan.  Add in frozen veggies and just cook until they start to heat up.  Toss in shrimp and cook until pink.  Toss in Udon noodles and the marinade sauce.

Cook just until everything is mixed nicely together.

Dinner is served!



We added shrimp to ours.  If shrimp isn't your thing, feel free to add lean white-meat chicken breast and cut up into bite-sized pieces!

Also, if you are watching your sodium, simply use your favorite low-sodium sauce in place of the sesame ginger marinade... or simply cut the sauce out (I promise it's still delicious!)

Comment below if you tried the recipe and tell us what you thought:)

XOXO,
J&L

National Yoga Month

We are well into the fall season and that brings some of our favorite things, like autumn veggies, cooler weather, and National Yoga Month! Celebrate this healthy healing practice all month long, as September is the month for yoga. 

our cute yoga partner

Yoga can be intimidating for beginners and people who have never tried it before. Practice does make perfect, so be sure to try just a couple of poses a few times a week. It can also b tricky picking out the gear that is right for you. Your clothes should be really comfortable, allowing for maximum movement and breathability. It is important to find your favorites so you can fully enjoy this exercise.

In honor of National Yoga Month, I want to share with you some of my favorite gear and yoga essentials, that make practicing yoga a breeze! For all my favorites, read on below!

Stuffed Mushrooms

What could be more perfect on game day than stuffed mushrooms?  Let me answer that for you.  Absolutely nothing.  If you like mushrooms as much as we do then you will love our healthy and easy recipe for stuffed mushrooms.  These 'shrooms are perfect not only as a fun appetizer but can also be a great as a side dish.

Watch out these mushrooms go fast!

Stuffed Mushrooms

14 baby bella mushrooms
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon basil
1/2 tsp parsley 
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons olive oil 
Salt
Pepper

Preheat over to 400 degrees.

Wash mushrooms and cut stem out, dry off mushrooms with a paper towel.

In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, basil, parsley, garlic powder, and salt & pepper.  Add in olive oil and mix with hands until the mixture is crumbly but sticks together.  (Use more or less olive oil depending on consistency)

Put about a tablespoon of filling in the cavities of the mushrooms.  

Bake for about 12-15 minutes and when filling has turned golden brown. 

Let cool and enjoy!

Not Bad!!!

Share with us if you have any great, healthy stuffed mushroom recipes!


XOXO, 
J&L

Your 5k Running Playlist

I'm always looking for new music to add to my playlists for all of my runs. Studies show that when you workout to a pumped up playlist, you have a better workout performance.

This playlist is perfect for running a 5k race or for just fitting in a three mile run.

What songs are on your favorite workout playlist?

XOXO,
L&J

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by A Bite of Fitness, your all in one stop for fresh and healthy recipes, new and fun workouts, and inspirations for living a healthy lifestyle!  We're committed to living a healthy, happy life and want to share that with all of you! Here, you'll find a community of people of all ages, hoping to work towards a happy life! 

Together, with the A Bite of Fitness community, we can motivate, share, and experience this as a fun and supportive group. Share your stories with each other, explore the site, and get moving!

You always have room for a bite!

XOXO, 
Lindsay and Jackie

Butternut Squash Ravioli

One of the great things about getting into fall is all of the delicious, healthy winter squash that are available during this season.  One of my absolute favorites is butternut squash.  You can do so much with it; make dessert, make soup, roast it, and even use it as filling for ravioli!

We went shopping at Whole Foods this past weekend, and let me say if you have never been you need to go.  We decided to pick up something easy and healthy for dinner: 

Walking with Intervals

Even though both Lindsay and I enjoy running as a workout, sometime's it's just as great to give those sore and tired muscles a break. That's why in today's workout, we decided to implement intervals to a nice relaxing walk. By switching up your running and walking routines, you'll feel more motivated, burn more calories, and see great results. We find that when we workout with intervals, our next run times are faster, our muscles are less tired, and we are more energized. 

Our Three Mile Walk with Intervals:

After this interval training, we did a strength training workout for our abs. It's important to integrate cardio with strength training.


Our town has great running and biking trails that allow us to switch up our routes continually.  The trails are really scenic and relaxing, perfect for any outdoor training!

• Do you prefer indoor or outdoor training?

XOXO

L&J

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus

If you are looking for a tasty appetizer or snack that doesn't pack a whole ton of calories, look no further! With only 88 calories per serving and 7 grams of protein, this snack is the right choice.  Jackie and I enjoyed making these as an appetizer for game night!  They are perfect because they cure that salty and crunchy craving.

If you have never had prosciutto before, it's the perfect replacer for bacon.  It's healthier in that it is not as fatty as bacon and has a whole ton of flavor, meaning you can use less and get all the flavor you need.  Prosciutto is also delicious eaten uncooked or crispy!  It has been dry-cured so it is perfectly safe to eat without heating it up.

Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus:

1/2 bunch of asparagus

1/4 pound of thin sliced prosciutto

pepper, to taste

olive oil, as needed

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Wrap each asparagus with a piece of prosciutto.

Line asparagus in a baking dish.

Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with pepper. 

Bake until the asparagus are fork tender.

Hope you enjoy our healthy appetizer recipe!  Let us know if you tried it and if you enjoyed as much as we do!

XOXO,

J and L

Hydrate!

One of the biggest tips for staying fit and healthy is to up your daily water intake. With so many benefits of sipping this drink daily, it is important to make sure you know how much your body needs.

We know that drinking water is not the most exciting beverage to drink all day every day, so you have to make it exciting! With our calorie free and simple to make fruit water recipes, you won't be able to put it down!

strawberry mint infused water-receipe below!

Lemon Roasted Chicken

For our first recipe post, we wanted to feature a really fresh, simple, but impressive recipe that is a cinch to make! As we are into the fall season, we thought this recipe for Lemon Roasted Chicken would be perfect for a comforting meal that makes you ready to embrace the cooler temps.

look at that beautiful brown color

Find our Lemon Chicken recipe after the jump!