workin’ 9 to 5

it’s hard to make a living, especially while adjusting to the 4HB. packing lunches, snacks, eating in the middle of meetings, doing what you gotta do to keep the metabolism burning. here’s what helped us:

1. boiled eggs — around 10:30am, they may save you.

2. eating a salad at 11:30am — spinach, avocado, sliced turkey pepperoni sticks, mini tomatoes, & etc.

3. . working out at noon. if you have a gym, awesome. if you don’t, catch a little walk if you can! it’ll rev you up for the afternoon.

4. eating a bean snack at 3:30pm — curried lentils, chickpea delight, turkey pumpkin chili, whatever you’ve got.

5. water water water water water. so many water snacks.

6. let your coworkers know what you’re up to. if they’re worth their salt, they’ll have your back.

7. definitely eat breakfast at home on Bagel Wednesday. i learned this one the hard way.

half-a-thanksgiving chili, feat. pumpkin and turkey

Making chili is many things: (1) easy, (2) cheap, (3) totally awesome, and (4) delicious. Open a bunch of cans, put in a pot, simmer, then eat all week. What’s not to like? Especially this — with turkey and pumpkin, it’s half your thanksgiving dinner.

Sometimes traditional chili might get tired of supporting your four hour body, so when it needs a break, try this recipe for a nutty new flavor. The great thing about chili? If you don’t like any of the ingredients, just substitute something you *do* like. Chili doesn’t mind.

Turkey Pumpkin Chili

1 big can pureed pumpkin

1 big can crushed tomatoes

3 cans black beans

1 package ground turkey

2 tbsps of unsweetened cocoa

2 onions, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 pack of prepared chili seasoning

1 avocado, sliced

salt and pepper to taste

olive oil

MAKE IT: Heat some olive oil in a large pan, med heat, then add the onions. Cook until they’re soft, then add the garlic. After the garlic starts to smell awesome, add that turkey — increase the heat to med-high, and cook until browned.

In your most jumbo pot, open any ingredient that’s in a can, and put into the pot. Stir in those 2 tbsps of cocoa and the pack of chili seasoning until all the ingredients are blended, then add the onion/garlic/turkey mixture.

SERVE: This recipe makes enough for 6 meals. It’s delicious and gorgeous when served with avocado sliced on top. It keeps well for at least four days when packed away in the fridge.

HOT TIPS: Feel free to experiment with different spices and herbs for a completely different flavor. You could even fully substitute pumpkin for tomato, add some peppers, other beans, more garlic… whatever’s your fancy.

lettuce wrap genius

Burritos are one of the best foods in the universe. You can still have them on the 4HB, so long as you follow our simple and sage advice.

INGREDIENTS:

seasoned chicken (whatever spices you’d like)

head of iceberg lettuce, halved

chopped tomatoes

chopped green onion

chopped green and/or red pepper

warm refried beans

avocado slices and/or guacamole

chopped cilantro

MAKE IT: Grill chicken with your fave seasonings in a pan, 6 minutes a side or until juices run clear. Chop it into delicious squares. Chop off the root end of the lettuce, then halve the head. Give the other half to someone you love. To assemble a wrap, you get to freestyle with the other ingredients, spooning a little bit of each into the middle of an iceberg lettuce leaf. Wrap, eat, enjoy — a new variation on one of the best foods in the universe, with the bonus of a juicy crunch.