what i'm eating.

i am a firm believer that not only do our tastes change over time, but we have the power to actively change how we taste and enjoy food. 

the way in which to do this is simple: give up fake sugars. and cut out overly processed food. and if it the rest of your life is a slow process of learning how to do this? so be it. health is not a sprint.

1. toast with cottage cheese. simple, light, filling, and high in protein. need i say more?

2. strawberries. naked, raw, whatever you want to call it, have them just as they are. enjoy the warm weather and the fruits it has to offer.

3. "cheesy" kale chips. a few months ago, on a whim, i bought a dehydrator. now i've made some really foolish financial investments over the years, but i'm learning. this one has yet to prove itself as a sound investment, because to-date i've only really made these kale chips in it. so if anyone has some great recipes involving a dehydrator, please, send them my way! these chips consist of kale dressed in a sauce made of cashews, nutritional yeast, red bell pepper, a bit of lemon juice, agave, and green onions. they sit in the dehydrator for 12+ hours. i'm a snacker. that's my food profile in a nutshell. and since most snacks out there are not super healthy these kale chips are a great option for me. (though not totally realistic for most people, i get that).

4. chocolate covered pretzel. as well as enjoying snacks, i'm also realizing my sweet tooth is bigger than most. this little chocolate covered pretzel (asher's; dark chocolate variety) is the perfect size to really satisfy my cravings while still feeling like a big indulgence. it's only 110 calories and while i don't count calories i like to know it's a lot less than a snickers or some other traditional candy bar. 

5. peanut butter on toast. sweet, salty, protein-packed and filling. need i say more?

what's everyone else eating now? anything seasonal that you want to suggest?

previous "what i'm eating" found here.

what i'm eating.

because i posted about ned this week, i thought it only fair to let you in on some of the small daily choices that keep me feeling satisfied and strong. 

i'm at point in the process of learning to eat well where my great focus is not calories or quantity, but the quality of the foods i put in my body. i want simple foods. vegetables and fruits. foods that are as unprocessed as possible.

spring and it's trademark warm weather is certainly allowing for some fresh and vibrant choices. what follows is something of a my spring-time playlist: 

1. avocado on toast. (or if you're feeling really adventurous, avocado + tomato + lemon juice + a sprinkle of salt {on toast}). this one is as easy as it comes, but a little concoction that i'll eat morning, noon, or night. i had it the first morning i arrived in australia two years ago and i've been eating it ever since. i'm almost always a sweet person, but in the morning savory is my jam, so i turn to this staple again and again. for bread i usually use those new 100 calorie bread rounds (whole grain, not multi grain) or ezekiel food for life (sold at your local trader joe's or whole foods). for me the lemon is the best part--the natural flavor and sweetness makes me think i'm eating nature's own version of candy.

2. green monster. i'm not a fan of this smoothie the way everyone else is. i don't love it. sometimes i don't even like it. but i tolerate it. because i know it's good for me. and i know that sometimes we have to eat things strictly because they're good for us. and if i can manage to start my day off with something so loaded in fruits and veggies i'm much more likely to make positive food choices all the live long day. made of spinach, banana, ground flax seeds (you gotta grind those suckers yourself each day for the best health benefits--let me suggest a free-standing coffee grinder which can be purchased for about ten bucks), and almond or rice milk.

3. potato chips (otherwise known as fries). potatoes are one of my most beloved staples. cheap and easy and pretty darn filling. lately i've been taking two small white potatoes cutting them nice and thing, mixing in a tiny bit of virgin olive oil and salt and baking at 400 until they start to crisp. serve with ketchup and voila, done.

4. arugula and capers. it should be known that despite my weariness regarding their appearance, my love for capers knows no bounds. and then there's arugula. the spicy, little firecracker of the lettuce family. together? my spring meal of choice. i dress in a tiny bit of a combination of olive oil and walnut oil (with lemon if desired) and salt. and if you'r feeling really adventurous, add toasted pine nuts.

5. cookie crumble concoction. i will forever be indebted to uncle eddie's cookies. their chocolate-oatmeal-walnut flavor is the best i've ever tasted--and i've tasted a lot. to this day, i can't bring a bag of eddie's cookies home because i lose all control (i eat the bag all at once, one sitting). but what uncle eddie really gave me was the knowledge that vegan baked goods can be incredibly good. so i went about attempting to make my own. and so i made banana bread and raw cookies and a version of the girl scout somoa. this last thing was not my great triumph--it was a tricky, little recipe that produced something resembling brittle. that being said, this week i came up with my own little free-standing cookie mix that is a cross between almond-joy and the samoa. ready? okay: in a food processor put raw cashes, raw almonds, a ton of uncooked rolled oats, a small amount of coconut oil, agave (and vanilla should you so choose). if you're feeling really adventurous add in unsweetened coconut flakes and ground flax seeds for amped-up health benefits. i eat the mixture as a crumble as opposed to fashioning it into cookie bites or balls because that consistence allows for less oil and agave. put in a cup with a few vegan chocolate chips and it's heaven--truly, the best thing i've ever made. i'm at the point now where i just eye the proportions, but next go round i'll try to measure it out and give you all a proper recipe. for now the most important thing to say is that i put more almonds than cashews (it's a heart healthier nut and adds tropical texture).

fed: product placement

i woke up exhausted this morning. so exhausted that after i poured my first cup of coffee, i left the coffee maker on, knowing i might go back for a second.

today will be hard. the hardest day of the week. from job number one to job number two. all day. and i will be wiped. and when i reach this level of exhaustion i tend to overeat. i know this now. i didn't know this before. i'd be eating and eating and eating and think, why am i eating? and after a lot of work and the help of some very smart people i was able to identify that i sometimes mix the signals (read: very often mix the signals). in fact, i would say, eighty percent of the time when i'm overeating and i'm not sure why (meaning it's not anxiety or fear or trying to push away some uncomfortable emotion--or the inevitable i'll-eat-more-because-i've-already-eaten-so-much guilt) it is exhaustion or thirst. crossed-wires if you will.

so today i just know that i need to be aware. and a little careful.

i've already promised myself a cab ride home tonight (ah, the luxury) and a saturday morning of sleeping in for however long i'd like--the promise of these things will help me avoid any kind of a meltdown (i hope).

but until then i'd thought i'd share some products i really like--products that taste good, make me feel good, and keep me on a healthy track.

i'm a snacker. this much you should know. if given the chance, i'd nosh on snacks always. so, many of these fall into that snack category...




when i get that urge for chocolate, instead of reaching for the bag of m&ms' i head to whole foods for these bad boys. because then i satisfy the chocolate craving and sneak a little fruit in a long the way: goji berries! (i also enjoy the chocolate covered mulberries). be forewarned: they are very expensive (like 4 dollars for a bag) but i don't get them everyday.

i love these chik'n patties. they make for such an easy lunch or dinner. put on a bun, bagel, or bread of any kind with a little ketchup, they satisfy the burger queen within. i despise (despise!!) any kind of faux meat products made from soy, which these are not. on a side note: if in new york city and in need of a good veggie burger i suggest 5 napkin burger or hillstone {known as houston's almost anywhere else in the country}.

i love the texture of barbara's oatmeal snackimals. animal crackers with a twist, i say!

remember when i made my infamous ice cream pie? i used four ice cream pints--three of which were stonyfield nonfat frozen yogurt. they taste quite good and the plain and vanilla and chocolate variety have only 100 calories per serving (meaning the whole pint is only 400 calories). now, let me be clear, i don't believe in counting calories--in fact, i loathe it and find it damaging. but when i bring a pint of ice cream home--there is always the chance i might eat the whole thing in one sitting (i know, i know, i'm working on it). but with these bad boys, when i eat the whole thing at least i know i haven't done some huge disservice to my body. 

have you had pop chips yet? i love them (most especially the sea salt and vinegar variety!). unlike most low calorie foods these bad boys pack a punch and don't leave that odd and elusive empty taste in your mouth.



alrighty, that's all for now. happy snacking! (ignore the strange layout--i struggle when working with small images).

introducing...the potato.

about, oh, maybe a year ago i had this revelation: a potato is a vegetable! huzzah!

so when i began to introduce more fruits and vegetables into my diet the potato was this miracle.

to cook i clean the potato, poke holes all over (with a fork), coat in a tiny bit of butter and salt, and place in the oven at 450 degrees for an hour.

from there that potato becomes the proverbial oyster...you can put anything in it! i always go with greek yogurt (which in this context tastes like sour cream), kerrygold cheddar, and scallions.

when i'm looking to mix things up i'll add in refried beans, mushrooms, or avocado.

it's cheap, simple, and packed full of protein.

vegetarian delight.

dear lunchtime-sandwich,

you are perfection.

need i say more?

oh, but i will.

with your glistening tomatoes, ripe avocado, unruly alfalfa sprouts and surprising cilantro you have undone me.

all your ingredients bring such satisfaction, but none so much as the horseradish mayonnaise. oh, the horseradish mayonnaise! it is potent. and i love it for that alone.

so, dearest lunchtime-sandwich, this is all to say, thank you for making the decision to forgo meat day-after-day so darn pleasurable.

love, love,

the former cheeseburger queen