I owe you guys a big thank you for all your encouragements because somehow I managed to do well on my Organic test!!! The class average was in the 50’s and I was prepared for the worst. But I got some right that I guessed on and got full credit for a problem I thought I’d bombed!
The husband was spotted on his bike pulling into the driveway right at 12. It’s amazing to have already worked an 8-hour day by noon! He came in the door with a new loaf of bread and these treats (this is after he had 2/3 of each – but I ended up giving him some of my pieces too because I didn’t need that much). How am I supposed to enjoy a healthy lunch with these in our house!?!? He’s not going to bring home the sweets after these first few weeks when we’ve tried a few. This was an M&M Chocolate Chip cookie and a TURTLE bar – my favorite!
But I already had planned out a lunch in my head, so I just pushed the sweets out of there and got started on lunch. But then I had to decide which bread to choose….
After a sample of the new one (still hot!) …
I melted some of the delicious Parrano cheese on a slice of yesterday’s Oat Nut Bread under the broiler.
But first I made a batch of kale chips! I had those with a carrot and a dab of PB –
Plus a small bowl of mostly pumpkin (almost a cup), some cottage cheese (1/2 cup), and some Kashi Vive. Oh, and a drizzle of maple and pumpkin pie spice.
Great lunch!
But you know I had to try the desserts….just a taste of each (on a small white plate). They really made the whole lunch so satisfying.
Guest Lunch Post!
I sent out a call for guest lunches a while back and Fancy pointed out that I never did any. Well that’s because none of you sent me emails!! But I lucked out today with a delicious lunch from See Bride Run’s Caitlin. She always has creative cocotions and this is one I have yet to try: a sweet potato sandwich (well I did do it with a wrap once, but hers involves tofu too!)
![DSCN9646[4]](https://www.katheats.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/dscn96464-thumb.jpg)
My lunch included a whole wheat sammie, 1/2 a baked sweet potato, and baked tofu drizzled in Anne’s Organic BBQ sauce. On the side, I had carrots + tomatoes.
I’ve been working from home as a technical writer for about 1 and 1/2 years. It’s a big change from being an office zombie. One of the biggest challenges (staying focused isn’t hard, actually) is not raiding the fridge every 5 minutes — it’s so tempting when you’re within 10 feet of the kitchen all day! I try to make creative, fun lunches packed with a balanced of fiber, whole grains, and protein to keep me satisfied.
This lunch could easily transport to the office — I just think you’d have to separate the tofu, sweet potato, and bread, or it would get a little soggy. And there’s NOTHING like raw veggies with lunch — I crunch, crunch, crunch through them while working, and it definitely helps alleviate my boredom! 🙂
![DSCN9642[3]](https://www.katheats.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/dscn96423-thumb.jpg)
Blog Action Day
Thanks to Rose who shared in this morning’s comments that today is also Blog Action Day, where this year over 10,000 bloggers are blogging to raise awareness on poverty.
I visited the Blog Action Day site to check out some of the posts. There are tons of amazing and inspirational posts out there today. I found this video in particular moving:
One organization in particular that we try to support each holiday season is Heifer International. Heifer’s mission is to “help hungry families feed themselves” through sustainable resources. I have valued this holistic approach since I first learned of Heifer. Rather than shipping in prepared food, which is inefficient and costly (although sometimes necessary), Heifer uses its resources to help educate and support communities to feed themselves. “Teach a man to fish” is the foundation phrase of the organization. Currently Heifer has over 800 projects in 50 countries, but it also works right here in the U.S.: Successes in North America.
I think the underlying theme for Blog Awareness Day is that every small impact makes a big difference in the lives of those who have little. Whether you donate $5 a year to a charity, give your old clothes to Goodwill or give your “emergency” LaraBar to a homeless woman, any action is good action.
Until dinnertime…
Stacy (IN) says
As someone who is getting their Masters in Philanthropic Studies I want to commend you for reminding everyone that no matter what you have to give $5 or a Larabar you can still make a difference. Too many people feel if they can’t make a huge difference there is no point in giving and it’s great to remember that every small thing you do helps.
zestycook says
WOW! What a post!! Great job on your test Kath! Those desserts do indeed look amazing. And I have to say that sandiwch from Caitlin looks yummy – i love sweet potatoes.
One more thing – after reading your blog for about a month now… I love your posts and your food choices and last night we had a sandwich inspired by you – oatmeal brown bread, hummus, grillend chicken and spinach. I took one bite and I was loving it- I have never used hummus before in a sandwich. I just had to share that with you.
Thanks zesty
Kath says
Stacy (IN),
Thanks 🙂
Zestycook,
Thanks to you too! Sounds like a winning sandwich to me 🙂
Kath
Megan says
Yummy guest post!
I love all the GH treats! Hot bread from there is the best. Have you had their cinnamon rolls yet! They are my fave!
Runeatrepeat says
Great post – very inspiring. This is a great mid-week motivation post to do something meaningful.
Amy says
So much variety to read in your nice post 😀 And a really well balanced lunch as well. Those treats look so delicious! Have an awesome afternoon
VeggieGirl says
Test score + M&M Chocolate Chip cookie + Turtle bar + kale + Gliding Calm carrot & PB + guest lunch (Caitlin is awesome!!) + organization information = AMAZING POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
lizzie says
Can’t you just relax a little and have a whole cookie or bar? It seems very controlling that you won’t eat even one cookie without some sort of explanation that you feel bad about it or somehow it is so horrible to have a few sweets that your husband brings homw to enjoy. In general, I think you are a fabulous role model for eating, but at times it seems you put yourself down or make some kind of comment about overeating treats. With how muchcan you exercise and eat healthy at every meal, you can afford to have a treat every once in awhile.
caitlin says
kath – thanks for the lunch time shout out! ironically, i had a sweet potato based wrap for lunch today, too!
veggie girl – i love you. bunches.
magpie says
OMG I am drooling over that bread! Again, you are so lucky! That early morning for the husband is so worth it 🙂
The guest post lunch is amazing as well 🙂
And glad you did well on orgo! Happy Wednesday!
Kath says
lizzie ,
I didn’t want to eat the whole bar. And trust me, he was happy I didn’t so he could have more for himself! There are plenty of times where I “relax” as you put it and eat whole pieces of cake (check this past Friday night, for example). But today after lunch, a bite of each was perfect.
K
Jenny says
Both lunches look fantastic! I love the variety in yours, Kath, and Caitlin’s sweet potato sammie is definitely uniquely delicious sounding 🙂
haya says
are those marshmallow things (the little white blobs) from the cereal?
i’ve never seen vive around here. the only kashi cereal i’ve ever noticed on the shelves is go lean crunch and i didn’t like that one so much.
nouvelleys notes says
Congrats on the test! How do you like the Vive cereal?
coco says
Kath, I admire your will power to resist yummy desserts!
Betsy in Pittsburgh says
i WISH there had been more times that i resisted eating the whole thing when it came to sweets…. but i’m getting better!
Meredith says
That YouTube video is really very moving. Thank you for sharing.
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Glad you did well on your test!
Yay for the guest lunch post – I absolutely love Caitlin’s blog!
Allison K says
I would have had the whole cooking BEFORE lunch. And warm bread? Oh dear lord. I’m telling my husband he needs to get a job working at GH.
Allison K says
uh..cookie…not cooking.
Heather says
Congrats on the organic test!
I would never have thought to put sweet potato + tofu on a sandwich, but that looks awesome. Great guest post 🙂
Beth says
Wow – I really wish I could be as disciplined as you when it comes to eating! I’m jealous! Congrats on all your success!
bobbi says
wow nice post! I have tried Caitlins wrap too, and it was so yummy:) Congrats on the test!
Biz says
Great post. I would definitely gravitate towards the bread it is MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS!
Not sure about Caitlin’s sweat potato sammy – I am TRYING to like them, not there yet!
Andrea says
lovely post kath! your hubby’s work hours are my sleep hours haha.
ModelBehavior says
wholy cow that sammy looks great! Keep up the good work Kath!
www.modbehav.com
Shelby says
I really want that sweet potato sandwich!
B_Hlthy says
what are those white blobs ? they do look like white chocolate chips, or mini marshmallows or something.. is that the Vive cereal?
Looks yummy!
Emily says
Hey Kath, I just posted a similar question to Caitlin on her blog and would love to know what you think as well on this topic… How long has it been since you last weighed yourself? I stopped weighing myself during the summer and decided to not worry about numbers and just go with how my clothes feel. Now today I’m having a “fat” day (due to my monthly friend) and wondering if I should weigh every once in awhile to keep a better eye on it. My pants felt tight all day and I think not weighing is making me pretend I’m immune to weight gain. What are your thoughts?
Alison says
Oooo I’m curious about the scale question too. (And the white blob question too LOL). I weigh myself every day still, I’ve been maintaining my 35 lb weight loss for about 3 1/2 months now (from about 165 to 130) and I don’t know when I’ll be ready to stop weighing myself. I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with the numbers or addicted to weighing myself, but I do feel good seeing where I’m at each morning. It’s just WEIRD to think about not weighing myself daily. I could put the scale away but the hubby weighs himself regularly, plus I have two kids I throw on the scale occassionally too…. ok, rambling. I’d be curious to hear more about weighing yourself vs. not weighing yourself. 🙂
Anne says
OH MAN how good is that vive cereal?! Im a fan, and I’m glad you discovered it and love it too!
Kath says
haya + B_Hlthy ,
The white things are part of the cereal. They are little crunchy vanilla balls. LOVE THEM!
Emily ,
I stopped weighing myself ….so long ago I can’t remember….and actually I’m kind of afraid to weigh myself now. I’m terrified of seeing a high number. I was definitely one to be motivated by the scale, but at the same time, I was one to be affected negatively if I saw a higher number. I never weighed myself after vacation or when I KNEW my weight would be up, but I found especially into maintenance that I was too emotionally connected to the number …so I just stopped. Now it’s been so long I don’t want to look. I’m to the point now where I don’t care what the scale says because I know I look the same. I think I have put on muscle in my quads from the biking, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the number is up, but I really just like to not know. I used to roll my eyes at people who said “go by how your clothes feel” because my jeans stretch…but now that I’m there, I really can tell if my clothes (dressy clothes are the best indicators!) are feeling snug, but really the best indicator is just how you feel in your skin. Usually when I have a “I feel fat” day it’s hormonal/water related because 2 days later I’m back to normal. So I guess my only advice is if you think the scale is messing with your mind, put it away and don’t look back. You’ll know if you are putting on the pounds. Hope that helps..
Kath
Emily says
Thanks for you help Kath! I think unless I really start to truly feel I’ve gained weight, I’ll just keep my scale packed away (it’s locked up in a box in my closet currently). I’m just like you – terrified of seeing a higher number. I’ve been happiest and the most confident since not always knowing my current weight. It has been so liberating. Why am I hating my body on love your body day???!! 🙁 It doesn’t help that I’m covered in poison ivy all over making me feel even yuckier… Anyway, thanks for the advice. Have a great night!!
Katie says
Oh Kath, you are KILLING me with all this yummy bread. I’m a bread addict!
Celia says
Oh my ga!!! Your lunch is FANTABULOUS!!!! So yummy!!
Umm, what is a turtle bar? 😐 I’ve never seen/heard of those scrumptious looking thing before … but they look a lot like my fav bar, the ‘hedgehog slice’ (I think it’s an Australian thing) … so dense, so chocolaty, sooooo good!! 😀
And yes, I agree with you 100% that sometimes you don’t need a WHOLE cookie/bar to make you satisfied!
Have a great girl, gorgeous!! 🙂
Kath says
Celia ,
I think turtle just means caramel and chocolate, but I’m not sure!
K
HangryPants says
I am so jealous of your bread supply.