Category — Afternoon Snack

I’ve spent most of my day reading – I’ve read about 1/2 of what is due for Tuesday which I am happy about.  Next I plan on working on my reflection paper…

I broke for lunch around 1 pm and found some leftover Superbowl Sunday Crockpot Chili.  This is the last of it (well except for the small container in the freezer). 

With a little bit of cheddar cheese and sour cream.

I upped the fruit content of lunch by adding a Cara Cara Orange and some grapes.  I was interested in this orange when I read the description in the grocery store.

Cara Cara oranges, a type of navel grown in California’s San Joaquin Valley, are available January through April.  Their outward appearance is similar to other navels, but their interior is a distinctive pinkish red and has an exceptionally sweet flavor with a tangy cranberry-like zing.  Cara Caras are a rich source of Vitamins A and C, fiber and Lycopene.  A perfect snack served as wedges, they’re also a colorful addition to beverages or squeezed into a vinaigrette salad dressing

This orange was lacking in the sweet flavor – it was really tart.  I have another one in the fridge and I hope it lives up to the description.

After finishing some reading, I decided to take a break for a snack…Tina’s 3 Minute Oatmeal Raisin Cookie has looked interesting, so I thought I would give it a try.

I followed the directions except I subbed chocolate chips for the raisins – I had raisins in my breakfast.

Verdict – Interesting.  It is almost pancake like but sweeter – I’m not completely sure it would satisfy a cookie craving for me – but it is a lot healthier.  The texture is a little off for a cookie….

I will make this again though – smeared with a little soy nut butter, this is a great snack.

Reflection paper time.  Be jealous. 

Tuesday nights are now class nights for me – from 6:00 pm – 8:40 pm.  To make it to class on time, I need to leave work around 5:00 pm.  Around 4:45 pm, I had my pre-class snack…

Stonyfield Farm Fat Free French Vanilla yogurt and some Grape Nuts and Heartland granola mixed together

I was full after eating this and thought I was good to go.  Sadly, around 7 pm, I was ready to eat my arm.  I had some crackers in my bag but no one else in my class seemed to be eating.  As it is still early in the semester, I’m still figuring out what the professors are ok with; for some reason, I have the feeling that eating in class is not high on the acceptance list.  Next week, I know to eat a bigger pre-class snack. 

Driving home, I was trying to figure out what to eat.  I decided on a cheese and tomato quesadilla that I made in the panini maker

Simple.  Quick.  Filling.  Perfect.

So I have a group presentation and paper due on Tuesday – eek!  I’m glad though because it means I am done with that chunk early in the semester.  It also means I have a lot of reading to do before Thursday – when my group is meeting to get work done. 

Biggest Loser time – thank goodness for DVR!

I get very bored when I drive by myself; knowing this is helpful because I can pack snacks/lunch that will keep me occupied. 

Today’s long car ride, I decided to pack a lot of snacks – that would also serve as lunch.  This way I could eat throughout my ride, combat my boredom and not even have to stop for lunch.  Bonus in my book.

Snacks/Lunch includes:  Carrots and apples

Plus some Cheese (reduced fat Cracker Barrel Cheddar) and Crackers (Back To Nature Crispy Wheats).

I also bring a water bottle to keep my hydrated.

This should keep me going for my 4 1/2 hour drive…

What are your favorite long drive snacks?

I was able to register for my class this morning – hooray- that’s one big thing off my to do list. 

I arrived at work to discover an email box that had exploded while I was gone.  I have been working my way through it – slow and steady.  I hope to get through everything by tomorrow afternoon.

I debated going out to get lunch today but in an effort to save some moolah, I packed my own.

First – a soynut butter and honey sandwich on Nature’s Path Whole Wheat bread.

With a honeycrisp apple

I just finished a little bit of Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt with some granola for an afternoon snack.

I need to stop at the grocery store on the way home to pick up a few things for the next few days.  Both Matt and I will be in Hartford, CT on Thursday and Friday for a conference meeting so a big shopping trip will have to wait until the weekend.  

My co-workers and I broke for lunch around 1 pm.  The cafeteria is closed because the students are home for break – that means no cafeteria lunch. 

I packed myself a tuna and broccoli slaw salad in a Whole Wheat Pita (I used Miracle Whip – I know I know – most people find it vile.  I find it delicious).

With my sandwich, I had some sliced carrots

I had a few big things to finish before I left the office – things were taking a bit longer than I anticipated.  I had planned on running 6 1/2 – 7 miles around 2:30 pm – giving me plenty of time before it got dark out.  My work was not complete until 3:25 so I had to shorten my run to 5 miles. 

The 5 miles weren’t easy – I spent a lot of time staring at the ground – and slid a few times on some black ice.  I survived though and felt much better when I was finished. 

I am getting more nervous about the Disney run – I had mentally counted on a few things – one of which doesn’t seem to be happening now – WARMTH.  Running in 25 – 30 degree weather is a bit harder than even 45-50 degrees.  It appears Florida is undergoing a bit of a cold snap and the forecasters are predicting a cold Friday evening –Saturday morning.  I am now bringing a jacket and gloves where I thought I would be running in shorts and a t-shirt.   C’est La Vie!

After my run, I had a few last minute errands so I ate a Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt with some granola to hold me over until dinner.

I got home around 6:30 pm and we heated up the last of the lasagna from Friday.     

I enjoyed another helping probably about 1/4 the size of this one. 

We just finished packing most of our stuff – I did another load of laundry so there will be a few more things to throw in the bag tomorrow. 

A shuttle is coming to pick Matt and I and our three friends tomorrow at 8:30 am – I am going to try to go to bed soon to get a good night sleep!

I had thought we would be out of the house by now – but we are not.  Matt has been doing some work on our personal budget and finances – we are trying to figure out ways to make a few cuts!

I just enjoyed an afternoon snack of Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt and Back to Nature Chocolate Granola.

Fortunately I have already prepared some of dinner for tonight.  I have a feeling we will be getting home late from our errands so quick dinner prep is key!

Before my run, I enjoyed an excellent pre-run snack/afternoon snack: Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt, one crumbled Barbara’s Oat and Honey granola bar, and some Pomegranate arils

I headed out with enough time to run 7 miles just before dark.  It was chilly and some areas were still covered in a little snow but it was a great run!  Compared to last week’s 9 miler, this run was much easier.  I wasn’t dehydrated and the wind was much lighter – I had energy to keep going but the lack of sunlight towards the end put a damper on that. 

After my run I got working on our dessert for the evening – but first dinner.  We had leftover spinach, mushrooms and scallions from last week that needed to be used.  I thought the best way to use them was to make a big omelet.  We were out of shredded cheese, so I used a Laughing Cow Herb and Garlic cheese. 

Because there wasn’t enough veggies for two omelets, Matt got to work on another egg recipe that I was sent by a reader (thanks Cindy!) a few weeks ago – Pizza! Pizza Egg Mug 

I think Matt followed the recipe pretty closely except he used one egg and one egg white; he also used Pizza sauce and regular pepperoni – all we had in the fridge. 

I had 1/2 of Matt’s Egg Mug egg and 1/2 my veggie omelet for dinner plus a Food for Life English Muffin

I loved this dinner – the Pizza! Pizza! Egg mug was excellent – such a great flavor.  I highly recommend this recipe for a quick dinner.  

In yesterday’s freezer cleanout/inventory, I also checked the fridge and found a few apples that were also nearing the end of their edibility.  I had found a recipe on Megan’s blog a few weeks ago that I had wanted to try and tonight was the night. 

I followed the recipe pretty closely but used 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/8 cup maple sugar – I also omitted the cinnamon.

I had a portion of this delicious dish for dessert.

I predict these apples may find their way into breakfast one day this week…

How often do you do a fridge/freezer cleanout?

Matt and I got home a little while ago from my school – tonight was the male beauty pageant and I had a great time watching some of my students do magic, dance like Michael Jackson, sing, play guitar and perform some hilarious parodies. 

Before the show, a few of my co-workers, Matt and I headed out to Stoneforge Grill for some dinner.  We have been there a few times before and enjoyed our meal – tonight was no different.

I started the meal off with the house salad with thousand island dressing.  Now I typically don’t get thousand island but for some reason today I was craving it – it was delicious and definitely a treat.

Look at this gorgeous presentation!

I tried to push some of the dressing to the edge of the plate before I cut into this cucumber.

Next up the

  Do I get scallops everywhere I go?  I seem to lately don’t I? 

These were awesome.  The scallops were very tender and the pasta was delicious.   Surprisingly I left most of the veggies – they didn’t taste so good – the tomatoes were not too ripe and the peppers didn’t add much to the dish.  I ate all the scallops and about 1/2 the pasta.  Amazing.  I had quite a full belly. 

I forgot to show you my afternoon snack.  Apparently I left about 3 bites of Oikos Vanilla Greek Yogurt in the container.  Why?  Who knows.  I added some Pomegranate Arils, Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Kashi Island Vanilla and Back to Nature Chocolate Granola to the container – then I added some milk because there clearly wasn’t enough yogurt to coat my cereal.

So it is snowing out.  By school, there was probably 3-4 inches.  At my apartment, maybe an 1-2.  It is so odd – I live less than 15 minutes from my office but the difference in weather is so amazing sometimes.  I’m hoping the snow stops soon – I need to get a run in tomorrow and I am crossing my fingers I can do it outside. 

After pacing the cafeteria a few times I decided on an old standby of mine – Cheese Tortellini salad. 

In my salad was Romaine Lettuce, Spinach, Onion, Tomato, Red Pepper and Mushrooms plus 1/4 of a meager sweet potato (could have used and extra 5 minutes in the oven).

I added some tortellini for a different flavor.

Now you wonder why I only add a few tortellini to my salad – well look at the bath they are taking

Yikes.  That cannot be good for me.  Before adding them to my salad, I tap each piece on the side of the plate to try to get rid of the extra butter and oil.  I also only ask for one scoop – sometimes the cafeteria workers don’t listen though.   The butter/oil that still remains after a few good taps becomes my salad dressing. 

I also got a bowl of Pasta Fagioli soup which I ate 2 bites of because 1) it was extremely smoky and 2) it has large pieces of celery.  Celery, in soup, should be finely minced in my opinion.

Before my run this afternoon, my tummy started to rumble so I had 1 bar of this(2 come in each package) Dear Barbara,

You are my hero.  Thank you for creating a bar that a gal allergic to nuts and seeds can enjoy.

Love,

Heather 

I think that says it all.

I did my normal Tuesday run today outside this afternoon – 5-6 long hills at a 5k pace.  While running I realized how much I have missed my daily runs – I’m glad I am back on the bandwagon.

Off to a meeting. 

Around 4:30 pm I was getting a little hungry – I decided to have some granola and milk.

This snack was perfect – kept me going through my 6:00 pm meeting and 3 mile run. 

Yes – I did do a three mile run.  I had to wait about 10 minutes for a treadmill at my apartment gym so I warmed up on the elliptical.  Once I got on the treadmill, I started chatting with the guy next to me – boy is it hard to run and talk at the same time!  I will admit, it did make the time go faster.

Once home and showered, I made myself a tuna sandwich for dinner – tuna with Miracle Whip on a Pepperidge Farm Whole Wheat Deli Flat with some spinach.

Hey its Tuesday – you know what that means – Think About It/Take Action Tuesday! Did you think I forgot? 

Did you know that Sunday was America Recycles day?  This day is celebrated to increase awareness around recycling and also to encourage Americans to buy recycled products.  On this website you can commit or recommit to improve your recycling habits and spread the word. 

Did you know

FACT: Twenty years ago, almost 1,000 curbside recycling programs existed in the United States. Today there are more than 10,000 across the nation.

FACT: Today, the U.S. recycles 32 percent of its waste, a rate that has almost doubled during the past 15 years.

FACT: In 2005, Americans discarded up to 2.2 million tons of unwanted electronics — 80% of it in landfills.

FACTS: Recycling:

• Prevents the emission of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants
• Saves energy
• Supplies valuable raw materials to industry
• Creates jobs
• Encourages development of greener technologies
• Conserves resources for our children’s future
• Reduces the need for new landfills and combustors

FACT: If America’s recycling rate for aluminum and steel cans, plastic PET and glass containers, newsprint and corrugated packaging increased by 10%, we would save enough energy to provide electricity to 1.8 million Americans for an entire year.

Source

Take the pledge and spread the word – I will!

Hey I like that Biggest Loser has green tips – what do you think of NBC’s Green Week?