WIAW : Running on Whole30 Edition
I've been meaning to do a What I Ate Wednesday post during my Whole30 to show you all what I eat in a day. I've been getting a lot of questions about what all you can eat and if the food is actually good (a lot, and YES). What better way to give you a closer look at the program than a peak into what I had to eat for an entire day?
The day that I'm sharing is from Sunday, when I did my long run of 13 miles. Here's what I had!
Before going for a run, I never used to have any breakfast. Everything seemed to upset my stomach, so I would usually grab a piece of fruit before heading out. In fact, before my half marathon PR, all I had was an apple and a few bites of a honey stinger waffle so I wouldn't get cramps! After some experimentation, I've found some foods that don't upset my stomach and keep me energetic and fueled the entire run. This is a typical breakfast for me now and it's perfect!
It's about a half hour drive to the park where I went running, so on the way I had a pouch of unsweetened apple sauce. Even though these are marketed for little kids, I love them! They're easy to grab and eat on the go, and they taste really good.
During my run, I had a piece of date each mile. Cutting them in smaller pieces helped me digest them a lot easier. I also stopped for water at mile 7 when I passed my car, and had some coconut water after I finished.
I'm never hungry after runs, so after I got home I took a shower first, then made myself eat something. I had a leftover kale salad from dinner the night before, and added in some chicken drumsticks. I just pulled off all the meat and cut it in small pieces, then added it to the salad. It was really good! I also had a glass of tart cherry juice, which helps reduce muscle soreness.
I was hungry a few hours later, so I snacked on some of the homemade Lara Bar bites that I made. I also met up with Alexa for some tea at Big Dog Coffee in the South Side. We both had a turmeric tea which is delicious and perfect for a chilly winter day. I loved the vibe of the coffee shop and would definitely go back there again!
For dinner, I made Margaret's Crock Pot Taco Soup. I had it simmering all day long, so it tasted amazing, and was super easy to make! I loved how chunky the soup was, and it really filled me up and kept me warm. This recipe is definitely a keeper- even Dan liked it! With dinner, I made a blood orange Paloma (juice of one blood orange, lime juice, and sparkling water) which was refreshing and delicious, and watched some football.
Dan had a hockey game late at night, so I made a quick snack before we left. I was preparing some sunshine sauce for the following week, and used some leftover sunflower seed butter and dates for a snack. It was really good and had a different taste and texture than the almond butter that I usually use!
What are some snacks you've been enjoying lately?
Who else loves crock pot meals?
What do you usually use to fuel long runs?
The day that I'm sharing is from Sunday, when I did my long run of 13 miles. Here's what I had!
Breakfast :
Sauteed spinach and hash browns
2 poached eggs
Banana with almond butter and unsweetened coconut flakes
Coffee
Before going for a run, I never used to have any breakfast. Everything seemed to upset my stomach, so I would usually grab a piece of fruit before heading out. In fact, before my half marathon PR, all I had was an apple and a few bites of a honey stinger waffle so I wouldn't get cramps! After some experimentation, I've found some foods that don't upset my stomach and keep me energetic and fueled the entire run. This is a typical breakfast for me now and it's perfect!
Running Fuel :
3 dates, chopped into small pieces
Unsweetened apple sauce
Coconut Water
It's about a half hour drive to the park where I went running, so on the way I had a pouch of unsweetened apple sauce. Even though these are marketed for little kids, I love them! They're easy to grab and eat on the go, and they taste really good.
During my run, I had a piece of date each mile. Cutting them in smaller pieces helped me digest them a lot easier. I also stopped for water at mile 7 when I passed my car, and had some coconut water after I finished.
Lunch :
Kale salad with shredded chicken
Tart Cherry Juice
Snack :
Energy Bites
Turmeric Tea
I was hungry a few hours later, so I snacked on some of the homemade Lara Bar bites that I made. I also met up with Alexa for some tea at Big Dog Coffee in the South Side. We both had a turmeric tea which is delicious and perfect for a chilly winter day. I loved the vibe of the coffee shop and would definitely go back there again!
Dinner :
Taco Soup
Blood Orange Paloma
For dinner, I made Margaret's Crock Pot Taco Soup. I had it simmering all day long, so it tasted amazing, and was super easy to make! I loved how chunky the soup was, and it really filled me up and kept me warm. This recipe is definitely a keeper- even Dan liked it! With dinner, I made a blood orange Paloma (juice of one blood orange, lime juice, and sparkling water) which was refreshing and delicious, and watched some football.
Snack :
Dates with Sunflower Seed Butter
Dan had a hockey game late at night, so I made a quick snack before we left. I was preparing some sunshine sauce for the following week, and used some leftover sunflower seed butter and dates for a snack. It was really good and had a different taste and texture than the almond butter that I usually use!
What are some snacks you've been enjoying lately?
Who else loves crock pot meals?
What do you usually use to fuel long runs?
This looks a lot like what I eat (running or not!). Snacks lately have been apples and almond butter and almond butter stuffed dates. So, basically all the almond butter.
ReplyDeleteYesss love almond butter! I never really tried it (or dates) until the Whole30! Where have I been?! I also love the other types of nut butters out there. I was never a huge fan of peanut butter, so this is opening up my world!
DeleteI LOVE that sunshine sauce! It's so addicting. I ate those squeeze pouches in my last whole30 I like them a lot and need to bring them back. I'm so happy you liked the recipe!
ReplyDeleteThe soup gets better and better every day :) I feel like when I'm checking out with those squeeze pouches they're looking around for my kids or something! Nope, just love that baby food ;)
Deletei need to get into eating more dates! just one of those foods i never really considered before but i could totally use it.
ReplyDeleteYess!! I'm so glad that I started eating them :) Now I'm hooked!
DeleteIt looks like running on Whole30 is not too hard! :)) My favorite snacks are APPLES and peanut butter! :))
ReplyDeleteTakes some work and a few tough days, but now I'm loving it and it's definitely getting easier!
DeleteI need some taco soup, and I love Big Dog! Such a great coffee shop1
ReplyDeleteWhy am I not surprised that you went to Big Dog before me?! She doesn't even go here!
DeleteThat taco soup looks amazing, as well as your other meals!
ReplyDeleteIt's SO good!
DeleteThese posts are so fascinating! Please tell me you had some kind of oil & vinegar dressing on your kale salad. Or did you eat it plain??
ReplyDeleteGina ||On the Daily Express
I might have to post my recipe on that because it's so easy and delicious! I massage the kale with some olive oil to soften it and make it a bit better tasting, then I put on some vinegar, salt and pepper. It also had some apples, hazelnuts and blood orange slices so it wasn't just plain kale!
DeleteOooh that soup looks so tasty! I need to finally try taco soup, but everytime I go to do it, I either cave and make chicken noodle or just get too lazy.
ReplyDeleteIt's SO great! And its really easy to make too :)
DeleteWhat a healthy day! I'll have to try the dates for energy-- great idea!
ReplyDeleteThey're delicious :)
DeleteNever been to Big Dog, but I love the Beehive on Carson, they make alcoholic coffee drinks which are a fun weekend alternative.
ReplyDeleteI usually use Gu for my long runs. But since I am only running a half this spring, which will make my longest runs 12 miles or so I won't use any fuel during my runs, just plain ol' water.
I love Beehive as well! And the Beerhive in the strip. So good.
DeleteI've been going for a banana pre-run but am going to test out that applesauce trick!
ReplyDeleteBananas are great too! I just don't like eating them when I'm driving..a bit messier and the smelly peel :(
DeleteDonuts! No seriously. They're the best fuel if I eat them about 2 hours before I run. The best run I've ever had was after I ate a filet o fish. I know I shouldn't be saying all this here as I'm setting a bad example. HA! Sorry.
ReplyDeleteBack when I ran cross country and we had invitationals around the state, we would always stop at krispy kreme on the way up! It was a great way to get some fast carbs and sugars. Not sure if I could handle it now!
DeleteI love turmeric tea- glad to see someone else can stomach it as well!
ReplyDeleteSo, so good!
DeleteI've been wanting to try Margaret's taco soup for awhile! I am a huge fan of crockpot meals, they're so easy and usually always delicious. My boyfriend and I have a deal that whoever cooks, the other one does dishes that night. I always feel a little guilty when he does dishes after eating a crockpot meal because I barely feel like I cooked :) Haha.
ReplyDeleteYou have to try it! It's amazing. I wish Dan and I had that deal..I cook AND usually do the dishes every night!
DeleteEverything looks great Gretchen. I was actually wondering how whole30 might affect your running but it sounds like it's really working well for you.
ReplyDeleteSo far it is! Not sure if it will be enough when I get up to 18+ miles running but we'll see :)
Deletei love to see what other people eat, so thanks for sharing! and dates while running, that is brilliant! might have to try that as i know they are super good for you.
ReplyDeleteYou should try it! They're amazing.
DeleteMm looks like a good day of eats! I haven't added coconut to my PB and banana yet...great idea!
ReplyDeleteYou should try it and let me know what you think!
DeleteI like using spinach in recipes but can't say i'm a huge fan of Kale yet! -M
ReplyDeleteIt's slowly growing on me :)
DeleteI'm glad you've found a pre-run meal that works! Bananas are my favorite pre-run snack and then before long runs I add some whole grain toast with honey. And yum, does that soup look good!
ReplyDeleteBananas are a go-to for me as well!
DeleteI'm sorry if you covered this already, and I just totally missed it... but are you hungry the next day? especially after a long run? I read what you eat, and I think I got hungry just reading it... but I'm always hungry, so please think nothing of my comment.
ReplyDeleteDo you get the "Runger" after long runs? I feel that the two days after running more than 8 miles, I could eat everything in my path!
Not really! I find that when I start a training plan I am really hungry at first, but it levels off by week 2 or 3. I didn't find myself eating more than usual the day after this!
DeleteTumeric tea! That sounds delicious!
ReplyDeleteI love those WIAWs...your breakfast looks DELICIOUS! I never thought of sprinkling coconut on bananas before; I'm trying it ASAP :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Alexa! Hope you like it if you end up trying it :)
DeleteRoasted butternut squash is THE BEST snack EVER ;)
ReplyDeleteYes! I made some this morning!
Delete