"Eat Food. Not too much. Mostly plants." -Michael Pollan

Sunday, November 25

Comforting Dinner

Creamy Butternut Squash, Carrot and Root Vegetable Soup



I decided to make Butternut Squash and Carrot Soup tonight to use up some things we had on hand. It turned out great!! I nibbled on 2 Kashi crackers and some of the root vegetables while packing my lunch for tomorrow, which is going to be SO yummy!! I was pretty starving at 5:30 since I didn't eat much today, but the nibbles helped tide me until the soup was ready. And we have two servings of this soup left for Tuesday's lunch.

Recipe:
  • 1 butternut squash, peeled and chopped (2 pounds, 4 oz worth)
  • 3 carrots, chopped (9.5 oz worth)
  • Leftover root vegetables (4.5 oz worth)
  • 1 small box Pacific Brand Carrot Cashew Ginger Soup (These make the BEST soup bases!!)
  • 1 cup of water
  • Peeled and chopped ginger root, about an inch
  • 1 clove garlic, chopped
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
  • About 1/3 cup fat free half and half (any kind without trans-fat)
Put all vegetables in pot over high heat. Let cook around to sear on the outside. Add liquids and seasonings. Simmer for 20-30 minutes until squash is tender. Puree with a stick blender (or transfer to blender and puree 75% of mixture). Divide between 2 bowls and 2 tupperwares for the leftovers! This made a very thick soup. You could add a little more water or broth to thin it out some.

~250 calories per serving.



I had Kashi crackers on the side:





Total dinner calories: ~335

Total Sunday calories: 1277. Whoa!

Didn't get in a walk, but I could use a rest. We totally would have gone walking if the weather hadn't been so rainy and gross. I'll be back at it hard tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m.!!

= net of 1277. Just over weight loss net goal. I'm really full from the soup, so I may just get in bed soon and hit the sack early. Mondays are easier if I get in bed at 8:30 or so :)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Kath- So how do you determine how many calories you've burned during a workout? I think I saw on past posts (couldn't find it again) that you have a heart rate monitor? If so, which one do you have? I have tried to log calories burned on calculators using my stats and type and time of workout, but I've heard thats not very accurate. Just wondering! Thanks- Tiffany
ps- I just want to once again say how inspiring you are. My eating/excercising has gone down hill the past few months, but you inspire me. Although most days start out good- the afternoon just does me in. It's not that I eat terribly unhealthy, it is the amount I eat:( Tomorrow is a new day and I am determined to turn it around!

Anonymous said...

another question about calories during exercise... do you notice a difference in calories burned between running on a treadmill and running outside? i've heard running outside burns more calories than a treadmill, but i've never used a heart rate monitor. what about heat vs. cold?

thanks!

p.s... your blog is amazing!

Anonymous said...

Yay for getting back on track! It felt so good not to eat anything heavy today...although I did have a bagel (insert CK embarrassed smiley here). I think we both did fairly well for a holiday weekend, especially when I think back to holidays past (ahem, half a pumpkin pie in a night)! I'm SOOOO jealous that you get to go to bed at 8:30. I'm always studying until at least 1 am :(. Oh, I sent you a pm about Napa on CK...hoping to get there in January and I remembered your lovely blogs about your honeymoon.

KathEats said...

Tiffany,

Thanks for the compliments :)

I do use a heart rate monitor - Polar F4. I got it at Target for $90. There are much fancier versions, but this one counts calories, heart rate and workout time, which is all I need. It comes with a chest strap that goes right under your sports bra. I couldn't live without it!!

http://www.target.com/Polar-Heart-Rate-Monitor-F4/dp/B000BH5VOC/qid=1196081856/ref=br_1_15/601-3081283-1303301?ie=UTF8&node=13419601&frombrowse=1&rh=&page=1

Hope that helps!
Kath

KathEats said...

Anon,

I do notice a difference but not really a significant one. My heart rate is between 155 and 165 when I run outside and it's about the same on the treadmill. But leading into your next question, I do think that heat has an impact. It's usually warm in the gym and I do burn more calories when I'm warm than when I'm cold, although not too much more. Another factor is that although I do think treadmill running is easier, I run faster on the treadmill than I do outside. I usually set my speed to 6.6-7.0 on the treadmill and I probably run closer to 6.0 mph when I'm outside. It's all pretty similar though, so I'd just vary your workouts - run outside when you can and on the TM when you can't get outdoors or if you're like me and workout in the early morning, when it's too dark outside!

Kath

fashionista said...

Hi Kath.

hello.

I just wanted to say how amazing your blog is. I am Canadian and have been living in Cape Town, South Africa for the past 3 years (long story but pretty much LOVE sums it all up:) )

I found your blog through "eat like me" and just love how you speak with such passion, love + truth. You are an insipiration to women around the world and I am sure you have touched many hearts.

I love being active and spinning is my favorite heart pumper... along with hiking with the dog-ster + dancing which I have been doing since the age of 2!

Just wanted to say hello + tell you how amazing your food looks & how wonderful your pictures are.

love love.
Lisa.

ps- made the oatmeal pancakes for the BF last night... loved them. He wants them again tonight and wanted me to add raisins for another twist.

KathEats said...

Lisa,

Thanks so much!!! I'm so glad you like the blog and photography. I'll keep working on taking good photos and creating interesting recipes!

Raisins in the oatmeal pancakes sounds like a good idea - I'll have to give that a try! Glad to hear your boyfriend liked them.

Thanks for reading,
Kath

Unknown said...

Anon,

Re: your question about running on the treadmill versus running outside. To supplement what Kath said, I think it is pretty well-established that running outside burns more calories than running the same distance on a treadmill. There are other factors that come into play when you are running outside - such as wind resistance and changes in incline/decline - that force your body to burn more calories. I have read that you can try to mimic running outside a little more closely by setting the incline on the treadmill to at least a 1%, but I think Kath's advice is sound: run outside when you can, and run inside if you have to!

Hope that helps. :D