Hi there! I just got home from spending 4 days last week in Baltimore for Expo East, and it was a complete blast. I attended Expo West back in March and had so much fun that I decided to book the trip to the east coast for round #2 if I could find cheap tickets, and I did! I've been looking forward to the event for months, and it was every bit as fun as I anticipated. I mean, walking around three floors filled packed with brands that I know and love, along with hundreds of new companies that are working to provide products that are natural, non-toxic, and wholesome?? Sign me up! And did I mention all the SAMPLES? Really though, it would be beyond easy to eat nothing but samples every day, and while I did sample to my heart's content, I did make sure I got some fresh foods in each day in the form of my no-cook favorites (cucumbers/radishes/carrots) or some green flatbread. I also made a point to have a Zupa soup daily! (Don't forget, you can get 20% off with the code "wholedailylife" plus free shipping! They also just launched two new flavors!!) I'm going to be sharing more about the products that I loved over the coming few days/weeks over on Instagram, so stay tuned. I also have several fun giveaways planned!
As you can imagine, the trip was jam packed, and after my 5 hour flight home on Sunday morning, I definitely needed a little extra time to rest. I had planned my meal prep out before I left and made sure to keep things simple so that I wasn't spending too much time in the kitchen! Here's the lineup:
Breakfast: Protein Shakes // I generally rotate through protein sources in my smoothies, and this week I'm using Vital Proteins for a little extra gut-love from the collagen. My other favorite is Equip, which you can get 15% off of with the code "wholedailylife." As always, I'll be adding some veggies (frozen spinach/cauliflower/squash) and some fruit.
Lunch: No-Cook Spread // If you've been around for any length of time, you know that this is my go-to! Cucumbers, radishes, an apple, some nut butter (this week by Once Again), and some kind of protein. I'll be having sardines this week; packing in those omega-3's to make sure I don't get sick after such a busy trip!! Sardines are such a nutrient powerhouse, and though I didn't like them at first, I learned to. I used to mash them up with tuna and mayo for a "tuna salad" type dish, but now I just eat them plain. Bonus points for getting the ones with bones! I promise you don't even notice them (they're so soft!!) and they're a great source of calcium.
Dinner: Chicken Sausage with Sweet Potato, Spinach, and Zucchini // When I'm in a hurry and looking for a simple, flavorful protein, I turn to sausage. Some of my go-to's are Bilinski's, Aidels, and anything by US Wellness Meats! I had lots of leftover sweet potatoes from a couple of weeks ago that I had stashed in the freezer (simply roasted with ghee and salt), so all I did was chop up 1.5# organic zucchini and sauté until golden in some avocado oil, then take that out and use the same skillet to wilt two bags of organic baby spinach with some coconut aminos. It probably took me 30 minutes tops to put all of this meal together, and that includes the chopping!
Expo East was the last trip that I have planned for a while, and I'm looking forward to having some (hopefully) slower weekends as we get into fall. This year has been flying by as my business has picked up and this introvert needs some down time!! I'm also excited to get back to my normal routine (and normal baseline of heaps of veggies every day) after being SO off of my normal schedule for almost a week!
Have a great one, and I'll see you back here next Monday!
-Tracey