Creamy Brussels Sprout Slaw

This Salad is a great combination of sweet, tangy and fresh, and loaded with quality nutrition. Brussels sprouts are a great source of a number of vitamins and minerals, particularly Folate, Vitamin K and Vitamin C.  With the health fats from pecans and extra virgin olive oil, as well as the garlic, this is also a great heart healthy meal. Just remember to not go too overboard with the dressing, as it is fairly calorie dense, and dressings and sauces are where people tend to go overboard and end up consuming many more calories than they think they are.

Salad

1.5 lbs brussels sprouts, thinly sliced

1 large navel orange, flesh removed from skin

1 cup dried cranberries

1 1/4 cup chopped pecans

 

 

Wash brussels sprouts, cut off ends, cut from top to bottom and slice very finely with a sharp knife (or use a food processor with a shredding disc) and place in a large bowl. Peel orange, open into segments and remove skin from the flesh. Use your hands to break apart flesh into small pieces. Top with dried cranberries and chopped pecans. Mix well to combine.

 

 

Dressing

2 cloves garlic, chopped finely

Juice of 2 small lemons (or 1 regular sized)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil/avocado oil

1/2 cup tahini paste

3 tsp. miso

3 tsp. maple syrup

3/4 cup water

Prepare the dressing by whisking all ingredients in a mixing bowl (or combine using a food processor).

 

That's it! Pour the dressing over a portion of salad (be careful not to go overboard!) and enjoy! Also keep in mind that the base of this salad is Brussels Sprouts. Just saying.

 

Training and Diet Plan to Prep for 4.5 Months of WALKING

So, as last year's triathlon season wound down, I really started to think about what kind of training I should do over the winter that would best prepare me to walk from Mexico to Canada, covering the 2650 miles (4200km) over 4.5 months, in the most comfort possible. I figured for at least a while, I could incorporate a LOT more weight training into my program and so I upped it from only a couple times per week to 5 - 6. I went from just doing a full body workout, to focusing on gaining strength and size and thus, only training each body part once every 5 days or so. A lot of my strength from many years of weight training came back quickly, and with an increase in calorie consumption (though no real junk) and reduced aerobic / endurance training, I put on close to 20lbs from last August until about now. Now that we're living out in Stittsville, house sitting for my parents for the next 5 weeks, I can set up my road bike on the trainer and get in good quality bike work. I've always loved the trainer, I can get a serious aerobic workout in a shorter amount of time than on the road, it builds incredible leg strength and endurance and turns your heart into a blood pumping MACHINE!! Julia also just got a membership at Goodlife, so I'll be doing weight training with her there, trying to get her strength up and get some more weight on her (maybe 5 - 8 pounds) in the next 6 weeks or so.

So I'll be trying to get in at LEAST an hour a day on the trainer, and then doing 4 - 5 days a week of weights, and sometimes the stairmill at Goodlife (also great for leg strength).

With this, I've also decided to do 6 weeks of a strict ketogenic diet. I've done it in the past with great success, and if you know what you're doing, it works incredibly well to lean you up, quickly. With a Ketogenic diet, you essentially restrict carbohydrates to a bare minimum (except fibre) while increasing fat content (preferably omega 3 fatty acids (anti inflammatory) and medium chain triglycerides (coconut oil)) and keeping protein relatively the same. As you deplete your carbohydrate stores (glycogen), your body switches to relying solely on fat as a source of fuel.You also benefit from a very stable insulin sensitivity and so your energy becomes much more stable and after the first few days, you can think clearer, you'll have more energy and you'll feel fuller for much longer after meals. Many people go crazy on cheese, bacon, butter, fatty beef etc, but that's not my style, I'll be getting a lot of my calories and fats from the following foods:

Eggs: Hard boiled or fried with coconut oil
Coconut oil: used in cooking, or taken off the spoon, or melted (melts with minimal heat) and take as a shot
Fish: Tuna, salmon, shrimp
Fish Oil: Progressive OmegEssential
Mayonnaise:  Mix with eggs / tuna
Avocado: GREAT keto food, rich in unsaturated fat and fibre.
Nuts: NATURAL peanut and Almond butters, almonds, walnuts
Greens: Salads with spinach, avocado, walnuts, a few olives, Progressive VegeGreens
Cream: mix with protein shakes and in coffee
Cheese: zero carbs, high fat only, use with meals

I don't eat poultry and beef, and the foods may seem limited (and I'm sure I've left out a couple) but there are a lot of options, and it's only for 6 weeks or so, so I'll be able to handle it!