A Taste of My Tuesday

If you’re a food blog follower, you’re probably familiar with “What I Ate Wednesday” blog posts in which the blogger posts about what they have been eating. I know I really enjoy reading those posts because it gives me an idea of how other people eat and it also sparks ideas for my own meals. I’ve decided I want to do my own version of these posts titled “A Taste of My Tuesday.” As a disclaimer, I most likely eat more than what is pictured here because I tend to take bites of things as I cook or as I’m finishing up a meal. This actually might help me clean up my own eating habits!! These posts will hopefully give you a good look into what a dietitian realistically eats as well as give you some meal/snack ideas. And it will be a whole lot easier for me to share simple recipes with you without having to make a whole blog post on it. I doubt you want to read an entire post on my roasted broccoli (okay, I am dedicating a post to my broccoli, but there are a few other recipes that are going to be included in that one).

So here’s to my first Taste of My Tuesday blog post.

Breakfast: Breakfast Cookie Dough--I know I probably shouldn’t eat the same breakfast everyday, but homegirl can’t stop! Seriously, I probably eat it 4 days a week. I just mix it up the night before and leave it in a bowl overnight in the fridge. Mash ½ a banana and add in 1 Tbsp plain protein powder, 1 Tbsp peanut flour (PB2), ½ Tbsp peanut butter and 1/3 cup oats. Then add in about 2 Tbsp milk of choice and leave uncovered in a bowl or plate. In the morning, top with chopped walnuts and dig in.

Cold brew coffee. I can’t start my day without it....

Lunch: Brussels sprouts hash with an over easy egg + handful of homemade snack mix (air popped popcorn, chex, pretzels). Saute sweet potatoes in olive oil and then add onions, garlic, and any other veggies (I added cauliflower this time, but bell peppers and mushrooms would be good) with garlic salt and any additional seasonings of choice. Add chopped ham (or any other meat) and a little bit of gouda cheese just to warm it up. Top with an over easy egg and enjoy! 

Snack: I found this coconut flour cake today and wanted to give it a try. I've tried a lot of "lighter" single-serving cakes that really aren't that good. Not so with this one! I'll definitely be making it regularly! Side note: I added 1/2 Tbsp dark chocolate chips instead of 1 Tbsp regular chocolate chips. 

Dinner: Homemade corn chowder + dark chocolate and a mint. It lacked a whole lot of flavor on its own, so we topped it with chopped bacon, avocado, black beans, and cilantro. Not too shabby... 

Evening Snack: 3 cups of skinny pop 

And that was what a normal day of food looks like for me! Like I said, I tend to grab bites of food here and there, a habit I need to work on. What have you been eating lately? 

P.S. Check back later this week for a new breakfast recipe!!

Current happenings....I'm unemployed

Don't fret. I know my post title appears discouraging, but my current unemployment is a very good thing. Becaaaause....it means that I'm finally done with my dietetic internship!! Six years of schooling, a master's thesis, and 26 weeks of an unpaid internship have all been completed in order to accomplish my goal of becoming a registered dietitian! So it feels incredibly good to be done. All that is standing in my way is taking the national RD exam...and then finding a job. Which may be a lot harder than I thought previously. But I honestly don't care, because I'M DONE done!!

And it just so happened that the week after I finished up my internship, my sweet prego sister flew in from Italy to the US for a friend's wedding. We took advantage of the reason for her to come back to the states and had her come back a week early so we could get some quality family time in to celebrate her pregnancy and the completion of my internship. What better way than with shopping and lots of good food?? None that I can think of. 

I met up with my sister-in-law Hailey (oh my goodness I love her) and my mom in OKC Friday afternoon. We then headed to Dallas to meet up with my sister and her in-laws. That night I had a chicken burger with cranberries and apples and a cranberry sauce. And it came with quite possibly the most delicious sweet potato fries I've ever eaten. They had a sprinkle of cinnamon, and I'm pretty sure they had butter on them. Let's not think about that..Sorry about the dark picture, the lighting was pretty low. 

We went back to the hotel and just caught up on life. The next morning we got up and I worked out in the hotel's gym. Here's my go-to workout when I'm on the go and am limited on equipment. I found it in Fitness magazine and adapted it a little to make it slightly more tough. 

We went to a Whole Foods that was right down the road to get my sister some fresh fruit/vegetable juice (and some massive apples and fresh peanut butter) and then headed back to the hotel for breakfast...Let's just say it lacked much to be desired...We then spent the majority of the day shopping at the outlet mall.

That afternoon we headed to Kate's aunt-in-law's house for a baby shower. It was SO sweet and fun! We played jeopardy and it was such a great idea. Check out the decoration below. The picture just doesn't do it justice. 

That night we got a snack at Chick-fil-a (holla) and then headed to the hotel to hang out. The next morning I got up to workout again, this time just walking and jogging on the treadmill. After breakfast and showering, we celebrated the completion of my internship with starbucks and a few donuts. 

Anyone else think it's ironic that we were celebrating me almost being a dietitian with donuts? I'm okay with that...

Afterwards we hit the outlet mall again. Boy did I hit the jackpot at the Loft outlet. Seriously, basically everything I tried on fit. It was VERY dangerous. Thankfully, Santa's helper (AKA, my mom) was nearby so I didn't have to buy everything, but could count on getting some of it for Christmas. I love being tight with Santa and his crew.

That afternoon we headed back home (and got FUZZY'S on the way home..their queso is seriously the best I've ever had. Sometimes I think it must have crack in it) and relaxed for the rest of the evening. I actually got a new phone that night too. I forgot how janky my phone was until I took it out of its case--the screen was cracked, the back was shattered and held together with duck tape, and the sound didn't always work. I am so grateful for a new phone! Shout out to my cousin who gave it to me for free. She's rad (have people used that term since the 90s?).

Monday, my sister and I went to crossfit (it's slowly growing on me) and then went back to the house for breakfast. My mom surprised us with at-home full body massages. As a kid I was a little freaked out about a random stranger giving me a massage, but now I think it is absolutely glorious! Give me more. I'm gonna have to figure out a way to get Isaac to fit a massage into the budget every month. I don't think I have that much persuasion...but it's worth a try.

Afterwards we grabbed lunch with one of Kate's good friends from high school. We headed to Tulsa (where I live) for the evening because I had a doctor's appointment the next morning. I would have rescheduled, but it takes an act of congress to get into a doctor. "Oh you're having a problem and need to be seen by a doctor? Our next available appointment is in 6 months. Will that work?" I could be dead by then. We had breakfast with one of the coolest women I know and Kate went shopping with her while I was at the doctor. Kate and I headed back to OKC for her shower that night. 

Wednesday morning we got up for Crossfit again, this time with my dad. It was an absolute killer. We did two different circuits, the first of rowing, wall balls, and pushups and the second circuit with ring rows, ball slams, and the assault bike (a good description of how your thighs feel afterwards). I thought I was going to die...afterwards, my dad treated us to some starbucks. My parents were never coffee drinkers growing up, but in the past year my dad has really gotten into starbucks. So much so that he introduced us to all of the baristas and a few of the people in the shop. We might need to stage an intervention...

The rest of the day we spend shopping for Kate to find a "black tie" dress that would fit her bump. It's even harder than it sounds--it wasn't my favorite. However, we DID get lunch at Big Truck Taco, per my request, so it was worth it. My mom just had to get a picture of us while we were there. Light eyes and looking straight into the sun just don't go together. 

That night we had my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin, and brother and sister-in-law over for dinner for my mom's birthday. My family is just so fun. 

My sister left early the next morning and the rest of the week at home included more crossfit, catching up on Dancing with the Stars, the new Hunger Games movie, and lots of good food. I had such a wonderful week, but I was so ready to get back home to a normal schedule and food. It's gonna be hard transitioning back to eating as I know I should. Normal life is hard. And now thanksgiving is right around the corner. Anyone have any unusual recipes for I should try out? 

Happy birthday (birthweek) to me

How do you all feel about holidays? I don't really get into the various national holidays (national donut eating day, national ice cream day, and national peanut butter day are a different story). Thanksgiving? eh, it's fun to eat fall foods, but whatever. Valentine's Day? talk about awkward before getting married. Fourth of July? fireworks just don't excite me. I know, un-American. But Christmas and birthdays? Holy moly, I get excited. I dare you to listen to Michael Buble's Christmas CD without getting all kinds of happy. And my birthday--it's always been a big deal to me.

Growing up, my mom always did such a great job of making birthdays special.  She planned the best birthday parties or family celebrations and I always got the "you are special" plate at breakfast. And I feel like it was never celebrated just one day on my actual birthday. It was more of a birthday week, or birthweek. All bets were off the week of my birthday. I could get out of chores, stay up late, talk her into anything in the name of "it's my birthday." It was such a great tradition that I've decided I should just keep it going even though I'm out of the house. Am I right? Or am I right? So, this year to start of my birthweek, my parents came up the weekend before (this past weekend) to celebrate. 

The four of us met with some friends of ours at a restaurant called Napa Flats. They're known for their wood-fired grill and fresh ingredients. We got the mediterranean plate as an appetizer: it came with tabbouli, two types of hummus, tzatziki sauce, some sort of olive relish, pita bread, cucumber, and carrots. Veggies and hummus for an appetizer, yes puhlease. As an entree, my mom and I split an asian salad with ahi tuna, and a pizza. The salad wasn't that great, but oh my goodness that pizza! I really wish I had taken a picture of it. It had spinach, mushrooms, caramelized onions, brussels sprouts, and white truffle olive. I'm gonna have to recreate it soon and give you all the recipe!

After dinner we went back to our apartment to play nertz and eat pizookies. Growing up we played nertz at all of our family gatherings and it was such a blast. Basically, it's a group game of fast-paced solitaire. Unfortunately, my friend Laurel didn't take it easy on me and she won. Seriously? It was my birthday celebration. But fortunately for me, we made chocolate pizookies and topped them with oreo icecream. Don't worry, all was not lost. (I am a total failure for not taking pictures of those bad boys.)

The next morning we started off our morning well with some almond flour crepes topped with fruit and yogurt (and a little drizzle of dark chocolate and peanut butter). Next we headed off to do some bargain shopping at...garage sales and estate sales. Again, something I grew up doing. My mom passed onto me the thrill of getting a great deal on something at a garage sale. Yes, I had some success. :-)

That afternoon Isaac's parents came up to join in on the festivities. We met them and headed to a park along riverside to have a picnic and play some disk golf. Notice how I'm across the street in the picture below? I wish I could say that is a rare occurrence, but my mother taught me to never tell a lie...

After enjoying the glorious weather outdoors, we headed back to the apartment for birthday dessert and gifts. My mom is so sweet and thoughtful!! Stay tuned for seeing some of those items in future blog posts!

Wednesday was my official birthday. I was a little worried about my first birthday as a real adult in the working world. I thought it was going to be super sad and really didn't expect much of it. Thankfully I was wrong! Early that morning, I facetimed with my beautiful, thoughtful (and now pregnant!) sister who lives in Italy. She had sent me a package earlier in the week, so I opened it while she watched on the phone. Look at these beauts! Hand crafted in Italy. Bet no one else has these featured in their blog...Unless a food blogger lives in Italy...Again, these will definitely be featured in the near future.

After finishing up with my sister, Isaac had me open up his gift. Best gift he's every gotten me! The BEST tumbler from target that has a sealing feature that allows you to mix/shake drinks without spilling it everywhere. If you're an iced coffee addict like me, you've got to give this tumbler a try. He also gave me money for some Bath & Body Works soaps and lotions I've been wanting, along with a really funny card and incredible gift bag...

The girls at work surprised me by decorating my desk with streamers and a sign. We all ate lunch together and then they gave me some salted caramel chocolates and a badge holder. Talk about so sweet and special. Those girls know how to throw a rockin' party ;-).

After work, Isaac and I headed to Panera for a quick dinner before Bible study. Oh Panera, you have my heart. Why do you have to be so expensive?? I got a half ancient grains, arugula, and chicken salad and a half turkey cranberry flatbread. Oh, and we split an orange scone. Having a myPanera card has its perks.  

After Bible study, a group of us headed to the most predictable place for me to celebrate my birthday--Yolatti, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop. Home girl can eat a lot of froyo. We're talking a lot. It's sort of a problem.

 I am so grateful to have such wonderful people around me to celebrate and make my birthday special! I'm off to go talk Isaac into washing the dishes, after all, it's basically still my birthday....