#the casserole is new but that macaroni is on day 2 of just. sitting there.

[trujellyfish]

coming home to a cooked dinner waiting on the stove is truly an experience i love ^-^

i would, of course, love it more if i didnt typically get home after my brothers have gone to bed :)

[innovationshealthwellness]

20 Simple Tips To Lose Weight In Just 10 Days

http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a5/e1/34/a5e134331d6c88501e6f6b19dbce512e.jpg

Posted by Brandy Dyess – How to lose weight in 10 days? Is that even possible?

Tips for Eating for Weight Loss!

1. Get the Blues

“I got the blues” may conjure up memories of those macaroni and cheese commercials from the ‘90s, but we’re talking about blue dishware. The color blue can act as an appetite suppressant because it has the least appealing contrast to most food. Research says toavoid plates that match the food served on them (like white plates and fettuccini Alfredo), because there is less of a contrast, which may prompt us to eat more. A small but potentially useful trick!

2. Eat Snacks!

Skipping out on snack time won’t necessarily lead to weight loss, since low calorie consumption can actually slow metabolism . Eating less than three times a day may benefit those who are obese, but research shows skipping meals throughout the day and eating one large meal at night can lead to some undesirable outcomes (like delayed insulin response) which may increase the risk of diabetes . Instead of forgoing breakfast or lunch, stick to a few meals a day with healthy snacks in between.

3. Peruse the Perimeter

Next time you need groceries, circle the perimeter of the store before going in. This isn’t a way to stalk out your prey, but actually a tactic to load up on the healthy stuff first. The edges of grocery stores generally house fresh produce, meat, and fish, while the inner aisles hold more pre-packaged, processed foods. Browsing the perimeter can help control how many unwanted additives are in the grocery basket.

4. Stock the Fridge

Make an effort to fill the fridge with healthy produce and proteins (from perusing the perimeter!). Keep lots of fresh fruit and veggies on hand. And for when the fruit basket goes barren, make sure the freezer is stocked with frozen veggie mixes or berries (grab the bags full of just veggies, not the ones with butter-laden sauces). You may be less apt to order out when you’ve got the makings of a healthy dinner right at home. And the good news is, healthy food doesn’t always have to be pricey.

5. Eat in the A.M.

Skipping breakfast in order to “save your appetite” for dinner probably isn’t a safety shield for late-night noshing . While there’s still debate on how important breakfast really is, not eating until the afternoon may lead to binging later on (ie. four servings of mashed potatoes) . Make sure to stick a reasonably sized breakfast with plenty of protein; we tend to eat the same sized lunch and dinner regardless of how many calories we eat in the morning .

6. Get Busy in the Kitchen

We promise cooking doesn’t take long! Restaurants often use larger plates than the ones we have at home, and studies show that increased portion sizes result in increased energy intake, even if there’s a doggy bag involved .

7. Prioritize the Pantry

Take a little time out to toss the junk. If you’ve got some favorite not-so-great items you’d like to save as a treat, tuck them in the back of the pantry with healthier items, like whole grain pasta, rice, beans, and nuts up front. We know that just because the cans of tuna and a bag of lentils are right in front doesn’t mean you’ll forget the brownie mix altogether, but it’ll help keep the brownie mix out of sight, out of mind. Just seeing or smelling food can stimulate cravings, and increase hunger (especially true for junk food) .

8. Serve “Restaurant” Style

Instead of lining up the breadbasket, entire casserole, and salad bowl, right on the table, leave food on the kitchen counter (away from reach). When you’ve cleaned your plate, take a breather then decide if you really want those seconds. Changing up the environment, like by leaving food by the stove, can help reduce food intake .

9. Use Smaller Plates

History shows plate sizes have increased over the past millennium . When it’s time to sit down for dinner, choose a size-appropriate plate or bowl. Using a smaller plate (8-10 inches) instead of a tray-like plate (12 inches or more) can make us feel fuller with the same amount of food. How does this magic trick work? The brain may associate the white space with less food, plus smaller plates generally lead to smaller portions .

10. Chew Slowly

Eating slowly may not fit into a busy workday, but it pays to pace your chewing: the quicker we eat, the less time the body has to register fullness . So slow down, and take a second to savor.

[siriuslycollins-blog]

Parenting 101 for Rockstar Dads

CH. 4- The One Where Everything Is Not Okay pt 2 (Or The One Where Jared Has an Insane Idea)

Jared was an absolute wreck, but was trying to hold it together as best he could for his new daughter Kaela. He didn’t eat, didn’t sleep, or play any music; the last time he picked up his guitar was a week before Kaela was born. It even pained Jared to go inside the room he shared with Nessa, let alone sleep in that bed. Seeing her paintings and Polaroids of the two of them hanging on the wall; these days he slept on the air mattress in Kaela’s nursery. Nessa’s death didn’t really sink in until they lowered her casket in the ground, and that’s when he broke down crying.

He didn’t care that he was crying in front of everyone, that he was probably making a fool of himself in front of the other attendees. Kaela cried too, although she probably had no clue as to why she was crying. The first memory she has of her other is burying her; Jared knew he should’ve gotten a babysitter that day. He was currently sitting in the rocking chair, just holding his baby and looking at her. He had just given her a botle and she was about to fall asleep at any moment.

God, Kaela was perfect, the most perfect baby in the world. She had these big brown eyes inherited from her mother, a head of dark curls, chubby cheeks and light brown skin. This was his daughter, he was a father, a dad. Jared would be responsible for this precious life for the next eighteen years and beyond. It was hard for him to wrap his head around the fact he would be doing this alone.

“Well pretty baby, guess it’s just the two of us now. I don’t have that much experience with babies. Scratch that, any experience around babies. Your mother was the expert with anything relating to children, but I’m going to try my best not to screw this up, I promise.” Kaela’s eyes fluttered, and he rocked back and forth in the chair slowly before putting her in her crib. Jared loved watching his daughter while he slept, loved watching her eyelids flutter and the small movement of the pacifier in her mouth. An angel really. Shannon poked his head in and got a good look at his brother; Jared looked terrible.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in ages, and Shannon couldn’t remember the last time Jared ate anything. “Jared, you have to eat something. Starving yourself isn’t going to fix anything,” he told him gently. Every now and then, Jared would eat bits of food and be done with whatever he was eating. Now, he survived on coffee, juice and water, and it was starting to take a toll on him. Jared waited a minute before answering, never taking his eyes away from the sleeping baby.

“I’m not hungry,” he muttered, and his voice seemed dull. “Well, the neighbors dropped off more food. I can’t eat all of it by myself,” Shannon attempted to make a joke. Last week, the two brothers went to the leasing office to explain their situation and to take Nessa’s name off the lease and replacing it with Shannon’s. Soon the entire complexing had caught wind of Nessa’s death and constantly stopped by to offer condolences and food. The only good thing about it was that they hardly ever had to buy food in addition to baby formula. Even then, his neighbors, and even Jackie, were buying baby formula for him. 

The fridge was practically bursting with casserole dishes and Tupperware containers and Similac. “Okay then. Is there still anymore of that lasagna left?” Shannon smiled as he saw his brother get up from the chair. “Yes, and macaroni and cheese, and ziti and whatever else is in the fridge.” There was so much food that he made Jackie take a few dishes home with her. 

Shannon heated up a plate of lasagna for him in the microwave as Jared rinsed off a fork; as he sat down, he ran his hands through his hair. “How are you Jared, really? And don’t even think about saying you’re fine because I now you’re not. The truth Jared.” “I asked her to marry me Shan. A day before she died. Had a ring and everything.” He pulled out the ring from his shirt pocket and laid it on the table. “And then I made a fucking fool of myself at her funeral, and an even bigger mistake by bringing Kaela. What the fuck was I thinking?”

Jared sounded like he wanted to cry, but he couldn’t; his eyes were sore, and he didn't know if he could even produce tears anymore. “Jared, listen to me. You brought Kaela there to be surrounded by people who loved Nessa, and those people love Kaela too, they’re her family.” The microwave dinged, and Shannon took out the plate and placed it in front of Jared. “Now eat.” He managed to eat half before Kaela started crying; it was almost two in the morning and Jared was starting to feel it.

He made a move to get up before Shannon told him to sit back down and finish eating. “I’ll get her. Just finish eating and then go to bed.” Jared wasn’t that hungry anymore anyway, so he wrapped his plate in foil and put in the fridge; he’d finish it later. Jared stood in front of his bedroom door, sighing before pushing it open. The only time he went in there was to grab clean clothes from the drawers, never staying in there longer than two minutes.

He would grab enough clothes to last him a few days and bring them to the nursery. Jared was also a little too keyed up to sleep; maybe a shower would calm him down. Even after washing his hair, he stayed in the shower a few more minutes until the water began to run cold. He dressed as quickly as he could so he could get back to the baby; she was already settled down on her back, splayed out like a starfish. Shannon was knocked out in the rocking chair. 

“Shan. Shan. Shannon, wake up.” It took him a minute to wake up, and he stretched, standing up. “What time is it?” A little after two in the morning. Go back to bed, I got it from here.” Just because Jared a leave of absence from work didn’t mean his brother did; he had a full time job and still managed to help with the baby. “Are you sure?” 

Shannon looked concerned, and he was tempted to call in sick. “Really Shannon. Kaela looks like she’s down until at least seven.” His older brother looked torn between wanting to go back to sleep while also wanting to help with Kaela. “Shannon, I promise it’s okay. Go back to bed.” With one last look back at Jared and Kaela, Shannon went back to the living room; Jared laid down on the air mattress and tried to get some sleep. 

This entire situation was fucked up. Right now, he and Nessa were supposed to be arguing over whose turn it was to check on Kaela. He was supposed to have a fiancée with everyone congratulating them on their impending nuptials. They had even talked about moving into a house closer to campus only weeks ago, and now everything had gone to shit. Jared rolled over in his makeshift bed and he felt tears slide down his face. 

Sometimes he cried, and sometimes he didn’t, but it was usually always at this time at night, when he was sure Kaela and Shannon were sound asleep. It made him fall asleep, but he always woke up with sore eyes. There was no way he’d ever cry in front of Kaela or Shannon; he wanted to appear strong, to show his brother that he could handle this, needed to be strong because this sweet little baby depended on him. Something had to change. Jared hated his job, and he wasn’t getting any richer. This apartment had too many memories that he was not ready to face yet. Louisiana felt suffocating all of a sudden.

What kind of childhood would his daughter have? Jared wanted her to feel safe and secure, not having to pack and move away every year, or living out of a truck like he did, and she definitely will not be working at the age of twelve. He had to get out of this city, out of this state, but where to go? How would he support his little girl? Jared didn’t plan on bussing tables and washing dishes for the rest of his life.

Maybe he could do something creative that would put food on the table, but so far, the only creative jobs that were coming to mind was teaching music and art at schools and he didn’t have a teaching degree. The only other option was... Los Angeles California, a city known for creativity. Jared had always been interested in movies; maybe one day he could direct one. He could be one of those directors whos movies become a cult classic. Jared had to try, it was worth a shot.

Even if things didn’t work out there, he could say he did try instead of wondering what could’ve been. Jared would try California for a year to see if could get any work and after a year if things didn’t work out, he would go back to Louisiana and enroll in community college. That was plan and he was going to stick to it. Now how was he going to explain this crazy idea?

tag list: @llfd1977 @blackreaders-assemble @itsmeauntie @squeackygee

[geordiesaffer-blog]

What day is it again? If you're like me, the days seem to be simply running into each other--one day seems just like the one before to the point where I really have to stop and think, "Is this Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday... ???" This seems to be our "new normal" for a while--quite a while, I think. This COVID-19 pandemic has me unable to settle--I flit from one thing to the next and I can't maintain my focus on anything. I haven't left my house in two weeks since self-quarantining after our plane flight on March 21st. I've walked out onto my patio a few times on the rare occasions when the sun was shining, but that's it. We are not supposed to be out at all in our area except for "life-sustaining" purposes (getting groceries, visiting the doctor, etc.). How are you all coping? Thank goodness I have my stitching and other hobbies to enjoy at home and keep my mind off the increasingly dire reports on the spread of the virus. I try not to look at the news, but, it's hard not to be drawn into it at the same time. As my youngest son said, this is probably one of the few times in history that the entire world is on the same side, fighting the same battle.I thought you might like to see a couple "pretties" today to give you a break from dwelling on that "thing" that has consumed our lives... I actually finished this piece in early March, before things got so worrisome. "Be Happy, Humble, & Kind" is a design by With Thy Needle and Thread stitched on 40 ct. vintage country mocha using a variety of overdyed threads from my stash.  The colors were what first drew me to this piece along with the sentiment. "Be Happy, Humble, and Kind" finishI changed the color of the man's face, hands and legs to DMC 950.A beautiful, big white house, but I'd hate to wash all those windows! Being "happy" may be a bit more difficult these days, but better days will come again!Be Kind:  one thing we can all practice--no matter what is going on around us!The latest issue (Spring 2020) of Punch Needle and Primitive Stitching" Magazine has so many adorable charts. I was immediately drawn to this robin sitting on his beautiful blue eggs. It is designed by Subrosa Designs and is called "Bless Our Nest." The original design contained the words "Bless Our Nest" below the basket, but I left them off.  One of my favorite linens, 40 ct. Woodland Newcastle was used--love the way the white shows up on it! I changed all the suggested colors except for the brown on the robin's body, which is Weeks Dye Works "Cocoa." The blue eggs are stitched with Dinky Dyes silk in "Aquamarine"--aren't they lovely? I so enjoyed stitching this one and see more robin stitching in my future!I changed the color of the flowers to white and added yellow Rhodes-stitched centers using Dinky Dyes "Aussie Gold." I also wrapped the vine around the basket handle rather than stitching it all behind as was charted. And here is my final finish--cording made of the same blue silk, a gauzy bow held together with a strip of the aqua blue gingham fabric that I backed it with. I stuck in a few berries in yellow and white, too.I just haven't been motivated to get out any of my stitched bunnies this year--hope I can make myself do so this week. This is ordinarily one of my favorite months to decorate with the pretty pastels of Easter and Springtime. I think if the weather warms up and the sun starts coming out, that will help immensely! We had horrid thunder/rain storms pass through on Saturday! Torrents of water coming down into our yard (which is on a low spot in the neighborhood) with overflow from our pond created this "river" in our side yard for a while and ruined some newly planted landscaping. Sigh... not what we needed right now!A big storm turned our normally grass-covered side yard into a raging "river" last week!Unfortunately, some of the new landscaping we had just put in last fall was damaged, too.How are you managing your grocery shopping? We've been ordering online and picking up in the parking lot of the grocery store, but that is getting increasingly difficult. And you know the one thing we've had the worst time finding (no, not toilet paper!)--flour! Simple baking flour! I guess everyone is engaged in comfort baking these days--I know I am... Cookies, granola, and a new recipe for banana-carrot muffins have been baked here recently. We do have baking flour for bread so I plan on making some in my bread machine this afternoon.  I've included links to the banana-carrot muffin recipe and our favorite chocolate pudding recipe that also made an appearance last week (just click on the name of the recipe below each photo). If this keeps up, I'll come out on the other side of the pandemic having gained 20 pounds!Easy Banana Carrot MuffinsQuick Creamy Chocolate PuddingIt was such fun reading your answers to my "Getting To Know You" questions last week. It appears that the great majority of cross stitchers are introverts (which didn't really surprise me!).  And it was nice to read how many of us take refuge in our other "hobbies" of listening to music, exercise, working puzzles, reading, and gardening when trying to de-stress. So, what question do I have for you today? As always this is just a fun way to get to know each other better--no pressure to participate. Right now, the last thing we need is more pressure, right? 1) What is your favorite comfort food?  Without question, mine is homemade bread with butter--more than chocolate, more than soup, more than macaroni and cheese casserole. I think part of the reason is that the thought (and that wonderful smell!) of just-baked bread takes me right back to my childhood. My Dad used to bake the most wonderful rye bread (two kinds, actually) as a form of stress-relief after long hours spent in the operating room (he was a surgeon). Simply imagining that bread brings instant comfort to me. (He eventually had to stop making it, though, as he was gaining way too much weight!). The days seem to be dragging on and on for me lately. Does anyone else feel that way? I hope that by the next time I post, we will be finding better ways to combat and contain the pandemic. I'm so sorry I haven't responded to your many emails and comments--just haven't felt quite like myself lately, as I'm sure you're feeling, too. I keep seeing scenes on fictional television shows and in movies of people doing "normal" things like eating in restaurants, going to movies and plays, and gathering with their extended families and I find myself feeling quite envious of the way life used to be! I know those days will come again sooner or later...  Take care now, my friends,  and thank you for your condolences and sweet comments in my previous post--they meant so very much to me. Bye for now...  https://www.patternspatch.com/blog/the-end-of-a-month-like-no-other-2/ https://stitchingdream.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-end-of-month-like-no-other.html

[release-info]

This Easy Goulash Recipe is full of flavor and the perfect way to feed a crowd as it makes a huge batch! A simple skillet dinner with tomatoes, beef and macaroni noodles in a zesty tomato sauce creates the perfect comfort food on a budget! Serve it alongside some cornbread, and add more or less liquid to make it the perfect consistency! Cheesy Goulash in a white bowl American Goulash – Easy and Delicious MY LATEST VIDEOS Call it American Goulash, call it American Chop Suey… it doesn’t matter what you call it, you’ll just want to call it tonight’s dinner! This is a delicious and easy meal that the whole family loves! Beefy Macaroni with a savory yet simple seasoned tomato sauce! I’ve been making this amazing goulash recipe for years, not only does it taste great but it’s a really quick and inexpensive way to feed a crowd (and so much easier to put together than lasagna!) What is Goulash? American Goulash is not the same thing as goulash in other parts of the world are not the same thing! This is NOT the same dish as a traditional Hungarian Goulash. Hungarian Goulash is made with chunks of meat, peppers, paprika and other spices to create a traditional soup. This particular version is often called Goulash or even American Chop Suey. It’s similar to a Chili Mac but is more of a tomato sauce flavor (and I skip the chili powder). close up of American Goulash in a bowl. When to Add the Macaroni Thicken the sauce: I personally prefer a nice thick goulash so I usually let the meat sauce boil down for a little bit before adding the macaroni. Add Your Favorites: This american goulash recipe is versatile and you can easily add whatever you like. Extra veggies like mushrooms or shredded zucchini, swap out ground beef for other ground meats add extra Italian Seasoning or Chili Powder. Add the Macaroni: If you’re short on time (or prefer your goulash a little bit of a soupier texture) you can certainly just add the macaroni in right away. Top With Cheese: I top this with sharp cheddar to make a cheesy goulash that my kids can’t get enough of! Any kind of cheese will work. If you’d prefer, put it under the broiler for a few minutes until bubbly. Goulash in bowls at the table More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love CrockPot Goulash – super easy! Chicken Parmesan Casserole – Quick take on an Italian Favorite! Classic Stuffed Shells – Filled with cheese and baked until bubbly. Baked Rigatoni Pasta – Easy family favorite (can make ahead) Easy Lasagna – Made in just one pot! What To Serve With Goulash We serve it up with some 30 Minute Dinner Rolls and a fresh Italian salad for a complete meal! To make it extra yummy, serve it topped with a little bit of sour cream! The great thing about this goulash recipe is that it’s one of those dishes that tastes just as good the next day (or even better). It keeps well in the fridge for a few days but it also freezes perfectly for lunches or meals later in the week! Can You Freeze Goulash You can! Goulash will generally freeze pretty well, apart from the pasta. Once reheated, pasta will often become mushy and overcooked. If you plan to make a big batch of American goulash to freeze some, cook the pasta separately and add it in as you serve the portions. finished american goulash in white bowl 4.69 from 29 votes Review Grandma’s Goulash PREP TIME 20 minutesCOOK TIME 20 minutesTOTAL TIME 40 minutesSERVINGS 8 servingsAUTHOR Holly NilssonCOURSE Main Course CUISINE American This easy American goulash recipe is full of flavor and the perfect way to feed a crowd as it makes a huge batch! A simple skillet dinner with tomatoes, beef and macaroni noodles in a zesty tomato sauce creates the perfect comfort food on a budget! Print Pin Ingredients 2 onions chopped 2 pounds lean ground beef 2 cloves garlic minced 1 jar tomato based pasta sauce approx. 26 oz. 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes, undrained 1 can 6 oz tomato paste 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 2 bay leaves 3 cups water 1 green bell pepper optional salt & black pepper to taste 2 cups macaroni noodles uncooked 1 cup cheddar cheese avatarFollow Spend with Pennies on Pinterest Instructions Cook ground beef, onion and garlic over medium high heat until no pink remains. Drain any fat. Add pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, water, seasonings, bay leaves and green pepper. Simmer covered for 15 minutes. Add in the in the macaroni and continue to simmer, covered, stirring occasionally until pasta is tender (about 20 minutes). Remove & discard bay leaves. Top with cheese and replace the lid. Let sit about 5 minutes or until melted. NUTRITION INFORMATION Calories: 361, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 486mg, Potassium: 947mg, Carbohydrates: 31g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 7g, Protein: 33g, Vitamin A: 13%, Vitamin C: 34.5%, Calcium: 17.9%, Iron: 28.4% (Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.) KEYWORD goulash recipe © SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here. CATEGORIES Beef Main Dishes Pasta and Pizza More Recipes You’ll Love ABOUT THE AUTHOR Holly pinterest facebook twitter instagram Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook! More Posts by Holly GET A FREE BONUS EBOOK! Subscribe Now ebook Subscribe to recieve weekly recipes and get a FREE Bonus e-book: Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals! Email * Enter email address… GDPR Agreement * Yes! Send me the latest recipes via email. * Go You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive. Latest & Greatest Dishes Get Delicious New Recipes Daily Email * Enter email address… GDPR Agreement * Yes! Send me the latest recipes via email. * Go You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of emails you receive. Home About Me Contact Us Disclosure/Privacy Policy FAQ © 2019 Spend with Pennies Back to Top Spend With Pennies Home Recipes Videos Shop Kitchen Tips Holidays About Contact rss twitter facebook pinterest instagram snapchat youtube Search for Search recipes, tips & more… Submit AN ELITE CAFEMEDIA FOOD PUBLISHER http://bit.ly/2XskRyz

[healthbolt-blog]

New Post has been published on Health bolt

New Post has been published on http://www.healthbolt.net/blog/delicious-food-in-the-world/

Delicious Food In The World

Contents

Episodes healthy yummy meals

Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner

Foil packet recipes

Water bath canner

Day fare typically includes

Here Are All The New Food Emojis Coming In 2019 – Attention iPhone owners, your text game is about to get a whole lot more delicious. On Tuesday … justice for the white wine emoji (or lack thereof), I have to admit the world feels a little fairer n…

No cutout sugar cookie, as delicious as it may be, is worth me risking another child. Not all kids can read, not all food is …

World food: 50 best dishes | CNN Travel – The world is full of good food. But what are the 50 best dishes — those so delicious you should factor them into your travel plans?

Still, in the end, we came up with 15 healthy meals you can order while roving the depths of the fast food world. Use it to guide you the next time cooking sounds like a chore. Like if the chicken and …

Healthy Recepies – Simple, easy to follow step-by-step instructions that take the faff out of cooking – A list of ingredients that are cheap, … List Of The Leftovers episodes healthy yummy meals Skip the Crowds and Make a Healthy Valentine’s Meal at Home With These delicious recipes – Between the chocolates and the wine, you may need a light, nutrient-rich dinner to balance things out this Valentine’s Day. T… Find trusted recipes for eating healthy: start the day with a wholesome breakfast, cut the carbs or calories, find the perfect main dish for your special diet. … Allrecipes Magazine Recipes Our Newest Recipes … and the orange flavor is more subtle than you’d expect. This is a healthy and elegant meal (not to mention delicious) when served … Top 10 healthy recipes healthy meal Recipes – Rich and Healthy Chocolate Muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy meals 10 delicious cheap dinner recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s Excellent Taco Casserole. Hamburger Steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. Chinese Pepper Steak. Perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best Homemade Meals 250 Best Meals in a Mug: Delicious Homemade Microwave Meals in Minutes [Camilla Saulsbury] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The craze for microwaving portion-size dishes in a mug is only gaining Recipes For Healthy Meals Healthy Recipes Find trusted recipes for eating healthy: start the day with a wholesome breakfast, cut the carbs or calories, find the perfect main dish for your special diet. Follow to get the latest healthy recipes, articles and more! Healthy Recipes, Tips and Meal Ideas | Food Network – The road to healthy eating is easy with delicious recipes from Food Network. Browse our collection for healthy tips and menu ideas, including low-fat, low-calorie and low-carb recipes. I think I speak for all of us when I say fast meals are the best meals, right? That’s where foil packet recipes come in. Foil … Common Food Recipes Healthy food can be delicious! Get easy, nutritious recipes that will please everyone, whether you’re cutting calories, gluten free, have diabetes, or other food goals. Learn the latest trends … Canning and Preserving Recipes and Guides. 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[tigereye771]

New Year, New Beginnings (Part 5/?)

Pairing: Jon/Sansa

Part: 5/?

Previous parts: [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

Jon didn’t want Tormund to accompany him to his dinner with the Starks.  Technically, Tormund was only required when Jon was making public appearances, but the man took his duties seriously and would often just appear as Jon was about to leave for even the most mundane of things.

He had already told his body guard that he would be staying in for the rest of the evening, having planned to have an intimate dinner with Ygritte, so Tormund was likely relaxing in front of the TV watching the game on that night with a six pack of beer and half of the pastries Jon had bought earlier.  

It was a simple matter then for Jon to slip down to the garage and sneak out. The irony was not lost on him as he pulled out of the grounds of the estate that here he was, a grown man, a military hero, sneaking out on a Friday night, hoping he wouldn’t be caught.

It was about a thirty minute drive to the Starks and as he drew nearer, he frowned in confusion. The neighborhood, even in the dim evening light, he could see was rundown and shabby.  What were the Starks doing living in such a place?

His GPS led him to a small house that was set on a slightly larger lot than the other houses around it. It was a small, two-story, wood and brick structure that had a covered porch out front, a few large trees that were bare in the winter night and warm lights in the window framed by shutters that were pushed open.  It was too dark to see too many details, but from the little he could see, while the house may have been kept a little better than some of its neighbors, it was still had the same rundown, shabby look the rest of the neighborhood sported.

He stepped out of the car he parked on the street out front and went up the cleared walk way to the front door.  He stamped his boots on the doormat and rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, the door was flung back and he found himself staring into a pair of familiar brown eyes.

“Jon!” Arya shrieked before she threw herself into his arms with such force, Jon rocked back on his heels. His arms automatically came up to wrap around her small body as she hugged him fiercely.  “Jon!” she choked out in a smaller voice.

“Hey squirt,” he said gently into her hair.  

“Is Arya crying?” came a teasing voice inside the house.

Jon looked up and his smile faltered slightly when he saw Bran in the living room in his wheelchair. Arya stepped back from Jon and wiped her face furiously with the sleeve of her sweatshirt.  “I am not crying!” she snapped.

Jon looked back at her and grinned, ruffling her hair gently before he made his way to Bran.  He leaned down and gently pulled the boy into his arms.  “Hello, Bran.”

“Jon,” Bran returned. “It’s good to see you again.”

Jon stepped back and looked between the two, a loss for words.  Like Sansa, Arya looked the same, but not really.  She hadn’t gotten much taller since he last saw her and her large dark eyes and the short, chin length hair she preferred were still the same as was the obstinate set to her chin.  But there was a hardness in her eyes, an intensity that inspired a bit of uneasiness in Jon.

Bran was a different story. He was only a little boy when Jon last saw him, but now he was so changed. There was the obvious difference with the wheelchair and Jon’s heart ached when he saw it, but while Jon could see a toughness, a hardness in Bran’s sister, that was missing from the boy. Instead, there was almost a serenity about him and an air of, well, Jon could only think of the word “wisdom” to describe it.  Like Bran had some insight the rest of them didn’t.  He could remember Catelyn always saying that of her children, Bran seemed to have been born with the oldest soul.

Arya was suddenly grabbing Jon’s hand and dragging him towards the back of the house.  “Come on!  Dinner is ready and we can’t wait to hear about your mission in The Gift!”

Jon’s training taught him to observe and observe quickly.  Even though he was being pulled along, his mind had noted that the house was small and some of the furnishings looked worn and familiar.  He realized they were pieces from Winterfell, furniture he was familiar with from his time spent with the Starks.  Most of the furniture was meant for a larger space so the house had a sort of cramped, but not uncomfortable appearance to it.  It was clean, neat and shabby, much like what a lady in reduced circumstances would look like as she tried to maintain appearances and her pride.

To Jon’s surprise, he wasn’t led to a dining room, but the kitchen.  He quickly realized there likely wasn’t a dining room.  He had entered into basically what was the living room and pulled into a kitchen beyond it.  He had passed a short hallway that led off to a few smaller rooms and a staircase that led to the second story.

The kitchen was another story.  At some point in the past ten years, someone must have remodeled the kitchen as it had a more modern appearance than the other parts of the house he had seen. Nothing was new, but there was a large stainless steel refrigerator, marble countertops and plain cabinets in good condition.  A small table that could be expanded to sit six around it was in the middle of the kitchen. Currently it was set up in a square to accommodate four people.  A large stoneware casserole dish sat steaming in the middle of it resting on an iron trivet, both items he recognized from Catelyn Stark’s kitchen many years ago. There was a large green salad and three place settings.  Jon’s eyebrow rose at that.

“Where’s Sansa?”

Bran was pushing himself up to the table as Arya was gesturing for Jon to take a seat as she moved to serve the macaroni and cheese.  “Sansa?  Working.”

Jon frowned.  Margery clearly said they were closing the café. “The café closed at 3 o’clock.”

“Not at the café, the mall. At Taylors,” Arya replied off-handedly as she set a filled plate before Jon.  When she saw he hadn’t said anything or moved, but continued to stare at her, she clarified.  “Seasonal work.  Every year, right before Christmas, Sansa has a job at that fancy department store.  It started today.”

“She gets a commission on everything she sells,” Bran chimed in as helped himself to some salad. “Sansa is good at it and can make quite a bit of money before the job is over.”

Jon continued to stare at them.  Sansa Stark was working at two jobs and Bran and Arya were speaking of it as the most natural thing in the world?

Jon sat down abruptly and loudly, finally getting the Starks’ attention.  “Would someone please explain to me why Sansa needs to work two jobs? Why you guys are living here? What happened to Brynden?  What in Seven Hells happened?”

*/*/*/*/*

Sansa was tired and cold. All she wanted to do was get home and tumble into bed. The seasonal work at Taylors brought in money they always seemed to need, but those four weeks of working two jobs took their toll on her physically.  But it was always worth it.  Whether it was getting enough funds to be sure they could pay their heating bill to being able to buy special gifts for Bran and Arya for Christmas so there was some normalcy, some hope in their lives, every lost hour of sleep was worth it.

But what she was doing now was praying because the noise that had started that morning was worse and was now accompanied by a sputtering and lurching.  It was all Sansa could do was to keep the Jeep going in a straight line.

Finally, five miles from home, the engine gave out completely.  She was barely able to safely coast the Jeep to the side of the road and park.  She tried several times to restart the engine, but it only gave a wheezing sound and then silence.  Sighing, Sansa picked up her cell phone and then cursed when she saw it was completely dead.  She had forgotten to recharge it at the café earlier in the day.

With a sigh, Sansa picked up her large tote bag and her purse.  Zipped her coat up completely and wrapped her scarf more securely around her neck before she stepped out of the car and walked the five miles home in the dark.

*/*/*/*/*

Jon sat on the familiar leather couch that was just a little too large for the small living room staring at Arya and Bran.  It had taken their entire meal and some time on the couch before the entire story of what happened to the Stark children after the deaths of their parents and brothers was fully told.  Jon had interrupted frequently with questions and Bran and Arya had talked and contradicted each other at times, but Jon finally had the full story.

And he was livid.

“And you trust this Baelish when he says there’s no money?” Jon growled as he stood up and began pacing in the small room.

Arya shook her head. “Sansa doesn’t-“

“Oh, I can see why she doesn’t trust the snake,” Jon snarled.  He would deal with what that man tried to do to Sansa later, but right now he was focused on the supposed lack of money from the Stark estate that forced Sansa to drop out of college and work two jobs and Arya to forgo college as well so she could be a mechanic.

“But none of us can make heads or tails of the books.  We need to hire an attorney but we can’t afford one,” Arya continued. “Sansa’s friend Margery has offered to help, but Sansa doesn’t like accepting charity.”

“She’s had too many offers in the past with strings attached,” Bran tied in.  “And while Margery is her friend, what we really need is someone who’s more familiar with estate law and that was beyond her attorney’s capabilities.  She did recommend someone else, but they wanted a lot of money.”

Jon nodded.  He sat down again and stared intently at Arya and Bran.  “Tell me more about Baelish.  Has he bothered you guys since he tried to proposition Sansa after Brynden’s funeral?” He saw the sibling give each other side eye glances and his face dropped into a suspicious scowl.  “What happened?”

Arya sighed.  “No, he doesn’t come by much here anymore.  We deal with him mainly through the phone or correspondence because there’s a little of the estate left.  Not the trust funds.  That wasn’t part of Dad’s estate.  Brynden was in control of those and when he died, it went to his law firm to administer.”

Bran nodded.  “Baelish hasn’t been by since-,” Arya, who was sitting next to Bran, kicked her brother.  He turned to her and said, “You do realize I can’t feel that.”

“Shut up, Bran,” Arya muttered.

“You two aren’t particularly subtle,” Jon noted dryly.  “You might as well tell me or I’ll just keep asking.”

Arya sighed.  “About three years ago I came home after work with my friend Gendry.  He works at Sandor’s too.”

“Sandor?” Jon remembered Sansa calling that big hulking giant with the scarred face that had almost started a fight with Tormund at the café today that name.  

“Yeah, my boss.  I work at his garage.”

“I met him today at Sansa’s café.  He thought I had done something to upset her and was not happy with me.”

It was more of a grimace than a grin Arya gave him.  “Yeah, he’s had the hots for Sansa ever since he met her.”

Jon stared at her. The man had to be twice her age and he was, well, not what he would imagine for Sansa.  “You’ve got, she’s not-?”

“No! I mean, yeah, he has a crush on her and Sansa is nice to him, but it’s one of those afar type of thing. He’s an okay guy. Better than that bastard Baelish.”

“Okay, getting back to him. What happened three years ago?”

“Anyway, as I was saying I came home with Gendry one day.  We were a little early because it was slow at the garage that day.  We came in and heard yelling from the kitchen. We could hear Sansa screaming, ‘Get off of me!’ ‘Let me go!’ Well, we ran in there and we see Baelish has her backed into a corner, against a counter, pawing at her and she’s trying to fight him off.  You don’t know Gendry, but he’s huge.  A really big guy.  He ran forward, yanked Baelish off of Sansa and began to pound him.  I was happy to let him continue but Sansa pulled him off, not because she was worried about Baelish, but she was afraid Gendry would get in trouble.”

“Did you guys call the police?” Jon was horrified.

Arya shook her head slowly. “No. We were going to, but Baelish said it would be our word against his and Gendry already had a record. He would say that we set him up so Sansa could cry rape and exhort money from him. It was our word against his and no one would believe a twenty year old girl struggling to raise her brother and sister with no money.”

“And you let him get away with it?” Jon asked incredulously.

“Jon, he was right. It would be our word against his,” Arya snapped.  “Gendry was looking at likely a prison sentence because of his previous record and Sansa just didn’t want to go through being dragged in the mud on the chance we could get him convicted.”

Jon sank back into the couch.  He could understand their reasons, but he didn’t like them.  “Has he bothered you since?”

Bran shook his head. “No. We’ve had to see him a few times over the years, but we always make sure we’re both there with Sansa and either Gendry or Sandor is with us.  Actually, Sandor tends to freak him out more than Gendry.”

Jon smiled faintly at this but his blood was boiling that Baelish had gotten away with so much. Maybe there was something he could do to help.  “You know, if you guys need money for an attorney to investigate what he did with the estate-“

Both Bran and Arya’s faces shuttered. “That’s nice of you, Jon, but we can handle it,” came Arya’s cool voice.

Jon looked at them with a startled expression.  Why were they refusing his help?  “You know I can afford it now.  With the Targaryen money, I can help you guys out-“

“Jon,” Bran broke in gently. He gave a glance at a stone-faced Arya that Jon did not miss.  “It’s okay. We’ll figure it out.  It’s just two more years before Sansa can access her trust fund and at that point, we’ll be able to hire a lawyer and really find out if Baelish did anything.  We’re fine.”

“But I want to help,” Jon protested.

“We don’t take charity,” Arya said stoutly, her chin tilting up slightly in pride.

Jon gaped at her in surprise and not a little hurt.  “Arya, it’s not charity.  You, all of you, the Starks, you were my family.  Are my family.  I just want to help.”

Arya’s expression softened a little.  “I know, Jon, but really we don’t need it.”  She glanced around the shabby house.  “I know it’s not Winterfell, but it’s our home and we’ve done a good job of making it that. We’re doing fine on our own.”

Jon knew it was irrational, but her words stung.  Arya and Bran weren’t rejecting him, just his offer of help, but yet, he couldn’t feel as if it was a rejection of him, as a person, in some way. And why not?  He had been gone for over five years, not been there when they needed help.  Forced into near poverty, preyed on by a predatory would-be rapist, why would they trust anyone at this point? They had survived by sticking together and only letting a few outsiders in, people like this Gendry. Jon had been gone too long. He would have to earn their trust back and when he did, he could then make the offer of help again.

Jon left a few minutes later with a promise to visit again soon. They had spent the evening talking about the Starks because Jon had so many questions that he hadn’t really said much about himself and both Arya and Bran were curious about his newly discovered Targaryen roots.  Before he left, he paused in the doorway of the front door and frowned into the night. It was almost 11 pm.

“Shouldn’t Sansa be home by now?” he asked Arya.

Arya frowned and glanced at the clock.  “It is a little late, but they sometimes have some late stragglers that just won’t hurry up so they can’t close.” Jon could tell she was a little uneasy by her sister’s absence.  “I’ll give her a few minutes and if she’s not home, I’ll call her cell.”

Jon nodded and said goodnight.  He got in his car and absently started it and began to drive home.  He was still mulling over the details of his evening when about three miles from the Stark house, he saw a figure walking on the sidewalk. A flash of coppery red was caught in his headlights and he braked sharply.  He saw the figure start and pause to regard him warily as he rolled down the passenger side window.

“Sansa?”

“Jon?”  The figure came cautiously towards the car and peered in. He saw a pair of bright blue eyes and a pale face.  “What are you doing here?”

“I’m coming from your place. I had dinner with Arya and Bran.  What are you doing walking alone at this time of night?” Jon couldn’t keep slight note of anger and anxiety out of his voice.  

Sansa sighed.  “My car broke down about two miles back and my cell phone is dead.  I’m walking home.”

“Alone?! In this cold and in this neighborhood?!”  He leaned over to open the passenger door.  “Get in.  I’m driving you home.”  Belatedly, he realized he was using his “Captain Snow” voice, but the realization she had been walking in a neighborhood he felt might be sketchy, a young woman, alone on a cold night, fear and anxiety made him speak brusquely.

Sansa stared at him incredulously.  He wasn’t offering her a ride, he was actually ordering her!  She almost slammed the door and said no thank you, but she had a long way to go, she was tired and cold.  She could put up with Jon and the short ride back to her house.

Reluctantly, Sansa got into the car and sat stiffly in the seat as Jon did a neat U-Turn and headed back to the Stark house.  Even for the short ride he turned up the heat in the car and adjusted the setting for the seat warmer in Sansa’s seat.  He smothered a grin when he heard her give a little sigh as the seat warmers kicked in and she snuggled a little deeper into the luxurious leather seat.

“I’m sorry,” Jon said quietly.  “I didn’t mean to sound like such a dictator, but I was just got caught off guard and was worried about you out there walking alone so late at night.”

Sansa relaxed her tense muscles and she defrosted in more ways than one.  “Thank you.  And thank you for the ride.” She gave him a wan smile as he glanced over at her.  “I really wasn’t looking forward to walking the rest of the way.”

They arrived at the Stark house and Jon walked Sansa to the door.  Before Sansa could go for her key, the front door was flung open by Arya. “There you are! Where have you been? I’ve been calling your cell!” She saw Jon standing behind Sansa.  “Jon? What are you doing back?”

As they went into the house and Sansa wearily dropped onto the couch to take off her boots, she explained about her Jeep dying and her cell phone’s lack of power.  “I’ll need to borrow your truck tomorrow.  Can Gendry give you a ride to work or to the café so you can pick up the truck?”

Arya looked stricken. “Uh, I guess you didn’t notice the truck wasn’t parked in the drive.   I had to lend Gendry the truck.”

“What? Why? Can he bring it back?”

Arya shook her head. “He borrowed it so he could drive to Harrenhal tonight to get a shipment of parts.  Sandor took the garage’s truck on another run which is why Gendry had to borrow my truck.  Sorry, Sans.”

Sansa sighed and flopped back into the couch.  “I need to be at the bakery at 5 am tomorrow.  That’s too early for the buses.  I could call Mya, but on Saturdays she comes in at 7 am.  I hate to get her there so early, especially because she has her son.”

Sansa and Arya went back and forth discussing the best option, but Sansa’s early start time was proving to be a difficult point to overcome and Jon could see neither sister felt like they could impose on anyone for a favor, especially one that had such an early time set on it.  He decided to make things easier for them.

“I’ll drive you to work tomorrow,” Jon interrupted them.

Sansa and Arya stared at him. “What? Jon, you don’t have to.  I mean, it’s sweet of you, but I’m at work at 5 am which means I’ll need to leave around 4:30 am.”

“I heard you guys the first time.  I don’t mind driving you,” Jon replied easily.  “I don’t really sleep that much.” Which was true.  He still found it difficult to sleep after his experiences in The Gift.  “The military teaches you how to operate on little sleep. Please, it’s not a big deal.” And it wasn’t.  If they wouldn’t accept this financial help, he could at least help them with something small and simple like giving Sansa a ride to work.

“That’s perfect!” Arya beamed at him.  She turned to Sansa. “Right?”

Sansa didn’t look at enthusiastic, but she nodded.  She gave Jon a small, tired smile.  “Yes, thank you, Jon.  But, it means you’ll be up again at 4 am just so you can get back here.  I can’t have you driving back and forth like that.” She hesitated a moment.  “If you want, you can stay here the night.  We don’t have a guest room, but I can bunk with Arya and you can have my room.”

“That’s a great idea!” Arya exclaimed.

“Sansa, I can’t deprive you of your bed,” Jon protested.  “I can sleep on the couch.”

“Trust me, this couch isn’t too comfortable.  Remember? It’s the one from the game room at Winterfell.”

Jon grinned.  “Hey, I remember falling asleep many a night on that couch.  We’re old friends.”

“Yeah, well, it’s seen a few more years since then as have you.  You probably won’t find it as comfortable as you think.  No, its best if you take my bed.  Trust me, you’ll thank me later.”

Jon wasn’t so sure about that as he settled between the sheets in Sansa’s queen size bed underneath a light blue down comforter.  Her scent nearly overwhelmed him as it surrounded him and he felt a clenching in his gut and the urge to reach down his body to relieve an ache who’s presence he didn’t understand.  Yes, Sansa was beautiful, but he had known and met many beautiful women before.  She shouldn’t be affecting him in this way. He had Ygritte. But even thinking about his girlfriend didn’t seem to bring him any relief and Jon rolled over onto his side, determined to fall asleep as he ignored the sweet scent of Sansa Stark.

TBC

[michaelgnomes]

Epistolary (Kind Of) - AHOT6

Epistolary - told through letters. Or, in this case, chat rooms, a brodate, and a New York City hotel room.

"It sounds nice," Gavin agrees, smiling contagiously. "You're my boi...friend, Michael. Boyfriend."

Minor Violence, Explicit Language

Words: 9,562 AO3

June 10

BrownMan: Dude, do you mind if I add someone for this game? MLP Michael: Not really -MM: If it’s another guy you met playing Halo I'll kill both of you

BrownMan has added GavinoFree to a chat.

BrownMan: Hey, man GavinoFree: We playing Halo again? MLP Michael: Ray -MM: I will fucking murder you GavinoFree: You're a pleasant fellow. You're Michael? MLP Michael: No shit. BrownMan: Ladies, you're both beautiful -BM: Halo? GavinoFree: Absolutely. MLP Michael: Fine, but no bullshit -MM: I'm calling you on it this time BrownMan is calling you...

Call ended 2:01 AM.

You have a contact request from GavinoFree. Contact request accepted.

June 12

GavinoFree: Do you lot want to play Halo? BrownMan: Give me ten minutes for lunch MLP Michael: You mean another grilled cheese? BrownMan: shut up you cant cook either -BM: typing with one hand hold on MLP Michael: I can cook more than grilled cheese. Macaroni and cheese takes skill GavinoFree: I'm having casserole for lunch in a bit. MLP Michael: In a bit? Isn't England like, six hours later than us or something? GavinoFree: I don't live in England. What gave you that idea? MLP Michael: Your accent, idiot GavinoFree: Nah, I moved to America a while back. I live with my boyfriends and their friend. BrownMan: Okay, done eating. You shitheads online? GavinoFree: I'll be there. MLP Michael: Give me a sec GavinoFree is calling you... MLP Michael: I said give me a sec, asshole GavinoFree is calling you...

Call ended 2:14 PM.

June 16

GavinoFree: Do you lot mind if my boyfriend plays a round with us? MLP Michael: He any good? GavinoFree: You could say that. BrownMan: I'm down, man MLP Michael: Sure, whatever GavinoFree: Call in a few minutes? MLP Michael: Fine

GavinoFree is calling you...

Call ended 3:15 AM.

You have a contact request from DG Geoff.

June 18

GavinoFree: Jack wants to play Halo with us. MLP Michael: Who the fuck is Jack GavinoFree: Geoff's boyfriend. He's great at Halo! He's wanted to play with us since Geoff played last time. MLP Michael: Us, or us? GavinoFree: All five of us. Are you in? BrownMan: Dude, I'm eating. Give me a minute -BM: Start the call without me GavinoFree is calling you...

Call ended 12:35 AM.

Contact request accepted.

You have a contact request from JackP. Contact request accepted.

June 21

GavinoFree has added you and three other people to a chat.

GavinoFree: We needed a group. You lot keep using me to talk to each other. DG Geoff: You were convenient MLP Michael: I have enough to pay fucking attention to with our group chat, christ JackP: Hey, guys! BrownMan: I'm just trying to eat a sandwich, man DG Geoff: Are you always fucking eating? MLP Michael: Usually it's pizza GavinoFree: Ray, you should try Geoff's cooking. JackP: I'm wounded, Gavin. GavinoFree: I love your cooking, Jack, but have you tried Geoff's alfredo sauce? DG Geoff: I'll make all you babies alfredo sauce if you shut the fuck up GavinoFree: Right now? For dinner? JackP: That's a great plan. DG Geoff: Fuck off. We're having Chinese for dinner and you know it GavinoFree: I love you, Geoffrey :) MLP Michael: Jesus, get a room DG Geoff: You got a problem? MLP Michael: Dude, Gavin talks about you guys all the time. I hear enough about your sex life without experiencing it, thanks BrownMan: No homo MLP Michael: Thanks, Ray BrownMan: No problem DG Geoff: I thg -DG: Hold on JackP: While they're arguing, I’m just going to ask -JP: Are you a homophobe, Michael? MLP Michael: Fuck no, dude. I'm bi as shit. BrownMan: didnt bat an eye when Gavin started talking about living with his boyfriends. Hes cool DG Geoff: Fucking crust -DG: Chrudt* -DG: Whatever. You're cool, dude? MLP Michael: A little offended you assumed I hate gay people, but cool, sure DG Geoff: What did you want me to assume? MLP Michael: Give me the benefit of the doubt, maybe. I don't know, man GavinoFree: It doesn't matter, you mingesausages. MLP Michael: What the fuck BrownMan: Let's just agree to be gay and forget about it DG Geoff: Sounds like a plan. GavinoFree: Halo tonight? JackP: Ryan will be home. He's been wondering who you guys are. BrownMan: I'm not ready to meet your scary boyfriend GavinoFree: He's not scary! JackP: He's a nerd. DG Geoff: And he probably isn't our boyfriend. MLP Michael: "Probably" DG Geoff: Yeah, whatever. Halo after dinner? BrownMan: Hit me up MLP Michael: Sure

JackP: You guys ready? MLP Michael: I can be BrownMan: I am GavinoFree: Call? JackP is calling you...

Call ended 1:09 AM.

June 22

Gavino Free has added BM Vagabond to a chat.

You have a contact request from BM Vagabond. Contact request accepted.

BM Vagabond: Do I have everyone? MLP Michael: I can't believe you made an account for this shit, dude BM Vagabond: It's a little important if we're going to meet up at some point. MLP Michael: Geoff was serious about that? -MM: He was drunk JackP: Geoff drinks a lot. BrownMan: We can tell GavinoFree: We could meet up halfway? Where do you lot live? BrownMan: New York. MLP Michael: New Jersey JackP: We could meet up in Georgia, bring Ryan back to his roots :) BM Vagabond: Don't you dare. -BV: Geoff's up. Incoming, Jack. -BV: Wouldn’t halfway be somewhere in Tennessee? DG Geoff: Not the greatest place for a meetup of a bunch of dudes who are gay as dicks BM Vagabond: Ignoring the blatant inaccuracies of that statement, neither is Georgia. DG Geoff: Looks like everything between us is the south, if you know what I mean. MLP Michael: Yeah, that’s pretty shit GavinoFree: Plane tickets? BrownMan: Hey, man, I work at GameStop GavinoFree: No, for us, you donut. Geoff? JackP: I don’t see why not :) BM Vagabond: It could be done. DG Geoff: Call? DG Geoff is calling you…

Call ended 4:20 PM. BrownMan: Blaze it

June 24

DG Geoff: Halo tonight? MLP Michael: Something else we can play? GavinoFree: Do you have Minecraft? BrownMan: No Minecraft. I’m never playing that game again. DG Geoff: Left 4 Dead? MLP Michael: Sounds good to me BrownMan: Sure, man

DG Geoff is calling you…

Call ended 12:09 AM.

June 26

GavinoFree: Less than a month until we visit! BM Vagabond: We all know you’re only going to frolic in the park with the ducks, Gavin. JackP: And only you would use the word “frolic” to describe anything Gavin does, Ryan. MLP Michael: Is he making the bird noises yet? DG Geoff: Oh yeah.

BM Vagabond: Left 4 Dead after lunch? BrownMan: I’m down MLP Michael: I’ve got nothing better to do BM Vagabond: I’ll take that as a yes, then.

BM Vagabond is calling you…

Call ended 7:18 PM.

June 27

BrownMan: Dude, do you have the fourth off? MLP Michael: For once in my life, yeah BrownMan: Brodate v2? MLP Michael: Fuck yeah, dude. I’ll be there at eleven

July 4

“Alright, fuck you,” Michael says as some dude in douchebag sunglasses bumps into him.

“Maybe later,” Ray replies without looking back. Michael can hear his grin. “You going to piss off the employees again?”

“When have I not pissed off the employees?” Michael scoffs, following as closely as he can without getting in Ray’s personal space. Okay, maybe a little bit in his personal space. He’s not interested in getting lost in Times Square.

“That’s fair,” Ray concedes, sparing a glance over his shoulder. “Dude. You act like you’ve never been here before.”

Michael happens to cast his glare in Ray’s direction. “You’re a piece of shit.”

Ray shakes his head, slowing a little to walk at Michael’s side. “Man, I think it’s brodate time.”

“Fuck yeah, brodate number two,” Michael replies with a mischievous grin, slinging an arm around Ray’s shoulders. They pass a Five Guys and walk through the doors of Dave and Buster’s, and they’re waiting for their food when Michael decides to check the group chat.

MLP Michael: Hey Gavin, you’re from England, right? Happy Independence Day, bitch GavinoFree: Happy birthday, you American prick. JackP: You guys should have come to the cookout. Gavin pushed a guy in American flag trunks into the pool. GavinoFree: He bumped into me! MLP Michael: I bet he had his phone in his pocket. That’s a low blow, boi BrownMan: Fuckin merked. BM Vagabond: Everything’s still fine for us to visit on the twenty-fouth, right? BrownMan: We’re not going anywhere, man DG Geoff: Yeah, where the fuck are you guys? You missed some quality Gavin. MLP Michael: Ray and I went on a brodate instead of going to your lame cookout. BrownMan: Pics or it didn’t happen (You have attached a photo.) GavinoFree: What the hell Mikey? You didn’t tell us you’re cute! MLP Michael: Okay, first of all, never call me that again -MM: Second of all, have we seriously never sent anything in this group? BM Vagabond: Looks like Michael and Ray have been holding out on us. DG Geoff: u JackP: I think Geoff needs a drink. DG Geoff: Fuck you, Jack -DG: HORSE tomorrow? BrownMan: I’ve got work until four. MLP Michael: I have work until six, but I’ll see what I can do

July 5

JackP: You guys home? BrownMan: I’m having dinner, but I’ll be done in a few. MLP Michael: I’m fucking beat, man. I might sit this one out GavinoFree: Please, Michael? You could just join the call. MLP Michael: I can hear it from here, Christ -MM: Fine. Give me ten minutes to get my shit together

DG Geoff is calling you… Call ended 2:01 AM.

July 11

DG Geoff has attached a photo. MLP Michael: FUCK -MM: SAVING THAT SHIT FOR BLACKMAIL BrownMan: I think he’s actually a pretzel. Michael is his salt BM Vagabond: He’s the salt to Gavin’s pretzel? MLP Michael: Fuck you guys JackP: Geoff, he’s going to kill you when he wakes up. DG Geoff: Not if I delete the photo first. -DG: I’d like to see him try, anyway.

GavinoFree: WHAT DID HE SEND MLP Michael: Gavin, you even sleep like an idiot. DG Geoff: MICHAEL JackP: He’s fending him off with a broom. This is impressive. (JackP has attached a photo.) BM Vagabond: It isn’t working very well. (BM Vagabond has attached a photo.) BrownMan: Come on, guys, not all at once. MLP Michael: We were holding out on you? What the fuck is this shit? BrownMan: Also, Michael likes tattoos MLP Michael: Fuck off, Ray JackP: We’ll let you know if he lives.

July 12

BM Vagabond: Best bars in New York City. Go. MLP Michael: Who you fuckin asking, dude? Ray doesn’t drink BM Vagabond: Alright, noted. Best restaurants in New York City that serve alcohol? BrownMan: Is this about Geoff? GavinoFree: He can’t go a day without a glass. Rubbish. BrownMan: Alright, well there’s this great fuckin tavern place called Radegast Hall that’s called a beer garden or some shit. MLP Michael: Biergarden, Ray -MM: Barcelona Bar does some fancy shit with fire, too -MM: Maybe it isn’t a good idea to bring Gavin to that one GavinoFree: I’ll have you know I can behave myself around fire. MLP Michael: Yeah, but the temptation to light you on fire will be real BM Vagabond: He looks absolutely stunned. MLP Michael: Serves him right. He shouldn’t have pushed that unsuspecting American into the pool on his birthday GavinoFree: America’s birthday! MLP Michael: Whatever, man, I don’t make the rules BrownMan: Ladies, you’re both beautiful. MLP Michael: Didn’t we do this already? BrownMan: Halo? MLP Michael: Fuck you -MM: I’m down for a few rounds GavinoFree: Count me in. BM Vagabond: I’m going to sit this one out, guys, since I’m in the middle of planning, but I’m sure I’ll be able to hear you murdering Gavin from here. GavinoFree is calling you…

Call ended 10:13 PM.

July 15

DG Geoff: Ten days, boys. Are you ready? BrownMan: My anus is ready. MLP Michael: Do I have to? GavinoFree: You get days off to see us, Michael! MLP Michael: I could totally just stay home and play Ratchet and Clank and eat pizza, dude BrownMan: I’ll give you everything in my wallet for a piece of pizza. MLP Michael: Keep your lint to yourself -MM: But maybe I’ll be over later if I can catch the train GavinoFree: No fair. You get to see each other all the bloody time :( MLP Michael: Yeah, and all four of you guys live together. Definitely not fair JackP: Point taken. DG Geoff: Well the tall guys have to stick together. MLP Michael: Alright, fuck you GavinoFree: Michael is offline? -GF: Michael? BrownMan: Geoff, I think he’s walking to Austin to strangle you. -BM: He’ll get distracted by your tattoos, though, don’t worry about it MLP Michael: You guys are shitheads DG Geoff: Lovable shitheads. MLP Michael: Well, maybe Jack GavinoFree: Michael, boi. Michael. MLP Michael: Gavin. GavinoFree: How come you make Jack smile but you never say you love me, boi? MLP Michael: I said he’s lovable, Gavin, he’s a fucking teddy bear with a murderous streak -MM: You’re my boi, though BrownMan: No homo DG Geoff: You guys should get your own hotel room, instead. Jack, Ryan, and I will keep the suite for ourselves. GavinoFree: We can have teams! DG Geoff: Not this shit again. GavinoFree: Michael! We can be Team Nice Dynamite because I’m nice and you’re a prick! BrownMan: Impressive. JackP: Everyone ends up with team names eventually. I’m surprised it’s taken him this long. DG Geoff: Don’t worry, it only gets worse. -DG: Michael, you could actually stay in the hotel room with us. MLP Michael: Just thinking about that feels like super intruding, dude GavinoFree: No, Michael, we wouldn’t mind! JackP: We sleep in the same bed all the time anyways. Ryan’s the only one who doesn’t always, and that’s because he doesn’t sleep. DG Geoff: The fucker. JackP: Even if Ryan wants to take the other bed, there’s a pullout. MLP Michael: Have you been plotting this? JackP: Absolutely not. GavinoFree: Yes! BM Vagabond: We wouldn’t mind, Michael, and you wouldn’t have to take the train in every day. DG Geoff: Yeah, make our lives easier. JackP: And we would feel better, honestly. The thought of you getting into an accident trying to get into the city every day to see us isn’t a good one. MLP Michael: I can take care of myself. BM Vagabond: We know. -BV: Sometimes you should let other people take care of you, too. MLP Michael: This is fucked -MM: Fine GavinoFree: Michael boi, you should come meet us at the airport, then! BrownMan: Bring a sign that says “welcome, dick patrol” MLP Michael: Wouldn’t that just make getting to your hotel harder? BM Vagabond: We’ll have to take two taxis anyways. Gavin doesn’t know the meaning of “We’re only staying for three days, pack lightly.” MLP Michael: Sure, I guess -MM: Shit, that means I have to pack BM Vagabond: It wouldn’t hurt to bring something slightly formal, if you know what I mean. MLP Michael: Ryan, I own a single polo shirt. That’s the best you’re going to get BrownMan: He refuses to wear it even on our brodates. Good luck, dude. JackP: Wow, Michael, you’re even holding out on Ray? MLP Michael: Fuck off. I’ll wear the fucking shirt BM Vagabond: :)

July 17

GavinoFree: You lot have time for Halo tonight? MLP Michael: Hell yeah, dude. It’s been a while BrownMan: I’m down GavinoFree: We might have everyone home, so it should be a party! MLP Michael: I’m not sure that’s a good thing GavinoFree: I’ll message you when we’re ready :)

BM Vagabond: I don’t think Gavin will be playing tonight. He’s had some drinks and is not very coherent. DG Geoff: We totally can, though. Fuck that dude. MLP Michael: I mean, sure BrownMan: I’ll join the call when I’m done with my pizza. DG Geoff is calling you…

Call ended 11:53 PM.

July 21

JackP: Michael, have you packed, yet? BrownMan: He hasn’t started yet, I can guarantee it BM Vagabond: Good. I was about to send him a packing list. DG Geoff: Ryan, man, you need to calm down. -DG: I’m sure he knows how to pack a bag. BrownMan: I mean, it wouldn’t hurt for the extra stuff. He isn’t a social dude -BM: Also wouldn’t hurt to tell him what your plans are for the trip, because he’s not really into surprises. JackP: He seems pretty social to me. Does he just not like strangers? BrownMan: You caught him playing Halo. The only way to get close to Michael is to harass him until he yells at you, then make fun of him for it MLP Michael: That’s not true. I also like that cute waitress at the diner across from work because she’s an asshole BrownMan: She called you a pansy for ordering your eggs well done and said you’re an asshole for drinking three cups of coffee in one breakfast MLP Michael: Yeah, but she was a good guy about it DG Geoff: I don’t see how this is any different from Halo. MLP Michael: Shut up Geoff (JackP has attached a photo.) MLP Michael: Oh shit you’re in a suit BrownMan: That’s hot. JackP: We’re going out for fancy dinner as soon as Gavin is done fighting Ryan about a tie. MLP Michael: I like that even though you’re in a fancy sweater, you still have your sleeves rolled up, Geoff DG Geoff: You would ;) BrownMan: Wow, called out -BM: You clean up nice too, Jack JackP: Thank you, Ray. -JP: I think Gavin’s stopped whining. Ryan’s still yelling, but he doesn’t sound as tired. (GavinoFree has attached a photo.) MLP Michael: Gavin in a suit. Not something I thought I’d ever see GavinoFree: You like what you see, boi? MLP Michael: I’d still strangle you GavinoFree: :( BM Vagabond: Alright, Michael, I’ve emailed you a packing list so you can take a look while we’re out. I’ll answer any questions you have tonight. MLP Michael: Will do, man DG Geoff: If we don’t come home and immediately fall asleep, we’ll probably talk to you guys later. BrownMan: Use a condom, kids

July 24

GavinoFree: MICHAEL -GF: MICHAEL WAKE UP -GF: MICHAEL BOI MLP Michael: What the fuck? GavinoFree: ARE YOU PACKED? MLP Michael: I can’t believe you woke me up for this shit. I packed yesterday GavinoFree: HAPPY ACTUAL BIRTHDAY BOI DG Geoff: SURPRISE BITCH WE’RE GETTING ON A PLANE TODAY MLP Michael: What the fuck -MM: I HAVE WORK UNTIL TWO JackP: We know. Our plane gets in at four :) MLP Michael: You guys are dicks -MM: How long have you been planning to show up a day early? DG Geoff: Since we found out today is your birthday. JackP: We did actually plan on the twenty-fifth until Gavin happened to ask you when your birthday is and Ray told him, and we decided to make it a surprise. MLP Michael: Does Ray know you guys are showing up today? GavinoFree: He’s known the whole time :) DG Geoff: We’ve been corresponding with him for a while. Had a hard time not telling you, actually. Didn’t tell us you don’t like surprises until like two days ago, so, surprise. MLP Michael: Scratch that, you guys are dickheads JackP: Happy birthday, Michael. MLP Michael: Thanks, Jack -MM: I need to get ready for work. I’ll see you guys later GavinoFree: Literally :)

BM Vagabond: Wear your fancy polo here, Michael. DG Geoff: You’ll know it’s us. Just look for Gavin’s outfit. (DG Geoff has attached a photo.)

MLP Michael: I’m going home to change and grab my bag, then I’ll get on the 2:30 train. I should be there early, but who the fuck knows -MM: Pink shorts, Gavin, really?

GavinoFree: Shut up, you sausage. JackP: We’re off the plane, obviously. We’ll get our luggage and meet you out there.

Michael pockets his phone when no other messages come, adjusting the bag on his shoulder with one hand and wiping the sweat on the other on his jeans. He’s definitely not nervous.

Them springing this on him hadn’t really given him the time he’d counted on to come to terms with them visiting.

It’s a long-awaited visit, yeah, but since the incident this winter, he hasn’t been comfortable in the city, and he clearly isn’t going to start now. He manages to almost forget this as they walk through the automatic doors in all their glory, and bends down to pick up the shitty sign he’s made. It reads “Welcome back from rehab!" and he holds it up with a proud grin.

Geoff leads them in, but Gavin decides to sprint across the room as soon as he spots Michael. Michael is not prepared for Gavin to drop the suitcase he’s rolling and leap to wrap around him, but he manages to remain standing by dropping the sign and his bag and settling a stabilizing hand at Gavin’s waist.

“Enthusiastic, Gavin?” Michael asks, grinning despite himself. His new leech leans back a little to smile.

“We’re here, Michael!” Yes, he is certainly enthusiastic. “It’s bloody brilliant!”

“I need to take a shit,” Geoff announces as the remaining three catch up to Gavin, rolling his bag to a stop beside Michael and walking off toward the restrooms. One of the bags Ryan is rolling matches Gavin’s. It probably is Gavin’s.

“What a greeting,” Michael grins, not realizing he’s still holding onto Gavin until he’s pulling away to pout at Ryan.

“Can I give it to him now?”

“The airport probably isn’t the best place to fuck me in the ass, Gavin,” Michael says, still grinning. It isn’t real yet that they’re here, but he’s relaxed a fucking lot regardless...staying in the city for three nights might not be so bad. He trusts these guys a little more than he probably should, granted, but that’s still a trust he thinks he can count on.

“Wait until we’re at the hotel, Gavin, we talked about this,” Ryan replies, but it isn’t as sternly as he would clearly like it to sound. He’s smiling, too, and it isn’t because Gavin is complaining at him. They’re all clearly a little giddy about being here.

“Is Ray meeting us there?” Michael asks as Gavin turns back to him and slumps dramatically against his shoulder. Michael pats his back in mock reassurance.

“Yeah, he’s meeting us at the hotel, and we’re walking from there,” Jack replies before Ryan can, which earns him an arched eyebrow. “He said it would be easier than trying to meet at the restaurant.”

Michael nods as Geoff emerges from the bathroom, hands in his pockets. “Probably. Where’s your hotel?”

“Your hotel, too, Michael,” Gavin mumbles into his shoulder. He ignores him.

“The Hilton in Times Square,” Ryan supplies. “Where we’re eating is supposed to be a surprise, but…”

“I think we can spare him that much,” Jack argues as Geoff finally reaches Michael and slings an arm over the shoulder not already occupied by Gavin.

“We’re eating at The View, kid,” Geoff offers casually.

“Are you all brain surgeons, or something?” Michael asks, regarding them with suspicion. The Hilton, aside from being in, you know, Times Square, is a four-star hotel so it can’t exactly be cheap, and Michael knows for a fact The View is not cheap in any sense of the word. It’s a fucking spinning restaurant on the forty-eighth floor with four dollar signs in its Google listing.

It’d been obvious they have money, but what the fuck?

“Something like that,” Jack chuckles, and no one makes an attempt to explain further, so Michael bends down to pick up his bag. Gavin, having all of his weight on Michael, nearly takes a nice tumble, but catches himself before he can faceplant.

Geoff picks up the sign with a grin and says, “You made this, Michael? You’re so sweet.”

“I know,” he replies with an innocent smile. “You don’t deserve me.”

After stuffing their luggage into the trunks of two taxis, Gavin drags Michael into one of them with Ryan and proceeds to ask him very personal questions for the duration of the ride to the hotel, which is unfortunately at least half an hour. He manages to deflect most of them, and in the process learns that Ryan used to be a model, much to the chagrin of Ryan himself.

Pulling up to the hotel brings a flurry of “get your bags, we have to check in,” and “which floor is the room on,” and “someone message Ray,” and Michael welcomes the distraction. He pulls out his phone to send a message in the group chat as he walks, hoping watching Gavin’s bag in front of him will keep him from crashing into anything.

MLP Michael: They didn’t die on the plane. We’re at the hotel, room 4004 BrownMan: I’ll leave now.

A round of cheers go up as Jack cards the door open, and they all file into the lounge room of the suite, then disperse to find places for their shit. Ryan, always the gentleman, opens the door into the other room for Michael. The furniture looks comfortable enough, and Michael takes note of the coffee table he’ll have to move to pull the couch out into a bed in case he drinks a little too much at dinner.

Gavin’s just flopped down on top of Geoff on the couch when someone knocks on the door. Michael, being closest, opens it to find Ray on the other side.

“Hey, man,” he says, greeting him with a fist bump and stepping back to let him into the room. “That was fast.”

“I was ready to go for once,” he replies as he steps into the lounge and Michael closes the door. He takes in the room. “This is fucking weird. Are you sure this is real?”

Jack chuckles. “Yeah, I don’t think we’re actually here, either.”

“It hasn’t felt real since we got on the plane. Reckon it won’t for a long while,” Gavin pipes up. “Is it weird that we’ve only known each other for a month?”

Michael shares a glance with Ray. “It is for me, but only because I trust you guys way more than I should…it kind of isn’t a bad thing.”

Geoff looks like he wants to ruffle Michael’s hair, something close to affection in his voice. “We were worried you didn’t feel comfortable with us visiting, at first. You never sounded all that excited when we talked about it in calls, and when it first got brought up, you ignored it, but…I’m glad we’re here.”

“I'm glad you're here, now,” Michael replies as Geoff pushes Gavin from his lap and stands up.

“We need to get changed,” Ryan says as if he’s read Geoff’s mind, pushing off the desk he’s been leaning on. “Reservation’s at five-thirty. If you hear Gavin screaming, ignore him.”

Walking Times Square surrounded by a bunch of dudes in business casual is a little weird, and Michael feels like a few more people are staring at the group of six, many of whom are laughing boisterously at a joke Ray made, than he’s used to. He would’ve spared them a second glance, too – the ones who actually bothered look nice as hell – but being on the receiving end isn’t great, especially as his fashion choices aren’t exactly up to par compared to the rest of his group. He doesn’t give a shit about how he looks, but being stared at isn’t exactly on his to-do list.

Dinner is fucking great. Michael studiously does not look at the price of the three-course meal, and is certain he doesn’t want to look at the check based on how much of a tip Geoff leaves. They leave the restaurant – which is a bit disorienting, considering it’s spun about three-quarters of the way around since they’d arrived – laughing and for Michael, maybe a little tipsy. Geoff had ordered two bottles with complicated names from the wine menu, and most of them hadn’t hesitated to drink wine beside whatever other drinks they ordered. Ray, being the only one who hasn’t had any alcohol tonight, is probably high on the mood of the rest of the group.

“Ray, do you want to stay here tonight?” Jack asks once they’re back in the hotel room and almost quiet enough not to be heard by patrons in the neighboring suites. “I don't want you walking back in the dark even if you've done it before. We have plenty of room.”

He seems to consider it for a moment before nodding. “I’ll need to go home tomorrow to get shit, obviously, but sounds good to me.”

“Good,” Gavin says, suddenly very animated compared to his lazy couch posture. He looks to Michael, who is leaning against the counter of the kitchenette, then to Ryan. “Now can I give it to him?”

“I mean, you did take me out to dinner first,” Michael replies. “I think I’ll allow it.”

“Go ahead, Gavin,” Ryan says, grinning as Gavin propels himself from the couch into their bedroom. The sound of rustling as he obviously looks for something starts up soon enough.

“He getting the lube?” Ray deadpans, and Michael grins as Gavin bounds back into the lounge room to thrust a wrapped something into his hands.

“Is this a present?” Michael asks, frowning. “Christ, you guys bought plane tickets and dinner. I don’t need this shit, too.”

“It’s too late,” Geoff replies gleefully. “We already have presents and you’re going to like them.”

“Open it, Michael!” Gavin insists before he can complain some more. With a sigh, he rips the wrapping paper from the object and lets it unfold. A very red shirt with dynamite and a happy face on it peers back at him. It’s cute.

“Team Nice Dynamite, boi?” Michael asks, smiling at Gavin over the shirt.

“Team Nice Dynamite,” Gavin replies with a very excited grin, then turns to Geoff.

“Yours next?”

“Sure, buddy,” Geoff replies and Gavin’s gone again, back to the bedroom to retrieve whatever Geoff’s got for Michael. He has a feeling it’s going to be some shitty gag gift, like a giant whoopee cushion he will immediately use on Gavin.

By the time he’s done opening gifts like a “World’s Greatest Asshole” mug from Geoff and trying to smother Gavin with a ball of wrapping paper, Michael is no longer tipsy and is surprisingly tired instead. Obviously someone can tell, because Jack decides it’s time for him to go to bed in the other bedroom. Michael isn’t quite sure how it happens, maybe he’d asked him or maybe he hadn’t given him a choice, but Ray is laying under the comforter with him when he realizes where he is.

“I really like them,” Michael says, half-yawning. He shuts his eyes and tries not to fall asleep right away. He doesn’t succeed for very long.

“Me too, man,” Ray says, and Michael is asleep long asleep before he can hear what he says next. “I think they like us, too.”

July 25

They start the next day by sleeping in until noon. Well, not Ryan, they find as they enter the lounge to see him sitting at the desk, writing something, but the rest of the suite’s inhabitants are still asleep when they get that far at eleven-thirty. Ryan steps into the bedroom to wake them up at noon, saying “We have to leave in forty-five minutes, you’d better be up in five minutes or I’m leaving you here.”

Geoff emerges from the bedroom as Gavin rushes into the bathroom almost five minutes later. Jack enters the lounge and claims an armchair soon after that. By the time Gavin is done fucking with his hair and Geoff has finished his first beer of the day, Ryan is ushering them out the door.

“We’re going to Ray’s so he can get his shit, like we talked about last night, then we’ll get lunch, then we’ll go to the thing,” Ryan says as they step into an elevator. Michael has no memory of this discussion Ryan claims happened, but he brushes it off in favor of asking what “the thing” means.

“Sorry, Michael,” Ryan replies, not looking sorry at all. “This one is staying a secret.”

It turns out, Michael realizes as they leave Ray’s favorite pizzeria and make their way toward Hell’s Kitchen and Broadway, they are going to see a show. What the fuck show it is, he has no idea, but of course Ryan would have planned for one. They’re in New York City. They’re going to want to see something on Broadway.

They end up listening to Ryan describe his interest in musical theater in high school, and how a show had come out that he never got a chance to see because a trip to New York was just never in the plans, and how they’re bringing it back for a Broadway revival for a few months and this trip has fallen in the right spot for it, so forgive him for indulging himself and getting tickets for this musical.

Michael doesn’t care what they see, but he does like listening to Ryan talk about it. Whether that’s because he’s learning about his past or because his voice has a nice timbre, Michael doesn’t know, but he’s fine with it either way.

It’s when Geoff suggests they go to that biergarden Ray had mentioned for dinner that Michael gets nervous. If Geoff starts drinking now, well, that will definitely lead to Geoff drinking more later. Hopefully that will be in the hotel room instead of a dive, he thinks as the hostess seats them beneath a stone archway. Lunch goes well until Geoff says, “So, where was that bar you mentioned, Michael?”

When he’d supplied them with a location almost two weeks ago he hadn’t thought he’d be going with them. He could just head home early if they decided to head off to a bar and they would be none the wiser, but this situation had not crossed his mind when Geoff asked him to stay in the hotel room with them, and that mistake sure chose a great time to rear its ugly head.

Okay, time to make a stupid decision, he thinks as Ray touches his elbow. Michael isn’t going to keep them from going to the bar, and if he says he wants to go back to the hotel, someone will definitely come with him if not all of them, so he says, “Uh, eighth and fifty-fourth. We’d have to take taxis.” It’s not like he’s going to run into the guy at six PM on a Wednesday. He’s just being a paranoid piece of shit.

They finish their dinner and hail taxis. Michael rides with Geoff and Jack this time, and they’re walking through the front door of the bar by the time the other taxi pulls up to the curb.

Michael’s heart starts beating a little faster as Geoff’s tattooed hand pulls the door open, and he thinks he’ll be fine as soon as he’s inside, but it gets so much worse. I just won’t breathe, he decides, knowing it’s not a good way to deal with this issue and that he really should bring it up, but nothing’s actually gone wrong yet.

They get their drinks, Gavin ordering a Harry Potter shot when Michael says that’s the one that involves fire. It really is a spectacle, he remembers as the bartender wraps a Gryffindor scarf around her neck and begins shouting about spells, but he’s seen it before, so his gaze wanders.

When he sees the familiar figure enter the bar, his only thought is fuck, he found me.

His second thought is that yeah, he found you, but it’s not like he’s been looking for you for six months. He was drunk enough he probably doesn’t even remember the fight.

His third thought, as another guy steps through the door behind him, is holy shit his friend is with him I’m going to die.

Michael breaks away from the group currently fascinated with the shots that are on fire to blend into the crowd, and it isn’t hard considering how many people are there to observe what the bartender is doing, but there aren’t enough people there at six PM on a Wednesday to hide him completely from the door. Ray, being at the back of their group with Michael is the only one who notices him leave with a questioning call of his name, but he hears someone growl “Michael,” from the doorway, and he knows it isn’t one of his friends.

He quickens his pace toward the back of the bar, knowing he’s already made a slew of bad decisions and it can only go downhill from here, and knowing the guy will recognize him wherever he is in the crowd. There’s nowhere for him to go, and he knows that, too, but he keeps going to give himself some time, leaning in toward the bar and attempting to flag down a spare bartender. Unfortunately, both of them are occupied.

“Michael,” the man breathes down his neck, grabbing his shoulder in a vice-like grip to pull him away from the bar counter. The music is loud enough that he can barely tell what the guy is saying. Michael is briefly glad Ray didn’t follow him as he’s pulled farther back in the darkness of the very rear of the bar to be pinned against the wall. He casts his gaze toward the front of the bar for just a moment, but he can’t even see Ryan or Jack through the bodies despite the light filtering through the storefront window. “We have unfinished business.”

“Who are you again? Fred?” Michael sneers. He knows he’s in a bad spot, but he also knows this guy is both a bad fighter and way too arrogant for his own good. If he can get him fired up, he has a better chance of getting him sloppy and getting out of this encounter unharmed. “You still paying someone else to fight for you? I thought you learned your lesson in January.”

“Unharmed” might have been a little preemptive, because the guy’s grip on his shoulders tightens painfully.

“David. I was wasted then,” he replies, smile a little too wide for Michael’s liking. “Nothing to stop me now.”

Michael ducks out of the way when the guy lifts a fist to box in his ear, having been temporarily distracted trying to make sure no one he knows followed them back here. He’s pretty sure the only one who could take them on is Geoff, and Geoff had been three shots deep last time Michael had seen him. Unfortunately, he’s his own best chance.

He springs back up to land a solid uppercut to David’s jaw, and it sends the guy reeling back in surprised pain. His friend doesn’t make a move on Michael, only grabbing the guy’s arm to keep him on his feet. Michael doesn’t make an attempt to escape. He knows it’s now or never.

The guy rushes back toward him, seemingly recovered, but so does his friend, eyes locked on Michael. Guy takes advantage of his distraction to take a swipe at him, but Michael focuses on him, grabbing his arm mid-swing and twisting it at what must be a painful angle. Guy tries to pull away, grimacing, but Michael pulls him a step closer to break his nose with the heel of his hand. David stumbles back with a gasp and looks to his friend, who advances toward Michael.

Now that the weaker guy’s had enough, it’s time for a real challenge. This guy Michael knows for a fact can fight - he’d beaten Michael’s ass when he won a fight against David in this bar six months ago. Michael has enough violent encounters under his belt to beat someone like broken-nose guy easily, but, unfortunately, he’s a little out of practice, and the way this guy immediately steps toward him to punch his eye in surprises him. He takes a stabilizing step back, unwilling to end up on his ass in front of friend guy, and winces through the pain. That’s going to look nasty, he decides.

He doesn’t know where to go from there. He and friend guy are sizing each other up, Michael knowing this guy will just counter whatever he does next and friend guy probably deciding what to aim for next, but stalemates are never good in a fight. They lead to poorly executed swings and awkward footing.

Fuck it, he thinks, moving in when the moment is at its worst to take the guy by surprise, hitting him in the solar plexus to knock the wind out of him. It only works halfway, almost stunning him for a few seconds, but it gives Michael the advantage he needs to land a solid hit on his ear, where it won’t leave lasting damage but it hurts like a bitch. He’s about to break this guy’s nose, too, when David lands a solid one to his ribs and he stumbles to the side, pushing away from the chairs to end up closer to the wall. David’s contribution gives his friend a chance to recover, and soon he’s pinning Michael painfully against the wall, fist in the air. He’s clearly about to do something with it when someone grabs his wrist and rips him away from the wall, practically throwing the guy into the chairs that aren’t really lined up against the bar anymore.

“Michael,” someone says, stepping in front of him and resting their hands on his face. “Are you good?”

Michael’s tunnel vision on friend guy dissolves to focus on Ray standing in front of him as Ryan holds the guy at a distance in the background, having clearly rescued him from a severe beating at Geoff’s mercy. Geoff is standing beside him, arms crossed and rage in his eyes as he says something to him. Ray pats Michael's face.

“Yeah, I’m good,” he says weakly, clears his throat and says, “I’m glad you didn’t try to follow me.”

“I knew you left, but I just assumed you were going to find the other bartender or something,” Ray shakes his head. “You didn’t come back, and, well, I asked if anyone could see you in the crowd after a while, but…I didn’t see these guys until it was too late, so here we are.”

“It’s fine, Ray,” Michael smiles weakly at him. “It was going to happen eventually.”

“What was going to happen eventually?” Jack asks sternly, having appeared in the space between Ray and friend guy. Michael can’t see Geoff anymore, but it doesn’t really matter, because as soon as Michael‘s gaze moves past Jack he says, “Look at me, Michael.”

“It’s not really a long story, but I’d rather tell it back in the hotel room,” Michael says. “Can we find a pharmacy and get an ice pack?”

“Michael!” Gavin appears at the edge of the small clearing in the crowd. Everyone clearly knows what just happened and is happy to ignore the spectacle. It’s hard to tell if the bartenders even noticed. “Are you alright, boi?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replies with mock bravado. “Just a little beat up. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Yeah, well, I was going to beat up your friend until Ryan convinced me not to get arrested,” Geoff grumbles, also appearing from the crowd. He and Ryan must have hauled the guys out to the street. His gaze takes on a much softer edge as he takes in Michael’s stance - he must look disheveled as shit. “Why was a sober guy trying to fight you in the back of a bar?”

“I’ll tell you back at the hotel,” Michael sighs. “Now can I get an ice pack somewhere so I don’t have to go back to work with a bright purple eye?”

Thankfully, they do not treat him like he is made of glass during the taxi ride back to the hotel, but he does get stuck between Ray and Gavin, so it wouldn’t really have been possible between Gavin’s nonexistent sense of personal space and Ray having known him long enough to figure out he hates being pitied. As soon as they enter the hotel room, however, it is a different story. The pillows are fluffed and he is sitting on the couch before he knows what’s going on, Geoff taking up the other half and throwing an arm over the back of the couch as Jack presses the bag of frozen peas they’d picked up into his hand, now wrapped in one of someone’s spare T-shirts. Gavin slinks over to sit on the floor and lean against his legs. Gavin hasn’t been talking much since they’d found him. He might still be trying to come to terms with it.

“Alright, buddy, tell us what happened,” Geoff requests, not quietly but gently.

“Well, I was visiting Ray back in January, and a friend of mine told me to go to Barcelona Bar for the weird shots they have, so we did,” Michael begins, wincing as his shoulder twinges when he tries to lift the impromptu ice pack to his eye. “The first guy, David, was super drunk, so when I bumped into him coming out of the bathroom he decided to fight me, and I wrecked him when he wouldn’t fuck off, but his friend showed up and beat the snot out of me, said they’d come find me and get me again sometime.”

“The same guy that was there today?” Jack asks, and Michael nods.

“It sounded like a death threat. I’ve been avoiding going to that bar or drinking at all here – no one wants another few broken ribs, man – but when you guys wanted to go, I figured,” he shrugs, grimacing. “This guy’s not going to happen to be there while we are, it’ll be fine, but, you know, I was wrong. They showed up just after we did, and while you guys were distracted by the bartender doing the weird shots, I tried to hide in the crowd, but that bar is so narrow there isn’t really anywhere to go. They found me and David tried to fight me, but I broke his nose, so his friend decided to have a crack at it. Got me pretty good, but I gave some, too.”

Geoff grins. “I mean, that’s shit, but I’m glad you fucked that guy up.”

“That David guy sounded pretty mad when we pulled his friend off you,” Ryan says carefully, and Geoff’s gaze darkens again. “Like we were being unfair breaking up the fight. I think he said something about taking us out back and shooting us in the head.”

Michael scoffs. “That guy is all bark and no bite. I’m out of practice and I got him in two hits. If he had a gun on him, he was trying to feel better about himself, and I’m sure you scared him enough. You’ll never see him again.”

“How do you feel?” Jack asks, and it sounds like he genuinely wants to know.

“Like I got punched in the face,” Michael grins wryly. “Maybe took a chair to the rib, but not as bad.”

“You get in fights a lot?” Geoff asks, side-eyeing him, obviously interested.

“I did until that guy fucked me up,” Michael replies, grinning for real now. “I think it’s time for me to take it up as a hobby again.”

Jack sighs, shifting in the armchair to better face Michael. “Please don’t do anything stupid. If you get into a dangerous situation in New Jersey, we won’t always be around to help you out.”

Michael raises an eyebrow at him. “I can take care of myself, Jack. I'm a big boy.”

“But you don’t have to,” Ryan regards him sternly. “You need to start letting other people help you, Michael. You’re only going to hurt yourself.”

“I grew up taking care of myself,” he replies readily, severely. “Old habits die hard.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll work it out of you,” Geoff says calmly, clearly attempting to diffuse the tension in the room. “Michael, you’re a stubborn piece of shit, you know that?”

“Yeah, I know,” he replies as Jack stands.

“I think it’s time for bed,” he announces, and Ray pushes away from the counter and is in the process of opening the door to the other bedroom when Geoff stops him.

“The beds in this hotel are only king-sized,” he says, holding up a hand to stop Ray from going anywhere. “But we can make it work.”

July 26

It takes Michael a moment to realize who he is in bed with when he wakes up.

Gavin is wrapped around his back, an arm draped over his waist and his nose buried in Michael’s shoulder. Ray is facing him, practically melted into the mattress. Ryan is behind Ray, and Michael thinks it’s safe to assume Geoff and Jack are on Gavin’s other side, though he can’t actually tell.

This is strange, he thinks, but…nice.

As soon as Gavin had realized they’d be in the same bed he had pulled him into the bedroom and wrapped around him like a fucking spider, leaving everyone else to fend for themselves. They had, somehow, managed to make it work. He finds it a little strange waking up in a bed with five other dudes, but it also seems like something he could get used to.

No, stop that, he thinks, and he finds himself frowning as he reaches to rub the eye that isn’t fucked up. Four dudes in a relationship don’t need you to make their lives more difficult.

Ryan must have heard him move, because he leans up to look at Michael for a moment. “That’s one nasty black eye you’ve got there,” he whispers, and Michael grimaces.

“It’ll be green in a few days,” Michael whispers back. “That’s the best part.”

“I’m pretty sure the best part of a bruise is the part when is disappears,” Ryan counters.

“Are you arguing about the color of a bruise?” Jack asks incredulously, and he sounds far away enough that Geoff must be between Jack and Gavin.

“Yes,” Michael replies, having turned slightly, and now that he isn’t mumbling into the mattress his breath must tickle Ray, because he scrunches his face up in what he would insist isn’t a cute way and blinks awake.

“You’re a piece of shit,” Ray frowns. “I was in the middle of a dream, man.”

“Whatever,” Geoff says, apparently awake now, and Gavin finally stirs, halfway releasing Michael in his waking confusion. “I need to shit.”

“So eloquent,” Jack scoffs, there is some shifting on the bed, and Michael watches Geoff leave the bedroom. Jack probably figures he might as well since he’s already up, and walks through the door to the lounge as the hand Gavin has draping over Michael squeezes in a gimme fashion. Michael considers it very briefly, then moves his hand to grab Gavin's.

Gavin laces their fingers together, and Ray snickers and says, "No homo."

Ryan slides off the bed to stand, grinning widely. "Good luck," he says, and goes into the lounge.

"You're fucked, dude," Ray says, following him. Michael shifts into a more comfortable position now that he has half of the mattress to himself. This position lands him facing Gavin, fingers intertwined, and they look at each other for a moment. The silence is peaceful.

"Oh my god," Geoff says, closing the bathroom door behind him and moving toward the door to the lounge. "You guys are gay as dicks." Michael cuts him a half-hearted glare as he leaves.

"We should get up so we can eat," Michael says, grinning when Gavin startles. "We might be able to convince them to get room service for breakfast."

Gavin is clearly excited about the prospect, because he is suddenly very animated in trying to drag Michael out of bed.

"Alright, alright, don't pull my arm out of its socket," Michael chides, and Gavin actually stops for a moment as Michael rolls his shoulder in an attempt to work the stiffness out of it. Last night's fight is coming back to him in more ways than one.

Gavin drags him out into the lounge as soon as he's out of contact with the bed. Ray is draped over Ryan on the couch, Jack is reading something in the armchair, and Geoff is leaning against the counter, phone to his ear.

"What do you dickheads want for room service?" Geoff asks, twisting the phone away from his mouth. Gavin begins listing a bunch of shit, but Michael just shrugs. He'll eat whatever they put in front of him.

He and Gavin sit on the floor beside the coffee table (more like Gavin trips over the coffee table and pulls Michael down with him), and when Jack tries to hand Michael a real ice pack this time, Gavin reaches out and snatches it from him.

He turns to Michael with a little too much concern in his eyes and presses the ice pack gently to his face. "How do you feel, boi?"

"Like I want you to stop worrying about me," he replies, and Gavin frowns. "I've done this before."

Gavin grimaces, now, and Geoff hangs up, shoves his phone in his pocket, and says, "We need to talk."

Michael would normally feel apprehensive right about now, but the way Geoff says it sounds more optimistic than anything. No one speaks as Geoff grabs the wooden desk chair and spins it around to sit at the other end of the coffee table.

"There's been this shit hanging in the air since we got here," he begins, and Ryan chuckles. Apparently he knows what's going on as Geoff indicates everyone but Michael and Ray. "The four of us have had a half-conversation about this already, but you assholes deserve to know, too."

"Get on with it, Geoff," Jack admonishes good-naturedly.

"We like you guys and wouldn't be opposed to bringing you into the relationship," he grinds out, rushing as if someone will stop him if he breathes.

Michael blinks away his surprise. He's been pretending how he feels doesn't matter, sure, but...well, it seems like the only reasoning he had doesn't work anymore.

Ray is much quicker to the draw. "What would that mean for us?"

"Eventually, we hope you'd move in with us," Ryan says. "For now, as a six-person relationship, we'd be spending some time figuring it out, but...if you hadn't noticed, we're pretty much there already."

Ray nods, and three and a half gazes turn to Michael.

"I'm not opposed, but...I'm not sure it would work." He wants to give them one last chance to back out. "I like you guys a hell of a lot, but six people in a relationship?"

"We know," Jack says, and the smile he offers is a little comforting. "We aren't sure if it'll work, either, and there’s no way it’ll be easy, but we won't know unless we try."

"Alright...I'm down," Michael says after a moment, then grins. "Does that make us all boyfriends?"

"If that's what you want to call it," Ryan says appraisingly.

"It sounds nice," Gavin agrees, smiling contagiously. "You're my boi...friend, Michael. Boyfriend."

"Super homo," Ray comments, and they're all laughing when someone knocks on the door.

"Room service is here, fuckin' finally," Geoff says, standing to make his way over to greet whoever’s brought the food. Michael watches him walk away, tattooed arm reaching for the doorknob. Gavin curls around him tighter, a hand moving to card through Michael's hair.

Yeah, this is something he could get used to.

June 22

MLP Michael: My plane leaves at two, gets in at six. If you're late you owe me dinner BrownMan: We'll be there, dude. GavinoFree: Michael, boi, why can't you just be here already? I miss you :( MLP Michael: Christ, Gavin, I'll be there in a few days BM Vagabond: To be fair, Gavin, we did talk about this. MLP Michael: Yeah yeah I should have given my two weeks earlier, I've heard it all before DG Geoff: He will not stop complaining about it. I think he's smothering Ray. JackP: He is. (JackP has attached a photo.) BrownMan: I came here to have a good time and Im feeling so attacked right now MLP Michael: Gavin, you fucking leech -MM: Couches have two cushions for a reason BM Vagabond: We may not be the best example of that. BrownMan: Hey, man, fitting five people on a couch is an art MLP Michael: Okay, dickheads, I need to pack. Stop blowing up my phone GavinoFree: I love you, Michael :) MLP Michael: Fuck off -MM: I love you too, boi -MM: I'll see you guys later (JackP has attached a photo.) DG Geoff: We'll be waiting for you.

[oovitus]

Meal plans usually suck. Here are 6 better ways to transform your diet.

Lots of people looking to improve their eating think meal plans are the answer. The only problem? Meal plans usually suck… and they rarely last. So, instead of prescribing yet another doomed eating regimen, check out these 6 ways to transform any diet in a sustainable way.

++++

“Do I get a meal plan?”

This is the most common question we get from folks who are considering, or just started out in, our nutrition coaching programs.

The answer: No, we don’t do meal plans.

But we can’t blame people for asking.

Sure, meal plans have long been a staple of the fitness and nutrition industry. Coaches are taught to create them. Clients are taught to expect them.

Unfortunately…

Most of the time, meal plans don’t work.

You see, traditional meal plans are explicit prescriptions.

Eat this exact thing, in this exact amount, at this exact time.

For example, you’ll often see:

Breakfast – 7:30am 3 eggs, scrambled 1 cup vegetables 1 piece whole grain toast 1 cup coffee 1 glass water

Morning snack – 10:00am 1 protein bar 1 handful mixed nuts

Lunch – 12:30pm 4 oz chicken 2 cups salad 1 handful seeds 1 glass water

After exercise – 4:30pm 1 scoop whey protein 1/2 cup frozen fruit 1 tsp omega 3 oil 12 oz water

Dinner – 7:00pm 4 oz steak 1 cup cooked veggies 1 baked potato 1 glass water

You (or your clients/patients) might be thinking, “Good! I want a plan. I’m sick of trying to figure all this stuff out! Just tell me what to eat!”

Unfortunately, when we try to follow rigid prescriptions like this, lots can (and often does) go wrong.

For example:

Scenario 1: You just don’t stick to the plan.

No matter how enthusiastic you are, meal plans can be tough to follow.

This is normal. Life can get in the way.

People get busy,

we’re not always prepared,

kids get sick,

bosses expect you to work late,

it’s always someone’s birthday (or a special holiday), and

sometimes you just don’t feel like having a protein bar at 10am.

What’s more, even if you’ve actually paid to have someone make your plan, you might find yourself rebelling against it in subtle (or not-so-subtle) ways.

This is also normal.

Unfortunately, it means you might not get the results you hope for. For instance, a meal plan you hoped would help you lose weight could actually encourage you to gain weight instead.

Scenario 2: You follow the plan perfectly.

In fact, you follow it too well and for too long.

Most meal plans are meant to be temporary.

They’re designed to help a person get to a specific short-term goal, like dropping a few extra pounds before a wedding, learning to manage blood sugar, or cutting weight for an athletic competition.

Our bodies can usually adapt to a rigid way of eating for a short period of time.

But if you’re too strict for too long, you could wind up with disordered eating habits and lasting health (mental, metabolic, hormonal, etc) consequences.

Scenario 3: You follow the plan for a little while but it sucks.

It isn’t sustainable. It doesn’t make you feel better. It doesn’t keep you sane.

Maybe you see some short-term results (or not). But you hate living and eating this way. You never want to see another stupid piece of lettuce or 4 ounces of chicken.

Eventually, you get so turned off by the process that you regress or quit altogether. You conclude that “eating healthy” sucks.

And you miss your big chance to learn how to make healthier, more enjoyable, more lasting and real changes.

Another reason meal plans fail.

One of the biggest (yet generally unacknowledged) problems with traditional meal plans is their focus on “nutrients”.

Real people don’t eat “nutrients”. We eat food.

We eat meals, often with other people.

We eat meals that match our cultural background and social interests.

And we rarely measure things precisely.

Sure, sometimes an explicit prescription is necessary.

For instance, professional athletes or bodybuilders (in other words, people who make money off their bodies and athletic skills) use meal plans to prepare for training and competition.

A prescribed meal for someone in that situation might look something like this:

1/4 cup dry oats

3 oz turkey breast

1 cup steamed broccoli

5 almonds

1 omega-3 supplement

1 cup green tea (unsweetened)

But most of us don’t need that level of surgical precision.

We don’t normally eat “ounces” of things, or refer to food by their nutrients (like “omega-3 fatty acids”).

Instead, we eat foods like:

hamburgers

tacos and burritos

salads

pasta and noodles

sandwiches, wraps, pitas and rotis

stews and curries

cereal and granola

stir-fries

casseroles

Bottom line: If you want to eat better, you don’t have to get weird about things.

You don’t need to weigh and measure everything, or count out your almonds.

Ask yourself: “Is someone paying me to do this?” If the answer is no, you likely don’t need this kind of approach.

You just need to think about what you’re already eating, and how you could make it a little bit better.

This means fiddling and adjusting.

Making small changes and improvements to what you already normally eat and enjoy, one small step at a time.

Think about a spectrum of food quality rather than “bad” or “good” foods.

Welcome to the meal transformation game.

When you play with the idea of a food spectrum or food continuum, you get to experiment with variables like:

what you eat, and

how you eat it.

Think of this as a game.

How can you play “make this meal just a little bit better” in every situation?

In which situations is that easier or harder?

When your choices are limited (for instance, when you’re traveling, or eating at a workplace cafeteria), how can you shoot for “a little bit better” while still being realistic, and without trying to be “perfect”?

(Hint for coaches: this is a great game to play with the people you work with.)

Let’s transform breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Here’s how that “food spectrum” might look in daily life, with a sample day of eating.

Transforming breakfast

Stage 1

Let’s say that your go-to breakfast is a whipped-cream coffee drink and a chocolate croissant.

You pick it up in the drive-thru, and wolf it down on your way to work.

This is your starting point. It’s not “bad”. It’s just no longer working for you.

You’re getting indigestion from rushing, the croissant doesn’t hold you at all, and you’ve just spilled the coffee on your crotch while changing lanes.

Now your game is to improve your breakfast just a little bit, starting with what you already have or do.

Stage 2

Your opening moves in the meal transformation game:

You might replace the croissant with a whole grain muffin.

Instead of a “dessert in a cup”, you get a regular coffee with a single cream and sugar.

You grab a yogurt cup on your way out of the house for a bit of protein.

Naturally, you’re still rushed and busy… so you eat your breakfast with some distractions, while scrolling through emails at work.

But this is a solid start. Well done.

Stage 3

Next level of game play:

You switch the muffin to granola with cottage cheese or Greek yogurt.

You switch the cream in your coffee for 2% milk. (Or even go right to black coffee, you meal player you!)

You add some colorful fruit.

You’re now eating out of dishes on a table, instead of out of takeout packages off the dashboard of your car.

Of course, you’re still checking out the news headlines while you eat…

No problem. We’re keeping it real.

Stage 4

Now you are seriously playing like a pro.

You’ve changed “rushing and panicked” to “set aside a little extra time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast”.

You cleverly prepped an egg frittata with veggies in advance on your food prep day.

The coffee’s become green tea, since you noticed that too much coffee was tweaking you out.

The protein plus colorful fruit and veg have become the stars of the meal.

You’ve discovered you really like lemon water. (WHAT? You don’t even know you anymore!)

You eat mindfully, feeling relaxed, while watching the sun rise.

Ahhh.

Transforming lunch

Stage 1

At this point, starting out, the idea of a sit-down lunch feels flat out ridiculous.

“Eat slowly? Who has time for that during a busy workday? Grab a burger and go!”

Another “car dashboard” meal. Another stomach ache and regret.

You decide you might want to play with this meal too.

Stage 2

To improve this meal a little bit:

You go to a higher-end burger place where you’re pretty sure they use real meat.

You get a side salad with that burger, and maybe just a few potato chips.

You choose a diet soda instead of regular.

You don’t eat in your car, but you do eat by your computer.

That’s OK. You’re progressing.

Stage 3

At this stage, you’re doing a little prep work:

You whipped up some burgers in advance so they are handy and ready to take to work.

You also grabbed some nice cheese and whole grain buns from the local market on shopping day.

For lunch, all you have to do is take your homemade burger and its fixins to work.

You still grab a diet cola from the vending machine to wash it down.

You move from your desk to the lunchroom, where you socialize with co-workers. This slows you down a bit and helps you digest and relax.

Stage 4

You’re having the burger without the bun, alongside a nice pre-prepped salad.

Instead of staying at your desk or in the office, you take a break.

You sit outside and get some fresh air while you enjoy your meal.

For a drink, water’s all you need.

Transforming dinner

Stage 1

It’s 8pm. You’ve just gotten home after an insane day at work.

All you want to do is put food into your face and zone out in front of the TV.

You can’t even imagine making anything more complicated than boxed macaroni ‘n’ cheese right now.

Ketchup and hot dogs are as fancy as it gets.

Stage 2

Same concept, but:

You’re adding some extra protein with the help of a rotisserie chicken leg that you grabbed at the grocery store on the way home.

You’ve added a side salad, just grabbing a few handfuls of pre-washed greens out of a bag.

You’ve whipped up your own pasta.

Work is still on your mind, and a couple drinks will take the edge off.

Stage 3

Things are getting fancy.

You’re upping the protein with a little more chicken.

You’re having a little less pasta.

You’ve also added a nice big salad to the mix.

You’ve cut the booze to 1 drink.

Plus, you’re sitting at the dinner table, instead of flopping down on your couch or standing over the sink.

Stage 4

Again, we’re playing at pro level here.

With your meal planning and prep strategies, even a weeknight dinner looks good.

You can whip up a delicious salad in 3 minutes flat and you have some pre-cooked quinoa on hand.

That rotisserie chicken is still a fast, convenient option, but now it’s got some healthy buddies.

You’re indulging in a single glass of good wine these days, and you take time to savor it.

Meal transformation is not about reaching perfection.

If you’re at stage 1, all you have to do is shoot for stage 2. Or stage 1.5.

If you’re in stage 2, play with getting to stage 3.

And if you’re stage 3, heck, you can stay where you are.

You might never get to stage 4. Or it might only happen at times when you’re relaxed and have a little extra time.

Stage 4 might only happen on Sunday night, whereas the rest of your week is a mix of stages 1, 2, and — if you’re super lucky — 3.

And that’s OK.

How far you progress along the continuum all depends on what YOU want, what YOU need, and what YOU can reasonably do, right now.

Over time, things can change.

Play YOUR game.

Success secret: Have a food prep ritual.

You might look at these photos and think, “How can people possibly do all that?”

One success secret: Having a food prep ritual.

The idea is simple:

Practice planning and preparing healthy food in advance.

This makes healthy eating convenient and easy.

It also makes decisions easier: You don’t have to make a choice when you’re rushed and hangry.

Your food prep ritual can include:

shopping (or arranging to have food delivered)

menu and meal planning

washing and chopping vegetables

cooking/preparing protein (e.g. cooking up some chicken breasts)

cooking meals in bulk (e.g. casseroles, soups, stews, chili)

preparing the dry ingredients for things like Super Shakes or healthy muffin mix

soaking grains/beans beforehand so that they’ll be ready to cook later

sorting foods into smaller containers or baggies

freezing and refrigerating food for later

planning healthy meals that someone else cooks (e.g. using a meal delivery service, deciding in advance what to order at a restaurant, etc.)

looking ahead to ensure healthy eating strategies during the next few days, especially during difficult times (e.g. a busy week, traveling, dealing with a family crisis, etc.)

Mix and match any of these to find what works for you.

Experiment with systems, skills and strategies that work for YOU and YOUR life.

The real goal of a meal plan is to stop using a meal plan.

Fit, healthy people who have a good relationship with food don’t need other people to tell them exactly what to eat at all times.

Living a fit and healthy life doesn’t require perfection, either.

If you are using a meal plan:

That’s OK.

Some people like prescription, especially if they are working towards a specific short-term goal, like cutting weight to compete in wrestling, making sure they get enough nutrients to support a healthy pregnancy, or fueling their triathlon performance.

Keep it short-lived.

Meal plans are supposed to be temporary, working towards a short-term goal.

Keep it real.

As much as possible, try to make the meal plan fit your real life, not the other way around.

If you’re a parent, a worker, a student, or anyone else living in the real world, most of your meals will fall somewhere in the stages 1 through 3 spectrum. That’s perfectly OK. Just experiment with being a little bit better, wherever you can.

Remember all goals require trade-offs.

If you want to achieve a high level of performance or exceptional body composition, understand what you are prioritizing and sacrificing.

Getting very lean, for instance, comes with costs.

Make sure it’s working for you.

If your meal plan is making you feel:

overwhelmed

anxious and fretful

guilty

regretful

bad

overly rigid and/or preoccupied with food…

or any other negative, unproductive emotion…

…and if you find that meal plans result in you:

“falling off the wagon”, hard

getting obsessive and compulsive about food

restricting foods and food groups, or

doing “all or nothing”, usually ending with “nothing”

…then consider trying another approach.

What to do next

1. Consider where you sit on the spectrum of meal “stages”.

Where’s your food game at?

What level are you playing at?

What level would you like to play at?

Given your goals and your current situation, what is realistic?

For example, if you currently eat at stage 1, your goal might be to eat at stage 2 for most meals.

Or, if you eat at stage 3 most of the time but find yourself dipping into stage 1 or 2 meals more often than you’d like, aim to stay at stage 3 a little more consistently.

(Hint for coaches: you can walk people through these questions and help them arrive at their own answers.)

2. Start small. One step at a time.

Pick one meal to transform and focus on that.

For instance, you might leave all your other meals at stage 1, and focus on getting lunch to stage 2.

Concentrate on improving that one meal each day.

Using the examples above, you might think about things like:

adding protein

adding veggies or fruits

eating less processed food

eating more nutrient-dense, whole foods

drinking less alcohol or fewer sweet drinks

drinking more water

eating in a calmer, more relaxed setting, and/or

eating more slowly and mindfully

Of course, don’t try to do all these at once.

Try just fiddling with one or two, and see which ones work best for you.

3. Add things slowly.

Once you’ve improved one meal a day, try another.

If you feel like lunch is a solid stage 2 or 3, play with moving breakfast, dinner, or snacks along the spectrum.

Or, once you’ve improved one factor in a meal (e.g. adding more protein), try another.

For instance, if you’re getting more protein, now try switching out your sugary soda for some soda water. Or adding a little more veggies.

Be patient; small steps add up.

4. Set yourself up for success.

Notice what makes it easier and simpler for you to eat better.

Then figure out how to do or get more of that.

For instance:

Is planning helping you? How could you do more of that?

Is a healthy meal delivery service making it easy? Could you set aside a little more cash to get two meals a day instead of one?

Is setting aside time on Sunday afternoon to cook some protein a good idea? Great, keep on doing that. Book it in your calendar.

There’s no “right” way to do this. Do what works for YOU.

5. Enjoy your meals.

Meal plans don’t usually address how you eat.

Before you change what you eat, you can also try changing how you eat. For example, you could:

slow down

breathe between bites

relax

savor your food

sit at a table if you can, and/or

use real dishes if you can.

Give yourself some time and space to appreciate those tasty concoctions you put together.

Meal time is YOUR time.

6. Work towards being your own boss.

Sometimes you might just want someone to tell you what to do.

That’s fine, and helpful, especially if you’re juggling a lot. But only for a while.

Over time, look for ways to help yourself intuitively and wisely make better choices, rather than just following the rules.

(Coaches, much more than serving up prescriptions, this is your job too: to help the folks you work with arrive at a place where they feel good about making decisions for themselves.)

Think long-term. What do you want to happen over the next few months? Year? 10 years? Do you want to be on a meal plan for the next few decades?

Today, if you were to take one small step towards the “better” end of the meal spectrum, what might that look like?

How can you start playing the “meal transformation game” today?

If you’re a coach, or you want to be…

Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes — including helping them with meal transformation — is both an art and a science.

If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly.

What’s it all about?

The Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is the world’s most respected nutrition education program. It gives you the knowledge, systems, and tools you need to really understand how food influences a person’s health and fitness. Plus the ability to turn that knowledge into a thriving coaching practice.

Developed over 15 years, and proven with over 100,000 clients and patients, the Level 1 curriculum stands alone as the authority on the science of nutrition and the art of coaching.

Whether you’re already mid-career, or just starting out, the Level 1 Certification is your springboard to a deeper understanding of nutrition, the authority to coach it, and the ability to turn what you know into results.

[Of course, if you’re already a student or graduate of the Level 1 Certification, check out our Level 2 Certification Master Class. It’s an exclusive, year-long mentorship designed for elite professionals looking to master the art of coaching and be part of the top 1% of health and fitness coaches in the world.]

Interested? Add your name to the presale list. You’ll save up to 33% and secure your spot 24 hours before everyone else.

We’ll be opening up spots in our next Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification on Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018.

If you want to find out more, we’ve set up the following presale list, which gives you two advantages.

Pay less than everyone else. We like to reward people who are eager to boost their credentials and are ready to commit to getting the education they need. So we’re offering a discount of up to 33% off the general price when you sign up for the presale list.

Sign up 24 hours before the general public and increase your chances of getting a spot. We only open the certification program twice per year. Due to high demand, spots in the program are limited and have historically sold out in a matter of hours. But when you sign up for the presale list, we’ll give you the opportunity to register a full 24 hours before anyone else.

If you’re ready for a deeper understanding of nutrition, the authority to coach it, and the ability to turn what you know into results… this is your chance to see what the world’s top professional nutrition coaching system can do for you.

The post Meal plans usually suck. Here are 6 better ways to transform your diet. appeared first on Precision Nutrition.

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Solar Cook Your Thanksgiving Feast

Rinse turkey inside and out and pat dry. Rub butter combined with herbs all around the fowl's pores and skin and as some distance below the pores and skin on the breast as feasible. Bake cake recipes in sun oven for 6 to 8 hours (on a clear, sunny day). Bird is done while interior temperature reaches a hundred and eighty°F on meat thermometer.

Green Bean Casserole

1 Can cream of mushroom soup 1 Cup half and 1/2 1/four Teaspoon white pepper four French reduce inexperienced beans 1 half cups French fried onions

Mix soup and 1/2 and half. Pour into a casserole dish, including in inexperienced beans. Dust with pepper and stir to mix nicely. Pour in 1 cup of the fried onions and stir another time. Cover the pinnacle of the casserole with final onions. Cover and bake  cake1 hour within the solar oven.

Mac and cheese

16 Ounces elbow macaroni 10 Tablespoons butter, divided 1/3 Cup flour three Cups milk 12 Ounces cheese - shredded, cubed, or sliced 3/4 Teaspoon salt 1/four Teaspoon pepper four Tablespoons dry bread crumbs

Start by using boiling water to cook your macaroni noodles. Then in a saucepan, soften 1 stick of butter over medium warmness. Once this is melted, upload 1/3 cup of flour. Stir in the flour and then regularly upload three cups of milk. Boil mac eleven minutes, and drain. Bring milk mixture to a boil, stirring all of the even as on medium warmness, approximately 2 mins. Remove from warmth once combination thickens and stir in cheese cupcake recipes . Add in macaroni and stir to combine. Pour combination into casserole dish and pinnacle with bread crumbs. Cover and bake 1 ½ hours within the solar oven. Note: Cover with plastic wrap.

Pumpkin pie

2 Eggs-slightly crushed 1 3/4 Cups pumpkin pie filling three/four Cup sugar half of Teaspoon salt 1 Teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 Teaspoon cloves 1/2 Teaspoon ginger 1 2/3 cups evaporated milk

Mix all of the above together properly and pour into unbaked pie shell. The recipe says that is sufficient for two pies but I want to fill the shell right as much as the pinnacle or use a deep dish and so for me this is for one pie. Cover and bake chocolate cake recipes in solar cooker about 1 half hours or until a knife inserted inside the center comes out smooth.

With sunshine and multiple days, you may prepare this thanksgiving the "green" way and store the fee of strength as well. I wish this works properly for you.

Teach Your Children At Home With These Simple Methods

Many parents are concerned about their children's educations, but are not sure what alternatives there are to traditional schools. Homeschooling is one approach that has become quite popular in recent years. If you think that you may be able to teach your children at home, Tesol Certification this article can help you learn more about this approach.

Treat homeschooling like a job. You're a teacher now, and that means you also have to seek out more education. Professional teachers take "PA" days to attend conferences and training, so you should, too! Find homeschooling events near you or even attend one as a vacation. You'll find they teach you not only specific topics you might not know a lot about, but also how to be a better teacher and how to plan out homeschooling lessons like a pro.

When you go on vacation, take your lesson plan with you. Include your vacation in your home classroom so that your kids can truly enjoy their schooling. Have them keep a scrapbook of the event, or take a video which they turn into an amazing family adventure later. Take them to cultural locations and teach them about the area, then have them reenact wars or important historical situations. There is so much to learn around the world, don't let it pass them by!

Many children learn through experiencing things for themselves. For example, make learning about foreign cultures fun by experimenting with foreign cuisine. If they're learning about Germany, Tesol Certification  you could cook up some cabbage rolls. Prepare dishes and snacks from the countries you are studying or help your children put together some costumes from the historical periods you studied. Learning with the full complement of senses helps information stick.

Understanding your child's learning style and educational needs is the key to creating a successful learning environment. For example, many children experience peak learning times in which they are more receptive to new information and more likely to remember it. Identifying this peak learning time allows you to develop an itinerary that is perfectly aligned with your student's needs.

Remember that when you are homeschooling you do not need to follow a classroom set up. The learning environment can be a lot more flexible, and you can tailor it to fit you and the child's needs. If your child has a hard time rising in the morning, instead of trying to teach them, chemistry at 7am, start their classes a little later in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Determine which approach to homeschooling you will follow. You may decide to follow a traditional curriculum, setting up a "classroom" within your home. On the other hand, you might decide to "unschool," allowing your kids to play a large role in defining their educations. Take your kids' learning styles and personalities into consideration when choosing an approach.

It is crucial when homeschooling children not to underestimate the importance of socialization. Eventually, your children will need to go out and function in and with the general public. Enrolling them in local clubs, youth programs or summer sports is an easy way to ensure that they have an opportunity to build important social skills like sharing, teamwork and leadership.

Offer your children incentives from completing their lessons. This can be extra free time, less homework or even additional television time. By using incentives, you can help your child learn the importance of completing their tasks and how it will relate to working in the real world when they grow up.

Now that you have read this article, you should have a better understanding of exactly what is involved in teaching your children at home. Tesol Certification  It may sound like a wonderful idea, or you may find it too intimidating to even consider. In either case, you can still use this advice in making your decision.

Top Skincare Products You Can't Live Without

Every society is full of members seeking out beauty. There are many factors that contribute to beauty, including what is inside. Tribal Tattoos  It is sometimes the small changes that make a huge impact on personal beauty. Changing certain things can give yourself the chance to enhance your beauty.

If you have a hard time getting your eyeliner to stay put, you can apply eyeshadow after you put on eyeliner. You should lightly put your shadow over your eyeliner with a cotton ball. This will seal the application of eyeliner and it will last longer and not run.

Before you apply makeup, moisturize your face lightly. Moisturizers help your skin, and also allow makeup to go on evenly. If you apply makeup without a moisturizer, you might appear blotchy. This is good if you want to stay looking fresh and keep your makeup on for a while.

Gently brush your lips with a soft toothbrush. This will help you remove dead skin cells from your lips and make them soft. You should then apply Vaseline or another type of lip balm to moisturize your lips and keep them soft. You can do this every day or every other day.

If you have very narrow eyes, you can create the illusion that they are more widely opened by first using an eyelash curler to curl your top lashes. Apply a dark brown mascara to the middle lashes, then tilt the wand diagonally and apply the mascara to the outer lashes.

Do not use extremely hot water when bathing. In hot water, your pores will open and your skin's natural oils can escape. It is then washed away. Try tepid and warm water to keep your skin beautiful and soft. This should also help you reduce your bills.

Apply shimmer with a light touch in carefully selected areas that will be exposed to light. This will create a pleasant glowing effect. When you use highlighter, put it on your brows, nose, and cheekbones; then set with loose powder.

Drinking fruit juice can help your skin be more beautiful. The nutrients in fruits and vegetables are great for your skin, along with the rest of your body. It's easy to incorporate fresh fruits and veggies into your diet with freshly made juice. Replace the sugary sodas and coffee you drink with natural juices. Your skin will thank you.

Eyelashes are a small part of your face, but if kept in good condition, they can really bring out the beauty in a person's face. Always use your eyelash curler to show off those lashes to their full potential. This will make your lashes more visible, help your eyes look larger, and draw a lot of admiring attention.

Sometimes, when coloring your hair, you may find that the color you chose simply isn't strong or intense enough for your liking. You can solve this problem by purchasing a second box of color, mixing half the product with shampoo, and reapplying it to just-colored hair. Let it sit for only 5-10 minutes before rinsing and you will find the color intensified.

For a boost of sun protection for your everyday products, look for foundation and moisturizer with an SPF of 15 or higher. Sun damage causes fine lines, wrinkles, and even skin cancer, so the extra dose of protection from products you use anyway can help keep your facial skin looking younger longer.

As your skin gets older, be sure to wear the moisturizer that meets your skin's needs for this age. Skin tends to start out oily and becomes drier over time, so it's important to make sure that your skin's need for moisture is being met appropriately. If your moisturizer feels heavy or is giving you skin trouble, it's time to reevaluate.

If you are diligent in your daily hygiene routine by brushing your teeth and using mouthwash, yet you still have a problem with bad breath, you must remember to floss, as well. Flossing dislodges bacteria that are between your teeth, which could be causing the odor problem. It is recommended you floss daily.

When you are filing your nails, be sure to only go in one direction. If you go back and forth you are sure to weaken the nail. The stress that this causes will damage the nail plate and make your nails more susceptible to breaking a lot more easily then they will if you go in one direction when filing.

Look at getting extensions for your eyelashes for those fun nights on the town. This is perfect if you're a bride or going to some kind of formal event. They make your eyes look so much brighter. You'll be ecstatic with your new look.

If you do not have self-tanning lotion, try bronzer in your daily moisturizer. This can be used as a custom self-tanning product that will produce the desired color. Doing this can help you pick the color you desire so that you don't need to settle for those already mixed.

Your beauty has many different aspects, and it is something that you have complete control over. The options you make and things you do to your skin and body today will change how you look in the future, so make healthy choices now to stay beautiful. You deserve to look and feel beautiful every day. The beauty enhancing tips you learn can last a lifetime, but it is up to you to apply them.

[planthiseatthat]

How Do I Pick My Meals?

I am a person who loves to cook and is absolutely crazy for food. There are lots of people in this world who hate cooking, and there are also people in this world who only eat for sustenance; food just isn’t their jam (pun 10000% intended). That’s a perfectly fine experience, it just happens not to be mine. I am constantly thinking about my next meal with great anticipation. For me, this is all part of the fun and enjoyment, which is why the system works for me. Your mileage will vary! No judgement!

My own personal guidance system, listed in no particular order...

What part of the production process is this?

I read an article in the New York Times Health section a couple of years ago about the effect that eating within a 12-hour window has on the metabolism, and after some obviously-not-very-scientific experimentation, discovered that it really works for me when it comes to maintaining or losing weight, and inversely, can really directly contribute to my own weight gain. As with everything, this may not be true for you. Don’t @me with your well-actuallys... do what feels right for you.

When I’m in rehearsal mode, I am up at 6:45am, out the door at 8:15am, at the rehearsal studio by 9am, breaking for lunch at ~2pm, leaving the studio by 7pm, and home by 8pm. If I eat breakfast at 7:30am, that means a couple of things... I will have to go probably 6½ hours between full meals, and I will automatically be breaking my own 12-hour window rule by eating dinner after I get home. This means that I’m going to plan for a protein-heavy breakfast, a substantial morning snack, a delicious lunch that will be the heaviest meal I’ll eat all day, a quality afternoon snack, and a very, very, very light dinner; I can’t go to bed with an empty stomach, so I’ll prepare something with high-impact flavor and texture but a low calorie/sugar count.

When I’m in 10-out-of-12 mode, I am usually up before dawn, home after midnight, and on my feet for most of the day, so all caloric and 12-hour window bets are off, but I try to focus on big flavors, filling food with a high protein content. I do also try to stop eating by 9pm because otherwise sleep can be elusive, no matter how tired I may be. I’ll be eating breakfast at home, but snacks, lunch, and dinner are all at the theater.

When I’m in show mode, I can sleep 'til 9:30am on a matinee or rehearsal day, and not set an alarm on a one evening show day! I’m out the door at 11 or 11:30am depending on my call time for the former, and sometime between 4-5:30pm depending on my call time for the latter. So it’s sometimes lunch and dinner at the theater, sometimes just lunch, and sometimes just dinner. No matter what, I'm able to cook a fresh hot breakfast once I’m in show mode, and I may not need to pre-prepare any snacks. I try to make a dinner that can be eaten early-ish and sustain me late so that I can avoid snacking when I get home sometime between 11:30pm and midnight. (But, in all honesty, I usually snack when I get home.)

I’m lactose intolerant!

Fun fact: lactose-intolerance can look like many things. To get graphic for a minute: it gives me the most painful diarrhea imaginable (I say this having had salmonella). But it could be worse, because I’m also the kind of lactose intolerant person that has a decent-ish lactose limit, so I can handle hard cheeses, certain processed ricottas, certain yogurts, commercially-produced ice cream, and so on. I cook with Lactaid products, but I don't depend on the pills because it feels too risky. I know what brand and style of sour cream works with my tummy chemistry. I eat soft cheeses in the comfort and privacy of my own home. Etc. The last thing I need is a digestive emergency at work; believe me... it has happened, it was mortifying, and it still haunts me.

Vitamins, minerals, and protein!

Am I eating enough fruits and vegetables? Am I getting enough calcium? (My mom has osteoarthritis, plus I have a pin in my heel holding a fracture together, so this is a real thing I think about constantly.) Am I close to my period, so does my body want extra iron? My brain seems to work faster when I'm eating a lot of protein... am I getting enough of that?

Do I love this food?

I love most food, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE soup, vinegar, hot sauce, cheese (I KNOW!), fennel, dark chocolate, citrus, basil, brussels sprouts, and mushrooms, to name of few of my favorite things. Obviously, a recipe that includes any or ideally several of any of these favorite things is going to be of very high value for me.

Calorie content!

I have a Fitbit (see? new tools are great to add to the overall arsenal!), and use the Fitbit Food Log tools fairly religiously. Within the desktop dashboard interface, I use the “create a meal” feature to input the ingredients of any new-to-me recipe that I’m considering adding to my meal prep routine and use that nutritional info to determine how many meals it breaks down to in a calorically responsible way, and whether that’s workable for my needs. If it’s something I want to make but it’s too much or too little food, I’ll look into freezing some portions for a later date, or scaling it.

Am I going to get bored?

I’ve figured out that 4 times in a single week, a lunch or full dinner (in 10 out of 12s, or show mode) won’t bore me, but 6 times in a single week, it will. I can eat the same breakfast or light dinner (in rehearsal mode) for a week, but then I can’t repeat it for at least a couple of weeks without ruining the experience for myself. I also avoid repeating main ingredients in any given week. This is the version of variety that is, for me, indefinitely sustainable in a manageable way.

Is there a fridge? Is there a microwave?

Some studios have neither. Some studios have one but not both of the above. Sometimes the line for the microwave is going to be half an hour long; sometimes I discover I'll have it all to myself. Some theaters only have a mini fridge for props. These are two big variables to have to factor into my planning. If needed, I can prep all meals that are stable for a while unrefrigerated (or with an icepack in my lunch bag) and are damn tasty at room temperature.

How complicated is the recipe?

In rehearsal mode, I can make soups, calzones, casseroles, braises, fresh bread, etc and still have time left in the day for the other necessary chores plus cuddle time with my dog who has patiently pined for my company all week, as I have for his. In 10 out of 12 mode, I am probably bringing work home on the day off, or sometimes going two weeks without a day off, so I’ll be leaning on previously-frozen food and quickly prepped things like kitchen-sink salads, grain bowls, and sandwiches. In show mode, I can make things like fresh pasta, macarons, and seafood because I have the time for a multi-step process that doesn't allow multitasking, plus I’ll be eating some of my full lunches or dinners at home on real dishes - luxury!

Speaking of seafood... does my food stink?

There is a human decency factor! A person can’t just go heating up seafood, broccoli, or cabbage in a shared space! I’m not a monster!

What do I have lying around?

Bulk buying is cheap buying. For example, it’s obviously more cost effective to buy the bunch of parsley for $1.99 instead of the single serving container of it for $1.50... that’s good home economics. But to make it actually worth my while instead of wasteful, I keep track of the stuff that’s sitting in the fridge and plan to use it up before it spoils. I can keep herbs alive for 2 or 3 weeks (depending on how fresh they were when I bought them). Cheese can sit for a couple of weeks when wrapped properly. Lactaid milk is actually good for a month after opening (joke’s on you, regular milk drinkers!). And so on. Plus, I generally scale pasta recipes so that I’m eating at most 2-3oz of dry pasta per meal, which means I’m often checking my cupboard and saying to myself “hey, use up that macaroni before you go buying penne.” A lot of my recipe modifications involve using what I have on hand, instead of buying something else.

What time of year is it?

I have long-ago stopped being surprised when my “on this day” memories on Facebook tell me that on this date sometime in my posting history, I made the exact dish that I also made two days ago. My cravings cycle seasonally, and if I’m going to enjoy my food, it of course has to feed those cravings. Winters are for chili, soup, and braised things. Summers are for vegetable risotto and things on the grill. You get it.

Finally, a note on where I’m looking for recipes:

I look everywhere. Occasionally, I make something up but more often I'm modifying someone else's recipe in a way that works better for me for any number of reasons. I’m a member of a couple of recipe exchange groups with friends on Facebook. I poke my friends who post great photos of great food on Instagram and ask them for the recipe. I subscribe to Food & Wine as an actual physical magazine that comes in the mail. I subscribe to the RSS feeds for Food52.com, SeriousEats.com, SmittenKitchen.com (she is amazing!), and the New York Times Health and Food sections; sometimes the RSS articles expire after 30 days before I get to them, but they’re there for me when I have time for them. I have the Epicurious, Food Network, and All Recipes apps on my phone, plus Food52’s (Not)Recipe app, which I regularly look to for inspiration. I talk to people in my real life!! Plus, I have a library of actual physical cookbooks! I used to travel with most of them when I was on tour (my roadbox was heavy); halfway through my time on the road, I got my first Kindle, scanned all of my favorite recipes, shipped my cookbooks home, and loaded up that first generation Kindle with over one thousand PDFs. Now, I have all of those PDFs plus about a thousand more in Dropbox folder organized by chef/source, so that it’s searchable and accessible from whatever device I prefer in the moment.

[innovationshealthwellness]

20 Simple Tips To Lose Weight In Just 10 Days

http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a5/e1/34/a5e134331d6c88501e6f6b19dbce512e.jpg

Posted by Brandy Dyess – How to lose weight in 10 days? Is that even possible?

Tips for Eating for Weight Loss!

1. Get the Blues

“I got the blues” may conjure up memories of those macaroni and cheese commercials from the ‘90s, but we’re talking about blue dishware. The color blue can act as an appetite suppressant because it has the least appealing contrast to most food. Research says toavoid plates that match the food served on them (like white plates and fettuccini Alfredo), because there is less of a contrast, which may prompt us to eat more. A small but potentially useful trick!

2. Eat Snacks!

Skipping out on snack time won’t necessarily lead to weight loss, since low calorie consumption can actually slow metabolism . Eating less than three times a day may benefit those who are obese, but research shows skipping meals throughout the day and eating one large meal at night can lead to some undesirable outcomes (like delayed insulin response) which may increase the risk of diabetes . Instead of forgoing breakfast or lunch, stick to a few meals a day with healthy snacks in between.

3. Peruse the Perimeter

Next time you need groceries, circle the perimeter of the store before going in. This isn’t a way to stalk out your prey, but actually a tactic to load up on the healthy stuff first. The edges of grocery stores generally house fresh produce, meat, and fish, while the inner aisles hold more pre-packaged, processed foods. Browsing the perimeter can help control how many unwanted additives are in the grocery basket.

4. Stock the Fridge

Make an effort to fill the fridge with healthy produce and proteins (from perusing the perimeter!). Keep lots of fresh fruit and veggies on hand. And for when the fruit basket goes barren, make sure the freezer is stocked with frozen veggie mixes or berries (grab the bags full of just veggies, not the ones with butter-laden sauces). You may be less apt to order out when you’ve got the makings of a healthy dinner right at home. And the good news is, healthy food doesn’t always have to be pricey.

5. Eat in the A.M.

Skipping breakfast in order to “save your appetite” for dinner probably isn’t a safety shield for late-night noshing . While there’s still debate on how important breakfast really is, not eating until the afternoon may lead to binging later on (ie. four servings of mashed potatoes) . Make sure to stick a reasonably sized breakfast with plenty of protein; we tend to eat the same sized lunch and dinner regardless of how many calories we eat in the morning .

6. Get Busy in the Kitchen

We promise cooking doesn’t take long! Restaurants often use larger plates than the ones we have at home, and studies show that increased portion sizes result in increased energy intake, even if there’s a doggy bag involved .

7. Prioritize the Pantry

Take a little time out to toss the junk. If you’ve got some favorite not-so-great items you’d like to save as a treat, tuck them in the back of the pantry with healthier items, like whole grain pasta, rice, beans, and nuts up front. We know that just because the cans of tuna and a bag of lentils are right in front doesn’t mean you’ll forget the brownie mix altogether, but it’ll help keep the brownie mix out of sight, out of mind. Just seeing or smelling food can stimulate cravings, and increase hunger (especially true for junk food) .

8. Serve “Restaurant” Style

Instead of lining up the breadbasket, entire casserole, and salad bowl, right on the table, leave food on the kitchen counter (away from reach). When you’ve cleaned your plate, take a breather then decide if you really want those seconds. Changing up the environment, like by leaving food by the stove, can help reduce food intake .

9. Use Smaller Plates

History shows plate sizes have increased over the past millennium . When it’s time to sit down for dinner, choose a size-appropriate plate or bowl. Using a smaller plate (8-10 inches) instead of a tray-like plate (12 inches or more) can make us feel fuller with the same amount of food. How does this magic trick work? The brain may associate the white space with less food, plus smaller plates generally lead to smaller portions .

10. Chew Slowly

Eating slowly may not fit into a busy workday, but it pays to pace your chewing: the quicker we eat, the less time the body has to register fullness . So slow down, and take a second to savor.

[innovationshealthwellness]

20 Simple Tips To Lose Weight In Just 10 Days

http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a5/e1/34/a5e134331d6c88501e6f6b19dbce512e.jpg

Posted by Brandy Dyess – How to lose weight in 10 days? Is that even possible?

Tips for Eating for Weight Loss!

1. Get the Blues

“I got the blues” may conjure up memories of those macaroni and cheese commercials from the ‘90s, but we’re talking about blue dishware. The color blue can act as an appetite suppressant because it has the least appealing contrast to most food. Research says toavoid plates that match the food served on them (like white plates and fettuccini Alfredo), because there is less of a contrast, which may prompt us to eat more. A small but potentially useful trick!

2. Eat Snacks!

Skipping out on snack time won’t necessarily lead to weight loss, since low calorie consumption can actually slow metabolism . Eating less than three times a day may benefit those who are obese, but research shows skipping meals throughout the day and eating one large meal at night can lead to some undesirable outcomes (like delayed insulin response) which may increase the risk of diabetes . Instead of forgoing breakfast or lunch, stick to a few meals a day with healthy snacks in between.

3. Peruse the Perimeter

Next time you need groceries, circle the perimeter of the store before going in. This isn’t a way to stalk out your prey, but actually a tactic to load up on the healthy stuff first. The edges of grocery stores generally house fresh produce, meat, and fish, while the inner aisles hold more pre-packaged, processed foods. Browsing the perimeter can help control how many unwanted additives are in the grocery basket.

4. Stock the Fridge

Make an effort to fill the fridge with healthy produce and proteins (from perusing the perimeter!). Keep lots of fresh fruit and veggies on hand. And for when the fruit basket goes barren, make sure the freezer is stocked with frozen veggie mixes or berries (grab the bags full of just veggies, not the ones with butter-laden sauces). You may be less apt to order out when you’ve got the makings of a healthy dinner right at home. And the good news is, healthy food doesn’t always have to be pricey.

5. Eat in the A.M.

Skipping breakfast in order to “save your appetite” for dinner probably isn’t a safety shield for late-night noshing . While there’s still debate on how important breakfast really is, not eating until the afternoon may lead to binging later on (ie. four servings of mashed potatoes) . Make sure to stick a reasonably sized breakfast with plenty of protein; we tend to eat the same sized lunch and dinner regardless of how many calories we eat in the morning .

6. Get Busy in the Kitchen

We promise cooking doesn’t take long! Restaurants often use larger plates than the ones we have at home, and studies show that increased portion sizes result in increased energy intake, even if there’s a doggy bag involved .

7. Prioritize the Pantry

Take a little time out to toss the junk. If you’ve got some favorite not-so-great items you’d like to save as a treat, tuck them in the back of the pantry with healthier items, like whole grain pasta, rice, beans, and nuts up front. We know that just because the cans of tuna and a bag of lentils are right in front doesn’t mean you’ll forget the brownie mix altogether, but it’ll help keep the brownie mix out of sight, out of mind. Just seeing or smelling food can stimulate cravings, and increase hunger (especially true for junk food) .

8. Serve “Restaurant” Style

Instead of lining up the breadbasket, entire casserole, and salad bowl, right on the table, leave food on the kitchen counter (away from reach). When you’ve cleaned your plate, take a breather then decide if you really want those seconds. Changing up the environment, like by leaving food by the stove, can help reduce food intake .

9. Use Smaller Plates

History shows plate sizes have increased over the past millennium . When it’s time to sit down for dinner, choose a size-appropriate plate or bowl. Using a smaller plate (8-10 inches) instead of a tray-like plate (12 inches or more) can make us feel fuller with the same amount of food. How does this magic trick work? The brain may associate the white space with less food, plus smaller plates generally lead to smaller portions .

10. Chew Slowly

Eating slowly may not fit into a busy workday, but it pays to pace your chewing: the quicker we eat, the less time the body has to register fullness . So slow down, and take a second to savor.

[innovationshealthwellness]

20 Simple Tips To Lose Weight In Just 10 Days

http://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a5/e1/34/a5e134331d6c88501e6f6b19dbce512e.jpg

Posted by Brandy Dyess – How to lose weight in 10 days? Is that even possible?

Tips for Eating for Weight Loss!

1. Get the Blues

“I got the blues” may conjure up memories of those macaroni and cheese commercials from the ‘90s, but we’re talking about blue dishware. The color blue can act as an appetite suppressant because it has the least appealing contrast to most food. Research says toavoid plates that match the food served on them (like white plates and fettuccini Alfredo), because there is less of a contrast, which may prompt us to eat more. A small but potentially useful trick!

2. Eat Snacks!

Skipping out on snack time won’t necessarily lead to weight loss, since low calorie consumption can actually slow metabolism . Eating less than three times a day may benefit those who are obese, but research shows skipping meals throughout the day and eating one large meal at night can lead to some undesirable outcomes (like delayed insulin response) which may increase the risk of diabetes . Instead of forgoing breakfast or lunch, stick to a few meals a day with healthy snacks in between.

3. Peruse the Perimeter

Next time you need groceries, circle the perimeter of the store before going in. This isn’t a way to stalk out your prey, but actually a tactic to load up on the healthy stuff first. The edges of grocery stores generally house fresh produce, meat, and fish, while the inner aisles hold more pre-packaged, processed foods. Browsing the perimeter can help control how many unwanted additives are in the grocery basket.

4. Stock the Fridge

Make an effort to fill the fridge with healthy produce and proteins (from perusing the perimeter!). Keep lots of fresh fruit and veggies on hand. And for when the fruit basket goes barren, make sure the freezer is stocked with frozen veggie mixes or berries (grab the bags full of just veggies, not the ones with butter-laden sauces). You may be less apt to order out when you’ve got the makings of a healthy dinner right at home. And the good news is, healthy food doesn’t always have to be pricey.

5. Eat in the A.M.

Skipping breakfast in order to “save your appetite” for dinner probably isn’t a safety shield for late-night noshing . While there’s still debate on how important breakfast really is, not eating until the afternoon may lead to binging later on (ie. four servings of mashed potatoes) . Make sure to stick a reasonably sized breakfast with plenty of protein; we tend to eat the same sized lunch and dinner regardless of how many calories we eat in the morning .

6. Get Busy in the Kitchen

We promise cooking doesn’t take long! Restaurants often use larger plates than the ones we have at home, and studies show that increased portion sizes result in increased energy intake, even if there’s a doggy bag involved .

7. Prioritize the Pantry

Take a little time out to toss the junk. If you’ve got some favorite not-so-great items you’d like to save as a treat, tuck them in the back of the pantry with healthier items, like whole grain pasta, rice, beans, and nuts up front. We know that just because the cans of tuna and a bag of lentils are right in front doesn’t mean you’ll forget the brownie mix altogether, but it’ll help keep the brownie mix out of sight, out of mind. Just seeing or smelling food can stimulate cravings, and increase hunger (especially true for junk food) .

8. Serve “Restaurant” Style

Instead of lining up the breadbasket, entire casserole, and salad bowl, right on the table, leave food on the kitchen counter (away from reach). When you’ve cleaned your plate, take a breather then decide if you really want those seconds. Changing up the environment, like by leaving food by the stove, can help reduce food intake .

9. Use Smaller Plates

History shows plate sizes have increased over the past millennium . When it’s time to sit down for dinner, choose a size-appropriate plate or bowl. Using a smaller plate (8-10 inches) instead of a tray-like plate (12 inches or more) can make us feel fuller with the same amount of food. How does this magic trick work? The brain may associate the white space with less food, plus smaller plates generally lead to smaller portions .

10. Chew Slowly

Eating slowly may not fit into a busy workday, but it pays to pace your chewing: the quicker we eat, the less time the body has to register fullness . So slow down, and take a second to savor.

[healthbolt-blog]

New Post has been published on Health bolt

New Post has been published on http://www.healthbolt.net/blog/healthy-recepies/

Healthy Recepies

Contents

Perfect main dish

10 healthy recipes healthy meal

Meal recipes – rich

Taste good ‘good taste

Recipes find trusted recipes

– Simple, easy to follow step-by-step instructions that take the faff out of cooking – A list of ingredients that are cheap, …

List Of The Leftovers Episodes Healthy Yummy Meals Skip the Crowds and Make a Healthy Valentine’s Meal at Home With These delicious recipes – Between the chocolates and the wine, you may need a light, nutrient-rich dinner to balance things out this Valentine’s Day. T… Find trusted recipes for eating healthy: start the day with a wholesome breakfast, cut the carbs or calories, find the perfect main dish for your special diet. … Allrecipes Magazine Recipes Our Newest Recipes … and the orange flavor is more subtle than you’d expect. This is a healthy and elegant meal (not to mention delicious) when served … Top 10 healthy recipes healthy meal Recipes – Rich and Healthy Chocolate Muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s Excellent Taco Casserole. Hamburger Steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. Chinese Pepper Steak. Perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best Homemade Meals 250 Best Meals in a Mug: Delicious Homemade Microwave Meals in Minutes [Camilla Saulsbury] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The craze for microwaving portion-size dishes in a mug is only gaining steam. Meals in a mug are a perfect solution for solo dining Healthy Food That taste good ‘good taste, healthy nutrition and conscientious consumption’: How algal-fed salmon can

Looking for party drink inspiration or an easy weeknight meal? Browse our extensive recipe collection, including seasonal, special-diet, & healthy options.

Skip the Crowds and Make a Healthy Valentine’s Meal at Home With These Delicious Recipes – Between the chocolates and the wine, you may need a light, nutrient-rich dinner to balance things out this Valentine’s Day. T…

Ranch may make everything taste better, but it’s far from the healthiest condiment in your pantry. Ranch dressing contains ma…

Yummy Healthy Meals I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. Get $60 Off This Lauren Conrad-Approved Meal Kit – The meal kit service delivers everything necessary to cook wholesome, healthy meals right to our doorsteps … The former rea… Healthy Meals To Cook At Home The insider picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Top 10 Healthy Recipes healthy meal recipes – rich and Healthy Chocolate Muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner Recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s excellent taco casserole. hamburger steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best Parmesan chicken bake. chinese Pepper Steak. Perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best homemade meals 250 Best Meals in a Mug: Delicious Homemade Microwave Meals in Minutes [Camilla Saulsbury] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The craze for microwaving portion-size dishes in a mug is only gaining steam. Meals in a mug are a perfect solution for solo dining healthy food That Taste Good ‘Good taste, healthy nutrition and conscientious consumption’: How algal-fed salmon can deliver healthier fish, food and oceans – norwegian salmon farmer lingalaks has kicked-off Healthy Meals To Eat On The Go Recipes For Healthy Meals Healthy recipes find trusted recipes for eating healthy: start the day with a wholesome breakfast, cut the carbs or calories, find the perfect main dish for your special diet. Follow to get the latest healthy recipes, articles and more! healthy recipes, Tips and Meal Ideas | Food Network – The road to healthy eating is easy with delicious recipes from Food Network. Browse our collection for healthy tips and menu ideas, including low-fat, low-calorie and low-carb recipes. I think I speak for all of us when I say fast meals are the best meals, right? That’s where foil packet recipes come in. Foil … Common Food Recipes Healthy food can be delicious! Get easy, nutritious recipes that will please everyone, whether you’re cutting calories, gluten free, have diabetes, or other food goals. Learn the latest trends … Canning and Preserving Recipes and Guides. The canning and preserving recipes are sorted by food type. Most of the canning recipes may be processed in a water bath canner because they either have a low pH, added sugar, or both. Thousands of tried and tested recipes, the latest food news, the buzz on lifestyle health, articles by top specialists who write about good, nutritious food, NDTV is a one stop shop for everything to do with Good Food. We have Indian food recipes as well as recipes from around the world along with recipe video demonstrations from India’s top restaurant chefs. Healthy Meals To Cook At Home The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Top 10 healthy recipes healthy meal recipes – Rich and healthy chocolate muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner Recipes – southern living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s excellent taco casserole. hamburger steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. chinese pepper steak. perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is Recipes For Healthy Meals Healthy Recipes Find trusted recipes for eating healthy: start the day with a wholesome breakfast, cut the carbs or calories, find the perfect main dish for your special diet. Follow to get the latest healthy recipes, articles and more! Healthy Recipes, Tips and Meal Ideas | Food Network – The road to healthy eating is easy with delicious recipes from Food Network. Browse our collection for healthy tips and menu ideas, including low-fat, low-calorie and low-carb recipes. I think I speak for all of us when I say fast meals are the best meals, right? That’s where foil packet recipes come in. Foil … Common Food Recipes Healthy food can be delicious! Get easy, nutritious recipes that will please everyone, whether you’re cutting calories, gluten free, have diabetes, or other food goals. Learn the latest trends … Canning and Preserving Recipes and Guides. The canning and preserving recipes are sorted by food type. Most of the canning recipes may be processed in a water bath canner because they either have a low pH, added sugar, or both. Thousands of tried and tested recipes, the latest food news, the buzz on lifestyle health, articles by top specialists who write about good, nutritious food, NDTV is a one stop shop for everything to do with Good Food. We have Indian food recipes as well as recipes from around the world along with recipe video demonstrations from India’s top restaurant chefs. Healthy Meals To Cook At Home The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Top 10 healthy recipes healthy meal recipes – Rich and healthy chocolate muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner Recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s excellent taco casserole. hamburger steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. chinese pepper steak. perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because

Here is a small collection of some famous and some rare non veg recipes from across India. The non-vegetarian side of Indian cuisines comprises of many juicy, tender, mouth watering delicacies made with eggs, chicken, fish and more….

This casserole recipe has everything you need for a well-balanced meal in one pan: protein, vegetables, and healthy carbs. Th…

Watermelon Board. Representing 1,500 watermelon growers, shippers and importers nationwide, our goal is to promote the nutritional, culinary and convenience benefits of watermelon.

Submit your healthy recipe for a chance to win a California trip – TODAY nutritionist Joy Bauer is launching a fun healthy recipe contest for TODAY viewers at home! Enter for the chance to att…

Most Famous Recipe Yummy Healthy Meals I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. Get $60 Off This Lauren Conrad-Approved Meal Kit – The meal kit service delivers everything necessary to cook wholesome, healthy meals right to our doorsteps … The former rea… Healthy Meals To Cook At Home The insider picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Top 10 Healthy Recipes healthy meal recipes – rich and Healthy Chocolate Muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner Recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s excellent taco casserole. hamburger steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. chinese Pepper Steak. Perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best homemade meals 250 Best Meals in a mug: delicious homemade microwave Meals in Minutes [Camilla Saulsbury] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The craze for microwaving portion-size dishes in a mug is only gaining steam. Meals in a mug are a perfect solution for solo dining healthy food That Taste Good ‘Good taste, healthy nutrition and conscientious consumption’: How algal-fed salmon can deliver healthier fish, food and oceans – norwegian salmon farmer

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Recipes For Healthy Meals

Contents

Recipe video demonstrations

Healthy chocolate muffins

Chicken bake. chinese pepper steak. perfect

Healthy yummy meals skip

Gaining steam. meals

Good ‘good taste

Healthy Recipes Find trusted recipes for eating healthy: start the day with a wholesome breakfast, cut the carbs or calories, find the perfect main dish for your special diet. Follow to get the latest healthy recipes, articles and more!

Healthy Recipes, Tips and Meal Ideas | Food Network – The road to healthy eating is easy with delicious recipes from Food Network. Browse our collection for healthy tips and menu ideas, including low-fat, low-calorie and low-carb recipes.

I think I speak for all of us when I say fast meals are the best meals, right? That’s where foil packet recipes come in. Foil …

Common Food Recipes Healthy food can be delicious! Get easy, nutritious recipes that will please everyone, whether you’re cutting calories, gluten free, have diabetes, or other food goals. Learn the latest trends … Canning and Preserving Recipes and Guides. The canning and preserving recipes are sorted by food type. Most of the canning recipes may be processed in a water bath canner because they either have a low pH, added sugar, or both. Thousands of tried and tested recipes, the latest food news, the buzz on lifestyle health, articles by top specialists who write about good, nutritious food, NDTV is a one stop shop for everything to do with Good Food. We have Indian food recipes as well as recipes from around the world along with recipe video demonstrations from India’s top restaurant chefs. Healthy Meals To Cook At Home The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Top 10 healthy recipes healthy meal recipes – Rich and healthy chocolate muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner Recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s excellent taco casserole. hamburger steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. chinese pepper steak. perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best homemade meals 250 Best List Of The Leftovers Episodes healthy yummy meals skip the Crowds and Make a Healthy Valentine’s Meal at Home With These delicious recipes – Between the chocolates and the wine, you may need a light, nutrient-rich dinner to balance things out this Valentine’s Day. T… Find trusted recipes for eating healthy: start the day with a wholesome breakfast, cut the carbs or calories, find the perfect main dish for your special diet. … Allrecipes Magazine Recipes Our Newest Recipes … and the orange flavor is more subtle than you’d expect. This is a healthy and elegant meal (not to mention delicious) when served … Top 10 Healthy Recipes Healthy Meal Recipes – Rich and Healthy Chocolate Muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s Excellent Taco Casserole. Hamburger Steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. Chinese Pepper Steak. Perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best Homemade Meals 250 Best Meals in a Mug: Delicious Homemade Microwave Meals in Minutes [Camilla Saulsbury] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The craze for microwaving portion-size dishes in a mug is only gaining steam. meals in a mug are a perfect solution for solo dining Healthy Food That Taste good ‘good taste, healthy nutrition and conscientious consumption’: How algal-fed salmon can

Eating healthy doesn’t have to suck with these totally delish dinner ideas. Whether you love chicken, pasta or are gluten-free and vegetarian, these quick and easy recipes are the best ways to eat …

Using one makes it easier to add healthy foods that take a while to cook, such as whole grains and lentils, to your meals. “Y…

Cooking healthy recipes and meals doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming! These healthy recipes will please the whole family.

Looking for new, healthy meals? Try these keto-friendly and vegan recipes – ST. LOUIS — Today in St. Louis is following three viewers as they work to lose weight in February. They’re each trying a diff…

Yummy Healthy Meals I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. Get $60 Off This Lauren Conrad-Approved Meal Kit – The meal kit service delivers everything necessary to cook wholesome, healthy meals right to our doorsteps … The former rea… Healthy Meals To Cook At Home The insider picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Top 10 Healthy Recipes healthy meal recipes – rich and Healthy Chocolate Muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner Recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s excellent taco casserole. hamburger steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best Parmesan chicken bake. chinese Pepper Steak. Perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best homemade meals 250 Best Meals in a Mug: Delicious Homemade Microwave Meals in Minutes [Camilla Saulsbury] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The craze for microwaving portion-size dishes in a mug is only gaining steam. Meals in a mug are a perfect solution for solo dining healthy food That Taste Good ‘Good taste, healthy nutrition and conscientious consumption’: How algal-fed salmon can deliver healthier fish, food and oceans – norwegian salmon farmer lingalaks has kicked-off

– Simple, easy to follow step-by-step instructions that take the faff out of cooking – A list of ingredients that are cheap, …

Breakup with your basic chicken salad. All diets should include pizza. It’s true—you can be healthy without eating a salad. These are way more delicious than that protein bar you were planning to eat.

Most Famous Recipe Yummy Healthy Meals I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. Get $60 Off This Lauren Conrad-Approved Meal Kit – The meal kit service delivers everything necessary to cook wholesome, healthy meals right to our doorsteps … The former rea… Healthy Meals To Cook At Home The insider picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Top 10 Healthy Recipes healthy meal recipes – rich and Healthy Chocolate Muffins These muffins are moist, delicious and healthy —, not to mention easy to make. Get your chocolate fix with this recipe that uses pure cacao … Cool in the tray for … Yummy Meals 10 delicious cheap dinner Recipes – Southern Living – 10 Delicious Low-Cost Suppers. Even though these affordable recipes don’t require much money or time, they are fresh, flavorful, and designed to satisfy even the heartiest eaters. Take your pick from filling soups and stews, crowd-pleasing lasagna, macaroni and cheese, comforting casseroles… Everyone deserves some love on Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re celebrating a partner, friend, or family member, nothing s… Ruby Drive Sloppy Joes. Emily’s excellent taco casserole. hamburger steak with Onions and Gravy. Shrimp Scampi with pasta. parmesan-crusted pork chops. The Best parmesan chicken bake. chinese Pepper Steak. Perfect Ten Baked Cod. I live in sunny Southern California with my husband and our four crazy boys! I have a passion for cooking and baking and love to share all my new creations. I’ve learned there are a couple of rules to follow when visiting friends who just had a baby. 1: Offer to clean something. 2: … Cook serve delicious 2 is the first outing on consoles for the restaurant sim after the previous release in 2012 on Steam. Th… Valentine’s Day is almost here and, because of that, we here at The Manual have ensured that you’ve got everything you need i… The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you’ll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a shar… Healthy Foods On The Go You don’t want to go on a crash six- or 10-week diet to get ready for a wedding … “I’ve been taking Zenflore and I’ve had s… Healthy Meals To Cook We start our sixth year this week, and for the next eight weeks, we will be cooking dinner and then sitting down to share it … Simply Gourmet Lunches Best homemade meals 250 Best Meals in a mug: delicious homemade microwave Meals in Minutes [Camilla Saulsbury] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The craze for microwaving portion-size dishes in a mug is only gaining steam. Meals in a mug are a perfect solution for solo dining healthy food That Taste Good ‘Good taste, healthy nutrition and conscientious consumption’: How algal-fed salmon can deliver healthier fish, food and oceans – norwegian salmon farmer

These easy recipes are ready in 20 minutes—less time than it takes to order and drive to get takeout. So send those excuses right out the door and get cooking with one of these 20-minute dinner recipes.