Five Ways to Recover from the 2013 Chicago Marathon

You're chafed. You have blisters in places you didn't think could get them when you run. You're voraciously eating everything in sight. You need an extra five minutes to stand up and hobble to the door and you dread the stairs. Congratulations, you just ran a marathon!

Just like that, the 2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon has come and gone. The crisp bib you received less than 72 hours ago is a crumpled mess. The last finisher crossed the finish line while you were sleeping. And you can't use the I'm-training-for-a-marathon excuse when you have to bow out of Friday night social events. But before you completely put 2013's marathon to bed and get back to the daily grind, you hopefully took today off to recuperate. Here are our marathon recovery picks.

Pasta Up! Where to Carbo Load Before the Chicago Marathon

Who's hungry now? Credit: flavorrelish

Rigatoni, penne, spaghetti. Top those off with a ladle of marinara and you've got yourself an age-old pre-race meal. Whether it's a swim meet, a marathon or an Ironman (or even a long workout), we eat that pasta to carbo-load and give our bodies the energy they need to power through those events. Yep, it wasn't just my Italian heritage that dictated pasta before every single swim meet (even if it meant eating at 3 p.m.), there was a plan to the carbohydrate loads. Though maybe it was a swimmer thing? When I chatted with Dr. Andy Baldwin after the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago Half Marathon, he said he ate it too--and still favors his mom's pasta dinner before a big race.

But there is a right way to feast on pasta effectively. This Health.com article doesn't suggest gorging at the pasta dinner--you could face some indigestion that'll rear its ugly face while running (I've been there, it's not pleasant)--but it is OK to eat that pasta until you're full. Given that we burn roughly 100 calories every mile of the marathon, you're going to need that fuel in the morning.

One problem for those running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 7: You're not going to find a race-organized pasta dinner (I swear Dominick's used to sponsor one at the Hilton Chicago back in the day, though). With a 45,000-runner field, can you blame them? Lucky for us, there are plenty of places to pasta up in the Windy City--and eat in general. But what's even better is that October happens to be National Pizza and Pasta Month (hmm, do you think the marathons and restaurants joined forces to make that happen?). As a result, some Chicago restaurants are offering dining specials that highlight their pastas.

Farmer's Market Fresh

When you don't live in a summer-all-the-time climate (hello, San Diego, Miami and Honolulu), you wait anxiously for this moment. The day when the local Farmer's Market opens for the season. For me, that day came today. Three blocks from home, the street shuts down, the tents go up and the produce, flowers, crepe truck (a new addition last year), and other edibles come out.

Not only does the market opening signal summer's arrival, but it also means less shopping at the grocery store, especially the produce section. Starting today, my fridge fills with the local market items, some of which I'd have a hard time finding elsewhere. It's at the market where I bought my first kohlrabi and tried my first tiny strawberry. It's at the market where I find rhubarb, corn and cabbage for less money. It's at the market where I'm inspired to get creative in the kitchen and experiment with the food finds.

I may have kept the shopping to a minimum today--I almost bought all of the items at left plus leeks and herbs, but only went home with asparagus--but I'm certainly excited for the weeks to come. My weekly menu only gets better from here and my mouth is already watering from what I didn't buy today. Is it wrong to get this overjoyed from a farmer's market? I hope not.

What do you love about your local farmer's market?

A Culinary Skiing Adventure

Serving up delicious food at the Keystone Culinary Festival

I think it's safe to say that I love food just about as much as I love sports, especially skiing, running and triathlon (if I had to pick three). So when I heard about a new event that combined food and sport in one weekend--and in January, no less, when I'm always yearning to get out of the Windy City and take some turns in the mountains--my mouth started to water.

OK, you caught me. Skiing or not, it also helped that I remembered my experience at the Keystone Culinary Festival where my taste buds were satiated with gourmet goodies that I probably wouldn't order off a menu, but was so glad to have them forced upon me. I had to get my ticket's worth, after all, and that meant trying everything on tap at the March event. Good thing I skied all day. But if I could mimic that experience again, I'd try to drop everything to do it. Yes, it was that good.

And I have a feeling that the Beaver Creek Food & Wine Festival, slated for January 26-28, 2012, could easily match those expectations. It's the first of its kind at the Colorado resort. It's full of locally and nationally renowned chefs. It's skiing and food--what's better than that?

26.2 Places to Eat Over Chicago Marathon Weekend, the Last Half

Art Smith ran the Marathon, too, in 2010.

Have no fear, I wasn't going to leave you stranded at the 90/94 overpass right before you cross under the halfway mark banner at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Just like the race, we have to make it to the finish line with these eats. So for the second 13--and 0.2 for good measure--I've picked up right where I left off with a spot that's steps from the course when runners hit the north end of Greektown.

14. Greek Islands
I definitely ate here one year after the marathon, I remember my dad requesting it and I acquiesced—and I ran so hard during the race that I couldn’t get up from the chair when the meal was over. Besides, you ran through Greektown earlier in the day, you may as well dine in it—plus now’s your chance to overload on saganaki and bread, both of which are about as free flowing as the wine around here.

15. Grahamwich or Graham Eliot 
Some may disagree with me but I’ve enjoyed my meals at both the original (can I call it that?) and its fast casual cousin.

16. The Purple Pig 
Jimmy Bannos and Tony Mantuano behind the same spot? This is almost too good to be true. And they’re open late so if you need a near-midnight snack after the race, you won’t have to go hungry, you can go gourmet.

26.2 Places to Eat Over Chicago Marathon Weekend, the First Half

If Stephanie Izard (middle) is expediting, she'll break for photos.

The foodie in me comes out around marathon time. The parents are in town (hello meals my wallet can’t afford), my stomach is screaming out for food and lots of it after running 26.2 miles (as long as I don’t drink too much Gatorade on the course), and well, I never would have majored in journalism if I hadn’t thought that my post-college dream was to become a food critic (picture Julia Roberts’ character in My Best Friend’s Wedding and you had my 18-year-old self’s grand aspirations). And I feel like I need to set the record straight on places to eat when you’re in the Windy City after reading another runner’s list last year—one, I might add, that Runner’s World caught wind of and posted somewhere in the depths of social media. The list wasn’t bad, per say, it’s just that there are better choices—or my choices—and they’re different. And more must-eats-when-in-the-Windy-City. And not deemed go-to’s by a site that’s based out of Albuquerque (in defense, the list was compiled by a traveling runner--and Chicago 2010 participant--and gastronut).

Coming to Chicago to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon? Check out these 26.2 eats when you’re in town—or save them for your next, non-running trip.

1. Girl and the Goat
Unless you reserved this one right around the time you signed up to run the marathon, you’re going to have to reserve now for the next time you plan to be in town. This Top Chef (Stephanie Izard) hot spot has a two-month long wait list for most nights in the near future—I tried weeks ago to reserve on Opentable and couldn’t get in until November. But the cuisine? Soooo worth the wait, even for this barely-eats-meat girl who’ll take bikes of the pig face any day.

2. Table Fifty-Two
Oh Art Smith, what would we do to dine at your Chicago restaurant (and not because I can walk there from my house). Your hummingbird pie, your hot-out-of-the-oven biscuits to start off the meal, your deviled eggs that I’ll only eat out of your kitchen, your mac n cheese that’s so rich I can’t take more than a bite, your pleasant surprises on the menu—the fish special that I think I eat every time because not one sounds worthy of skipping for fried chicken.

Let Go My Egg-O

I flip out over food recalls--last time it was peanut butter. This time it's the incredible, edible egg, the protein-packed powerhouse that's a staple in many athletes' diets (not so much my own until recently), wreaking havoc with a breakout of salmonella. At first I wasn't concerned because I'm guilty of buying eggs to then sit past expiration in the fridge, but the FDA warning I read scared me into submission. Not only did the recall affect Midwest states including my own, but my current carton falls on the brand list and in the expiration date range. Uh oh, I hope that's not why I've been feeling funky this week.

The FDA lists the products in danger in this release and states that Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, where the contaminated eggs come from are voluntarily recalling its bad eggs. You don't have to worry if you're buying eggs whose carton labels differ from these, or if your eggs don't come from distribution centers in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa. Yet, if you're unsure about your egg purchase harming your health, contact eggsafety.org.

So what do you do if the whites, yolks or a combo are your go-to breakfast or mid-day snack? Fortunately there are still other ways to enjoy those eggs and their benefits.

• Phil's Fresh Eggs. Based out of Forreston, Ill., you'll find these cage-free, better-tasting (they claim) eggs on Midwest store shelves.
• Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. Try the cage-free variety available on these stores' shelves in the dairy section.
• Farmers market fresh. I don't know if all local farmers markets have egg vendors but I could have sworn I've seen on at Saturday's Division Street market or the Green City Market. You'll be getting your eggs straight from the source, almost as good as having a hen in your backyard.
• Liquid eggs. Appealing: no shells to crack. Unappealing: pouring concentrated egg from a carton. But if need the protein source, these different brands won't make your omelet taste any different. Or at least my tastebuds haven't noticed.
• Tofu. Not an egg at all, but this protein-packer can embody the consistency of scrambled eggs (thanks Amy's for showing me that trick with your Tofu Scramble). Add some seasoning, maybe some hot sauce or cheese, and some veggies, and you're set.

Thank goodness the egg recall isn't a nation wide epidemic and a few switches to the shopping list can keep them in my meal arsenal. I've just become accustomed to scrambling them with manchego cheese to recover after Yoga Sculpt, or customizing my Trader Joe's veggie fried rice. My body likes it too. Eggs have so many good-for-you benefits: amino acids, choline, healthy fats, protein. And especially at breakfast. Check out this list to read more. Those eggs are pretty incredible all right...as long as they're salmonella free.

Photo grabbed from chelsey.baldock at flickr.

Fit-Q: What do you crave most after a workout?

Workout to eat, eat to workout. No matter how you cut it, look at those two activities like that and you can't help but set yourself up for disaster in one part of the cycle anyway. Splurge on a decadent dinner and you know you'll have to sweat it off later. Bust out a run or ride, and you can't reach for the food fast enough to refuel. The problem, though, is that sometimes it's not the right food to feed the tank--your cravings set in and instead of recovering with a glass of chocolate milk, you're reaching for the chocolate cake.

I know I'm guilty of it. Just look at the burrito I shoved into my mouth after riding 100 miles, or know that my post-ride pit stop is almost always Culvers (Dairy Queen and Kopps have stepped in on occasion). I'll eat all the bananas, watermelon, PB sandwiches and good-for-you snacks at the rest stops, but as the miles wind down, my food cravings kick up. If my body took a poll, ice cream would be crowned king of the cravings and salty taking a close second. Then there are the stragglers that creep into my craving brain--chocolate milk, nachos, Jamba Juice, beef jerky (my friend started that one after we looked like salt sticks after 100 miles), burger and fries. But surely, I'm not the only one yearning for these normally nutritional no-nos. Tell us what you're itching for after your tough training sessions.

poll by twiigs.com

Not So Fit-Food: Fat Meals from the 50 States

I still remember the images of odd food combos I saw when I first visited This Is Why You're Fat last year after Liz shared the link. Not clearly, mind you, as I most definitely couldn't name the bacon-wrapped, deep-fried, Krispy Kreme-covered concoctions I was looking at or pin-point exactly which foods were most cringe-worthy (hmm, maybe all of them?). After a while, they all start to look the same: a stomach ache, heart attack, gastrointestinal disaster in the making.

The Chicago Tribune brought back those noshing nightmares with a feature on the 50 Fattiest Foods Across the Nation--in pictures--from Health.com. The slideshow doesn't exactly offer the type of treats you'd want to add to your list of "Must Dos" when you're driving through or visiting. Would you really want to add 25 fat grams--thanks South Dakota Fry Bread--to your system when you're sitting in the car all day? I didn't think so. In fact, after reading some of the descriptions and fat gram counts, you might be writing a mental note to steer clear of A, B and C when you're in X, Y or Z.

If you ever want to be turned off from gorging on a meal you know you probably shouldn't be eating, check out the first few slides. They'll either gross you out or leave you running for a nearby state with a more favorable fat food. My top five on the gross-o-meter? Alabama's bacon-wrapped meatloaf--I don't even want to know the fat and sodium counts. Alaska's Eskimo Ice Cream--I love ice cream but when the ingredients include reindeer fat, caribou, moose and seal oil, I'd definitely take a pass. Michigan's BLT Sammich--let's just say I'm shocked my home state concocted this number; I'm sweating just looking at it. Arizona's Quadruple Bypass burger--I saw this once on the Travel Channel; seeing it again only makes my stomach churn. Oregon's Redonkadonk--it's an awesome name for a sandwich, but there's enough meat (burger, bacon, Spam) for at least two.

There are a few bright sides to the state selections. I shouldn't be saying this but if you want reassurance for your supper splurge, view slides 30 through 50, where the meals aren't as appalling and include a healthy (maybe not the correct word choice there) assortment of items. Plus you've probably already eaten a few of these items, either sharing with a friend, gorging on your own, or sacrificing the fatty part to create a more health-conscious meal. Now for the not-so-bads. Idaho's baked potato--it's the state's starch that gets dressed with heavy dressings and loads of bacon bits, but can be pared down and nutrient boosted with broccoli, low-fat cheese, vegetarian chili and more. Maine's lobster roll--if I lived in New England I think my cholesterol would be through the roof because I'd eat these at least once a week. But it wouldn't be the mayo that would be the belly-buster--I hate the stuff and go for minimally dressed wherever possible--just the naturally high cholesterol in the shellfish. Washington's Crab Louis Salad--again, if you leave the dressing off, this salad is packed with protein, good fat in the olives, and vitamin-packed greens. Pennsylvania's Philly Cheese Steak--I know it's not even remotely healthy (hello cheese sauce) but how can you not try one of these when you're in the city of brotherly love? Massachusetts' chocolate chip cookie--I was slightly surprised to see this on the list, and while I know no dessert is ever great, I figured this eat-one-and-be-done treat would be an OK option. South Carolina's turducken--this has become an institution at my house for Thanksgiving and like the description says, they're not all artery-cloggers.

What would you eat, if anything, off this list? What would leave you running for the next state?

Photo grabbed from cajungrocer.com.

Katherine Reutter Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?

She broke a drought on the short track in Vancouver at the 2010 Winter Olympics taking home a silver and bronze medal for the USA, but now all that Kat Reutter wants is 18 scoops of ice cream. And an ice cream shop in Mount Prospect, Ill., will be making it for her this weekend, the Daily Herald reported. While Capannari Ice Cream is figuring out how they'll be stacking 18 scoops atop a cone without it tumbling over, Reutter will be saving her appetite for the treat that wasn't exactly plentiful in her diet leading up to the Games.

Some might cringe at the thought of consuming all of that ice cream, some might be jealous it's not going in their stomachs, and some might totally dig it and feel less guilty about post-race chowdowns. I fall into the third category...seeing an Olympian splurge after all the intense training makes me feel far less guilty about that massive burrito I ate after a weekend of intense riding this summer plus all the Dairy Queens and Scooters trips I made to feed my ice cream urge after Ironman training. Confession: I'm already looking forward to the lobster, onion rings and Boston cream pie at Union Oyster House post-Boston Marathon.

What treats do you like to consume after your race is over? 

Photo grabbed from weelakeo at flickr.

Grab Your Moons Before They're Gone

I can't decide if blueberry or pomegranate is my fave.

Dear Luna,

You crushed my heart. Is the rumor true? No more Luna Moons? I don't think I was the only one who loved them. I know I wasn't the only coach who shared her love with her athletes.

As a newly minted member of Team Luna Chix, I thought I might be lucky enough to enjoy a year eating and promoting all the Moons my stomach could handle for the love of Luna. But alas, you sent me this news that made my heart sink. "We’re sad to let you know that we’re discontinuing production of LUNA Moons. We love LUNA Moons and know that there are many women out there who love them, too."

What? No Luna Moons? Well isn't that a knife stuck straight through my stomach. With the exception of the watermelon flavor (something about fake watermelon has never sat well with my taste buds), I gobbled moons at the race expos when Luna was sampling, snatched up packets when REI put them on sale and packed at least two pouches among my race day goods as my go-to before bonking. But now what am I supposed to do? You just took away my female friendly fruit snacks that psychologically made me feel like I was racing stronger, harder and faster than the grocery store substitutes. And in a format far handier--and friendlier on my tummy--than a Shot Blok. Yes, Shot Bloks are too big of a jolt for my stomach, so are gels, and I needed something I could pop like candy, like the jelly beans I didn't leave home without.

Luna, I'm confused. If you know that you love the moons and that other women love them too, why are you discontinuing them? I heard about the launch of Luna Protein but you can't say that's a substitute, not for me anyway. And I can't go cutting Shot Bloks into more manageable pieces before a race. Can you imagine how sticky that would be? And how would I get the sharp knife through security? I don't think the plastic variety would saw through those Bloks with any sort of ease.

I understand the need for change. Really, I do. But before those moons disappear from the shelves I can guarantee that I'll be buying bunches in bulk when I spot them. I need a Moon stash--even if that means eating them months from now when I'll be sucking instead of chewing. Isn't there a petition we can sign to save the Moons? Don't make them disappear from the shelves.

Sincerely,
A Luna Lover

Photo grabbed from select2gether.com.

Fit-Food: The Periodic Table of...Energy Bars

Tired of the same old flavors of Clif Bar, PowerBar, Luna, Kind, Balance and more? Not seeing the results you hoped for in an energy bar, find yourself allergic to an ingredient or inable to tolerate it in your digestive tract? Or do you dream of playing in your kitchen to concoct your own food products but either don't have the time or would rather pay someone else to do it? You could be just the candidate for a design-your-own bar, custom built for your taste and ingredient preferences. Meet two of the contenders:

Element Bars. While winding down after an exciting Ironman Wisconsin yesterday (no I didn't race but I have a spectator report that I need to find time to write and post) I found myself watching Shark Tank on ABC. The first negotiator introduced a product he developed in his kitchen and turned into a business, Element Bars. You can build your bar online either picking from popular favorites or playing with your own mix, check the nutrition count so you don't overload on calories and get a natural, personalized product in return. And I swear I went to college with the entrepreneur, but that's beside the point. It's fun to play on the site and experiment with different flavors in hopes of finding a portable, race-friendly food your body can handle.

You Bar. It's all about custom food at You Bar: You can also create your own trail mix and shakes. Same concept as the Element Bar and you can watch the nutrition facts change as you add or switch ingredients. You can even recommend your own suggestion for a base and make special requests in each section. I'm a fan of the descriptors so I know just what I'm adding as I play chef in the kitchen.

But as for actually trying them? I'm a novice at the moment, opting for convenience over personalization. I'll just pick up a bar when I'm at Trader Joe's and know I need to eat one on the spot or have a race coming up where I could use it. Plus I know if I had a whole box of bars at home, they probably wouldn't last very long...too tempting to eat every day. Posted by Kate

Fit-Fact: Eat Your Veggies

How often did you pass on the veggies on your plate as a kid? Or how many times did Mom tell you to finish your veggies or tell you dessert was a no-no as a result? Well it looks like eating those veggies wasn't just a ploy on Mom's behalf. Sure, we know about the antioxidant powers of certain fruits and vegetables, and how they're a lot better to put on our plates than processed foods we'll crave in a weak moment in front of the vending machine. But it looks like Mom is right once again, and all of the coaxing and prodding at the dinner table to clear your plate of veggies wasn't for naught.

Take the colorful produce aisle at the store, chock full of carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, asparagus, broccoli and beans. Those vegetables are screaming to get into your blood stream, not just to make the blood vessels flexible thanks to the antioxidants, but to help ward off cardiovascular disease. I read a Twitter feed by Women's Health that caught my eye--that a daily one-serving increase in veggies can decrease your risk of heart disease by 4 percent. And for heart disease being a top silent killer among women, my eyes lit up. Yes, it's hard to cram some of those fibrous foods into your system, but if there's a health benefit involved, why not trade the chips and ice cream (my downfalls) for some carrots and cucumbers, or beans and lentils, which are known to decrease heart disease?

Need some help selecting from the produce aisle? Try these three vegetables that are rich in antioxidants and can help set your ticker on the right track.

• Broccoli. Full of flavonoids, a power-packed antioxidant, this shrub is rich in calcium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, manganese, selenium and copper. Plus it's full of nonsoluble fiber that will help clean out the intestines and absorb nutrients.
• Kale. Rich in more flavonoids and nonsoluble fiber, you'll also find calcium, vitamin A and vitamin C as stand-out nutrients.
• Carrots. With a one-two antioxidant punch--carotenes and flavonoids--carrots also pack in nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B, vitamin E, manganese, selenium and copper.

But whatever the choice, variety is key. The different colors signify different combinations of nutrients. And try to stick to fresher products as they'll have more nutritional properties than something that's been on a shelf a few weeks. Photo grabbed from cellissimo at flickr. Posted by Kate

Keep the Doughnuts at Bay on National Doughnut Day

I don't know about you, but every time I pass a Dunkin' Donuts and catch the enticing aroma spilling out the door from the sweet treats, I want to stop and splurge. It's pathetic actually because I justify my latest workout as allowing me clearance to fill my stomach with doughnuts. I know it's awful and that I'll pay the price both in empty calories, still being hungry and needing to eat more later, but those doughnut scents are almost too much for my nose. And on National Doughnut Day, which happens to be tomorrow, the temptation is even more alluring since Dunkin' Donuts is giving away free doughnuts with a beverage purchase and Krispy Kreme is also serving up the treats for free.

But I keep remembering a little tidbit Liz told me last week after we finished up a run along the Lakefront: Doughnuts are zero-calorie foods. Not that they don't count on the calorie intake, but that they offer nothing nutritionally to benefit you or an empty stomach. So much for filling up on sweet dough--I'm just as healthy noshing on nothing or maybe even a stick of margarine. Doughnuts, laden with refined flour, sugars, saturated fat, are one of the worst processed foods out there according to an article that ran in the San Diego Union-Tribune and a nutritionist's nightmare.

Now while I may not be celebrating National Doughnut Day in the proper fashion, I found another treat to feed my sweet tooth. And a healthier, more nutritional one at that. Jamba Juice just introduced a new smoothie to its line-up, perfect for summer and paying homage to one of my all-time favorite fruits, the blackberry. Meet the Blackberry Bliss: a concoction of blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberry sherbet, plain sorbet and apple/strawberry juice. Some might argue that it's just as sugary as a doughnut, but at least there's fruit involved, and it'll fill you up for more than a few minutes. Yum. And the good news is that you can save a dollar each time you purchase the smoothie by checking out the word of the day at summerblissisback.com and saying that word when you order a Bliss smoothie at your local Jamba Juice. Stay tuned for more exciting happenings at Jamba's summer site, which promises to "make summer more blissful." Photo grabbed from raspberrii at Flickr. Posted by Kate

Note: I'm not bashing all doughnuts; I've read about a company called Holey Donuts that offers healthier options. Check out a review of them here.

Jazz Up Breakfast

Tired of munching on cereal for breakfast? Need a break from the toast or oatmeal? Running out without a meal to start your day, promising yourself you'll grab something on the go? Next time you're ready to revamp your menu, try taking a stab at this meal. All you need is a few extra minutes in the kitchen, but it's well worth it for this fuel that can carry you through lunch if need be. Meet the yogurt parfait, a healthy alternative to breakfast, even dessert, that doesn't require much extra time preparing and provides those sought-after daily fruit servings.

I've always loved yogurt, but admittedly I'd take the fat-free Yoplait flavors or the super sugary Dannon fruit on the bottom varieties before indulging in the better-for-me types. I started experimenting with Greek yogurt after my sister swore by it and I read that Bernie--the at-home winner from Biggest Loser 5--ate it daily. Plus I wanted something thick, not runny, to eat with my morning banana. So after some trial and error (learning I wasn't a fan of the European style yogurt at Trader Joe's and had to strictly stick to the Greek), I came up with my go-to breakfast and dessert that feeds my urge for ice cream.

Try out your own version:
Greek yogurt, eyeball the amount you want to eat
blackberries
raspberries
blueberries
strawberry slices

Add the fruit into a serving bowl, top with Greek yogurt. If you need some added crunch or flavor, sprinkle some granola on top. While you might not have all of these fruits on hand, you can also use a frozen berry mixture or any combination of the berries. I'm also a fan of slicing banana and adding it to the mix--but I have to be really hungry to do that otherwise I'm full until dinner. And if you want more defense of yogurt for breakfast, check out this post. Posted by Kate

Free and Fit-Friendly

You know that saying "The best things in life are free"? I feel like this week I'm totally living that up when it comes to feeding my stomach. And if you're in or around Chicago, you can too. Berry Chill, a chilled-yogurt delight local to the Windy City, turned one a few days ago, and it's celebrating with the entire city by offering special chill treats. From now until Sunday, you can walk away with a sweet, cold, healthy treat without having to crack open the wallet.

The catch? To score the deals, you have to follow the company's mascot, Yogi Jones, on Twitter. Throughout the day, Twitter feeds share the latest special and time to score. If you have the feed on your phone, show it when you place your order, or bring a print out with you. Some deals thus far include the Fro-J, a new drink with orange juice and yogurt promoted all week at specific times; BC Blender, a smoothie stocked with your choice of yogurt and toppings; a gift card giveaway; a 5 oz. yogurt with toppings. It's a savings of at least $4, something that makes me happy because I'd eat Berry Chill all the time if I could. And I'm glad I no longer live around the corner from the State Street location or I'd really be in trouble.

OK so what is all this praise about Berry Chill? I'm a fan because I view it as a healthy version of an ice cream sundae (trust me, my husband doesn't see it this way, he'd rather have his DQ). I'm probably incorrect in comparing it to Pinkberry or Red Mango on the coasts, but it's Chicago's answer to snacking--even for those who are lactose intolerant. The chilled yogurt that comes out the consistency of soft-served ice cream is chock full of live active cultures minus all the chemicals that wiggle into so many foods today. And unlike fats and cholesterol hiding in those DQ and Baskin Robbins treats, this one only contains 20 calories per ounce. The toppings include a fresh fruit rainbow with everything from blackberries and strawberries to kiwi and pineapple, Girl Scout cookie pieces, granola from another Chicago fave Milk & Honey, candy pieces and more, beating out the toppings bar you might remember as a kid. And the flavors get a little wacky too: Try banana walnut biscotti, pink guava, or green tea. Yum and my waistline is liking it too since I usually get the small 5-ounce size (100 calories of yogurt) topped with fresh fruit. And it won Daily Candy's Best Bite award in 2008--and nominated for other awards--so some taste buds must be liking it.

If you're on Twitter, or need an excuse to check out the hubbub (in my case), it might be worth a shot scoring some free food in the process. At least it makes my stomach happy. Photo grabbed from Berry Chill. Posted by Kate

How Are You Getting Over That Hangover?

Aside from the promise of warmer weather this weekend in the Windy City, the weekend before St. Patrick's Day typically means dragging out the green tees, Kiss Me I'm Irish pins, and hunting for green beer and Irish grub in between drunken debauchery and parade partying. Chicago holds two popular parades, one downtown and one on the south side in Beverly, and this year both happen to fall on the same weekend. Talk about a double dose of drinking with an equally daunting risk of hangovers come Monday morning--and to only start again when the true St. Patty's Day rolls in on Tuesday.

But did you ever think a drink typically sipped by athletes could help cure a hangover? I definitely didn't...until I spoke to the founder of Zym the other day. Brian Koff, founder of the product local to Chicago but available to all online at gozym.com, taught me more than a thing or two about his product. And talk about making a sale for the greenest holiday of them all. Zym, with its catchy green tube and lemon-lime endurance formula, is just asking to tag along to all the St. Patrick's Day festivities. It's convenient to carry and its combination of electrolytes and B vitamins--remedies for a hangover according to health911.com--can be just what the body needs after heavy imbibing. Zym also boasts effervescense, low calories and a light flavor to add spark to that plain glass of water. Pop it into your Nalgene before you're off for the day and you could whisk that headache away before you even arrive at the office (that's what some claim at least). It might just save you and your Irish holiday.

But be sure to know that Zym isn't just a hangover helper. Anyone can drink it to simply spice up your water without a ton of extra calories, or athletes can use it to break down lactic acid build-up and add electrolytes to a depleted system. I like to say the drink saved me from dying on a training run along the Lakefront last summer--water wasn't cutting it but Zym revved my system enough to get me home. Photo grabbed from Zym. Posted by Kate

P.S. Check out more interesting info on sports drinks and tablets as we gear up for the upcoming outdoor season...spring is springing!

Still Missing Your Peanut Butter? Try Making It At Home

As you loyal readers know, Kate and I are pretty obsessed with peanut butter. We love the stuff! For the last year or so--pretty much since I started to make my own bread--I've been buying made-in-the-store peanut butter from my local super market. Last week when I stopped in for some groceries, the made-in-the-store PB had disappeared from its usual spot. "Where is it???" I gasped to the nearest employee. "Oh," he said. "The machine's broken." Then a few minutes later he found me in a different aisle, "I checked with my boss--it's because of the peanut butter recall."

Well, that doesn't really make sense considering the recall is on products that were made with PB from the contaminated plant--not homemade stuff. But whatever the case, I needed it for some Spicy African Peanut soup I'd planned for dinner, plus my slices of toast I'd be eating for breakfast the rest of the week. So, I bought a big tub of the branded, pre-packaged stuff and helped myself to a spoonful later that night. WOW. Big difference. We'd gotten so accustomed to the plain old pressed nuts–version over the last year that the store-bought kind tasted super sugary, sweet and smooth--like eating a dessert, as my husband so accurately phrased it. We've still got a bunch to go through, but as soon as its gone I've resolved to make my own PB--so the next time the store's machine breaks or there's another recall or whatever the case may be, I can still get my fix. I Googled around and discovered whipping up my own homemade version should be a cinch (see below). Photo grabbed from koocbor at flickr. Posted by Liz

Homemade PB

• 1 cup roasted peanuts
• 1 1/2 teaspoons oil (peanut oil preferred)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Put all ingredients in a blender or a food processor.

Blend until mixture is spreadable. (Add honey if you like yours sugary.)

You may need to stop blending and scrape the sides occasionally.

Store the mix in the refrigerator.

If the oil and peanut butter separate, stir before serving.

Fit-Food: Breakfast Bargain for March

Yum, I'm getting hungry visiting those breakfast sites Liz mentioned earlier today...and while checking my e-mail I found another morning meal to add to the repertoire. To stick with the breakfast theme of the day, Jamba Juice offers another reason to start your day with a meal--and a hearty one at that. And this time it's not the smoothies I'm talking about (although those first hooked me into becoming a Jamba regular, especially once the all-fruit combos arrived).

Hurry to a Jamba location near you during the month of March for a stimulus deal you'll want to put in your mouth: oatmeal for $1. Try these steel-cut oats as part of the Jamba Economic Boost. Not only is the oatmeal stick-to-your-bones tasty and good stomach filler--check out this review at slashfood.com--this one is topped with fresh fruit and brown sugar. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it, and knowing that it'll only set me back one Washington makes it even more worthwhile for my wallet. Warning: you may need a coupon to save, but that's just a click away. Photo grabbed from Fig+Sage. Posted by Kate

Bring Back My Peanut Butter, Part 2

When I first freaked out over the peanut butter recall, I never expected it to reach the heights that it has. Last week I was still catching news about either peanut butter, salmonella or the Peanut Corporation of America, and I'm still seeing signs at the grocery store about which products are missing on the shelves and why.

While I flipped out over not being able to eat Clif and Luna bars for snacktime, then Balance bars and an assortment of other nutrition bar products, it turns out that not all bars are banned. PowerBar, through thick and thin, is still safe to consume. And with a selection of flavors and styles, there's enough variety to please anyone's palate.

The best news of all comes from the company itself. PowerBar asserts that none of their products are affected by the salmonella traced to peanut butter and peanut paste ingredients traced to the Peanut Corporation of America. Not to mention, none of their ingredients are sourced by or purchased from PCA. Double yay, no pulling products off the shelves for all the bars out there.

Don't know where to start with snacking? Try a PowerBar Plus...I went home with a handful after the Chicago Marathon one year and had to hide them in the kitchen so I wouldn't eat them so quickly. And they're perfect for keeping you full during long hikes or bike rides. Check out the selection at PowerBar. And for more risky foods that can lead to food-born illness, check out this story I ran across recently at msn.com. Photo grabbed from healthyvending.biz. Posted by Kate