Tag Archives: food for thought

Is Your Choice Behind Door A or Door B?

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It’s been a great day of family fun; we played board games, watched the Discovery Channel, and I got to see my niece get her ballet pictures taken.

I brought my own breakfast from home (picked up from the hospital cafeteria at volunteering) so I was sure to have something healthy to start my day.

Quaker Instant Oats Express in Baked Apple.

This was actually seriously delicious.  I tend to avoid instant oats unless I’m traveling because of the added sugar but this ended up being a really nice treat.  And the fiber/protein content led to enough fullness that it was almost a trade-off for the sugar.

Unfortunately I just can’t jive with the waste of packaging or I would make this a regular thing.

Lunch was a 6inch turkey sandwich from Subway.

Topped with pepperjack, lettuce, tomato, green pepper, banana pepper, red onion, pickles, cucumbers, and honey mustard.

The worker was annoyed that I packed so much on but my sandwich ended up being tasty and filling.

I ate part of a small bag of Cheetos with my sandwich.

I only ate half, because I realized that with Cheetos the enjoyment-to-unhealthiness ratio quickly shifts from left to right.  I’m never going to stop eating crap completely, but I’m really trying to make an effort to regularly check-in with myself about whether or not the treat is worth it.  I think it’s (more than) ok to occasionally eat things with no health benefit, but it only makes sense if there is a happiness benefit.

On the way to the mall I sucked on a blow pop.

Why were we at the mall you ask?  Black light mini golf, duh!

They managed to squeeze 18 holes into the course.

I have a dorky child-of-the-80’s obsession with black lights and the aquatic theme was pretty tacky-fabulous.

After we worked up a sweat, of sorts, we headed to dinner. 

The in-laws’ pick was Cici’s Pizza, which was a new experience for the husband and I.  I was excited about the buffet aspect (I loooove choices and small tastes) but pretty disappointed in the lack of veggies.  I genuinely don’t understand only offering iceberg lettuce at a salad bar!  I will admit that I was pleased to see everything small-sized; the pizza pieces were tiny so you could try a bunch without eating too much.  I was super hungry but I didn’t want to go crazy so I decided to do two runs of healthy food first.

Small plate of salad.

Small bowl of chicken soup.

After I filled up a bit on soup and salad, then I got pizza.

Sadly I wasn’t really in love with either of these, the crust was pretty soggy and disappointing.  I ended up picking at 2/3s or so before moving to dessert.

Dessert, however, was pretty darn good.

I skipped the soggy crust but I loved eating the strusel topping and the cinnamon roll was great, super duper cinnamon-y.

Unfortunately I did too good of a job not overeating; I ended up not eating enough!  When I got home I broke out a Fruit and Nut KIND bar from my from-home-snack stash.

Holy yum!  KIND bars are always good but this flavor was socks rocking delicious; I love that the use apricot in addition to dates for stickiness.

There will most likely be some snacking tonight, I’ll recap in the morning.  Hope everyone else is having a great weekend!

Veggies eaten today: ~2cups

What is your thought on “treats” (candy, cookies, chips, extra cheese, or whatever your preference is)?  Should you cut them out completely, enjoy in moderation, or go hog-wild?  What works, or doesn’t work, for you?

Just Keep Swimming, Just Keep Swimming

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Most of my laziness comes from my perfectionism.  Does that not make sense to you?  I get so obsessed with everything being “just so” that I have a hard time tackling projects if things are not perfect.  Which makes no sense at all!  Think people who are waiting until Monday to start their diet.  They’d be better off eating a bit more healthfully on not-the-start-of-a-new-week-Thursday than waiting until Monday’s magical fresh startiness and bingeing in the meantime.

It’s sort of like what happened to my studies this year.  I’d tell myself I’d be cracking down on the 20th of the month, and I’d have a glorious time fooling around until then.  Then the 20th would come and I’d oversleep, or fight with the husband, or waste too much time online and things wouldn’t be “perfect” anymore.  So I’d tell myself I’d be cracking down on the 25th (I have a thing with 0/5#s) and the cycle would begin again.

I’ve always known this was a terrible personality trait.  But recently I’ve really, really worked at changing, and it feels great!  For example, I probably could have gotten a 100% on my Anthro final, easily.  But I screwed around all week (and took care of some pressing but secret to-dos!) and didn’t study.  Last night I was so disgusted with myself I told the husband I just wanted to forget about it and watch Buffy all evening.  Instead, he offered to study a bit with me and we reviewed my old tests.

And you know what?  I’m pretty sure I got an A on my final today!  It’s not the 100% I could have earned, but an A is pretty darn good, and it’s a lot better than what I would have gotten had I not tried at all.

A similar thing happened with my workout.  Through a series of stupidity, I didn’t eat breakfast, couldn’t purchase food on campus, and was stuck in the library without food waiting for the gym to open.  By the time I got to the pool I was starving and I kind of wanted to just throw in the towel.  But I knew it was my last chance to get a swim workout so I tried to make the best of it.

In the end I did 40 lengths in 35minutes – a fabulous workout!  I pushed myself really hard and it felt amazing.

Around 3:30 I did finally get some food!  Since we studied yesterday, today we celebrated Seis de Mayo!

I know, why is he with me?  Getting dressed straight from the pool leaves me a bit ragged around the edges.  What better spot for a Mexican celebration than Cozumel?  Cheers!

I got a sweet margarita.

Chips!

I hadn’t eaten all day and I was a bit drunk so there was some concern that I would dive headfirst into the basket.  Instead, after a couple of bites I portioned out a serving onto a separate plate.

I took the same strategy with the chips I stole from Adam.

And for my meal I ordered the California Quesadilla.

WW tortilla with roasted red pepper, grilled eggplant, and goat cheese?  Yes please!

I ended up eating half of my meal and sharing the rest with the husband, the margarita was pretty filling.

I had a great time with the husband and it felt wonderful to celebrate the end of my time at UB.  Now I have one month before I start summer classes at BSC.  Although now I have a more current goal – eat some fruit today!

Do you ever find yourself putting things off until the timing feels “perfect?” 

You’re Too Kind

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I’m back!  I spent the last three days letting Chemistry make me her b***h, do I look any worse for the wear?

My final this morning actually didn’t go all that well, but at this point I’m glad to be done.  Plus, it’s hard to feel anything but grateful when I read over all the nice comments you guys left on my last post!  I loved all the sweet things you had to say, but do feel free to voice anything negative if you’re ever so inclined.  I always miss blogging when I’m away but I’ve especially been itching to get back today.  I also appreciated your support on my moderation plan, I’m pretty excited about it.

This morning before the slaughter final I ate a Hazelnut Bumble Bar for breakfast.

Then THREE HOURS LATER I was freeeeeeeee!  I actually have an Anthropology final next week but it’s pretty low-key so I’m letting the whimsy overtake me.

Adam and I had errands to run this afternoon so lunch was the soul-soother that is Wegman’s salad bar.

I had a little bit of broccoli,

some amazingly delicious roasted eggplant and squash (I almost went back to purchase more of this!),

Channa Masala,

and a half piece of Naan.

Lunch was fantastic, and our grocery shopping went pretty well too.  We purchased a bunch of fun things this week that I’m excited to blog about.  For example, Simply Lemonade Raspberry.

I generally try not to drink a lot of juice (although I’ve actually been trying to up my intake of calcium+vitamin d oj) but the Simply line is so perfect that I make an exception.  The lack of sugar overload is so refreshing.  I enjoyed a glass (8oz) during this post.

Mmmn, pink!

In spite of all our good finds, we had to make another stop on the way home to purchase our poultry.

I’d been having some misgivings about our Wegman’s chicken – skinless, boneless, breasts – for a while and after Adam watched the entire Earthlings movie last week he was easily convinced that we needed to step up our ethical purchasing power.  While I have no moral qualms consuming poultry (I’ll never eat pork or beef, i.e. mammals), I do take issue with not treating the chickens, whose lives we take, with respect.  From now on we’ll be purchasing our meat from the local co-op.  It costs a bit more, but I’m more concerned with the cost to my karma right now.

Free Bird.  Vegetarian fed, humanely raised, no growth hormones used.  Check, check, check.

To my omnivore readers – what kind of meat do you purchase?  What guides your choice money, morals, apathy, or a mix of all three?

And another thing – After reading some negative blog posts about product reviews (a whole ‘nother story) I got to thinking.  I occasionally review a sample or two that a company sends, but I’ve pretty much stopped reviewing the products I’ve purchased.  But I’m excited about food, and I feel like I have good great taste.  So for now on I will at least try to link to the website of products that I’ve purchased that I think are exceptional.

Earthlings

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This is a cursory post but I wanted to stop in.  I didn’t eat a single veggie today, but I also just didn’t eat much in general.

While studying on campus I drank a frozen coffee with coconut.

After my test I went with Adam to Jamba Juice for a Pink Star smoothie.

Before class I grabbed an everything bagel with cream cheese.

And on the way home I ate a bag of chips.  [I realize my food choices today won’t be winning any awards]

And that was it.

Dinner didn’t happen.  In spite of the warnings from fellow bloggers about it’s graphic nature I decided to watch the trailer for Earthlings WARNING Clip plays immediately.  I think the movie is a great idea and I’m glad that a lot of cities have been having showings recently.  But for me it was not a good idea.

I know how animals are treated in factory farms.  I wouldn’t eat mammals regardless, but I recognize that if I can’t see the process for fish and fowl then I shouldn’t be eating them.  I do, however, disagree with conventional meat (fish/fowl) production which is why Adam and I are going to make more of an effort to purchase ethically.

But I do not believe in the fur industry.  I have never believed in the fur industry, I’ve always been staunchly against it.  I’ve said for months that Kanye West is a monster.  I do not need to learn more about the fur industry, there is nothing that could convince me to be more against it than I already am.  So seeing clips of animals within the fur industry was not a learning experience for me.

I cried for 20minutes.  I’ve described the exact process I watched, in detail, but actually seeing it was heart-wrenching for me.  Of course I was bothered by the clips of the farm animals and seals, but when the video reached the part with the fox I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest.  Watching that clip was genuinely the worst I’ve ever felt.  Adam sat on the couch and rubbed my back and he told me later that he’s never seen me react to something like that before (and we’ve been through some pretty hard experiences).

Sometimes the fact that human beings are so awful just makes me feel hopeless.  Like there’s nothing I can do that will be good enough to counteract all the bad out there.  On some level I really do believe in a balance of positive and negative energy, so modern humans scare me.  How can we put so much hate into the world?

Have you seen, or are you going to see Earthlings?  Have you seen the trailer?

Slopped on Bagels and Secret Buffalo

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Hi y’all, sorry for the late post!  It’s been a long (but good[ish]) day.  Adam and I stayed up way too late watching tv last night.  Catching up on “Modern Family” was amazing, but oversleeping this morning meant I didn’t have time to pack up like I’d planned.  At least I found at outfit that thrilled me –

My new blue chinos ($18, love love loved the Orlando outlet malls!) feel like Spring!

I drove the husband to school because I had an 8am coffee date with my friend Kate; “Free Pastry Day” at Starbucks was just too good to pass up.

I got a tall, skinny (i.e. small, nonfat and sugarfree) cinnamon dolce latte,

and a low-fat banana chocolate chip coffee cake.

I wanted to like the pastry, I really did, but it just tasted “diet.”  I prefer diet sodas to regular but anything else, yetch!  I ate about half of it so that I’d have something in my belly for breakfast.

Katie went to class around 9 and I ended up working on my Chemistry lab instead of reading; my mind just did not want to study for today’s test!  My desire for a good breakfast (and a need for caffeine to study with) fueled my lunch selection from the cafeteria.

Huge diet coke and a blueberry bagel with strawberry cream cheese.

I don’t want to complain, because the bagel was delicious and the cream cheese had real strawberries in it, but “deli-prepared” bagels always piss me off.  The cream cheese on my bagel was literally less than half of the amount the man wanted to put on.  Why?  Slopping on 3+ tablespoons of cream cheese is wasteful, unnecessary, and unhealthy.  I don’t understand why stores do this but I always make sure I ask for ‘half of what you usually use.’

My Anthro test went less than well, let’s just leave it at that.  Since I did poorly on both of my recent tests I know that I need to buckle down for the rest of the semester.  In fact, in between my test and my 2nd class I got right to work on the reading for the next class 🙂

After class (6:30) I had to pick up the husband, finish my lab, and un/pack my stuff for tomorrow.  I ate a small snack while I worked; pineapple and low fat cottage cheese.

Then, finally it was time to make dinner.

Buffao Chicken Baked Pasta.  I wish I could share the recipe with you guys but it’s my entry to a contest.  It was delicious though.

I’m going to do a quick quick (5-10minute) strength/stretch session and then I’ve got to hop in the shower.  I have a pilates video in my plan for tomorrow and I’m so excited!  Tomorrow will be another late(ish) post, I’ve got 8am lab and then a doctor’s appointment.  Cross your fingers for me that I’m actually able to schedule my bone scan.

What restaurant practices piss you off?

Vegan Challenge Recap

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*Sorry this is a little late!

If you didn’t check it out already, click HERE for the intro/explanation to my vegan challenge.  I knew going into the two weeks that I had no long-term plans to become a full-time vegan.  That did not change, at this point I can’t see my life without eggs, yogurt, and the occasional turkey burger.  That said, I really enjoyed the two weeks and would like to repeat the challenge again at some point this year.  Maybe even a Vegan Month.

I am really proud of myself for sticking to this challenge.  Maybe I can’t be bothered to train for a half marathon, but I did successfully make it two weeks without losing it to any meat or dairy products.  I am also proud that I did not depend on imitation products during this challenge.  No soy yogurt breakfasts and tofurkey sandwich lunches here!  While I recognize that many people have healthy, happy diets with those products, the point of the challenge was to rely on whole foods.

Here are some of the main things I learned during my 2 weeks as a vegan –

  • Green Monsters rock my socks
  • I prefer smoothies without milk or yogurt in them
  • Eat, Drink, and Be Vegan is a book no kitchen should be without
  • I actually like tempeh
  • vegan baked goods taste better than ‘normal’ ones

How do you classify your eating habits?  Vegan, semi/vegetarian, raw, carnivorous?  For now I am semi-vegetarian who doesn’t eat mammals.  But I’ll be eating a little less dairy than I used to.

Attacking the Problem

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It’s official, I need to pull it together.  Before I even start this post, I want to apologize in advance if I offend anyone.

It’s normal (ok) for me to be pissed about the two years of my life I lost to my terrible teaching job.  It’s normal to be pissed that I keep having physical issues that hold me back from running.  It’s normal to be pissed that I had to have foot surgery.  It’s normal to be pissed – even though I very happily make sacrifices for the husband – that Adam’s medical school schedule means I can’t have a job right now.

BUT, and this is a pretty big but (man that’s 8 kinds of a pun!)

That anger isn’t helping me.  And my version of “coping” has led to the fact that my pants barely fit and I feel trapped and itchy in my own skin.  And the fact that I probably will not be able to finish my half marathon.  And those two facts make me far sadder and angrier than any of the other stuff.

However, I knew all this before.  Maybe not with as much clarity but these thoughts have all been brewing.  What caused them to bubble over today?

I saw a severely overweight woman in the library at school today and had a mild panic attack.  I seriously had to sit down and catch my breath.  That kind of reaction is clear indicator that I need to make my health a priority again.

Let me just add in here that I’ve always had a really strong reaction to people I perceive to be unhealthy or isolated.  I don’t know what that is about, I’ve never lost someone close to me due to unhealthy habits and I’ve never been unpopular.  Nonetheless, when I worked at Cold Stone in high school and severely overweight kids would come in with their parents I would go in the back and cry.

The main point here is that I think I’m finally realizing my reality (or something that sounds less Dr. Phill).  And I’ll be back tomorrow, in better spirits.

ProfessionalEthicsThey’reAbsent?

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Last night was a success!  Before my shower I managed to squeeze in some crippled calisthenics – I did some stretching and 60 reps of arms exercises, including a couple 1-legged planks.  The “shower” ended up being me cowering on the bottom of the shower while Adam dumped cups of water over me, but you can’t win ’em all!

This morning when the husband got up for school at 7 I did as well, and even got moderately gussied –

Even though I can’t leave the house there’s no reason not to wear a snazzy top.

There’s really no reason to be up, I’m probably just going to watch tv online for a while, but I’m trying to get myself into the habit before school start.  Plus I got breakfast.

KIND Bar’s Almonds & Apricots in Yogurt was divine.

*What’s the title all about?

How many of you have read this article yet?  Really, PETA?  I love everything that PETA stands for as an organization but all of their pr-nightmares are adverse to their cause.  You didn’t seek Mrs. Obama’s consent because you knew she couldn’t endorse the campaign so you just go ahead and use her image without getting approval?  Nice.  Because this backlash doesn’t basically undo any benefit to including Obama over another (consenting) celebrity any way.

What do you think?

*Edited to add – who noticed that my first title spelled PETE?  Whoops!