What I Ate Wednesday: Lunchtime Edition (6 Lunch Inspirations)

Today I’m sharing 6 lunch ideas of mine from the past few weeks – sad desk lunch no more! I like to bring my lunch to work because a) it saves money b) it gives me the flexibility of having healthy options that I actually want to eat. Also, it’s fun for me – there’s something about an incredibly organized lunchbox that gives my OCD mindset all the feels.

Fun fact: I brought my lunch to school every single day all through elementary, middle, and high school. Needless to say, I’ve got some experience under my belt. However, gone are the days of Lunchables and Capri Suns – the current brown bag situation is SO much better (healthier, tastier, and overall more kick-ass.)

Each of these lunches are as easy as the title says – prep them the night before and grab and go in the morning!

April 29, 2015 TAGS: avocado, healthy eating, healthy lunches, lunch, nutrition, nutrition happens, quinoa, salads, salmon, vegetables, vitamins, wellness, what i ate wednesdays BY: May

Nutrition + Food

What I Ate Wednesday (3/4/15)

Hi, friends! We made it to hump day. Best way to celebrate? Sharing with you all the eats. Going with the trend of my past few What I Ate Wednesdays, this has been a compilation of a few meals over the past week.

Breakfast.

I tried out something new for breakfast this week (trying to branch out a bit!) – the Rip’s Big Bowl Triple Berry Walnut cereal from Engine 2. I love their line of plant based items, but I do admit I’ve never been a cereal fan. But this has changed my mind – it’s very hearty and filling! The textures are perfect. It’s a combination of flax, walnuts, oats, shredded wheat, and freeze dried berries..a great wholesome mix. I love adding cashew milk and fresh raspberries + strawberries. For one serving, it’s got 6 grams of fiber + 7 grams protein at only 1 gram of sugar – I’ll take it! You can check out a full ingredient list and nutrition facts here.

The cappuccinos from Collective Coffee are my absolute favorite. It’s hard to foam almond milk but they make it look like it’s a breeze – which keeps me a regular customer, for sure!

They also make a pretty kick ass parfait. If it’s one thing to be true, it’s my love for Collective Coffee – you’ll catch me there often!

With an almond milk chai.

Lunch.

A messy salad mix at work. I used their salad bar that day – it’s a mix of spinach + spring greens + peas + tomatoes + carrots + onions + avocado and grilled shrimp.

I packed some leftover roasted brussels sprouts and put together this combination – Rudi’s Spelt english muffin + Trader Joe’s chili lime chicken burger + avocado + spinach. I had an afternoon workout planned that day and this kept me full until dinner – it was great! Typically I get hungry again 2 hours after lunch (forever hungry….#reallife) – I was suprised at how satisfied I was!

Afternoon Pick-Me Up.

The Lemon Love Suja is my favorite out of the entire Suja Juice line – it’s so light and refreshing but that pinch of cayenne is definitely the kicker!

Dinner.

I posted a “What I Bought Tuesday” yesterday that went through a look into how I prepare a few extra meals for busy weeks. It really makes such a big difference in my days because after an eight hour work day and a trip to the gym afterwards, I get home around 7pm hungry and ready to eat my entire kitchen. Being prepared is just one of those habits you can easily take on to adopting a healthier lifestyle. Here’s another look into some other meal ideas I like to do –

Have you tried the Trader Joe’s wild caught salmon burgers before? You can grill, bake, or pan fry them. I prefer to bake them – since it only takes 10 minutes in the oven! I’ll make two at a time so I can have one for lunch or dinner the next day.

And I always prepare a batch of vegetables. (but what’s new?)

With this balsamic vinegar of Modena via Trader Joes + black pepper.

And a few cloves of peeled garlic.

With leftover Annie’s Whole Wheat Mac and Cheese + tomatos & spinach.

I also made the crispiest batch of broccoli ever last week – my favorite! Like, the crispier, the better (am I right, though?). I simply spray a batch of broccoli with Trader Joe’s coconut oil, add garlic powder and black pepper (sometimes nutritional yeast) and bake at 400F for 20-25 minutes. Boom.

Anddd I added this red beet kraut I mentioned before here. Kraut is a great way to add some extra probiotics (for digestive health..important!) into your meals. This is a great informational article on the benefits of fermented foods.

My favorite tempeh marinades lately….the Island soyaki (classic) and the MANGO CHUTNEY from Trader Joe’s. Could possibly eat the mango chutney by the spoonfuls. Struggles.

For days when I’m just a bottomless pit: a plain Siggi’s + stevia + dark chocolate chocolate chips + Original Puffins. The best combination of simple flavors, textures, and just overall goodness. The 15 grams of protein is a plus! 🙂

How did this end up in my cart the other day?! Oh, because I put it in there. Because cookie dough. Because coconut. Because it was on sale. Because it was Thursday. Because….it’s so delicious. But really, work hard and play hard, friends. Everything in moderation!

Thanks to Jen for always hosting the best virtual foodie party on Wednesdays!

March 4, 2015 TAGS: food, life, nutrition happens, personal, product reviews, what i ate wednesday, what i ate wednesdays, whatiatewednesday BY: May

Nutrition + Food

What I Ate Wednesday (2/25/15)

Get ready for a pretty picture dense What I Ate Wednesday. I couldn’t for the life of me get it together and take a complete full day of eats for you guys, but I did somehow manage to compile what feels like an entire album of eats for you by putting together scraps of pictures from here and there. I threw in a few foodie items I’ve been eating and loving, along with a compilation of many eats throughout the week. It’s a been a busy one for me!

Breakfast.

Simple oats are just have been I want lately – with a dollop of creamy almond butter. I had leftover pomegranate seeds that day so I plopped those in for good measure. I’ve also been adding sacha inchi as a planted based way to pump up the protein in my oats lately. More to come on that soon!

I used up the last of my spelt muffins last week – my favorite part really is putting it together and taking it on the go, since it’s the perfect size to grab and eat in the car! I haven’t been craving as much fruit lately – so avocado and egg sandwiches are my morning staples!

But for those mornings I do want fruit, this combination is perfect –> bananas + strawberries + almond butter + chia seeds + cacao nibs.

Lunch.

This shrimp salad from Caviar and Bananas. It’s called the “Prohibition” – with lemon poached shrimp + roasted carrots + radishes + grape tomatoes + roasted macadamia nuts (I subbed in chickpeas instead!) + mixed greens + green goddess dressing – served chopped. UGH. Face plant.

And this veggie wrap from one of my favorite coffee shops in Charleston, Collective Coffee Co. Can you even with the avocado chunk?

Dinner.

These frozen roasted mashed sweet potatoes from Trader Joe’s is a lifesaver. I love roasted sweet potatoes but sometimes I just don’t have an hour to roast them (hangry problems, the worst!), and I generally don’t prefer them cooked in the microwave. These are perfect because you can just heat them up on a stove and serve as a side dish. Best part besides the fact that it takes zero time to whip up? The only ingredient is sweet potato (as it should be!).

Trader Joe’s has frozen leeks! They work wonderfully in some lentil soup. This is a very easy version I’ve been making for cold days. I bring vegetable or chicken stock to a simmer and add in these red lentils from Trader Joes. After about 10 minutes, I add in the frozen leeks with some garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Let it simmer and sit for another 15-20 minutes or so and it’s the perfect meal by itself with some extra roasted veggies or a side dish paired with some salmon!

Speaking of salmon, I typically buy my salmon wild caught. Target actually sells frozen wild caught salmon at an amazing price. For about $15, you can get about 4-5 fillets. I love it because it cooks up fast. Typically, I bake it – 400F for about 20-25 minutes. I can make 2 fillets at at time and have one for dinner and another for lunch or dinner the next day.

Baked salmon + White Girl Salsa. Basic. Whatevs.

One pan dinners are kinda my thing. This took me all of 30 minutes max to do. I toss salmon and asparagus with coconut oil, garlic powder, and balsalmic and roasted everything at 400F for 20 minutes. Boom. Dinner. Delicious.

Also added baby bell pepper (roasted) the next day. They are cute and roast up all nice and sweet – it’s like dessert but hello, veggies.

A batch of green beans and butternut squash.

Lentil Soup from Earthfare. So delicious! I swing by Earthfare after work or after a workout after work when I know I want food ASAP.

With this leftover cornbread.

One of my post-workout meals. Leftovers. My life, basically.

Green beans and shrimp in the making. 400F, 20-25 minutes.

Green beans and shrimp, for dinner. Plus, this citrus salsa that you can find here.

Snacks and Other Shenanigans.

Water + Starbucks iced coconut milk latte + a Suja macachino. I call this my “hydration station” at work. I’m sort of a dork and I know it.

And an afternoon tea break with yogi, sweetened with a pack of stevia.

And these drink mixes at Whole Foods. I’m usually don’t do flavored waters, but these are absolutely one of those foodie things I HAD to buy. I’m a sucker for coconut (and that packaging!) and these are great pick me ups! It’s sweetened with stevia and has the perfect coconutty flavor.

Leave it up to Califia Farms to bring a bomb ass almond milk creamer to the market. The hazelnut is also amazing!

This maple quinoa chia cluster granola from KIND snacks. THAT CLUSTER. CANNOT EVEN.

Hummus of the week: Trader Joe’s beet hummus. I usually have 1-2 hummuses on rotation for the week – typically from Trader Joe’s or Roots!

I’m sorry but how cute are those sumo mandarins at Whole Foods? Long live citrus season!

And blood oranges. But you knew that already.

Coconut chips. This one in particular – my mom sends them down from her Costco. I have like 3 bags sitting in my pantry right now – the love is real. Plus, they are certified organic by Clemson University! I like to snack on a handful if I’m hungry again a few hours after dinner.

Peanut butter puffins. Puffins are one of the only cereals I buy. It’s lower in sugar but seriously big on flavor! Again, these make the perfect evening (sweet) snack. I like to use them as toppings on yogurts.

Another foodie moment..sorry not sorry. Whipped honey. The texture is AH MAY ZING. And it was on sale at Whole Foods.

And can I get an AMEN for finally re-stocking my favorite concealer? Dark spots be gone. Hallelujah!

Thanks for braving through this week’s What I Ate Wednesday! What have you been eating lately?

February 25, 2015 TAGS: foodie finds, nutrition happens, oatmeal, vegetables, what i ate wednesday, what i ate wednesdays BY: May

Uncategorized

What I Ate Wednesday (2/5/15)

Hashtag, WIAW, hayyy.

I’ve been meaning to participate in What I Ate Wednesday since the start of my blog, and as active as I am on Instagram giving you a peak into my daily eats, I am quite terrible at taking pictures of a FULL day of eats. I think it’s probably because I snack so often. Story. of. my. LIFE.

But hey, better late than never. Cheers to today’s edition of What I Ate Wednesday!

My day always starts with a breakfast that is nutrient packed and tasty (and a glass of warm water and lemon) – this day included a breakfast sandwich made using Artizo spelt toast – with avocado + egg & Trader Joe’s hummus + sprouts + cucumber mango salsa from Whole Foods. Do you wake up to the sound of your stomach growling from hunger, or is it just me? Oh, okay.

I actually poached this egg in the microwave – which, I thought I had perfected the technique until this morning. As you can see, total fail. But it was still so delicious.

Mid morning snack was a tupperware of berries and a lemon ginger Kevita. Since berries are not in season around this time of year, I don’t usually pick up a ton unless they are on sale – I can’t wait for summertime again!

Lunch was leftovers from the night before – Trader Joe’s Organic Superfood Pilaf (kale, red quinoa, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers) and roasted garlic & broccoli (that I already ate before the picture..I blame the hangries).

Afternoon snack before my workout was a container of 2% Fage greek yogurt + toasted coconut chips + goji berries + raw pumpkin seeds (aka one of my favorite topping combinations!)

Dinner after my workout (shoulder circuit + 4 mile tempo run) was leftovers (I’m all for them) – spicy roasted sweet potatoes, garlic roasted crispy broccoli, and batch of baked garlic-y shrimp (coming soon to a post near you) with cucumber mango salsa. I also added some sesame ginger dressing from Whole Foods to dip my sweet potatoes in….it is my current obsession! I love the entire line of “no oil added” dressings from Whole Foods – I have not been disappointed by any of them.

Andddddd dessert was a slice of this bad boy (Soaked 6 Grain Banana Bread) I whipped up from the Purely Elizabeth Oatmeal Challenge. Not this slice in particular but you get the picture. I’m having so much fun on the panel of judges – I get to make the eats and then eat them. You guys totally made the most fabulous creations!

And that’s a wrap! Come back next week for another full day of eats. In the meantime, you can always catch me over on my Instagram, @nutritionhappens.

February 4, 2015 TAGS: avocado toast, healthy meals, what i ate wednesdays BY: May

Nutrition Happens

Nutrition Happens

Tag: what i ate wednesdays

What I Ate Wednesday: Lunchtime Edition (6 Lunch Inspirations)

What I Ate Wednesday (3/4/15)

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What I Ate Wednesday (2/25/15)

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What I Ate Wednesday (2/5/15)

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