Geesh! My foot was so sore today!   I thought running caused bottom of the foot problems but I seem to have a top of the foot problem.  It’s so achy but there is no swelling and no bruise.  Fingers crossed that this will be another one of those pains that just goes away as quick as it came on.  I keep putting BioFreeze on it. UGG!

This morning I made the BEST oatmeal.  It was 1/4 cup Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut + 1/2 tsp cinnamon + 1 TBS mixed raisins and dried blueberries + 1/2 split vanilla bean + lots of water.  That vanilla made the kitchen smell so good. 

Although the flavor was rich and luscious, I wouldn’t recommend spending the $10.00 for 2 beans.  I’m going to rinse the used bean off, let it dry and see if it will impart some flavor in tomorrows oats as well. Those beans are like GOLD!  So expensive.

Do you have a favorite yogurt?  Do you even like yogurt? 

This is an interesting fact that a friend of our family told me about this past week:

Approximately 15% of the population are known as “thiourea tasters”.  This group can taste the compound thiourea. 

“A specific taste receptor determines why some people can taste bitterness in certain foods and some can’t. A specific gene, TAS2R38, produces different versions of the TAS2R38 taste receptor. “Tasters” have a version of the TAS2R38 taste receptor that can detect thiourea compounds and “non-tasters” have a version of the receptor that can’t.”  Source: Precision Nutrition

For some of the Thiourea group, the strong taste of lactic acid in yogurt is a real turn off unless it is well sweetened with artificial sugars. 

I love yogurt. My favorite is the Greek 0% fat plain.  I enjoy adding my own almonds or other nuts plus Craisins or raisins to flavor it.   However, as I posted back at the beginning of the month, I snagged 4 flavors of Chobani that I had never tried.  I did  a taste test and these are the results.

Chobani Pineapple Low Fat

Even though I mixed in my own nuts and raisins, I didn’t like this flavor.  It was like fruit jelly on the bottom.  It was too sweet and the texture didn’t work for me. It was like a gelatinous yogurt.  *Ted LOVED this flavor.

160 calories. 2.5 g fat. 21 g carbohydrates. 18g sugar. 13 g protein.

Chobani Strawberry Banana

Good taste and not as sweet.   The texture was still soupy-jelly-slimy. Sounds great doesn’t it?!

Ted is eating these flavors like candy. He is not even a huge fan of yogurt… that is until now.

160 calories. 3 g fat. 19g carbohydrates.  17g sugars.  14 g protein.

Chobani Pomegranate

When I picked this flavor up at the EXPO, the young lady behind the table said it had the seeds in it. Maybe she was suggesting that it isn’t the most popular because it had seeds? I’m not sure.  It was kind of  gritty but the flavor was excellent.  Still, that gelatin texture. 

140 calories.  0% fat. 21g Carbohydrates. 19g sugar. 14 g protein.

Chobani Raspberry

This was the best so far. The flavor was really good.  It was sweet and tart from the raspberry flavor.  Do I need to mention the texture?!!!!

140 calories. 0% fat. 22g carbohydrates.  19g sugar. 14 g protein.

Following this tasting experiment, I received this:

That’s a lot of CHOBANI!   I can’t wait to try the blueberry, the strawberry  (Ted  swiped it before I could get at it), the PEACH    , and to compare the Low Fat plain to the Non fat plain.  The later being my favorite.

For more information on the benefits of eating yogurt, see my EXAMINER article.

Raspberry Chobani Pancakes – Based on Bob’s Red Mill Blueberry-Yogurt Pancake recipe.

• 1 cup whole wheat flour (I used white whole wheat flour)
• 1/2 tsp Baking soda
• 1 tsp Baking powder
• 1 egg
• 1 cup reduced fat milk (I used Lactaid Reduced Fat milk because Ted digests the Lactaid better than regular milk. Plus it was all I had.)
• 6 oz Chobani Raspberry Non Fat Yogurt – fruit on the bottom.

NOTE:  These are “over night pancakes” because I mixed up the batter at night then cooked the pancakes the following morning.  The result:  FANTASTIC and it saves time!

Mix dry ingredients together then make a well in the center.  Add the egg, milk, and yogurt and stir all together. Mix well.

Heat a greased grill pan on medium high and let cook first side until bubbles form on the top. Flip and cook about a  minute or two more until brown on the bottom.

I heated about 1/4 cup of frozen raspberries, added 1/2 tsp orange zest and 2 tsp 100% Maple syrup to top the cakes.  Add a dollop of yogurt.

Enjoy!

To the tune of “Do-Re-Mi” :

Let’s start at the very beginning
A very good place to start
When you read you begin with… A B C….

Registration for the 10 mile race is the beginning.  The race is the end, but you’ll have to wait for that one until tomorrow.

There was no hesitation about whether I should really do the 10 mile (my longest road race yet….oh yeah, not technically a race) or opt for a shorter mileage such as the 5 mile.  I walked right up, handed in my registration, got my shirt, and proceeded over to the Utica Road Runners Table.

I couldn’t help but notice some bountiful treats along the way…healthy right?

By the way, I had to grab a bag because I snagged 4 Chobani (Oh SO GOOD!) and a Fage plus ..see that Feta cheese pkg?  I swiped that as well.     Did you know that FAGE has a facility right here in New York State? 

In February 2005, FAGE USA Dairy Inc. was established in order to build a state-of-the-art production facility for FAGE Total in New York State.

The Plant is located in Johnstown Industrial Park, 200 miles north of New York City in an area of 22 acres and the building is 120,000 sq. ft. The Company has invested $100 million in order to manufacture FAGE Total in this highly automated, state-of-the-art plant.

Once at the Road Runners table, I met my friend Jim Moragne, the contact for Utica Road Runners membership should you want to join.  Every time I speak to Jim, he offers super information and somehow helps to take the edge off an up coming run.  We talked about the 10 mile Heart Run. I felt better. Then we discussed marathons.  He offered information about my desire to do the Flying Pig and then suggested some local marathons around New York State which might be an even better place to start marathon running.  I really felt great about running ANYTHING after our conversation.  THANKS JIM!

I continued on with my wandering about the Fitness Expo, remembering that I was playing hooky  from work so I was kind of “grabbing and going”.       

Biofreeze…you never know.  I sampled the Heidelberg French Peasant loaf.  I truly enjoy all Heidelberg breads. They are so soft and fresh and the flavor is like no other bread.  My favorite is the sunflower seed and raisin.  Unfortunately, the kind lady handing out samples had just finished handing out that loaf. 

Even a giveaway for coffee.  I so wanted to win a basket full of K-cups.  Oh well, I had to leave and they were just setting up for the raffle so I missed that one.

The popcorn was being consumed by about every other person I walked past.  Don’t you just LOVE the smell of popcorn?!

Even good old Hannaford’s had a table with their recipe filled magazines and information on “Guiding stars”. 

This year an organization was offering CPR training. There was blood pressure and cholesterol screening.  The Fitness Expo was so informative and interactive, it is a great place to get motivated to begin a healthy life style change. 

Now I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the challenge of this run.  I can’t wait to look back on this and scoff at myself thinking “how could I have been so concerned about such a SHORT run?”.  Wonder if that will ever happen?  Wonder if I’ll ever run that marathon?  I’m pretty sure I’ll complete a half marathon or two or more this year.  Food and running …does life get any better?

Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run

See my info blog at EXAMINER on the Expo.