Oh hi there! 😀
In case you were wondering where I disappeared to yesterday, I’ll just briefly say that I needed to take a blogging sick-day. I got hit with some crazy stomach pains on Monday night that left me curled up in a fetal position for most of the evening – not exactly the most ideal condition when it comes to writing a blog post.
So I took the day off and nursed my still-sensitive stomach back to an acceptable level of health. The only problem is that today is What I Ate Wednesday, and seeing as I spent most of yesterday eating pretty much nothing but plain oatmeal, buttered toast, dry cereal, and white rice, I don’t exactly have the most interesting of spreads to share with you guys. BUT! I’ve figured out a way around that…
Everyone loves a theme!
When I look at how much my diet has evolved over the past couple of years, I can’t help but notice one thing: I end up eating my words a lot. I’m sure you guys know what I’m talking about… You say you’ll never do something, and then lo and behold, a few weeks/months/years later, you start doing (and enjoying) that very thing. Annoying. So, for today’s WIAW, I figured it would be fun to share a few of my recent eats and eat-my-words moments with you guys, and remind you to never say never.
So you all know that I love my oats, but some point I became an oatmeal snob and said I would never go back to eating quick oats after falling in love with the steel cut variety…
Breakfast: eggy oats with plain Greek yogurt, almond butter, honey, and cinnamon.
… when the reality is that quick oats are a lot easier for my stomach to handle. I actually gave up eating oats for about 6 months because I thought they were causing me some trouble, but [I guess] my stomach just had a harder time digesting the less-processed kind because I’ve been eating quick oats for months without any problems. The same applies to rice – I do much better with white than brown.
Never say never.
Waaaaay back in the day (we’re talking ~10 years here), I used to think that coffee looked like sludge and tasted like tar. I boggled at the idea that people actually liked it and said I would never enjoy it myself…
Morning coffee: dry cappuccino from Starbucks.
… and now I rarely go a day without – and when I do, it’s usually because I’m having some kind of stomach trouble and don’t want to aggravate things any further. I’ve heard coffee referred to as a “hug in a cup,” and that’s exactly what it is for me – liquid comfort and enjoyment. The buzz is just an added perk 😉
Never say never.
I followed a vegan diet for about a year and a vegetarian one for about 4, and during that time I told myself that I would never eat meat again…
Lunch: usually includes a baked chicken salad.
… but the reality of the matter is that I feel a lot better when I include meat in my diet. This is one that I fought against for quite some time because I honestly enjoyed vegetarian cooking, but all of the beans and soy did a real number on my stomach, and the massive amounts of veggies I ate didn’t help matters either. I’m not crazy about meat and don’t find myself truly craving it all that often, but it does keep me feeling good.
Never say never.
After struggling with an eating disorder and being afraid of all things calorically unknown, I [thought] that I would never again be able to enjoy the sweet, doughy goodness of a freshly made bakery treat…
Morning delight: the dark chocolate macaron from Duchess Bake Shop. The rose and salted caramel ones were eaten on Monday afternoon.
Afternoon delight: milk chocolate orange scone from Duchess Bake Shop.
… but I guess I didn’t give myself enough credit because I do enjoy them very much and on a semi-regular basis. And while they’re still a source of some anxiety, that’s more a fear of winding up in the hospital from an allergic reaction than anything else. Eep.
Never [think] never.
With all of the controversy surrounding it, I said that I would never eat red meat, and stick to things like chicken and turkey instead…
Dinner: leftover beef rouladen with buckwheat kasha and a salad.
… and now I enjoy a serving of red meat in moderation and see it as being responsible for some of the improvements in my health. What improvements? More energy (thanks to heme iron and B vitamins?), better skin/hair, and just an overall feeling of better well-being. I only eat it about once a week or less, but even that has been enough to reap some of the benefits.
Never say never.
At some point, I said that I would never eat cereal again because it did nothing to satisfy my hunger and I saw it as just being a waste of calories. And even when I started eating it again, I said I would never buy the “empty” sugar-laden kind…
Evening snack: a few bowls of Sally’s Cinnamon Bliss (aka: Cinnamon Toast Crunch)
… and… well… I’m pretty sure you guys know how that one turned out 😉
Never say never.
So there ya have it – some of the foods and words I’ve been eating. If there’s one thing I’m trying to do, it’s become more openminded about all things health, diet, and fitness related. Different things work for different people, and different things work for the same person at different times in their life. Change really is the only constant, and learning to embrace that concept and be open to experimentation plays a big role in staying healthy. I think that’s part of the reason why I dislike the whole idea of labelling diets – too much restriction.
Happy Wednesday, lovely people! 😀
. – . – . – .
What’s one thing you eat/do that you said you never enjoy? I’m still stubborn and say that I’ll never eat fish or enjoy running, but I guess you never know… even if I don’t want to admit it.
What’s your favourite thing to buy at a bakery?
What is/was on the menu for dinner tonight!?
oh, what kind of oats are considered quick oats that you find easier to digest? The kind in the packets? Thanks so much
They can come in little packets, yes. But you can also get them in bigger bags — they’re just labelled as “quick cooking oats.”
mine say to cook for 10 minutes…would that be considered quick? It doesn’t say quick cooking on the package.
Good tip on the white vs brown rice. Maybe I’ll switch and see how I do with white…although I think the white rice may be more “constipating” (tmi)
Oh girl, I loved this post! I’ve eaten my words so many times…especially now that I’m FINALLY starting to get to a place of comfort and trust in my relationship with food. For a LONG time, I told myself that I would never have cookies, chocolate, baked goods, or even ice cream in the house because it was too much sugar…a waste of calories…something that I couldn’t trust myself to practice moderation with. Now, I have a half a carton of (lactose-free) ice cream in the freezer, a tub of cookie dough in the fridge, and about five different chocolate bars in the pantry (along with a few boxes of that sugary cereal that like you, I used to think was pointless to buy). I can see now that what’s BEST for your health doesn’t always have to come down to flawless nutritional facts…sometimes it’s about MENTAL health, happiness, and comfort! 😀
Favorite thing to buy at a bakery: Hmm…I actually haven’t bought a baked good in some time, but when I used to frequent Starbucks on a DAILY basis in college (seriously, I had a problem), I used to LOVE their cinnamon sugar doughnuts and the pumpkin spice muffins with cream cheese! So good, but I swear I was riding a sugar high until lunch! Lol
I love this post… very creative idea! I agree, in the immortal words of Patty Griffin (LOVE), “I don’t know nothin’ except change will come.” We might as well embrace it!
I wish I found your blog so much earlier than I did 🙂 I lived in Edmonton for five years , but recently relocated to Toronto in the spring. I find myself missing Edmonton often lately. Especially my weekly strathcona farmers market trips & planet organic deli.
I myself struggled with disordered eating for many years, I stumbled across your blog a while back and was blown away with the similarities we have, needless to say I become a regular reader of your blog because of it.
Something I thought I would never eat again would be meat, I was also vegan for about a year but began having health issues , low vitamin levels etc. and found with adding it back in my diet I am WAY better with it in my diet in small amounts. I also struggled with it, but came to realization that vegan isn’t for everyone, that doesn’t mean I lack veggies though , I still eat copious amounts ha ha!
Tonight’s dinner was easy after the gym : egg white omelet over wild rice, black bean, avocado , salsa and hot sauce yum!
I hope your stomach is feeling better now!
I used to hate coffee when I was younger too, but I definitely came around to it in university. Also I thought I would never find a nut-free bakery and that I would never be able to enjoy treats that weren’t baked by me or my family members, but now I know of 2! 😀 My favourite things to buy are cake balls and cookies (specifically oatmeal-raisin-chocolate chip-dried cranberry-sunflower-seed-pumpkin seed cookies)!
I have a lot of never say nevers! Red meat is one thing that I swore off. I don’t eat it a lot, but when I do I don’t feel guilty about it. Favorite thing at a bakery is definitely donuts, however, I NEVER get those! 😉
I was a vegetarian for 6 years, stating that I would “never eat MEAT again”. Then, like you, I introduced turkey and chicken, claiming that I would “never eat RED meat again.” Then I had a burger, and fell in love, and THEN claimed that I would “never eat PORK again. Then I had a ham and cheese sandwich, and the rest is history.
Boy can I relate! I had many “never will I eat again” food rules for years. Now, I am a meat-eating, sugar-enjoying, dessert-baking, fat-consuming, more well rounded (AND HAPPIER & HEALTHIER) person. Thanks for sharing 😉
I was very picky as a kid…I grew up on French bread with butter, cheese, pasta with olive oil/butter and parmesan, Lipton chicken noodle soup (don’t judge!) and bagels. I HATED fish…my parents love it but by the time I was 11 or so, my mom was just sick of fighting me every time she made it (at least 3 or 4 times a week) so she just made me some plain chicken or pasta. But I actually got into fish about a year ago…and now I LOVEEEEEE it! I adore salmon, cod, tilapia, branzino, shrimp, scallops…you name it!
At bakeries, I love pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, pb or chocolate chip cookies, brownies and blondies 🙂
Dinner was a big salad with romaine, salsa, cheese and black olives
Also, when I first moved out, I didn’t want to touch raw meat (this was before i started eating fish…I actually don’t mind raw fish but still am not crazy about raw meat) so I didn’t eat any meat basically for about a year. I told myself I didn’t want it…but then I went home for the summer and could not get enough steak, lamb, etc. I learned I actually do crave meat and feel kind of weak if I don’t get it. I think there are some people who thrive on vegetarian diets, but I’m not one of them. I’m not a huge carnivore, but I like to have some chicken, turkey bacon or fish at least twice a week (with some red meat at least once a month…more out of thriftiness than anything else).
😆 I actually went through the same exact thing when I moved out on my own – I was afraid to handle raw meat and through I would end up giving myself food poisoning, so I had my mom cook it for me and bring it over… Just a tad bit inconvenient 😉
Great post! Most of my say never foods I’ve said never to recently, but I’ll check back in a few years and see if I’ve eaten pop-tarts.
Its funny how we deem certain things as ‘never’ but over time, we try it out and then change our opinions! Olives and oats were two things growing up I detested and swore off- Now I have both very often!
Tonights dinner is… your beef rouladen!! I’m heading over to mums tonight and seeing as I promised to cook, its on the agenda! Favourite bakery item would have to be a coffee crumb cake or vanilla slice (mille feuille?). Has the ‘cronut’ craze hit you guys yet? Its the biggest thing right now here- Croissant + Donut in one!
Ohhhh! Lemme know how it turns out! 😀 And I’ve seen a few cronuts around here, but it hasn’t really become a big thing yet. I’ve never had one, but seeing as I love both croissants and donuts, I can’t imagine a combination of the two not being good!
I love the concept of this post; very clever, and I had no idea you were a vegan and vegetarian before. I’m fascinated. I get why you eat meat now, but what made you decide to start again? I’m curious.
I said I’d never be a runner and then I did a ton of running training for the Tough Mudder, but I think eating your words is a good thing because it’s a sign of growth…or something like that.
Hope your stomach is feeling better today.
What made me start again? Hmm.. health issues, mostly. Things like fatigue and constantly feeling unsatisfied/hungry. Just felt like something was missing.
Gotcha. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
I like how you said that! “Change is the only constant”….It’s so true because I used to think I could NEVER have even a little bit of creamer and here I am, with no problem having some every now and then. 😀 And that sconeeeee!!!! Whenever I go to an american type of bakery I get scones and cookies that are more “interesting”–like something I’m not used to having.
I was a vegan for 4 years then I started eating eggs again. Then, I experimented with fish and I LOVE tilapia and salmon. I always said I would NEVER eat fish. never say never…. 🙂 You come stay with me and I’ll turn you into a fish girl. I say I’ll never eat meat, but you never know! 😉
I wouldn’t even mind getting into fish because it’s supposed to be so healthy for you; but… ohhh the smell!
I am still baffled I went so long without eating chicken, just the past three months have been my introduction of chicken back in my diet. crazy! now I love it and can’t imagine a week without it. it was different for me because I grew up in a vegetarian household so ate mostly meat as a kid but now I still love my seafood but meat as well! turkey still has to be my favorite!
Omg, I had cinnamon toast crunch for the first time in maybe EVER when I was camping last weekend. I also told myself I would never eat sugary cereal again (or any cereal for that matter), but it was SOOOO good! I just kept going back for handfuls of its sugary goodness 🙂
Coffee is one of those things I used to say never to but once I discovered Starbucks lattes, there was no looking back. Now I pretty much only get Americanos and iced coffees and I’m learning to love them with no added sweetener, not even stevia. I guess our taste-buds mature sometimes!
Running is something else I still say never to, but I’ve always admired runners so who knows–I may end up becoming a runner someday. And honestly, I still love being vegan and I like that I’ve gotten past eating the faux meats and instead eating all plants for my protein needs, but sometimes I do consider reintroducing seafood. It was one of the last things I gave up before transitioning into veganism and it’s really the only animal protein I can see myself ever liking again. I know a lot of people HATE fish but it was the one meat I actually loved and still crave sometimes!
The runner’s high that I keep hearing about is -definitely- appealing, but I live in a place where it’s too nasty to run outside for probably close to 6 months, and the idea of doing it on a treadmill just isn’t appealing. But who knows… never say never 😉
So sorry about those stomach pains – I hope you’re feeling much better now! I never thought I’d eat tofu after a scarring experience in the dorm cafeteria, but I love it now!
All of your eats look so tasty! I want those macaroons in my mouth immediately! I said I would never like peppers and now I eat them almost every day. I still swear I’ll never like running. I hate that crap, although I’m going to run 6-8 tonight since I have a half this weekend. Why did I sign up for that again? Feel ya on the meat. I was a pescatarian for over a year. Then I discovered Paleo and I will always eat meat from now on. Seems weird that I went over a year without anything but fish. Yup, I’m not ok with anything that is unsustainable. It does nothing good for you.
Even though I’m addicted to lattes, I am still 100% adamant that I will never like the taste of black coffee. My friends are starting to drink it and even the smell makes me want to run in the other direction! Have you had the blueberry scone from Duchess? Because holy oh my goodness that is basically heaven dipped in happiness straight out of the oven. 🙂
isn’t it too funny how we change as we “grow up”? I am constantly amazed by the foods I eat now, the things I do (fitness & life wise) and even the movies & music & books! thats the best thing about aging is the change of tastes I think 🙂
and dinner tonight is home smoked Alaskan King Salmon salads with baby spinach & cold chilled Kabocha squash cubes on the side. I have this great ginger lime dressing I make that goes on everything under the sun… I never used to like any of these foods either LOL
I’m the same way – I’d say that at least 80% of my diet is made up of foods that I never would have dreamed of eating when I was younger… and now I can’t imagine life without them!
In my quest to truly strive for intuitive eating,
I’m actually trying to embrace the calorically unknown.
i dont want to know and im trying so hard to not fall into the trap of ed again and instead TRULY leave its premises
hope it brings fruitful awakenings in my body settling at its natural weight
Hope you are feeling better Amanda, I was poorly at the weekend and it’s not fun! I always know when I lose my appetite something isn’t right!
I see an ‘Ode to Chia Seeds’ a’ comin! Lol.
OMGosh there are tooons of things I’ve said ill never eat, and then do. Too many to list.
But you’ve definitely given me a lot of food for thought on the whole red meat thing lately.
I (currently) don’t eat it…but I’m not even really sure why? ( Maybe partly due to thinking I just don’t know how to cook it properly, it’s a lil’ intimidating! Oh, and the fact that the media has practically demonised it)
Seeing as I’m low on various nutrients though , many of which red meat offer, it probably could really be of benefit.
And your rouladen looks pretty spectacular, gotta’ say. So ya know, never say never :).
Xxx
I avoided red meat for so long because of all the negative press it got, too… and it’s a shame because it really did make me feel better. I think the main reason that it has such a bad rap is because people just generally eat too much of it, when it only takes a small amount to enjoy the benefits.
I love this post! I think never saying never when it comes to food is a great lesson.
I was a vegetarian for a few years and while I didn’t mind it, I feel much better eating meat now! I don’t eat a lot, and I don’t eat red meat, but it’s nice to be able to enjoy a little meat!
I am so glad you enjoy your bakery treats!! They really complete me and I couldn’t imagine life without them. HAHA. I am addicted for sure. I love this theme, and love all your current changes.
I used to think I’d never run, and then I did, up to 10 miles at a time. Then it was weight lifting. Now I can’t live without it, and hate to run again.
I usually go with what looks good at a bakery, but cheese danish, fresh muffins, or pain au chocolat are top picks, unless the cinnamon rolls are looking on point.
My boyfriend is working super late tonight, so I’m thinking one of my dinners (I eat 2 usually) 😉 is tilapia.
I’m still in the “I’ll never be a runner” phase, so maybe there’s hope for me yet!
Stomach pains are something I struggled with a lot in my disordered eating days because I was consuming raw vegetables up the wah-zoo! Oof! It is definitely hard to find what you truly love after suffering from an eating disorder because you have told yourself for so long you don’t want certain things, so you start to believe it. I have been pescetarian for like 3 years, I think? There is no way I could stop eating fish because I love it, but the only thing I miss eating sometimes is homemade meatballs… Otherwise, I don’t really crave meat too much, either! That bakery scone!!! Mmm.