Back tracking to this morning… school was on a two-hour delay!!! When I got up at 5 the Charlotte radio announcers said school was on so I assumed that meant all over the state (or they might have said "except the following school districts") Turns out my system didn’t call the delay till about 5:45, so I was almost on my way by then! I got an email from my preceptor that I didn’t read till I was in the parking lot ready to go in.
I had an hour to kill before she arrived and decided to make good use of the time by first getting freezing cold and then warming back up with more coffee. Let me explain.
I am completely nuttzo! I thought it would be fun to walk on the Salisbury Greenway….in about 26*!!
I’m not afraid of a little cold or ice
Just starting out, bundled with my scarf and gloves
And plenty of entertainment!!!
A passed a frozen lake
Watched the sun rise
And then started to become Rudolf and got REALLY cold. I guess I wasn’t moving fast enough with all the stops for photos! I turned around after 15 minutes and hot-tailed it back to my car. I was completely numb on the front when I got there!
Nothin’ a nice Honda heater and cup of coffee can’t fix. I stopped into Port City Java for a half decaf coffee with steamed milk on top.
I had a fun assignment today – sample some recipes at the high school lunch! The black bean salsa and veggie pasta salad from yesterday. I headed over around 11 and got everything ready. I was a real cafeteria lady!!! We had pretty good success getting the kids to try the recipes, and we think they liked them! [The pasta more than the beans for sure 😉 ] I loved getting to interact with the kids. They were funny. I think one asked for my phone number!! Oh, and I forgot to say that yesterday a lady asked me how old I was and said I looked like I was about 12, not 27! Guess that’s cause my name is YOUNGER!
In between second and third lunch I sat down to eat with my co-worker. I made quite the tray!!
A salad with bean salsa on top (I picked out the onions 🙂 ), a few chips, a pasta salad cup (picked that onion right off the top!), oranges and frozen blueberries. It was an awesome lunch! [And I have no idea how my breakfast held me over from 6AM to 12:30PM).
Roobios tea to warm up around 2
An apple around 3
And this guy at 4:30 for my commute home. If I’m going to workout after work, I can’t be hungry when I get there or I will have no energy. This guy held me over really well. I really like these bars!
I came home to flowers!!! Matt said I could use some day brightening 🙂 He also got me some crunchy almonds!! I had a few as a pre-workout snack.
I was totally pumped to get in a workout today since I took yesterday off. I was NOT happy, however, about leaving Matt. I wanted to stay and hang out with him. But I told him I’d be back in an hour max and zipped over to the gym. I did 40 EASY minutes on the Stairmaster. Maybe the easiest ever!? I wasn’t even out of breath and barely sweating doing 100 steps a minute. I think that’s just how much I wanted to be there. Stretched for all of 2 minutes and made my way back home for dinner where Matt was busy cooking….
Vegetable Fried Rice!
He cooked 1/2 a cup of brown rice in broth on the side. Then sauteed green beans, yellow squash, red pepper, a bit of broccoli and 1/3 a cup of black-eyed peas in about 2 tsp of canola oil. Then he added Tamari and rice wine vinegar to taste (he went light). Then he added the rice and combined and then broke 2 eggs over the top and stirred it all together over medium heat until the eggs were cooked.
I ate out of the bowl I brought back from Kenya!
Topped with some sriratcha of course –
And a tiny fork!
After cleaning up the kitchen and putting my sweets to bed, I had more sweets. A bit of TEMPT Vanilla Bean with half a mashed banana and a tiny blob of peanut butter – plus cacao nibs! It was a really fun dessert.
Annnndddd I had the last Brownie Points Outsider, which I stumbled upon when retrieving the ice cream 🙂
Going to read or watch TV or something relaxing. After I sort through all of my emails from the day. It’s already really challenging to manage the blog and all my emails on my new schedule since I don’t have internet at work. I’m sure I’ll figure out a method. And I hope you guys are OK with two posts a day for now 🙁 I hope to do more iPhone blogging at lunch when I get more settled in!
Heather (The Single Dish) says
Fried rice looks great, love the bowl! You have a very nice husband, the flowers are so pretty 🙂 Have a good night!
Brittany says
I think everyone thinks of fried rice as being unhealthy, but it really doesn’t have to be- Matt’s looked delicious and healthy!!
Glad to see the first few days of your internship are going well Kath.
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
I love those green bars, too, but the energy ones just do not hold me offer the same way the peanut butter protein one does.
That tempt ice cream sounds tempting to pick up some time
Ashley says
Wow, Matt got you flowers and almonds AND made dinner. You’ve got it made! 😉 I still can’t believe those school lunches look so good…when I was in public school it was all greasy squares of pizza and hard chicken nuggets and sketchy mac and cheese…
Kati @ Living Well says
Kath, I really enjoyed this post 🙂 I love the pictures from your nose numbing walk! I hope you continue to enjoy your work and your after dinner dessert looks delish.!
Abby (Abby's VeGaN Eats) says
As a teacher Im pumped to see that kinda food being served to the kiddos (our school has a long way to go!) 🙂
Claire says
you are one lucky girl getting flowers on a random Friday night!
Don’t sweat it about the blog — Do not sweat the small stuff, and this term is an important time for you…getting certified for your Dietitian’s degree and all. Have strength in the support that the blogging community has for you, along with the love of your husband and family to get you through the next ~six months (goodness knows I need that in Grad school!).
Kath, I love your blog and know you won’t abandon it. You take so much joy from Katheats. Just know that your readers are all here for you 😀
Erinn says
I have to say I’ve been going through KERF withdrawal during my lunch hour here on the west coast, but I understand your tough schedule!! Your husband sounds like the sweetest. I will have to give those Green Superfood Bars a try, I always see them at my local store. Have a good weekend!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
Your schedule is just temporary – we can deal. But I’m missing you Kath! 🙂
Christy says
Watching the sunrise, how peaceful! 😀 Have a relaxing weekend!
Paris Food Blague says
ah you must be exhausted.
it is so hard figuring out how to keep your body fueled when you’re an early riser (whether by habit or force). i have been getting up at 4–jet lag!–the past few days, and it messes with my body’s hungry signals. so good luck with these 6 am mornings!
bon weekend!
skinnyrunner says
what a sweet hubbie you got! you look so cute in the picture of your morning freeze, er i mean walk!
Erin says
Love the Kenyan bowl — great colors and design!
What a sweet hubby leaving you flowers. It’s the little thing… 😀
Danielle (Coffee Run) says
Those kids are luckyyyy. I know a lot of college dining halls that don’t have that nice of food!
I haven’t had veggie fried rice in years! Must make soon…
Angela (The Lady Loves to Eat) says
Flowers, almonds, and dinner?! What a good husband!!
sarah says
Hi,
I am a new reader, and wondered why the tiny fork? Is it a way to eat smaller bites?
Kath says
Sure. Tinier bites and cuteness.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Wow, sounds like a crazy day! That’s funny they asked you how old you were and asked for your number. I was asked by an 8 year old at MY 8 year old holiday party at school if I was my son’s sister. The kids ask me that every time I go. It cracks me up since I will be 35 next week. Not too bad for a woman in her mid 30s! Matt did a great thing for you tonight. What a nice guy!
Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat. says
I can’t believe a school serves such healthy thoughtful food on such unhealthy yucky throw away styrofoam. Seriously it’s such an oxymoron. I shudder thinking of the plastic fork scraping againest the styrofoam tray. Ick!
Mae @ OhhMay says
School delays are the BOMB!!! That looks like such a fun day of work and I absolutely adore your Kenyan bowl.
Wonderful photos- and I’m thinking of recreating your breakfast today tomorrow morning! My gap in between breakfast and lunch is going to be 6 1/2 hours!! eek!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Two posts a day are okay since you are working hard on your program. You’ll be back to the normal soon enough.
Ashley says
Kath, I’m wondering which you prefer, the sweetened or unsweetened cacao nibs? I’d like to try them, and want to know which to try first.
Sounds like you’re enjoying your job–you’ll get settled soon enough! Thanks!
Kath says
I have the ones from Navitas Naturals, so I think they are sweetened (although they still aren’t very sweet). I like them! I think unsweet would be too bitter.
Good Taste. Healthy Me says
I hear that! Working full-time definitely is tough. I can really only post once a day. I’d love to post more but there’s not enough hours in the day! 🙁
Ameena says
It sounds like you are super busy but the important thing is that you like what you are doing! That is half the battle right there. 🙂
Heather says
I love the bright flowers! The lake though.. I’m from So Cal.. so that was really cool to see a frozen lake..
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] says
Girl, don’t worry about “just” two posts a day. Live your life : ) …and my, what a healthy cafeteria lunch you made for yourself.
Jamie says
I wonder if you called it “salsa with black beans” that kids would be more willing to try the salsa? I know as a kid, I was PETRIFIED of black beans but I love them now! Anyway, so jealous of your beautiful flowers – Matt seems like a keeper!
amber says
aww matt is so cute! You are crazy for braving that cold weather! lol!
Marina says
I think you have an amazing job, and I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Those school lunches look amazing, kids are really lucky 🙂
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
that’s a pretty good looking high school lunch!
Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama says
Awwww! Pretty flowers!
Mandy says
Wow the kids that go to the high school that serves those types of lunches don’t know how lucky they are. My cafeteria was pretty awful in comparison. The main meals they served were fries, pizza and pasta. Not a decent looking salad in sight!
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com says
OH no, you poor thing thismorning!! I hate it when that kind of thing happens 🙁 at leats you had a decent lunch and dinner (and flowers, loucky!!) to make up for it 🙂
lauri Watson says
Wow- your school has such fun, healthy food options!! I was so sad yesterday when I saw all these little kids getting pizza, donuts and a capri sun to drink! And this was at 4 in the afternoon- so it might have just been a ‘snack’ for some of these kids!! Anyways, props to Matt for bringing you flowers!! Hope you enjoy your weekend!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
That ia a great looking lunch and dinner! haha I know what you mean re the chilly walks – although I have now arrived back in Australia – and back to a heatwave!!!
Simply Life says
wow, I’m impressed that was at the high school lunch! I have heard some horror stories about the food some schools serve and that it’s just another cause of our unhealthy kiddos today (i work with kids and have a HARD time teaching them about nutrition, since that’s not my focus, but know it affects SO much of their everyday life and feelings)!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Trader Joe’s has the best nuts! I bought 3 bags the other day. Great lunch and dinner! Veggie fried rice sounds delish. 🙂
Jenn
amanda says
Your meals look super yummy! Very beautiful flowers too!
Cassie @ A Very Busy Mind says
Aw Matt is too sweet. Flowers and almonds?! Isn’t that the way to a food blogger’s heart?! 😉
Gabriela says
Hey, Kath!
So, I live in Brazil and I simply love your blog!
I have one, too. I would really appreciate you beeing my first commenter! 🙂
Oh, and I have a question. What do you do when you say you used “half a banana”? What do you do with the rest of it, so it doesn´t spoil?
I always use an entire banana, because I´m afraid it will be spoiled after a couple of hours. Hehe. Brazilian Kisses!
G.
Kath says
Hey Gabriela! I just stick the banana (in the peel) in the fridge. It’s fine 24 hours later.
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Kids can be so much fun! 😀 Sounds like an awesome day.
And good for you for sneaking in a brisk morning walk…it looks like a gorgeous area! 😀
Wendy says
Aren’t high school kids great? I love interacting with them when I sub. So funny one asked for your phone number!
Do what you need to do with the blog…I don’t think your readers are going anywhere! 🙂
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun) says
What a sweet husband! Flowers awaiting a tired working woman. So nice.
You know what else is nice? That rice! (Oh, that was lame.) Seriously, it looks pretty simple to make and delish.
Kristina Magnuson says
Hey Kath, I’m a Salisbury girl so I love seeing Salisbury pop up on your blog! I’m in Chapel Hill now, but my parents are still there (my mom teaches at Hurley Elementary…let me know if you go visit and I’ll ask her to say hello!)
School lunches are definitely looking better than when I was in high school…or maybe I just chose the nuggets and pizza exclusively. I’ve come a long way since then, too! 🙂
Kath says
Oh fun!!! What’s your mom’s name? I will look for her!
Jenny says
I think the 2 posts a day is working great right now 🙂
I am continually astounded by the awesome quality of those school cafeterias! I wish it had been like that when I was in school.
Anne P says
Haha I always get told I look crazy young, too. I’m sure it will be awesome as I get older!
p.s. That’s hilarious about the kid asking for your number. When I was teaching in Prague, the high school boys would always (harmlessly) hit on me, too. They’d whistle when I went down the hallway and in class they’d be talking in Czech to one of the girls and the girl would be like “He’s saying he LOVES YOU!!” Lol. Kids are funny. 🙂
Alison says
I’ve only noticed the 2 posts a day because I’ve been trapped at home during awful Iowa weather the past two days–but I sure do appreciate the two that I get!
….also, after looking at your tiny fork—your SPOON looked HUGE! 🙂
Jenna says
That school lunch Looks so yummy and healthy!
Great dinner and dessert!
Jena
Tammy @ Defining Wellness says
I almost got teary-eyed when you mentioned Port City Java! I used to go there almost every single day when I went to school at UNC Wilmington. Even ran into Katie Holmes there a few times — she loved it, too! 🙂 Have you ever tried the Mocha Shake? It’s one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
Rachel says
Love the bowl you got from Kenya, it’s beautiful.
kelsey says
I love the giraffe bowl SO. MUCH.
Sarah says
You need a hat, girl if you’re going to take those early morning walks! So sweet of Matt to surprise you with flowers! I am still stunned by how healthy the school’s food is – unbelievable.
Katie says
If my high school had had food like that at lunch, I would have saved a lot of money by not eating out every day!
Paula says
I loveeeeeeeeeeee your blog I started following it last year. I saw in this posting two things that make me homesick, the beautiful plate from Kenya and the fact that you drink Rooibos tea. My mom is always looking for Rooibos tea, i just love how it smells. We are originally from Zimbabwe living in TX. Thank you for your wonderful blog.
Allison K says
Why was school delayed? I remember school delays were like a beautiful gift as a kid.
Also, I was thinking about this while reading your post, I don’t even KNOW what kind of food my highschool cafeteria had. We had an open campus, so everyone either went to fast food, or ate their lunchs at home or in the park.
I dont think our cafeteria was even big enough to hold the whole school.