As you’re reading this, I’m either: A) On a plane to Cancun. B) Just arriving in Cancun. or C) On the beach in Cancun.  Sorry I’m not sorry. Despite your jealousy, let’s talk fun, food, & fitness while I was still here in the States!  As always, thanks to Jenn at Peas & Crayons for hosting this lovely WIAW.  I wonder what she has in store for us in August?  1 week away…

FUN: Uhhh, I’m on my way, or already in Cancun with 15 of my closest family members.  Need I say anymore?  Here’s a picture of just some of us from last year’s summer houseboat vacation:

FOOD:

Breakfast

Two pieces of whole grain bread toasted.  One piece smeared with coconut butter; the other topped with cacao spread (cacao, vanilla almond milk, chia seeds for thickening) with raspberries on top.  Still time to enter the cacao giveaway!

Lunch

Easy tuna salad made with one can of tuna in water (drained), a little lite mayo (I use eggless reduced-guilt from TJ’s), sweet relish, red pepper, green pepper, and celery mixed in with celery sticks for dipping.

Dinner

These past few days we have been trying to use up the remaining food in our fridge as we are (let me remind you once more) going on vacation.  We have done a good job and are down to the bare minimum which means we look to our pantry for support.  Now, in general, pantry foods are not nutritional superstars, so try not to go there often.  However, we can spruce up some pantry staples and add a nice nutritional kick.

Good ol’ Velveeta Shells & Cheese.  Who doesn’t like this stuff?  What’s not to like?  Hopefully you know to at least buy the whole grain variety which is slightly better than the regular white stuff.  After you stir in the fake cheese, and rinse the reduced sodium pinto beans (this rids even more of the added salt), dump the whole bag of broccoli slaw and beans into your pot and give it a good mish.  You’ve just added some greens, fiber, and protein!  And the cheesy flavor takes over, so it still tastes like the same shells and cheese you are used to.  If you do it while itz hot, then the broccoli slaw gets nice and steamy and adds a nice crunch to the dish.

Even Jonny approves.  Parents – this is a great way to add some protein, fiber, and veggies in your kiddos’ meals!  Plus, adding the broccoli slaw and beans really adds to the size of this dish.  It very generously fed me, Jonny, and gave us plenty extra for leftovers.  Double win!

FITNESS:

One form of cardio at the gym that I enjoy doing is the stair stepper - stair climber - thing - whatever you might call it.  The revolving stairs.  If you don’t hold on, itz a killer!  So when my friend Julie asked me to do the stairs at a local park for some cardio I was all for it.  Even though she is a fitness competitor, I figured I could hang.

There are 224 stairs and we must have gone up and down them at least 8 times.  We worked for about 45 minutes and, boy oh boy, we were panting and sweating up a storm!

I felt good doing them and even after, but the next day… HOLY CALF BURN!  My calves were on fire as I continuously tried to stretch, foam roll, and do anything I could to relieve some of the burn.  Itz such a great thing to switch up your regular workout – even a small change such as doing real stairs vs. the stair machine can really shock your body and produce major soreness.  I like!

Alright, well now that I’m in Cancun, I’m going to enjoy myself.  (Sorry for rubbing it in, but many of my following posts these next few days will be showing you all the fun, food, and fitness that is going on in Mexico!  Again – sorry I’m not sorry!)

Tell me: How do you spruce up some pantry staples or add a nutritional punch to otherwise not very healthy food?  Have YOU ever run real stairs for a workout?