Food is Good #6: Beef Chipotle Burritos

I have a serious problem with getting enough iron while I'm pregnant, so we up the red meat meals to two a week. Let me tell you, this one is SO worth the heartburn. It's probably one of my favorite meals.

BEEF CHIPOTLE BURRITOS (from Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book)

Prep: 20 Minutes
Cook: 8-10 Hours
Makes: 6 Servings

1 1/2 lbs. boneless beef round steak, cut 3/4 inch thick
1 14 1/2 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained (or about 2 fresh tomatoes, diced)
1 small onion, chopped
1-2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped (I use chipotle so much that I actually puree mine and freeze them. I use about 3 T. of the puree, but that makes it Mexican hot...I'm not joking about the heartburn)
1 tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1/4 tsp. ground cumin (again, I use about a tablespoon because I LOVE the smoky flavor)
1 clove garlic, minced

1. Cut the meat into 6 pieces and trim the fat. Put everything in a crock pot, cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5. Remove the meat from the crock pot, shred, and stir in cooking liquid to desired consistency.

2. Add whatever you want to make it a burrito. We use delicious homemade tortillas, pico de gallo (like you need more spice), lettuce, jicama and black beans. And cheese for the Mr.

Nutrition Facts:

Approx. 13 g fat per serving, 71 mg. cholesterol, 433 mg sodium (less if you use unsalted tomatoes or fresh tomatoes), 29 g carbs, 30 g protein, 2 g fiber.

No picture for this one. We consumed them much too quickly to get a snapshot.

Particular to Pregnancy #4: Classes

Taking a class is a good way to stay motivated while you're expecting. Oftentimes, the teacher will give you specific instructions of what to avoid to keep you and your baby safe and happy while you're working out. If you have a normal pregnancy with few complications, you can do pretty much whatever you want, within reason, at the gym.

Here is the schedule of workouts I did last week, just for an idea of what may work well for you.

Monday: 1 hour cycling class + 30 minute run
Tuesday: day off so I can spend it with my husbie
Wednesday: 1 hour yoga + 30 minute run
Thursday: 1 hour power pump (weight lifting) + 30 minute run
Friday: 45 minute run + 45 minute weight training
Saturday: recreational swimming with the fam

(Mind you, I usually don't run this much, but I'm doing a distance challenge and I want to WIN...)

Go to a class! You'll like it!

Particular to Pregnancy #3: Leaner Legs

As my belly expands with no sign of stopping, I like to focus on areas of my body where I still have some control (i.e. arms and legs). I've added this little cardio routine into my daily workout for the last week or so and have LOVED the results.


Here's the plan, minute by minute:




*Shuffle: Turn to the left, squat slightly, and shuffle (step your right foot to the right, bring your left foot toward it, then repeat, staying in a slight squat the entire time).

The awesome thing about this workout is that when you walk, you're targeting your legs and butt, but when you turn sideways, you're working your inner and outer thighs. It's like a 360 degree workout for your legs. And, because your body isn't used to the motion, you are using more muscle groups and more energy to do it. So, you're burning up to 60% more calories walking sideways than you do walking forward.

PS. I hold on to the handrails on the treadmill when I'm shuffling because I don't have great balance when I'm pregnant. I'd imagine it would be even better if I wasn't afraid of falling down.