Doing three (12 hour) shifts in a row is my least fave thing to do. I avoid it like the plague swine flu. However, my parents are coming into town today (yipeeeeee!!!), so I had to get all my work out of the way so I could have the weekend off :)
It was an especially rough stretch because I only had one day off between my last weekend of chaos and this 72 hour stint. No matter. Ready for all my work lunches:
Tuesday
Salad, bars, Whole Foods’ spelt pretz, carrots, apples, and tea bags.
The salad had spinach, sweet taters, cannellini beans, cherry toms, and dried cranz. Tast-tay.
Long long ago, when I first received these samples from Amazing Grass, I was NOT into the bars. They were SO green and blah, and for some reason I just didn’t enjoy them. Well, the other day I found them in the bottom of my bar stash (it’s massive and ever growing…twss) and decided to give them a second shot. Turns out, this time around, I actually liked them, a LOT. Sure, they look like something you might find in a compost bin or the excreted mash from the lawnmower…but if you can get past that…the taste is pretty good! It’s hard to describe the flavor because there is a distinct “green”-ness to them, and they do have detectable chunks of nuts (something I’m usually not into), but I think the fact that the ingredients are so pure and wholesome negates all those aforementioned ick-factors. Hmm. Interesting.
Wednesday
Salad with spin, steamed brocc, cherry toms, chickpeas, and raisins.
Bar central! Carrot cake Clif bar, Honey Graham Z bar, and Chocolate Chip Z bar. Love ‘em all.
Thursday
Do you love the face?
I’m such a loser. Here’s a more visible photo.
This salad contained spinach, BN squash, shrooms, and dried cranz.
The salad was good, but the butternut squash was a bit too al dente if I’m being honest. I steamed it the night before work, but I was in such a hurry to get to bed, that I didn’t test it adequately. No worries, I supplemented the salad with an unpictured multigrain seedy roll (fresh from the Bruno’s oven). They are so clutch when I’m in a bread craving mood.
There’s also a new trend in my packed lunches.
Notice all the tea bags? I’ve been saving $$ and bringing my own java (instant coffee with cocoa powder) in the AM, along with several teabags (Chai and others) to keep me warm and hydrated (and not spending $) throughout the PM. Smarteee pants.
No worries, I’m still showing my love for Starbeezies with the mug 🙂
Some of my dinners were good, but some weren’t exactly blog-worthy (read: tubs and tubs of hummus). Here’s a few photos I did take and some new products.
Barbara’s Wheatines (yum, salt!) with roasted red pepper hummus.
Times three.
I did make my own hummus one night.
I like adding nooch to mine – and pretz 🙂
Making my own beans…
Look at that poor black sheep in the chickpea sea!!
On Thursday night I mustered up the energy to make a simple stir fry (it’s easier for me to cook when I know I don’t have to focus on getting to bed super early for work the next day). So even though I was barely standing (not Lindsay Lohan status, but close…) after just finishing a 3 day work stretch, I still wanted a real meal.
Some carrots, brocc, shrooms, and green beans sizzled in the pan with soy sauce and Bragg’s liquid aminos while I heated up some home made seitan.
All mixed togethah! Heart it.
Don’t even bother trying to convince me that BBQ doused sweet potatoes don’t go with an Asian stir fry. Sweet potatoes go with everything. And BBQ sauce and soy sauce are not exclusive dinner ingredients. Call me crazy, but that’s just how I feel.
Orange snowman dessert. These tangerines were MUCH easier to peel than oranges. Me gusta.
I may be M.I.A for the next few days because my parental units are in town. I’ll be back with lots of delish restaurant reviews and exciting eats.
I agree about the Amazing Grass bars. They look kinda gross, but I think their taste is addicting! Have you read the ingredients list? I think it’s the “rosehips” that add to their power haha….
Im not usually into detectable chunks of nuts either 🙂 Seriously, nah. And on the AG bars…yes, acquired taste.
The Clif bars. I have just gotten back on that train after about 4 yrs off. I have tried the bluebrry which i bought for skylar and ate most of it 🙂 and havent tried the carrot cake but i need to!
Love the coffee $$ savings action too!
“Sweet potatoes go with everything.”
Amen, sista.
Have fun with your folks!
Awww I like al dente squash!! 😉 And I think you might have convinced me that steamed sweet potatoes taste better than roasted… travesty.
<3 <3
Your lunches are so organized, colorful and look tasty 🙂
have fun with your parents– don’t forget to smile, lovely lady
bec xo
I agree. The more sauces I can incorporate into one meal, the better. Love that variety 😉
Have fun with the parentals!
i think sweet potatoes should have their own food group… they’re the bomb.com.
have fun with the parental units (haven’t said that since like 5th grade. I’m so cool) <3
You’re going to turn into a nut lover, I just know it. Woah Barb’s Bakery has crackers? They look mighty fine!
YAY for the hippie parents being in town! Have fun!!
aww have a blast w. your parents girl!!
I love the AG bars – even better if they’re chocolate-covered. I love that you gave something a second chance! Have a great visit with your parents!
you are ridiculously good at life girl.
and you better have a slammin (yes i said slammin) weekend with the rentals because you worked oh so hard for it 🙂
Do you find those wheatines incredibly addicting???? I eat like a box in a day. AHH. Enjoy your weekend, dear 🙂
YES! i pounded the box, they are so salty and delicious!!!
i agree, the chocolate ones are so much better – as most chocolate things in life are 🙂
yes, they are divine. get some now!
the ingreds list is SO insane. i was reading it to kyle once and i said, i think i actually know what 5% of this sh!t is…ha!
i keep forgetting to tell you (since i read blogs on the subway on my bberry and cant comment) – you are SUCH a freakin stud woman. thats all 🙂
have a great time with the fam!
delish eats as always 😉
jenna
I am eating a salad with steamed broccoli on it as I read your blog 🙂
I always put nutritional yeast in my homemade hummus! That is too funny–it makes it SO much better, right?!
Have fun with your parents! I am super jealous, and how great is it that THEY came to YOU so you don’t have to travel over the holiday?! Yay!
Courtney
i saw those bars at whole foods & was thinking about buying one. mayb enext time?? pretzels are my faorite
xoxo
shelley
http://findinghappinessandhealth.wordpress.com
You’re awesome with your fruits and veggies, definitely more than I see on other blogs!
I try for 6 a day, and sometimes that’s hard for me! Even though I love them…pathetic : )
Those bars grew on me, too. I used to bring them to work when I was waitressing to keep in my apron, but I always got so paranoid that I had green chunks in my teeth!
Have fun with mom and pop Hippie 🙂
your salads look yummy! what do you use as dressing? I’ve been looking for some new ideas;
basic things like extra virgin olive oil and balsamic. or Bragg’s aminos. or hummus. or nutritional yeast.
Thanks(: I know it’s a really old post, but somehow I just started clicking on posts and ended up here