Rise and Spinach

on December 17, 2009
in All Posts

I’m happy to report that I’m not that sore from my 22.0 mile long run!  It feels like I went out dancing in really uncomfortable high heels, but that’s it.  I credit adequately refueling with GOOD food (as opposed to a large Coldstone ice cream), foam rolling, and Recovery Socks.

 

My breakfast has a little GREEN surprise in it!  🙂

IMG_4141

I made normal whole wheat waffles (I like the Hodgson Mills kind), but I made some substitutions:

 

  • Vanilla rice milk instead of regular milk
  • A little less rice milk and 1/2 cup steamed and chopped spinach added in
  • A flax egg instead of a real egg (mix together 1 tablespoon ground flax and 3 tablespoon water and let stand for 1 minute).

 

The result was a sneaky vegetable surprise!  You could taste the spinach, but it was a yummy taste, I promise.

IMG_4143

I topped the waffles with about 1/4 serving of plain Greek Yogurt.

 

Plus, a Clementine for munching.

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Are you a fan of vegetables?  It’s no secret that I’m not a big vegetable girl, so I try to sneak them into recipes.  A big bowl of vegetables seems soooo unappealing to me (unless you coat them in cheese).

{ 71 comments }

 

  • Meg C. December 17, 2009, 9:08 am

    I’m not a veggie fan either. I like mixing them up and hiding them in things, like smoothies. Drinking them is much easier than eating them, for me.
    I like how you put them in waffles – except as a pancake/waffle lover it seems a bit sacreligious haha

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans December 17, 2009, 9:12 am

    I LOVE veggies, but I still sneak them into things, because a little extra veggie love never hurt anyone!

  • Eve December 17, 2009, 9:17 am

    I love that idea! Personally, I love my vegetables but I think it’s really great when you can get in both fruits & vegetables at breakfast – score!

  • kristen December 17, 2009, 9:27 am

    I really love veggies. I used to sit at my mum’s kitchen table and “spoil my dinner” by eating a plate of raw veggies and dip. Now I skip the dip, but can just eat a plate of the vegetables (though I prefer them with hummus).

    I may try to sneak some spinach into my pancakes next time I make them- just to see what it tastes like.

  • Britt - Runnerbelle December 17, 2009, 9:28 am

    I heart my foam roller. It definitely is a great way to help your sore muscles! I really had no idea how tight my IT band was until I used a roller.

    Great way to get your veggies in!

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat December 17, 2009, 9:29 am

    I actually really love vegetables but sneaking them in is fun too!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is December 17, 2009, 9:29 am

    I think you know I despise veggies – but can handle them covered in cheese or fried. 🙂 Can’t believe you are not sore!

  • Janna (Just Flourishing) December 17, 2009, 9:30 am

    Wow! I need to invest in a foam roller asap. I am sore after short runs!

    I am indeed a fan of vegetables. Always have been. I guess I’m lucky that way. haha. 🙂

  • brandi December 17, 2009, 9:30 am

    I AM a fan of veggies, but only some in large quantities! i like salads, but with fun toppings and roasted veggies are the best on their own.

    Great + colorful way to start the day 🙂

  • Christie @ Honoring Health December 17, 2009, 9:34 am

    I go through phases with vegetables. Some times, I love them and it is all I want and others I want nothing less. I do love fruit though. I probably eat way more fruit than veggies.

  • Shannon (The Daily Balance) December 17, 2009, 9:34 am

    creative way to sneak in some spinach! What a great idea for a savory waffle! LOVE IT!

  • Lily @ Lily's Health Pad December 17, 2009, 9:35 am

    The spinach/waffle combo looks quite interesting…

    As long as you think it tastes good…

  • amanda @ fake ginger December 17, 2009, 9:35 am

    Yum, I’m a huge fan of savory waffles! I’ll have to try that. Bet it would be awesome with some cheddar mixed in.

    I’m the opposite – I love veggies, hate fruit.

  • The Hot and Fit December 17, 2009, 9:36 am

    I absolutely LOVE vegetables! I would go completely raw if my lifestyle enabled me 😉

  • Carolyn December 17, 2009, 9:38 am

    I like your run of the mill vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, peas, green beans, etc. Not a fan of squash or regular spinach. I love putting spinach and carrots in my smoothies. I just feel like I’ve done something good for myself.

  • Evan Thomas December 17, 2009, 9:39 am

    I love vegetables! But not in my waffles :-X Or smoothies. I guess that’s OK though, because I like to have them on their own, so I don’t mind not having them in other food.
    It’s great that you don’t feel sore. I always feel better the next day if I go for a long walk the day before. Yesterday I did 17 miles(my distance PR) but then forgot to walk at all the rest of the day and this morning’s 12 was such a slug

  • Rosey Rebecca December 17, 2009, 9:40 am

    That’s such an interesting idea!! Glad you liked it!

  • Christy December 17, 2009, 9:47 am

    I LOOVEEE veggies! My fav is brussels sprouts, I could eat those things like candy! 😀

  • VeggieGirl December 17, 2009, 9:54 am

    Why do you think I’m called VeggieGirl? 😀

  • ashleigh December 17, 2009, 9:54 am

    i love veggies so much that i could probably subside on just veggies for the rest of my life and be a happy girl. Ok, maybe i would need some pizza, too!

    im the same w/ fruit though. i sneak it into my oatmeal everyday and try and eat an apple everyday because i know it’s good for you.

    i like the idea of using flax instead of eggs, as much as i do LOVE eggs it would be nice to try and use flax instead when baking/cooking. thanks for the tip!

  • Gloria December 17, 2009, 9:56 am

    I love veggies!!!! My weekly grocery bill is always outrageous because I must go through 4 bundles each of kale, chard, spinach, broccoli, giant bags of carrots, and zucchini. It’s totally worth the money though 🙂

    I have to say, I don’t really like waffles, but I don’t think I’d add greens if I did. I’m definitely a green smoothie kinda girl!

  • Kristie Lynn December 17, 2009, 9:59 am

    I love veggies, but mostly when they are roasted or I can dip them in something yummy like hummus! I’m not the kind of veggie lover who can have salad with dressing or just snack on raw carrots (give me carrot fries any day!). 🙂

  • Emily GG December 17, 2009, 10:06 am

    I really like vegetables, spinach and squash are my favorite!! One idea you might like if you liked your waffles is one of my breakfast recipes.

    1/2 cup Dry Country Choice Organic Multigrain Hot Cereal
    1 or 2 cups fresh spinach
    1 tbsp Bob’s Red Mill Flax Seed Meal
    1/4 cup Fat Free Cottage Cheese or 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt.

    Spinach blended oats:
    Boil 1 cup water
    Add oats, cottage cheese/yogurt, and flax, bring back to boil, then to a simmer
    Add spinach on top of simmering oats, cover pan to steam for a few minutes
    Stir all together
    Pour into a blender, blend until desired consistency
    Pour into bowl/mug and enjoy.

  • Katie December 17, 2009, 10:08 am

    I love vegetables but I agree that they are tastier when they are “enhanced” with toppings. Even if it is just some garlic or balsamic, I like more flava!

  • Anne Marie@ New Weigh of Life December 17, 2009, 10:09 am

    I like vegetables. I think they are pretty tasty!

  • Good Taste. Healthy Me December 17, 2009, 10:11 am

    I hated vegetables throughout my childhood but I’m slowly rediscovering them and I do happen to like a good amount of them. 🙂 Tastes change over time I guess!

  • Lindsay December 17, 2009, 10:11 am

    Sneaky spinach! It looks kinda pretty too 😉
    lol I know what that out all night dancing in really high heels feeling is like… Glad that you don’t feel worse!

  • Mel @ She Runs Brooklyn December 17, 2009, 10:12 am

    I had my office christmas party last night and ate un-safe amounts of fried food. All I want in life right now is a big bowl of vegetables hahaha

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite December 17, 2009, 10:14 am

    I only like certain veggies!

    I’d be willing to try them in waffles though 😉

  • Haleigh December 17, 2009, 10:14 am

    I am a fan of vegetables as long as they are roasted.

  • chandra h December 17, 2009, 10:16 am

    hehe spinach waffles… interesting 🙂

    i like veggies! sometimes I just crave carrots and eat them straight from the bag. &.. brussel sprouts! really weird, but i looove them.

    glad you’re not too sore today~! 22 miles is soooo amazing.

  • Matt December 17, 2009, 10:20 am

    I actually like my vegetables 🙂

  • Jess December 17, 2009, 10:24 am

    I love veggies but I wasn’t always that way. I had to change my mindset towards them and also learn to cook them properly before I really came to love them.

    Although, I’ve always been a raw carrot muncher 😉

  • Molly @vegandorm December 17, 2009, 10:27 am

    I actually love veggies. My favorites are….
    roasted brocolli
    roasted okra
    green beans with lemon pepper
    peas
    kale!

  • Jessie December 17, 2009, 10:28 am

    I hate veggies. The only veffie I have ever really enjoyed is canned green beans cooked with a beef bullion cube, otherwise it needs to be smother in cheese or salad dressing. Butternut squash is growing on my though.

  • Heather December 17, 2009, 10:31 am

    I love vegetables, but I think they taste best roasted with some olive oil, garlic + sea salt. Some I love raw (carrots, for sure!) but steamed? No thanks. The only vegetable I don’t love is green peas, but I will eat them if they’re mixed in something.

    Sneaking spinach into waffles is kind of interesting! I’ll have to try that sometime.

  • skinnyrunner December 17, 2009, 10:37 am

    i do like vegetables but i love the idea of sneaking them into stuff!

  • emily December 17, 2009, 10:43 am

    I love veggies, a big bowl of them sounds yummy to me! However, I like sneaking them into things too.

  • Diana @ frontyardfoodie December 17, 2009, 10:50 am

    I’m a massive veggie fan….so much that I’m a high raw vegan. So my diet is almost all veggies and of course some fruits thrown in there.

    Love your ideas for hiding veggies though! I’ll need them when I have kids!

  • Lu December 17, 2009, 11:08 am

    I love vegetables. What we do at my house is buy one of the precut veggie trays from the grocery store and pull it out for dinners and snacks. Everyone grabs a little bit and eats away. Sometimes the veggie turnoff can be the prep associated with it. Sneaking veggies into food is smart too. My favorite, I mix zucchini and grated carrot into marinara sauce. It’s delicious. Those waffles sound really good.

  • Brie (The Fit Bride) December 17, 2009, 11:10 am

    I’m definitely not a veggie fan. I’m really terrible about it–I can go days and days without eating them. I eat a lot of fruit, but it’s on my goal list for the new year!

  • Rose December 17, 2009, 11:12 am

    I love sneaking in vegetables when I can 🙂

  • Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion December 17, 2009, 11:13 am

    That looks great! I am glad you aren’t sore, that is awesome!!! I actually looooove veggies, I feel like for a person that doesn’t love veggies you still eat a lot of them! Good job!

  • Gabriela December 17, 2009, 11:18 am

    Love the idea!
    I´ve never tried waffles, but they must be good 🙂
    Love your blog!
    XOXO
    G.

  • Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run December 17, 2009, 11:21 am

    I love veggies however I can get ’em. I definitely want to try these waffles, especially with the flax egg!

  • Erin December 17, 2009, 11:25 am

    I love vegetables but that’s a great way to sneak in some greens first thing in the morning! 🙂

  • Joy December 17, 2009, 11:30 am

    Interesting- I’d imagine it tastes a litttttle like quiche? I hate veggies, but i’ve been better about incorporating them into my diet, especially in the form of kale chips! i’ve also been steaming frozen broccoli in the microwave with a little laughing cow cheese and red pepper flakes. Also spinach and tomato on grilled cheese!

  • annie December 17, 2009, 11:48 am

    i swear, spinach goes with everything! i eat a lot of spinach flavored stuff but i will for sure start putting fresh spinach in my foods!

  • Sammi December 17, 2009, 11:52 am

    I like some vegetable but I’m learning to like others. Corn, green beans, peas, cooked carrots, broccoli and stuff like that I can eat alone. But there are veggies that I can barely stand like peppers.

    Sneaking in veggies is always nice though 🙂

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) December 17, 2009, 11:53 am

    I love vegetable and have been known to make dinner out of veggies and some beans.

  • Julie December 17, 2009, 12:05 pm

    I love veggies, even as a kid I loved them! You should buy that book “deceptively delicious” by Seinfields wife. She sneaks veggies into everything for her kids.

  • JavaChick December 17, 2009, 12:23 pm

    There are a few vegetables that I truly enjoy, but for the rest I’m with you – I try to sneak them in.

  • Kristen December 17, 2009, 12:31 pm

    I love ALL veggies. I’ve never had kale. Brussel sprouts and okra to me are gross/slimey, but I would tried them if someone had a good way to prepare.

  • Kristine December 17, 2009, 12:44 pm

    I like veggies more than fruit! But that’s not saying much. Congrats on no pain! You will rock the marathon

  • Mel @midwestmomtris.blogspot.com December 17, 2009, 1:10 pm

    I like most vegetables, except peas, beets (and those are Soooo popular right now) and canned green beans. On some days I love peppers, and on other days can stand them. However, your idea of coating veggies in cream cheese is a solid plan. lol

  • Bronwyn December 17, 2009, 1:33 pm

    Not gonna lie, I love me some vegetables.

    hmmmm broccoli.

  • Ashley December 17, 2009, 1:37 pm

    Honestly, I’m not big into veggies either — it always makes me feel better when you post that you’re not, etiher.

  • lisa December 17, 2009, 1:47 pm

    I love all your substitutions! I would have never thought to put spinach in a waffle. Not sure how much I’d really love it, but it could be worth trying. How did you figure out the flax egg thing? definitely curious about that one!

    Congrats on your 22 miler! Fueling correctly is so important but can be so difficult to get right, too!

    • Caitlin December 17, 2009, 3:13 pm

      vegans told me about it!

  • Kelly December 17, 2009, 2:00 pm

    Oh my gosh those waffles look AMAZING!!! WOW!

  • Wendy December 17, 2009, 2:04 pm

    Question – can the flax egg be used as a substitution in any baked good? A little boy in my daughter’s pre-K class is allergic to eggs, and I was wondering if I could use that to make cupcakes whenever her birthday rolls around.

    I’m kinda veggie-neutral. Not a hater, but I definitely go for other foods first, i.e. yogurt, fruit, uh, chocolate. I think it’s really funny that you’re a vegetarian who doesn’t like vegetables. 🙂 But I can relate.

    • Caitlin December 17, 2009, 3:15 pm

      i think it can be used in all recipes!

  • Katie December 17, 2009, 3:57 pm

    I love veggies but this is the CRAZIEST thing I have seen all day! But in a good way!

    I MIGHT have to add some spinach to my protein pancakes in the morning….weird!

    Happy Thursday

    http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/

  • Megan December 17, 2009, 5:05 pm

    Sometimes i really crave veggies (prob when I’ve skipped too many!!) but other times i’m kind of eh oh them. I like the idea of adding them into your waffle!!

    Do you think the recovery socks really work!?

    • Caitlin December 17, 2009, 5:07 pm

      yes i do!

      • Megan December 17, 2009, 5:14 pm

        Hmmmm maybe I’ll try them out…whatever works right?!

  • Julia December 17, 2009, 6:13 pm

    What a brilliant idea to sneak in some veggies. I must try this

  • jenna December 17, 2009, 6:52 pm

    i adore veggies!
    jenna

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) December 17, 2009, 8:42 pm

    I love all veggies … a big bowl of cauliflower with a bit of butter is like a snack to me 🙂 Weird but true!

  • Maureen @ Notes on a Visual Life July 10, 2010, 4:17 am

    Hi Caitlin! Question…do you wear your compression socks during a longer run or just afterwards for recovery? I’m just getting back into running (after a 6 year hiatus…yikes) and I’ve heard people raving about these socks. PS: Your blog is really inspiring me to get back on the road/trail and to not beat myself up during the tough early phases of getting back into racing shape! Thanks!!

    • caitlin July 10, 2010, 7:42 am

      Hi! 🙂 Thank you so much.

      I just wear my socks after long races. But I know people who wear them during the races. Experiment to see what works best for you 🙂 GOODLUCK!

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