what i'm eating
what i'm eating.
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}.
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.