Week 8: Gratitude & Benefits of a Bedtime Snack

Feeling extra grateful this week, so you get to read about it. :) Plus this week's meal plan, grocery lists, and nutrition deep dive on the role of protein in training & recovery. It's a good one!

Hi friends,

It’s been another happy week of seeing summer through a kid’s eyes and watching Clayton build fitness. 52 days until World Champs!

Our current favorite thing: mornings at the track. I love that I get to soak in the early sunlight and cooler temps, run a few laps while the girls ride bikes and play, and chat with other runners and friends. So fun!

I surprised myself by having a somewhat emotional response to Pioneer Day—a holiday in Utah to commemorate the day that the pioneers first entered the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. The girls and I visited the local pioneer museum, and we got to walk through some original log homes (built in the 1850-70s!). It was so humbling to see that everything was encapsulated in one room: the hearth for warmth and cooking, the clothing in a trunk, the bed strung from ropes and covered in handmade quilts, the small well-worn table.

When we got home, I felt so much gratitude for our kitchen counter tops, the fridge, the range, the pantry, the indoor plumbing, the separate bedrooms and gathering spaces, and on and on. Our world today has erased a sense of “enough:” it’s so easy to look around at what other’s have and want more and bigger and better. I needed a day to look backward and see how my standards of comfort and luxury have come so far from what my many-great grandparents experienced.

In a world where there’s always more to purchase and achieve and change, there’s also so much to be grateful for.

At bedtime, our 6yo said in her prayer, “I’m so impressed by the pioneer’s hard work, and I pray that I won’t have to work that hard, or at least not in the same way.” Haha not sure that was the right takeaway for her today, but I love that she could appreciate their hard work. The activity with the laundry washboard and the blacksmith demonstration left an impression!

All that being said, I’m looking at this week’s meal plan with fresh eyes and an extra dose of gratitude. How amazing that we have access to such variety of foods and so many fun flavors! And that I don’t have to cook it over an open fire!

Here’s to a good week ahead. :)

Take care,

Ashley

Breakfast

Clayton runs twice a day, and his morning run is usually 10-12 miles. So breakfast is a big event! We aim for protein and lots of carbs, particularly carbs now that his training is intensifying. In addition to this week’s options, we’ll serve things like toast, hash browns, and granola each morning.

I like to take these oats for Clayton to eat track-side after he finishes his workouts and before he heads to the weight room and sauna. You can also serve these oats with a bagel or toast for extra carbs, especially post-workout!

Lunch

Clayton usually eats big breakfasts (post morning run) and big dinners (post afternoon run), so we keep lunch time pretty simple. His typical go-to is turkey sandwiches with pretzels or chips. We’ll include a serving of tuna this week for omega-3s as well.

Snack

Dinner

Monday: easy mileage

Tuesday: workout

This is a favorite at our house! Post workout omega 3s!

Wednesday: easy mileage

Greek chicken pita wrap leftovers.

Thursday: workout

I’ll make these with ground beef for an iron boost.

Friday: easy mileage

This is a new-to-us recipe, and I’m excited about this flavor! We’ll serve this with rice and grilled/roasted veggies—probably bell peppers, onions, and zucchini.

Saturday: long run

Mexican stuffed sweet potatoes leftovers.

Sunday: recovery day

Grilled cilantro lime ginger chicken leftovers.