Soccer tonight was one of the best hours of my whole summer!!! Why-oh-why did it take me this long to find a pick-up group?!! There are apparently lots of them floating around and I’m so lucky that this one meets on a night I can go and that it’s right near my house. They’ll We’ll be playing through Halloween, and I think Saturday mornings as well. I’m not sure I’ll make it every week, but I will certainly try. My friend and former co-worker Angie told me about it and it was great to see her again after about a 2-year hiatus 🙂
I thought I played pretty well for being mediocre at best in my team days and taking off 6 years for my foot. I RAN and sprinted and ran. I’m not the best at dribbling, but I’m pretty good at playing the field, getting open, passing and running really, really hard. Hence the reason I am a midfielder!
I have never worn a HRM during a soccer game, but my HR was in the 160s the whole time and hit the 180s a few times. It was HARD and I am totally worn out after an hour and a half of activity and about 50 minutes of hard playing. I can’t believe i used to play for twice that long and just as hard in high school. No wonder I used to eat two gigantic bowls of Cranberry Almond Crunch for dinner after my games 🙂
Comment by me during the 5 vs. 5 game: "This sure is more fun than the elliptical!"
I dug up some soccer memories –
Co-captain with my BFF Becca! (I don’t know why you can see an ice rink in that photo!) Note I was #26!! You know it!
Post-high school game with friends and Larbs
Davidson Club Soccer days (Freshman year)
And tonight, drenched!
My Play-It-Again cleats worked out quite well, but I think I need shin guards too.
I AM SO THANKFUL TO BE ABLE TO PLAY ON THIS FOOT AGAIN!!!
(Matt Allen, I wish you lived nearby!!!!!)
I was a little worried about my eating schedule since soccer happened right during dinner hour. But since I had a later lunch, and since having Great Harvest bread at lunch always holds me over longer (go whole grains!), I didn’t get hungry at all until 5:30, which was perfect timing to have a whole food bar to fuel my game.
Amelia brought me this one from Charleston. GRAWnola. LOVE the name!
Ingredients:
I loved the texture, but I did not like the orange oil flavoring. I don’t like fruity things other than fruit.
Once home from soccer and showered at 8:15, I heated up some fridge items for dinner. (One major con to soccer is the time of day, which means 3 nights in a row we don’t have family dinners. Since it’s only thru October though, I’m still going to do it, and Matt said he doesn’t mind, but it will make for less gourmet blog dinners during the week. Quick + easy for sure though!)
~3/4 a cup of leftover Trader Joe’s mixed beans tossed with this Raspberry Jalapeno sauce and nuked:
Plus a small broccoli crown, some shredded cheese and Big Papi Sauce..
And the best chips ever
Raspberry goes well with anything 
For dipping!
***
A package arrived on my doorstep today with this funky + modern lunch box from Applegate Farms, which is promoting a "Rock The Box" campaign as a call for all-natural, nutritious lunches. Applegate is my deli meat of choice. I’ve found that it’s a few dollars cheaper at Trader Joe’s than the other grocery stores, FYI.
It is pretty elaborate with all these nice little containers that neatly fit inside
Will be useful for picnics and packed dinners! Enter to one one yourself here. And get an Applegate coupon for supporting the reauthorization of the School Lunch Act here.
***
I am off to drink more water. Thirsty from being a jock!!
zestycook says
Great to see you finally active Kath! 🙂 Food looks delicious!
zest
Adi (oatonomy.com) says
Glad to hear the soccer experience was a great one! That kind of thing is easy to put off, or be too nervous to try out, but they always end up being a blast. Hope you continue to enjoy it!!
Erika says
Sounds like a great time, Kath!
Boyyy, even your leftovers look delicious! YUM to that raspberry sauce!
Jenna says
Raspberry jalapeno sauce? Sounds like heaven!
Awww, I loved the photos. I always love walkin’ down memory lane 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful evening!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
so glad to hear how happy it made you to get back out there on the field! love it! The Mister plays on a kickball team and I’ve been wanting to do a co-ed sport myself, too crazy this year with schedules and times, but I hope to be able to next year!
Your refuel certainly looked delish!
angieinatlanta says
What a cool lunchbox! Love it!
I’m glad that your soccer experience was awesome; I miss team sports now too! I need to find a volleyball league asap!
Stephanie says
VERY interested in this raspberry jalapeno sauce – where did you get this from?! Looks soooo yummmy! 🙂
mary-jo says
you know, i definitely think doing something to ‘fill your cup back up’ is a very good reason to miss a dinner together every now and then. especially with your busy schedules these days, it’s important to get the self-care in. i was just looking into a master’s swimt team since i swam all through college, your excitement over starting soccer again has me thinking it’s time to pull out the suit and goggles!!
happy kicking!!
Marisa (Trim The Fat) says
Glad you found a fun activity!
That lunch box looks cool!
Evan Thomas says
What a cool lunchbox!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Wow, soccer looks like an excellent workout! I’m a big fan of NEAT and fun activities to burn calories.
I love Applegate Farms products. They’re the best. Love the box they sent you, so cute!
Jenn
Jenna says
glad you enjoyed soccer tonight!!
jenna
Jenn (eating bender) says
Nice!!! Love that picture of you after soccer – it definitely looks like you worked it! Bend it like Kath? I think I see a movie in your future 😉
Love that little lunch box kit! That’s really creative! Have a great night.
kay (eating machine) says
looks like you had fun!
and that lunch box is way too cute!
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
That lunch box is quite bento-ish… i may have to get one!
Lee says
That sounds like a really fun night. I wish I was good at sports!
Emily, homecookedem says
Looks like you had fun tonight!! So happy for you!!!! 🙂
Bec says
thats a pretty sweet lunch box! glad you had fun at soccer
Faye says
Ooh, I’m jealous! I never played team sports and I wish I had the nerve to try now! Would this be replacing your elliptical now?
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
The reauthorization of the National School Lunch Act is so important and needs more support. I wrote a story about how the nutritional quality of school lunches is suffering in response to rising food prices–really scary! Love love that Applegate is supporting it!
Sarah
Lisa says
The phantom hockey rink is probably due to a double exposure. Was the pic taken on a disposable camera?
Also, Phantom Hockey Rink would be an awesome name for a band.
Looks like soccer was a great time!
Emily (A Nutritionist Eats) says
What a great lunchbox! I love the separate compartments!
TXMommy2 says
That lunch box rocks! I just went and signed up for one… I am all about packing mine and my daughters lunches / snacks in reusable containers. Trying to go green a little at a time!
Soccer rocks… my daughter plays right now (she’s 8) and it’s fun getting out and practicing with her. Enjoy it!
BroccoliHut says
Yay for rekindling a love for past sports! I recently rediscovered swimming:)
As a closet lunchbox enthusiast, I am totally in love with that Applegate Farms box!
Jac says
fun lunch box! kinda looking for one which keeps food warm too. 🙂
dinner looks delish!
Gena (Choosing Raw) says
I’ve been meaning to come up with my own GRAWnola recipe! You’ve inspired me 😀
Ken says
Let us know if you need some help developing your own recipe!
Katharina says
What a cool lunch box.. or should I say ROCK BOX! 😀
Hallie (Healthy Twists) says
So cool that you are finding new ways to exercise that you enjoy…I constantly feel the need to mix it up as well, but I just can’t do the team-sports thing…I am SO not an athlete, haha. Luckily my boyfriend is…otherwise, our (hypothetical of course) kids would have no chance.
MarathonVal says
Aww such cute pictures of you back in the day! 🙂
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
those boxes look cool! i like applegate farms the best too
AnnQ says
Definitely impressed with your soccer – it’s constant running!
And that lunchbox is SUPER cool ! 🙂
Liz says
Yay for soccer fun! That’s awesome that you found a pick up group. Team sports are so much fun!
Angela (Run Study Eat) says
I played soccer as a child till I was 16 years old. Grawnola sounds great!
Whole Body Love says
Looks like you really had a great time!! It’s so awesome to find “your lost love” again.
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Cool lunch box!
Maggie says
It reminds me of a bento box! I love sports and dance instead of machine exercise 😛
Julia says
Love that box!
And the thing you wrote: I don’t like fruity things other that fruit…ha ha!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
christie, honoring health says
Glad you enjoyed playing soccer! And no worries on the quick and easy dinners, we all have those times!
That lunch box is cute!
Shannon says
What a fun night. It’s got to feel good to know that your foot has healed enough to play a game you enjoy again! I wish I had played something back in school. I feel very uncoordinated on a playing field.
Susan says
What a great idea! I think as we get older we forget about joining active clubs and groups like that. I didn’t do a lick of group sports growing up, you’re lucky that you know how!
thepinkpeppercorn says
Love the lunchbox!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
I’m so glad you had such a fabulous evening! It sounds like SO much fun. Definitely something to do again before the cold weather come around. 🙂
Lizzy says
glad to hear that your gettin back to your soccer days! how fun! 🙂
Christina says
Looks like fun! Get yourself a moisture-wicking t-shirt, OK? 🙂
Becci says
I’m so glad that you had a great time at soccer! I am looking forward to some of your “quick, soccer night dinners” for inspiration in our household!
Dawn says
Glad to hear that soccer went well, Kath! I’m eager to hear how you like the OOOTS lunch box. I pack my lunch every day and have quite a collection of lunch boxes. I’ve been interested in this one since it came on the market but haven’t been able to justify dropping the money on it.
Jessica says
I love working up a good sweat like that. Your dinner still looks yummy! Have you tried the Buffalo version of the chips? We always eat the sweet potato but I grabbed a bag of buffalo this past wknd. Tasty!
CaSaundra says
Soccer has always looked fun to me, but I’ve never actually played other than a few failed attempts in P.E. class during highschool ha! Looks like you had a blast! 🙂
Anne [email protected] New Weigh says
Love the soccer pictures! Anything outdoors and not at a gym is better than an elliptical machine, in my opinion!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I ran all through high school and college – did solo stuff, but really enjoyed doing some kickboxing in college with friends. It sounds like you had a blast playing soccer!
brandi says
glad you had such a good time!
that is the coolest lunchbox! and I need a new one.
Jean says
Oh please please please pick me!
I pack 2 lunches a day, one for me and one for the husband, and I would LOVE to have that lunch box.
Did anyone else think of the SNL skit C in a Box during this post???? 🙂 Love me some Justin Timberlake!
Kath says
Stephanie,
EarthFare
Faye,
On Tuesday nights I hope!
Dawn,
Honestly I can say I think I’d prefer my Built NY lunchbox for its flexibility in contents and size and insulation. But this one will be fun for other purposes. You will have to wash these inserts daily, whereas if you use another you can fit any kind of tupperware inside.
Jessica,
Yes, delish!
kath
Steph says
Glad you had fun! I played center midfield, which means the most running! Soccer is such a fun sport to play and you get in such a good workout. I can’t believe how much I used to run in soccer too…it’s crazy!
Bree says
Hooray for soccer! I am so jealous. My husband and I went on a walk last night in a park where some high school games were going on, and I decided I must purchase myself a soccer ball to kick around in the yard asap 🙂
I had Food Should Taste Good Jalapeno chips last night, too! Yum.
Meg says
Reading your post really makes me want to get back into soccer! It is so much more fun to be involved in a competitive sport than be on an exercise machine (I think). Looks like you had fun! I’m jealous.
Krissy (Single Serving) says
Glad you had fun! What a cute lunchbox! I have stopped eating most deli meats but I’ll have to look at TJ’s for Applegate for when I have a craving.
Heather says
That lunchbox is the cutest thing!
I never played soccer but used to tap dance – you have kinda inspired me to try to find a studio nearby where I could take a class or two.
Heidi says
How cool that you got to play soccer again. My son has played for years and once in a while I get into a fun game with them (though 15/16 yr old boys are rough!). I never played when I was younger and now the old teams don’t want me because I’m inexperienced. Kinda sucks :(. Oh well, I have fun when I do get to do it and it is a MAJOR tough workout!
Kristin (Kristins Nibbles) says
Glad you had fun at the game!! That lunchbox looks super cool! I want one! =)
xo
K
Jessica says
i love playing sports with friends for working out.
haha that is such a cute name for a granola bar!
the more and more i see the fstg jalapeno chips the more i want to try them. i used to eat a whole bag of krunchers jalapenos chips and i forgot how much i loved them. eating that much gave one bad gas though … haha~!
very cute lunchbox ! i def entered to win one!
-muffy
Ken says
We love our logo and name too!! Check out our new website and products!
Molly says
i played soccer in grade school before i discovered cross country (am currently on my college xc team!)…for sure there is nothing better than being part of a team!!! it’s amazing to me how it immediately makes “working out” fun. you look so happy in all those soccer pictures – happy for you!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
How fun to rediscover a passion you had. I’m so glad your foot held up. I had the same feeling when I could run again after my back surgery. I had missed it and I was happy that I could do it again.
Jennifer says
those chips look good! we are actually giving some away on our site so check it out!
Ken says
Thanks for trying our bar…. sorrry the orange flavor didn’t work for you… but we are coming out with some new products! Our first one available on the website only is our ‘Sprouted Seasoned Pecans’. Simple pecans seasoned with Celtic Sea Salt and nutritional yeast. They are a SIMPLE amazing snack!
Love your blog! Keep on truckin’!