Spilling My Macros

Posted on March 23, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

What up!? Happy Sunday, weekenders!

So, I’ve been a very bad blend as of late and have gotten ~~uber~~ SUPER (sorry, the previous word makes me shudder to say but for some reason I type it anyway…ha, I rhymed!) behind in blog reading…particularly with my brother from another mother! Since I got all caught up with him the other night, I thought it was high time I jumped back in on his Spill It Sundays linkup…I can’t believe it’s been TWO MONTHS since my last one!

Since the first of the month, the themes have revolved around macros (fat and protein in the last two weeks and carbs for today) where we can share our favorites and some thoughts about them. Today I’m here to tackle them ALL, but I’ll condense it a bit so this post isn’t ~~uber~~ SUPER long! 😉

FAT

1. What is your favorite fat source?

Everyone say CHEEEEEEEESE!!! Seriously, it’s rare that I go a day without it…from gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to my current favorite dinner of cheese, crackers, and carrots…I’ll take it any ~~whey~~ way I can get it! Oh and for the record, almost ALL that cheese that I brought home from ATL last month is now GONE! 😯

2. What is your favorite nut? Nut butter?

Peanut Butter Luv

As a southern gal, my favorite nut has always been pecans…especially the German roasted (sugary/buttery goodness) ones that they have at the mall…yet I HATE pecan pie! Yeah, figure that one out! As far as nut butter though, it’s hands down, peanut butter! It’s weird, sometimes I can go for days without having or even thinking about it, but it’s just one of those things I don’t think I could ever live without! And yeah, I still think I’m crazy that time I gave it up for Lent!

3. Favorite recipe embracing fat:

It’s seriously too hard to pick my favorite, but my family’s long-time favorite recipe of mine is my Loaded Baked Potato Salad which showcases two of my favorites, cheese and bacon! Or should I say BACON and cheese? 😉

Thoughts:

I’ve always leaned toward the fataphobic side of life. I remember years ago when I LIVED off 100 calorie packs, reduced fat/fat-free cheese, and air. Then, when I finally started to embrace the fat again, I started calorie counting and well…the higher the fat the higher the calories soooo I just convinced myself that I didn’t need it. I still have a few internal battles here and there, especially when it comes to incorporating more than one fat in a meal, but I’m getting there. Also, since starting intuitive eating, I’ve noticed that animal fats give me a higher level of satiety compared to plant-based ones.

PROTEIN

1. What is your favorite protein source?

For the record, I like meat (that’s what she said), but if it came down to choosing between a steak and a bowl of cereal covered in peanut flour? Well, nine times out of ten, I’d say pass me a spoon! I rarely go more than a couple of days without it and actually, it’s about time I stocked up on some more. Oh, look at that, another reason to whore out my coupon code! 😛

Type in QQQ940 at check out on iherb.com for 5-10% off your first order!

Just please GOD, don’t make me choose between peanut flour and eggs!

2. What is your favorite meat?

Alright! NOW we’re talking! 😉 Again, gonna pull my southern girl card and confess that I have a hard time passing up some good, juicy, slow cooked pulled pork!

3. Favorite protein-rich recipe:

Ohhh, with all my protein pancakes, that is definitely a hard one, but if asked which recipe I’ve made the most, I’d have to say my Peanut Butter Mug Cake…which showcases not only “my precious” peanut flour but also eggs!

Thoughts:

Hello, my name is Heather and I’m a recovering protein powder whore. 😉 I love adding protein powder to recipes to help with staying power, but I’ll confess that in the height of my calorie counting, I took it a bit far. I’m sorry, but a bowl of casein just isn’t the same as a bowl of ICE CREAM…not matter how much you try to convince yourself it is!

CARBOHYDRATES

1. What is your favorite carbohydrate rich food?

And also my all around favorite FOOD! Gimme that THICK and crispy crust!

2. What is your favorite fruit?

I’m also in LOVE with fresh figs, but since we’re in persimmon season and I just had a fantastically juicy one today, we’re going with my OTHER favorite!

3. What is your favorite grain?

All you people and your crazy love for pasta! Bread is where it’s AT! Preferably in sandwich form, but I will also take toast, French toast, baguette, dinner rolls, pretzel buns, ciabatta, Italian…oh just give me ALL THE BREAD!!!

4. What is your favorite starchy vegetable?

Kabocha…always kabocha…especially when it’s the size of a small child. Would someone please tell me HOW I lived nearly 26 years without it?!

5. Favorite carbohydrate-embracing recipe:

Seriously, could it get any better? Bread, coconut, figs, AND peanut butter?! I think my Fig & Coconut Stuffed French Toast takes the cake here!

Thoughts:

Though I have a long history of disordered thoughts when it comes to macros, one thing I CAN say is that I’ve never been afraid of carbs. I think the only “rule” I used to have was no more than ONE banana per day (what?!), but I never overly scrutinized sugar grams when I was calorie counting because I knew most of them were from natural sources and that just seemed ok to me…even though I thought natural FAT sources were the devil…I know, I’m rolling my eyes as I type this!

What is your favorite fat source? Protein? Carb?

Do you see a difference in your satiety with animal vs plant-based fat?

Posted in Intuitive Eating, Spill it Sundays | Tagged bread, calorie counting, cheese, intuitive, peanut butter, peanut flour, persimmons, pizza | 30 Comments

My Trader Joe’s Essentials

Posted on March 21, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

Happy Friday my little spring chickens!

I hope everyone enjoyed their first day of SPRING yesterday…well, unless you are Arman or Jan and happen to live in Alice’s Wonderland of Confusion. I know I learned it in school, but it’s still so hard to wrap my head around the fact that the seasons in Kangarooland are completely opposite! Anyway…um, how is it that the majority of my intros have to do with the weather??

So, after the shopping EXTRAVAGANZA that went down last Saturday with Melissa, I ended up with quite the grocery haul and thought I’d share some of it with you guys today because 1. I know there are plenty of people out there in blogworld who are just as nosey as me and 2. it’s Friday and Friday’s aren’t suited for anything that causes me to think too much!

Clockwise from the bacon (because duh, you ALWAYS begin with bacon):
Fully Cooked Nitrate-Free Bacon
Bite-Size Everything Crackers
Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin “British” Muffins (well don’t we just think we’re fancy?)
Reduced Carb Whole Wheat Tortillas
Raisin & Rosemary Crisps (basically Raincoast Crisps for a FRACTION of the price!)
Mediterranean Greek Yogurt Dip (impulse buy, Melissa made me do it!)
Spinach, Fontina & Roasted Garlic Chicken sausage
Assorted cheeses
Unsweetened Organic Applesauce
Creamy & Crunchy Unsalted Roasted Almond Butter
Freeze-Dried Strawberries
Light Coconut Milk x 2
Frozen Chopped Spinach x 2 (unpictured)

TOTAL COST: $64.45

Let it be known that I still have a drawer OVERFLOWING with cheese from my trip to Atlanta AND my ladies’ wine night, but hell, how could I say no to:

Brie with WILD EFFIN MUSHROOMS
PESTO Gouda and
Toscana soaked in SYRAH?!?!

My point EXACTLY!

Now I’d like to remind you guys that Trader Joe’s is a good hour drive from Casa de Broccoli so ~~obviously I’m given a pass on the food hoarding here~~ I thought I’d highlight a few of my “essential items” ie, the ones I ALWAYS pick up when I make a trip out!

Again starting with bacon because…say it with me class:

“YOU ALWAYS BEGIN WITH BACON”

Especially when it’s of the fully cooked variety which translates into actually being able to enjoy it without having to con someone into coming over and cooking it for me. Anyone else out there totally get skeeved out by the sight of raw bacon? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Next up: Unsalted Almond Butter

I love…let me repeat, LOVE making my own nut butter (especially when it tastes like candy), but when it comes to processing almonds? Well, I’m lazy…and I worry can’t help but worry that I’m going to kill my food processor before I actually have anything that resembles a spread. Solution? Let Joe do it for you! I only care for the taste of the roasted almond butter…which it seems they’ve just started carrying in plastic jars instead of glass…meaning there will be no HOT oats in a jar when these babies are on their last leg (I’d rather not eat plastic particles), but STILL, you can’t beat $6.99 a pop!

And then there was: Unsweetened Organic Applesauce

I do my best to buy organic when I can, but long gone are the days of feeling physical GUILT over buying conventional when it’s either a. the only thing available or b. saves me from having to carve out a kidney in the middle of the produce department in order to pay for it. I mean, buying conventional spinach is still better than buying a bag of potato chips, right? Glad we had this talk.

All that to say that APPLES are the one thing I try to always purchase organic since they are known to contain the most pesticides. So when I’m looking to buy appleSAUCE, it’s important to me to look for organic. And due to personal preference (and since I bake/make pancakes with it), it’s also important to me to look for the unsweetened kind. Basically, Trader Joe’s sells a jar that’s about $2 less than what I can find here…at the ONE store in my po-dunk town that actually sells it!

And last but not least: Reduced Carb Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

Now back in my calorie counting days, these babies were absolute gold clocking in at only 45 calories each (how sad that I remember that without having to look at the package?), but beyond that, I think these are some of the best tortillas out there…not dry and flaky and they don’t break/tear as easily as a lot of other whole wheat versions I’ve tried in the past. They’re also my go-to for breakfast pizzas and fish tacos! 😀

What are your MUST HAVES from Trader Joe’s?

If you’ve never been to TJ’s, what are a few of your go-to items from your favorite local grocer?

Posted in Shopping | Tagged almond butter, bacon, cheese, grocery haul, Trader Joe's | 48 Comments

Thinking Out Loud: Look Spring, No Pants!

Posted on March 20, 2014 by kissmybroccoli

Thank GOD, it’s THURSDAY!

*Insert witty intro here*

I just want to say, I’m seriously proud of all of you out there who sounded willing to try the Sweet Pea Smoothie from Monday’s post! If I didn’t know any better, I’d say my #strangebutgood-ness is rubbing off on your guys! Muahaha! 😉

Ok, so I’m still going hard on the whole Spotify thing…I’m telling you, I’m seriously in love with this website/app! I’ve been making playlists left and right, my favorite being “Wine O’clock” which is full of chill tunes and basically ANY song by Lana Del Ray.

This one in particular has been on repeat for over a week now…apparently, I just really like singing songs with the word “fuck” in them! 😉

And of course, what good would having a playlist with a name like that be without some “Fancy Pants”? Although I prefer to enjoy my wine SANS pants on most occasions! 😉

PS, I totally bought this wine solely for the label and it actually ended up being pretty damn good! #bam

I also frequently judge books by their covers. I picked up The Orchard by Theresa Weir at the bookstore the other day for a whopping THREE dolares after I found myself being sucked into that beautiful green garden!

So this is the lipstick that I bought last weekend…that took me like FOREVER to find since for some reason my complexion makes most classic red colors look purple. I was so proud of it, I had to take a picture…and then since I’m so used to using chapstick, without thinking, I totally put the cap back on without rolling it back down.

#FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIL

After having some pretty chilly days this week, I was more than excited to see it get up to 64°F (17°C) yesterday, which obviously called for a celebratory trip to the park!

Oh, by the way, happy first day of SPRIIIIIIIIIIING!!! 😀

Where I could continue to amuse passersby with my amazing multitasking abilities. I still don’t see what the big deal is…I mean, I am literally like the clumsiest person I know! I swear, it’s all about the peripheral! 😉

Hello, my name is Heather and I’ve been living off leftovers ALL week long…oh and cheese, lots and lots of cheese, but back to the leftovers…I’ve officially polished off all the “stolen” injera, bulgogi, and curry, but I saved the best (and previously UNpictured) for last…

A bowl of Tom Kha soup that I ordered to-go because it is one of my absolute favvvvvvvvvve-or-rites! I added some spinach and it was DEEEEvine!

Thank you Amanda for giving me a reason to give my brain its weekly break/flush! You guys be sure to check out Spoons for all sorts of randomness today because Thursdays are forrrrr…

Thinking-Out-Loud