[photo cred]

Also, I wanted to show a little video filmed about an emotionally abusive relationship that I think a lot of you can relate to.

URL
This video really encapsulates where I currently stand even after a year of healthy lifestyle blogging, and seven years of learning, reforming, falling down and then dusting myself back off again. The URL mentioned at the end of the video is currently under construction, but it will eventually be up and I’d like all of you to post your own videos giving your own “break-up story” (you’ll see what I mean if you watch the vid!). Thanks to my boyfriend for shooting and editing (and still loving me even though I’m a little…er…eccentric? !

Now, to show my appreciation for all of you readers — new, old and even you lurkers who never expose yourselves (tee-hee) — I now offer you a chance to win a $40 gift card to Whole Foods Market!*

How To Win

Open to U.S. residents only. All entries must be received, via the means mentioned below, by January 28, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. You will get one entry for each of the following:

1. Leaving a comment on this post.
2. If you have a blog, adding me to your Blogroll and leaving a comment on this post letting me know you have.
3. Adding me to your Google Reader and leaving a comment on this post letting me know you have.
4. If you have a blog, linking back to this give-away and leaving a comment on this post letting me know you have.
5. Tweeting this give-away and leaving a comment on this post letting me know you have.

I will choose and announce a winner via a random number generated by Random.org this Friday, January 29, 2010.

*As per FTC regulations, I must note that this is NOT a sponsored give-away. The $40 gift card is coming straight out of The Cranky One’s cranky wallet.

GOOD LUCK and love to all of you have read this blog and who, most important to my heart, commiserate!

<3,

The Cranky One

Enter, the tofu-lentil mash-up tacos…

Tofu is a relatively new product to me in terms of preparing it myself.  Each time I’ve made it, I’ve used this amazing recipe.  For the sake of novelty, I tried a different recipe found here, and as follows with nutritional info.:

“Tofu Balls” (not my title!) – Instead of making them as meatballs, I made them as “ground beef”

Ingredients

• 1 lb. extra firm tofu – I used 14 oz. as that’s how it’s sold at Trader Joe’s – 350 calories, 20 g fat, 5 g fiber, 40 g protein
• 1 small finely chopped onion – 29 calories, 0.1 g fat, 1 g fiber, 0.6 g protein
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce – I used Trader Joe’s Reduced Sodium – 45 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter — I used Kirkland’s organic brand – 300 calories, 22.5 g fat, 3 g fiber, 13.5 g protein
• 1/2 c. bread crumbs — I used 1 slice of toasted Oroweat double fiber bread – 70 calories, 1 g fat, 6 g fiber, 3 g protein
• Fresh basil or oregano
• Nutritional information for entire pan:  794 calories, 43.6 g fat, 15 g fiber, 57.1 g protein
• 1/8th = 99.25 calories, 5.45 g fat, 1.87 g fiber, 7.14 g protein
• A note: I link to Calorie King for items, particularly fruits/veggies, that do not have nutritional info. listed.  If I do have access to the exact nutritional info. on a package, I list that instead of linking to a calorie estimator site.

Directions

• Easy. Drain the tofu, then mix all the ingredients and mash into the texture of ground beef.  Wow, this should be in my own version of “Vegetarian Cooking for Lazy-Butts.”
• Saute over medium-heat until browned. Voila!
• I then mixed the cooked tofu “meat” with lentils made via this recipe.  You have no idea how good this tastes in a corn tortilla.  Like party in my mouth and no one is invited because I’m not sharing good. Add a slice of avocado + spinach + Tapatio = Bliss.
• Calories estimate for serving of tofu (99.25) + serving of lentils (56.13) + 2 corn tortillas (110 cals) = 265.38
• Note: The lentils used in the above are so delish by themselves in a taco as well.

It’s been a while since I’ve showed my obsession with love for black beans and I’ve been having BB withdrawals.  Here are some “re-fried” black beans sauteed with orange, yellow and red bell pepper, onion and tomato and placed in a corn tortillas with spinach and Tapatio.

Yum.  Calories estimate? 110 for tortillas + 220 for a cup of beans (generous estimate) = Around 340 calories and good taste for days.

Give-Aways Round-up

• Did you see all the give-aways listed on this post as well as my own Crispy Green freeze-dried fruit give-away? Enter if you haven’t!
• Happy Herbivore is having a Swanson’s spices give-away here.

Did you know?

• Trader Joe’s website offers recipes here?  They also allow you to select product lists, here, based on “vegetarian” options, “gluten-free” options, etc., so you can see all the products they sell that fit your particular food restrictions/life-style.
• Whole Foods Market’s website offers cooking videos and recipes here.

Yesterday was an amazing day.  Why?  I think because I had actually slept an adequate amount. If that’s how I’d usually feel with more sleep, I am definitely making sleep more of a priority!  Here are the main things that made my day a great one:

Beach Babe Workout
I went to the beach to workout by myself for the first time.  I’ve worked out at the beach before, but only when accompanied by a friend or my twin. Why have I lived in this beach town my entire life and only now taken the opportunity to relish it as a workout spot?  Not sure.  A) I’m lame.  B) I think as a “chubbier” person, I just didn’t like being “exposed” at the beach and developed an aversion to all beach activities.

Well, it was beautiful.  I ran along the beach for three miles (yes, I RAN! My knee is getting better and better!).  I am keeping my runs short and sporadic — I do not want to overextend myself again.  So, 3 miles of beach sand running at the slow and steady pace of 10-minute miles.  I then sprinted for half a mile at a 7:30 minute/mile pace.  I wasn’t sure what to do next, then I saw a huge flight of stairs and evil laughter escaped my lips as I ran towards it.  Up, down, up, down, up down. I’m sure I looked like a nut running up and down this very high and steep staircase, but I can’t tell you how much fun I was having.  Again, if this positive mindset was a result of sleep, I profess my love to the Sleep God.  I was able to see my total mileage, pace and calories because I wore my new Garmin 305 for the first time!  Thanks to Tamara for her recommendation.

Do any of you have Garmin 305s? Work out at the beach?

Whole Foods
I have been a loyal and ardent supporter of Trader Joe’s during my health journey and have felt no need to branch out…until A) I started seeing other foodies writing about products from WF that I had not tried and did not have access to and B) Out of state friends complained they could not try my recipes/snack ideas since they did not have a TJs. So, yesterday, I marked a big “WF” in my calendar and excitedly went to this health food Disneyland to scope out the goods.  I feel like there should have been an induction ceremony involved or something, but, alas, there was not.

I had no clue that WF allowed you to make your own trail mix or to mix your own nut butter!  Why had no one told me this?!  Insane!

The goods:

It might not have been smart to get the Peanut Butter & Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams.  I tried a spoonful last night.  And then another.  Repeat.  Yea, unbelievably scrumptious.

Just a note – I was surprised to find that WF still carries a lot of foods on my “no-no” list.  I had envisioned WF as a place that shunned refined flours and high-sugar foods, but everywhere I turned there was something that I would never put in my mouth. I guess no matter where you go, you always have to be a smart, health-minded consumer.

What do you guys love about Whole Foods?  Any product recommendations?

Mimi’s Cafe
I did not end up cooking the black bean dish I had envisioned for dinner, but instead went to dinner at Mimi’s Café.  Meh.  I didn’t know Mimi’s was like a high-end Denny’s, but it was.  Their saving grace, however, is that they are so open with the nutritional content/caloric content of their dishes and they even have A) A “Just Enough” section on their menu where you can choose items in smaller portions for less money and B) a Fresh and Fit menu that has specifically nutritious and less calorie-dense foods with all the nutritional information posted right there on the menu.  While I’ve read here that only 1/10 people will actually look at nutritional content at fast-food restaurants, I’m pretty sure that the 10% are you guys and myself!  I am always stoked when the info. is available and applaud all restaurants that provide it.

Do you guys check out nutritional information of restaurant foods before you order?

Alright, it’s going to be a lame weekend spent at the library   Hope you guys actually do something fun!

Is almond butter better than peanut butter?  I say yes.  It has less saturated fat, more iron, more fiber (and in the case of Barney Butter, more magnesium and vitamin E) than peanut butter.

In terms of practicality, budgets and health – let’s find the happy medium.  For us Southern Cali people, right now Barney’s is only found online, at Whole Foods Market (currently only the crunchy variety is available near me), or Henry’s Market.  Additionally, and unfortunately, almond butter is more expensive than peanut butter.

Here is Barney Butter compared to my favorite almond and peanut butter.  You can decide based on your budget, health concerns and access to grocery stores which variety is best for you!

Barney Butter Almond Butter, in Smooth
$7.99 for a 16-ounce jar directly from them online, $8.99 at Whole Foods, $7.99 from yummy.com.  It looks like a 3-pack discount will be given from Amazon.com eventually – I’ll keep you posted.

Two tablespoons: 180 calories, 15 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 3 g fiber, 6 g protein
8% iron, 20% vitamin E, 25% magnesium

Trader Joe’s Unsalted, Creamy Almond Butter
$4.99 for a 16-ounce jar – Available only at Trader Joe’s
Two tablespoons: 190 calories, 18 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 3 g fiber, 8 g protein
6% iron

Kirkland Signature Organic Creamy Peanut Butter
$7.99 for TWO 28-ounce jars – available only at Costco Wholesale markets
Two tablespoons: 200 calories, 15 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 2 g fiber, 9 g protein
4% iron

Missing from my list, I’ll admit, is regular, store bought, peanut or almond butter. Here’s my confession – I have an aversion to regular grocery stores.  The prices are ridiculously high and there is too much junk and crap food that it really disheartens me. If you would like to recommend I try your favorite, healthy, almond or peanut butter, I’m totally up for it!