Tuesday's Eats: An Easy, Healthy Overnight Trip

One of my favorite trips to take in the summer is little day trips to Door County. I have been going to Door County for as long as I can remember, but there never fails to be something new to do or try (or taste). The thing with these day trips is that they can get expensive if you go out to eat for every meal. This can easily happen when you aren't prepared. I have learned over the years how to pack food to make my trip healthy, delicious and easy. This way I save some money, or at least then go out for nicer food, and I make sure that I feel good the whole time. Here is an example of what I ate on my last little Door County day trip. 

My mom and I got there in time for lunch. We had planned on going out to eat for this meal, so we made our way up to Ephriam to Chef's Hat. I had this tuna salad with berries. I typically get a salad for lunches at restaurants because they are more likely to be gluten free, then if I got anything else. When trying to not go out to eat that often when traveling, I do make sure that whatever I order is something that will fill me up for a while. Sadly, I didn't really like this salad but I still make sure to eat enough to be full. 

 After going on a hike and lounging at a beach, my mom and I were getting hungry. We weren't quite in the mood to go back to my grandparents condo, but we didn't have any snacks with us. We decided we would get tapas at Parador in Egg Harbor. I had the roasted cauliflower with goat cheese, and she got anchovy toasts. This was the highlight of the trip

We always make sure to plan out our meals ahead of time, so this time we brought up black currants, red onion, tomatoes and lettuce with the plan of picking up some sort of fish. This way all we had to pick up was the fish, instead of running around the grocery store buying everything for a meal. We got better quality produce this way, and also saved a bunch of money as the grocery there is expensive. This dinner was really easy and tasty. It was my first time trying currants as well, and I have to say didn't think I would like them as much as I did. 

When going to Door County we hadn't decided if we wanted to eat breakfast out, or stay at home so all we packed for breakfast was peaches. Stopping at our favorite farm market made that choice for us as they had strawberries,  raspberries and cherries. We always buy things on our way home, so we just decided to pick it up a day early and make parfaits instead. For this meal we did buy the granola and yogurt, but it had already been planed to buy Door County Love granola as my mom really likes it. This just meant we had to add yogurt onto our grocery list... not too bad. 

We always make sure to plan to make one lunch, so this time we make pasta salad. We brought up all of the veggies and dried pasta, so all I had to do in the morning was cook the pasta and mix it all together. This could easily have been made the day before as well, but I ran out of time. I love picnics for lunch so we went to Sister Bay for the morning, and ended it with a delightful picnic near the harbor. This goes to show packing a lunch does't need to be hard to be good. 

 Its rare that my mom and I go on any type of trip without going out for coffee or ice cream. This time we both had a sweet tooth after our lunch, so we decided to head farther north to Door County Ice Cream Factory. All of the ice cream there is homemade, which isn't the case for most places around.  I had the mocha chip ice cream and it was to die for. It was so tempting to go back inside to get more ice cream just because it tasted that good. I already know I will be stopping back here on my next trip. 

Planning ahead can help save a lot of time and money when traveling anywhere. Whether it is someplace new or somewhere you've been hundreds of times, bringing some of your own food can make your life so much easier. By mixing up our meals between going out and homemade meals consisting of things from home, it still keeps the trip a treat with the meals out, but also lets you have a couple less expensive meals in the comfort of home or a rental. 

Until next time, 

Madeleine 

Tuesday's Eats: Too Much Produce?

This week has better a little different for me as my family went on vacation so I have been just cooking for myself. I wasn't able to go with them this year since I still am not allowed to fly after surgery. I've really been loving the chance to spend some time alone and also just to cook for myself. One thing I wasn't expecting was to be overloaded with so many veggies. Between the farmers market, our CSA and garden there are too many veggies, especially leafy greens, for one person to possibly consume. This day is just full of me trying to each as much produce as possible. 

Breakfast: Zucchini Oatless Oats (recipe) w/ Strawberries and a Peach 

I am been eating scrambled eggs with kale almost daily, but I really didn't want to eat scrambled eggs again this morning. Coming up with breakfast ideas that are high protein but not eggs is hard for me. This oatless oatmeal still involves egg whites, but it at least doesn't taste like it. It was also a great way to use up zucchini and strawberries I had lying around. The recipe seems so weird, but it was surprisingly good. 

Lunch: Shrimp w/ Kale, Roasted Cauliflower, Edamame, Cucumber, Tomato and Red Pepper

Lunches are where I really go for trying to eat a lot of veggies. As you've seen before, I chose a protein source and then make a salad around it. We had leftover red pepper from something my sister made so it wasn't local and the edamame was frozen, but other than that everything is from around me... even the cauliflower! 

All Afternoon: Kombucha

It has been so hot recently that I have needed to drink tons of water. When it gets warm I've found I'll drink more if I change up my beverages. This week I had a lot of iced tea, iced coffee, infused water and kombucha. Today was kombucha for a treat, but I have been liking to make infused waters with the remnants of leftover fruits and cucumber. As much as I love kombucha, I don't love spending the money so infused water is a cheap way to change it up. 

Snack: Yogurt w/ Flaxseeds, Strawberries and Cherries

 I was starting to get hungry about an hour before I wanted to start making dinner so I just cut up cherries and strawberries, added a dollop of Greek Yogurt and then sprinkled on flaxseeds to make a small, balanced snack. I was so excited to find cherries at my farmers market this weekend that I couldn't stop myself from buying more produce. Door County cherries are still a little bit aways seasonally, but these were grown near me and managed to hit the spot. 

Dinner: Chicken Tacos w/ Cassava Tortillas, Tomatoes  and "Broccomole" (recipe)  along with Greens sautéed in Salsa

I have been loving the website Well and Good recently, and the other day I found the recipe for the Broocomole. I was skeptical, but had leftover steamed broccoli to use up. I also wanted to try my new tortillas from Sieste Foods, so I figured tacos would be the best way to use both. These tacos were really easy. I just cooked some chicken in spices and then added the toppings. In attempt to use up some kale and Swiss chard I had around the house, I just decided to sauté it in salsa to keep with the Mexican theme. I thought it would be weird but it turned out to be really good. I will definitely be making it again next time I have tacos. 

Dessert: Bruleed Peach w/ Vanilla Ice Cream 

I have been eating so many peaches recently (no complaints here). I was really wanting some dessert. These peaches were just but under the broiler with a little melted butter and sugar on top. It was a super simple, summery dessert that is both relatively healthy while still fulfilling my craving for something sweet after dinner. 

Until next time, 

Maddie 

10 Easy Ways to Get Outside This Summer

There is no better time to be able to enjoy the outdoors than during the summer. As I write this I am sitting on my couch wishing I could be outside doing something other than reading or watching TV. I normally try to be really active and make the most of summer. Until now, I had not realized how many great ways there are to be outside, some I can do right now and some I can't. No matter what your activity level is, there are always ways to be outside and make the most of the weather. 

Eat Al Fresco

Eating outside is my favorite part of summer. My mom and I eat outside for every meal possible. This means almost every day we have breakfast and lunch outside, but rarely dinner. My dad doesn't like to eat outside, and then later in the year the mosquitos get really bad which both mean no outdoor dinners. 

Walk a Dog

No Dog? No Problem, borrow someone else's. I am serious. Walking a dog is such a great way to get outside without spending money or doing anything too strenuous. I really like taking my dog on a walk so I am not walking around alone. If you don't have a dog, I guarantee you know someone who does. Especially if they work, they may love it if you would take their dog on a walk for you. My sisters boyfriend loves dogs, but doesn't have one, so he will come over so they can walk my dog. 

Make an Outdoor Workout

In the week before my surgery I stopped lifting weight in exchange for outdoor HIIT workouts. You can either make up your own, or find a bunch of different workouts online. There is nothing quite like working out outside and getting your sweat on. I find working out is much more fun outdoors anyways. I can never get myself motivated for HIIT at the gym, but I am all for it outdoors. 

Garden

Gardening is an easy way to get outside. You do need some more room to do this if you want to have a large garden, but even something as simple as putting potted plants on your patio can make you go outside. Having your plants outside forces you to leave the house, but at least you need to water them depending on the weather. Gardening is great because it can keep you occupied all summer starting with planting, to weeding, and then to the best part- harvesting. 

Visit Your farmers market

Unless you are brand new to the blog, you know how much I love the farmers market. Heck, I even went to the market two days after my hip surgery. The market is a great place to walk around,  get some food and enjoy the outdoors. You can easily pick up some groceries for the week, or even just grab that days lunch from a food vendor. 

Read Outdoors

I love to read on the beach, but since I don't live near the beach, reading on my patio is the next best option. Pick up a book or magazine and enjoy the outdoors. This idea is as easy as that. 

Go on a Walking Date 

Sick of spending money on coffee or dinner dates, trying going for a walk instead. You can make it an adventure and go hiking, or just keep it simple and walk around a neighborhood. This is a free way to spend time with friends and loved ones that also happens to get you moving and outdoors, what more could you want?

Stargaze

The clear skies of summer lend themselves perfectly for stargazing. Make this night a big night with bonfires, s'mores and stars, or you can simply just turn out the lights and lay on the grass. Stargazing does require cooperating weather but if the stargazing session just turns into s'mores, you'll still end up having a great evening outside. 

Lounge in a Hammock

Lazy days lying on hammocks are a great part of summer. Hammocks are the best when surrounded by friends, or all alone with a good book. If you remember to put on sunscreen, taking a nap is such a great way to spend the afternoon. It would be annoying to wake up with a massive sunburn, but as long as you remember the sunscreen this is a great idea. 

Park Far Away

If none of these options are seeming easily accessible to you, then you can still find ways to be outside. When running errands, you can park at the end of the parking lot and walk. It might not seem like a lot of time outside, but by the time you lower your sunglasses and enjoy some fresh air, you will still be in a better mood. Even running a couple errands can add up more and more time outside. 

How do you like to get outside in the summer?

xoxo,

Maddie

Tuesday's Eats: A Typical Summer Day

Now I can finally show you what I eat on a normal day, no dumb low fiber diet or anything like that. These days I just need to focus on protein intake which has been a fun challenge for me. I don't typically focus that much on protein other than to make a balanced meal, but the need to up my protein has made it a bigger focus. Here is what I have been eating with the extra protein. 

Breakfast: Greek Yogurt w/ Grain-free granola, blueberries, strawberries and a peach 

When I start to make breakfast, I peel a peach. I love to have a peach every morning. They are my favorite fruit so I need to take advantage of peach season. From there I look for protein so recently it means eggs or yogurt. Today I had a parfait as well also had local berries, and it made for the perfect summer breakfast. 

Snack: Gluten Free Rhubarb Oat Muffins (from Jar of Lemons) 

I had a little morning snack of a muffins I had just made. I wasn't really hungry, but of course whenever you make something you need to taste test it. These muffins were so easy to make, and taste amazing. Recently I have been changing around recipes and having fun with that. The only change I made to these muffins was to add wayyy more rhubarb. I love these muffins so I will need to make more in order to freeze them for the school year. 

Lunch: Local Greens w/ Grilled Onions, Strawberries, Chicken, Avocado and Hemp Seeds

Whenever my mom and I deiced to have a salad for lunch, typically about 4 days a week, it really means we want to clean out the fridge and make room so that we can go to another farmer's market. I saw leftover chicken and strawberries so I knew I needed to make a salad that had a "strawberry chicken salad" theme. This salad was amazing as all the flavors worked so well together. 

 Snack: Mango Spinach Collagen Smoothie 

I have been having this smoothie on repeat recently. I found this recipe somewhere on instagram, and it love that it is 4 ingredients and higher protein. It is just mango, spinach, almond milk and collagen. I just this as a way to add a little more protein in my day if I am not near enough to meet my post-surgery protein needs. 

 Dinner: Taco Salad w/ Pulled Beef, Cucumbers, Cheese, Salsa and Plantain Chips 

Dinner tonight was tacos, but since we didn't have any corn torilllas around I made a taco bowl. In a the same mindset as with lunch, I just added whatever I could find in the fridge that fit the "Mexican" theme of the night. It turned out to be a really yummy bowl. 

see you soon!

xoxo,

Maddie