I was so excited about this lunch but it was too much for me to handle!! I saved my grapefruit for later because about halfway through lunch I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat it all and that seemed like the most “saveable” item.
When I was young, raw broccoli dipped in ranch was one of the few veggies I would eat, but I have never liked it plain. (Cooked is fine plain though!) I stole some from last night’s dinner to put in my salad today but I could barely stomach it. Even in the same bite with the delicious pom seeds I was on the verge of gagging. I should have just gone and microwaved them or found a dipping sauce but instead I just tried to picture the vegetable’s benefits and swallowed it down. Won’t be packing this again for a while unless I have a thick dressing!
Spinach, pom and broccoli salad with raspberry blush vinegar as dressing
Tuna salad made with 1 oz plain yogurt, mustard, red curry powder, carrots and celery:
Kashis
Pumpkin yogurt with pumpkin pie spice (1/2 cup yogurt mixed with 1/2 cup canned pumpkin)
And grapefruit, which I saved for later.
Hot green tea to drink
Volumetrics Question of the Day
Would you rather eat all of the above fresh food?
Or
A large french fries?
Both are 500 calories.
By choosing fresh, homemade foods, not only are you avoiding unhealthy levels of trans-fats, sodium, and saturated fat, but you’re getting a smogasbord of nutrients to keep your body’s furnace going strong!
Emily says
Quick ?…. do you use plain or vanilla yogurt for your pumpkin yogurT? Thanks
the husband says
Fast Food Nation is great – maybe not so much in the context of this blog because it doesn't have a lot of health related stuff, but very interesting. It partly vilifies fast food, but also leaves you impressed with the entrepreneurial spirit that built the industry.
But I'll take the voluminous lunch!
Anne says
Hey cool blog! Just started reading after seeing it referenced on EatLikeMe. You definitely have some interesting and creative meals – I'll have to try mixing up my routine with some of your ideas!
Haha I also love that your husband is not only called "the husband" on your blog, but also posts under that name!
Genie says
Hi Kath,
I was just wondering what is on your workout playlist when you go to the gym/go running?
By the way, I love seeing your meals because I think we eat/like the same things–I also like to start my mornings with a workout (my husband thinks I'm crazy to wake up every morning at 5 am but I find that I am not my sunshine-y self unless I workout my body first!) then followed by what I call my "oatmeal-banana-peanut butter-on-the-spoon concoction". And I have to have yogurt with cinnamon to complete my lunch!
Thanks for doing such a great job and being such a positive and healthy influence on us!
Genie
Ruthie says
Hey Kath,
Do you have any tips for eating healthy while battling a cold? I've been pretty bad for the past couple of days and my diet currently consists of toast, tea, honey, and that's about it!
Thanks for all the great ideas and info!
Kath says
Emily,
Stonyfield Low-Fat Plain. You could add a little honey or sweetener if you wanted.
Alex says
Another raw-broccoli hater! To raw broccoli, I say blech. And then blech again, just for good measure. I have never been able to stand it… even cups of full-fat ranch dressing couldn’t redeem it for me.
I’ve always thought it was so funny, though, because cooked broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables. And I eat it plain, too!
Meg says
ya i can do raw cauliflower, but not broccolli.
and you mix your tuna with plain yogurt? that’s a great idea. i always did a little light mayo, or nothing…but i like it much better with some kind of binder. and ill have to try the mustard & red chilli combo. what kind of mustard do you normally use?
yummy looking lunch though!
and how many servings of vegetables do you try to get daily? or do you not keep track of this? obviously your meals are very balanced, but im wondering if this goes into the process of your meal planning at all!
stephanie says
Loved the pom video. I’m in the habit of tearing the pom to bits willy-nilly so that was helpful. Although my way is a nice exercise in savagery.
I’m another one wanting things. Could you post your tuna salad recipe? I’m unsure about the proportions tuna/ mustard/ what. So clever of you to use yogurt. I avoid tuna salad because of the mayo. Another non-vegan foodstuff for my lunches! (fiancee is vegan. Lunch is my not-vegan time.)
Now I’m rambling: I saw you made chocolate oatmeal and i tried that today with 1 tbsp. cocoa in mine. Lots of yummy return on those 25 extra calories! Almost too good to be true. 🙂 Yay for your blog!
Anonymous says
FYI if you enjoyed Fast Food Nation, you should check out Fat Land by Greg Critser. It explores the obesity crisis from all different perspectives– political, economic, international policy, food processing, etc. 🙂
Kath says
Meg,
The only thing I “count” is calories. I tried giving up calorie counting and switched to food group counting early this fall and things got a little out of control. Foods are all so different and I felt that when just counting the food groups my portions were huge and I was really struggling to eat intuitively – the opposite of what you might think!
HOWEVER, I do pay lots of attention to my meal balance.
Here’s what I aim for:
Breakfast: Grains, fruit and dairy. (There are usually nuts/PB involved too)
Lunch: A whole grain, a serving of fruit, 2-3 oz protein/meat, a yogurt, and a vegetable if I can. When I’m packing my lunches and I have a sandwich with meat, a yogurt, and an apple, I think what group I’m missing and try to add something from it.
Snack: Wildcard. What am I lacking? What will be a good combo to hold me over? I try to combine grains with fruit or have a bar that gives a little protein and fiber.
Dinner: A protein, 1-2 vegetables, occasionally a grain. We pick a meat or vegetable and then design the rest of the meal around it. Sometimes there’s rice/bread/pasta involved, others there’s not.
My goal is to plan means for optimum balance – both from the food groups and from protein, carbs and fiber. I worry less about fat, but do take that into consideration if I’m lacking protein.
Hope that makes sense!
Kath says
Genie,
I don’t normally listen to music when I workout, mostly because I get sick of my playlist and then always forget to put a new one together. I have an iPod mini (or whatever it’s called that’s the size of a stamp). The best song to run to I think is Freebird, the long version! It’s got the right build to start out slow and sprint by the end! Just match your pace to the music. I have a mixture of broadway musics, country, versions of Pachebel’s Cannon, techno, and some other random songs on my ipod.
Kath says
Ruthie,
I’m not really sure on colds. I think all the stereotypical foods are well-known for a reason – they work! Soup, citrus fruits, etc. Get LOTS of water. Spicy foods might help clear the sinuses!? I think what’s most important is that you’re eating well – lots of fruits and vegetables and no junk food! Just take it easy and feel better soon!
Kath says
Stephanie,
Here’s the Tuna/Salmon Salad recipe:
https://www.katheats.com/?page_id=550
Chelsea says
I just ate my Kashi Crackers and have decided I don’t like em 🙁 Want the two boxes in my cupboard? I prefer Ryvita-ever tried the Pumkin Seeds & Oats kind, it’s good.
Kath says
Chelsea,
You don’t like them!?!?!! So funny because I’m not a fan of Ryvita or Wasa. I like them OK but I LOVE the nuts and seeds and flakiness of Kashi. To each her own! I’d love the two boxes if there’s an easy way to get them here, but I bet the shipping wouldn’t be worth it. Perhaps a food shelter would like to munch on them?
Kath