What I {Intuitively} Ate Wednesday

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!

As always, a big THANK YOU to Jenn for putting on the best link up party in blogworld!

I know a lot of you may be familiar with the term “intuitive eating”Β 
But have you ever given it a try?

Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full.

Sounds easy, right?…WRONG!

Sometimes it’s hard to just eat what we want when we want it. With work, school, and/or other activities, is it really possible to just drop everything and go get that ____ we’re craving at that exact moment?

“Ahem, excuse me Mr. Boss/Teacher/other type of authority figure, I know we’re kind of in the middle of something important here, but I’m gonna take off now so I can go home and make that dish I saw on Food Network last night, because that’s what my body really wants for lunch and I HAVE to honor that. Thank you.”

Um, yeah, I’m thinking that’s a good way to get

1.) the stank eye

and/or

2.) a spot in the unemployment line!

So I tried a little experiment. This weekend, I took a day to “honor my hunger” and this is what I came up with:

All I wanted when I first rolled out of bed around 8am was…

Surprise, surprise…coffee!

Only the weekend version is almost always x TWO! πŸ˜‰

I know I can do without it, but I’m pretty sure I’m “honoring” some sort of cue since coffee is what makes me happy. And who am I to deny myself a bit of happiness everyday, right? πŸ˜‰

Breakfast happened a couple of hours later…

Pumpkin stuffed smothered FRENCH TOAST topped with granola and an unpictured glass of almond milk!

During the work week, I have to stick to a pretty set schedule when it comes to my meals, but if I had it my way, I would enjoy my coffee, relax a little bit and THEN have breakfast!

As filling as my breakfast was, I was a little surprised when at 12:30, I found myself getting hungry again, but instead of over thinking the reasons WHY I felt hungry, I decided to just go with it and make a little yogurt bowl.

Chobani Banana Champions, 1 small banana, chocolate peanut butter mixed nuts, and a sprinkle of chia seeds (for no other reason than the fact that they make my bowl look pretty! ;))

Oh, and I popped one of these bad boys with my first bite:

Take that, newfound lactose intolerance!

That kept me satisfied for about 2.5 hours so around 3pm, I snacked on an apple.

Honeycrisp with a side of Vitamin D!

*Insert my joyous 5K run and some total body circuits here*

After I got home from the gym, I chopped up 1/4 kabocha squash, drizzled it in olive oil and threw some garlic, smoked paprika, and S&P at it before popping it in the oven to roast while I jumped in the shower.

Once I got out of the shower, I snacked on some raw okra while I waited for the squashies to finish cooking

Yes, raw okra…I know, I’m weird.

To go along with my roasted squash, I decided to try out a new find from my last Trader Joe’s run:

Who you callin’ CHICKEN?! πŸ˜‰

I ended up with a big ol’ plate of deliciousness…

TJ’s chicken hot dog on an Udi’s bun with jalapeno cilantro hummus (another TJ’s find) and pickled jalapenos next to my roasted squash sprinkled with nooch and drizzled in ketchup

Comin’ atcha!

After dinner, Lettie and I met at the local winery for “Jazz on the Lawn” (aka, listen to music and taste all our wines for FREE!).Β We ended up tasting 1-2 glasses worth and then later, decided toΒ go to her place and have a real (as opposed to fake) glass of wine while talking about everything from wild nights at Subway to our favorite nut butters!

Next thing I knew, it was nearly 3am!

I made my way home thinking I was going to do a face plant into my memory foam pillow when as soon as I opened the door, I was practically smacked in the face with hunger.

Instead of trying to convince myself that I should just go to bed (and probably wake up starving a few hours later), I decided to have a snack…

And that’s when this beauty happened!

Barbara’s Shredded Spoonfuls, 1/2 a banana, and candy coated sunflower seeds in a nearly empty Arctic Zero container

*Water count for the day ~ 72 ounces*

At the end of the day, I knew nothing of the amount of calories/carbs/fat/whatever I had consumed, but I felt good about my food choices.

…I didn’t stick to a schedule…

…I didn’t over-analyze every tummy rumble…

…I didn’t snack mindlessly…

I honored my hunger AND my body while giving it the nutrients it needed AND satisfying my cravings as well!

Have you ever tried eating intuitively?

Do you hold your hot dog/veggie dog from the top or the bottom when eating?
I’m usually an over-hander when it comes to hot dog eating, but under-handed makes for better photography! πŸ˜‰

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50 Responses to What I {Intuitively} Ate Wednesday

  1. I always think I eat intuitively, but some days I’m not really sure that I do…things just LOOK good, rather than me “needing” them. πŸ™‚

    Kind of like how that Arctic Zero LOOKS amazing…but I’m not sure I “need” it right now.

    PS- I like raw okra, too.

  2. I try to eat this way but I think from all the years of dieting that my signals are still a little crossed. If I don’t put some *real* thought into it I end up not eating the healthiest. As I get used to eating healthier and what really nourishes my body I’ll keep trying this. Your day looked great! A run, jazz, and that yummy end of the night deliciousness?! Wow.

  3. so good!! I’ve always had a difficult time with this, but don’t you just feel so much better when you do it? Yay!
    okra freaks me out a little bit. Those white seeds in the middle? Don’t get me wrong, I like it, I just can’t think about it when I eat it.
    kabocha. I’m sure you know I love it. Yours looks wonderfully plated. I usually have mine for breakfast. I’ve been known to eat an entire one in a day, split between breakfast and lunch.

  4. Vien says:

    Hi there! πŸ™‚ I stumbled upon your blog recently and everything looks so good!! The french toast will definitely be a motivation for me to get out of bed! πŸ˜€

    I’ve tried eating intuitively but I always end up stuffing myself! And sometimes it’s time to eat and I’m not hungry. Ended up with a horrible tummy problem so for me, I have to stick to a schedule!
    And I hold my hot dog from the bottom! πŸ˜‰

  5. I’ve tried eating intuitively, but I always either eat too much or too little!! I’m no good at it πŸ™

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      It takes practice to get in tune to your body’s cues. I think I did really well this day, but to be perfectly honest, most days I eat so fast (the joys of working in a hospital where half the time you must inhale your food if you want to eat) that I don’t even realize that I’m full before I finish my meal. Boo! πŸ™ We’re only human though. If at first you don’t succeed…

  6. Cherie says:

    Amazing looking pumpkin pancakes!!

  7. Holy yum your eats look delish! πŸ˜€

  8. Hi, I’m just quietly running around in sad circles with happiness at finding this blog. And I know this is COMPLETELY off topic, but it has something to do with eating things certain ways … people say eating toast/pizza/anything with toppings should be eating UPSIDE DOWN for maximum flavor. Sounds strange, eating toast the wrong way round … but apparently it does wonders for the taste buds?
    I’d love to try intuitive eating sometime soon … it’s just that first silly kick to get me started.
    Excuse my ramblings =)

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Aww, hello Lexie! Thank you so much for commenting! It DOES make sense that you would flip food over so it has more contact with your taste buds…but how many odd looks do you think you’d get?? Eh, probably no more than when I bust out the nutritional yeast or chia seeds when I’m at work! Haha!

  9. Hee Heather, why does your food always look especially good!! I should stop reading its making me put on pounds πŸ˜‰ Kidding. Totally visually swallowing those pancakes right now!

  10. Intuitive eating sounds like such a good idea in theory, but as you said, it’s really hard to do in real life. Sometimes I have to eat in advance, even when I’m not hungry, so that I can prevent hunger later on during a long lecture. Or sometimes when I’m hungry I still have to wait an hour until class is over. That’s the worst! πŸ˜›

    As always your pancakes look incredible! I wish I had time to make those right now, but I have to leave for class in 45 min.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Oh I hate it when we get busy at work and lunch gets pushed back…we get so crazy sometimes, it’s hard to step away for a restroom break, much less sit down to have a bite to eat!

  11. Holy crap…did you say jalapeno cilantro hummus? I need that in my life! All my favorite foods in one! As for intuitive eating, it’s better said than done. It rarely happens here, but I think it’s because my eating habits are a habit now. I guess the weekends are kind of intuitive when I don’t have to work and we wake up a little later (that’s wishful thinking). Looks like a delicious day! Oh and does yogurt upset your stomach too? They say some people with mild cases of lactose intolerance can handle yogurt since the sugars are already digested by the bacteria in it? I’m sorry for your tummy troubles with dairy now. I hope they go away soon!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      I know what you mean about getting into a habit. I’m so used to eating at a specific time during the week that sometimes it’s hard to know if I’m actually hungry or if my body just “knows” its snacktime. Actually, this was the first time trying yogurt in a while. I took the Lactaid as a precaution, but a couple days later I ate some without it and I was fine. It only works with the champion yogurts. I guess the smaller size is just right for my level of tolerance right nowr…if I try to eat a normal sized Chobani cup, I end up bloated and miserable 1-2 hours later.

  12. lindsay says:

    oh ya, when I eat intuitively I usually eat lunch around 10:30am. haha. no shame! and I am all about the hot dogs and raw okra. Much love to that friend.

  13. lizzie says:

    goo lactose intolerant girls!
    i’m glad you are still enjoying your greek yog w/ the pills tho! i used to take them bfore my vegan days πŸ™‚
    happy wiaw!

  14. raw okra? how does that work? πŸ™‚ is it slimy or just crispy? i am super curious about that one. otherwise your eats are fantastic, but i am mostly jealous of your always fantastic breakfast creations. yum!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      You can tell what my favorite meal of the day is, huh? I always look forward to breakfast!

      The okra is just crispy…and delicious! I tried it raw one day after I came home with it from the farmer’s market and wasn’t sure how to cook it. I mean, I’ve had it in gumbo and fried before, but I wasn’t sure what else to do with it. After that, I realized how great it was and haven’t been able to cook a single one….I always eat them all up before I have a chance to try cooking them! Haha! Oh, and it tastes even better dipped in dijon/honey mustard! Mmmm!

  15. Ahhh you always have awesome eats, Heather! Those pancakes look AMAZING, as does all your snackage. I think I eat pretty intuitively because I’m just not good at planning out meals / don’t think ahead that often, and I think it’s ok to eat past my fullness levels every once in awhile (food is just that good). haha

  16. What an amazing day you had! Very inspiring. I’m easing my way into intuitive eating but often towards the end of the day I am so behind on my calories I have no choice but to add them up to make sure I get enough before bed. Happy WI(I)AW! πŸ˜€

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Thank you so much for commenting Sara! Eating intuitively is definitely a practice meant to well…practice on! A lot of times…especially on the weekends, I’m so guilty of just walking into the kitchen because I’ve got “the nibbles” and end up eating 4 or 500 calories as a “snack”! Ugh…definitely a work in progress!

  17. OH WHOA – delicious eats, girl! πŸ™‚

  18. Lauren says:

    Ha ha, I wondered why you were up tweeting at 3 AM! Everything you eat always looks so darn good. I would love to not have a set schedule because of work and be able to eat intuitively but that’s not always the case. I think I’m an over-hander, but now that I think about it I can’t actually remember!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      I know what you mean! I hate having to figure out how to schedule meals during work. Sometimes we get so busy, there’s just no guarantee we will get lunch at noon…or even get a lunch at all on some days. Oh, if only everyday was the weekend!

  19. Lindsay says:

    Why is all your food so amazing? That arctic freeze combination looks good. I have a half empty container in my freezer I’m def going to have to top it with wonderful goodness like you did. Don’t even get me started on your french toast. Amazing. I want some.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Aww, thanks girlie! I can’t wait to make another run to Nashville so I can grab up a couple more JUST so I can finish them off like this! πŸ˜‰

  20. Rach says:

    I definitely eat my hotdog underhanded, but it would be yummy no matter which way it were eaten. πŸ˜‰

  21. *Drooling* over every.single.thing!

    And now, I’m officially starving!

  22. Rachel says:

    intuitive eating is SO hard! i wish i were better at it. on another note, choco sunflower seeds are one of my favorite snacks. i’ve been craving them intensely lately but haven’t been able to find them πŸ™

  23. Lee says:

    I’m awful at intuitive eating. If I see food or know it’s around, I want to eat it. I pretty much have to make myself just eat at certain times. Although, if I’m actually hungry, I will honor that.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Oh my gosh, I totally get that too! That’s why I hardly ever bake anything! If I know a dessert type thing is in my house, I will randomly find myself in the kitchen half a dozen times during the day to just “have a little nibble.” Next thing I know, I’ve eaten a whole thing of cookies/brownies/whatever in like 2-3 days! *eye roll*

  24. I try to eat this way every day and it usually serves me well. If I’m hungry, I know my stomach and body are telling me to honor that request

  25. That “stank eye” pic cracked me up! I think I gave that look a few times today. πŸ™‚

    I think I intuitively eating intuitively…

  26. Your eats always look so well-rounded! I’m going to look for those chicken dogs at TJ’s next time I am there! I have definitely been trying to eat more intuitively lately.. except for the weekends when I first wake I for the gym I eat a lil’ snack of cereal beforehand, whether I am hungry or not because I know by mid-workout I’ll have wished I ate something.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Oh yeah, I have to do that too for my early morning workouts. Sometimes I can run on a completely empty stomach, but when it comes to weights or anything, I have to have at least a date and some pb or something.

  27. Jodie says:

    chia seeds looks like bugs!!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      They do don’t they? Every time I say anything about including them in my eats to my parents, they start singing “Cha cha cha cheeeeee-ia!” Haha!

  28. Kara says:

    ooh all your eats look deelish! my tummy is growling over that french toast. how is the arctic zero ice cream? it’s only 150 calories for the ENTIRE THING?! insanity.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      When it comes to the Arctic Zero, you either love it or you hate it. I think it’s better if you go into it without thinking it’s going to taste JUST like ice cream…it’s more like a really good quality protein shake that’s been frozen. I love it! I have a hard time with the whole “everything in moderation” thing when it comes to ice cream and dessert, so I love that if I want to eat the entire container, I can without feeling like a total cow! Haha! So far, out of all their flavors, the only one I didn’t really care for was the chocolate peanut butter. I just think when it comes to peanut butter flavored stuff, you gotta have some fat or it just tastes…well, fake!

  29. I LOVE Udis hotdog buns πŸ™‚ They are so delicious. I’m really loving your blog πŸ™‚

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Thank you Michelle! I LOVE Udi’s products! It’s amazing how fluffy and substantial they are even without the gluten! And Trader Joe’s always sells them for super cheap! Win/win!

  30. cameo says:

    I have been weaning myself off the OCD cal-counting for the past year. It has been rough. I am the first to tell anyone new to weight loss that they should journal/count in order to help them in their efforts. Me, I have been a professional calorie counter for 10+ yrs and for awhile there it took over my life. So, I decided to stop.

    It’s so much harder! I realize that I spent the past 10 years NOT listening to my body and rather using the numbers to guide my decisions. “It’s 4pm and I have only had 900 calories today, hmm….what can I eat?” as opposed to “It’s 4pm and I am feeling a little munchy…what would be good for me right now?”

    It’s a work in progress…

    Your day of meals looks delicious! Especially that breakfast!

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Ugh, I know EXACTLY what you mean! Only most, if not all of the time that I was obsessed over calorie counting, the monologue went more like, “It’s 8pm and I’m hungry but I’ve already gone over my caloric intake for the day so I’m just going to have some water…and pretend I can’t hear my stomach yelling at me.” πŸ™ There is definitely a fine line between being CONSCIOUS of your numbers and letting them run your life and sometimes you don’t even realize when you cross that line.

  31. Allie says:

    Thanks a lot, now I’m craving a hotdog πŸ˜› That said, I think I’m an under-hander? I haven’t had a hotdog in the proper way (as in, in a bun and not part of a salad, eaten on the side, etc.) in ages. That needs to change!

  32. HOOOEEEE MANNN, I really wanna try those sunflower seeds! and those frickin pumpkin pancakes look so soooo good, just bought my first EVER can of pumpkin and I know what my first port of call is!
    I have tried eating intuitively once, but i kinda just go a bit made and go on a crazy non stop PB binge without a sorta schedule or plan. but there’s a delicate balance between being concious of nutrition and going mad on calorie counting and restrictive eating. peace out.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      I couldn’t have said it better myself! I do like having a plan when it comes to my eats…or at least a back up plan with bars and snacks and stuff, but it was interesting trying to go an entire day focussing on my cravings/hunger. Since then I’ve been drinking a lot more water…pretty sure most of the time I only “think” I’m hungry because I’m dehydrated! Gotta get better about that!

      I hope you enjoy the pancakes!

  33. Candy covered sunflower seeds?! GIMME! All your eats look delicious, I’m still drooling over that french toast! And well done for eating intuitively – that’s definitely how I eat especially since giving up obsessive calorie counting. It does mean that I’m constantly toting around my own food (packed lunches, snackbars, trailmix etc.) but I’d rather have something on hand then get stuck while I’m on-the-go.

    • kissmybroccoli says:

      Thanks Nada! And I’m the same way with toting food! You never know what kind of goodies you’ll find in my purse on any given day. My friends laugh at me about it…well, until they’re out with me and find themselves in need of a quick snack that is! πŸ™‚

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