1) Stats went well – whew!
2) I have 4 minutes to type this until I have to be walking to class for another test on Medical Terminology
3) This afternoon I get to relax and get geared up for Physio on Friday – but I have plenty of time 🙂
DELICIOUS lunch today.
Sandwich: Laughing Cow Cheese and Avocado on a Sprouted Wheat Bun with Spinach, Cucumber, Dill and Mustard. SO good!
Strawberries 🙂 They’re getting more flavorful as the season gets warmer!
Cottage cheese + cereal –
And a zucchini + almond butter tower of “sandwiches”! Transported in this form:
And unpacked and consumed in this form:
The zucchini was a little soggy, but I think I’ll be having this again!
From above with hot tea – it’s so cold and damp!
This lunch was 490 kcal, 16 grams fiber and 32 grams protein!
Sorry to be a rushed boring blogger today. See you guys for dinner
LT says
Interesting! A great little transporter for sauces/dips/nut butters are those little tiny plastic cups with lids (often used to hold salsa at Chipotle or other places like that)…..I bought them for jello shots! haha but I now use them in my lunches!
BethT says
Woww, zuch + almond butter?? I can’t imagine that combo. Was it sort of celery like?
Chelsea says
I was thinking the same thing, zuch + almond butter?!?!?! I can’t even fathom that…
Beth says
Does anyone know if there is a brand of organic or natural turkey pepperoni?
applegate only sells turkey bacon.
Yes, Kath, quite a unique combo you got going there!
Beth says
Does anyone know of any brands that sell a natural or organic turkey pepperoni?
Appelgate sells turkey bacon but not pepperoni 🙁
Yes, Kath, that’s quite a unique combo.
Abby says
Wow, this lunch looks great. Lot’s of food! I find that with my diet, and the kind of person i am, besides the important things such as protein, fiber, fat, calories, etc…i find that the AMOUNT of food is very important to me…
I think i would like to try making this lunch. Thanks for the ideas! This site is great!
Becky A. says
How did you even come up with the zuchini/almond butter combo? Like what was the thought process behind it? I would never in a million years come up with that! haha!
PS says
Ok, you lost me on the zucchini & almond butter. lol
Kiala says
I am confounded by the zucchini/ab sandwich. You just blew my mind, Kath.
Megan says
Is almond butter really that much different/better than peanut butter?
Unfortunately I always grew up with the processed jif/skippy PB and it’s hard for me to transfer over to the all natural stuff. Actually I skipped past the branded all natural stuff and went straight to fresh ground peanuts from the health food store. I think maybe I’d like it if I salted it a little??
stacy says
wow you really are the epitome of a volume eater! how long does a meal like this take you to eat? thanks.
BethEllis says
That is A LOT of food! I just don’t think I could eat that much in one sitting, which I guess is a shame since you’re fitting in so many veggies & fruits. I guess you could eat a salad of your sandwich fillers and leave off the bread for a less filling lunch. Zucchinia and almond butter? Really?
Nicole (the other one) says
Megan…try Skippy Natural PB. It has some trans fat, but it’s the best natural PB out there. No stirring necessary.
Sarah says
Hey everyone! I’m interested in HOW you all eat. I’ve heard so much about how important it is to eat without distractions and really focus on your food. I eat most of my meals alone though, and don’t really like sitting by myself and just eating—I feel like I’m wasting precious time! Usually I take my meal times to catch up on blog reading and browsing the internet. How about everyone else?
KarenR says
I read the paper with my breakfast, watch TV with my lunch and eat dinner at a proper table with my family. I feel guilty eating with distractions (like right now I’m finishing my cuke slices and posting) but like every busy person I have to take my relaxation where I can get it. Plus, I have 3 kids. My whole life is multitasked!
Volumeeater says
Kath! YOu remind me so much of myself it’s amazing to me! I used to get made fun of becasue I’d put Nutella and cucumbers in a sandwhich…I just love to have some crunch..but I still wanted the taste of the nutella! I’m such a texture person!
Kelly T says
i scarf breakfast down in the morning, eat lunch in front of the computer and dinner in front of the tv. I dont have an issue with protion control so I dont find it to be a problem. How much I am addicted to technology is a different story…
Justy2003 says
I eat breakfast in the morning while watching the news and lunch is in front of the computer at work usually (catching up on e-mail, blogs, browsing, etc). If I’m at home, though, I’ll usually have lunch without the TV on…or at least I try! Dinner is another story…I make sure the TV is off so that my boyfriend and I can talk and enjoy dinner together. Before he moved here, I still tried to eat dinner without the TV. It lets me be able to actually taste the food and textures and focus more on what I’m eating. Otherwise, before I know it, my food is gone and I don’t even remember eating it! And I love food too much to let it go to “waste” like that 🙂
Betsy says
i, too, am dumbfounded by the zucchini/almond butter combo. and I tend to like weird combos. when you have a free moment today Kath (less than likely 😉 ), please let us know how it tasted!
Allie says
Your zucchini sandwich reminds me of a weird/quirky food that I loved when I was little – using a potato skin as the “wrapper” for a carrot and salsa taco! I didn’t like the inside of potatoes very much, apparently.
bikergurl says
I eat every meal in front of the computer and sometimes turn the TV on in the background 😳 In fact, I usually blog while I’m eating to “save time”! I blame it on living alone and not wanting to sit in the kitchen by myself, but I know it’s really more due to my technology addiction…
Also, eeeeeeewww… AB and zucchini? Hmmm, maybe my opinion is a bit skewed though since I don’t like raw zucchini 😛
Amy C. says
Megan, also give Whole Foods 365 Organic PB a try. It doesn’t need stirring and is a lot more similar to skippy/jif/etc. but doesn’t have trans fat or anything. I’m not an almond butter fan so I stick to this instead. 🙂
I’m intrigued by the zucchini! I love celery and PB. Do you think PB would work with zucchini as well? And I have to find those ezekiel rolls. They look awesome!
Question for you. Do you think your pumpkin bread could be made into muffins? I always cut bread slices too thick so I thought maybe muffin sized ones would help.
Caroline says
I, too, was surprised by the zucchini/almond butter combination, but then again, one of my favorite snacks is carrots with PB. It’s ALL about the crunch and creaminess contrast!
Kath, is that TJ’s High Fiber Cereal that you mixed with your yogurt? I like it but not as much as Fiber One. However, the TJ’s version has the added benefit of no artificial sweeteners…Decisions, decisions.
DaisyMAY says
is it me or does 490 calories seem really low for this? can someone break it down for me?
Katie says
That sandwich looks awesome! YuM!
caitlin (in FL) says
amy – i made the pumpkin loaf in muffin form this weekend and it was great!
caitlin (in FL) says
i’m guessing… cereal: 110, cottage cheese: 90, strawberries: 35, zuc: 50, laughing cow: 50, bread: 150, veggies on sandwich: 25, almond butter: 100…. that works out to 610! where am i overestimating?
Ana says
hey girls! I missed the coffee discussion this morning: I use an espresso machine to make my coffee in the morning and it does PERFECT one cup drip coffee for one w/out all the hastle! (also has a milk steamer^_^ and espresso mode! Ah! LOVE IT!). Before that I had a small espresso machine, and while you CAN make extremely strong coffee w/it, you can also just make a regular cup (the machine uses a metal “basket” and I only fill it halfway for a regular cup of coffee). Exact same amount of time and everything, just single serving and minimal clean up!
angelcubbie says
Finding the willpower to give up gum is so hard! It messes with my stomach so I’m trying to give it up. Is anyone else on here a former frequent gum chewer who gave it up? Any advice?
Ana says
as for the calories-I’m sure Kath will explain later (avocado on the sandwich, however, would bring up that calorie amount, and I don’t think that serving of cucumbers would be as high as 50 calories).
I would break it down like this:
bread ~100-150
avocado ?40?
laughing cow 35
mustard 5
spinach ~5-10
cucumber ~35?
~1tbsp? almond butter 95 (or for 2tbsp=195)
strawberries ~35
1/2 cup cottage cheese 80-90 (depends on brand)
cereal (1/2 cup of fiber one?) ~60
it can very depending on brand, serving size, etc.
Clara says
ooh.. interesting combos! I love discovering new combos of food that are unexpectedly delicious. Some of my favorites are:
– sandwich made with avocado, almond butter and spinach/lettuce leaves
– sour cream mixed with nutritional yeast, salt and pepper, and basil! mmmm
– cream cheese and jelly 😀
have a great day kath
Clara says
hey Ana –
just thought I’d tell you that I really liked your xanga blog! I would have commented but I don’t have a xanga account. you’re a really entertaining writer and if you made another blog I would definitely read it! I loved that you went to B&N to read magazines because I do that allllll the time, haha.
anyways take care! 🙂
sls says
angelcubbie-
i gave up gum about a year ago for the same reasons and cannot even tell you what a huge difference it has made for me. i eased off by switching to gum with sugar (double mint, big red) since gum with sugar does not have the same effects. but it does contain more calories and obviously i didn’t want to consume so many useless calories, so it was then super easy to quit from there. does that make sense? every now and then i still have a craving for gum and so i go for the double mint to satisfy that need because my stomach is so much happier without the sugar-free gum!
Betsy in Pittsburgh says
I used to eat dill pickles with peanut butter on them when I was in junior high… I ate like a pregnant lady!
BethT says
I know we have some runners here…anyone doing a half marathon in the near future? I just found out I got in to the Nike Women’s Half in SF … exciting! Anyone else racing sometime soon? Mine isn’t till October but I’m excited.
JennS says
i love kath’s meals but really really don’t understand how this is only that amt. of calories…. volume eater or not… i guess im just not up to date on counting calories 🙁
JenP says
BethT,
I’m running my first half on May 25–Bostons Run to Remember. I can’t wait!
Stacy says
I’m running my first half-marathon the first Saturday in May in Indianapolis. I’m excited, but a little scared. Definitely not a fast runner, but I’m hoping the husband and I can make it through running the entire time.
JENNA says
kath or anyone who remembers,
I know this has been asked before but I can’t find it…Where did you get your lunch bag? its soooo cute! I have been needing one.
thank you.
angelcubbie says
Ok so I have a question for kath or for anyone who knows. My bmr is calculated to be about 1425 or so depending on the calculator, but when I choose sedentary (office job, do some walking to copy room, and etc but obviousley not much and I’m a student) calculators tell me with little to no exercise (sedentary) to eat 1550(calorieking) cal to 1750(pretty much all internet calculators) to maintain. which is correct? Do I burn just my bmr + exercise calories or should I be eating the 1550 calking tells me plus exercise calories to maintain? Sorry, I’m a little confused
JenP says
Stacy- Yep, I’m definitely nervous. My long run is up to 9 miles. I hope to get at least an 11-er in before the race
Betsy says
BethT
May 3 is my first half. I’m really looking forward to it!!!
angelcubbie says
To join in on the marathon talk I’m running a half marathon on the 30th! and the Rock and roll in June. Definitley nervous
Tsbrown says
Good luck half-marathoners! I did one, trained, trained and IT WAS A BLAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sore, yes, but awesome! Race Day magic works, it really does!
Stacy says
I was up to a 9 mi for this weekend and then came down with a cough. I’m hoping to get the 9 miles in tomorrow with a destination run (getting dropped off 9 mi from home so I have no excuse to turn around early!)
SarahF says
Angelcubbie- this is my understanding of everything I’ve read, so hopefully I’m giving you correct information. But from my understanding, a BMR calculator is telling you the amount of calories your body would burn if you laid in bed all day. So when you use other calculators to estimate your caloric needs, even when set on sedentary, it still makes the assumption that you’re moving around somewhat (since sitting in a chair all day will still burn more calories than laying in a bed). You’re going to get a range because it isn’t an exact science so everybody will burn a different amount of calories depending on their body. Even if you weigh the same as somebody else, if you have more muscle then them, your body would be burning more calories even when doing the exact same activities.
I know that for myself I’ve been given ranges anywhere between 1600-2400 calories a day! The best way to get an accurate number is to see a dietician/nutrionist who will ask a lot more questions about you to get a better answer. If you can’t afford one then play around with the numbers yourself. I have personally found that by listening to my body, and eating when I’m hungry, stopping when I’m full and feeding it nutrionally rich foods, I have stayed pretty much the same weight my entire life (even when I’m not exercising). And depending on the day I will eat anywhere in between that 1600-2400 calorie range (sometimes higher than that, sometimes lower then that).
Sorry that got so long but hopefully that helps 🙂
arimcg says
I was surprised by the zucchini/almond butter too. But then I thought that when I make peanut noodles, I usually put zucchini in, and that’s good, so it’s probably okay.
Actually, I am more perplexed by the raw zucchini. I don’t like it unless it’s cooked. To each her own, though 🙂
BethT says
Angel I did one of the Rock n Roll ones last year – the one in San Jose. The company that runs those events is very well organized and they are great races.
LisaR says
Stacy!
I’m running my first 5k in Indy April 19th! I’m so excited!! I tried to get my hubby to run it with me but he said he would just wait at the finish line for me 🙂 Eventually I would love to build up the endurance for a 1/2 marathon though!!
mary says
i dont think kath meant for us to focus on the calories so much
Romina says
Ooh. Zucchini and almond butter, I’m actually quite intrigued with that combination. It must taste so good!
rhodeygirl says
I am running my first half on May 4th- the Rhode Race!
I am only up to 7.5 miles since I skipped last week’s 8 miler (had a cold waaaaa!) The bf and I are hoping to finish it at a 10 min/mi pace….
Kirsten says
Hello runners! I have a 10 miler this weekend. It’s cherry blossom season here in DC so its around all the monuments and cherry blossom trees, should be beautiful! I’m hoping to do a full marathon this fall!
Jill - GlossyVeneer says
Apparently a lot of people have the same reaction as me about how unique the combo of zucchini and almond butter are. But I have to admit, I immediately wanted to go to the store to buy a zucchini and try this!
Kath says
Re. Zucchini and AB,
I was going to put the zucchini on my veggie sandwich and have AB + celery on the side but I thought the sandwich was full enough with the cuc so I had the zucchini just sitting there sliced. Why NOT put AB on it!? It was a little hard to get it to stick (since it didn’t have the groves of celery) but it worked fine as sandwiches. Like I said in the post, it got a little soggy/watery (not sure why) but it wasn’t a big deal and tasted good. Anything tastes good with AB! I started eating zucchini raw when I saw it raw on salad bars. It’s really pretty tasty that way!
Abby,
I agree – I like to have a lot of variety. If I just had a big salad with all of those ingredients I wouldn’t be as satisfied.
Stacy ,
My meals usually take me anywhere from 15-30 minutes to eat – depending on if I’m in a hurry and how much I have. This one took me about 25.
Sarah ,
Good question! I am guilty of needing something else during a meal – I actually think it slows me down! But if it’s too involved then I don’t focus on the food so it has to be something simple – a single magazine, etc. The husband and I try to just enjoy each other’s company for breakfast and dinner (although we do read or watch TV from time to time) but for lunches and when I eat alone I usually bring reading material to the table. Sometimes I eat snacks in front of the computer, but the computer is the worst for mindless eating for me!
Amy C.,
Peanut butter would work just fine. And I think the pumpkin would make great muffins, but you’d probably want to reduce the cooking time some.
Re. Calories in this meal,
Since you’re curious, here’s the breakdown:
Sandwich bun – 150
Laughing Cow – 35
Cuc + Spinach – ~10 (I put in estimates to get the fiber)
1 oz of avocado – 45
1/2 medium zucchini – 15
10 g almond butter – 63
6 oz strawberries – 64
1/2 c whipped cottage cheese – 90
~1/3 serving TJ’s High Fiber cereal (only about 2 tbsp) – 25
=~490
angelcubbie ,
I gave up gum cold turkey. Just get it all out of your reach. Give it away. If you don’t have it, you can’t chew it. I found the biggest reasons I chewed gum were boredom and breath. I put lemon in my water and bought some Altoids.
JENNA ,
Lunch bag is from http://www.reusuablebags.com
angelcubbie ,
SarahF gave a perfect response! Thanks Sarah 🙂
Kath
Kris10 says
JENNA–
You can get that lunch bag at http://www.reusablebags.com/store/reisenthel-mini-maxi-shopper-eden-long-handle-p-706.html. I just bought one not long ago in the “Lemon” color. 🙂
Ally says
Zucchini and almond butter is new to me, I would have NEVER imagined that mix!
The sandwich looks delicious though, laughing cow is one of the few items I miss being a vegan. I’m sure I could make a mock LC somehow…
sirenjess says
Beth T. I’m running my first half marathon in November.
NC (need to change my name) says
re: the reusable bags, you can also get them at Harris Teeter if you’re in NC– $6.99, no shipping! so check your local grocery store… more and more stores are encouraging the transition to reusable bags, which is neat.
NCCarter says
For those of you who are vegans or vegetarians: what was your reason for going that route? I’m just curious. We don’t eat a ton of meat in our house, not for any ethical reasons, but just because I like a lot of vegetarian meals better than meat-based meals. I’m just curious if most vegetarians are doing so for health reasons, because you just don’t care for meat, or if you feel it’s cruel.
Like I said, we don’t eat a ton of it around here, but when I want it, I want it, you know? And then other times I hate it. Go figure.
NC (need to change my name) says
GRETCHEN–
yup, I have the Bodum Chambord 3 cup model. (Keep in mind that 3 “cups” = 12oz.) I got it as a going away to college present but never used it until this year, but you can get it on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Chambord-12-Ounce-Coffee-Press/dp/B00005LM0R/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1207085907&sr=8-4
I also recently bought myself a Bodum 16oz travel press (which also doubles as a loose leaf tea press/brewer) for $10, so that’s a cheaper alternative if you want to try it out. The only thing with either model is that it is imperative to use a coarse(r) ground coffee!!!! so the grounds can’t get past the filter thingy. I have become much more passionate about coffee since using the French press, try it!
BethT says
NCCarter –
I went totally veg in the summer of ’06. I lost my taste for meat and the more I thought about eating animals, the more it bothered me. I ate completely veg (not vegan) for about a year and a half.
Then after a lot of soul searching and a bit of reading, I started incorporating select fish and meat back in to my diet. For me, personally, I felt like I was not eating a balanced veg diet and in some cases, my veg choices were unhealthier than non veg choices. I ate a lot of fake meat and certain other non meat proteins that were not great for me. (Do you know how much fat is in tofu?? LOL) With the help of a RD, I went back to eating some animal products in moderation and now consider myself what some people call a “flexitarian.” I eat meat/fish occasionally, but when I do eat it it’s usually the highest quality – organic and humanely raised/slaughtered.
That was a long answer, sorry 🙂
eliza says
kath! this blog is growing in popularity its CRAZY!! and you seem to always get back to everyone right away! thanks sooo much .. its so awesome.
anyway what do you guys think of CLIF bars???
Bev says
Jenna I bought my bag ( just like Kath ) at the container store. No shiipping charge there. I think we all agree zucchini/almond butter combo ..I’m not in to it HA HA !
NC (need to change my name) says
NCCarter,
I, like BethT, consider myself a flexitarian. I like having the option of poultry or fish on occasion if I want to, and I eat dairy, but for the most part, I eat meat-free meals. I was a vegetarian for over half my life (and a vegan for a few of those years). My decision to follow a vegetarian diet was mostly based on textural/taste aversions and mis-informed health reasons (and mild OCD about germs). I was a total “junk food vegetarian” tho, and I had trouble getting enough protein and fat and iron and b12 because I never bothered to educate myself about proper nutrition. I started incorporating some more animal products into my diet once I became more educated about health and nutrition. For instance, so many meat analogues are extremely processed so I see no reason to use them unless I genuinely prefer the taste along with the nutritional profile. Moreover, many essential minerals are more bioavailable or better absorbed from animal sources as opposed to plant. I never really had an issue with the ethical component… I’m not all that religious, but the way I think of it… Jesus never condemned the use of animals (for food or otherwise).
Betsy says
NCCarter
I’m vegetarian (and moving to vegan) for environmental reasons. I’m against big business’ gross misuse of land and the amount to energy used for raising livestock i’m not going to go on and on, but there was a excellent article in the NYTimes back in January that does a good job describing that…
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Lindsay says
there seem to be alot of people who are “volume eaters” I’m curiuos…i tend to eat only a little at a time but eat every 3-4 hours. There would be no way i could eat that much food with out getting sick. Sometimes i have to drink boost or ensure to get adequete nutrtion. Anyone else the oposite of a volume eater? How do i eat healthy/enough calories when i can’t stomach most food?
Thanks!
Lindsay
Alex says
Good luck to all you half-marathoners! I ran my third marathon on Saturday and already I’m having post-marathon depression. 🙁 Make sure to enjoy it while it’s happening, it goes by so fast!
Kammie says
Another great lunch idea=)