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in Nutrition, Recipes, Running, Wine · August 20, 2014

Pan Seared Pork Chops with Butternut Squash and Asparagus

I’m back with my second edition of “What I Ate Wednesday” thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayons!

This week I’ll be sharing what I ate on Monday (my first day of marathon training) keeping it as close to Paleo as possible. If you make it to the end you will find a recipe for Monday’s dinner! (pork chops, butternut squash, and asparagus)

What I Ate on Monday:

Monday was a harder run day- I actually had to already make changes to my schedule but since it was only week 1 it’s not a big deal. I realized I couldn’t get a 13 miler in on Saturday without waking up at 4am…which I didn’t want to do since I will be expected to stay up late on Saturday night. (I’m heading to NYC for one of my best friend’s bachelorettes parties!) Anyway, I figured I would rather get up really early on Friday to do 13 before work, and get a good night’s sleep on Friday night. So I moved my harder days to Monday and Wednesday instead of Tuesday and Thursday like I had planned. Anyway…back to the food!
 
Breakfast
 I woke up at 5 and drank water, coffee, and nuun, and ate a banana while I got ready to run.
prerun
 
I warmed up and got out the door within about 30 minutes.  I ran 6.5 miles: 1 mile warm up, 3 at marathon goal pace, and then 1.5 mile of hill repeats and a cool down mile. Garmin was being silly again so tried to run off feel.
When I got home I did the myrtle routine and then made a smoothie and drank more water at 7am:
smothie Smoothie had banana, raspberries, spinach, ginger, almond butter, glucose, and orange juice.
 
I spent some time foam rolling and then showered and got ready for work. Then I made breakfast around 8am (or breakfast #3 but who’s counting?)
eggs 2 eggs, nitrate free bacon, plantains, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. With more water and more coffee.
 
Snack
Around 10:30 I got hungry and ate a pear at work.
 
pear
Lunch
 
Lunch was around 12:15. Salad with spring mix, flat iron steak, tomatoes, cucumber, olive oil and balsamic
 
salad

Followed by some grapes

grapes

And blueberries a few hours later

blueberries

Around 3:30 I had almonds, cashews and raisins while driving to the chiropractor

nuts Dinner

I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with the pork chops I had planned for dinner, but I came up with a recipe that I thought came out really well! Dinner was eaten around 6:30:

This easy and healthy meal only takes 30 minutes! Flavorful pork chops with healthy veggies make this into a well-rounded dish that the whole family will enjoy.

Pork chops, butternut squash, asparagus, with some (natural, no sugar added) applesauce on the side. Oh yea, and a glass of sauvignon blanc with dinner:) Then around 8 I had a black bean brownie:

brownie

So, now for the recipe I promised:

[yumprint-recipe id=’5′] 
 


Do you like to snack as much as I do?
Do you eat differently on days you have tough workouts versus days you have easy runs?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele @ paleorunningmomma says

    August 20, 2014 at 9:30 am

    I love that you had 3 “breakfasts” since that really shows how it’s smart to replenish fuel as you go to recover well from workouts. That’s something I only started doing recently.

    I also find myself looking at my training plan and knowing I’ll have to switch days around for a few things. Trying not to stress about it since I know it can always be worked out. Plus then all the unknown stuff that comes up….

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:21 am

      I actually used to always eat more at night, and I have learned that with morning workouts now I usually eat more in the morning…or spread it out better throughout the day.

  2. Lisa says

    August 20, 2014 at 10:26 am

    I love when it is warmer as I love having fruity snacks throughout the day as well! And a black bean brownie sounds interesting!

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:22 am

      I have been really enjoying the fruit this summer! I’m hoping to continue finding good fruits to eat even when the weather gets cooler.

  3. Chrissy @Pink Polish and Running Shoes says

    August 20, 2014 at 10:26 am

    That salad you had for lunch looks really good! I love putting steak on top of salad.

  4. Lacey@fairytalesandfitness says

    August 20, 2014 at 12:02 pm

    All looks yummy. So you can have wine on paleo?

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:22 am

      It was great! Lately steak has been my favorite protein for a salad. Im just kind of tired of chicken, I think.

  5. Cat says

    August 20, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    I do enjoy snacking, just not as much as I used to. Depends how bored I am! Now I’m seriously eyeing up the black bean brownie… and wanting a snack 😉 Recipe?

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:24 am

      I find that boredom does play a role in my snacking, as well as how big my meals are. And I can’t take credit for the brownies- I got the recipe from Amy @ The Little Honey Bee: http://thelittlehoneybee.com/2013/07/09/black-bean-brownies/

  6. Salt says

    August 20, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    You had me at pork chops and asparagus.
    I totally forgot it was WIAW…otherwise known as the day I visit blogs and become starving. This all looks delicious and I think that might be the prettiest pear I’ve ever seen!

    I definitely eat differently on my tough workout days. And by differently, I mean a whole lot more.

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:25 am

      I was actually really excited that my pear stayed green and pretty for the picture- typically they can bruise so easily! And its probably a good thing to eat more on hard workout days, we gotta refuel our muscles, right?!

  7. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    August 20, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    I love how you eat–like me, it is how many meals can I fit in in a day!

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:26 am

      Oh yes, like every 2-3 hours its time to eat!

  8. Kelsey @ The Primal Yogi says

    August 20, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    I think working in the corporate world you are just bound to eat more little snacks throughout the day. It definitely comes out of boredom and habit for me. The busier I am the less I snack. And yes the days I work out harder I am hungrier and also feel I can allow myself to just eat more!

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:27 am

      Agree about the boredom and snacking, but for me its also how big my meals are. When I get really busy at work sometimes I just miss snacks but then I might eat more at a meal. I think on tough workout days its expected that our bodies might need more food, and we should listen to that:)

  9. Michael Anderson says

    August 20, 2014 at 4:20 pm

    Great collection of food! I like your ‘as close as possible’ approach to Paleo – I tend to find I am about 75% Paleo and 75% Vegan, but a little that is neither 🙂

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:30 am

      Hm that’s pretty interesting since isn’t paleo pretty far off from vegan? But yea, I couldn’t expect myself to be 100% paleo…I need to leave room for some other stuff that I like! And most days now I just naturally eat the paleo stuff and don’t really think about it…but occasionally when I eat something that I’m not used to anymore I realize I don’t feel my best. It’s really shown me the benefit of eating less sugar and processed foods!

      • Michael Anderson says

        August 26, 2014 at 6:07 pm

        Actually I don’t think they are really all that different – both are focused on whole, real foods, and center around getting loads of nutrients through vegetables and fruits. Vegan doesn’t eat meat but does eat pasta and grains, Paleo doesn’t eat pasta and grains. But it is pretty easy to navigate something like a spaghetti squash dinner that is both vegan and paleo. There doesn’t HAVE to be meat for Paleo. 🙂

  10. Nicole@TheGirlWhoRanEverywhere says

    August 20, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    One of these days I’m going to make your black bean brownies! I think a little part of me is scared bc it’s black beans lol!!

  11. Lily @ Lily Runs the World says

    August 20, 2014 at 6:15 pm

    I need to put plantains in an egg scramble, that sounds so good!

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:30 am

      I only tried it recently, and its so good!

  12. Sara says

    August 20, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    That is my favorite way to prepare asparagus. I’ll have to try butternut squash that way.

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Its really easy to roast the squash and asparagus together! (I love cooking in ways that save time and dishes:))

  13. meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles says

    August 20, 2014 at 7:52 pm

    I always laugh because I eat at least two breakfasts by 9:00 am while most people haven’t even had one.

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:32 am

      I know! I always have at least 2, but I’ve really turned into more of a morning eater, which I have actually found helps to tame my appetite throughout the day.

  14. Hailey says

    August 20, 2014 at 8:45 pm

    Butternut squash is amazing! I like it with a little bit of apple pie spice on it too. I do eat different on hard workout days as compared to the other days. I’m a big fan of eggs (your egg scramble looks delicious!) after or a big bowl of greek yogurt with homemade granola and fruit. I’m not a huge snacker, I’m more of a big breakfast, small lunch, big dinner type of person, but I’ll eat some fruit or trail mix in between every once in a while. I’ve never had steak in salad before, but that sounds REALLY good. 🙂

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:33 am

      Mmm butternut squash and apple pie spice makes me think of Thanksgiving! I always have snacks on hand, but how much of them I eat depends on how busy I am and how big my meals were. Steak is my new favorite thing to put in salad! I think because I like it cold, so its easy to pack for lunch and bring to work.

  15. Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says

    August 21, 2014 at 12:52 am

    Looks like a good day of eating! You are a fruit fan just like me…I can’t get enough of pears, nectarines and berries!

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:34 am

      I have been loving the fruit lately! But I do need to try to branch out a little, maybe I will give nectarines a try!

  16. gIselle says

    August 21, 2014 at 2:56 am

    Sounds and looks like you’re fueling your body so well during marathon training! Lots of yummy eats! I never think to put plantains in my egg scrambles. I usually just sauté them in coconut oil and cinnamon then top them with coconut butter. So good!

    • [email protected] says

      August 21, 2014 at 10:36 am

      Wow your plantains sound really good! I never ate them at all until a couple months ago. I usually cook them in oil or alongside bacon and then take them off the pan when they’re done, and add them back in after everything else is cooked.

  17. Next Level Wellness says

    September 27, 2014 at 7:31 am

    Wow, you really have a good diet. Keep it up! It’s good you go to a chiropractic regularly. Chiropractic helps a lot in preventing injuries plus also improves fitness results.

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Just over here taking a mid-run break to wring out Just over here taking a mid-run break to wring out my shirt and hair 🥵 Seriously the amount of sweat on this run was unbelievable thanks to a dew point of 75. Have I just blocked out summers like this or is this one worse than usual? Honestly though I’d still take this over the cold!

Are you over the heat yet this year? I think it’s the humidity that’s really getting to me!

#run #runner #runnersofinstagram #summmerrunning
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#run #runner #runnersofinstagram #runchat #vacation
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Parking was easy, but it was a long walk to and from my car! (In past years I had parked closer but there was a ton of traffic coming and going)

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I didn’t bring my own water and wish I did! I needed it due to the weather and the water stops really slowed me down.

My watch never lined up with the mile markers. For some miles it was far ahead and others it was far behind. But overall my watch read 10.09 so it wasn’t too far off overall. 

Hard iced tea is a nice post race option. They also had hard lemonade and Heineken. (A few sips was good enough for me though)

Spring races < Fall races!

What’s the best post run beverage you’ve gotten after a race?

#run #runner #runchat #runbaltimore #baltimore10miler
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