Sometimes I get bummed out when I realize over the course of the day I’ve basically eaten nothing but toast with Earth Balance, bananas with nut butter, and crackers with hummus. In large quantities. These foods are delicious and healthy, yes. But inspired? Not so much.
Which is why this simple but different lunch made me so very happy.
I got rainbow chard at the farmer’s market and decided I had to use it in more ways than just a salad (or sandwich ingredient). I’ve done both of those things with it already, but I finally managed to change things up. I sautéed it in sesame oil and tamari, and enjoyed it alongside half a sweet potato & cubed tempeh (plain, not cooked or anything). Then I covered everything in hummus and nutritional yeast.
This is a plate full of super foods.
And it didn’t stop there! I put together a legit snack (as in, eaten from a plate, not standing over the kitchen counter or consumed straight from the bag).
Fingers crossed I can keep this train going.
I know there will be plenty of nacho nights (see below).
I ate the entire bag of Food Should Taste Good sweet potato tortilla chips covered with daiya and salsa. Sure. We’ll call that a meal.
We’ll also call the addition of banana to each of these snacks a way of bumping up the nutritional value to just above the level of pathetic.
Fortunately for me, Kyle doesn’t seem to mind eating pasta around the clock. Not to worry! Operation eat-more-meals-that-I’m-excited-about is in full swing. 🙂
Cover anything in hummus and nutritional yeast and I’ll probably get excited about it. But what I AM excited about is going back to the Farmer’s Market for fresh produce. Unfortunately, I have about two months until the snow flies and the garden veggies show themselves. Ugh, but something to look forward to!
I just bought some rainbow chard from Trader Joe’s. I forgot about it until reading this!
I got some chard a month or so ago and really liked it, I should buy it again! And there may not be a lot of variation in your meals – but that looks pretty much how I eat and I love it!
Mhmmm greens from the Farmer’s market. I am very jealous considering it is still 30 degrees here! But looks delicious as always, even when keeping it simple. Keep the simple inspiration coming! Also, I’d like to request a picture of the little guy in your next post 🙂 he’s just too cute!
The chard looks interesting, I should see if I can find it near me. I am horrible about variation in my meals, but luckily I still get excited every morning for my oatmeal.
I’m so bad about putting my snacks on plates. I ALWAYS stuff my face standing over the counter. Yesterday I attempted to put my cucumber slices in a little bowl but then half were in my mouth before I got to the couch! I’ve never tried raw tempeh..I’ll have to get on that.
Umm considering you JUST had a baby I think this is pretty freaking impressive. Still super healthy which is the most important thing and the fact that you’re switching stuff up is just a major bonus. And making a cake for ur hubby too?! Pat urself on the back E! X
I love the nutritional yeast coverage! Thats what I’m talkin about 🙂
Courtney
Hey you got something on the celery besides water and salt! you are doing good! I remember nurisng a baby and eating a chunk of cheese, wrapping it back up and putting it in the fridge bc all I had time to do was BITE IT. to me that was the grossest moment.
Pat your self on the back and say it will be OK.
I can get that way too. It’s when I eat too much “brown” (bread and AB, cereal, plain sandwhiches) that I feel so blah. Not that it’s bad for me, but I like to cook more tasteful meals. That chard looks beautiful!
healthy recipe! Great!
I make a pretty tasty vegetable soup with chard. I love that stuff! Chard & kale. They are awesome.
Hi Elise! I’m a nursing student just about ready to graduate this spring. I’m also a track/field athlete (10k, steeplechase), and a healthy-food enthusiast. I do a lot of prep-work/cooking on the weekends so I’m ready to go for the clinical/workout/class week. Sometimes it’s a struggle, and your blog has helped out a lot (especially those posts about food for work days). Today’s post looks a lot like what I eat when life is crazy busy (hello midterms). It’s great not to feel like an odd duck all the time! My clinical preceptor was pretty weirded out by my kale/sweet-potato/scrambled-egg lunch today.
To be honest, I’m impressed that you’ve managed to put together the meals that you have! I can’t even imagine how crazy it must be adjusting to the baby. But I know it’s worth every minute of exhaustion and every “boring” meal. (:
It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who enjoys the taste and texture of raw tempeh- I think it’s delicious!
Know the feeling….but i live in the north east and I have to wait until the end of june
Hi! I have been reading this blog for um, ever- check out some of the older posts from nyc and about a year ago, she has some awesome packing food and snacks for 12hr work days tips and simple delicious ideas that may help you out!