We’re not going to talk about the weather. We’re not going to talk about the fact that it snowed last night and we currently have snow on the ground. We’re not going to be bitter. Instead, we’re going to talk about the good stuff, and since today just so happens to be [What I Ate] Wednesday, we’re going to talk about the good stuff as it relates to food.
You know those little add-ins that take a meal or snack up a few notches? We’re going to talk about those… because that’s so much better than talking about the fact that it looks more like Christmas than Easter…
Breakfast… just add honey…
Eggy bananafied oats layered with plain Greek yogurt and topped with homemade applesauce, honey, cinnamon, and almond butter.
Honey may just be my favourite sweetener of all time. When I was younger, I would actually drink honey straight from those squeezable honey bear jars, and while I tend to take a bit more of a moderate approach these days, there’s no denying that I still love the stuff… especially when it’s buckwheat honey. I like regular honey just fine too, but buckwheat has a stronger flavour and depth that I absolutely adore. It also contains more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which totally justifies my sometimes obscene consumption of it 😉
Morning snack… just add chia seeds…
My Thick & Creamy Chocolate Smoothie with an added spoonful of chia seeds.
For a girl who’s spent so much time snarking on chia seeds in the past, I have to admit that they do have their time and place… that time usually being mid-morning, and that place being inside smoothies. I really love how they add a little bit of extra thickness to drinks, especially when they get blended up and I don’t have to worry about them getting stuck in my teeth. That extra little bit of added nutrition doesn’t hurt either, and I have a feeling that my stomach is a fan too… if you know what I mean 😉
Lunch… just add a hint of sweetness…
Snack plate made up of roasted kabocha, half an avocado, hummus, and toast topped with cottage cheese and jam.
I don’t know about you guys, but I need to end my meals on a sweet note or I just don’t feel satisfied, no matter what I eat. If I had my way, all of my meals would probably end up being sweet and breakfasty, buuuuut in the interest of keeping things a little more balanced, I try to keep the sweet tooth in check. It still needs to be acknowledged, though… even if it’s just with a spoonful of jam or a few pieces of chocolate. I find that attending to my sweet tooth on a regular basis keeps me from feeling like I need to eat ALL the sugar because it keeps the cravings from adding up to a breaking point. It’s a good understanding we have with each other…
Afternoon snack… just add almond butter…
A banana with Justin’s classic almond butter.
Almond butter can do no wrong. No matter what it is, it’ll taste 100x better when it’s smeared with almond butter — true story. I can’t even tell you how many baking fails this breathtaking butter has saved from the trash can in the past, but I can tell you that my baking has improved now that I’m no longer to healthify everything, so I enjoy my almond butter with things like bananas, chocolate, and spoons instead.
Dinner… just add veggies…
White rice cooked in coconut milk and topped with stir fried ground chicken and veggies.
Confession: my veggie consumption has been slacking big time. I have no idea what it is, but veggies just haven’t been appealing to me at all lately. I look back at the days where I used to eat a huge salad for lunch every.single.day and wonder how the heck I did that 😯 These days I’m lucky if I manage to get one salad in a week, and I find myself a lot more drawn to roasted and steamed veggies than raw ones. Not gonna lie… my stomach has been singing my praises for it, and since I’ve been feeling pretty good as a result, I’m not going to worry about it too much… for now.
Evening snack… just add nothing …
A slice of my chocolate chip skillet cookie.
… because some things are perfect just the way they are 😉 And because I like to end things on a sweet/happy note, I’ll see you guys tomorrow for Thinking Out Loud! 😀
What’s your favourite sweetener?
Do you like to end your meals on a sweet note?
Do you go through periods where your veggie intake slacks big time too?
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I loooove sweets, so yes, my meals typically end on a sweet note. 😉 Whether it’s a simple and small piece of chocolate or a more indulgent dessert, it’s usually something!
And YES, the veggies have been lacking big time lately. Yikes. Working on it.
SERIOUSLY we love all the same foods haha. I need to make your applesauce sometime – I just make “ghetto” cooked apples by heating them in the microwave for a minute with cinnamon… but it works well lol. I ALWAYS have to end my meals on a sweet note… I try to make it fruit/nut butter (or a combo of the two!)
Haha, seriously, this weather is out of control! I wish we lived closer so we could have meals together, namely that incredible looking lunch and that splendid skillet cookie! 😀
I think we were long lost childhood friends in another life. That, or I just so happened to drink honey from the little teddy bear squiggy bottle too. I also inhaled honey those sticks at checkout, and dipped bananas in straight up sugar for every bite……yeah, parents were never around for that sweet tooth excursion.
Rice & coconut milk….creamy & dreamy (too much, I know). But GEEBUS. That sounds like it could be really great starter for thai curry rice. Or rice pudding…yep clearly it’s snack time.
I have yet to the the “veggie wall.” I bet my stomach wishes I would, but I choose my nightly veggie pooch over comfort because I can never contain my kabocha annihilation.
yummmm everything looks so good.. you gave me a good idea.. i should really add chia seeds to all of my smoothies.. I have a bag of those seeds just sitting around after hearing about them so much.. I don’t LOVE them in oatmeal so… time to put them in use…
I’m pretty sure smoothies are the only reason I was able to get through my huge stash of chias — I really can’t find another use for them that I enjoy!
I’ve always ended my meals with something sweet even when I was losing weight. There are so many healthy, low-calorie options available now. I don’t believe in restricting those things from the diet.thats probably obvious with all the treats I’m always posting on the blog. I’m really living honey lately. I used to hate it but now I put it in everything.
I share your passion to honey! My grandfather has an apiary therefore I can eat natural house honey all the year round! Seriously, it is much more tasty something that it is possible to buy in shop 😉 And you tried honey in honeycombs? It is one more level of pleasure
… I can’t even tell you how jealous I am!
I once ate a jar of honey in 24 hours… my friends started to call me Winnie the Pooh…
It’s still my favourite sweetener but I’ve since discovered a new thing – moderation! 😉
My favorite sweetener… is probably… I’m not sure. I don’t really ‘sweeten’ things, but I add mashed bananas or something to it? I don’t use honey much; but if I want something sweet, I just go for it and have chocolate straight up! Or I do add almond butter to things, but that’s not really sweet haha
and YES my veggie intake was slacking last week – so I went and bought a TON of trader joe’s frozen veggie bags. Stocked fo lyfe 🙂
your lunch plate looks uh-mazing! YUMMY.
I find I can’t end my meals without something sweet too:) Usually that’s in the form of stevia- sweetened something, but I tend to make most of my meals sweet anyway. Even dishes like soup always have a sweet fruit like tomatoes added to them for just that nice touch of sweet:) Plus, I don’t think I can go a day without raw chocolate after one (or two!) meals, which always curbs my sugar cravings:) Lovely post and Happy Wednesday!
All your recipes look yummy! Thanks for sharing healthy ones with ones, especially the chocolate smoothie. I like the thick consistency. Feels like you’re having a lot more when you have to eat it with a spoon instead of a straw.
I refuse to eat smoothies that aren’t thick enough to use a spoon 😆 And it legit tastes like melty chocolate ice cream… which is probably why I love it so much 😉
How in the world did I miss that skillet cookie recipe?! Just add…more chocolate chips? Maybe some almond butter? Heaven.On.Earth sista 🙂
My favorite sweetener is probably honey too. You can add it to just about anything, and I love that it is natural.These past few months I have been eating more veggies than ever, and I honestly crave certain vegetables now.
First of all that skillet cookie looks AMAZING! Perfect timing for some baking time as I am heading home to the super nice kitchen today for Easter!
I always add something sweet to my meals, I have a HUGE sweet tooth haha, whether it is just honey mustard something sweet must be added. I have really been getting into the sweet and savory combinations lately, I totally want to try the jam and brie grilled cheese soon!
I can honestly say I LOVE veggies so my intake is always pretty high haha but most the time I do stick to something roasted or even just heated in the microwave, probably from these cold temps we have had this winter!
Ok so CLEARLY I need to backtrack and get on board with that pan cookie. Holy freaking yummy. I’ve just been so out of touch with my Sis here, but seeing as how she’s gone…guess that won’t be a problem anymore! [cries in the corner…]
And for some reason, that lunch of yours is completely drool worthy to me right now, at 630am. Why in the world am I craving that stuff right now?!
Ooooh, white rice cooked in coconut milk?!?!?! Fascinating!! Tell me what it tastes like! Sweet??
Sweet, creamy, and coconutty 😀
I think the last three comments on your blog have been me, in awe of some combination that you came up with, but very intrigued and wanting to try it! So good job getting the pickiest person in the world to want to try new foods 🙂
As always, we are totally on the same wavelength…gotta end my meals on a sweet note even if that means just a bit of fruit! I’m with you about honey- best sweetener in my opinion. I know agave gets the trump card for some people because of its low GI value but what can I say- honey is worth the insulin spikes ;)! I’m totally copying your snack plate for lunch tomorrow- it’s like the best of everything on one plate ;)!
Happy Wesnesday. girlie!
I’ve heard some conflicting research on agave! Some sources say that it’s as bad as HFCS so I’m really not sure what to think about it…
It just goes to say- for every “health” study out there, there’s probably another contradictory one!
I am all about adding a little something to heighten meals. Usually cinnamon is a must with sweet foods and a generous squeeze of lemon with savory. And yes, almond butter is a cure-all. How did I survive so many years without knowing of its existence? Your applesauce looks so good! I want to make some but I have been going through apples so quickly there’s never any left for cooking.
I rarely eat raw veggies anymore, either. Most of my veg consumption comes in the form of lightly cooked veggies. And though I love broccoli (I may be the only person besides you actually craves the stuff) I can’t really stomach the cruciferous crudités as of late. Oh well, more room for smoothies!
You know I love to end everything on sweet note – so much so that I tend to skip right over savory and go all sweet. Lately though, the best of both worlds has been working for me at lunch time, especially when I save the sweet half of my lunch (peanut butter on toast) for last. I go through vegetables phases to where the big salad happens at lunch and lots more veggies at dinner and then I suddenly stop wanting the veggies at lunch and only eat them at dinner because they always make up most of my plate (blame the vegetarian side of me). My stomach needs a break though from time to time.
Must.make.skillet.cookie.
Great eats!
Childhood throwback: I actually liked being sick – not really but you’ll know what I mean in a second – because it meant two things. My mum preparing my pudding of choice [chocolate, always chocolate] and being allowed to drink my tea with a big spoonful of honey. Long story short: thanks to you reminding me of its amazingness honey is now making its way back to being my #1 sweetener. Only you know I’m still giving the stank eye to German stores for hiding buckwheat honey from me. I’ll try again when visiting my parents in the countryside because you never know about the hidden store gems over there…
For some reason I never thought it was possible but I actually had a day of no – unless you count a few mushrooms dipped in salsa – vegetables. Fruit, yes. But I just wasn’t feeling vegetables at all. It was an overall odd day but I somehow ended up with some form of oats for every meal and was perfectly satisfied by the end of the day. I mean, I didn’t eat -just- oats. Pretty much my usual fruit-legumes-yogurt-you name it just minus the vegetables. The next day I was back to craving vegetables though careful not to overdo it. Which goes to show it’s really all about the bigger picture not a single not-quite-as-balanced day. And always ending on a sweet note, yes.
It’s definitely all about the bigger picture! Everything has a way of balancing out when we’re not trying to control it too much. And definitely keeping my fingers crossed for you with the honey!
Mmmm coconut rice. I need to give that a shot!
Amanda, first of all here is a little bit of warmth from a very hot Bangkok. Secondly your ideas for snacks and/or meals are as always delicious. Please excuse me now, have to order roomservice in my hotel now – reading your post made me hungry:). :). Carina
I love local raw honey that I get from the farmer’s market, but I’ve never heard of nor had buckwheat honey. I’m intrigued! I rarely go through phases where veggies don’t sound good; the most recent episode being a week or two during my first trimester of pregnancy. Typically when that happens, I’d reach for veggie-filled smoothies to keep my intake up, but that wasn’t gonna happen then either because I couldn’t stand the thought of smoothies. Oh well, I’m back to eating tons of veggies now, so I’m sure baby girl and I are getting what we need! 🙂
I’m 100% with you on ending meals on a sweet note. If I have something savoury, then I’m running back to the kitchen 10 minutes later in search of chocolate, cereal, fruit, or something else along those lines…gotta obey the sweet tooth 😉 it’s when I try to ignore it that I find myself a few days later scraping the bottom of a pint of ice cream (20 minutes after I opened it), so I figure it’s better to just go along with it.
I do like honey, but I find myself going for maple syrup or stevia most of the time!
My veggie consumption is lacking right now but thank goodness I’m not trying to fix it by crunching away on monster raw salads.. then proceeding to rock with abdominal pain. Ugh! no thank you.
Since I don’t know how to cook rice, period – I’d like to know how do you go about cooking it in coconut milk. The ratios and how long?
I used to lurrrv honey; then I put it off limits 🙁 .. but now I’m loving it again :D.
Oh gosh you are so right about baking flops being fixed with nut butter. And then like you said, baking flops don’t turn out as revolting if you aren’t trying to sub applesauce for all the oil and omitting all the sugar etc.
For the coconut rice, I’ll usually just replace 1/4 cup of the water with coconut milk from a can. I do 1 cup of rice to 2 cups of water, so I end up doing something like 1/2 cup of coconut milk and 1.5 cups of water. And I think the whole process takes about 20 minutes or so? That’s for white rice. Brown takes a bit longer.
Honey is hands down the best sweetener.
I always end dinner on a sweet note – usually something really small like a date stuffed with a nut butter that is knocking about in the cupboard. Feels strange if I don’t have something sweet after dinner… I have been clocking a lot of veggies lately… I really wanted to up my veggies consumption so have been consciously adding more to my meals or smoothies – I actually love them which is massive contrast to my childhood where I did everything I could not to eat them ha!
So with you on ending meals on a sweet note (like with a skillet cookie-but guess the whole skillet might be a bit much eh?)- I have a fiery, untameable sweet tooth and just like you said, a spoon of jam or a couple of chocolate chips go a long way in providing satiety-after ALL meals!
Your banana and AB – I have had that snack too many times to count this week!
When I was a child, my uncle lived near a sugar producing factory and when I spent weeks with them, he would bring home brown sugar that was just so incredibly good – I don’t know why or exactly what kind it was, but my cousin and i would grab spoons and eat the top part of the jar as it was browner on the top – I guess this is how my sweet tooth started! 🙂
Confession: When I’m baking I’ll often grab a spoon of brown sugar while I’m measuring it. The store-bought kind I get probably pales in comparison to what you had, but omigosh I love the crunchy sweetness of it <3
I’m currently going through a phase where I have no interest in veggies. I just don’t even want them. I’m hoping this no-veggie period goes away soon!
And yes, I love ending my day with a little something sweet! I saw your cookie pie yesterday and you can bet I’ll be making that real, real soon!
Meals allllways end on a sweet note. Even if it just a single M&M. What’s weird is that I typically then need to cleanse my palate, so to speak, and get a mint or have some tea! I’m a big veggie person–it really isn’t hard for me to get veg in, though I will go through mini phases with them, but if I’m not having veg, there is likely something awry in the world!
The funny thing is that I LOVE veggies… I have no idea what’s going on with me 😥
I definitely go through periods where I just don’t eat many veggies – usually, with a little bit of time, my cravings for them start to come back though and the amount I eat goes back up. I do my best to just go with the flow 🙂
I have to end dinner on a sweet note, for sure. Even a little piece of chocolate will work in a pinch, but I gotta have something! I go in phases with veggies too, usually depends on my grocery trips. All your meals look awesome!
Oh I ALWAYS have to end my meals on a sweet note. So it’s chocolate for breakfast sometimes 🙂
THe skillet cookie – omg. I just had lunch – mind passing me over a piece for my dessert? Thanks….
My favorite sweetener are dates. Seriously, I think they taste like decadent caramel fudge. So good.
If you were to ask me, I think it should be a world law that you HAVE to end you day with some type of sweet. Yes, you agree?! Awesome, I knew you would 🙂 I love honey as a sweetner, esp. smothered on toast with some nut butter!
The day for sure, and every meal — even better 😉 And I’m pretty sure that honey and AB is the best combo there is.
I totally forgot about the snow until you reminded me…but seriously – why are we surprised? I guess snow every month of the year is a regular thing in this city so we might as well get used to it. Go snowboarding! 😉
I so understand you on the sweet note ending your meals. Lately I’ve taken to having breakfast dessert, lunch dessert, actual dessert and a post dessert snack. 😉 I will never understand what goes on in the savoury world.
what is this…..pre bed commenting.
While the simpsons are lamenting in the background, I have an epic craving for honey now of all things. I used to drink honey from those bears too….until the top popped out and I was literally covered all over in honey.
Breakfasts must ALWAYS consist of sweet and savoury. Even if it means adding salt to oatmeal. Actually, I’d do that anyway. Pretty sure I ate no veggies the first week after #wholeArman.
Honey is definitely my favorite sweetener. I once tried to quit eating something sweet after every meal. I only lasted a day before I realized I love sweet things and quitting is stupid!
I always have to have a dessert, too! Lunch dessert, dinner dessert…hey even breakfast dessert (which usually is sweet anyway, I have a huge sweet tooth!) And I wish I like dhoney- I have never been a fan. Yuck 🙂
I get hit by the 8 or 9 AM chocolate cravings too 😉 And I’m just going to blissfully ignore the second part of your comment 😛
I always need to end with a sweet note, too! After dinner, I am searching for some sweet in my house! Glad I’m not the only one, haha. I am glad you didn’t add anything to that cookie cake 😉 Looks too delicious to add anything to, unless it was ice cream ha. It snowed here yesterday, too. I’m OVER IT! 🙂 Have a great day, girl!