Man, I just love this restaurant!! Hip, healthy, and delicious. We had TONS of fun with our new friends, Jennifer and Brian. We’ve got a lot in common and are planning a dinner together at this amazing restaurant we have all been wanting to try in a few weeks. We’re hoping to ask my other blog reader friends to join us! All you Raleigh/Durham blog readers, you should come down too!
Here’s me and Jennifer with our free “Crisp apples!”
For lunch I ordered a “build your own salad” with the special – a small piece of salmon grilled with a tomato tampenade on top (the salmon wasn’t as big as it looks here). It was superb!! My salad had mixed greens, spinach, carrots, cucs, kalamata olives, grilled mushrooms, a few roasted peppers and a splash of honey mustard. This is one of the only places that takes me seriously when I say “Can you please toss in 1 tsp of dressing.” 1 tsp it was – just enough to get the flavor! I gave my crouton to the husband after one bite. I also sampled his sandwich and soup – everything here is good!
I also tried my 4th Crisp soup – the cauliflower-zucchini. It didn’t let me down! I’m sure the heavy cream was involved again, but the Crisp soups are definitely a “worth it” food. I ate about 75% of the soup.
All together –
I roughly estimated this lunch at around 600 kcal.
Workout + Snack
Got in a nice workout this morning. 30 minutes on the Stairmaster and then some abs and I realized I was nuts not to be working out outside so the sun and I went jogging together for about 2 miles around the Y’s track. It was so bright and beautiful.
Speaking of sunshine, I snapped this photo of our backyard this morning because it was just so pretty. I can’t WAIT for full-time spring!! And then….summer!!!! 8)
After my workout I had a half serving of trail mix to tide me until our 1pm lunch –
I can’t believe it’s already 4pm! I feel like we just finished lunch. Not sure what my plans are, but we’re hanging out here tonight, so I hope to get in some Eat, Pray, Love and maybe a little Physio studying for my test Monday…..or maybe not!!
Brianne says
I am SO jealous of your back yard! We live in a condo right now because Calgary real state is ridiculous!! Don’t take your lovely home for granted. =)
PS. Lunch looks fabulous!
Romina says
That’s fantastic you made friends who have a lot in common with you, that’s so hard to find sometimes!
Your lunch looks superb. Especially that salad. I love those build-your-own salad options. That way you don’t have to irritate a waiter saying “I dont’t want this this and this”
Caroline says
Hi Kath! I just discovered your blog, and I am really impressed. I have always been interested in nutrition, but unfortunately my university does not offer a program related to food science. You mentioned that you live in Raleigh/Durham, which is exactly where I go to school! Where is this fabulous restaurant you visited today? I would love to discuss healthful dining in the Triangle with you sometime!
Yaz says
I am nowhere near Raleigh/Durham. I feel so left out 🙁 By the way, your lunch looks tasty. What happened to the husbands lunch pics?
Karen says
…if only I lived closer…but now I have a reason to visit!
pinklilly says
Kath – I was at the market today and saw the No Pudge Brownies you made a few weeks back – I thought of you and just had to buy them for my weekend dessert! I can’t wait to try them out!
I love build your own salads for the mere fact that I can control what goes in them – they’re the best for eating out and feeling like you know what you’re getting before you even get it.
Happy Saturday!
MacKenzie says
hi kath! just curious, did you include the apple in your 600 calorie estimate for lunch?
i’m no calorie genius, but my estimate would be 100 for the greens, 200 for the salmon, 200 for the soup?
or because of the possible heavy cream in the soup, did you up it to 300?
just curious to make sure i’m estimating my calories correctly!
kim says
Hi Mackenzie. I use no-pudge all the time (probably more than I should. For Valentines day, I poured the mix into little heart shaped cupcake tins, I mix in just a few dark chocolate chips and some orange extract for a twist. Topping it with a small scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt is heavenly. Did a football mold for superbowl party and made icing to look like laces on football.
pinklilly says
Kim- your No Pudge brownie ideas are just precious! I’m anxious to try the mix out and see what I can do with them in the future.
NCCarter says
Hey Raleigh/Durham posters (Caroline and Yaz, i think) – Kath is in Charlotte, but there is a Crisp here in Raleigh at Crabtree Mall (in the food court). There may be one close to Southpoint as well.
pinklilly says
thank you pinklilly. I hope they work out great! 🙂
Gemma says
Just wondering if anyone gets uncontrolable sugar cravings about 3-4 days before their period?? This happens to me every month without fail! From about lunch time onward all I feel like eating is something sugary.
Kath says
Caroline,
I actually live in Charlotte but I grew up in Hillsborough. I was encouraging the RDU folks to come visit me! I’m a grad student at Winthrop (just over the SC border) working toward my R.D. and masters in Nutrition.
Pink,
Have fun with the No Pudge! I recommend eating them half cooked – the batter is the best part!
MacKenzie ,
I didn’t eat the apple at lunch, but my estimate was:
~250 for soup
~200 for salmon
~150 for the salad, tempenade, dressing and bites of crouton and sandwich
NCCarter ,
Is it the same Crisp!? That’s good to know if so the next time I’m visiting RDU. I’ll take my mom there!
Gemma ,
I don’t necessarily get sugar cravings, but I do have occasional insatiable hunger the few days before. I just do my best to eat balanced meals those few days and keep the junk food out of the house.
Kath
pinklilly says
Oh my gosh, the No Pudge brownies were small pieces of chocolate heaven to my taste buds!
B_Hlthy says
What! I didnt know Crabtree had a Crisp!! Oooo… If you are getting together for dinner in Charlotte it will be a weekend right? I’d have to give my grandfather or friends a call and see if i can stay with them- but i could totally visit Charlotte… I am actually figuring out a day i could visit winthrop campus too.. its spring break at Meredith so i will figure it out this week!
* and to respond to my post in “walnut mountain” I totally eat “sweet treats” pretty much everyday… but I was more addressing the “reward” aspect many people take.. as in ” oh i can be bad today” or “i worked really hard, i “Deserve” it….
My point with all those “ideas” was that You always deserve to treat yourself well.. I think a problem for many is when you start making special exceptions to dietary “rules” just to give yourself a reward… I think that is the start to an unhealthy attitude..If you really need a reward, reward yourself with non-food items. If you really like cake, have a piece of cake. Eat you want, but eat what you need to fuel your body properly, whether its carrots or carrot cake….
Kate(the teenager) says
Kath,
Even though I live in South Carolina, I live 1 and 1/2 hours from Charlotte and would love to come to your blog readers dinner party!
Kath says
B-H and Kate,
I just emailed you both!
K