Healthy Is As Healthy Does

D and I had a really interesting conversation about granola bars a couple of days ago... you know, how some bars are "healthy" but have added sugar or weird ingredients. And then we started talking about health.

Health is such an intensely personal thing. Every body and each body are so incredibly different. And what does health feel and look like anyway?

When B asked me a few months ago if I have always been healthy, I didn't know how to answer. Because my own definition of health has changed and evolved. I have eaten things that I thought were healthy but actually made me sick (7-grain bread, I'm looking at you. You devil you.) It has been a process of trial and error to find the foods that make me feel happy and healthy, to create an active life, and to make sure that my diet and my physical activity work in tandem.

This means fruit and vegetables and protein. Nothing processed. This means a boatload of water. This means quinoa and oatmeal (grains I can eat!). Coffee, because I (really) like coffee. Almond butter. Berries. Spinach. More protein.

This means running. This means strength training. Bootcamp. Barre classes. Plenty of yoga. And it also means November Project because I like forty stadium sections at sunrise and planks in the mud (read: dirt, sweat, and endorphins). 

I have been stoked to see new food and fitness options come to Boston. Flywheel. Barry's Bootcamp. SoulCycle. Plus, Exhale Spa just added a Core Fusion Barre + Cardio class. I like the kale and the quinoa at Boloco and Sweetgreen and there are finally more and more smoothie bars. These are all good things, especially when it's cold as sh*t outside and you need a fun new workout and something delicious to eat. 

{Cue the smoothie/snow montage}

Love Alive from Life Alive

PB&J from Fuel Bar at Barry's Bootcamp

Especially the smoothies. I'll hike to Southie for Nourish Your Soul, I have a crush on the PB&J smoothie at Fuel Bar, and today I tried CocoBeet, the new organic eatery near Government Center. I scoped out the menu beforehand and I was pumped to try it post-Sunday run. Granted, I was a little bummed that the smoothies and juice are bottled and not made to order. CocoBeet also does not serve food on the weekends, so it's really just open to sell the smoothies and juice (I think this business model may be a bit questionable, yeah?).

Regardless, I'm happy Cocobeet is there. I bought the Blue Coconut and the Kale Karma (points for fun names!). I liked the Blue Coconut - I definitely tasted the almonds and coconut oil. The Kale Karma is in my fridge for tomorrow.

I'm excited for kale and November Project tomorrow. I'm excited for yoga class this week and running in San Francisco next weekend. I'm excited for health, always.

It's Peanut Butter and Jelly Time

I love everything about smoothies. I love the fruit, I love the protein, I love the highly saturated colors that look Photoshopped but are real. I make a smoothie most days. (There are also those days when protein powder and coconut milk go into a blender bottle and that's it. Those are the lazy days.)

Last Friday, L and I tried Barry's Bootcamp for the first time. It was totally my kind of workout. When I lift, I like to keep my heart rate up and Barry's does that by alternating intervals on the treadmill and weights on the floor. The music was loud (perfect), it was sweaty (perfect), and we. worked. out. (Perfect!)

After class, we went to the Fuel Bar at Barry's for smoothies. The smoothie menu is solid and most of the smoothies are priced at $7 and clock in around 300 calories or less. I picked the PB&J and, really ever since then, I've been thinking about peanut butter. It was that good. (And filling too!)

Here's my version:

PB&J Smoothie
3/4 cup milk (I used SoDelicious coconut milk)
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
2 tablespoons peanut butter

Blend all ingredients until smooth and drink up!