And blah blah blah not a food blogger not a dietician not a nutritionist not a health care expert blah blah
(but this! is one of my favorite food blogs ever)
I'm definitely an aspiring food photographer though. Just vate.
We don't care what you eat, Grace. Really. I know, I know, I know. I do. I hope I've made it clear by now that I'm not a culinary anything but a failure and I won't be tricking my kids into eating vegetables by way of a cucumber slushie. I just thought that maybe you'd want to see some snacky things that we've been eating lately. Maybe not but whatever.
Really short eating history ... several years ago I came back from a semester in Austria quite a few pounds heavier than I'd left. Like ... I weighed the same as I did when I was 9 months pregnant with Julia kind of heavier. My bff+e (I link to her instagram because her bomb blog is private and I hate it) went on hardcore Atkins and started running and lost a lot of weight. It was great. Austria weight gone, Freshman 15 gone, etc. But then I went back to school in Ohio and was good for about three seconds before I got reacquainted with the soft serve in the cafeteria and .. whatever. Everyone weighed a little more in college. Who cares. I enjoyed a fine glass or three of boxed wine back in the collegiate days and it was fun.
After I graduated from college I found a happy medium with good fats and fewer carbs (think South Beach diety sort of, I guess) and loosely stick to that now. Do I not eat french fries? Unless I'm being a martyr and gave them up for lent (yes, I am 8 years of age) - no! I can control what I eat at home (unless I buy those stupid chocolate covered pretzels that they sampled at Costco for 15 weeks straight until I caved) and sort of when we travel but if I get all weird and strict then I tend to go crazy and eat all bad food for days on end because I'm starved for sugar and flour.
HOW do I get on these tangents and WHY do I make you suffer through them? Almost done.
So now I try not to eat pasta and bread (we had spaghetti two nights ago so ... ) too often but amn't a big Atkins freak or anything. I do notice that if I load up on the starch I feel sluggish and my mood is bad bad bad, and I get a headache so ... it's better just to be as proteiny as possible. Also! The low carb tortillas at the regular grocery store are really good and even when I run out of regulars for Simon he can't tell the difference when I give him the "gross" kind. Don't tell him.
I can't keep green produce alive and not slimey to save my life ... blame the kids, blame Simon's schedule, blame my lazyass bottom, blame it all but it's a fact right now. Not going to change or get more organized or meal planny because ... reasons listed above.
It's hard to strike a good balance with taste + still healthy because I like my sweet and I like my salty and even if I'm technically "full" but my meal didn't have a lot of taste ... I'll still be reaching for a handful of semi-sweets.
Okay .. my original point!
[important: does someone want to give me basic graphic design lessons because ... see above.]
[saddest food lineup eva]
1. Greek Yogurt + Chia Seeds: I've talked all about the power of the Chia in lots of other posts but I still love the stuff. The kids don't notice that it's in their poisonous Light 'n Fit Greek Yogurt (I KNOW there are much healthier yogurt options but ... I like this stuff and Costco sells it). Maybe it's my imagination but having Chia in the morning seems to help stave off the 3pm sugar shakes and wants and needs. I was having a tough time getting rid of the last few pounds after Sebastian and Theo's pregnancies and the seeds helped - or at least that's what I told myself.
2. Brussel Sprouts + Dates: Cut sprouts in half and put them in a pan with some oil (I use coconut even though I think Simon hates it ... yoops) until tenderish. Then I cut up some dates and sprinkle some sea salt on and snack on, snacker.
3. Fried Egg + Formerly Frozen Vegetables: I think eggs are good and do not like eating just the whites so I don't. I found a huge bag of stir fry veggies at Costco but I hate the mushrooms and water chestnuts (YICK) so I just use what I like with some sea salt and coconut oil in a pan on the stove and here we are.
4. Chocolate Avocado Smoothie/Faux Frosty: If you scroll through an Instagram feed without seeing a smoothie or a recipe for a smoothie these days ... you should probably refresh yo feed because they be everywhere. Rachel told me about how her Vitamix could make Frosty type things with avocados so I tried with my regular blender the other night (and I didn't have any bananas so this picture is moot and ironic) and the kids loved it and I loved it too.
5. Sebastian is awake so I'm out of time: But if you have any quick and easy healthyish snacks ....... I'm all pupils.
One of those posts that wasn't even a great idea to begin with and now I'm like ..... so why did you run with it?! A conundrum for the masses.
Fancy Schmancy pictures! My go to lazy healthy food trick is the bagged salad. I know it would be cheaper to buy heads of lettuce and clean them myself but I wouldn't do it. So I often go to trader joes and pick up bagged arugula, pre-shredded carrots, pre chopped veggies etc.
ReplyDeleteoh I was being sarcastic about the photos -- I'm the worst.
DeleteSmart! I'm trying to be better about going to TJs when Simon is home to watch at least one of the kids.
I've never tried chia seeds before...interesting! Lately I've been eating yogurt and putting chocolate granola into it...not the healthiest, but I've been eating carrots and ranch dressing instead of cheez-its. So...I'm trying to eat healthier. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteI was just wondering what I was going to eat for dinner...!!
ReplyDeleteI love chia seeds. My go to lazy, healthy snack is a few brazil nuts or baby carrots or frozen fruit. I'm also super fond of green smoothies..I mix bagged spinach with frozen fruit and yogurt or kefir..blend it all up...super yummy.
ReplyDeletequiona pizza bites. Dates are hit and miss in our house - brand wise. Love the prepackaged raw nuts and fruit bars at TJs. Have you popped popcorn with saled coconut oil yet? DIE FOR YUMMY
ReplyDeleteMy kids like carrot sticks and that dipping food is the funniest so ~carrot sticks and hummus it is.
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ReplyDeleteI posted from my husband like the sleep-starved post partum genius I am.
DeleteLOL your last line is the best. It was a good post! I just cant get down with the chia. Only on my counter in ceramic topiaries, please.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the healthy eating reminder- thanks!!
ReplyDeleteLove it. If this were to become a regular feature at The Camp... I wouldn't hate it. (Uhh, one of my friends refers to me as Groceries, à la Eat, Pray, Love and the moniker is a little too fitting for my taste- pun unfortunately intended). My go-to breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snack, dessert, and sometimes dinner (does that count as a snack? whatever) for the past few months has been avocado toast. Half an avocado mashed on a slice of toast (no duh, Cheryl) and drizzled with balsamic reduction (the important part). The balsamic makes it sound wa-ha-hay fancier than it actually is but was super simple to make. Although, I'm sure some grocery store must sell it? Not exactly the healthiest, but better and more filling than my--and everyone else's--other favorite, the semi-sweets.
ReplyDeleteannnd another marathon comment because Concise is my middle name.
DeleteGeesh! No wonder you're so skinny! Meals 2 & 3 are kinda making me gag, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume they're really tasty and not at all disgusting. My go to healthy snacks are protein smoothies (lots of different recipes), hummus, & almond butter. Basically my healthy food makes me fat.
ReplyDeleteBTW this should be a link up post. ;)
i'm a new reader, came over from bridget's blog. I just love reading what you write!! You have such a great perspective and you come off so relatable and real. And you are funny as hell. Would love to see more food posts!
ReplyDeleteI've been mixing flaxseed and berries with vanilla yogurt for a healthy snack.
ReplyDeleteThis is the flaxseed I use:
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=SA-1126&sourceType=sc&source=FG&adGroup=20-40&keyword=SA-1126&cm_mmc=Google+Shopping-_-Product+Listing+Ads-_-20-40-_-SA-1126&gclid=COzrn7XA0LcCFfHm7Aod4z4A0w#.UbEQUJxz5BM
Sorry, I chose the wrong link. The flaxseed I use has dried mixed berries in it that are really tiny and I mix fresh mixed berries in with the yogurt.
DeleteI was just working on a post like this :). Great minds think alike.
ReplyDeleteLove the chia and the coconut oil! I'm really excited about these frosty type smoothies because Dave loves veggie shakes and I love Frosty's so maybe it's a match made in sugar-tricks heaven? I can certainly hope.
ReplyDeleteHere's my pinterest board for healthy treats. Most of them are healthy enough to eat for breakfast!
ReplyDelete- Leslie
http://pinterest.com/leslieelizabeth/healthy-food-treats/
Ahh yes the mensa zimmels mixed with all the alcohol easily adds the weight on the hips while in Austria. We have all suffered through it.
ReplyDeleteKiwi Guacamole with Cucumber and Jicama Chips.
ReplyDeleteAll the necessary fats, high fiber, low effort, low carb, very very yummy.
PB Banana smoothies with cacao; ants on a log (I'm in second grade); avocado on sprouted grain toast; homemade acai bowls; fried egg + quinoa + veggies.... And let's be real: sometimes a lady needs to eat Trader Joe's dark chocolate pb cups by the handful.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I'm not much for diets. It's wholesale behavior modification or nothing for me. But I also have high caloric requirements, so my snacks tend to err on the side of providing enough calories.
ReplyDelete1. Those Sunsweet individually wrapped prunes. They're weirdly good, reminiscent of grape fruit roll ups IMO.
2. Homemade hummus with carrot and celery sticks or multigrain pita chips. The technique and recipe here are good: http://www.inspiredtaste.net/15938/easy-and-smooth-hummus-recipe/
3. Iced coffee. I hate milk, but homemade iced coffee (1/3 coffee concentrate, 2/3 milk) is a good way to get a serving down. I do add sweetener to this, but my mom doesn't.
4. Fiber One in Greek yogurt with honey. I measure the Fiber One by weight though, to make sure I'm not eating too much, or worse, giving too much to GeekBaby.
5. Plain old fruit and veggies. Cherries are on sale right now and I splurged on a couple pounds for us. Now that I'm cooking again, I clean and prep a bunch of fruit and veggies once a week, and they're there to munch.
6. Hard boiled eggs. Boil old eggs, otherwise they're impossible to peel.
Is it bad that this post makes me want to eat a crap load of junk food? It is and I know it.
ReplyDeleteThen again, WW is making me want to steal all the girls' fruit snacks and eat them whilst running down the street to the gas station to buy out their stash of Twizzlers and Reese's cups. I just love sugar so so much.
But for real, I really want to try that avocado smoothie, sounds delish (for healthy food, of course)
Haha Ana, I thought the same thing. This brought on the cravings! Get me some bread and pasta and green apple sour punch straws, stat.
DeleteI will be good and go eat some yogurt, honey and chia seeds.
Water Chestnut hater too!! YUCK.
ReplyDeleteMix chia and hemp seeds in the yogurt and you won't be hungry for days. Exaggeration, but who cares.
I like simple things like dumping salsa in my avocado that is its own magical bowl and then chips as far as the eye can see. Wait, this was supposed to be healthy...UM...how about eat it while planning your run with the stroller monster that may or may not happen.
you hate mushrooms? GRACE!! i don't think i can be e-friends with you anymore.
ReplyDeletethe fortunate thing about ADD is that i already forgot you hate mushrooms.
healthy snack fave- i knoooooow cottage cheese is one of those "i hate it and i'm never even looking at it again in my life" foods, but i was forced to eat it almost every day (long story) and lo and behold, i love it. i do FF cottage cheese with a banana (sliced and mixed in), crushed walnuts, and plenty of chemicals by way of Splenda, then mix it all up, put it in the freezer for about 10-15 mins and voila! high high protein snack with a teensy bit of healthy fat, yummy fruit, and it's kinda almost sort of maybe like eating ice cream :)
Please excuse the massive amount of bad language in this blog, but this is my favorite food blog. (Well, I don't cook, so it's the only food blog I read.) It is hysterical, but there are a ton of great recipes hidden in the funny: http://thugkitchen.com/
ReplyDeleteI love this post..more please! I'm also doing the high protien/ low carb thing in not a super formal way. Hard baked eggs (bake in oven at 325 for 30 min) are my go to breakfast. Somehow I've detoxed from my creamer with a little coffee addiction. Frozen grilled chicken strips with an easy green veggie (cucs/ chopped green pepper or bagged lettuce) for lunch and fresh fruit. I'm addicted to Walden Farms Balsalmic vinagarette and wasabi almonds. The chia seeds kind of freak me out because #1- I've only seen them in the food section of Marshalls and #2- I can picture them stuck in my teeth during the sign of peace.
ReplyDeleteJust one more question- do you use the chia seeds in anything else? And.. thanks for the deceptive brussel sprouts pic...thought those were jalapenos. I bought the spray version of coconut oil at TJs and I'm officially a convert!
ReplyDeletealmonds and grape tomatoes, doesn't get any easier than that. i'll also hard boil an egg while i get ready for work and take that to the office. it's either those things or chips, cookies, and any other crap we have in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteYou and I are on the same bandwagon with this. Reading an awesome book right now called It Starts With Food. They love avocados and coconut oil! They are huge on protein, veggies and fruit, with minimal carbs and sugar. I've been really watching it for a while and I've found that the sugar/carb cravings are almost completely gone. I do eat bread occasionally but I grind the wheat and bake my own, so it's super healthy and good for you. In place of pasta, we love spaghetti squash, which you can cook in 5 minutes in the micro. I don't think Simon would go for it (my kids eat pasta), but you could make it for yourself!
ReplyDeleteOMG you just made my life Grace! Thank you thank you so much for your kind words and link to my blog! You were one of the first to help me get The Law Student's Wife off the ground. I'm so touched!
ReplyDeletexo
Erin
PS. Those tortillas rock. I just hide the package from Ben.
ReplyDeleteI definitely need to try chia seeds in yogurt. I have done flax seeds but lately I've been putting almonds in my yogurt. Definitely does the trick of staying full. Plus greek yogurt and an oz of almonds packs like 18g of protein into around 300 calories.
ReplyDeleteAs for brussel sprouts, I love them but can never cook them just right (too hard or too sour). Which is too bad because usually I am a decent cook. But fortunately the Green Giant makes them frozen in butter sauce and I can handle the microwave.
Also the avocado shake sounds interesting. Not sure if I am brave enough to try it anytime soon. But maybe...
candidcerebrations.blogspot.com
How lovely! great post!
ReplyDeleteValentina
Valentina Duracinsky Blog
Love this post! Also love that you posted snacks that are super easy and quick too.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite (somewhat health) snacks:
Easy Caprese salad (slice up tomatoes, add some fresh mozzarella, douse in a little bit of balsalmic vinaigrette, done.)
Banana with natural peanut butter (way less sugar than regular peanut butter and more filling)
Buy greek yogurt. Peel a clementine. Dip the clementine pieces in the greek yogurt. Done.
my kids LOVE clementines!
DeleteSo did you make that faux-frosty sans bananas? Because I really can't bring myself to like them, but they sneak themselves into every freaking smoothie recipe.
ReplyDeleteMy current healthy(ish) go-to: greek yogurt, fresh berries, and granola.
I love homemade popcorn with salt. It is good but not really high calorie. (To be fair, it's not high nutrient either, but it tides us all over til meal time.)
ReplyDeleteI also love me some yogurt or milk + frozen berries/fruit + banana + spinach and so do my kids.
I also love to mix a little Italian seasoning into some plain yogurt with peppers and cucumbers for dipping. (in all honesty, I don't do that one as much as I should).
Peanut butter and ricecakes - eaten pretty much everyday. And I try and make a big pot of veggie (veggie/lentil) soup each week to eat for lunches.
ReplyDeleteI love peanut butter and rice cakes! Rice cakes were my saving grace when I was trying to lose weight for my wedding, I used them to make "healthy" cold pizza by topping a rice cake with pizza sauce and whatever else sounded yummy! Satisfied my pizza cravings completely! ;)
DeleteI have recently taken to making Dr. Oz's energy bars. Really easy to make, ingredients I always have around and super easy to add things to. I made a batch today with a handful of chocolate chips in them and another will have your beloved chia seeds (I'm late to this party) and flax. They are really tasty, full of fiber and protein! We are big smoothie drinkers around here too! I don't think I have ever witnessed Easton eating a veggie, but he sure chugs them down when hidden in berries and apples!
ReplyDeleteI just went to the gym and I saw two college-aged besties working out (doing their abs). They were tan, fit and cute and it made me jelly and reminiscent of our days of gym and 'healthy' cooking at the Chateau Seaton.
ReplyDeleteMy go-to healthy snack is fresh melon (any kind, but watermelon is my fave). Since I usually have a baby on my hip and a toddler wrapped around my knees, I don't have much time for food prep during the day. I cut the whole melon up at once and store it in the fridge so I can easily grab a few pieces whenever I want. And for healthy dinners, one of my easiest standby recipes (semi-healthy) is brown rice or quinoa mixed with tuna, shredded cheddar, and peas (canned or frozen... if frozen, cook before adding in). I add a little salt and pepper, and voila! Dinner! So easy and even my super-picky toddler will eat it.
ReplyDeleteI take a bag of frozen cranberries and some other fresh or frozen berries, peaches, cherries, etc. and simmer them together until I get a "compote." Then I either fridge it or freeze it, and stir it into full fat yogurt along with walnuts. Another favorite snack is unsweetened coconut flakes (not the shredded stuff but the bigger flakes) + cocoa nibs + walnuts + goji berries. I'm staying away from grains, so I'll dip carrot sticks or snow peas into guacamole. Also: goat cheese on sugar snap peas.
ReplyDeletenancyo
And the Rough Places Plain (but signed in under my old food blogger identity)
oops, I stir honey into the compote as needed, because the cranberries, while adding so many great nutrients (I think, at least) are pretty bitter.
DeleteHummus, hummus, hummus...obsessed.
ReplyDeleteBrussel sprouts and dates? That sounds delicious! Definitely going to have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteI also love bell peppers + hummus for a healthy snack.
HAHA! You write like I do (and I mean that neither as a compliment nor an insult), and thus I think I love your blog. I'm trying to get my mom to get healthier and she despises cooking so I 'googled "best food blogs for lazy people" and there was yours right at the top. I have a blog, too, (though I've been terrible about updating it lately and it's more ABOUT food itself than the cooking of it) so I need more for the mom. Count me subscribed... and I don't have a clue what your blog is like beyond this post, but that's quite enough to see that I dig it, thanks.
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