Big news you guys! Guess who actually managed to sleep in [past 6 AM]! 😀
I can’t even tell you how surprised I was when I checked my phone yesterday morning and saw a lovely 6:09 staring back at me. Laugh all you like, but for someone who sees 4:30 AM far too often, anything after 6 is huge. Nevermind that it probably had everything to do with the fact that I couldn’t fall asleep the night before and was still wide awake when midnight rolled around — it’s still better than going to sleep at 12 and waking up at 4 😯
So hey! Happy Wednesday! 😀 Or I guess I should say… Happy What I Ate Wednesday. I usually share a full day of Tuesday’s eats for these posts, but I’m switching things up and showcasing last Friday instead. Why Friday? Because Fridays during Lent mean a day of abstaining from meat for me, and I thought it would be interesting to show you guys how I build my meals when I don’t have meat at my disposal. I know I just professed my love for carbs, but that doesn’t mean I ignore proteins and fats. I feel the best when I eat a well-balanced diet, and even though chicken is probably my meal-time protein of choice, there are definitely a good amount of meatless sources that I enjoy as well…
Breakfast… [ egg whites and Greek yogurt ]
Eggy bananafied oats layered with plain Greek yogurt, roasted almond butter, and cinnamon.
I’ve never really been one to eat meat first thing in the morning (except for when I’m on vacation, apparently), so meatless breakfasts aren’t ever a problem. I almost always add yogurt to my finished oats (try it and thank me later), and every so often I’ll toss in an egg white or two while they’re cooking to up the protein a little more. I only use the whites because I prefer the texture they give, but one of these days I’m going to have to try plopping a fried egg on top of my oats like one of my favourite girls. Actually… I think I’ll give that a shot tomorrow.
Lunch… [ chickpeas and cheese ]
Dr. Kracker Seedlander crispbread, roasted kabocha, mozza cheese, an orange, and maple almond roasted chickpeas.
The snack plate lives on! I’m pretty sure I’ll never get tired of these, mostly because it’s so easy to just swap out the individual components if I start getting bored and end up with an entirely different meal… which is perfect on the days where I’m going meatless. Mozzarella cheese isn’t my favourite, but I toss it on pizzas and needed to use up some of the leftovers before they went bad. And the chickpeas? The result of some very successful experimenting in the kitchen. Remind me to share the recipe with you guys, stat.
Dinner… [ kidney beans and eggs ]
Pumpkin Chili Mexican Scramble
Dinners are usually where I’m most likely to include meat, so they take a little bit of extra thought on Fridays. A lot of the time I’ll just end up making some kind of breakfast for dinner, but there are those rare occasions where I crave something a little more savoury. This dish has been in my meal rotation for years and years now, and I’ll probably be making it for years and years to come. It’s quick, it’s easy, it’s tasty, and it’s satisfying — winning all around.
Snacks…
Although I can definitely remember a handful of occasions where I got hit with a strong enough craving for grilled chicken to reach for it when snack time rolled around, that’s more of an exception rather than a norm. My snacks are, for the most part, meatless by nature, so nothing too out of the ordinary here…
Honeydew. Side note… does anyone else ever cut open a melon, only meaning to eat a few slices, and then end up polishing off at least half of the dratted thing? Story of my life… every.single.time.
Chunky Monkey Snack Bites… Two, because everyone knows that’s better than one.
A bowl of white basmati rice cooked in coconut milk and topped with plain Greek yogurt and a spoonful of almond butter. And cinnamon… always cinnamon.
Dagoba beaucoup berries chocolate with a spoonful of almond butter — no better way to end the night.
I hope you guys have an awesome Wednesday, and I’ll see you guys tomorrow for Thinking Out Loud! 😀
What’s your favourite meatless source of protein?
Melons… can you eat just one slice?
What was last night’s dinner?
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Laaaaaa-HUV the sweet rice snack! I practically grew up on rice for breakfast as a kid with butter and sugar…only to get some of the weirdest looks when I bring it up in a group now! Haha!
I’d have to say my favorite meatless source of protein would have to be cheese. I know, I know…you’re shocked and amazed aren’t you? 😉 But I am definitely curious to hear more about these maply chickpeas of yours…I’ve been meaning to roast up some for a while now! Love the crunch but gah, I’m so lazy and half the time I end up buying them at the store! 😯
I’m digging the snack plate! 🙂 We had turkey tacos for dinner.. which I somehow end up making on Tuesday ALL THE TIME. I feel like if I use Tuesday’s eats for WIAW people will think that’s all I have for dinner.
You make being a vegetarian look easy. Truth: since I’m not a huge fan of meat, with the exception of bacon and hot dogs, I find it easier to go meatless. Whenever I cook for others, I always have trouble incorporating meat into the menu.
Favorite proteins: eggs, cheese, beans, veggies, quinoa. I guess I didn’t really pick a favorite, although I’m definitely going to be having a snack plate for lunch or dinner this week since I now have snack plate envy.
Mmmm that basmati rice bowl sounds and looks to die for! You always make your food look so ooey gooey, too. 😀 I demand a picture of the egg on your oats! It’s very un-amanda like, hehe.
DROOL! love how you eats LOTS of super yummy food, I would eat every single thing!
and can’t wait to try to chunky monkeys and thats mexi scramble. Mmmmmm
I love reading meatless/eggless meals from others, because unbeknownst to myself, I’ve somehow become a vegan in the past 8 months of my life. I have no reason behind this, besides that I haven’t craved anyyy sort of animal product in those months. Weird, but I’m sure it will switch back eventually?Maybe.
And I have to admit, I suck with my protein. Well, I suck compared to some people in the blogging world perhaps. I actually like supplementing with protein powders since my intake probably isn’t the best. Otherwise, I love lentils and nuts! Always nuts.
And yay for sleeping in until 6! The other weekend I slept in until 10. It was madness
10?!? Jealous! I think the only time I managed to sleep that late was when I was in Hawaii… and that was only because of the time difference 😆 So it was 10 here, but 6 AM over there 😉 And I’d be okay without -most- sources of animal protein, but yogurt is something that I don’t think I’d ever give up willingly…
Hmm, fav meatless protein.. I actually Love tofu! I think it’s the texture both raw and baked up crispy, yum.. buuut my tummy doesn’t really like it 🙁 Tragic.. I like eggs tho I don’t lose it for them like it seems so many others do. I love a good bean based veggie burger tho!
One slice of melon…no way. I’m on my second cantaloupe since Saturday.. I have another on the counter.. and this is pitiful winter melon. Oh goodness cantaloupe in the summer… weak in the knees 😉 I can easily polish one off in a day.
Dinner, can barley remember lol was leftover lemon/garlic chicken, big salad with italian dressing and some leftover mushroom stir fry.
Um Yum that big spoon of PB looks heavenly!!! I could sleep until maybe 8 everyday but my puppy is on more of the 5 am schedule so I too am happy if I see 6!
Wow! What time do you go to sleep to wake up at 4:30 am daily O_O
Usually around 10. And I don’t wake up at 4:30 every day… sometimes I can push it to 5:30 😆
Man, I love blog reading on WIAW! Just added a bunch of new meal ideas, thank you 🙂
I love egg whites in my oatmeal too – I told some of my friends I do that and they think I’m totally weird. Guess you have to be a blogger to understand. 😛 That being said I’m still skeptical about adding a whole egg, whether it’s in the oatmeal or on top. It just seems too savoury to go with oatmeal haha.
The majority of my meals at home are meatless so this question is easy for me. I love tofu and tempeh! I actually crave them – is that weird? Actually don’t answer that.
😆 Definitely not weird — I’ve been known to actually crave plain tofu on occasion, which is probably a lot weirder. And my biggest problem with adding the whole egg isn’t that it’s too savoury, but that it makes the oats ridiculously thick and gummy.
I just have to say that you’re an amazing food photographer and I just printed (yes, I like a tangible recipe copy, haha) your chunky monkey bites to make this weekend!
Aww thanks Kim! I hope you like them 😀
All of that food looks soooo good. Especially the chocolate.
My favorite meatless protein is beans. I love how versatile they are. And my favorite melon is definitely watermelon! 🙂
Are you as excited as I am for watermelon season to hit? I see many melon bellies in my near future 😆
You’re like a meal genius! 😀
So many good eats here.. like forreal.
I should come to you when I’m in a food rut. 😉
OMG…that almond butter and chocolate looks AMAZING!
Honestly, your eats look amazing! I really don’t eat meat except for dinner (like in a soup or sometimes chicken), but it would be interesting to try going meatless for a day 🙂
i could live off those meals. especially the chickpeas. although you probably wouldn’t want to be around me all the time after i ear. LOL!
Mmmm, gimme some of that dinner! So I’ve gotta ask, are you sleepy during the day, or are you one of those lucky folks who gets by on less than 8 hours? I’m a zombie without sleep!
I’ll occasionally take a 20 minute nap in the afternoon, but it doesn’t happen all that often. Some days drag more than others, but I find that I’m generally okay as long as I get at least 6 hours.
Cheese with your snackplate? white basmati rice and coconut milk? Oh geebuz, please don’t there be any foodie pics in tomorrows ToL….the 6am carb cravings are becoming far too common!
That is amaze that post 6am wakeup call happened. Here’s to a 6.30 one next 😉
Favourite meat less protein source- Cheese. All of it. Now. Even Mozzarella. Even though it’s the most tasteless.
My dad called honeydew a green melon and I thought it was some exotic fruit I hadn’t had… nope, just a honeydew (which I love, so I was still happy about it). My meatless protein sources are nuts and eggs – usually almond butter for the healthy fats, too. And last night I used up pulled pork we had made in the crock pot on portobello mushroom pizzas – AMAZING. I burned them or I would have photographed them… whoops.
I keep telling myself that I NEED to get my act together and get a slow cooker so that I can make things like pulled pork and shredded chicken. And I’ve tried making portobello pizzas before and you’re right — amaaaaazing.
Wow!! Your meals look so delicious!! And your snacks do as well! THat chocolate looks amazing! As does the coconut rice!! It sounds like Rice pudding… which I love!! YUM! Thanks for sharing!
Dinner is normally my meat eating meal too if I have any. That pb and chocolate looked so good!