I couldn’t decide what I wanted for lunch today. My mother in law brought pesto, sun-dried tomato and oat-raisin bagels from her sister’s bagel shop in TN. I was planning to have a turkey and avocado sandwich on focaccia, but I hate bagel sandwiches because they are hard to eat and I like to chew on my bagels plain! I didn’t want a whole bagel (then I wouldn’t have room for sides) but I definitely wanted some of one. What to do!?!?!? I decided to have the bagel without meat and add a bunch of fun sides: whipped cottage cheese, grapefruit, celery and PB, pita chips, and carrot.
Here’s what I came up with:
Half of the oat and raisin bagel, toasted, with some jam. (Chewy and DELICIOUS!!)
(FYI, by weight, this bagel was 6.5 oz, which I estimated at about 450-500 kcal based on other bagels’ info! Now you know why I only wanted half!)
Broiled grapefruit (just to make it hot on this cold day!)
Whipped cottage cheese + pita chips
And the veggies, with a tiny dab of PB on the celery:
Hot cinnamon tea to drink with NO sweetener. (I decided if tea is going to be my water when it’s so cold I’m not allowed to overdose on splenda so I’ve been just having it in one cup a day.)
Total lunch kcal = 550.
Off to the alterations place and Goodwill!
Beth says
I saw this recipe on Food Network and thought it might be of interest to others here, since we all seem to dig oatmeal:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,…
The addition of strained carrots is a little odd, but these looked so moist & yummy! I'm making some tonight…
sirenjess says
I brought some oatbran and the serving size is 1/4 cup 120 calories. What if I wanted to have 1/3 cup how much would the calorie intake be?
Kath says
Beth,
Thanks for sharing! I'm not sure I'd make these a regular breakfast item given the butter, oil and sugar, but they would certainly be a fun treat!
Siren,
Mine is 140 per 1/3 cup.
kath
Alexa says
I bet you kick the Splenda habit all together now! I started leaving it out of some things and now I drink most things w/out any sweetener. I actually have a huge sweet tooth, but try to save it for dessert. I now prefer all tea (hot & iced) and lattes w/out any sweetener at all. Tazo brand Passion and Orange something or other are great iced w/no added anything. I also like 1/4 lemonade (real stuff not yucky powder stuff) to 3/4 water when my mouth gets bored and I have extra calories to spare. Hubby and I call it our lemon water. Sliced (peeled) cucumber also is good in plain water to add flavor! But my new favorite hot tea is any kind of rooibos, they are awesome flavors by themselves!
Amy says
Kath, I love this blog! I was told about it last week and have been reading it every day since. I'm also 25 and am just under 150 right now but am trying to get down around 125. Seeing the types of things you eat is definitely helping to give me new ideas. In fact, I tried the pumpkin cake for dessert tonight. It was awesome! Thanks for sharing the recipe. 🙂
And I have to agree with Alexa about rooibos tea. It's delicious all on its own. I also enjoy Honeybush. It's got a natural sweetness to it and is delicious.
Kath says
Alexa,
I've tried to kick the habit before and am able to do it, but the second I try sweetener again I think "This is what I'm missing – it's SO GOOD!". I love lemon/lime water too (have you tried True Lemon yet??) and like a few of the naturally sweet teas (licorice and cinnamon). But they all so much better with splenda! I just have to WANT to give it up and until then I don't think it will happen. My current favorite tea is a roobios – Vanilla Madagascar I think? It's REALLY good.
Amy,
Glad you stumbled upon my home here 🙂 Good luck on the weight loss – sounds like you're already in full swing! I've had honeyblush before but don't have any in my house. i'm writing it on the grocery list…
Thanks!
Kath
VeggieGirl says
what a fun lunch – it certainly was like a "mini tasting party" event :0)
Kim says
Hi Kath: Do you ever use Vitamin water? Is it bad do you think? Thanks. I stopped drinking soda and use that instead sometimes. Also, Amy, commenter earlier, you and I are also the same starting weight and goal weight. Good luck to us. I’m sure we’ll get there!
Alison says
Kath, I love your blog. I look forward to it every day. You’re just so happy and positive and so are all the people who comment. I had to laugh because that is exactly how I eat lunch when I am home during the day- a little of this, a little of that!
Beth says
Guess I should have added that I wouldn’t eat those cookies at breakfast, either (well, not very often anyway) – but I thought they were a heck of a lot lower in cals/fat/sugar than a standard cookie, and each one is a nice size. Just made them and they are great! Try them if you want something substantial and sweet yet better for you than the average cookie.
Angela says
What an excellent lunch! I’m intrigued especially by the whipped cottage cheese which I have never heard of! Is this simply cottage cheese whipped with a food processor and sprinkled with cinnamon?
Love your blog and have added you to my daily reads! 🙂
Megan says
Kath,
I just tried the pumpkin cake and it was great. I topped it with a little sugar free syrup:)
Where did you buy this “rooibos” tea? It sounds good! I just love vanilla!
Kath says
Kim,
I do not drink vitamin water. It has 50 kcal a serving – I’d rather drink water, take a vitamin, and chew 50 calories of something good! I think you’d be better off with a naturally flavored sparkling water and use the 50 kcal with something that also gives you fiber like an orange. But I don’t think that Vit. water is bad for you. I would just choose other ways to use those kcal.
Thanks Alison! It does make lunch last a long time!
Beth,
Yup, they would be a healthy dessert! The problem with me baking is I lick EVERYTHING in sight, so I try not to bake too much 😳
Thanks Angela! This was Friendship brand’s new 1% whipped cottage cheese, but it is essentially the same as if you whipped it yourself in a food processor. I just finished my first tub and really liked the texture.
Megan,
Glad you liked the pumpkin cake! I buy roobios at the grocery store- yours will probably have some form of it.
Kath
Maria says
Yay! to no Splenda … cutting back to once a day is still an awesome step. 🙂
Natalie says
How many egg whites equal 3/4 cup if you’re not using the eggbeater stuff?
Thanks! Looks delicious.