Would you believe that this was my least expensive lunch here yet?!
The components:
A salad, with a raw veggie base plus about 1/4 cup chopped salmon (for health!) and about 2 tbsp pinto beans (for health!) and 3 tortilla chips.
Plus some sesame kale, which I bought from the deli because it was cheaper per ounce than the salad bar version (more superfood!)
Plus a yogurt (they were out of Fage) (I should have left this off – I was already full and it was expensive for the unit)
Plus 3 prune plums, which I didn’t eat because I was full and they were unwashed, but I got for free because their code was not in the computer!
Plus 3 store samples, which I put on a napkin to have for dessert. Blueberry pound cake, banana walnut bread and a Laura’s Junk Food cluster.
And water from home! (Boring, but green and free)
That was probably a bit more than I needed, but the grand total was still only $7.82. Not bad for lunch on the go on a busy day if you think about how much restaurants charge (and the dining hall is $6.50 per visit). If I’d left off the yogurt, it would have been perfect. But I am perfectly satisfied and full!
I’ve been sitting outside and am kind of hot and have a nice 15 minute walk back to my classroom. See ya later gators.
Nicole says
Yum! It looks super filling and delicious. I wish I had one of these EarthFare’s around here.
Amy says
What a great lunch…i agree with Nicole-i would love to have EarthFare where i live.
tfh says
Wow, all that for under $8? Great job! (And I also managed to fit salmon and kale into my lunch…healthy and yummy!)
Heather says
That’s a great deal for less than $8!! Mmmm, now I want kale…
BethT says
Wow, sesame kale. Do you think it was just steamed and then dressed with sesame oil or something?
rhodeygirl says
kath that is really awesome. you got a huge, delicious, and healthy lunch for so cheap! you have serious skillzzzzz 🙂
DaisyMay says
what is everyone’s favorite time of the week?
Mine is exactly 6 p.m. on a friday when i know i have the whole weekend to look forward to. ah i love me some weekends
Kat's Veggie Life says
Wow that is incredible! I wish I had an Earth Fare!
Melissa says
Good job on beinga salad bar master! I always spend more at make your own salad bars. I opt for the you choose, we toss places, so the price is fixed. Looks supper yummy!
I have noticed you seem to talk a little less about volume than in early days of blog, do you find your appetite is any different? I could totally be imagining this too!
Becky says
How did you like the Oikos? That is my favorite greek yogurt here. Fage here is the most expensive so I’ve never tried it.
HangryPants says
Yum. Your salad looks soooo good today. I like Oikos, but prefer Chobani. I think chobani is bigger and has more protein.
Heather
Kathryn says
Wow – that lunch would have been about $12 – $14 at Whole Foods I’m guessing!!
Michelle says
Be sure to show your ID on your next visit. Winthrop students and staff receive 10% off groceries and cafe items through September.
Andrea says
great bargain Kath!
ModelBehavior says
DaisyMay~
Mine is 10:50 AM on Thursday because that is right when I get out of chem lab and therefor the point at which I have the most time before the next Chem lab!
haha, fun question.
Jessica says
Kath – Whole Foods had the Coconut Cream Pie Larabars today!! Do you have one in your area? I still have to go to TJ’s for PB ones…
Toni says
It’s such a good idea to take the samples on a napkin and eat them sitting down… I’d feel so much better about samples if I really took the time to enjoy them!!
Biz says
You are so lucky to have a place like that to go. My local grocery store got rid of their salad bar, which wasn’t saying much, it usually only had bagged greens, carrots and hard boiled eggs!
Enjoy your weather, its a rainy day in Chicago!
Beth says
My dining hall is $13 per person, per visit. So I’d say no matter what you had chosen you’d still have beaten me savings-wise hands down!
Caroline says
Yumm! What a great spread! I love the “Lauras junk food cluster”! What a cute name! Is earth fare a chain, or a local supermarket? You always look to have more variety than what I get at my local WF… Grass is always greener! 😉
Jenny says
Caroline – I was wondering the same thing about Earth Fare. I just looked on their website and they only have locations in NC, SC, GA and TN. I’m in OH. Bummer….. I really wish I had something like that around here. We have a natural foods store in town, but it’s really struggling and they don’t have much. I force myself to buy a few (really overpriced) things every month just to help them out. I’d love to get my hands on that salad Kath had. Yummy!!!!
Candy says
I went yesterday and spent 9.67. First time I’ve gotten it under 10 bucks!
Christie says
Sometimes if i know i am going to order/make my own salad i will bring some of my own healthy sides to spice it up n keep it healthy and have it tasty!
Julz says
NICE. 🙂
You never fail to make us proud Kath… Never ever.
Enjoy the rest of your Thursday! I’m off to my last class of the day! (Phew!)
Melissa P. says
I wish that people in Colorado were a little more experimental with their greens… I never see kale or collard greens and I am very curious. I think that it is more of a southern thing.
You lunch looks great! Especially that salmon.
Christin S says
yummy! Haha! I was immediately drawn to the Laura’s Junk Food Cluster…it looks like a Clif Zbar (the chocolate brownie kind) hmmmm….ever tried those? they are such a great snack when you are craving chocolate! Much healthier, but they taste like a brownie 🙂
Kath says
BethT ,
I’m pretty sure it was sauteed in sesame oil – with sesame seeds too.
Melissa ,
Nope! I’m just as much of a volume eater as ever, hence why I’ve been requiring big salads at each meal to feel full. A fizzy seltzer also helps.
Becky ,
I meant to blog my thoughts on Okios. I didn’t like it nearly as much (this was my second time having it). It’s much more sour than the others – more like sour cream. And not as thick. Not my favorite 🙁
Michelle ,
I did!! I forgot to blog that too – I saved $.81 with my Winthrop ID 🙂
Jessica ,
No Whole Foods. And we’re never going to get one either 🙁 At least EF is a close second.
Kath
claire says
Kath, quick question. My parents and I tried to grill eggplant the other night and it was SO not good! I know that y’all grill your veggies a lot, so I was wondering what you do for the eggplant.
Kath says
claire ,
We just throw ours on the grill until charred. Two questions:
1) What didn’t you like about it?
2) Do you normally like eggplant?
Kath
Tara says
Kath (and blog readers),
I have gotten addicted to a really neat blog called www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com
The woman is amazing. She is a vegetarian and makes great meals for her kids. She is an amazing mother who dedicates herself to her blog and has SO MANY creative ideas. Anyway, two weeks ago she and her husband got in a plane crash. The pilot died, but her husband is 50% burned and she is over 80% burned. If you are interested in helping, or even just reading a beautiful blog, check it out (www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com). They are trying to raise money so that the children can be supported while the parents go through months of recovery (the mother is expected to be in the hospital for months). Kath, is there any way to spread the info so that lots of people see this? Sorry to make you feel like an ad person, I just really want to help this wonderful person out.
Christie I. says
That lunch looks great. I really love kale, it is one of my favorite foods come fall when I am tired of salad.
And yay for green and free!
runjess says
Not bad at all. I really like Oikos.
claire says
It was really tough, and, YES, I LOVE eggplant!
Kath says
claire ,
My guess would be it wasn’t cooked enough. Use some olive oil or something to moisten it and cook it until it’s tender and soft?
Kath
Melissa P. says
Claire- maybe you should try salting the eggplant for 30 min. before grilling it. It will take the bitterness out.
I find it odd that it was not good- grilled eggplant is an addiction of mine.
Maybe the eggplant itself was not a good one…?