Happy What I Ate Wednesday friendly faces! 😀
I just realized that I start all of my WIAW posts the same way, but you guys know how much I dislike writing intros, and because I’ve been crazy short on time lately and can’t spend 20 minutes trying to write out a few starting few lines, we’re going to go with this intro indefinitely.
Time. Oi. Why does it always feel like I either have too much of it, or nowhere near enough? What happened to the happy medium? Or does it exist and I simply don’t notice it when it happens? Whatever the case may be, life’s been a little crazy lately, and my eating habits have definitely reflected that…
Breakfast…
Quick oats cooked with ~1 Tbsp. chia seeds, then layered with plain Greek yogurt and topped with honey, almond butter, and cinnamon.
Not much to say about breakfast other than I’m still loving chia seeds in my oats. Breakfast seems to be the only meal of the day where I can sit down and eat in peace… or at least it feels that way since that’s the only time where I actually allow myself to do that. Being self-employed and working from home is awesome for the most part, but it makes it a lot harder to disconnect and stop working, especially because your success heavily depends on how much time you put in. Aaaand end tangent… back to the food.
Morning snack…
A few squares of Giddy YoYo chocolate and some dates.
Dried fruit is my kryptonite — no joke. If left to my own devices, I can easily polish off a small bag of dried apricots, figs, or dates without so much as batting an eyelash. I used to do the same thing with candy, and while I suppose it’s a good thing that I’ve switched over to nature’s candy, a little moderation wouldn’t be a bad thing. Oh, and the combination of dates and chocolate has currently replaced my love of the combination of dates and almond butter. To.die.for.
Lunch…
Homemade baked fries with ketchup… x10.
… aaaaaaand oatmeal breaded chicken with some steamed veggies.
Apparently I was really craving potatoes, because I literally heard choirs of angels sing when I took my first bite. Or maybe I just needed some fries in my life Either way, lunch was amazing… and eaten in two parts. Because I didn’t plan ahead and my chicken was hanging out in the freezer, it was still kind of solid by the time I decided I wanted to eat it; and because I was starving and not willing to sacrifice any limbs, I ate the fries first and the chicken about an hour later. Whatever works!
Afternoon snack…
Enjoy Life Mountain Mambo trail mix.
Trail mix is deadly. This is a fact. Google it. Actually, trail mix can be deadly for me if it has peanuts in it, but that’s besides the point. What I was trying to get at was that I have basically no self-control when it comes to trail mix. None. Give me a bag, and I’ll probably give you back 1/4 of it. If that. But come on now… a serving size is, what? 1/4 cup? Who can stop at that much?!? That’s barely enough to get a taste for it, and they’re trying to tell me I have to stop? Not happening.
Dinner…
Egg and veggie quinoa pie — another recipe I made for Savory Style.
Despite the fact that the added work can sometimes stress me out, one of the great things about developing recipes for a site other than my own is the fact that it forces me to get creative and try new things… which I then get to eat 😉 This recipe should go live by the end of this week, so make sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to be the first to know!
Evening snack…
Chapman’s Vanilla Sandwich with a side of Farmville.
You guys… I can’t stop with these sandwiches — they’re so good! And at least they’re neatly portioned out, ’cause yeah… I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve sat down with a tub of ice cream, only intending to eat a few bites, and then polished off at least half of it. Oops? But don’t even try to tell me that you haven’t done the same thing, because then I’ll have to resort to singing: “Liar, liar, pants on fire, hanging from a telephone wire.” <– which made a lot more sense when I was 10 years old.
So yeah! When life gets crazy, my eating habits follow suit. I end up snacking a lot more, which is why I didn’t show portions of my snacks — I just kind of grab a bag/box of whatever it is I’m munching on and eat until I’ve had my fill. This is probably where something like meal planning and food prep would probably come in handy, but I’m still trying to get over my distaste for both of those things, so until that happens, I’ll… “just keep swimming snacking“
See you guys tomorrow for Thinking Out Loud! 😀
Do your eating habits change when you get really busy?
Which fast food place makes the best fries?
What food makes portion control go out the window for you?
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Those French fries look delicious! We have a place in our neighborhood that has amazing sweet potato fries. In fact, I had some last night. Dipped in BBQ sauce and Ranch Dressing, my favorite way 🙂
i HATE the serving size on trail mix !! Terrible !!! One handful is probably 3 servings (I take big handfuls :)) ummm and the ice cream thing.. that happens on a daily basis.. last week i told myself i would only have a little bit of the ben and jerrys red velvet… I wink and half the pint is GONE !!! lol so i buy portioned stuff buttttt not as good.. but if works if i dont want to eat the entire carton of ice cream 🙂
Funny! I used the “just keep swimming” line today too. Lol! So….what I want to know is do you eat all the food you make, give it away or toss?
I probably eat around half of it (either right away or freeze for later) and give away the other half. Never toss!
McDonalds fries, holla!
I would seriously kill for an ice cream sandwich right now. I went for a crazy hard run last night and my hunger is out of control. I’m a demonic beast, really
I could never choose my favorite fries. There are too many categories (curly, waffle wedges, sweet potato) so I will just say I love them all.
Oh and 1 pint of ice cream = 1 serving.
I love seeing savory food on your blog.
Those fries? They look like art!
Your quinoa veggie pie looks delicious! I’m excited for the recipe. That trail mix and the ice cream sandwich is calling my name too!!
My eating habits definitely change when I’m busy. Salad and frozen pizza are my best friend. There’s no shame.
OMG intros are the WORST. Hiiiii Im awkward and I’m going to be writing awkward things today.
I’ve noticed since I’ve been busy I’m snacking a lot less.
We should have a trail mix intervention, I desperately need one (thanks a lot Costco.)
I too love love love dried fruit. Dried bananas and dried mango is my favorite.
McDonald’s fries are the best. No question!
McDonald’s has the best fries, in my opinion. My family doesn’t eat fast food much, but my mom is a loyal fan of McDonald’s so that’s always her go-to.
When I’m busy, I tend to go on autopilot and just eat my easy, reliable, commonplace meals, so while there’s not a ton of variety, I don’t think my diet suffers much worse for the wear. That likely has much to do with the fact that I follow a meal plan, though.
You’re the first person to say McD’s — THANK YOU! I have no idea what it is, but there’s something about them that makes them the best… especially with sweet and sour sauce.
I was scrolling through and getting more and more upset that no one said McDonalds. I’m sorry, there is NOTHING better than fresh McD’s fries, although I prefer to dip mine in mac sauce 🙂
Hey, at least they’re pretty quality snacks! I totally understand though. When I get myself caught up in too much, I often times focus less on the quality and quantity of my eats. I can’t remember the last time I had fast food fries, but I think either Carl’s Jr or Jack in the Box wins because they have curly fries, and I looooooove them!
Dark chocolate covered figs were found recently in my local whole foods store. I just about fell over and died of a heart attack. So much love.
So, I haven’t eaten fast food (sans ice cream) since like… eighth grade when I gave it up for Lent. BUT, I can say from memory… Arby’s curly fries or Chik-fil-a’s waffle fries… dipped in honey mustard :o)
My eating habits tend to change with my attitudes. For some reason, instead of stress eating I tend to nix eating which is weird. And then when things are going pretty well, I tend to eat more. And junk food becomes a staple when I have deadlines for anything. ALL THE SUGAR.
Ahhhh I am so with you on the trail mix. Chips seem to be my kryptonite too. I can polish off an entire bag without noticing!
I haven’t had fast food fries in FOREVER but I’m really not picky when it comes to deep fried potatoes. Since you’re Canadian and I know you’ll get this….Swiss Chalet fries with the dipping sauce….HOLY. YES.
Erm… Does it make me a horrible Canadian to admit that I’ve never had Swiss Chalet fries? 😯
Those fries look ah-mazing! I may just be able to finagle a calf massage out of the hubby if I make him those for dinner! haha
There serving size for trail mix kills me. You’re right, who can only eat 1/4 of a cup?! Its the same with granola though. I’m just popping handfuls of that stuff and I’m like pshhh 1/3 cup for a serving? Not gunna happen!!
Ohhhhh trail mix *how I love thee* It’s seriously dangerous to have me around trail mix. Especially if it has dried cranberries and chocolate chips in it. Ummm. Dead.
The best fast food fries are definitely from Arby’s. Haven’t had those in like 4 years though! And yes my eating habits deffffinitely change when I’m busy, I pretty much just eat a lot of snacky meals instead of real meals because when I’m busy my appetite goes way down.
I completely agree on the trail mix! I literally just ate a whole bag yesterday (when I am on trips, and my schedule is out of whack, I become a voracious snacker) and was like, ok, I shouldn’t have eaten the whole bag, but really 1/4 cup, that’s it? Same way with hummus. 2 tbsp., seriously?
Anywho, I love reading these posts, intro or not 🙂 You do a fantastic job Amanda!
granola is my kryptonite! Glad I got those recipes out of the way though I’m pretty sure I exclusively ate granola for 4 days and my tummy hated meee
I should have asked you for granola advice, because in attempting to wing it on my own, I ended up with a few bad batches… which I ate anyways 😆
Oatmeal breaded chicken…so simple yet I have never tried it! I will have to change that because I happen to enjoy the two separately so why not together 🙂
When life is busy my eating habits change in that I tend to plan more (totally Type A personality).
I haven’t eaten fast food in many years but from what I remember Culver’s (A chain in the Midwest) had the best crinkle cut fries- crispy on the outside and soft and pillowy inside!
Nut butters, granola, trail mix, really I lose any sense of portion control with any snack mix. Another strange one is roasted vegetables but I don’t feel as guilty with those 😉
Hope life slows down a bit for you so you can relax and enjoy it- hopefully a getaway at Blend will help!
Pretzel sticks – is there even a portion size? Other than: when the bag is empy?! Because we had a table of snacks – actually not for us but catering for other people working here – sitting in a hallway every day this week so far. Conventiently located close to the toilets so every time I went there it was only natural I had a handful for ‘food safety control’. Obviously.
Also, please tell me the secret to your homemade fries. I’ve gone potatoes 😉 after buying a 3.3 lb bag [why don’t they sell smaller ones??] but haven’t dared trying fries so far because I’ve never made them at home before and read stories about mushy ones. Crispy is the way to go.
When I get really busy – like, right now – food has to be fast and require little prep. Not the way I’d like it but in a way it makes me think less about it which is good in a way. In another, I miss sit-down meal times and recipe creating.
Happy crazy Wednesday to you!
Ugh homemade fries can be so tricky because a LOT of it depends on the quality of your potatoes. BUT! One way to help them stay crunchy is to cut them up and soak them in cold water for about 20 minutes prior to baking them. It really does help a lot!
Considering your day is so busy your food still looks so yummy! When I’m busy I tend to eat super simple – beans, eggs and salads become my staple foods becaue I can have a meal ready in minutes.
I have no idea how 1/4 of trail mix is considered a serving, that’s insane! No way I can stop at that. French fries ruin my sense of portion control, too. And sweet potato chips- I could eat those all day, every day!
I eat out a lot more when things get busy, but I still try to find healthy options. I love places like Panera because they put nutrition info right up on the board so I can make good choices.
It makes me very sad that you can’t have chick-fil-a waffle fries (peanut oil) because they are THE BEST. In do loooove a good curly fry though. I would say that my eating habits become very ingrained when I’m super busy-as in, I find what works and I stick with it. Thus why I had the same thing just different flavors when I was working at the restaurant. I’m very careful to make sure that I eat, and properly, though, so if anything, I might even eat better when I’m busy! that is, as long as I am in environments that allow for it. Otherwise, I get really thrown off and have to recalibrate.
Ummm…I would like one of everything please! Okay!?! Your day of eats all sounds absolutely delicious! I’m definitely going to check out that recipe for that yummy looking pie.
I really like the fries from TGI Friday’s! They’re seasoned and they’re super tasty!
YUM! You pretty much covered all of my current obsessions in this post: oats with chia, dates, chocolate, oven fries. And I work from home too. It is nice to have the flexibility and no commute. BUT you are correct that work is always there and can be hard to turn off. Plus it can be tempting to stand in front of the fridge/pantry when I am home alone all day. Happy WAIW!
Tell me about it! I have a stand up “desk” about 5 feet from my pantry, and omigosh… it’s killer.
Mmm, those fries look delicious. I’m usually more of a sweet potato girl, but a few weeks ago I got on a white-potato kick, making homemade fries and roasted potatoes (with plenty of ketchup, of course). Even with life being busy, I try to stay on-top of my food game, but that’s not always the reality. Thank the Lord for roasted chickens from the grocery and a Panera less than 2 miles from our house, if need be.
Can’t wait to see your recipe for that quiche! I’m a sucker for a good quiche. I definitely know what you mean about the dried fruit. I have to seriously pace myself! 😉
My meals are usually pretty easy to throw together so they don’t change much when I am busier come to think of it…Love making French fries at home. I haven’t had fast food in years but used to love KFC potato wedges. I tend to go more for the onion rings in restaurants now versus the French fry.
If I am busy then my eating becomes very simple. Grab and eat the healthiest thing possible that takes the least amount of time. Dates and chocolate is a winning combination – add some nut butter too – heavenly! I have not made “potato” potato chips for a while – this needs to be rectified! When it comes to granola my portion control goes out the window, it is like crack. Serving sizes are a joke sometimes!
Oh my gosh I had to tell you I am totally obsessed with homemade fries and ketchup right now! I used to be all about the sweet potatoes but I am telling you white potatoes are so refreshing! I don’t know when this obsession will stop but I am not made about it at all!
Wait – dates AND chocolate!!! You are a GENIUS – I have always had dates and AB or PB and even vanilla and strawberry frosting (it was a birthday party staple growing up) but with chocolate…why I never thought of that I don’t know…but I do know it’s gonna be on my mind all day till I can get home and try it!
Yup – my eating habits change ALOT – I have been all sorts of busy recently too and have been snacking a heck of a lot too. Do you have a Five Guys Burgers and Fries near you? Well, they have boxes and boxes of peanuts that are for snacking – but when I go there, peanuts become my main meal and their amazing cajun fries become my side – their fries really are some of the best I have had!
We don’t have a Five Guys yet, but apparently they’re supposed to be opening one? I might have to steer clear if they’re all about the peanuts, though. Eep!
Portion control is soooo hard around trail mix, at least good mix. My fav has sunflower seeds and dried fruit… ummm… just like yours. 🙂
It’s funny because I don’t normally care for sunflower seeds, but when they’re combined with chocolate and raisins? Omg I die.
Look at you! This makes two weeks in a row now that you haven’t had a snack plate for lunch, huh? I’m still not quite sure which plate looks better. Let’s just call it a tie! Good with you? Okay, perfect!!
Best fast food place for fries: I’ll have to go with Red Robin. They aren’t just good.. their flat out the shit!!
When I’m really busy I’m way more likely to eat things that are 1) from my crockpot or 2) require no cooking and minimal chopping!
I feel the same exact way about trail mix. What the heck is this skimpy ¼ cup?! I think that’s the amount that should be left once I’m finished eating it…
My dinners have been really snacky and weird lately since I’ve been pretty busy as well. I might eat the carbs first (like you did with your potatoes— BTW those look so fantastic), the protein an hour later, and some veggies in between. Like two nights ago, I think I ate a cornbread muffin and then chicken with peppers an hour later. Guatever works!
I lit up like the fourth of July when I saw those fries. Oh my. Breakfast lunch and dinner…please.
Steam a lot of veggies too, mostly because it’s healthy and I’m too lazy to cook them any other way. But I love combining carrots with broccoli, the sweet carrots make the broccoli go down smoother for me.
All yum.
Mmm those fries do look super tasty. But I am a huge huge HUGE ketchup fan, and I would definitely have those babies soaking in ketchup (well, maybe not THAT much…) 😉
Also, I haven’t had an ice cream sandwich in what must be years! I bought a box at the store a couple nights ago because they just sounded so tasty and I am right there with you. I am totally addicted to them now. There is something so simple yet so darn tasty about them that I just can’t get enough. Maybe it kind of reminds me of my favorite ice cream of cookies and cream?!? Mmm either way, so good!
Right that is it..I am buying a box of ice cream sandwiches on my next trip to the supermarket! Tubs of ice cream can get dangerous if you know what I mean ;)! Cereal is another food where I can easily go overboard with…especially the sweet ones as I just eat those by the handful, or in my case handfulS! Do you guys have a Nandos in Canada? Their peri peri chips are out-of-this-world delicious!
Apparently we -do- have them in Canada, but only in BC and Ontario — none in Alberta 🙁
Potatoes for lunch. Yes. And I thought you had gone to the sweet side….
Dinner is the only time during the work week I can enjoy a meal without being busy…the rest of the time is served with a monitor or meeting in tow.
KFC make the best fries. Okay, it’s the salt.
All my meals are served with a monitor, but that’s because I get too bored without one and end up rushing through my meal so I can go do something more interesting 😆
Chocolate and dates, so simple but good!