In my last few posts I have been talking a lot about coconut oil.

Yes I am in love……….

I love the creamy texture.

I love the smell.

And I love the health benefits.

I have not used it as a moisturizer yet or as hair care.  I am too scared!

Have you tried it?

I can tell you coconut oil tastes fabulous on roasted veggies and tofu.

On another note this Saturday my sis, her hubby and Bill and I will be celebrating November Birthdays. It is Bill’s and Ken’s birthday this month.

We will be having dinner at our house and the theme is ALL VEGAN.  My sister has lost 115 pounds by changing her diet from mostly animal products to mostly vegan.  We can’t wait to share our menu with you

 Can’t wait!

What do you have planned for this lovely weekend?

I hope to get in some long runs, catch up on reading blogs and have a delicious Birthday feast!

My pyramid includes four things:

Food, Supplements, Exercise and Rest/Sleep

Food has been an ongoing trial and error process for me.  I have tried low-fat, low carb, vegetarian, and vegan.  I have found I cannot stick to one prescribed way of eating.  I love all kinds of food and enjoy to eat raw, vegan, good quality animal protein, cheese, and pastas/grains.  I cannot stick to a title anymore.  I must allow for it all within reason.

Sometimes I am craving vegan food like my incredible Alive Pasta Sauce dish:

Sometimes I crave hearty crock pot beef stew like this one I made and enjoyed last night:

What I have learned works for me is low sugar, organic, minimally processed, gluten-free food.  I am lucky too because Bill and I find we thrive best on very similar foods and we are open to new things.  Some things we are loving lately are nutritional yeast, egg whites, raw nuts, peanut flour, gluten-free pasta, and oat bran YUM!

I also think adding in high quality protein powder is essential for busy active people.  I tend to stick to hemp protein but just received this protein in the mail today.

Gotein is

• high protein, low carbs, low calories
• 24 vitamins and minerals
• in a powder stick for convenience
• and you just add to approximately 10 oz of water

I am excited to give it a try.  In fact, I stuck the chocolate stick in my lunch bag for today.

Would you like to try some?

Just leave me a comment on what encompasses your food pyramid and I will pick a winner Friday morning.

I hope to talk about my next part of my pyramid of success tomorrow-supplementing (something near and dear to my heart )

Have a great day and tweet my giveaway and let me know you did for an extra chance to win the Gotein protein!

• Sleep in
• Eat lots of oat bran

mine

his

• Run and cycle

• Watch movies
• Do some yard work

• Go to the farmers market on bike

• And cook wonderful dinners

Wait until I share this amazing raw, vegan, cream sauce with you.  It is to die for

Did you have a relaxing weekend?

Hope you are having a slow Sunday morning like I am.

After getting up too early yesterday for my run it is nice to take it slow today

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a really cute Thermal Hoodie!

The giveaway goes until Wednesday night so you still have time

Now on to some food talk!

Bill and I normally consider ourselves 85% vegetarians.

We tend to enjoy eating veggies, grains, and beans mostly with a bit of cheese, salmon, and tuna thrown in for fun.

We do not drink dairy products and for some reason neither one of us likes yogurt.

Nor are we big egg eaters though if I go out to eat I may have Eggs Benedict-one of my favs!

However VERY occasionally we crave meat.

Last night was one of those nights.

We went to the store and got a package of organic meat strips and some salad fixin’s.

We wanted to create a yummy beef and cheese salad.

Bill got to work on the creating the delicious beef strips.

He sautéed olive oil, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, and some garlic:

Then he added the strips of beef while we drank some of this lovely wine a friend got us:

And I started on the salad.

Lots of spinach and butter lettuce for a base:

Added in some radishes, carrots, red cabbage, sprouts, and broccoli:

Topped with bleu cheese, marinated mushrooms, olives, and almonds:

My plate with a side of steamed broccoli (can never get enough) and some hummus (of course)!

It was very satisfying and filled me up fast.

We finished off the meal by trying my giveaway prize from Nutritious Foodie.

This Tempt Hemp Ice Cream:

It was good.  In fact both of the Tempt products we tried were delicious.

Thanks again Gelerah!

Well I am off to enjoy my Sunday.

I think a little hike is planned with Pepsi-I am very sore from yesterday!

And of course a trip to Trader Joes………

What do you consider yourself?

• A Vegan?

• A Vegetarian?

• A Pescatarian?

• An Omnivore?

Do tell!