Thank you guys so much for wishing Spoons a happy birthday. He (she? it?) appreciates it very much 🙂
Today we’re gonna shift gears and switch from blog talk to food talk – it is What I Ate Wednesday after all, and people do love talking about food. Not surprising. Food is good stuff. Delicious, nutritious… auspicious (?? 😯 ). What’s not to love?
Sometimes I can’t help but wonder where our fascination with food comes from. Why do we spend so much time talking about it? Thinking about it? Ogling it? I mean, sure, it’s kind of essential to our survival, but air is a necessity too and you don’t see us obsessing over that.
Could our fascination with food be a result of the fact that it confuses the hell out of us? With all the information out there on how to eat, what to eat, when to eat, it’s easy to feel like we’re doing it wrong. Could we just be on a constant quest of trying to figure out how to do it right? Ha! Can you imagine what our ancestors would think if we told them we think we might be eating incorrectly? Good grief. But that’s human nature for ya – we like to have things down to a science, even if it’s something we already intuitively know and the process of doing so just confuses us more than anything else.
But even with all the confusion surrounding food, there are still certain things that are always a good idea; so if you won’t object, allow me to share some of those with you…
Good idea… deviating from my beloved AB/honey combo and starting the day with chocolate instead…
I woke up with a mad craving for chocolate, and since I’m trying to work on not procrastinating so much, I figured I should deal with it right away 😉 This was simply half a cup of oats cooked with an egg white and half a banana, with 1 Tbsp. of cocoa powder added in post-cooking.To complete  the ensemble, roasted almond butter and a sprinkle of Enjoy Life Double Chocolate Crunch granola for some added texture (and more chocolate).
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Good idea… tossing a tea bag in my morning coffee…
This was just a Pike from Starbucks with a splash of milk and a baggie of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea tossed in. I know, I know – it’s nowhere near Christmas and I completely skipped over a season, but when I was looking through my tea stash, this is the flavour that I figured would taste the best… and it did. Definitely going to be doing this on a regular basis.
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Good idea… preparing for the Apocalypse by stock piling fresh nectarines from the farmers market…
Having an obscene amount of peaches/nectarines means the fact that I’ve been eating my weight in them on a daily basis is completely justified, right? I mean, I can’t let them go bad, and they’re so good around this time of year.
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Good idea… salsa on salads [and basically everything else]…
I love salsa and will unashamedly eat it straight from the jar with a spoon. It definitely helps when I have something to toss it on, though, like this basic salad that I threw together just to satisfy a chicken craving. And speaking of chicken craving… I’ve found myself craving that and veggies on a more regular basis lately. Kind of bizarre, but I’m going with it…
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Good idea… keeping the doctor away by eating an apple (or 4) a day…
If you’ve never tried these, STAY AWAY – they’re insanely addicting. If I’m not paying attention (which I’m usually not), I can easily finish a bag without even realizing it. They claim to have 4 apples per bag, so I guess I won’t be taking a trip to see the doctor anytime soon… And to feed my addiction even more? They were on a killer sale in the grocery store the other day, so I think I’m stocked for the next… 2 weeks? 😆
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Good idea… picking up a new-to-me flavour of kombucha…
Holy.snap, I may have a new favourite flavour. Although to be honest, I think this is just an old flavour rebranded… Either way, it was delicious. I’ve actually had to give up drinking the Trilogy flavour because it was giving me some major stomach problems – the other flavours are fine, but Trilogy? Noooot okay. I’ve noticed it to be a lot more fizzy lately, so maybe that has something to do with it??
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Good idea… making/eating/cozying up to these 😉
Sad day, friends… my Almond Fudge Protein Bars are no more. Between sharing and snacking, I managed to go through the whole batch in… what… 2.5 days? I’m really tempted to whip up some more, but I’ve got a few other recipes rolling around in my brain and I need to start experimenting with those. Boo.
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Good idea…Â breakfast for dinner…
It’s been a while since I’ve had breakfast for dinner, and an even longer while since I’ve had scrambled eggs. I like eggs, but definitely go through phases with them. Â A craving hit the other night, though, so I scrambled a couple of eggs with milk, mushrooms, parmesan, and deli chicken, and had those alongside a random handful of veggies dressed in olive oil and salt. And because no meal is complete without some carbs…
… a bowl of cereal made an appearance a short while later. Have you ever tried mixing Cinnamon Harvest with cinnamon Puffins? It’s a good idea 😉
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Good idea… combining sweet things with salty things…
I picked up The Great Gatsby on my way home yesterday and ended my day by sitting down to watch that alongside some perfect movie snacks – popcorn and chocolate. This was a bag of Oogie’s kettle corn and a few After Eight mints. Hit.the.spot.
Happy Wednesday, friends! 😀
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Do you ever eat chocolate for breakfast?
Eggs: are you a fan?
What’s one food you have a ridiculously hard time controlling yourself around?
Your turn! Good idea… _____________.
Ok now I’m hungry. Those apple chips are the best-worst thing that have ever happened to me! Excessive if I fly to you just to get them on sale? I think I bought out the entire stock at HomeSense!
Good idea is popcorn in smoothies…random but insanely yummy! Oh and pickles and PB (or AB). I’m a total weirdo!
Also that food vs. air obsession comment is hilarious and oh so true!
I’ve heard of pickles and PB, but never thought about popcorn in smoothies. I -have- tried it with yogurt before, though, and it’s surprisingly good!
Oh, and you’re more than welcome to come take advantage of our cheap chips… I have a spare room you can crash in 😉
Combining sweet and salty things is definitely a good idea. And I have never thought to try salsa on a salad (although, let’s be real, I just started eating salads at all very recently), but it sounds delicious!
I love using chocolate protein powder and coco powder in my hot quinoa flakes! So chocolate for breakfast is definitely an option.
The only time I eat chocolate for breakfast and am perfectly happy with it is when I have post-birthday cake left over that my mom made. Put a piece in a bowl, pour a little milk over it, and oh man you have chocolate cake heaven in a bowl 🙂 Breakfast for dinner is always a good idea. I love eggs, but I do prefer them scrambled. Any other way and I’m usually not a fan. And my good idea is a breakfast burrito. I probably eat 3 or 4 of them a week. They’re pretty much a normal breakfast item where I live, and not even just for breakfast. Any meal it is acceptable to have a burrito. Come to New Mexico and try some of our hot sauce! You’ll like it 🙂
I’ve actually been to New Mexico a few times and remember the food being particularly good. Ohhh to live in a place where Mexican food was plentiful #whatdreamsaremadeof
That’s a good question, why do we focus so much on food? I’m going to agree with you in that it’s confusing on how we are ‘supposed’ to eat. And then we focus on how we are ‘not supposed’ to eat, but we dive into the pint of ice cream anyways because it’s delicious.
HUGE fan of eggs. In fact, I think it’s a brinner kinda night! It seems that every time I DON’T have eggs for breakfast (although my spinach pancakes were fabulous), I see them everywhere and crave them. So yes, scrambled eggs for dinner, it has been decided! 🙂
Great snacks 🙂 I am so obsessed with food, as I think about it constantly as im sitting here, I try to remember not to look at pinterest or blogs (but I fail) while im at work because then im just hungry all day long!
My obsession with food comes from the joy I find when eating it! It’s one of my favorite things to do. (Eat) plus it can be fun to experiment.
That oatmeal looks so good! Chocolate, mmmmm….
Speaking of chocolate, I need to try this protein bars ASAP!
I think the reason we are so obsessed with food is because it really is one of life’s greatest pleasures 🙂 What’s the meaning of life without delicious food?! Also- I love salsa on salads!
Amen to that! I remember watching sci-fi movies where they had food in pill form and it was like… who would honestly want to live like that?! Eating is so much fun!
have you heard of the guy who is coming up with a way to not eat but still get all nutrients/calories? If you google Soylent you will prob find into on it if interested. I’m not sure how I feel about it, while its cool I think I would miss eating.
Chocolate for breakfast? Heck yes! I actually just melted some Nutella over yogurt this morning 😉 I can’t control myself around crackers, I don’t know what the deal is. Maybe it’s their crunchiness or the fact that they pair so well with cheese and guacamole and hummus and olives and everything else that I love – either way, I only treat myself to them occasionally because I have no control! 😉
Love the coffee and tea bag idea and I can’t think of a better way to end the day than with Gatsby (watched it twice in the theatre because I loved it som much) and kettle corn, yum!
I go in spurts where I put salsa on literally everything… eggs, salads, steamed vegges, the possibilities are endless!
Confession: I still have more than half of the box of Sugar Cookie tea a friend mailed me way back in January, too. It’s so good I’ll shed a tear or two once using the last bag. [Kidding … Sort of.]
Salsa on everything is awesome and the reason I need to have a jar in the fridge at all times. I feel I should make my own but store-bought is so convenient.
Good idea: Combining seemingly odd foods only to find they taste ridiculously good. Case in Point: yogurt bowls with coconut flour and banana flakes stirred in, topped with almond butter and – yes! – chickpeas. Sweet, salty, different textures … amazing.
I often find that the strangest combinations make some of the best ones. And I’ve especially been huge on texture lately – it just makes things so much more interesting.
I think we are totally food soul sisters!!! I had breakfast for dinner last night, love salsa on salads (and had this for lunch) and chocolatey almond butter oats…. say no more. I have really got to try the tea in the coffee idea….. sounds really interesting in a VERY good way!
I don’t know what you’re talking about, because I think air is fascinating. In fact, I’m planning a blog post on the benefits of inhaling through the nose v. through the mouth, and why I think we should all eliminate nitrogen from our air supply.
Uhh… Yeah, no. Good food idea? Eating carbs at every meal (yes, ever after 6pm, gasp!) and then some.
Knowing what you’re capable of, the air post would be a fascinating read 😉 The only interesting thing about air that I could come up with was balloons… clearly I am all of 7 years old.
So many good ideas! I’m going to be on the search for mojito kombucha! That sounds awesome. And chocolate for breakfast?! Yes please!
Yum chocolate oats are amazing! It has been so long since I have had these 🙂
I’m definitely a fan of eggs..i love them because they are so versatile. You can make omelets, add them to oats, hard boil them, poach them, the list goes on!
I have a SUPER hard time controlling myself around cheese and crackers. Specifically brie and crackers. I could eat that stuff until I get practically sick (which isn’t hard lol). Goat cheese is up there too! I just love good cheeses….sorry, I’m not sorry! 🙂
Have a great wednesday!
I still need to try that tea bag in the coffee trick. What kind did you use? A black tea? I really like that GTs flavour too, but I’ve found that it’s always flat! Breaks my heart. I really want to try the strawberry one, but as per usual, Canada’s food options suck.
Yep, definitely eat chocolate for breakfast. It was part of my pre-run bfast the other day, and I love putting cacao nibs in my smoothies.
I like eggs, but I think I gave myself a bit of intolerance to them because I ate them every day for a couple years. So now, I’ll only have them 1-2x week max. It’s sad!
I can’t control myself around goat cheese, tortilla chips (especially the Simply Sprouted brand), kettle corn, Haagen Dazs ice cream. Basically anything sweet & salty is like crack.
Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride is a herbal tea, and I used it mostly because it has a nice sweetness to it. I’ve heard that using chai tea is really good too, though… I just try to be careful with the amount of caffeine or I get the shakes.
Yup, huuuuge fan of eggs here. And nectarines. And chocolate. 😉 I’ve actually been wanting more chocolate lately, which is odd since that’s not normally my thing.
Maybe your little guy is a chocoholic 😉
Huh…I’ve never put coco powder in my oatmeal before, but I’m loving that idea! Any excuse to eat chocolate is good for me! 😉 I used to despise eggs, but now I like them much more. I like to eat them scrambled, hardboiled, or fried. Salsa on top of salad sounds like a perfect idea. I think I’d much prefer that over regular salad dressing. If there are M&Ms around…I can’t just have a small handful. They’re so good and I end up eating a ton. I do my best to stay away from them because they’re SO addicting! 😉
That cereal combination is one of my favorites! Chocolate happens to be the food in which I have 0 to 1% control.
Ummm…you still have Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride packed away?? Totally jealous…I’m anxiously waiting for it to hit stores! Although, I don’t think it’ll be going anywhere near my coffee any time soon 😛
I ate breakfast for dinner the other day (Greek yogurt, granola, peanut butter, crumbled corn muffin) and my boyfriend got, almost, upset with me about it. He told me that I need to start learning “healthier eating habits” and that I should be cooking more and not sticking with safe foods. But, it’s like, that IS what I was craving and it’s not like I restricted, you know? Urghhh…problems ha.
😆 Yeah I kind of stocked up last season and didn’t drink tea all summer, so there’s plenty laying around. And it’s funny how people can totally misinterpret our behaviours and see something as disordered when it really isn’t. I’ve had that happen to me enough times to know how annoying it can be 😡
Ya it gets old really fast (the comments, not the tea 🙂 ) I eat “normal” dinners most nights but sometimes I just want some damn yogurt and peanut butter!
Oh I love popping a tea bag in my coffee for a different flavour, chai is usually my fave! I haven’t had a chocolately breakfast in way too long, that needs to be sorted!
It is kind of an odd thing to have such a big obsession around food isn’t it. I know when I tell my friends about my blog, they are always pretty curious around that stuff. Haha, I guess it’s different strokes for different folks 😉
Ah, I need to see the Great Gatsby still, I’ve been dying to see it!
Apple chips are always a good idea, I love those things. And I have plans to try out your protein bars! They look too good to pass on.
Ooo I am loving all these good ideas! I think we’re so interested in food because of the variety we have to choose from, and its ability to make us happy, energized, reminiscent, etc.
I have trouble controlling myself around sweet potato chips, especially the Trader Joe’s kind. Dangerous.
Good idea: Lucky Charms sprinkled on my green smoothie a couple nights ago–it was like St. Patrick’s Day in August!
You should re-name this to AMAZING ideas! Ah love them all. Especially chocolate for breakfast. This is my new goal: have chocolate for breaky once a week!
I’m actually not the biggest fan of eggs – the texture of scrambled ones makes me queasy. I’ve gotten sick from them/them combined with other foods so they are never something I crave! I think sweets are what can get the best of me if I don’t have any control – like little candies, m&m’s or cookies.
I totally understand the egg thing because that was basically me when I was younger. I pretty much hated eggs all the way up until college, and then I only started to eat them because they were quick and easy. They’re still not my favourite, but sometimes the random craving strikes.
I try to have them every few months, just to see if the aversion has gone away but it’s usually not the case! I wish I didn’t have this strange relationship with them because they are good for protein and pretty easy to make!
Oh man wasn’t the great gatsby awesome? I watched it in the car at work on my last week at the beach. I’m learning how filling and delicious salads can be. I never thought they could make up a whole meal, but if you throw random things in there, it’s actually pretty tasty!
Sweet and salty will forever be one of my favorite combos. It’s just so satisfying! Loving that cereal bowl too…I’ve been cereal obsessed lately. Crunchy and creamy just hits the spot.
I’d LOVE to try these apples chips (hint! hint! :-))
And I am totally with you on chocolate for breakfast. I love to throw cacao powder into everything to make it chocolate-y.
Scrambled eggs for dinner! I used to make this a lot, but I kind of forgot about it – thank you for the reminder!
I have this strange feeling that you’re trying to tell me something, but have no idea what it could be… 😛
Bahahaha 🙂 I think I forgot it now 🙂
How did you like the Great Gatsby? My bf and I were ecstatic about it and ever then the soundtrack is my favorite running playlist.
And how did you come up with the crazy teabag idea? I never heard of anything like that but now I am more than tempted to give it a try… on the first look I thought it happened by mistake and you just didn’t get enough sleep last night or something like that 🙂
I really enjoyed Gatsby, but it was a taaaad bit long and I had to take breaks a few times through 😆 As for the tea bag, I have no idea where I first hear about it, but I’ve seen it floating around for a while and decided it was high time to give it a try. It’s really good!
Starting and ending your day on chocolate sounds pretty ideal to me ;)! Love the sound of your breakfast! Potentially dumb question on my part but what’s a Pike at Starbucks?? I am so intrigued by this tea bag in coffee idea- need to replicate! It reminds me of my childhood days when I’d mix soft drinks like Coke & Fanta together- so random yet so delicious! Despite the amount I eat egg, I am yet to get sick of ’em…staple in my diet which is a good thing given how easy they are to make :)! As for something that’s a good idea: Pear slices topped with cinnamon & nut butter…winning combo!
Pike is just the name of their medium roast brewed coffee. And definitely give the tea bag a try! SUCH an easy way to add some nice flavour/sweetness to your brew. I need to try it in a cappuccino…
Oh Kettlecorn is delicious! I could easily eat a whole bag of it because I love it SO much. A good idea is mixing chocolate chips into my greek yogurt!
I’ve often thought of the same thing myself…it seems so peculiar how fascinated, and often times obsessed, we are when it comes to food and eating. Thinking back to how people used to live, it really is such a huge difference.
I’m right there with you…sometimes I just have a craving for something sweet (like chocolate!) in the morning and you just gotta give in and have it! Plus breakfast for dinner is my absolute favorite! I can never get enough of breakfast-type foods. I see no reason in allocating a certain time of day to enjoy those delicious foods! 🙂
Chocolate for breakfast is a great idea. I used to do chocolate chips in my oatmeal or pancakes all the time.
I LOVE eggs. I love all breakfast food. IT’s the best.
I have been putting salsa on everything! I love it on salads. Hard to believe I used to hate it when I was a kid.
You and me both! But then again, I couldn’t stand anything tomato based… The only thing I could tolerate it on was pizza – I wouldn’t even let my mom put pasta sauce in my spaghetti.
Everything looks tasty! Never thought of the tea bag in coffee. Toss in a green tea bag and that will get you the goodness of the green tea. Think I’ll try that tomorrow. Thanks for the great idea, Amanda!
I, too, eat salsa -with a spoon- from the container! My daughter insists we get 2 containers as I will sit and eat my way through a whole one sometimes!
YES – I most definitely eat chocolate for breakfast – in oats, muffins, scones 🙂
Yes – most definitely an egg fan – had 2 poached last night with a gynormous side of veggies and blk beans.
And peanut butter – I cannot be myself around peanut butter! Had some on a banana today – had a spoonful with chocolate milk after a run yesterday eveing – had some with yogurt for a snack and had some with an oatmeal bar in the morn!
All your eats look so good – I gotta try the apple chips and your almond fudge protein bars are on the menu for this weekend 🙂
This whole post was a good idea & now I’m drooling over it all. Salsa on salad…about as delicious as mustard on salad. Have you ever tried?
If you count chocolate protein powder as chocolate.. then I use it in my morning smoothies =)
I have! I actually sometimes mix mustard with Greek yogurt and some herbs to make a simple salad dressing 🙂 So good.
i make chocolate protein smoothies all the time! and almond butter & honey is always a good combo!!
yummm a new kombucha flavor! i want to try that one! also yes, sometimes chocolate for breakfast is a great idea. i have a hard time controlling myself around just about anything when im hungry, but epecially chips and salsa. and im basing this on the fast i went to a tex-mex resraurant yesterday and inhaled the chips and salsa they put on the table when we walked in. so good, but way too much. and eggs- LOVE 🙂
Omigosh. Chips and salsa were my kryptonite in college. I didn’t exactly have the healthiest of diets back then, and a dinner of nothing but chips and salsa seemed perfectly legit to me. These days I try to throw in some beans or something 😉