Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! 😀
I was lucky enough to be able to work from home today, and all I can say is thank.freaking.goodness because the weather? Yeah. We’re not even going to talk about it. Instead, we’re going to talk about food, because a) it’s tastier, and b) that’s what Wednesday’s are all about thanks to the lovely Jenn over at Peas & Crayons.
One of my favorite things about being able to work from home (besides, err, everything?) is not having to worry about packing my food and being able to eat whenever I please. Even though I’m nowhere near as rigid as I used to be with my eating schedule, a girl can still have her preferences, right? And well, my preference is to pretty much eat all day – starting with a bowl of cereal for breakfast…
Plain Greek yogurt – banana – nectarine – Kashi Cinnamon Harvest – Puffins -roasted almond butter.
… and ending with a bowl of cereal before bed…
Plain Greek yogurt – blueberries – banana – Kashi Cinnamon Harvest (addicted).
I sometimes joke about the fact I feel like I’m always eating, but in reality… I am always eating. I’ve found that my stomach handles smaller meals a whole lot better than bigger ones, and that eating more frequently helps keep my energy levels up throughout the day. That’s why a lot of my lunches and dinners end up being on the smaller side…
Lunch: Turkey and hummus between toasted bread – random veggies drizzled in olive oil on the side.
Dinner: Baked sweet potato with almond butter and cottage cheese.
… and my snacks come around quite frequently…
My foodie kryptonite. Without fail, I go through a pretty big bowl of watermelon on a daily basis, but I try to pick away at it throughout the day to avoid making myself sick by eating too much in one sitting.
I’m on a huge yogurt mess kick right now – no matter how many I eat, I still want more. I’ll worry about why later, but this was plain Greek yogurt, cinnamon, Kashi Honey Sunshine, and Enjoy Life Mountain Mambo trail mix.
The sweetest pear I’ve had in a while – A Dr. Kracker Klassic 3 Seed crispbread.
Have you ever dipped Kashi Cinnamon Harvest into applesauce? Holy.wow. I’m so obsessed with this combination right now, it’s not even funny. Actually, I’m just kind of obsessed with apples in general…
I finally braved the ridiculous weather to pick up my daily after “work” cappuccino. Reused picture, but I promise you my set up looked more or less exactly the same…
I ninja’d a slice of my mom’s szarlotka (apple cake) when I was over there on Sunday and figured it would make a perfect mid-week treat. And ohhhhh did it ever.
So there you have it – a 10 mini meal day. That’s what’s been working well for me, though. I’ve never understood how people can get by on three square meals a day, but then again someone is probably looking at my eats and wondering the same thing about me… especially when it comes to the overabundance of cereal, yogurt, and fruit. Yeah, wow. I would say that I’ll look into changing that, but that would be a lie. After all, why fix what’s not broken?
Hope you guys are having an awesome night! I think I’m off to the mall to pick up some much needed beauty necessities. I see Sephora, MAC, Lush, and Lululemon in my immediate future, so please pray for my wallet…
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Are you a constant snacker or more of a 3 meals a day kind of person?
Are there any foods that you think you eat way too much of?
You’re pictures make me drool. You’re food looks amazing!
I’m a total snacker too and often spoil my appetite for a “true” lunch or dinner. This usually only happens on weekends because being stuck at work for 10 hours with limited food leads to more structure in my meals and snacks (which I don’t like!). I prefer to always be eating/snacking because then I can fit all my favorite foods into one day 🙂
Oh man you did a smart thing my avoiding Lulu. I’ve been eyeing some beauties on their website and am trying my hardest to not order anything. But there WILL be a trip to the mall this weekend for sure! Sephora is on the agenda for me as well.
Szarlotka – I think that’s a Russian dessert as well!
I’m definitely a mini meal gal as well! I eat plenty of times a day. I just can’t get by on 3 meals. Especially having low sugar as well. No good. Working from home is so much better ha ha. I feel like I get so much more done! I can’t believe I’ve never tried Kashi before. You’ve got me thinking I should pick up a box:)
Yes! Do! They’re the simplest little squares of shredded wheat but they taste absolutely amazing. Dooooo! 😀
WOW! Your photos are gorgeous!! Everything looks amazing in the pics! I especially love the look of the almond butter slathered all over that sweet potato. Gotta try that! thx for sharing what u ate 😀 enjoy the rest of your week! 😀
Kashi cereal with applesauce? Sounds amazing! I need to try that 😀
I eat 6 mini meals a day, every 2-3 hours, to keep up my energy and to fuel my workouts. So if that’s snacking, then sure, I snack all day, haha.
Definitely a constant snacker!!! All of your eats looks so fresh and yummy. I’m especially liking the looks of that sweet potato. I have cinnamon kashi and applesauce at home….that is so going to be my evening snack!
haha I always wonder how people can feel ok on 3 square meals, but everyone’s different! 🙂 I am a major snacker! So I used to eat about 6-7 times a day with 3 regular meals, but I think that was also mostly because of my crazy and early schedule back then. Right now I don’t wake up as early so it’s more like 5 times a day, sooometimes 6 I feel more energy that way and the most important thing for me is that I don’t get indigestion if I eat often.
I thought I was the only one! If I go too long without eating, or get too hungry, my stomach has some serious problems with whatever my next meal is… but as long as I’m constantly eating, it seems like my stomach has a lot easier time digesting everything…
I am praying for your wallet, but jealous at the same time! Enjoy that retail “happy time.” Your meals are always so delicious looking. That sweet potato combination looks so good! I find that when I eat multiple smaller meals throughout the day I feel much better too. Yesterday I did the opposite and only had a couple larger meals and whoaaa baby I was feelin the pain! HAH!
I am perfectly happy snacking all day! It keeps my energy up and I hate sitting down to eat a full meal during the day! Love all your meals and snacks though! They look great!
I’m definitely an all day eater too! I probably eat about 6-7 times a day just depending on what I have on. I certainly prefer little and often 🙂
I’m actually a really big 3 square meal type of girl. I don’t mean to be but I just am…LOL. That being said, if I was eating the same food as you..um I’d be snacking everyday LOL!
I cannot eat just 3 meals a day. I’m a constant eater…. not a good thing, I’m sure.
I seriously am always eating too!! I went to the mall with my mom saturday and ate breakfast at 8am. We didnt eat lunch until almost 1, and I thought I was going to kill someone lol I was soooo hungry!! And mad at myself for not packing a snack!
And girl…that sweet tater?! Holy nut butter is that thing drool worthy! Actually, all your food is. Love the sammi as well 🙂
And when it comes to sephora…my wallet is seriously in danger!! Hope you got some cute stuff 🙂
Ack stop being an enabler! 😛
I am a 3 meals a day kind of girl. I tried the small meals and snacks once in recovery and my stomach didn’t respond well. I feel my hunger a lot better if I am not always eating. BUT I sorta wish I was a snack girl some days lately because fitting food into my class schedule is incredibly difficult with classes back to back and then work. AKA I am on campus from 10 – 8 most days. Not fun!
I eat 3 meals a day plus 2-3 snacks. I would get way too hungry if I didn’t eat between my meals! But it all depends on what I eat, I guess. Sometimes I have a huge lunch and I’m actually not hungry until dinner. I just go with the flow and eat when I’m hungry!
Foods I eat too much of? Oatmeal, bananas, Greek yogurt, soy nut butter, and orange vegetables. I eat all of those at least once a day usually!
I’m definitely of the 5-6 meals a day mentality. If I try to stick with three, my energy levels and blood sugar take a massive dip, which is just unpleasant for everyone around.
I eat eggs everyday (sometimes breakfast and lunch) so does that count as too much?
Not even close 😛
Okay can I just move in with you and eat all this yummy food?! Love how simple everything is, yet delicious! I am especially loving the look of those cereal bowls and the sweet potato combo. I am on a yogurt streak lately too and as soon as I finish, I am already looking forward to my next bowl! It’s my go-to brekkie (with oats, PB & fruit) and also bed-time snack! I have tried the “3 meals a day” route and it wasn’t for me! I ended up feeling SO full and to be honest, I enjoy eating! Sure some days do go by where I don’t snack but for the most part, I usually snack between lunch and dinner and then again before bed. It keeps me satisfied and I am actually not constantly thinking about food/counting down till my next meal.
To be honest, my eating tendencies change by the day! Sometimes I’m a 3 square meals + a snack kind of girl, and other days I pull an Amanda and eat 10 😉
It usually depends on how active I am/ what food groups I’m eating a lot of, so I try to just go with the flow!
Definitely the best approach!
This is me everyday. I love eating small meals — I get so much more variety!
i want it all.. like right now! My turkey sandwiches never look that good???!! 🙁
Over the last few months I’ve found myself shifting from 6 small meals (recommended by the dietitian when I started recovery) to 3 main meals and a few snacks if I’m hungry in between. I like this way of eating much more because I feel like I get to be properly hungry when I start and meal and properly full afterwards, and it simply cuts down the amount of time I have to spend thinking about food (previously I was always planning my next snack). That said, I pretty much always snack in the afternoons and I have no idea how anyone can go without food from lunch to dinnertime and not starve to death!
I am a snacker through and through. In fact, I actually can’t remember the last time I ate three square meals! Maybe never? I blame my mom. She always stocked our cupboards with delicious snack foods (healthy, albeit delicious) and baked after-school treats on a regular basis. I think munching throughout the day became my norm at a very early age; I snacked when I was hungry and stopped when I was full. My eating became extremely rigid during my ED years, yet even though I rejected my internal cues ate 100% according to the clock, I still managed more than three meals/day. I guess “snacking” shifted from mindless to “over-mindful.” Now, I like to think I’m somewhere in between. I shoot for six mini meals each day, but usually end up with eight. Or four. It totally depends on what I’m in the mood for. Sometimes dipping cucumber slices in hummus and following it with ice cream an hour later constitutes a meal; other times I need a more substantial “meal meal” consumed in one sitting. 🙂
One food I eat too much of, if provided the opportunity? Guacamole. Give me a bowl of guac and I’ll go to town until it’s gone!
Seriously, your yogurt/cereal bowls always look amazing. They have definitely prompted me to go make a yogurt bowl on more than one occasion. I love the nut butter and sweet potato combo too, well anything involving nut butter or sweet potatoes really. 🙂
Haha oh geez and I didn’t even see the last part about the Lululemon trip. I swear my wallet literally cries every single time I go in that store. But that doesn’t seem to stop me…
😆 Me neither… I try my best to avoid walking in, but if I just can’t help it then I like to think of it as a good investment because their clothes seriously last forever.
I eat 5 times a day, not counting the many times in between where I grab some fruit or something, but they are definitely more on the mini meal side of things rather than big meals. I hate feeling full after eating so I try to eat small things every few hours. But with my class schedule, sometimes that doesn’t work and I know I’m hungry when I get a headache and start feeling out of it.
Your picture of the sweet potato with almond butter has me wanting one for myself right now–even though it’s after 10 pm! I think I know what one of my mini meals will be tomorrow 😉
“I sometimes joke about the fact I feel like I’m always eating, but in reality… I am always eating. I’ve found that my stomach handles smaller meals a whole lot better than bigger ones, and that eating more frequently helps keep my energy levels up throughout the day”
YES! Yes yes yes. Me too. It’s just what works for my body (and yours too!) Glad I’m not alone in this and hoorah for snacking! 🙂 I love to eat healthy as well with indulgences here and there.
Amen, sister. Twins!
Love!
I fear I’m bucking the trend here, but I’ll say anyway that most days, I stick to breakfast, lunch & dinner. Ayurveda is my motivation for this: snacking is discouraged so that the digestive system has an opportunity to finish its work and rest between meals. However, one thing I’ve learned is that my meals needed to become a little bigger to make it possible to wait until the next one to eat again; if hunger becomes a distraction which can’t be ignored, that’s a problem. Generally, I’ve found that following even a few of the basic ayurvedic recommendations has been very beneficial for my digestion; the other ones which have been most important for me are adjusting food for the seasons (such as choosing soups over salad in winter), and having more spice (especially ginger and turmeric). And yogurt is always good! Also, the beneficial effects of fat (as in dairy & avocado) quickly becomes apparent. Of course, I speak only for myself, but I just wanted to share that in case it might be useful to anyone else.
I’ve read a lot of good things about the Ayurvedic approach. Thanks for sharing, Shelly!
I’m a total snacker! I’m a small person with a small stomach, so I can’t sit down and eat a huge meal (ok, except when I’m training hard, and then I just out-eat everyone at the table) – I just get full pretty quickly. That said, I eat every 2-3 hours. I honestly don’t think it matters WHEN a person eats, as long as you get enough. Everyone’s a little different! My best friend eats three square meals a day and that’s it, and she’s healthy too. But yes, snackers unite! your day looks a lot like mine haha.
Also, makeup! I need some advice, and you’re kind of an expert (I was just reminded of this by your last sentence). I usually just buy makeup at Target – right now I have L’Oreal BB cream for foundation and Almay powder – but my skin has never been worse quality, I’m breaking out like crazy since I started using these, and I’ve never found a “perfect” makeup. I’m thinking I might need something more high-quality (like not from the drugstore)….do you think you could recommend a brand or line or anything? Something not toooo pricy but that my skin will actually like? 🙂
Hmm. Most of the higher end ones are on the pricier side, but you can actually get pretty decent drug store makeup so I’d try a few more before splurging on the big ones. I really like Maybelline and Revlon for face stuff. Right now I’m using the Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB cream, and their Dream Matte powder – neither cause me to break out, and I have pretty sensitive skin. I’ve also tried Revlon’s Colorstay foundation, which I liked, but it’s a little heavier coverage, so I’m not sure if that’s what you’re looking for. But yeah I’d give those a try first 🙂
DR. KRACKERS ARE AMAZING!!!!! They are so flavorful and delicious! Plus I LOVE how crunchy they are! Yum! Have you ever tried the Seedlander variety?! They’re my fave!
Yup! The Seedlander are great, and I love their Seeded Spelt as well. Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.
mmm, delish day you had over there. It depends on my schedule, but most of the time i’m a snacker. I like mini meals because it means i can eat a larger variety of food. hehe 🙂 Sometimes i think i eat way too many eggs, but if I like it, I’m most likely going to eat it. all the time.
btw, I’m going to need to try kashi cinnamon harvest into applesauce because that just looks way too good to not try. apples and cinnamon are always a winning combo!
oooooooohhhh what I wouldn’t do for a piece of the szarlotka…or even just the recipe (:
I eat four meals a day, the biggest of them being dinner. I know it’s supposed to be the ‘lightest’ meal but my family just has a tradition of dinner being a big event at the end of your day, and I guess I’m still attached to that habit. I feel cheated if my dinner doesn’t fill me up. The ED has a lot to do with that, since it makes me restrict myself in so many other ways. I guess I feel like I should be able to feel full at dinner even if it is mostly just on veggies. -_-
I have to eat an apple every single day. I just have to. I didn’t used to care for them much but now I can’t get enough of them. But my absolute favorite meal right now (and a semi-addiction) is 1 slice of whole wheat toasted bread, 1 banana, 2 tablespoons of peanut or almond butter with cinnamon/nutmeg sprinkled on top. Please, if you’ve never experienced this combination, do yourself a favor and try it. Because seriously, I’d be even more pissed off missing this meal every day than dinner, that’s how much I love it. It’s become like, my favorite time of day.
I’ve been meaning to go back to my Kashi Go Lean Crunch. There’s crack in that cereal, I swear to God. I want to eat it again- so bad. Stupid ED’s been having the upper hand over me. I long for the days when I would put away a BIG bowl of it with milk without a second thought. The good old days…
Almond butter and banana sandwiches are seriously one of my favorites, but it’s been a while since I’ve had one 🙁 I’m thinking I have to change that because the way you’re talking about it just has me craving one big time. And if you really want your Go Lean Crunch, I say screw ED and go for it 😀 The scariest part is working your way up to actually doing it, but once you do and realize that nothing bad happens at all, you’ll realize how much you love it and it’ll get easier after that 🙂
I eat all day long, too. I don’t really snack per say, but I do eat 6 meals a day! On workout days, I even add my pre and pwo meals so it turns to 8. Works for me 🙂 Your meals always look delish!
sweet potato+almond butter+cottage cheese = EXTREME WIN. Seriously, one of my favorite combos EVER 😀
I’m a constant snacker too–I don’t know if I could just have three meals a day. I will say, the snackin’s come in pretty handy while trying to get in more calories for bulking haha!
And I think I may eat too many orange foods…carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin…yeah oompa loompa status definitely in my future!! 😀
Hope you enjoy your evening!!
At least you’ll have a nice “glow” through the winter 🙂
I don’t see how people live on three meals a day either. That’d be so hard! haha Today was my major snack day. Just gotta’ feed da belly. 🙂
One food I eat religiously – each and every day and probably too much of is raw almonds!! Love to snack on them especially before bed.
I looooove Lululemon – but hate what it does to my wallet!! Have a good shopping spree!!
Stop being an enabler! 😛
i am the queen of snacking. boy your cereal boys always look so good. i also need a snack before bed, whatever time that is, even midnight.
I am most definitely a snacker, yet I wonder if it’s something that is beneficial for me or not.. something I have personally talked about on a past WIAW post! I wonder if it’s good or not because in a way it makes me think about food even more than I already do, as I am constantly looking for something else, preparing or eating it. But I think that is just me being still obsessive anyway, and right now I am thinking the snacking is going to stick around 🙂
All of your food is looking flippen glorious as always Amanda, the baked sweet potato with cottage cheese and AB= true perfection
Awwr yeah thats a tricky one, but try not to overanalyze it too much because there’s nothing wrong with enjoying food and liking to snack. I know that I’ve always been a mini-meal type of person, grabbing random snacks throughout the day, so it just feels like I’m going back to the way I was before I got sick. Do you remember the way you ate before your ED? Because that’s one of the main things that helps me decide if something is “normal” or not – remembering how I was back then.
I enjoy all of your yogurt & Kashi porn photos! 😀 If you’re wanting to look further into *why* you experience cravings, casein & gluten are highly addictive & act like opiates within the body. (I’m sure you already know that, but just thought I’d mention it.)
I eat a LOT of almond & sunflower seed butter – those are my current food ‘addictions’. My day just feels incomplete without it! 🙂
I couldn’t imagine having to go a day without almond butter either… Incompleteness is right.
I wish I worked from home! Packing food is such a pain. Gotta save $$$ though!
Why can’t we have Kashi cereals over here, too? I want to try them – in a yogurt bowl, preferably 😀 -, too.
I’m snacking all day long, too, though am trying to get myself to eat bigger meals and snack less. Because as you said it’s not always pratical and at a job or – for me – in university one’s not always able to snack. I’m still pondering ideas for foods to pack for some of the next weekends when I’m going to have classes all day long and the cafeteria isn’t opened. Do you have any great ideas for saturating snacks? Fruit usually doesn’t keep me going for long.
Speaking of which: Fruit is most likely something I eat too much of. I keep promising myself to cut down and eat other foods instead but still find myself noshing on more fruit than I intented to.
(By the way: It feels embarassing to be the first commenter – at least from what it looks like – again. That must make me seem like I was sitting in front of my laptop waiting for your new post every day – which isn’t true. You just happen to publish shortly before I head of to bed most nights :D.)
Yeah cutting back on fruit is a tough one because it’s so darned delicious, but you definitely need to make sure you’re not using it as a safe alternative to other foods, because we need a good balance of everything 🙂
As for snacks, if you find that fruit isn’t keeping you full but you still want to eat it, try pairing it with some almonds or something like string cheese – basically any type of fat or protein. Some of my favorite on the go snacks are dried fruit with almonds, bars, homemade muffins/breads, chips/crackers, hardboiled eggs, or veggies with hummus.