Yesterday’s veggie pact is off to a great start already!
Guess whose breakfast included green peppers and onions?
Oh yes!
(And yes, I realize green peppers are technically a fruit, but whatever. They taste like a vegetable to me.)
For breakfast this morning I made myself a plate of scrambled eggs, using three eggs, shredded cheese, peppers, Canadian bacon and onions. I also ate a slice of slightly-burnt honey wheat toast.
One thing that a few of you mentioned in the comments section of yesterday’s post about why it can seem difficult to incorporate vegetables into your diet is the prep work involved with eating vegetables.
It’s easy to grab an apple or a stick of string cheese on the run, but taking the time to slice a pepper or roast broccoli can be a deterrent.
It’s kind of crazy because slicing a pepper takes all of a minute! Last night I took some time to slice up a bunch of fresh vegetables to make them easier to grab. This morning, I didn’t have to do any chopping and easily threw chopped peppers and onions into my scrambled eggs when I would usually leave them out because chopping veggies at 7 a.m. doesn’t sound like fun.
Perhaps taking some time to chop vegetables before I actually need them is the key for me?
Workout
Before breakfast Ryan and I hit the gym for a sweaty workout. After 20 minutes of cardio on the elliptical, I completed the following leg workout:
Though I don’t particularly love lunges or squats, today I decided that lunges are my least favorite leg exercise. Squats are hard but I feel powerful when I do them, whereas lunges make me feel all wobbly and weak. I guess I just need to do them more often and gain some pow-ah!
Time to cram in a couple of hours of writing before heading off to a lunchtime meeting with a local organization – my first attempt at volunteering in our new community! I’m doing my best to get a jump start on my 2012 personal goals!
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I used to be really good about slicing up peppers and putting them and carrots in individual snack bags for the week, so I would always have a veggie snack that I could grab and take with me. I found it super helpful!
I agree on lunges, I always fall sideways in the middle of a set! haha I probably look drunk while doing them or something. I love squats though. 🙂
I recently read an article that I can’t seem to find that suggested buying vegetables at the beginning of the week and cooking/roasting them all at once — that way you have prepared vegetables all ready, and they last longer! I tried it for the first time last night, and I’m pretty excited to get home to a meal that’s essentially already cooked, but isn’t leftovers 🙂 I recommend it highly.
Yum, your breakfast is similar to what I eat in the mornings! I love it because it keeps me full for a long time! I like the workout also, I need to try the dead lifts, I keep hearing about them!
I hate lunges too for that same exact reason! And you’re right about squats – they may suck but they make you feel strong. Stupid lunges…
Go veggies, go! 😉
I had no idea green peppers were a fruit..sounds like I’m not alone when reading the comments 🙂
Totally random, but I happened to see Sadie’s 2nd birthday video this morning- the ice cream vs. cheeseburger- too funny 😀
I had no idea peppers were a fruit!
Another good way to incorporate veggies when you are low on time is to buy the bird’s eye streamfresh bags were you can pop them in the microwave. They are on sale at Target now for $1 a bag!
That is exactly what we had for supper last night. I steamed a bunch of broccoli to serve on the side. It was a nice change to have breakfast for supper. Have a great day.
I was spending almost $3 for organic pre-cut carrots, but I could spend $.89 for uncut ones. I timed it last night…from the time I started (getting out supplies and what not) to being cleaned up, 5 minutes. I think I’ll save my $2.10, burn the extra 4 calories, and cut my own 🙂
News to me that peppers are a fruit! Also I so agree about lunges: they’re my nemesis…2 sets is all I can handle!
Julie you can also freeze chopped peppers and onions! I stock up when these items are on sale, chop them up and put them in Ziploc baggies with the date on them. Freeze, and you’ve got ready-to-go veggies for cooking! To thaw, just pop them in the microwave or sautee them in some olive oil and garlic…only takes a minute.
brilliant! seriously, great idea! thanks for sharing, laura!
this is when the dining hall comes in handy! all washed + chopped veggies available whenever you go 🙂
That is my favorite way to make scrambled eggs! Yours makes me want some now! I do the same thing as Laura and keep mine chopped and ready to go in the freezer. A lot of the time I will throw in some tomatoes or salsa too:)
I love chopping/prepping vegetables – it’s theraputic!
you’re crazy. 🙂
I agree! Unless I’m hungry… 🙂
That breakfast looks delicious!! And I had no idea that green peppers are a fruit! I am firmly on the side of them remaining a veggie.
I love the idea of freezing up some of the peppers for stirfrys or this egg scramble. I would have never thought of that before, so thank you Laura! I hate when I have had a crazy week and never ate the veggies so wind up tossing them. Now I can freeze them!
I really have to modify lunges because I have had several knee surgeries, but Physio said to keep up with what I can do, so I use my walking poles to balance me and take some of the weight off my legs while I lunge, so it doesn’t hurt. Seems to work, I really concentrate on the leg doing the work to ensure I get the most out of the move. They are so tough, but I feel like they are such a benefit that I want to keep doing them.
Peppers are a FRUIT? You just blew my mind with that one.
I looooooooooove eggs with peppers and onions.. my mom used to make that for an easy din some nights when i was little. Great photo by the way!
I just learned something new about peppers! hah! I still think it’s a vegetable though 😛 And I would have to agree on that IF I don’t get as many veggies in a day, then it’s probably b/c they’re not around (when I’m out and about and in a hurry), or I feel like I don’t have time to rinse them, chop them, and so forth.
I recently heard from a dietician that when you visualize your plate, half of it should be fruits and vegetables. That has really helped me try to incorporate more and more veggies.
totally agree. i’m tryin’! 🙂
I used to load my scrambled eggs on the weekends with red peppers and onions! It was always a favorite of mine!
I hate lunges !!!
I really need to cook some scrambled eggs too =)
When you post workouts like this, do you do the entire set once through and then repeat it 3 times to equal 3 sets? Or do you do 100 squats then move on to do 3 sets of deadlifts, and then 3 sets of glute push backs etc? Just curious!
i do each exercise completely (all sets) before moving on to the next!
I agree with the lunges vs squats now that i think about it actually. Maybe its just because I have poor balance. A little yoga would help maybe not necessarily more strength.
Wobbly lunges = weak gluteus medius and hip muscles! I have the same problem, so if you are wobbling it means you need to do them more to work on strengthening those muscles. Try doing a couple different types of lunges to mix it up (back lunges, side lunges, walking lunges) and do them consistently (3x a week if you can) and you will stop being wobbly in no time!!!
I hate lunges as well, but I figure if I hate doing them, they must be something I need to improve. So I get stuck in and get them over and done with 🙂 Makes me feel like a beast the next day when I am a bit tender!!
How did I not know that green peppers are a fruit?!
Peppers are technically a fruit?! My world is shattered! lol this is like when someone told me Pluto was no longer considered a planet 🙁
Wow – 100 squats! Are those bodyweight squats or are you using weight with those? (wowzers?!) Do you break it up into groups or just go until you get to 100?
My boyfriend made me the same breakfast this morning only instead of candanian bacon my eggs had chicken sausage in them with the green peppers and onions!
Lunges are definitely my favorite. Squats are hard, mostly because I don’t feel them as much where I want to feel ’em.
I never knew green peppers were a fruit and I love the idea of cutting/chopping them all the night before. I need to incorporate more veggies as well and I do pack all my meals beforehand, but I forget [raw] veggies… besides like spinach which is super easy.
You know what’s super easy? I just take a head of broccoli, wash it, and just rip them into florets with my bare hands (lol, i’m an animal, i know ;p ) but it’s really just the same as chopping it with a knife only much faster! then i put it into a big, microwaveable bowl, cover with a plate (but leave a slight crack), and microwave for 4-5 min. Once it’s done, I drizzle with apple cider vinegar, add some salt, and voila, I have a yummy, healthy, easy snack/side dish!