Sometimes I think my flex schedule and what I cram into it is going to be the end of me. I have friends lecture me about putting too much on my plate. And while they (and I) acknowledge that that tends to be a lifestyle pace I enjoy and thrive in, at times I need a breather, and I recognize when I could use help staying on track. And right now that help is in the form of my Sodastream and a new meal plan.
A month ago, I kicked off four weeks of a get-back-on-track hydration and fuel plan using my Sodastream POWER to create healthy beverages at home paired with a meal plan from Eat Train Live. I’m now kicking off a new four-week plan, this time with meals from Eats by K Catering while still using my Sodastream POWER to serve up the hydration.
I’m one week into the plan and so far, as with the last plan, both elements are a great addition to my lifestyle. The Sodastream POWER has me drinking fruit juices less often (they are loaded with sugar). It’s been a process but I’ve been able to train my taste buds to enjoy less sugar; I’ll even opt for sparkling water served plain at home or out at restaurants now; this is new, I never used to enjoy sparkling water. For at home, I enjoy thinking of ways to add natural flavour to my Sodastream beverages, like this strawberry and basil combo here. Besides being delicious, the waters you can make can turn out quite gorgeous, which is very satisfying in and of itself.
As for Eats by K, this plan is one that could fit into my budget (at $55 for five meals) and I feel the meals are close to what my body and taste buds crave. (Everything, btw, is made with wholesome ingredients and from scratch.) I don’t rule out pasta and potatoes from my diet (as a runner, I need those carbs, and actually I think they both get a bad rap from many people) and you’ll find them in the occasional Eats by K meal. As with my last meal plan, I do find myself very full with each meal. I often eat about two-thirds and then save the rest for a snack; which makes me realize over time I seem to have switched to three smaller meals but with more snacking. Except if I’m out. If I’m eating at, say, OMAW, well serve me up all of the fried chicken! (Just kidding, I’ll likely have one piece and bring the rest home. I’m a big fan of taking home half of my meal!).
(For more on my snacking strategy, though, check out this post. My snacking keeps me from getting hangry!)
The five meals a week plan from Eats by K also works for me, because I often have meals out for work or with friends, or I just want to eat something outside of the meal plan. Two meals daily, six days a week, proved to be too many meals for me last time, but I could see how that’d be helpful for many people to have two healthy meals a day taken care of.
My fave meals from Karla (that’s the K in Eats by K!) so far include a deconstructed shepherd’s pie (a great comfort food with the autumn weather) and a honey dijon crusted pork tenderloin with sweet potato and corn. And I should mention that if you’re a calorie counter, you’ll appreciate that each Eats By K menu comes with a calorie count for each meal. This week’s meals range from 351 to 440 calories.
I’ll be posting more on my social media about my Sodastream stay-on-the-healthy-track plan; I’m looking for a way to top this strawberry basil sparkling water, which may be tough because it is delicious!
October 17, 2016
You know when you have so much going on that you feel like you’re just barreling through the day to get things done, but with no particular plan in mind, all you’re doing is keeping things going? That’s how I’ve felt for the last few months, maybe even years…But most of all this summer. This summer has been straight-up bananas.
But I’m committing to getting things back on track, and I’ve teamed up with SodaStream to help me do just that — both with hydration, naturally, given it’s SodaStream, but I see it all as being tied into making life easier. To help me do that, for the month of August, SodaStream has hooked me up with a healthy meal plan all month long from Eat Train Live. You probably know that I adore eating and while I do like to cook, when I’m cramming cooking into a hectic day and then have a pile of dishes to wash afterwards, it causes me more stress than anything else. So for this one glorious month, my lunches and dinners are from Eat Train Live (I still make my own breakfasts), and I can then spend just a little time making a bevvie with my SodaStream Power so I can be well hydrated.
I’m about two weeks into my Eat Train Live program and I am a fan: almost all of the meals are very flavourful (one chicken dish I found a bit bland, and I will say there is at least one or two salmon dishes a week, which is not my fave fish). Meal so far included Asian Beef with vermicelli and zucchini slaw, baked chicken with brown rice and broccoli, and 5-spice steak with vegetable fried rice. I must find out how they prep their chicken as it is always juicy (I think they must brine it — I’ve had success with that but am usually much too lazy to add this step!). The meals often feature sweet potatoes, which I feel I may grow tired of, but thus far, the meals are quite varied so I’m not bored. And while they might appear on the small side, I find each meal extremely filling. Seriously filling. I’m satiated for hours. In fact, so much so that this makes me think my diet was too low on protein before this meal plan (I do feel like I’ve never had more chicken and steak regularly ever!) as I feel full pretty much always (and sometimes I find it hard to finish each meal).
Besides being tasty and filling, it’s the convenience of a well-made balanced meal. I honestly get a little giddy each time it’s time to eat and I have all of these well-rounded meals ready in two minutes. It’s given me time to reclaim some time for me. Which I need because I think I forgot that I have no time and added needing to swim regularly because I am maybe doing a try a tri in September (I say maybe because I may panic and back out!).
As for how I’m hydrating with the SodaStream? Well, a bit of background: Although I gave up my habit of keeping a supply of soft drinks at home a few years ago, I do occasionally buy a single one to satisfy a craving (I grew up drinking pop and well, sometimes I just really want a soft drink!). But with my SodaStream Power, it provides me with the bubbles I love, but I can control what’s going into my fizzy drink and I can control how much sugar is in it. Thus far, to go with the meals, I’m keeping things pretty clean and crisp and am adding just add a slice of lime or lemon. Most of the Eat Train Live meals come with a wedge of citrus so I like that my water doesn’t interfere with the flavours of the food. I will start experimenting more though over the next few weeks, though.
The SodaStream Power will be yet another tool to help me hydrate more (I have an arsenal of water bottles, too), which I know is key to my health and fitness. I realized once again how much less I hydrate than others on my recent week-long sailing trip to Greece, during which the other five guests guzzled (well, to me it was guzzling, it was likely a normal human level of hydration…) water every few minutes. I’d bet money I drank at most a single two-litre bottle the entire week. Hydrating regularly (except for when I’m actually running) just hasn’t yet become a habit for me yet.
I’ll be posting about my SodaStream get-back-on-track regimen on Instagram and Twitter in the coming weeks. If you have any recos on how I should flavour my fizzy water, please do drop me a line! Next up is cucumber, and I think I need to do something with peaches…
August 19, 2016
