The "-us" Sammie

on August 26, 2009

I have really been lacking in the vegetable department lately. I am just not a vegetable kind of girl — I prefer fruits. I made a "-us" sammie for lunch to cover some of my nutritional bases. An "-us" sammie is an asparagus and hummus sandwich!

I put some steamed asparagus and Sabra hummus (the best!) in between two slices of toasted whole wheat bread. Nom, nom, nom. This was GOOD!

With a giant portion of organic grapes. Its a little disconcerting how much smaller the organic grapes are the conventional grapes!

And earlier, I snacked on watermelon:

Operation Beautiful

Here are Operation Beautiful stories from two of my favorite fellow bloggers/commenters!

Taylor said, "I was at the bookstore today browsing magazines and saw this note on a page in Glamour! I got sooo excited, I just stared at the page with a huge smile on my face for the longest time. Any other customer must have thought I was a crazy lady! "

Ali wrote, "I posted my first Operation Beautiful note today. You are right….it made me feel great!"

Check out Operation Beautiful for the rest of the notes!

Race Face

Meghann and I were discussing our upcoming races. We plan to do all but 1 race together this year (much like last year!). Here are the races we have planned:

September 12 – Rock and Run 5K
September 26 – Miracle Miles 15K (sooo excited for this)
November 15 – Florida Hospital 10K
November 29 – Space Coast Half Marathon
December 13 – Dash of the Elvs 5K
January 10 – Disney Marathon
February 28 – Gasparilla Half Marathon
April 3 – Crooms Fool Run – 15 Mile Trail Race
~~May 2 – Pittsburgh Marathon (maybe)~~ Nevermind. My BFF just pointed out this conflicts with our annual reunion weekend!

So… freaking… excited.

{ 50 comments }

Casey @ Double Scooped August 26, 2009, 9:30 am
I am anxiously awaiting the day I find an Operation Beautiful note lying around somewhere!!

Mmm I just got back into a hummus kick – the new Sabra Spinach and Artichoke is yummmmm!
Meg August 26, 2009, 9:51 am
Hey Caitlin. I love your blog; I've been following it for a few months now and I think you're an absolute inspirtation. You've truely inspired me, especially with your crazy schedule.

I have a kind of silly question for you. I've been trying to incorportate healthier, whole foods into my diet and I had some trouble picking out a simple bread at the grocery store! Everything has HFCS in it and a bunch of ingredients I didn't recognize. Any advice on a good brand of simple wheat bread that's not crazy processed? Thanks!
Jess August 26, 2009, 9:52 am
I wish I could race locally in the winter. Stupid snow. I'm glad to see that the Pittsburgh marathon is a maybe for you poor knees. It's been 2 months since my marathon, and because of the problems with my knees, I've only made it up to a 10k since the race. I'm running a half in October and could not imagine running a full until my next one in April.

I had to take an entire monthly completely off of running. From there, my PT only let me run for 10 minutes. Every time I could run for 10 minutes without pain, I could add 5 minutes.

Since you already have knee issues, make sure you give yourself an extensive amount of recovery time.
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point August 26, 2009, 9:54 am
meg – it is possible to find WW bread without HFCS (i like arnold), but all bread is going to have an insanely long list of crazy ass ingredients to preserve shelf life. your alternative is making the bread yourself or buying baked bread from an organic bakery. yay for eating healthier!
Heather August 26, 2009, 9:59 am
Good luck with all your races this year…I'm also participating in a Rock 'n Run on Sept 12 (in NJ)!
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) August 26, 2009, 10:02 am
That sammie looks so good- I love asparagus in sandwiches, though I usually sneak them into turkey sammies.
Runeatrepeat August 26, 2009, 10:07 am
I need a friend to do races with! I want to move to FL can I join you guys 🙂
Erica August 26, 2009, 10:08 am
That Sammie sounds awesome! I love veggies and hummus- perfect combo. You guys have so many races coming up- very cool! I am thinking about running one or two myself- we shall see 😉
Frannie August 26, 2009, 10:10 am
Just FYI – another factor in grape size is the variety. Globe grapes are naturally larger than normal, while concord grapes are usually smaller. Obviously, the farmers try to put out what the consumer wants, so they make large, tasty hybrids. This happens in organic farming as well…although I'd personally pick organic grapes to avoid the pesticides.

Also, super jealous of your race schedule. I think the latest race offered around here is in early November. And then there's ice on the road anyway!
Britt August 26, 2009, 10:11 am
Great sandwich idea!

Looks like a great racing schedule. I've got mine pretty well figured out up till about early November, I usually scale back a bit through the holidays… but the year I did the Goofy Challenge that was NOT allowed, probably was good for me too!
Tay August 26, 2009, 10:11 am
Awww yay, the note I found! Thanks for posting it, I was beyond excited 😀 I made an asparagus wrap yesterday! Almost added the hummus to it, but forgot. Ahh well it twas delish! What an awesome race schedule you have goin' on there. Soooo exciting 🙂 Races (especially with friends) are absolutely the best. I am completely jealous of your disney marathon, and I also want to do the Pittsburgh one someday since my brother is moving to go to school at UPenn!
Bridget August 26, 2009, 10:12 am
My friends are doing a half marathon on November 1st. I was already to sign up, but then I broke my toe. My doctor hasn't discouraged me, but I think that I will drop it down to the 10k in case. There are a few marathons/half marathons around here each year, so I can do one of those when the toe is completely healed.

Your thoughts, please!
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point August 26, 2009, 10:13 am
bridget – i would talk to your doctor – nov 1 is a long way away and you might be fine, but you wanna be safe. i would probably race, but im a lunatic.
Nicci@NiftyEats August 26, 2009, 10:22 am
Sandwhich looks great. have you heard about the new sabra hummus? It's artichoke and spinach! I have a can of chickpeas waiting to be made into hummus this weekend. I love how you have all your races all scheduled. I need to finally pick some 5ks.
Raya August 26, 2009, 10:23 am
Totally feel you on the vegetable thing, fruit is so much better!! But I make myself eat vegetables just the same. 🙂
brandi August 26, 2009, 10:31 am
what a great sandwich! i love asparagus on sandwiches.

looks like a crazy race schedule – I don't even think there are that many races here most of the year! I've only found 3 that are within an hour of where I live to do between now and December 🙂
Anne Zimmerman August 26, 2009, 10:32 am
Getting the veggies in is hard for me too. I love asparagus and would eat it all the time if it were in season more than 3-4 months of the year!
Jenna August 26, 2009, 10:35 am
Good Luck with all your races this season!
You and Meghann will do great 🙂
Can't wait to see allll the recaps!
jenna
Becky August 26, 2009, 10:41 am
Races are so fun! Great motivation. I still need to try Sabra hummus!
mikey August 26, 2009, 10:44 am
oh those sound like really fun runs. i love doing the fun ones 🙂 that sammie looks good to, i never would thunk it.
Rosey Rebecca August 26, 2009, 10:48 am
I love the -us sammie! Never though of combining those two things!
Anna August 26, 2009, 11:11 am
Hi Caitlin,

Is there any reason in particular that you guys chose the Pittsburgh marathon? Just curious! 🙂
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point August 26, 2009, 11:12 am
Anna – I won a spot in it! 🙂 But nothing is 100% yet so we'll see.
Haleigh August 26, 2009, 11:19 am
Amazing idea to spice up a normal sammie 🙂
Beth August 26, 2009, 11:23 am
Hi Caitlin! I have been a daily reader of your blog, I believe, since April. I love it!
We live in Washington State and I was on the ferry two weekends ago going to the San Juan Islands and in the bathroom was a post-it for Operation Beautiful. I could not believe that it has reached all the way up here on a ferry, pretty amazing. Thank you for all that you do!
Mary August 26, 2009, 11:30 am
Hi Caitlin,

I stumbled upon your blog a little while ago and this is my first official comment.: )

I noted you listed the Pittsburgh Marathon as a possible race. AWESOME! I live in Pittsburgh and am so excited to have the marathon back. I also saw in a prior post a Martha's Run t-shirt, was this in Pittsburgh or was there another Martha's Run somewhere else?

Definitely do the Pittsburgh marathon! You would have a racing buddy in me and I could show you around the Burgh!
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point August 26, 2009, 11:34 am
Beth – YAYYY ohmigod i wanna find a note so bad!

mary – i acutally went to U PITT from 2002 to 2006 and lived there until 2007! So yes, it was THE Martha's Run – great race. 🙂 If I go to the burgh, we will have to meet up.
Megzz August 26, 2009, 11:42 am
Hey Caitin, I was just signed up for my second race! You are totally inspiring and I hope I can run as many/ as long as you some day. 🙂
Megzz @ Megzz Wins At Life August 26, 2009, 11:43 am
I just signed up for my second race! You are so inspiring.. I hope to run as much/ as long as you some day 🙂
Paige@ Running Around Normal August 26, 2009, 11:55 am
Your "us" sammie looks great! Creative combo there.

I might be doing the Gasparilla Half Marathon, too!! I live in IL, but my aunt lives near Tampa, and my parents will be down there during that time, so I figured…why not? I'm only doing my first 10k next month (and second in October,) but I have confidence that I can do it.
seesaraheat August 26, 2009, 11:57 am
Wowzah, you got a lot coming up. Good luck! 🙂
SEE August 26, 2009, 12:02 pm
You can't do the Pitts marathon!! That's Apple Blossom weekend!!!
Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point August 26, 2009, 12:04 pm
Is that you SARAH?!!? OK i am canceling the Pitt Marathon… obviously I cannot miss ABF!!
Katie Davis August 26, 2009, 12:31 pm
Hey…I have been reading your blog for awhile, just have never responded. Just wanted to say hi and that I really enjoy your updates 🙂
Marissa August 26, 2009, 12:34 pm
I agree that Sabra is the best!
Ada August 26, 2009, 1:13 pm
Asparagus and hummus sound like a match made in heaven:)
Anna August 26, 2009, 1:46 pm
I can't wait to post some OB notes in the Amsterdam and Nairobi airports (and all over Nairobi too!) I'm going to write them in all different languages.
Jill August 26, 2009, 1:46 pm
Hey! Another reader from Pittsburgh! And I'm a Pitt alum too!

Sorry you have a conflict and won't be doing our marathon.

Hope you come to The Burgh soon!
Anonymous August 26, 2009, 1:59 pm
Looks like you have a great race schedule this season!! It will be fun.
Lizzy August 26, 2009, 2:15 pm
MMMMM that sammie looks to die for. I LOVE asparagus, and putting with hummus sounds even better! 🙂 way to incorporate those veggies girl! 🙂
MarathonVal August 26, 2009, 2:18 pm
I don't know if you are interested, but my dad did the 100 push up challenge.. I think this is the website: http://hundredpushups.com/

Basically, just like a marathon training program, you gradually increase how many you do at a time so that, in theory, at the end of the program you can do 100 in a row!
Lainie August 26, 2009, 2:35 pm
Your -us sandwich sounds really good!!! I'm a fruit girl too, so this is something I'd give a try to get some more veggies in.

I can't wait for the day when I see an operation beautiful note lying around…
Lexie August 26, 2009, 2:50 pm
The "us" sammie looks soooo delicious! I will be trying that in the near future 🙂
Ali August 26, 2009, 3:23 pm
Thank sandwich looks so good! Asparagus is one of my favorite veggies, and let's face it anything it good with hummus on it!
angieinatlanta August 26, 2009, 3:35 pm
Mmmmm! I love the combination of asparagus and hummus – two of my favorites!
Sara August 26, 2009, 3:56 pm
I too am lacking on veggies recently — I was pretty sick for a while (as so colorfully reported on my blog!) so I was living on simple carbs and "bars" – bleh. Time to get back to basics. Exciting schedule ahead!
Jenna August 26, 2009, 4:11 pm
Love the sammie! I love hummus wraps with whatever I have on hand thrown in 🙂 Feta goes REALLY REALLY well with hummus, you should try it!
Lauren August 26, 2009, 5:21 pm
Holy cow girl, that is quite a lot of races this year. But you two will have a blast. I'm so excited for you too!

I love asparagus sammies. And hummus is the perfect condiment for these babies.

Haha, I just purchased some organic blueberries and couldn't beleive how tiny there were in comparison to regular ones. I usually have to cut the reg. ones in half because they are more like grape sized. Wonder why that is?
emily August 26, 2009, 5:44 pm
i'm so excited for disney! i was there this past weekend and did a couple runs and kept thinking how awesome it's going to be to run a full marathon around the property! im also planning on gasparilla too. i think i want to attempt the thing you did this year….the 15K, 5K, half marathon challenge. sounds like a blast!!!!
Michelle August 27, 2009, 9:16 am
Aww too bad you're not doing Pittsburgh in May, I'm doing it as my first marathon!

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