Red Potato Salad

• In an effort to make meal planning and cooking easier with my busy schedule, I am trying to prepare meals ahead of time on the weekend for the upcoming week.  This week I made a red potato salad and gave it a healthy twist to the traditional potato salad.  By using nonfat yogurt and reduced-fat mayonnaise this potato salad is much lower in fat.  It's perfect to bring for lunch at the office and as a side for dinner.  Here's the recipe:
• 
  
• RED POTATO SALAD

Prep Time:  25 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes  

Ready In:     2 hours 35 minutes

10 servings

1 cup each

Ingredients

• 3 pounds unpeeled red potatoes
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions

• Paprika, for garnish

DIrections

• 1.  Cook potatoes, covered in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, but still firm (for approximately 10 minutes).
• 2.  While potatoes are cooking, make the dressing.  In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard, vinegar, green onions, salt and pepper.  
• 3.  Drain the potatoes and cool.  Chop into 1 inch cubes.  Place in a medium bowl.
• 4.  Add the dressing to the potatoes and toss to coat.  Add the celery and stir gently to mix.  Season with paprika.
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• Nutrition Facts

  Serving Size 174 g

  Amount Per Serving

  Calories  143 Calories from Fat  36

  % Daily Value*

  Total Fat  4.0g 6%

  Saturated Fat  0.7g 4%

  Trans Fat  0.0g

  Cholesterol  0mg 0%

  Sodium  145mg 6%

  Total Carbohydrates  24.4g 8%

  Dietary Fiber  2.7g 11%

  Sugars  2.8g

  Protein  3.4g

  Vitamin A 2% • Vitamin C 22% Calcium 4% • Iron 6%

  Nutrition Grade A-

  * Based on a 2000 calorie diet

  Nutritional Analysis

  Good points

  • Very low in cholesterol 
  • High in potassium
  • High in vitamin C

Week 4 - C25K & leash couplers

I recently started jogging with my dogs using the Petmate Take Two! coupler with their Puppia harnesses.  I used to be anti-coupler at least when it comes to my dogs, that is, I figured essentially forcing them to be REALLY close together on leash was perhaps not the brightest idea...

Exhibit A:  my dogs on SEPARATE leashes:

Exhibit B:  my dogs OFF-LEASH:

BUT much to my surprise, they are actually wonderful jogging with the coupler (see photos in previous posts) and it's made jogging with two dogs on-leash much, much easier!  My preference of course is still jogging with them off-leash.

NOTE:  Just in case you are reading this thinking sheesh she should train them to heel or something, they act like that in public?!?!  They are actually extremely well trained and they have titles and all that jazz.  BUT they are fun-loving, energetic, spirited dogs so yes there occasionally is a spontaneous smackdown mid-sidewalk or at the beach and it's HILARIOUS.

Anyways...so we finished Week 3 of C25K, here's Walker looking extra clean after our run:

We got something in the mail in a giant box on Saturday so obviously we had to play games using this treasure!  

Don't worry, you too can be this cool with your dog, check out 101 Things to Do With a Box.

WARNING:  Before playing box games with your dog(s), check with any other members of the household to see if they still need the box.  Apparently this box was to be used to return something in, oopsies!  

Onto today...  It was GORGEOUS weather, which was a tad annoying since this weekend was really gloomy.  The dogs and I took a lovely stroll during lunch:

After work we started Week 4 of C25K...

Week 3 - C25K

Walker seems fine but just to be safe I've been trying to have him rest more, which he doesn't seem to mind.  

Hayley and I finished Workout 1 of Week 3 of Couch-to-5K on Monday while the little guy enjoyed a Busy Buddy at home and rested.  Walker is my normal jogging partner so I missed my little buddy.  Hayley normally goes for 6 mile runs, is fast and serious about her athleticism so she's somewhat humbling to run with.  Nevertheless I appreciate her filling in for Walker.

Walker is not so good at the whole resting thing, he's a busy little guy, he loves playing with his toys, exploring and running around with toys.  He especially loves Kong Wubbas and fetch and he seems to have realized that if he drops his toy, tilts his head and looks adorable people normally throw his toy for him.

I finally let Walker come for a jog with us this evening...Workout 2 of Week 3, he seemed pleased.  Here he is checking out the fountain at the park:

And here are Hayley and Walker at the end of our workout:

Tonight I made Chili-Glazed Tofu over Asparagus and Rice from Cooking Light and it was pretty darn good.  I have been looking for recipes that are easy for me to prepare and not too involved when I get home from the office and jogging with the dogs and I'm pretty tired.  This one wasn't too bad.  I also want to try to prepare some meals on the weekend for the upcoming week but one thing at a time...

Little dog, big platelets

We had to postpone Week 3 of Couch-to-5K because one of my "personal trainers" came down with pneumonia Monday night.  Poor little guy was feeling really lousy Monday night and we were very worried about him.  He rested most of the day on Tuesday but was back to himself by Tuesday night so we were very relieved!  He will still be on medicine for a few weeks then have follow-up x-rays but he's doing great.

Here he is resting in his crate on Tuesday:

There are a few crates in our home with cozy blankies and we leave the doors open.  Hayley is a big fan of taking naps in them and has always loved her crate but Walker normally likes to be sitting right next to me.  I knew he must feel awful since he chose to be in the crate much of the day, but I just made it as comfortable as possible for him and he got the rest he needed to feel back to himself and start to recover.

Something came up with his blood work that I thought I should share since I'm sure there are Cavalier owners who aren't aware of this issue.  When they first did blood work by machine Walker's blood platelet count was REALLY low which normally is a huge cause for alarm.  BUT Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can have abnormally large blood platelets and/or abnormally low blood platelet count without experiencing health problems due to the condition.  Fortunately I knew this, as did the vet but not every vet knows this about Cavaliers.  It's important that Cavalier owners know about the possibility that their Cavalier has this condition so that they can advocate for their dog and avoid potentially harmful incorrect diagnoses and treatment.  A manual recount of Walker's platelets revealed a much higher number and that he has large platelets but no resulting health problems.  If you have a Cavalier, read this handout: Cavalier Platelet Issues.  You also may want to print it out and keep it in your dog's file and/or give a copy to your veterinarian.

Walker was cleared for "normal" exercise by the veterinarian at his follow-up appointment on Wednesday morning.  He was very happy to go on long walks (though we cut it shorter than usual just to be safe) on Friday and today.

Week 2 - C25K

Finished Week 2 of Couch-to-5K with my wonderful personal trainer!!!

Then we spent the afternoon in Rally classes.  Walker is starting an APDT Rally Level 2 class and Hayley is starting her second session of Rally Level 3 class.

Walker really impressed me with his focus.  He is bright and enjoys training but we have to walk the fine line between being excited about training and being overstimulated, especially in novel environments with lots of distractions.  I'm looking forward to working towards his Level 2 title!

Hayley is progressing nicely.  Level 3 is HARD, much, much harder than Level 2.  She's doing great at "moving stand" exercises but since "stand" has been so highly reinforced with all the "stand" exercises in Level 3 classes she's offering stands often, even when I don't necessarily want them.  It's an easy fix though, just have to reinforce non-"stand" exercises too.  We still have lots of work to do on backing up STRAIGHT and the retrieve...but that's what class is for, practicing and having fun.  Hayley LOVES rally and wags her tail all class long.  I'm hoping that we'll be ready to compete in Level 3 this Spring.

It was a gorgeous day so we went for a 2 mile stroll down to a grassy area where the pups ran around a bit before we headed back to the office.

We jogged approximately 2 miles after work today.

The pups thought that was a nice warm-up and were re-energized when we were "done" so we played some fetch/soccer...

We jogged 2.3 miles after work today.

Week 1 - C25K

Walker and I jogged 2.5 miles today.  I still think I probably look like a tool with my new hands-free leash and belt but it makes jogging with a dog and carrying stuff while jogging much easier.  Jogging with two dogs on-leash is still another story...

For dinner I made penne and zucchini with lime and herbs with some modifications to make it healthier.  Not too shabby.

Oh and Happy Labor Day!