Current Obsessions: Picky Bars, Spaghetti Squash, and Evolution Juices

Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement about my Chicago Marathon announcement yesterday! Five people have already donated. You guys are amazing!! Getting emails throughout the day notifying me of donations kept a permanent smile on my face. Thank you! (And if you haven't donated but would like to, here's my fundraising page).

"Nope, not waking up and going outside in sub-freezing temperatures. Why do you think that's a good idea?"

After a Refine Method class yesterday morning followed by pro bono work for an hour, I helped fill orders over at Erica Sara Designs International HQ. She was a bit swamped after a feature in US Weekly showcasing her custom name rings. I spent the afternoon packaging up beautiful custom name rings and race bling. Gotta say, it's pretty awesome to be surrounded by all that love being sent to people, and I really enjoyed seeing how the jewelry is made.

Erica polishing a name for a ring - how cool is that?

Apparently all this made me very tired because I got home, ate dinner, and completely passed out on the couch with Mason for two hours. Sourabh came home from school to a conked out girlfriend (and possibly an empty hard cider bottle -- it was definitely Mason drinking that, not me). I somehow woke up enough to do some legal research for the charter school I volunteer with before finally passing out for good in bed.


But no blogging happened last night. Hence the late start this morning. Whoops.

Anyway, today I wanted to share three things I'm completely obsessed with lately. Yes, they're all food. Don't laugh.

Picky Bars

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I ordered these two weeks ago because I'm trying to work on my run fueling and get that strategy down before the NYC Half. I'd heard amazing things about Picky Bars from Ashley and Liz (and generally the whole Twitterverse), but I didn't want to spend $20 on a package of them.

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 Well I finally bit the bullet and ordered a pack of Smooth Caffeinators, described as "hazelnut mocha goodness." That basically sums it up. These things are good.

Their tagline is "it's freaking science, dude," and they're formulated to have a 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio, ideal for recovery. They're vegan, locally sourced when possible, and have minimal soy content. Oh, and they taste delicious. I've been using them when I'm running a few hours after a meal, or cut in half as pre- and post-fueling for a shorter (<5 miles) run.

Aaaand I'm ordering a multi-pack now to try more flavors. I'll let you know how I like them!

Spaghetti Squash

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I love eating pasta with a good spicy, vegetable-filled marinara sauce. But if I'm not fueling for an ultra marathon (hint: I am never fueling for an ultra marathon), I don't need to eat all that pasta.

Enter the best vegetable ever: spaghetti squash. I only started making it a few weeks ago after reading Michelle's crazy easy guide to making it, but it changed my life. Sure, it's not identical to pasta,  but it mimics the texture and basic taste really well and allows me to eat a giant plate of "pasta" without needing to break out the sweatpants.

(Who am I kidding, the minute I get in the door the sweatpants go on.)

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And in case I haven't raved enough about Michelle's blog, Lace and Race, you seriously need to follow it for the great run-fuel veghead recipes. Vegetarian shepherd's pie? Come live with me and cook for me, please, Michelle!!

Evolution Juices

This isn't a new obsession considering I would always head to a Starbucks to find a green juice immediately after landing in Seattle. But they've just come to NYC! Here's the thing with Evolution Fresh juices, though: most of them are your typical juice calorie bomb. But the Sweet Greens is a fabulous green juice with only 80 calories and it's made from celery, apple, cucumber, spinach, parsley, romaine lettuce, lemon, lime, wheat grass, clover sprouts.

"But Jen," you cry, "I thought you didn't care about calories!" No, I don't count calories. I do care if something I'm drinking has 30 grams of sugar and 300 calories and it's not a protein shake that's a replacement meal.

The fact that I can run into any Starbucks and grab a green juice now is extremely awesome. Obsessed.

Have you tried Picky Bars or Starbucks's new juices? Ever made spaghetti squash? What are you currently obsessed with?