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Foodie Loves Fitness

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Goat Cheese & Veggie Penne

Last night my friend Tiffany and I ate dinner at a place called Crepes & Corks, a cute restaurant and wine bar in Del Mar. San Diego
Restaurant Week is going on right now, an event in which 180+ restaurants in the area feature prix fixed menus at discounted prices. We split a bottle of wine and each had a salad for an appetizer, crepe for our main entrees, and gelato for dessert – for $30 each. So much fun! I had the veggie garden crepe, which was filled with tomatoes, artichoke hearts, grilled onions, spinach, and mozzarella, drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. I’ve attempted to make crepes before, but they wound up being more like pancakes. I think I need to figure out the secret to good crepes and try to make em again sometime soon – and hopefully recreate this dinner! I love how crepes are so light and you can fill them with whatever your heart desires. YUM.

Today my face was feeling sore due to dental work I had done yesterday and I also had a weird sore throat thing happening, but I still wanted to do some type of workout. I decided to do a low impact gym sess, and low impact to me = elliptical time. I don’t do the elliptical very often because I feel like I get better cardio in with other forms of exercise, but today it was exactly what I wanted. Instead of just plugging away at one level the entire time, I decided to switch it up every few minutes. If you’re a regular elliptical goer, you might be interested in changing your workout up a bit and trying something like what I did today:
Now onto my dinner creation tonight and the title of this post. Quick and easy to put together and full of all kinds of healthy goodness, throwing in a small amount of pine nuts give this meal a crunchy kick. Serves 1.
Cheesy Veggie Penne
What you Need:
2 oz of multigrain penne pasta, I like Barilla Plus (that’s 2/3 cup dry) 
1 oz goat cheese, I used a Trader Joe’s fresh goat cheese medallion
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
Around 2 cups of baby spinach, coarsely chopped (I’m estimating here since I used 2 large handfuls)
1 TSP olive oil
1 TBSP dry toasted pine nuts
Salt, pepper, and dried basil leaves to taste
  • Cook pasta according to directions. While that’s cooking, heat the olive oil up in a medium skillet over medium heat.
  • Add tomatoes to the skillet and cook for just a minute, then add in the spinach. Cook just until spinach is wilted, then remove from heat.
  • Once penne is cooked and drained, pour it back in the pot.
  • Add the veggies to the pasta, then spoon in the cheese in a few different chunks so it can easily be spread throughout all of the pasta.
  • Flavor as desired with salt, pepper, and dried basil leaves, then mix the whole thing up well. Throw the pine nuts on top, and enjoy!

Nutrition stats: 407 calories, 17 g fat, 18 g protein, 48 g carbs.

I think last night’s scoop of gelato has started me on an ice cream kick. I’m off to my favorite fro yo spot to treat myself, then I’m watching my latest Netflix movie, Water for Elephants. I’ve seen it once before and love both the book and movie.
And since I’m a big New York Giants fan and my team is playing tomorrow in the divisional championship game to get to the Super Bowl, I can’t resist saying GO GIANTS!! 😉
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January 21, 2012 7:49 pm foodielovesfitness 1 Comment Filed Under: Dinner

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  1. Getting Out of My Comfort Zone « foodie meets fitness says:
    February 7, 2012 at 7:36 pm

    […] when I had dinner at a restaurant specializing in crepes and then said I was going to learn how to make them well […]

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Welcome to my blog!

I'm Nicole, and I’m passionate about all things food, fitness and healthy living. I'm a toddler mom, certified health coach, freelance writer, and long-time health nut. Here I share my vegetarian recipes, workouts, fitness trends, travel adventures, and motherhood & health musings. Read more about me…

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Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
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Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! 
 
Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? 

#momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
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Summer break ends for my little lady tomorrow, and I’m feeling all the feels! Fellow parents, what will you miss from the summertime with your littles, and what are you excited for with school back in session? #momsofinstagram #backtoschool #motherhoodunplugged #momprenuer
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#builtinbestie #girlmom #motherhood #happybirthday #beautifulsoul
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My smart, strong, courageous, kind, loving, funny, bold, adventurous, awesome, beautiful on the inside & out Cammie girl is now 7️⃣! It’s wild that it’s already been 7 years of loving my little bestie 🥹 and I can’t fathom how it’s possible that I can feel like I love her more with each passing year 💗 #builtinbestie #girlmom #motherhood #happybirthday #beautifulsoul
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🌎 Booked with @getyourguide — I booked 2 things with the platform on this trip & we loved both activities! 

#sicily #familytravel #travelgram #wanderlust #heavenisaplaceonearth
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Soaking up stunning views from a boat in Italy + cooling off with a swim & snorkel in the clear, refreshing water + sipping champagne = heaven on earth! ✨☀️🥂 Deets: 📍Giardini Naxos, Sicily 😎 Boating excursion via Sicily Jet Surfing 🌎 Booked with @getyourguide — I booked 2 things with the platform on this trip & we loved both activities! #sicily #familytravel #travelgram #wanderlust #heavenisaplaceonearth
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After all, they say to marry the one who makes you laugh — and I, for one, highly recommend it❣️ Here’s to hoping the next 40 years are full of many more amazing adventures & accomplishments! 

#happybirthday #love #makingmemories #goofball
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We’ll be kicking off our week of family birthdays with my wonderful husband turning the big 4-0! Something that intrigued me about Adam when I met him 20 years ago was that he seemed serious & quiet, but then would unexpectedly say something super witty or do something silly that cracked me up… & his serious-with-a-side-of-goofball personality remains true to this day (case in point: this video montage 😂) After all, they say to marry the one who makes you laugh — and I, for one, highly recommend it❣️ Here’s to hoping the next 40 years are full of many more amazing adventures & accomplishments! #happybirthday #love #makingmemories #goofball
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⭐️ Venturing through the hectic Grand Bazaar 
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1️⃣ fun-filled day in Istanbul! 📍 Our favorite parts: ⭐️ Sultanahmet Square’s interesting historic sites, including the German Fountain & the Egyptian Obelisk ⭐️ Visiting the beautiful Blue Mosque ⭐️ Exploring the historic district and trying the street food (Why is the ice cream so.. sticky?!🍦) ⭐️ Venturing through the hectic Grand Bazaar ⭐️ A delicious dinner @amedroscafe ⭐️ Making friends with stray cats.. so many friendly cats! 🐈 As a huge animal lover, I adore that the city seems to take good care of its strays.. This is the first place I’ve ever been where they have vending machines to buy food for stray animals! #familytravel #istanbul #wanderlust #travelgram #travelwithkids
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When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!”

We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later.

By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time.

We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item.

…until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better.

It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂

— all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗

#paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
foodielovesfitness
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•
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When I was newly pregnant with Camryn before we knew her gender, I had a vivid dream that I was picnicking with a little blonde girl in front of the Eiffel Tower. I woke up and told my husband, “Guess what? We’re having a girl!” We got Camryn a passport at 5 months old with the idea that we’d visit Paris later that year and turn my literal dream into a reality. But then, COVID hit a few weeks later. By the time we’d be comfortable traveling to Europe, we instead were selling our house in New England and traveling around the U.S. full-time. We had adventures in plenty of other amazing places, but Paris remained a bucket list item. …until now! Our picnic in Paris as a family of three may have happened a few years later than planned, but it was a bucket list item that was exactly how I’d pictured, perhaps even better. It was such a magical evening staring at the Eiffel Tower, sipping champagne, and noshing on local food that we’d nabbed at shops around town ✨🥂 — all the while, laughing & soaking up the night with our wonderful little girl. 💗 #paris #familytravel #bucketlist #momsofinstagram #makingmemories
2 months ago
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7/9
Do you remember when you truly realized that the world is wide and you’ve only experienced a speck of it? 🌎

For me, it was the eye-opening opportunity of a college study abroad program in amazing Sicily. I fell in love with Italy, and the experience made me realize that I wanted to prioritize traveling and living in different places when I became a “real adult” (or in other words, when I graduated the following year). 

Getting to return to the charming town of Taormina nearly two decades later with my family was a dream. 

I returned to Sicily in a different phase of life: Older — I’ve almost doubled in age! Wiser. A mom. A wife. 

Yet, still wide-eyed, always up for an adventure, and filled with wonder at the beauty of this world. 

Different, but the same. 

Taormina is still stunning, bustling with more tourists and more fame than I remembered thanks to things like “White Lotus” and Dolce & Gabbana fashion shows (one was happening while we were in town). 

And so, I found Taormina herself to also be different, but the same — and definitely still a magical place ✨

#sicily #mytinyatlas #travelgram #familytravel #italygram
foodielovesfitness
foodielovesfitness
•
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Do you remember when you truly realized that the world is wide and you’ve only experienced a speck of it? 🌎 For me, it was the eye-opening opportunity of a college study abroad program in amazing Sicily. I fell in love with Italy, and the experience made me realize that I wanted to prioritize traveling and living in different places when I became a “real adult” (or in other words, when I graduated the following year). Getting to return to the charming town of Taormina nearly two decades later with my family was a dream. I returned to Sicily in a different phase of life: Older — I’ve almost doubled in age! Wiser. A mom. A wife. Yet, still wide-eyed, always up for an adventure, and filled with wonder at the beauty of this world. Different, but the same. Taormina is still stunning, bustling with more tourists and more fame than I remembered thanks to things like “White Lotus” and Dolce & Gabbana fashion shows (one was happening while we were in town). And so, I found Taormina herself to also be different, but the same — and definitely still a magical place ✨ #sicily #mytinyatlas #travelgram #familytravel #italygram
2 months ago
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8/9
Obsessed with my @airbnb view of both the sea & Mount Etna 😍 10/10 even though every walk home is a sweaty glute workout! 

📍Taormina, Sicily 

#myview #travelgram #wanderlust #sicily #italy
foodielovesfitness
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Obsessed with my @airbnb view of both the sea & Mount Etna 😍 10/10 even though every walk home is a sweaty glute workout! 📍Taormina, Sicily #myview #travelgram #wanderlust #sicily #italy
2 months ago
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9/9
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