Alternate title: Where the HELL has Broccoli been?!
I know, I know…it’s been a while since I’ve partied…SIX WEEKS to be exact! π― As someone who has been participating in Jenn’s fun-filled foodie finkup since the beginning, I once thought I would never miss a celebration. But over these last several weeks, I got to thinking…after hitting MY rock bottom last month, I started looking at things a bit differently…and I STOPPED putting so much emphasis on my meals. I know this seems a little weird coming from a food blogger, but honestly, I think it was the best thing for me.
When I participated in WIAW early on, I used to just snap pictures all willy nilly, never really giving much thought to how it all came together. Then, as time went on and I developed more of a “writer’s perspective”, I started trying to make it more entertaining and make a story out of each one…OR I would dwell on the “balance” for the day…which would obviously change my food choices.
When I stopped feeling compelled to take a picture of every.single.thing I ate, eating began to feel natural…and normal. So much so that sometimes I couldn’t even remember what I had for lunch the day before! And while this may not be conducive to food blogging, I hope you guys will cut me some slack on the food front while I work on sorting things out.
All that being said, I DO have a WIAW post for you today!
Luckily, I’ve been repeating some meals over the last week or so, so I actually have a picture of everything I ate yesterday…plucked from the FULLY RESTORED photo libraryΒ (hal-lay-LOOYAH!) and ready for your viewing pleasure. And since this was a working night, we have twenty-four food-filled hours…or 1440 mouth-watering minutes! π
The “day” started at 12:30am with a mug of green tea and aΒ Kabocha Donut eaten between patients!
Only mine was dipped instead of “glazed”. π
A few hours later, at 3:30am, I indulged in another mouthgasmic cookie dough Quest bar and I guess I was thirsty because I ended up chugging a 32oz bottle of water.
Is it sad that I’m hoarding the last bar I have of this box now? I think I may hunt down some heads-up pennies and horseshoes before getting more…fingers crossed the next box is just as doughy!
Once my shift ended, I made my way home through the “snow” and ice. I walked in the door and KNEW I needed something warm in my belly…but it had to be quick because it was getting close to 8am and I was fading fast!
Enter Tasty Bite’s Ginger Lentil Rice (review coming soon) topped with a fried egg, some pre-made guac, a spoonful of salsa, and a drizzle of my favorite hot sauce!
For some reason, I’ve been waking up earlier than usual lately and this day was no different. Right at 1:00pm, I was wide awake…and suddenly ravenous!Β Since I just hopped out of my 100 degree bed…thank you man-friend for buying me that electric blanket in 2012 (wow, that sounds like forever ago!)…it was time for a bowl of my current obsession…
Corn Chex mixed with Mom’s Best “Lucky Charms” and topped with peanut flour, half a banana, and some almond milk! I think I could eat this every day…wait, I HAVE! π
After I finished eating, I worked on some chores around the house…because the thought of going outside made my bones hurt…high of 18? I don’t THINK SO!
At 5:30pm I was feeling tired again…but snacky too so I tossed back two or three handfuls of salty and sweet deliciousness:Β White cheddar Mini Pops and cherry cordial M&M’s (which taste EXACTLY like chocolate-covered cherries…SO good!).
After my little schmack, I laid down for about an hour before it was time to get up and get ready for work! On before heading out the door, I made a cup of half-caff (ha, I just typed calf!) coffee and took it with me on the road…
Actually it was in a travel cup, but this one is prettier! Moooo! π
A couple of hours after my shift started, I had some down time for dinner so I opened my lunch bag and pulled out the tupperware blue plate special!
Grilled Wrap with turkey, Swiss, kale, pickled red cabbage (like sauerkraut only sweeter), and some smokey onion mustard with roasted red potatoes and kabocha on the side…all eaten cold because I was too lazy to walk to the break room to use the microwave it taste better that way, right Arman?
I washed this down with a lime flavored LaCroix and then ended up drinking ANOTHER 32oz of water before the clock struck midnight…not bad for not trying…definitely a proud moment in my intuitive eating journey! π
What’s the best thing you ate yesterday?
Other linker-uppers, has participating in WIAW ever caused you to overly scrutinize your food choices?Β
Your mug is absolutely charming π I can’t wait to see the rice recipe with lentil! I think that many bloggers, participating in WIAW face this problem. When we have to expose the food on a review, we should think of supporting the status of the healthy blogger much. To eat too much, too little, it is too much chocolate (my problem No. 1)… I think, it is necessary to remember more often that WIAW is simply big holiday of food and a way to communicate π My opinion is simple
I couldn’t agree more, Marina…it should just be FUN! I actually made this mug right after I started blogging…it took me HOURS to perfect it! Haha!
Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for the rice and lentils…it’s a product from Tasty Bites. But I will have a full review on the blog here in the next few weeks! π
HEAATTHEERRRR. I’ve missed you, your face and your blog. I was on, like, a six-month hiatus from everything blogging related. [hangs head in shame] but I’m back!! I have missed your yolk pr0n pictures too hehe. I need to read the post you linked to this kombucha donut kthx. That sounds amaaaazing. I hope to not neglect your blog so much like I have been doing. At least I’ve kept up on Instagram with ya! <3 Hope you are doing well girlie! <3
Awwwwww! Aparnaaaaaaaaa! You just made my day! Seriously, you should SEE the grin on my face right now…no really! π I hope you enjoyed your break…props for making it back! I know me…I’d for sure give it all up if I went that long! Haha!
PS, I’ll be sure to amp up the yolkporn pictures JUST for you!
Oh baby, look at all of that amazing fooooood! I just love every single part of it. I’m dying to try that crazy cereal mix, and your turkey wrap looks to die for. My meals lately have been so uninspired — I need to get on it!!
I love reading your WIAW’s – the times mean absolutely nothing in terms of “proper” meal times, so it’s the perfect way to depict intuitive eating. Also – THAT QUEST BAR! It is SO good that I am unable to comprehend it.
Ha! Well, that’s one thing about working night shift…after a while, you realize that there is no “proper” to any part of your day…least of all meal times! π
oh my gosh PLEASE tell me where you got that owl bowl!! Owls are seriously my obsession….I need that little cutie in my life!!
And consider me sold on those m&ms….need to find them now ASAP!! I actually was never a fan of those chocolate covered cherries because of that white pinkish goo, but that was when I was younger. There is something so delicious about the chocolate and cherry combo to me now!!
Haha! I found it at TJ Maxx…it’s actually an over-sized mug with a little handle on it! π
This day looks so delicious! Especially that fried egg with rice and your dinner wrap! I love sauerkraut, so I have to try red pickled cabbage!!
Great post!
THAT WRAP!!! Oh if I could only have it right now! How do you manage that it looks so nice after carrying it to work AND snap the perfect photo at work?? My food I bring to work is a mess and the lightening and the quality of the pic (iPhone) is sh***.
Anyway, your day looks perfect to me, such a nice mix.
I never ‘adapted’ my food choices for WIAW, I’m way too selfish for that (and hangry), but I did doubt on what to post or not. Like:’omg, I had pizza, I can not post this, cause I mean, I’m an HLB!’ Haha. These times are over. I celebrate my pizza!
Oh heavens, if ONLY it could look that good after bumping along with me to work in my lunch bag! No, I took this pic right after I made it and then transferred it to tupperware…because NOTHING looks good under the greenish lighting at work! π
by some miracle, I actually managed to find a store here that sells Quest bars and I found them in the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavour! I haven’t tried it yet though…those things are so pricey that I have a habit of hoarding them π
As for WIAW, I try not to let it effect my food choices too much. I find that I’m a little less snacky on days where I’m tracking, just because I don’t feel like breaking out the camera for every handful of grapes or cereal I’m snacking on.
Omg, try the bar! Wait, don’t try it…no, DO!! And then maybe go play the lotto and hope you when enough to fuel your newest addiction! π
haha yes! Sometimes I catch myself getting over-analytical with WIAW features…. in a way I appreciate it (for accountability purposes), but on the other hand it can get unnecessarily stressful! btw that donut. O_O I have no words.. other than YUM!
I totally get what you mean…it’s good when it helps YOU see that maybe you need to change some things up, but it also easy to get caught up in the “what will people think” trap. And oh yeah, I’ve been plucking donuts from my freezer stash all week! π
Doooooode… man-friend has been around since 2012?! That does sound like so long ago.
I have you beat – I am currently hoarding the last 13 of a cookie dough Quest bar. It’s too cold to go buy more.
I know, right? We met in November of 2012! And you were one of the first of my friends to meet him! So you should consider yourself verrrrrrry special! By the way, I miss you and I need to come see you soon…when it warms up some so I don’t freeze my ass off…because I’m kinda fond of it! π
Pleasssssse come! It’s warmer here than it s there. My tub even thawed out. π
Yummm times a million. I LOVE those Quest cookie dough bars, best flavor of all.
I’ve been m.i.a. too! That brekkie sounds like heaven.
That egg dish has me drooling over here!! I love a runny egg!! π
Great pictures btw. Your wrap looks tasty. Do you make your own pickled red cabbage??
Thanks, Diana! I’ve always wanted to try experimenting with canning and pickling, but I haven’t conquered my fear yet! Luckily, I have this ginormo jar of red cabbage to help assuage my feelings of inadequacy! π
This post is making me seriously crave cereal. Lucky Charms in particular. I think we may even have a box for my brother in the cupboard.
Uh no… Sidetracked for an hour by those darn cereal boxes (seriously… I started this comment an hour ago). I got into cutting one of them because it involved a craft. Lol. Even if I can’t eat em, I can still play with them, right? π
Haha! Omg, Madison! You are TOO cute! I’m cracking up over here! What kind of craft are you making? I saw something a while back on turning cereal boxes into gift boxes and thought that was pretty neat!
Welcome back!! Sometimes you need to take a break, even from your most favorite things! I, personally, have always kind of been a food analyzer. I kind of like participating in WIAW because I can actually look back and see it all. I’m pleased with myself most of the time anyway – which helps. Balance is always key for me. Also – cookie dough quest bars – I’ve had one in my pantry for weeks and I don’t want to eat it because I don’t want it gone!! I totally understand!!
I’m a big fan of the Mom’s Best Brand, and I can’t wait to hear what you think about the rice and lentils. I’ve been wanting to make this sweet potato hash I saw awhile back topped with a fried egg and your picture really kicked that into overdrive. Maybe it’ll be tonight’s dinner.
I used to stress somewhat about WIAW. This doesn’t look balanced enough. The pictures didn’t come out well. There’s a stray crumb in this photo, and then I realized perfect pictures and perfect plates of food help nobody. So I’ve been making it a point to share it whether it’s balanced or not and even if it’s U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got no alibi. I was really surprised by the outcome too; people would rather see that on a WIAW than beautiful food photography. You should try it sometime; it’s really quite freeing.
Sweet potato hash? Send some of that my way, would ya?
Omg, the stray crumb!! I’ve totally photoshopped crumbs out of pictures before just so they would look “perfect”! Ha! And oh god, I could definitely show some ugly plates since I swear almost every meal I eat ends up being in the dark or under florescent lights! *sigh*
Here you go.
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/19886925277/sweet-potato-hash-with-fried-eggs
Omg, THANK YOU!! Sweet! It almost looks like rice! And hey, I think they have the same food processor I have! Haha!
Your food always makes me SO hungry!! Also, I am starting to think you are posting pictures of my favorite donuts just for me? π Haha, either way..I love it!
Everything looks good! I don’t know how people work the night shift, I’m big time impressed. I would be a walking zombie. Extra chewy quest bars are my favorite. The last time I stocked up at GNC a few of them were dry which is always a sad day.
Ha! Well, sometimes I AM a walking zombie! But for the most part, I like it! And I hear ya…I just had a PB&J Quest bar and I thought I was going to lose a tooth before I finished it! Boo!
Hot damn I need a donut pan – that donut looks SO good!
The best thing I ate yesterday was definitely my daily breakfast bake. I am OBSESSED with breakfast bakes and our freezer is full of them so I’m always switching up the flavours. Yesterday was a banana souffle breakfast bake topped with vanilla cream. La, la, loveee.
I can definitely relate – when I used to participate in the traditional-style WIAWs more often, it made me think too much about what I ate. I would stress out about eating interesting meals and snacks, so sometimes I would end up eating something “interesting” instead of what I was actually craving. I stopped doing traditional style WIAWs for a long time so I could stop the pressure on myself. Nowadays I’ll sometimes participate, and luckily I no longer think about it so much.
That wrap looks awesome! I’m really intrigued by the pickled red cabbage. I love preserved veggies!
Yes! I’ve done the exact same thing! I can’t tell you how many times I would get to dinnertime and start analyzing everything that I’d already eaten for the day…mentally checking off the things I COULDN’T eat because I’d already had them…which sounds ridiculous to me now!
And oh yeah, I’m a sucker for pickled vegetables! Love em!
First of all, I’m OBSESSED with that owl bowl. How is it that you always manage to find the cutest plates and bowls?! I come back empty handed whenever I go out and look. Humbug. And I would like to be added to the crowd that thinks cold food tastes way better — I’m currently sitting here munching on cold roasted kabocha and broccoli, and it’s basically heaven.
I’ve definitely noticed myself putting a lot more attention onto what I eat when I know I have to show it for WIAW, but it’s gotten a LOT better over the past couple of months. Sometimes I eat a lot of sugar, and sometimes I eat breakfast all day without a trace of veggiesβ¦ it is what it is, and I like to think it all balances itself out in the end anyways π
Mmmm, cold roasted kabocha is my favorite…actually, I had some for a snack last night! As always I love your perspective on this…it IS all about balance and I’ve finally started taking notice of how my body naturally compensates for things. Definitely a realization that has helped me be ok with a few overindulgences that I normally would have beat myself up over!
Oh and the trick to finding good stuff when you go out is to not look for anything! I swear, every single time I go out shopping for cute blog props, I never find a thing, but when I’m out looking for, I don’t know, a new pair of shoes? BAM! Lol
Heeelllloo yolk porn! That eggy rice dish looks fabulous! Also why have I never heard of cherry cordial m and ms before? Those babies sound amazing π
The best thing I’ve ate today was a christmas orange (clementine) they are so tasty right now!
That cereal mix looks intense! I have never thought of mixing in peanut flour…will have to try it someday!
Oh yeah, it’s my favorite way to have cereal…and my way of keeping myself satisfied for more than ohhh twenty minutes! π
Yay! You’re BACK! I love all of your eats and could literally eat them off of my screen! π
I can definitely understand what you mean about over-scrutinizing food choices on days when I know I’m photographing all of them. Sometimes I find myself wondering if I should eat that extra snack because “everyone might think I’m a little piggy”. LOL Sometimes it does feel like it inhibits the natural flow of hunger & of the food, but it’s still fun to do the link-up sometimes. π
I totally agree, I haven’t been putting a lot of emphasis on food, let alone sweets or recipes!! (aka main point of my blog). I think sometimes it is best to simply focus on you and living! Glad you are back though, lovvvvve your WIAW eats π
I’ve never participated in WIAW, but I sure do love seeing what other people post!! Welcome back, your donut has me drooling.
Yum…that wrap!
Welcome back to the party! I really need to give those kabocha donuts a try. And perhaps if you are typing half “calf” you may need a cup of full caff, hehe ;-).
Ha! Only if I need my heart on the outside of my body…I STILL can’t handle full-leaded coffee! Lol
Have I told you lately that I love you? π
Your progress this year is AMAZING. I f you haven’t please go through your posts from when you started the intuitive eating journey. Right around the time you got hurt was when this all started falling into place for you. I am so impressed that you’ve been able to do this and I’m glad that somebody else has been on this journey this year with me.
I had a moment last night when somebody I was with was fat shaming an old photo of herself, and she was my size in the photo. So I pulled up an old photo of me that was when I was her size (15-20 lbs lighter) … when i was sick and depressed, and gentley started talking about how I wanted to be thinner there, and now I look at myself and can say that I was sick there. She agreed that I looked sick there. So I’m hoping that clicked. I’ve been trying to steer her in the direction that we’ve both been going, but I think it’s something that you have to figure out on your own.
Also, sorry for any typos. My omputer is being stupid today and I typed this all out while waiting for all the letters to appear one. by. one.
Thank you, THANK YOU, Calee! I have actually looked back at a couple of my old posts…and remembering how it felt to feel stuck back then…how I felt like things would never really click for me. I’m so glad to see how much progress I’ve made this year and to FEEL the changes in my mind as well! It’s funny, I don’t think I would have been able to recognize someone fat shaming themselves a year ago, but now I can see things like that so much better. I’ve even noticed that I’ve been better about having negative thoughts toward myself on ANYTHING whereas I used to be so quick to call myself stupid. I hope your friend really took something from that conversation. I agree with you that things like this are really something you have to actually go through to figure out for yourself, but perhaps it will prevent her from going so far down that path…ya know?
And I love you BACK! xoxo
I definitely worry sometimes about what I put up, but then I realize what I eat is good for me and I can’t compare to everyone. Although it’s tough to stop reading into other’s plans π
It’s my favourite time of the week…The arman bombing and what a great one to start with!
Out of the entire post, my favourite bit was you mentioning you can’t remember what you ate for lunch the day before- THAT is amazing. Like, as petty as it might sound, the mere non focus on food or it taking up all those thoughts? Amazing. So proud! Speaking of proud, screw the damn microwave π
Honestly, I never really gave much thought to my WIAW posts unless it was themed. If people wanted to critique it or pose judgement for eating pizza for breakfast or carrots as a snack, they can kiss my natural latte coloured ass.
You TELL ‘EM, Arman!! Woot woot woot! <- To be said just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman! π And thank you SO much...for the compliment, the encouragement, and ALWAYS the A-bomb! Love it!