Happy What I Ate Wednesday, friendly faces! 
Itās been a while since Iāve shared a day of eats with you guys, and I figured that taking pictures of my meals would be good motivation for me to actually start plating them and sitting down to eat as opposed to eating straight from the pot or standing over the counter. Womp, womp. Iāve picked up some not-so-great habits over the past little while, and while I could blame them on being busy and constantly having something to attend to, theyāre still habits that Iād like to nip in the bud.
Side note: I totally had to Google that phrase to see if it was ānip it in the budā or ānip it in the butt,ā because there was a point where I thought it was the latterā¦ which sounds kind of wrong 
Either way, itās still a habit that Iād like to stop, so letās take a look at some sit-down meals! Plusssssss some unpictured snacking, becauseā¦ heyā¦ old habits die hardā¦
Breakfastā¦ sitting down to eatā¦ pancakes.
A stack of apple oat Greek yogurt pancakes (recipe soon!!) with dried figs and almond butter.
Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Amanda, the girl who never eats pancakes for breakfast, had pancakes for breakfast. Iām going to stop referring to myself in the third person now and admit that the only reason this happened was because I had pancakes left over from the night before ā otherwise I consider pancakes to involve too much manual labour for first thing in the morning. But testing out a new recipe idea means lots of pancakes in my kitchen, and lots of pancakes in my kitchen means someoneās gotta eat them! I took about 3 bites before I had to go grab some maple syrupā¦ #iamcanadian.
Morning snackā¦ sitting down to eatā¦ a protein bar.
Simply Protein Whey Bar in chocolate mint.
Okay, so I didnāt really sit down to eat this one since I was out running errands all morning, but I was sitting in my car so Iām totally counting it! Iām not really crazy about most store-bought protein bars and usually prefer to make my own, but Iāll admit that they do come in handy when Iām feeling lazy, and this one actually tasted pretty good! It helped keep the hanger at bay while I was out and about in the world, anyways, so Iām happy about that! Alsoā¦ please note that Spike is still alive 
Lunchā¦ sitting down to eatā¦ a snack plate.
Half an avocado, dates, Dr. Kracker crispbreads, roasted kabocha, cherry tomatoes, and cottage cheese.
The return of the snack plate! Not that it ever really went away, but it sort of morphed from a snack plate into a āsnack-while-standing-at-the-counterā type deal. I know, I know. But sometimes Iāll just get into these moods where Iāll have no idea what I want, so Iāll stand in my kitchen and taste-test a bunch of different things until I figure the mysterious craving outā¦ usually eating close to an entire meal in the process Itās a habit I really need to fall out of.
Afternoon snackā¦ sitting down to eatā¦ chocolate.
Milk 2 Go chocolate milk and Green & Blackās dark chocolate.
I havenāt had chocolate milk inā¦ years. But I got a free bottle while I was over in Whistler and figured I should finish it before it expired inā¦ December Donāt even tell me what makes it last that long ā I donāt wanna know. It was tasty, though! And it, along with some dark chocolate, managed to squash the chocolate craving that always seems to hit me in the afternoon. Enjoyed with a side of Farmville.
Dinnerā¦ sitting down to eatā¦ quinoa and chickpeas.
A bowl of quinoa cooked in coconut milk and nutritional yeast, with steamed spinach and canned chickpeas.
You can thank my recent obsession with quinoa and chickpeas for the fact that Iāve actually been making real dinners lately. Or, I suppose I should be the one saying thanks, since thereāve been a few too many ācereal for dinnerā nights around these parts latelyā¦ and to be honest, I was kind of getting sick of it. Itās not that I donāt like to cook, but it can be hard to work up the motivation sometimes when Iāve had a busy day and I know that Iāll be the only one eating it. Anyone wanna come over for dinner?
Evening snackā¦ sitting down to eatā¦ cereal.
A mug of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest with banana slices and almond milk.
I may be tired of eating cereal for dinner, but that doesnāt mean I can go an entire day without it! Itās still one of my favourite late night snacks, and while I usually mix a few different kinds to make things interesting, I kept it simple this time around with the classic combo of shredded wheat, banana, and milk. Enjoyed alongside Heir of Fire before passing out for the night.
Hope youāre having an awesome Wednesday! See you guys tomorrow for Thinking Out Loud!
What did you have for breakfast today?
Do you have a habit of eating over the counter too?
More places to find me!
E-mail ā runwithspoons@hotmail.com
Twitter ā runwithspoons
Facebook ā runningwithspoons
Pinterest ā runwithspoons
Instagram ā runwithspoons
Bloglovin ā runningwithspoons
I had a protein pancake for breakfast todayā¦but now Iām craving some classic pancakes. Maybe Iāll get The Chef to whip some up for me? And Iām pretty sure I went the vast majority of my life thinking it was ānip it in the buttā. It doesnāt really make sense, but itās funnier that wayā¦
I have gotten over the lack of blueberries lately and have been loving just banana stirred into my oatmeal with peanut butter. Itās so simple, itās nothing new to either of us but it has been making me really happy.
I had Siggiās yogurt with cherries, peanut butter, granola, hemp seeds and some hazelnuts for breakfastā¦ so yummy!
I donāt really eat over the counterā¦ but Iām guilty of eating in front of the computer. All the time. At work and at home. I need to stop but I kind of enjoy it?
I forgot how much I love Simply Bars! Iām super excited for your pancake recipeā¦ did I tell you I bought a non-stick pan just so I can make your greek yogurt pancakes? HAHA
I had to buy a non-stick pan so I could even -attempt- to make pancakes! Otherwise they just freak me out way too much.
Your leftover pancakes look so much better than my leftover breakfastā¦I had a leftover sandwich. Pancakes would have been tastier!
I like ānip it in the butt!ā
And thank you for the snack plate reminder. It has been way too long since I have eaten one for lunch!
Your pancakes are always my favorite and those look so good. Canāt wait for the recipe!
ooh, cooking quinoa in coconut milk, that sound AH-mazing! Looks like Iāll be trying that soon!
I cannot wait for that pancake recipe! They look more than amazing. And I love the creativity in the cactus shot
I have a habit of always eating in front of my computer. I need to break this habit and enjoy my meal. Sheeshā¦I had greek yogurt, chia seeds, apple, cinnamon, and a huge blob of crunchy peanut butter for breakfast this morning. Starting to crave apples againā¦change in season, even though it is going to be 100 degrees today!
I canāt even imagine that kind of heat right now! I had to turn the heater on today because it was so cold hereā¦
I do like to eat standing up over the counter and in front of the TV. Two probably not so awesome habits! Your snack plate looks delightful.
Before I got married it took everything in me to eat something besides cereal or oatmeal for dinner. It really is so hard to find the motivation to cook for just one! And cerealā¦the best nighttime snack. When I eat cereal at night itās always out of a mug:)
I had protein waffles for breakfast this moring! Winner!
Iām excited for your pancake recipe, anything apple must be good. Could you try making them in a waffle maker? Iām kinda obsessed with waffles lately
Oh, and I want to come over for dinner!!
Have a nice day!
Iām currently testing a diet program for a Phoenix company that does fresh meal delivery. Foods really good surprisingly. Today was scrambled eggs with all the veggies. Iāve never had a fig in my life. Not in purpose anyway lol!
I considered the idea of eating oatmeal straight from the pot. I mean, it sticks to all of the dishes you put it in so you might as well only have ONE sticky mess to clean up. Amiright?! Just say yes, please. lol
And for dinners, I tend to get a lot of already made meals from my local organic store or chipotle. I am queen of laziness when it comes to dinnerā¦ Or any meal, really. If Iām only eating for myself I donāt want to make batches of things then get tired of it in two days! Then, Iāll just be wasting good food. First world problems. Lol
Yes
And Iām pretty sure that Iād be eating at Chipotle at least 5 nights a week if we had them up here!
I am quite the opposite, I need to sit to eat! Hey I want to enjoy my food! But I am definitely a taster! I will spend my lifetime looking at an open fridge and nibbling here and there until I can decide. Sometimes I even take my time to prepare and cook the food and end up storing it and having somethings elseā¦I am that indecisive!
I am AWFUL at eating over the counter, especially after work. Thankfully, I only have a few days of work left so hopefully that habit will be broken sooner rather than later
As for breakfast, it was super random ā chicken breast with a runny egg and hot sauce with a banana on the side.
Sitting down to eat I think is a really important part of being satisfied with your meal. I think when people eat so much on the run[in their car, walking, ect]they miss out on the real meal.
Oh no!! I thought it was ānip it in the buttā Bahahahahahahaha . Mmmmm those pancakes are making me even hungrier for mine this morning! Unfortunately Iām really hungry right now since i have to do a fasted blood work this morning, so it makes being hungry way worse lol. And yes to the quinoa!!! Iām more of a fan of the red one though, it has a great nutty flavor!
Ack thatās the worst! Hope it went okay for ya! And Iāve never tried red quinoa before, but now youāve got me super curious! Iāll give it a go when I finish off my baggie.
Ohhh baby I canāt wait for that pancake recipe! Iām with you lately, Iāve been so busy most of my meals have been inhaled while driving or trying to get something else done. Iāve also made a bad habit if eating my meals in parts instead of as a meal.
weirdddd this typical breakfast pancakes eater had a smoothie for breakfast! Something must be in the airā¦
I am obsessed with that Kashi!
I just made a deal with myself this morning along the same lines ā¦ when I eat after dinner, I need to stop working on the computer while eating. Thatās a vicious cycle that just leads me to keep eating more than I want to or am hungry for. Snack plate looks delish!
Oh girl, I hear ya! I get SO snacky when Iām on the computer! But I like to think that itās because my brain needs the extra energy from all the thinking Iām doing
So glad to see/hear that Spike is doing well
and those apple pancakes?!!! Want! Noā¦.NEED.
Deal! You donāt need to ask me twice. Iāll be over for dinner tonight. Only youād have to keep it ready in, say, four hours when I should be getting home from work. Leftovers of the quinoa would ve perfect. Chickpeas!
Breakfast was kabocha cooked in almond milk with coconut oil, almond butter and pleasantly plump blobs of coconut flour. Faster than the hot bowl of oat bran I actually craved.
Deal! You donāt need to ask me twice. Iāll be over for dinner tonight. Only youād have to keep it ready in, say, four hours when I should be getting home from work. Leftovers of the quinoa would ve perfect. Chickpeas!
Breakfast was kabocha cooked in almond milk with coconut oil, almond butter and pleasantly plump blobs of coconut flour. Faster than the oat bran I actually craved.
Iām currently enjoying my bowl of oatmeal. I canāt wait for your pancake recipe! Iām always up to try a new pancake recipe. And chocolate milkā¦mmmmmā¦I used to drink that daily when I was little up til I graduated high school. I always enjoy it when I have a glass on rare occasions.
Oh I canāt wait for the pancake recipe. I love baking with Greek yogurt! Itās a great tool to lighten up baked goods and make them slightly healthier.
Iām pretty impressed with your skills in precariously balancing a protein bar on a cactus.
I had yogurt, eggs and a banana at my hotel this morning. It was ok, but Iām not loving the selection at this hotel. I also love kashi cereals. I havenāt had the cinnamon harvest one yet., but I destroyed a box of cinnamon crunch last week!
I snacked on some cereal yesterday too. A bit toooooo much, but it was delicious!!
Iāve never had a fig but oh man, those dried ones caught my attention right away! YUM!!!
I actually donāt like the fresh ones either, but the dried ones are amaaaaazing! And the seeds add a nice little crunch too
Ooh I love the sound of your dinner- so simple yet so flavourful..definitely trying it out soon! Breakfast today involved a smoothie with raw oats, almond milk, peanut butter, banana, raw oats and some protein powderā¦delicious start to the day! Pancakes, however, were the highlight of lunch. I had a friend over and she requested banana bread pancakes so obv I delivered :)!
Oatmeal! Yes totally- especially when I am preparing food in the kitchen I tend to snack on a lot of it right there.
Chocolate Craving RIGHT HERE!! I think I need to sprint to the little shop near my office and get someā¦.
What a surprise!!
I had eggs for breakfast
I never eat over the counter and I always plate my food, BUT the habit to eat way too fast sneaked in with all the busy weeks. I had. SO need to work on that, my poor stomach is completely stressedā¦..
Ooooh quinoa cooked with coconut milk! Now THAT is a good idea, I wonder if it would work with riceā¦..I am going to make a vegetarian curry laterā¦.I think that would be goodā¦.will have to give it a try!
As for eating over the counterā¦.yep, guilty as charged, I need to nip that in the bud too
We also have to pledge not to move from the counter to the computer, and eat over the keys haha. That is my other bad habit!
It definitely works with rice! White basmati rice cooked in coconut milk is actually one of my favourite things. Give it a go!
Amanda ā love your plated food!! Pancakes for breakfast! I love it. Canāt wait to see the recipe! Thanks for sharing ā see you tomorrow for thinking out loud, and I hope you join me for Fitness Friday!
Amanda ā love your plated food!! Pancakes for breakfast! I love it. Canāt wait to see the recipe! Thanks for sharing ā see you tomorrow for thinking out loud, and I hope you join me for Fitness Fridays!
Just as I begin to try to justify eating from a pot ā youāve nipping your habit of it in the bud!
I had some beet bars with white chocolate chips for breakfast ā I have to tweak it a little before I post the recipe ā think I forgot to add salt!
OOh ā those apple greek yogurt pancakes ā I cannot wait for that recipe! Happy WIAW lady!
If itās any consolation, itās definitely not going according to plan! I blame the fact that my stand up desk also happens to be my kitchen counter, and since I eat at the computerā¦ wellā¦
Agree with Arman, but minus the physical injury, haha. I have a habit of eating certain things at the counter. I blame my father, who for 20+ years drank his morning breakfast standing at our kitchen counter reading the paper. Sitting was for lazy weekends!
Can you guess what I had for breakfast today?
That protein bar in cactus shot is ridiculous. I hope it poked you.