Produce Score, New Awesome Gym, and "Sausage" Arrabiata Recipe

So yesterday I got tired of going to Walmart or Target every 2 days to buy more fruit for the household. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the kids are eating tons of fruit, but it can get pretty pricey!  We have an Aldi's near our house that always has the best prices on produce.  I don't ever think about it because it's just one more stop when I already have to make 3 stops to get my weekly groceries.  But, I decided to run by there and see what kind of deals I could find on produce.  Here is what I scored:

5 pineapples, 7 avocados, 3 big bunches of bananas, 12 pears, 1 big bag of oranges, 1 big bag of cuties, a big bag of yukon gold potatoes, and 2 cantaloupes all for $28.

I had to go to Target after Aldi's to pick up some chicken and I compared my deals on the produce.  I calculated that on the same exact produce at Target, I would have spent $50.17 plus tax!  That is a HUGE savings!  The only downside to buying produce from Aldi's is that the fruit is not real ripe yet.  So, I have to wait a little bit.  The cantaloupe and pineapples are great but the avocado, bananas, and pears have a couple days still. 

If you have an Aldi's near you, I highly recommend just going there for the produce you buy conventionally.  I would never buy my apples, strawberries, or grapes there since they're known to be higher in pesticides.  I only buy the items on the "dirty dozen" list organic, from Target or Whole Foods.  Now potatoes are on the "dirty dozen" list and I usually buy those organic but I needed them for a cookout this weekend and didn't have time to make an extra trip to Whole Foods.  Here are the items in the dirty dozen list:

1.  Apples
2.  Celery
3.  Strawberries
4.  Peaches
5.  Spinach
6.  Nectarines - imported
7.  Grapes - imported
8.  Sweet bell peppers
9.  Potatoes
10.  Blueberries - domestic
11.  Lettuce
12.  Kale/collard greens

So last night we went and toured our new gym, Lifetime Fitness!  Here we are at the VIP night:

We have been watching this massive complex being built for the last year or so and we joined in December.  But they're finally open!  This place has it all and it's all about full family fitness, not just getting mom & dad in shape.  They have swim lessons, kids fitness classes, rock climbing wall, indoor and outdoor pools with water slides, restaurant, full service salon & spa, run club, etc.  And of course tons of fitness classes.  As you might know, I have not been a member of a gym for about a year now.  I have been very creative in finding ways for exercise, being home with the 4 kiddos.  It can be very difficult at times. I have done workout DVD's, Nike Training on my phone, running in the morning, running on my treadmill, and free "circuit" training.  I can usually only fit in about 30 minutes or so, while the babies are napping, if it works out that way.  But now I can take the kids, knowing they will have a blast, while I get my exercise in!  And it will be nice to have time to zone out and not hear screaming babies for an hour or so.  I plan on working out a schedule to go starting next week!  I don't just go to the gym willy nilly, I work out a routine and write in my workout times on my calendar, as an appointment I can't miss.  Plus, I will have friends I can meet there for accountability. 

Last night's dinner was really good.  I made "sausage" arrabiata, from my emeals list.  It was really good.  I was actually more impressed with the "sausage" than anything.  I used Applegate's chicken apple sausage

I am going to be buying those again, they were SO good!  Anyway, here is the recipe:

Sausage & Eggplant Arrabiata

(This is not the finished product.  I got really busy and had to quickly feed the kids and get out the door for soccer so I forgot.  I also added tomatoes and the pasta to this...)

• 1/2 - 16 oz package whole wheat rotini (I had half a bag left of my veggie rotini, so I used that)
• 1 lb italian sausage (I used Applegate Organics Chicken Apple)
• 3 c diced eggplant
• 1/2 c chopped onion
• 1 t minced garlic
• 1/2 t salt
• 3 lbs tomatoes, chopped
• 1/4 c chopped fresh basil
• 2 T fresh oregano

Cook pasta according to package directions and keep warm.  Cook sausage in a large skillet over med heat until browned & crumbly.  Add eggplant, onion, garlic, and salt; cook for 10 min, stirring occasionally.  Add tomatoes, basil, oregano, cook for 10 min, or until tomatoes have broken down.  Toss with hot, cooked pasta.

I served this with a salad (organic chopped romaine lettuce) and organic italian dressing.  And of course kids' choice of fruit.  They chose a variety of cuties, cantaloupes, and pineapples.  Did I mention my kids LOVE fruit?

Today I was out and about running errands and I didn't have time to prep any dinner, plus all the recipes I have left for the week, I'm missing like 1 ingredient for each of them.  I didn't have much time to think about it when I got home...so did I run through McDonalds?  Order a pizza?  No.  That would have been easy!  But instead I made the kiddos pita pizzas and let them choose the toppings. 

 The pizzas consisted of:  Whole wheat pitas, my homemade organic spaghetti/pizza sauce, organic shredded mozzarella, and their toppings.  This was Addy's, she wanted the veggie pepperoni's I picked up last week.  

Just because you're busy doesn't mean you and your kids have to eat unhealthy.  This was a great dinner and all the kids ate, which is a score in my book.  Plus, of course you know they had some fruit on the side.  I like to pre-plan 2 nights a week where I do "easy" dinner night (like this) or leftover night.  I am not superwoman, I don't have time to whip up culinary masterpieces every night of the week.  And some days I'm just tired and want to do something quick and easy! 

Oh my dinner you ask?  Well, I made myself a pita "pizza", by toasting the pita and adding 1/2 avocado and 3 T salsa.  It was like a tostada, kind of...And I had a pear on the side and 2 glasses of green tea. 

I have a half-marathon in the morning, as part of my training for the big race in Oklahome City on the 29th.  We have been under tornado watches all night so I'm just hoping the rain moves out by 8 am!  I don't mind running in a little sprinkle here & there, but an outright downpour would suck. 

Thanks for reading!!