What.a.night.
I probably made a mistake by trying to go to sleep a little too early (9:30) the night before, but dang… restful sleep was just not in my cards. You know those nights where you wake up every couple of hours absolutely convinced that it’s time to wake up, when the reality is that it’s only 10:30 PM? Then 1 AM? Then 3? That was my night. Needless to say, I was more than ready to jump out of bed when I eventually woke up [again] at 5.
After puttering around the house for a little while, my stomach decided that a little breakfast was in order. What to make was a no-brainer, since oats are pretty much always on the top of my menu…
(recycled picture because the lighting was horrible and I was too hungry to fight the camera)
Yes, I start pretty much every day with a bowl of oats, but that’s because a) I love them, and b) I’m not the best when it comes to making novel decisions… especially before the sun comes up. Case in point… I had an impossibly difficult time trying to decide which of Justin’s almond butters I wanted to dress my oats with — maple or vanilla?
I went with maple in the end, and also tossed in some coconut flour and orange zest on a whim. Coconut flour because it makes my oats so wonderfully cakey, and orange zest because I’m kind of obsessed with the flavour in the last batch of cookies I baked. And speaking of those cookies, I may or may not have had a few pieces of the failed batch (aka: melted cookie bark) along with my morning coffee…
… which left me feeling so buzzed up on caffeine and sugar, that I took it as a perfect opportunity to get in a good power walk at my building’s gym. Well, that and I needed a way to kill some time while the coconut oil mask I had in my hair made me feel like a grease ball worked its magic.
I don’t imagine this would work well for runners, but taking my iPad with me and catching up on some blog reading while walking on the treadmill made 40 minutes go by in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, I was back home in the kitchen whipping up a snack…
Remember that kabocha pudding I told you about last week? I finally got around to figuring out more-or-less what the ingredients were, so here’s the recipe for those who asked!
[yumprint-recipe id=’5′]
I guess that kind of makes it more like a kabocha protein pudding, but I just really love the creamy consistency that the cottage cheese gives it… and it’s another way to get more kabocha in my system, so I consider it a win all around.
Another win? Snack plates for lunch…
It’s probably no secret that lunches are my least favourite meal of the day, so I’ll try to play them up by eating things I know I’ll enjoy (breakfast foods, smoothies, ABJ sandwiches, snack plates…). This plate of random marvellousness had on it: a couple Dr.Kracker Klassic 3 seed flatbreads, hummus, half an avocado, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, and a hardboiled egg. Simple, satisfying, and substantial enough to keep me going through an afternoon of work-related errand running.
By the time I got home, I was feeling frazzled and in desperate need of some comfort. Enter cookies…
… (and an orange for good measure). I know they say it’s not good to turn to food when you’re feeling stressed, but I’ll be honest… I do it anyways. Food is one of life’s simplest pleasures, and I figure that as long as I’m not going overboard, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little bit of extra comfort from cookies. And speaking of comfort, dinner was the epitome of it…
Quinoa cooked in coconut milk and topped with dried cranberries, Justin’s maple almond butter, and Eden Foods apple butter. It’s been a while since I’ve had quinoa, and I honestly forgot how much I enjoy it — but here’s the part where I admit that it wasn’t my first dinner choice. I originally planned on having buckwheat kasha with chicken and veggies, but I guess I must have fudged up the kasha cooking process because it came out as a gloopy paste instead of a light and fluffy grain. Fail. At least I still managed to get the veggies in 😉
And to eventually end the night, a snack bowl of plain Greek yogurt with original Puffins and a spoonful of Barney Butter cocoa coconut almond butter.
And that, friends, is What I Ate Wednesday Tuesday. Looking back at my eats, I can say that it was very much an Amanda-type day… Oats, cereal, nut butters, coffee, cookies, snack plates, brinner… those are the foods that I naturally gravitate to. I try to get a little more “grown-up” variety in my diet, but I have to admit that it usually takes a pretty conscious effort to do so.
And on that note, I’m going to wish you a happy Wednesday and remind you to get those random thoughts together for the Thinking Out Loud linkup happening tomorrow!
What would be on your ideal lunch snack plate?
What’s your favourite comfort food?
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner — what’s a very “you” type day?
All humanity needs to follow the rules of proper waste disposal. Today it is a vital process that greatly affects the environment around the world. It would help if you tried to reuse those products that are possible. Reducing consumption is the only way out for our future.
Ok. I’m not sure if I shlould love you or hate you right now… I FINALLY tried coconut flour in my oats and now I’m addicted! Actually, I’ve been adding it to EVERYTHING! And it’s expanded beyond just the flour but into coconut butter too… You’ve started a coconut revolution! But I think I’m going with it being a good thing, since I’m getting a whole new level of joy from my meals. And that is an extra special treat because it’s something that has been very hard to come by these days 🙂
Omg, so true story, I made just about the same thing with pumpkin a couple of months ago, but failed to get any good pictures…and then totally forgot about it! Cottage cheese “puddings” are my favorite quick, power-packed snacks!
As you know, any day revolving around breakfast is a “Heather” kind of day…this past week, I had not one, but TWO days where every meal ended up being breakfast! haha!
Snack plates are my fave! I love one with crackers, cheese, turkey, carrots, and some fruit. Perfection. That pudding is gorgeous! I’ve still never tried kabocha (don’t disown me!) but I can’t imagine myself hating ANY type of pudding.
The only thing missing from that delightful little snack plate is a little wedge of cheese. Then it would have been perfect….for me. How selfish of me. Sorry, I do that sometimes.
Comfort food is fruit in anything, grilled cheese sandwiches or mac and cheese. All three make me super happy.
That snack plate and your after dinner snack look so fab to me. I have a box of my first Dr. Krackers and I’m excited to try them but I am OCD with boxes of snacks and refuse to have too many things open at a time. Snacks be gettin’ stale! #tragedy
Thanks for sharing!! I wear fuzzy socks all winter! Proud of it 😉 🙂
I packed a lunch plate for lunch today! Well…it’s more of a lunch container seeing as it’s traveling to work with me. It includes Melba toast, peanut butter, carrots, and cottage cheese. I don’t really EVER do snack plates so I’ll see if this one fills me up!
YEP! I officially need an iPad! I catch up on blogs (or try to) on my iPhone in the AM… When I work out, but it isn’t the best for leaving comments – So yeah, I am here now! ha ha!
I CANNOT WAIT TO GET SOME COMFORT FOOD STARTING TOMORROW!! I am going HOME for 3 flipping WEEKS! I am going to be one FFATTTYYYY come 2014!
Such simple recipe! And I have all ingredients… Sounds as me – necessary it – right now 😉
Now I went for little changes in the food and began to add more integral grain instead of vegetables. Because vegetables not always nourishing for me 😉 And if to speak about comfort food I precisely will choose chocolate 😀 It is a lot of chocolate
Puffins! I remember reading your blog a while back and you were like obsessed with them 😛
Definitely still am! I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of cereal.
Lately I’m loving doing snacky lunches too! My latest favourite is sliced veggies, hummus, lots of Mary’s Crackers, tuna salad to dip the crackers into, and a few slices of cheddar cheese.
A typical day for me is banana egg white oatmeal with almond butter for breakfast, either the above snacky lunch or some leftovers for lunch, and tofu Sunbutter stir fry for dinner. Oh and apples with almonds, homemade energy bars, and Greek yogurt in between for snacks!
Such an interesting pudding combination! It looks pretty fabulous! I’ve only tried kabocha squash once this entire season. I think it’s about time I get another one and some of it will definitely go to trying out this pudding recipe!
Running on the treadmill can definitely be boring, so doing some blogging reading sounds like a great way to pass the time. Now I just need an IPad so I could do that! 😉
Loving all your eats! So glad you were able to put the pudding recipe together as it looks like a great one!
I am happy to report I remember to do my Thinking out loud post this week and it is up now! So many random thoughts.
I love snack plates too, yum!
A very “me” day for me would start with a full cup of dry oats cooked with lots of full cream milk and then topped with brown sugar and sliced banana plus a slice of toast or two with jam (big brrakfast gal) Snack would be most likely a muffin or a bowl of cereal and I always include a bit of trail mix in the morning too. Lunch would be a roast chicken sandwich with mayo, avocado, lettuce and tomato on ciabatta and a side of thick roasted potato chips (I think Canadians call then fries) and afternoon snack is more often than not chocolate a bit of fruit and a traditional greek yogurt (we get the real deal ten percent fat kind in NZ!- we are so lucky! 🙂 does that exist in Canada- no blogs ever post it?) and dinner is often a nice pasta with a bit of organic chicken or beef mince mixed with a lovely simple tomato sauce and topped with lots of Parmesan cheese- or if I’m lazy takeaway cheese pizza lol. Dessert is usually ice cream and sprinkles plus always a bowl of cereal and milk (organic rice bubbles and crunchy nut corn flakes are my go to at the moment!) I am so impressed you ran for 40 minutes- you are amazing!!- I call a workout running two minutes down he street because I forgot the paper (seriously I always forget the paper!) Thanks for sharing Amanda!
Your day sounds delicious, Imogen! I had to Google what ‘rice bubbles’ were, and it turns out that we have it to, just under a different name – Rice Krispies. And it WOULD be impressive it I could run for 40 minutes! I was simply walking — I’m pretty sure I’d never manage to read anything while running on a treadmill.
Looks like an awesome day of eats to me! I actually really love snack plates, but I don’t have them often. I should change that!
My ideal snack plate: baby carrots + steamed broccoli with hummus, honeycrisp apple slices with peanut butter, white cheddar cheese, and seed crackers. Yum.
Favorite comfort food: A bowl of cheesy ravioli!! That sounds amazing right now.
And a typical “me” kind of food day probably involves oatmeal with banana and nut butter, avocado toast, eggs, and salmon. Those are on my most-eaten list for SURE.
Hello Sam… that would motivate some gym happenings 😉
Being so hot lately, I’ve been doing the snack plate thing too for lunch- cheese cubes, random veg, muffins, seafood…literally anything. I LOVE the look of that pudding- cottage cheese is so underrated!
I doubt I can give you a generic run down of what is typical…I would say pancakes lately but right now- seeing as I’m out of coconut flour, I’m eating pre made cheddar kabocha pancakes. Savoury start to the day!
I could seriously take a spoon and eat those nut butters with a scoop of oats and chocolate chips. 🙂 My sweet spot indeed.
Your eats always look super tasty & comforting. I tend to gravitate towards sweet things (dried fruit) and fats, like coconut butter & raw cashews. I definitely like to make sure I eat enough fat since I just feel better when I eat it & it’s so satiating & satisfying.
How do you read while on the treadmill? I wish I could… I’ve certainly tried but I can’t.
I just keep my pace at a pretty casual stroll. It helps if you start off slow to get yourself used to it and slowly increase the speed when you start getting more comfortable.
Comfort food for me is definitely really good pizza (like gourmet style) and my grandma’s christmas trifle. Never gets old.
Typically, I start my day off with oatmeal, have some sandwich/veggie combo at lunch, and try to vary dinner. And I snack on fruit.
Have a great day 🙂
Your lunch snack plate looks amazing. I think my ideal plate would be a hard boiled egg, avocado, tabouleh, roasted butternut squash, broccoli, and some humus!
My ideal plate would include roasted squash as well, but I’m currently out 😥
Your pictures are seriously AMAZING! I’m so jealous you have two Justin’s butters – I’ve never tried any! 🙁 I think I would be happy if I ate all of your exact meals. They look exactly like things that I’d eat on a regular basis!
Can we please combine forces? You can cook me breakfast all the time, and I’ll cook you lunch. It’ll be fabulous.
So, that blog that you’re reading on the treadmill? I think it looks pretty fabulous….:-p And oh goodness, your photography. When I come out to Alberta, I’m sitting you down and forcing you to give me tutorial :-p
And I need to try your pudding! It’d be a good use for my dry-as-hell roasted squash sitting in my fridge at home.
Ideal snack plate: cold rotisserie chicken, baby carrots, hummus, brie, and a few crackers. Yup, that would make me happy.
And a typical ‘me day’ of food: eggs and oatmeal breakfast, salad with chicken and squash for lunch, protein bar in the afternoon, chicken or pork with roasted sweet potato or rice and veggies for dinner, a piece of chocolate for dessert, and a Greek yogurt/casein bowl before bed.
Good choice on the maple!! I have actually never tried the vanilla flavor, but I hear it is amazing as well. Which one is your favorite?
That actually depends… The vanilla one is a lot sweeter, so that’s the one I turn to when my sweet tooth is acting up a bit more, but the maple is probably my favourite of the two — I love the grittiness of it.
I LOVE the texture of it too!! I still definitely need to try the vanilla though so that I can make my own comparison 🙂
That lunch has me drooling!! Veggie heaven. I’ve still never tried kabocha….embarrassing, I know!
The only reason I can forgive you for that is because of your intense love for sweet potatoes 😛
that pudding looks so easy, and simple, and delicious! Cant wait to try it when i have some extra squash sitting around. Ill just have to remember to pin it from my phone!
i just cant focus on reading while on the treadmill..but I text. lately, I am trying to include fruits in the morning because I am sick of oatmeal 🙁
Im kinda craving some quinoa now and your night snack looks really awesome! A solid way to get something a little sweet in without it being a sugar bomb.
Random: Where do you find your Justin’s? I’ve been lacking in trips to the US lately and am out of Justin’s AND my Earth Balance Coconut PB and am DYING 😛 <– oh, first world problems. Heh.
I usually just stock up (like SERIOUSLY stock up) when I’m down in the States, but I know you can also order them on iHerb and Swanson’s.
Two flavors of Justin’s!?! Thats a terribly difficult decision!
Your pictures are so gorgeous! What kind of camera do you use?! My dad offered to buy me a tablet for my birthday and I’d definitely be using it for checking up on blogs while working out! (Or watching Netflix… let’s be honest)
Thanks Miranda! I use a Canon EOS7D.
My favorite types of meals are “snack plates” like your lunch but my mind tricks me into thinking I didn’t have a real meal and then Im hungry 10 minutes later. Boo! But they’re soooo good!!