Tuesday's Training Tip: Time to Trot!

 

Oh, it’s Thanksgiving week!  Can you almost smell it?  Turkey and stuffing roasting in the oven, pumpkin pies cooling on the counter, and cranberries, rolls, and …

You can find all kinds of tips on how to survive the holidays and stay on your diet, such as, use a smaller plate, eat a snack before you go to the social event, wire your jaws shut, etc.  Let’s be honest.  Do you really want to diet during the holidays?  If you can do that, you are awesome!  The rest of us just need to do the best we can to maintain and not gain.

Thanksgiving Day is filled with opportunities to intake calories and we all know it’s going to be a challenge, but there is something you can do that will offset some of that caloric intake. Forgo the Thanksgiving Day Parade and go for a little trot while the bird is roasting.  If you‘ve seen one Thanksgiving Day Parade, you’ve seen them all. Consider the benefits of this trade.

1.       You will be moving and burning calories instead of lounging and conserving calories.

2.       While you are trotting (or strolling) you will not be snacking.

3.       The fresh air may ward off a holiday cold or flu.

4.       You will assuage some of the guilt associated with Thanksgiving dinner.

5.       If you invite friends to join you, they will also enjoy the benefits of a trot.

6.       It’s fun!

 

If you need a little motivation to commit, do as I did and create a Facebook event.  Your friends will be counting on you!

Visit this page every Tuesday for more training tips! I would love to hear from you. Comment below or message me on Facebook.

Happy Thanksgiving and …

Happy Running!

Homemade Turkey Stuffing

Only a few simply ingredients!

It’s Food Friday and since November is upon us I thought I would share my recipe and instructions for making Homemade Turkey Stuffing. This stuffing recipe has evolved from an old version in Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook.  Using dried French or Italian bread adds weight to the stuffing.  There are no fancy ingredients in this recipe. This NOT a diet dish!  It is classic comfort food at its best!

Homemade Turkey Stuffing

3 – 4 loaves French or Italian bread (Cut into cubes and dried)

One Medium Onion

Several stalks celery

One stick butter or margarine

1 tsp Salt

½ tsp Pepper

2 – 4 tsp sage (To taste)

2 cups Chicken Broth (This varies according to bread dryness and volume.)

Dried French or Italian bread cubes

A couple days prior to making this recipe, cut bread into one inch cubes.  Place on cookie sheet and dry in oven on low heat, or cover and set out to dry on counter.

When ready to assemble stuffing, dice onion and celery.  (This can be done ahead and stored in food storage bag overnight.)  Cook vegetables in butter until tender.  Add salt, pepper, and sage.

Place bread in large bowl.  Sprinkle additional sage over bread, if desired.

Drizzle vegetable mixture over bread and toss to combine.  Pour chicken broth over bread mixture.  Work with hands to ensure bread is moistened throughout.  Dressing should stick together when squeezed into a ball.  Water can be added if more liquid is needed.

Stuff turkey and roast until interior temperature reaches 165°.  This is a large recipe.  Excess dressing can be baked in a casserole or crock pot.  The crock pot method will maintain moisture and allow for pre-dinner sampling!

Stuffing will have a dense texture.  It really might stick to your ribs! (You better plan to participate in a Turkey Trot to burn a few extra calories before dinner!)

Do you have a favorite recipe that my readers need to hear about? Comment below or message me so we can share it here.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

Carol - aka Running Granny Green

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Talking Turkey

 

It is Thanksgiving week.  Last week got away from me and I found myself taking a seven day break. I didn’t plan to take the time off, it just kind of happened.  As with anything that takes effort, beginning again can be challenging. It was only seven days, but I had to do a bit of self-talk before I headed out the door.  I decided to take a new approach.  I have mentioned how I enjoy my new iPhone and the use of the MapMyRun app that gives me pace and distance updates. It is a very good tool, especially when training for a race, but this week I turned on some tunes and turned off the app.  I didn’t pay attention to my speed or distance.  I just ran.  I had a really great time!  I think it was a good week to run for fun.  After all, it’s Thanksgiving!  I am thankful that running can be fun, because just like life, sometimes it can be really hard.  Just like life, it’s worth it.  Have a happy Turkey Day and remember why we celebrate – because we can!

Just trotting ...

Ugh!  This morning’s run was rough.  I believe that is because Thanksgiving week was accompanied by the remnants of a cold that had knocked me off my game for a few days. Contrary to my own advice, I did not run while I was sick.  I was just too tired!  The week was busy with work, travel, and dinner preparations.  My hubby and I did manage to squeeze in a Thanksgiving Day trot around the neighborhood in Hyde Park (Cache Valley) prior to the traditional turkey day indulging.  Hyde Park is hilly and sits at around 5000 feet.  We followed the path of least resistance, walking the hills and running the downhill.  Hey, it was a holiday!  You didn’t expect us to knock ourselves out?  

This morning was a post-holiday, post-travel, post-illness run.  The temperature was sub-30 degrees, but the sun was out!  My running buddy and I ran a mile (slowly), walked a half mile, and picked up the pace a bit on another mile run. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a run!  That’s what counts.  Keep moving, even if it isn’t your best effort. It still counts, especially when it would be easier to stay indoors.

Happy Running!