Happy 2011 everyone! I know I promised the giveaway winners today, but I’m not quite ready yet…
Since I’ve been MIA for the past few days, I have some catching up to do first. Even though I got the 31st and 1st off of work, I was still at the hospital for the rest of 2010. And so before ringing in the New Year, I packed up my lunches as per usual.
The above is what I call operation use-up-leftovers.
Chopped NutsOnline dried figs + golden delicious apples + quinoa seasoned with stevia and cinnamon
Pureed butternut squash with vanilla soymilk and cinnamon
Apple + ‘stachios
Broccoli, chickpeas, and carrots with marinara sauce. If that’s not the most leftovers sounding combo, I don’t know what is. It still kinda worked.
Leftovers were the name of the game for dinner.
Asian tofu (WF hot bar) with butternut squash and quinoa.
Ezekiel english muffin with Earth Balance a la mode.
I enjoyed a dessert plate of PB stuffed medjool dates (sprinkled in shredded coconut) as I packed my bags for my trip to Nor Cal. Sigh. While I love heading home, this is my second weekend in a row of driving up the I-5. Can you believe we have put 5,000 miles on our car in 3 months?!? My “commute” to work is only a mile, so that mileage is literally ALL from driving up and down the CA coast.
Drool.
I was talking on the phone with my mom all the while, so the clothes I packed ended up being not so coordinated.
I also had to pack up my lunch for work the next day. And since we were leaving as soon as I got off work, that meant I would be taking whatever I had with me at the hospital along with me to Nor Cal.
Not wanting to have dirty tupperware with me ‘til 2011, I opted for the most portable eats with the least amount of containers.
For breakfast I made oats with a packet of Three Sisters Brown Sugar & Maple oats. I used some of my home-made trail mix for add-ins (almonds, dried fruit, carob chips, etc.).
I had another bag of trail mix from the Westwood Whole Foods’ bulk bins section. There were soooo many kinds of trail mix that I had a difficult time choosing which to try first. I forget what this mix was called but it has dried dates, apricots, raisins, walnuts, almonds, peanuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds, and who knows what else. Super nutrient packed.
For lunch I had soup and salad combo.
Ok, it was really more of a pilaf.
Dr. McDougall’s sent me a ton of products to sample and I have been waiting for the day to dig in. You see, while I love packing my own lunches, I also know myself and I know that sometimes I have lazy days that I want to be able to turn to packaged food. Unfortunately, finding packaged food that’s healthy and not full of fat and sodium can be hard. On top of that, finding vegan options is even more difficult.
Not to exaggerate or make huge claims of greatness, but I honestly think that Dr. McDougall’s Right Foods are the most convenient vegan products on the market. They are decently sized portions, not too big, but not leaving you wanting more. The ingredients are as pure as a packaged product can be (yes, there are still dried and dehydrated veggies and seasoning packets), but they are nothing like those nasty MSG laden Cup ‘O Noodles.
I do find it annoying that one cup has 2 servings, but aside from that, I have no issue with the ingredients (and I’m very picky about that stuff).
In the hospital cafeteria I added boiling water, then I closed the lid, ate my salad, and within ten minutes I had a hearty, well seasoned dish.
[Sorry about the ugly cell phone pics]
I’m fairly impressed (dare I say, surprised?) that this Curry brown & wild rice fruited pilaf tasted as good as it did. It was flavorful with a nice balance of grains to other ingredients. There weren’t too many veggies, which I didn’t mind, and the accent of slivered almonds and raisins offered a sweet crunch every once in a while that I really liked. As you might expect with a just-add-water item, the rice was a bit more crunchy than a regular pilaf. But I wasn’t expecting much so I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t so hard that it got stuck in my teeth or completely mushy.
I will definitely be buying these again.
This spinach, butternut and raisin salad was the one tupperware I did bring. With my sweet tooth cycle in constant motion, I’m finding veggies are the craving I have most often. My body must know how to to auto-correct itself or something.
After work, Kyle picked me up and we hit up Whole Foods for dinner…and then we were on our way up north.
Two of my patients had strokes that day, so I was beyond exhausted. As soon as I let myself relax, I started nodding off. Not good when you are only an hour into a 6 hour commute. I demanded a Starbucks stop (gas station coffee is unacceptable plus they don’t have soy milk). When we finally found one, I swear I almost cried tears of joy. Turns out, it was the worst visit. The employees were rude and horrible. They were out of soymilk and didn’t care one bit.
What’s that slogan again?
Oh right.
And yet, the employees refused to give me what I wanted or compensate me in any way. How hard is it to give me a free coffee? It’s not even about the 50 cents either, it’s the principle.
Starbucks should know better than to piss off such a loyal customer. Especially a gold card holder with a food blog and obsession with twitter.
I’ll be back later with the winners of the Three Sisters cereal.
That SUCKS! In Houston, they were once out of soymilk – they gave me a free venti coffee sans-soymilk. Can’t believe they didn’t do the same for you!
No soy milk IS quite a travesty. I do wish they would start carrying some non-dairy-non-soy milk, though… almond milk would be great, wouldn’t it?
Happy New Years!
Your leftovers look pretty amazing actually! And the hotel we’re at right now doesn’t have soymilk or anything either… I’m bummed! Starbucks definitely should though. Also I saw you said Nor Cal… that’s where I’m currently visiting!! 🙂
All your left overs look sooo good!! I’m going to have to make those dates soon!!
As for Sbucks, what a piss off! I’d email them, they will probably do something then, I’ve had a few complaints re: drinks being made with regular milk and me being very sick, and they were awesome about it! (Head office was at least!)
Hope your 1st day of 2011 was awesome!
I’ve been craving pb stuffed dates hardcore all week — i’m so flipping jealous! haha I should have bought a box of dates when I had the chance! =)
Hope you’re having a great 2011! <3
Chickpeas and broccoli? Sounds like good eats to me!
i’m pretty sure starbs needs to get down on their hands and knees and beg for your forgiveness. you may be their best customer. and they have some sewious kissing arss to do. get on it starbies.
I too am obsessed w/ sbux and have a gold card, and the one and only time i was treated like crap by employees i called and complained, and was sent many free drink cards. do it!
your food+creations= amazing girl
HAPPY 2011!!!!
Great idea not to take many Tupps with you; honestly, I’ve made the mistake of taking them on trips waayy too many times. I love that you always keep your leftovers tasting fresh. Maybe could you do a post on how you prep for the week please? I would really enjoy that! Also, sorry to hear about your bad Starbucks experience. When a girl needs her coffee, you just can’t mess around!
Have a lovely day (&happy 2011)!
xox
dessert plate of PB stuffed medjool dates = yes please!
i have posted before about how i dont like starbucks coffee or their attitude..but sometimes i just have to have coffee and i buy it. and normally, am disappointed. and at $4-5 for a drink if it’s not perfect i want a remake and they really dont like to do that. i have actually not asked b/c they roll their eyes and act like it’s a biggie..sorry that a carmel latte and a mocha latte or whatever arent same..please remake. And they get all offended. Must be a so cal starbucks phenomenon. Not bashing on any amazing ‘Bucks employees reading this! if you are, please move to so cal and set em straight down here!
Those Medjool dates look amazing!!! I have got to try those!!!
its nice 2 see one of those cup o’ dishes that doesnt have an unprounouncable list that is the length of ones arm! happy 2011 🙂
I totally avoid buying coffee at places that I know wont have soy! Sorry about your bad Starbucks experience…I usually find the employees pretty accomodating but have been to some where they just werent nice as well.
oh my gosh can your eats get any better?! i love dates and pb!! best combo!
Happy New Year! I know I said it in my last comment, but why not say it again?! 🙂 Thanks for all your support and kindness in 2010. xxx
Happy New Year! I know I said it in my last comment, but why not say it again?! 🙂 Thanks for all your support and kindness in 2010. xxx
Sorry starbucks were such a pain, I hate it when that happens. x
I have a couple of those soup containers in the pantry that I’ve been waiting to break into. I’m always apprehensive of any soup in a paper cup, but if you say they’re good, I trust your judgment!!
Ugh, nothing like having a huge need for Starbucks and then getting disappointed. Totally sucks!
I am the same way with my work eats. I usually pack up tupperware every morning, but sometimes, I just wanna sleep in a bit and grab something and go! It’s always nice to find a convenience food that fits the bill when it comes to nutrition. The stats on that pilaf are pretty impressive!
Hey Mandiee – I’ve touched on how I prep for the work week here: http://hungryhungryhippie.com/2010/11/15/preppy/
but I may do a detailed post since you are one of many people who have requested it. For now, I hope that helps!
since i used to work at Starbucks, i will say if that happened under my shift, free coupons would be had by you.