Livened up Leftovers

My morning included a chocolate mocha breakfast cookie, 20 minutes of strength training combined with yoga, and reading blogs.  I’m still getting through this cold/flu, but usually after the 4th day, I start feeling better *knock on wood*(!!)

Chocolate Mocha Breakfast Cookie:

• 1/2 c. oats
• 1 banana, mashed (saving 1/4 for the top)
• 1 T. Teddy peanut butter
• 2 T. unsweetened cocoa
• splash of soymilk
• 1-1/2 tsp. instant coffee

Mmmm…totally loved this combo! 😀  It was so intensely dark.

Now that I know my teacher is completely okay with my eating lunch in class, I’ve been straying away from sandwiches as much as possible and including more variety through leftovers.  I like saving the sandwich combos as my “back up plan.”  As far as making these concoctions, I’m sure there will be a few flops along the way, but this lunch was not one of them.  So incredibly yummy! 😀

• 1/2 large sweet potato—cooked and diced
• 1/2 c. garbanzo beans
• large handful of spinach
• 2 T. dried cranberries
• 2 T. walnuts
• splash of balsamic

Awesome!  I loved the sweetness of the potatoes mixed with the tart cranberries.  And the balsamic added just the right note of flavor. 

Packed and ready to go!

I also brought a pear for dessert and an apple for the morning ride.  The packed almonds went uneaten, but they’ll be there for tomorrow. 😀

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my Nutrition Counseling class?  I feel as if I’m absorbing all the information from the class and wishing I could absorb more.  I love watching counselors in action and watching how they feel out different situations and different clients.  Still not sure if counseling is where I want to end up, as far as my future career is concerned, but it’s a fun idea to think about! 

When I came home from classes, I was worn out.  I hate to admit that I had two sets of leftovers in one day, but…ur…it happens. 😉

I put together a quick salad with the last of the lettuce greens, a carrot and some leftover roasted turnip cubes…

And reheated the frozen lentil taco ‘s (click for recipe), which I ate with a whole wheat burrito and some 2% sharp cheddar cheese.  This stuff really reheats well!

I was dreaming of oranges and ginger ale all day, so I was super excited when mom presented me with a couple of  oranges and some diet ginger ale from the store.  Refreshing!

This week is simply flying by!  I need to finish up some homework assignments before I can relax for the rest of the night.

Simple Question (since my brain does not function properly when I’m sick ): Favorite Fruit?  I always say bananas, but I actually can’t eat them unless they’re in something.  Weird, I know!  My favorite fruit that I can eat all by itself would have to be the orange and fresh, summer blueberries. 😀

Advertisement

Day With Mom

I woke up early this morning, but stayed in bed listening to the rain for a while.  During the semester, I just didn’t have the luxury to spend spare moments doing nothing.  Which is why I’m enjoying it so much while I still can. 😀

I always wake up hungry in the morning.  Always.  I’m definitely a “roll right out of bed” person when it comes to eating.  And what a perfect bowl of oatmeal I had…

Unfortunately I deleted the picture.

Blame it on my flipping through the pics too quickly while I was freeing up some space on my card.  Ugh…

Since we were all out of apples, I made it with 1/2 a pear (and noshed on the other half), and topped it with pb, coconut, and my homemade granola!  I’ll wait to give it a full review until tomorrow when I actually get a picture on here. 😀

Lunch was a dipping plate.  I mixed up some canned salmon with a bit of mayo and dill, and used carrot sticks and kashis for my dippers.  I ate with my mom in the parking lot of Trader Joes.  Haha…we were planning on saving it for later, but there’s something about shopping that makes a person hungry. 😀

And I had a very juicy orange for dessert…

Today was raw and cold and wet.  I forgot to make myself an iced coffee this morning, but that just didn’t sound all that appealing anyways.  Seriously.  I was wearing a down vest and gloves to keep myself warm.  What happened to my 72 degree and sunny weather?  I had a full weekend of it and now I’m acting like a spoiled girl now that it’s gone.  *shaking head*…

This cheared me right up though.  A tall soy latte from starbucks.  My complaining completely disappeared.  Amazing what a hot cup of foamy milk will do for me. 😀

Mom and I are shopaholics.  We even have what we call our “angel pins”…little pins shaped like shopping angels.  Crazy, I know.  But it’s true.  We could shop all day.  Until we get cranky or tired enough.  But give us a little something to eat and we’re good to go for another full day. ha…

Today was an especially fun shopping day because I found some great deals at the clothing stores and spent some great time browsing through whole foods.  I could go insane there.  And I’ve realized something about myself too.  I love free food.  If you give me free samples to try or coupons for free food, I’ll try anything and everything.  Today I tried some delicious lemonade and a few different cheeses.  I love tasting things.  I think I missed my calling as a food critic.  😀

Mom snagged a cookie from the bakery section.  A vegan-cranberry-almond-coconut, very chewy cookie.  I took a bite. 😉  The verdict?

Surprisingly enough, it was just okay.  Mom said she preferred the homemade cookies we make on occasion and I couldn’t have agreed more.  I loved the texture, all chewy and all.  But the appearance made me expect something sweeter and more delicious.  Especially from whole foods where their bakery just draws you in with all the delicious smells.  Next time I’m trying a muffin because the cinnamon chip one is calling my name. 😀

I realized another something today.  How much our attitudes can affect other peoples’ days (and our own too.)  Two examples:

• One lady at whole foods snuffed and snared when I mumbled “excuse me” to get by.  This didn’t ruin my day…I sort of just laughed it off.  But, what if someone was having a bad day and I acted the same way as the lady did and gave attitude?  Surprising how much our own moods influence other people.
• A guy at the counter gave me a quick smile and a “nice day!” and totally brightened me up and put a smile on my face.  Positive attitudes and even a simple smile do wonders.  Words of wisdom for the day…smile at someone. 😀

After coming home from our shopping trip, I immediately broke open this new flavored bar from odwalla…mocha-walla!!  I saw it on another blog and was so excited to give it a try for myself.  I love coffee and chocolate…even better combined, right?

RIGHT!  😀  I love this flavor.  I think it’s my new fave.  Not too overly sweet but sweet enough to hit the sweet tooth.  No fake tasting coffee flavors.  And the chocolate chips were not skimpily added at all.  Mmm…I’m saving half the bar for tomorrow’s breakfast or snack.  It was the perfect pre-walking snack.  Mom loved it too and wished she had gotten it instead of her cookie. 😦  Oh well…a future shopping trip to whole foods isn’t too far away, I’m sure. 😉

I’ve been trying to include more vegetarian meals in my diet lately, for taste and health benefits.  And in case you’ve yet to try this recipe from RunnersWorld, you need to try it! 😀

These are lentil tacos, and I absolutely adore this recipe.  I’ve made it countless times, but never for the entire family.  I was a little freaked out, because I wasn’t sure how well they would be received.  Lentils tend to scare some people. 😉  But it got rave reviews, and I was super surprised but happy.  To think my family would be chowing down on lentil tacos…it was a proud moment for me as a nutrition major. 😀

I had two tacos…both with the same toppings, except no cheese on the second because I couldn’t taste it on the first.  Thank goodness this weight watchers cheese is finished now!  Oh, and a side salad with hummus on the side of course.

Taco Toppings:

Trader Joes’ cherry tomatoes (soooo sweet and fresh!)

Whole Foods’ boxed spring lettuce mix

Weight Watchers cheese (ick…don’t recommend)

Homemade guacamole

Taco #1 + side salad

Taco #2

Phew…I’m one full but happy girl.  After my food digested I did a little light stretching to loosen my hamstrings up.  They’ve felt really tight these last couple days.  I don’t know if it’s from biking and my legs just not being used to it?  I also did a bit of strength training and beginner’s yoga.  I’m so inflexible, but I can at least touch my toes now.  That took me a couple months just to reach that point.  Embarrassing, but true.  Gotta keep stretchin’… 😀

Now I’m sitting, blogging, and watching 27 Dresses…can you tell it’s just a couple girls picking the movie at my house? 😉

Exercise: 4-mile walk, a little bit of strength training, and some beginner’s yoga.