Now that my experiment with the "Michael Phelps" diet is over, it's time to get back into my routine. ;)
This morning's breakfast was one of my favorites, huevos rancheros. A mix of green chiles, eggs and babybel cheese inside two corn tortillas.
I stopped on the way to work and picked up a hot, skim vanilla latte with one splenda - it was delicious. 
Mid-morning snack was a chocolate coconut larabar. This wasnt my favorite - i need to get some more of the coconut creme pie flavor.
Lunch was leftover spaghetti squash with turkey meatballs and tomato sauce. It was still good from last week, but my taste buds weren't really in the mood, so I ate about half of this at lunch. Check out that huge piece of garlic from the sauce - i threw that out so people at work didn't have fire breath on them during meetings.
Dessert was a piece of whole wheat potato toast with almond butter and pumpkin butter. I love this. Very exciting picture of the slice of bread - ha, hope you enjoy it. 
and here is the almond butter and pumpkin butter that went on the bread.
Afternoon snack was my best yogurt combination yet. I mixed honey flavored Oikos greek yogurt with Honey Almond Flax GoLean Crunch (is this new? b/c it was the first time i had seen it) and a very ripe peach from the produce stand yesterday. The peach was so ripe that the skin basically fell off as I was slicing it, and it was extremely juicy, so it made this peachy, yogurt sauce that was to die for.
When I got home from work tonight, I took Oscar for a walk in the park and then came home to do some upper body lifting and abs. I did the following:
- 3 sets of 20 regular sit-ups
- 3 sets of 15 modified push-ups
- 3 sets of 10 side shoulder raises
- 3 sets of 10 front shoulder raises
- 3 sets of 15 triceps extensions
- 3 sets of 20 bicycle crunches
- 3 sets of vertical leg crunches
- 3 sets of 15 bicep curls
It felt good to do some lifting since I have been slacking in that department.
While making dinner, I was snacking on some wasabi peas and blowing my nose because these were clearing out my senses.
Dinner tonight was brown rice with sauteed zucchini, squash, broccoli, onions and garlic. Unfortunately I have never had the best luck cooking brown rice and I overcooked it. I think it is because I have always undercooked it, so I went a little overboard and it was mushy. I used some of the marinade from the tofu below to season up the rice and veggies. I ate a bowl of it that was just OK - would have been better if the rice was cooked properly.
I also made an attempt to bake some tofu. I have been wanting to do this after reading about it for awhile in food blog land. I found a recipe for a
peanut sauce marinade and decided to go for it since I had basically everything in the recipe. I cooked it at 400 degrees for about 45 mins and it turned out pretty good. But after I ate a piece, I decided to put it back in the oven for another 10 mins to try and get it really crispy. I think it turned out well and loved how the chopped peanuts from the marinade got all caramelized on top.
Dessert was a rice pudding with raisins and a sprinkle of cinnamon/sugar mixture. These rice pudding packs are the best and only 90 calories!
I am off to do some dishes because i made a mess in the kitchen and then settle in to watch the HILLs. :)
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I picked up the biggest bag of parsley yesterday.
I started out placing everything in the mixing bowl in hopes I could achieve one of those cool cookbook pictures where all the ingredients are separated. Then I added the egg. Oops.
I added the ground turkey and mixed for a short time before forming (what felt like a million) mini meatballs and placing on parchment paper.
Pre-made polenta from Trader Joes was sliced and seasoned with EVOO, salt & pepper before baking in the oven for about 20 mins at 375 degrees. Flipped once.
After cooking the meatballs, it was time to re-heat the marinara. Giada's marinara is so thick and hearty - I love it.
I have a very good helper in the kitchen each night that I cook.
Not sure if anyone else has one of those annoying spaces between the oven and the counter top, but I swear it sucks things down there.
Luckily, my helper likes to keep things clean. 
I really don't understand how he squeezes his body in this space.
But I appreciate his help. 
Giada's turkey meatballs and marinara over Trader Joes polenta came out fantastic.
Topped with a little grated Romano and fresh basil.
I think I achieved a slightly healthier version of my Tomato Palace favorite starter - Meatballs and Polenta.
