Today’s post is courtesy of a special guest writer, Alyse Levine, MS, RD, who is a LIVESTRONG.COM nutrition advisor and founder of NutritionBite LLC.

Whether you’re hitting the gym for 30 minutes or are training for a triathlon, what you eat can greatly impact your performance. The base of any active person’s diet should consist of unprocessed, wholesome foods and incorporate a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

What to Eat for Workouts

Eat your carbs. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred fuel source and are crucial for endurance exercise and optimal performance. They provide fuel for the muscles and help prevent fatigue. Whole grains, fruits, starchy vegetables, legumes, and nonfat or low-fat milk and yogurt are all great sources of carbs. Fruits and vegetables are also packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, as well as phytochemicals and antioxidants that help with post-exercise recovery and muscle repair. Basically, they’re fuel for you!

Protein packs a punch. Protein is also a necessary component of an athlete’s diet and is critical for muscle building and recovery. Lean protein sources include white meat poultry, fish, lean beef, eggs, nuts, nut butters, beans, cheese and soy. However, more protein does not mean better performance, so get off the high protein-low carbohydrate diet bandwagon! When it comes to animal protein, a serving should fit in the palm of your hand. Also, to stimulate muscle growth, it is best to evenly distribute your protein intake throughout the day, rather than eating a very large portion at one meal.

Do not fear fat! Fat is another essential component of an exerciser’s diet. Opt for mostly good fats, such as olive oil, canola oil, nuts, nut butters and avocado. Also, aim to eat fatty fish (such as salmon, tuna and sardines) two to three times a week to get a good dose of omega-3 fatty acids, which help decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke. Limit unhealthy fats such as fried foods, fatty meats and full-fat dairy products.

When to Eat It

Before exercise. Eating too much or too little before exercising may hamper your performance. Eating too much can cause you to feel sluggish or have an upset stomach, cramping or diarrhea. (Um, not fun!) This happens when both your muscles and your digestive system are competing for energy to do their jobs. On the other hand, not eating before you exercise can leave you feeling weak, tired or faint due to low blood sugars. (Also no picnic!)

When planning your pre-workout meals and snacks, time when you eat with how much and what you eat. Eat large meals three to four hours before working out and have smaller meals two to three hours prior. When eating close to a workout, reach for carbohydrate-rich foods with a little bit of lean protein. To help prevent GI distress, avoid foods that are high in fiber, sugar or fat, and foods that cause gas—all of which may cause indigestion. (Again, not fun.)

During exercise. If your workout lasts less than an hour, no food or sports drink is necessary—plain old water is sufficient (see below for specific hydration tips). In fact, if your workouts are not longer than an hour and weight-loss or maintenance is one of your goals, consuming calories during your workout will likely counter (and may even exceed) your calorie burn during the workout! However, if your workout is longer than an hour, then you may need to replenish with carbohydrates and electrolytes in addition to fluids during the workout (a sports drink would work).

After exercise. To help your muscles recover and replace their glycogen (AKA carbohydrate) stores, eat a meal or snack that contains both carbohydrates and protein within one to two hours of your exercise session. Examples of good post-workout meals or snacks include an appropriate portion of:

• Peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich
• Fruit salad with yogurt
• Turkey, cheese and apple slices
• Hummus on pita
• Minestrone soup with crackers and cheese

Drink up. Proper hydration is just as important as proper nutrition in promoting ideal performance—before, during and after exercise. While under-hydration is dangerous, there are also dangers to over-hydration. Hyponatremia, a condition caused by over-hydration, can lead to fatigue, nausea, confusion and possibly death. The chart below contains guidelines to help ensure that you are maintaining a good fluid balance. You can monitor your water intake (and your food and fitness activities!) with MyPlate, a calorie and fitness tracker on LIVESTRONG.COM.

Water Timing

*If concerned about whether or not you are rehydrating appropriately, weigh yourself without clothes on before and immediately after your workouts; for every pound lost drink 2 cups of water. This amount will vary depending on sweat rate, the temperature, humidity and your workout duration and intensity.

When it comes to eating and exercise, every Fit Bottomed Girl is unique, so modify the above general recommendations with your unique food preferences and tolerances. Let your experience guide you on which pre- and post-exercise snacks and meals work best for you. Happy eating! —Alyse Levine

A big thanks to Alyse for the tips! —Jenn

I love, love, love breakfast. However, I also love the snooze button. So sometimes in the morning, between rushing to get to the gym, then getting ready, then making it to work on time, breakfast is rather, er, chaotic. (And I don’t even have kids! Ack!) Which is sad. Because breakfast rocks, and eating in the morning is such an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. Did you know that people who eat breakfast regularly weigh less than those who skip it? Yep, they do. And while I never skip breakfast, it’s not always the most gourmet fare—a banana and a few bites of cottage cheese here, a piece of toast with a slather of almond butter there. But Erin and I recently had the chance to try three new breakfast foods (read: the companies sent them to us) and drinks that turn ordinary (or rushed and sad) breakfasts into molto deliciouso (that’s Italian for awesomely tasty)!

Ella Scones

I’ve never made a scone in my life, so I was definitely interested in trying out the Ella Baking Mixes products. The Ella line of products is dedicated to the company founder’s mom, who had heart disease during her last years of life. The heart-healthy scone mixes have no cholesterol, and are chock full of Omega-3s and soy protein.

The baking mixes aren’t just for scone-making either. You can use them for muffins, pancakes, brownies and even biscotti. I tried out the raspberry mix for muffins (you just add milk and a little sugar) and even with the added sugar, I thought they tasted a little bland. But then I tried the chocolate and the lemon-poppyseed mixes as scones, and they were a big hit. I don’t know if it was the texture or the sconey shape, but the chocolate one especially could easily become a regular at my breakfast table. Who wouldn’t like a chocolate chip breakfast item?

And a big bonus? The scones are all less than 200 calories a serving and are SUPER EASY to make. You just add water, plop the big ball of dough down and cut it into 10 pieces. Easy as pie…or easy as Ella scones!

Chia Goodness

With a name like Chia Goodness, it has to be good, right? This raw breakfast is gluten-free, dairy-free, low-glycemic and it includes chocolate. With a mix of chia, buckwheat, shelled hemp seeds, raw organic cacao nibs and a little sea salt with dates, almonds and organic cane evaporated cane juice, it’s darn good for you. There are 130 calories a serving, along with 7 grams of good fat, 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Plus, each serving gives you a good amount of iron, zinc, copper, magnesium and manganese. It’s kind of a super food.

So how does it taste? Well, it’s different. You measure out 2 tablespoons of the mix and then add 4 tablespoons of hot or cold water or milk (I tried hot water). Then you wait about five minutes for it to absorb the water and thicken. For just 2 tablespoons to begin with you do end up with a decent-sized portion, but for breakfast I would probably need to pair it with a piece of fruit or a hard-boiled egg to round out my meal. While the taste was pretty chocolaty (more of a dark, bitter chocolate flavor, which I love, but I know not everyone does), the texture was…um…interesting. It was kind of like a mix of oatmeal, cereal and tapioca. It’s something I could get used to and like, but if you’re someone who has issues with foods with slimier textures, you may just want to forgo this one.

Splenda Coffee

I swore off caffeine at the beginning of my pregnancy, but as the months pile up, I’ve become more relaxed with my caffeine intake. Meaning that I’ll actually have a cup of regular coffee some mornings instead of decaf. Crazy!

But now that it’s hotter than blazes outside, that steaming cup of coffee doesn’t always sound so scrumptious—and that’s where frozen coffee drinks make their grand appearance.

This 70-calorie Frozen Almond Cappuccino made with Splenda is an excellent substitution for those high-cal Starbucks frozen treats—not to mention cheaper! With a couple of ice cubes, nonfat milk powder, Splenda, almond extract, instant espresso granules and low-fat milk, you’ll be walking out the door with a frosty coffee treat that won’t leave you sweating (or regretting an early-morning caloric splurge)!

What do you eat for breakfast? Quick and simple? Slow and planned? We wanna know! —Jenn & Erin

Sure, it’s a little hot out these days, but who couldn’t use another healthy soup recipe to throw into their rotation? I know I could! This Healthy Italian Wedding Soup is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Walter Crinnion, author of Clean, Green, and Lean: Get Rid of the Toxins That Make You Fat. 

Healthy Italian Wedding Soup

(Serves 4)

½ package lean ground turkey
4 Jennie-O Italian Turkey Sausage links, sliced
Spike seasoning to taste
1 tsp sea salt
1 package gluten-free pasta spirals
8 c water
32 oz organic vegetable broth
14½-oz can organic tomatoes
3 c organic frozen spinach
1 tsp onion powder

1. In a large sauté pan, brown the turkey. Season with the Spike, drain and set aside.

2. Place the sausage in a sauté pan, season with the Spike and brown.

3. Add the sea salt to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Stir in the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and set aside.

4. In a large soup pot, heat the water and the broth, tomatoes, and spinach. Add the turkey, sausage and onion powder, and stir until a low boil is attained. Reduce the heat to simmer and stir in the pasta. Cover, simmer for about 30 minutes, and serve.

Hope you all enjoy this delicious dish. And don’t forget to go comment to win a copy of the book! —Erin

The above is an excerpt from the book Clean, Green, and Lean: Get Rid of the Toxins That Make You Fat by Dr. Walter Crinnion. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Reprinted by permission of the publisher, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., from Clean, Green & Lean, by Walter Crinnion. Copyright © 2010 by Walter Crinnion.

Two new noshtastic products landed in the FBG kitchen recently (courtesy of the manufacturers): Healthy Choice’s Café Steamers and Beanitos. Here’s how the tasting went…

Healthy Choice Café Steamers

I’m a bit of a frozen-meal connoisseur. Back when I had to go into an office to work (gasp!), microwaveable meals were my go-to lunch, especially when I was late getting around in the morning and had to grab whatever was easiest to pack (which was most days). I’ve done Smart Ones, Lean Cuisines, and of course, Healthy Choice—basically whatever is on sale.

I was excited to try Healthy Choice’s Café Steamers in the hopes that I would get to add a couple of more faves to my rotation. I tried the Chicken Pad Thai, the Grilled Vegetables Mediterranean, and the Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp. I have insanely high standards for pad thai, so that one didn’t blow me away, but I did like the other two options, especially the Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp, as it’s not often I get to eat shrimp for lunch. All three options were a great way to sneak in some veggies, but at 270 calories or less per meal, I found it necessary to supplement my lunch with additional items so I wasn’t hungry an hour later.

The steamers are a new twist on the heat-stir-heat option. The steamers keep the sauce and the entrée separate during cooking for extra freshness, and then you dump the meat/rice/noodles into the sauce. I do think the veggies tasted fresher, but it didn’t necessarily knock my socks off in comparison to non-steamed options. They did the trick of giving me a hot meal for lunch though, and that’s what matters to me!

Beanitos

You should know two things about me before I start this review. No. 1, I ADORE taco salads and, No. 2, this movie changed my plate. With that said, I was instantly smitten with Beanitos from the minute they arrived on my doorstep. These 100 percent corn-free bean-based snack chips crunch just like a corn tortilla chip, but they have a low glycemic index rating and are gluten, wheat and soy free. They’re also high in fiber (5 grams an ounce!), Omega 3s and contain a little protein.

Oh and get this. They taste good, too! My hubby and I munched a few during a road trip, and they actually filled me up. They’re excellent with salsa and other dips, and they are perfect in a taco salad. (Again, my fave!) The chips come in a pinto and black bean variety, and while both are good, I preferred the pinto bean variety for its flavor and crunch. Now, they are a tad salty, so if you are sensitive to sodium it’s best to stick to a small portion of these. And if you’re not watching your sodium (shame on you…), then just beware eating a whole bag. Ten chips has about 150 calories, so that adds up—as does the 5 grams of fiber per serving. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Have you tried Café Steamers or Beanitos? Tell us what you’ve been lunching and munching on lately! —Jenn & Erin

We love food. And we really love going out for a nice din-din on the town. However, our waistlines don’t so much if it’s too common of an occurrence. That’s why today’s post is all about creating a nice dinner that you could have out, but instead have in to keep it healthy on your terms. (And you save a little dough.) It also gives us the chance to share three fun new food products to keep it feeling decadent (when really it’s not)!

Appetizer: Roasted Veggies

I’ve been on the biggest roasted veggies kick for the last few months. Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, mushrooms, asparagus—if I can roast it in the oven, I will. Amazingly, when you roast veggies they become little bites of rich-deliciousness. And all they need is a sprinkle of salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. This is how I normally make them, but a few weeks ago I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! sent us some coupons to try their original butter. And I thought to myself, “What better way to test its buttery-ness than on my beloved roasted veggies?” And so I did.

It was awesome. Plenty of butter flavor and with 70 percent less saturated fat than butter and none of that hydrogenated oil that margarine is known for. Plus it has omega-3s in it, and at only 70 cals a tablespoon, I could get my fair share of butter without totally outdoing my good deed of veggie eating. They call that heaven, folks.

Try at home: Take your fave raw veggie, throw them in a pan coated with non-stick cooking spray, sprinkle it with salt, pepper, and a tablespoon or two of butter and roast at 425 degrees until crisp-tender and slightly browned. Enjoy your first course!

Entrée

Now for the entrée. Spice up your usual chicken or fish with some flava flav. These Flavor Magic Portion Control Sheets allow you to both control the seasoning on your protein and make sure your portion size isn’t outta whack. Each little sheet of seasoning is sized to measure an appropriate 3- to 5-ounce portion of meat, fish, chicken or tofu (hooray for vegetarians!).  You simply stick the sheet to your chosen protein with a little water, wrap it in plastic cling and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (or longer for a more intense flavor). Then you discard the sheet, and cook it however you wish. It’s not the best if you need dinner in a hurry, but if you’re clueless about seasoning or portion control, then it’s worth the wait.

I tried the Dijon honey mustard and the tomato and basil sheets and wasn’t floored by their deliciousness, but did enjoy the flavor and how mindless it was to make portion sizes that were appropriate. Plus, I could have one flavor, while my hubby had a different flavor without any extra work. That’s always a plus. And with only 4 calories a sheet, it’s hard to beat.

Try at home: Try Flavor Magic at home or just season up some of your own chicken, fish or tofu. Pair it with a half cup or so of a nice whole-grain carb like brown rice with roasted tomatoes or quinoa with sautéed zucchini. Yum!

Dessert

You know how much we love chocolate here, so it should come as no surprise that our dessert course prominently features the decadent treat. Lucky for us, Popsicle is making chocolate less sinful. In addition to its already low-cal Fudgsicle lineup (no Fudgesicle is more than 100 calories), the company now offers Triple Chocolate Low Fat Bars that clock in at just 60 calories. The box contains white chocolate, milk chocolate and dark chocolate bars, so if you’re a true chocoholic, you’ll be able to satisfy any cocoa craving you may have. They don’t exactly pack a nutritional wallop (what dessert does?), but you do get 10 percent of your daily calcium, which is always helpful. My fave was the dark chocolate bar, but let’s be honest: I even love the no sugar added 40-calorie bar, so there is nary a Fudgsicle that doesn’t meet my approval.

If you’re more of a fruity dessert type of gal, fear not! Popsicle also offers a new sugar-free Tropicals popsicle, but we weren’t able to find it in our grocer’s freezer. We will remain on the lookout though, especially now that it’s warming up and we’ll be looking for cool treats!

Try at home: Break the Fudgsicle off the stick, throw it in a fancy dish, and sprinkle it with chocolate syrup for a super-decadent dessert!

Happy three-course eating! —Jenn & Erin

Want to try out some Popsicles for yourself? We’ve got some coupons to give away! Comment below for a chance to win coupons for free treats. U.S. residents only, please!

Disclosure: All products were provided by their respective manufacturer, but in no way is this post or our review of products sponsored, influenced or paid for by any company. We tell it like it is!

Credit: D Sharon Pruitt

One of the most romantic things you can do on Valentine’s Day is cook a candlelit dinner for two. And because it’s the day of all things sweet, even the healthiest fit bottomed girls and boys shouldn’t pass on dessert! That’s why Jenn and I delved into the FBG archives for two of our favorite desserts: chocolate cake and chocolate mousse. (We do love the chocolate, as our records show!) You can’t go wrong making these desserts to top off a meal. And even if you’re not having a “romantic” dinner, invite friends over to chow down. You’ll be the toast of the town!

Skinny Bitch Chocolate Cake

The Skinny Bitches may not have won me over with their attitudes, but their cake hit the spot. Plus, it still has my husband talking about how delicious it was, which tells you that a) it really was delicious if he’s still talking about it and b) maybe not everything I make is that delicious. The recipe, which is featured in their cookbook Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, was easy to make once the shopping was done (vegan chocolate chips took a special trip to Whole Foods). My hubby compared the frosting to Willy Wonka’s chocolate river, and I must admit it really was amazing. The cake was super moist and delicious and didn’t taste AT ALL like a health food pretending to be sinful.

Credit: babbagecabbage

A few weeks ago, I had an odd thing happen to me. It was a regular Thursday night. Because Friday is my day off from my marathon training, Thursday night equals wine with dinner, so I was imbibing. I poured myself a glass of my fave aforementioned house wine (aka Yellowtail Chardonnay) to go along with my grilled chicken breast with roasted asparagus (the hubby cooked dinner; it was awesome), took a sip and was puzzled. The wine tasted metallic, kinda tinny. I took another drink (not the brightest moment for me). Same taste. Husband took a sip, he said it tasted fine. Weird.

Then I tried the chicken. Tasted delicious. Then the asparagus. Somewhat metallic. Back to the chardonnay. Definitely like sucking on a penny. WTF?!

Upset at my ruined meal—by fault of my possibly faulty tastebuds—I went to bed slightly hungry that night. Hoping that the next day it would disappear on its own, and I wouldn’t have to Google “metallic taste” and learn that I was dying of some bizarre condition, probably the culmination of drinking too much cheap wine over the years or ingesting too many GU Chomps during my training runs, resulting in severe electrolyte abundance. (When something weird happens to my health, my logic goes to shit.)

Sad to say, the sucking-on-a-penny taste was back when I ate breakfast that next day, and it was the nastiest when eating my usually delicious Greek yogurt. Drat. “I’m dying,” I thought.

I went to Google to confirm. Yep, like I thought, I was an arthritic, depressed, alcoholic with a bad case of gingivitis and lead poisoning, and on the verge of heart failure. What would I tell my family? And Erin?

And then I thought, “Wait a minute. I don’t have a metallic taste in my mouth ALL THE TIME. Just when I eat. And all of these symptoms are for a metallic taste all the time.”

Back to Google I went, asking the world wide web what a “metallic taste when eating” meant. And lo and behold I had my answer. In fact, I found pages and pages of people with the same unappetizing problem. What was to blame? Rancid pine nuts. Small,  innocent, somewhat cute and really tasty (pesto!) pine nuts had done me wrong. Little bastards.

Aptly referred to as “pine mouth,” the rare phenomenon only lasts a few days or weeks, but, let me tell you, it sucks. Mine lasted a full seven days. A whole week where dairy disgusted me (yogurt was the worst). I had to declare a “break” from wine (not a break-up, a break), and the only foods that appealed to me were salty “hit you over the head with flavor and fat” foods. Not great for the ole fit bottom.

And the oddest thing is that the metallic taste doesn’t develop until a few days after you eat the bad pine nuts. In my case, earlier in the week, I had made a quinoa dish sprinkled with them after Erin raved about the high-protein grain. It was a full three days before the “pine mouth” set in. Sick.

The pine nuts I had used in the dish were bought just a few days prior to the quinoa-pine nut cooking, and they were well ahead of their “best before” date. According to all of the online research I’ve done, it seems that pine nuts aren’t the most stable of the nuts (ha) and new shipping practices from overseas may play a role.

I’m sure you can guess that my bag of (not cheap!) pine nuts immediately went in the trash. And I don’t think I’ll be cooking or eating them any time soon. (Pesto, I love you, but I think I’ll sub walnuts for your usual pine nuts going forward.)

One thing is certain though: I’m happy to be alive and glad I’m not an arthritic, depressed, alcoholic with a bad case of gingivitis and lead poisoning on the verge of heart failure! —Jenn

Credit: xybermatthew

I commend people who can exercise portion control on Thanksgiving Day. You know, those will-power-of-steel types who don’t get tempted to go back for that second helping of stuffing or that extra piece of pumpkin pie. I admit that I am not one of them. I indulge more than is probably healthy on Turkey Day.

Last year, my hubby and I were on our own, so we went out for our turkey dinner. We thought that surely we’d come out ahead because we didn’t have leftovers from a bountiful feast tempting us for the entire day. Enter a four-course deluxe and delicious meal, and we waddled out of the restaurant miserable. This year I vow to wear my FBG pride a little more prominently upon my sleeve with these four tips, adapted from Life Fitness.

1. Every Bit Counts

Sure, you may not fit in an hour-long session with your trainer on Thanksgiving Day, but every little bit of exercise during the holiday weekend will help offset any splurges. Take 20 minutes a day to be active, whether it’s a series of push-ups, lunges and squats, or a walk with a friend. It might even be a good escape if your family stresses you out!

2. Take It To Go

If you’re on the road, you might have an extra-hard time fitting in your workouts. Hit the fitness center at your hotel, pack your resistance bands or pick your favorite body-weight-only exercises. And there are very few excuses for not being able to get out for a short walk (swine flu and massive blizzards may buy you a pass).

3. Make It a Family Event

Get the family moving instead of curling up on the couch all day watching television. Seasonal activities include sledding, jumping in piles of leaves, playing football, ice skating and walking around the neighborhood to see the holiday lights and decorations—especially those crazy blow-up lawn art Santas that are so popular these days.

4. Meal Management

The average American is said to consume 3,000 calories at Thanksgiving dinner. This means that there are probably people out there who are eating 5,000 calories this one day. (I was probably one of them last year.) Practice portion control by eating small meals throughout the day so that you don’t hit dinner starving and risk knocking people to the side to devour the turkey on your own. If it’s just not possible for you to take it easy on T-Day, tack an extra 10 minutes on to your next few workouts and watch your portions the day after the holiday. Your waistline will thank you.

What tips and tricks do you have for navigating Thanksgiving? Share them in the comments. And be sure to check back Thursday when Jenn shares her Turkey Day rituals! —Erin

We all know how calorically dangerous eating out can be, and especially when it comes to lunch, eating out regularly can cost you a pretty penny. That’s why I try to eat lunch in as much as I can. But I’ll be honest, unless you’re creative or always have leftovers that you can nosh on for lunch, packing one can get pretty, er, stale. A girl can only eat so many PB&J sandwiches! So that’s why today’s Nosh is all about making brown-bagging it just as tasty and fun as eating out for lunch, but with far fewer costs and calories!

FullBites

Over the last few months, I’ve been doing the five mini-meals-a-day thing. At first it felt like I was eating all the time and more than usual, and I was. I made the mistake of barely reducing my breakfast and lunch sizes, so I really was eating more! These days, I’m wiser, and have taken what was my usual big lunch and divided it into two mini-meals. It works great; I highly recommend it to keep your metabolism revving and your energy up. For a perfect pre-lunch mini meal, I’ve been eating these FullBites, which are made by the same people who make the previously reviewed FullBar. I’ll have a package of the Bold Cheddar flavor (my fave of all the kinds offered) with a big apple, and it’ll tide me over for a couple hours.

Technically, the high-fiber, high-protein (5 grams, 8 grams, respectively) FullBites are supposed to be eaten 30 minutes before a meal to reduce how much you eat at the next meal, but at 160 calories a bag, it adds up quickly when you’re eating six mini-meals a day. The snacks also come in Savory BBQ and Sour Cream & Onion, and they retail for $16.99 for a six-pack carton. It’s pricey, but if it’s that or the vending machine or if you have an unhealthy relationship with Cheetos, I say spend the extra buck.

McDougall’s Right Foods Ready-to-Serve Chunky Soups

I love soup, especially this time of year. And soup is the perfect thing to take to work for that healthy lunch in. Think about it: It’s easy to transport, you can get tons of veggies in it, it’s warm, and there are TONS of varieties to choose from. In the past, I’ve been a reduced-sodium Progresso or Campbell’s girl, but it was well time that I branched out from the norm and gave Dr. McDougall’s a try. I tasted every darn variety of the company’s Ready-to-Serve Chunky Soups and was quite pleased. They’re natural, gluten-free, vegetarian friendly, not too salty, full of good-for-you veggies and/or beans, and they’re all pretty low cal (most are about 100-150 calories per serving). My husband wished they had more “stuff” and less broth, but I loved ‘em! And was kind of happy that he wasn’t a huge fan because it meant more soup lunches for me!

Oh, and you don’t need a can opener to get to the goodness! The soup comes in a big recyclable carton. You can easily get two big bowls of soup from one container (although I’ve been known to eat darn the whole box for lunch!). These puppies aren’t cheap at $3.29 a piece, but that’s still way cheaper than a lunch out, even at McDoodles.

Aladdin Artist Series

So now that you have some new ideas of what to pack for lunch, you may wonder how the heck you get them from your fridge to the work fridge without spillage? Let me introduce you to a company called Aladdin. Its Artist Series features bowls and mugs that are designedwith locking lids for transportability.

The series features six different designs by hip, emerging artists, so you can be both functional and stylish. The lunch wear is also 100 percent recycled and stinkin’ cute. I’m particularly fond of this little birdie one. It’s like having spring every day, even in November!

And if you have to eat out for lunch, check out our fast-food salad guide and other tips for dining away from home (or your desk). —Jenn

Disclosure: All products were provided by their respective manufacturer, but in no way is this post or our review of products sponsored, influenced or paid for by any company. We tell it like it is!

I swear I’m not a boring person, really. I just happen to get stuck in ruts, not only with my workouts but also with my meals. I get lazy. I get busy to the point where even making a creative meal plan, grocery list and then actually getting to the grocery store seems like a monumental task. Plus, my husband tends to be a bit of a picky eater, so I stick with what he loves and tend not to branch out as much as I should. Bad Erin.

I know many of you gourmet cooks out there will laugh at me when you read about my recent culinary experimentation, but I also know that there are just as many of you who are just like me. So here I am, sharing my wild and crazy culinary weekend. Fasten your seatbelts!

Credit: foodistablog

Pineapple Party
Ok, so “pineapple” doesn’t sound like the craziest experiment ever. I mean, I’ve eaten it before. But never before have I bought a whole pineapple that I had to go at with a knife to get to its delicious fruit. It just seemed like so much work. I mean, could pineapple look any less friendly? But inspired by the book EnLIGHTened, I had to give it a go.

I picked out my pineapple at random, having no idea what to look for in a good pineapple (apparently the “leaves” at the top should pop out easily when ripe). Man, pineapples are heavy. And I felt like I was buying a plant to decorate my house—so many leaves. I swear mine was 2 feet tall.

When I got home, I threw it to the side until I was adequately prepared to tackle the monster. And when I did, of course, I found that it’s surprisingly easy to cut. You chop off the top (the plant) and the bottom. Then you stand it on end and cut down each side, getting rid of the “armor.” After picking out any of the little brown “eyes” that remain, you can either lay it on its side to cut slices (which can be cored individually), or you can just cut lengthwise in quarters around the core. From there you just chop into bite-sized chunks. And I must say, the self-chopped pineapple was so much tastier than the little containers you buy at the store—probably because I had to work for it.

Credit: AlishaV

Quinoa Crazy
My second culinary experiment was a little more crazy: quinoa (pronounced keen-wah). Quinoa is basically a tiny edible seed that most people throw into the grain category. What’s great about quinoa is that unlike many grains, it’s high in protein, fiber and iron. Despite the fact that my box of quinoa sat in my cupboard for about a month before I used it, it’s actually really easy to make.

Not branching out too far for my first rendezvous, I used the recipe suggestion on the back of the box. After a rinse in cold water, you cook quinoa like rice, simmering it in broth or water for 10 to 15 minutes (you could also use a rice cooker). I then sautéed some chicken, bell peppers, onions, and garlic before throwing in the cooked quinoa. After topping it with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, dinner was served.

Now, it looked about as bland as anything I’ve ever made, but it wasn’t. Just like tofu, the quinoa took on the flavor of everything else in the dish, so I had a garlicky good meal. The little quinoa nuggets have a great texture, too, which I think falls somewhere between pasta and rice.

Now that I’ve taken on quinoa and see that it’s not so scary, I’m ready to experiment and throw it into any stir-fry that comes my way. A pineapple pro; a quinoa connoisseur. Whatever could be next on my agenda? I’m taking suggestions! —Erin