New Favorite

Lunch was not at all satisfying today. I just wasn't feelin' my salad and pizza combo. I ate the majority of it, but it wasn't exciting. My lackluster lunch left me desiring something more.

My salad was a mix of veggies from home plus leftover Asian Chicken Salad from yesterday. (I snagged a leftover salad at the end of our meeting!) Inside today's salad: romaine, grape tomatoes, green and red peppers, Mandarin oranges, edamame, snap peas, carrots, jalapenos, and marinated chicken. It sounds like an awesome salad, right? Unfortunately, my taste buds did not agree.


Lunch also included a piece of leftover pizza from last night. (Sorry that some of my photos are flipped the wrong way!)


On my way back from a meeting this afternoon, I grabbed a handful of plain M&M's from the department's reception area. It's funny how quickly that can happen!?!


As previously mentioned, lunch did not satisfy. Physically, I probably had enough, but mentally, I wanted something else to eat. I decided to dig into my afternoon snack a little early: a piece of whole wheat bread with peanut butter and banana slices. It was definitely a good food choice; I felt much better after eating it.


Snack Numero Dos

I have plans to meet a friend after work for a drink at 6B. A drink is fine and dandy, but I'd prefer not to eat out tonight (trying to save dinero), so around 4:00 pm, I munched on a Coconut Cream Pie Larabar to hold me over until I get home.

Note: THE COCONUT CREAM PIE FLAVOR IS HEAVENLY!!!!!! It's easily my new favorite!


Career News

Just today, I registered for the Boston NASM Certified Personal Training Workshop! It's a 2-day live workshop in November that focuses on assessment, exercise technique, and program design. I don't think the workship is specifically designed to help me pass the NASM certification exam, but it will definitely help me put the pieces together and it gives me a chance to experience personal training firsthand! Can't wait! :)

Barney Butter Baby

Dave C. was so excited about winning the Barney Butter contest that he decided to finish his Barney Butter Baby poem! His lyrics crack me up!

To the tune of Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby"

Barney Butter baby (x2)

All right stop open the top and spread it

Tina is back with some brand new snack food

Something that I spread on my bread nightly

And when I'm done, I put the lid on tightly

Will I ever stop, yo I think I might

Read Carrots N Cake its quite a site

To the extreme I eat snacks like a vandal

Spread on the Butter and light up a candle

Eat, then rush to the nearest whole foods

It's pleasing your stomach and fixing your moods

Creamy when I eat a dope bite

Anything less than the best ain't right

Love it or leave it you better lose weight

You better buy Barney Butter CNC don't play

If there was a problem yo I'll clog it

Check out the Butter while Tina blogs it

CHORUS

Barney Butter baby (x4)

Now that the blog is jumping

With the winners checked in and the peeps are writtin'

Quick to the site to the results no faking

I'm dreamin' of Barney B and cant stop shakin'

Cant wait to spread it, so rich and creamy

I went crazy when I heard it was me

A nice free jar with a yellow label

I'm on cloud nine, it's time to get stable

Waitin', of course you know

With my laptop on so CNC can show

The bread is on table waiting with the bagel

Did you stop no I just read more

Kept on reading through the next post

I busted through the blog and I'm heading to the next one

The blog was dead

Yo so I came back to… Carrots N Cake website!

Readers were happy but wishing they had won

CNC lovers thought the contest was real fun

But jealous 'cause I'm out getting mine

Dave C with a jar and its going to taste mighty fine

If there is another game yo I will join it

Check out the blog while Tina coins it

Barney Butter baby

Barney Butter baby (oh-oh)

Barney Butter baby

Yo bloggers let's get out of here

Word to the website

Barney Butter baby so creamy

Barney Butter baby so creamy so creamy (x2)

Barney Butter baby

Coconut Surprise

This day is flying by! Not that I am complaining. Let's just hope the rest of the week passes this quickly!

I ate breakfast earlier than usual this morning (6:30 instead of after 7:00), and my stomach made sure to let me know! I munched on a pear mid-morning to hold me over until lunch.


Lunch Meeting

I had a lunchtime meeting today. A number of faculty attended the meeting as well, so we got spoiled with the meal. My plate: Grilled lemon salmon with braised cabbage and leeks and coconut brown rice. The shredded coconut mixed with the rice was such a nice surprise. I never thought of combining the two-- they're wonderful together!


My lunch dessert was a leftover Cocoa Brownie. I'm not sure how I feel about these now-- today's brownie was rather bland and blah. Next time I make these: more cocoa powder and chocolate chips!


As a gift from a student, our office received a big box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. Mmmmmm. Of course, I had to try one, so I selected a dark chocolate truffle, which was divine. I'm thinking about trying a coconut truffle as well! :)


PM Snack

I'm taking a step aerobics class at the gym after work, so I've planned a late afternoon snack to fuel me through my workout and to dinner. Proposed snack: Ginger Snap Larabar (aka the best bar eva!)


I Heart Snacks

You guys all know how I love snacks! I love eating, so frequent snacking keeps me happy, energized, and satisfied between meals (so I don't overeat). I thought I'd share some helpful snacking links with you all, including a previous post of healthy snack ideas that Carrots N Cake readers put together a few months ago.

Reader Snack Ideas

Drop 10 Pounds by Snacking

Pre-Dinner Snacks

Happy snacking! :)

Looooonng Afternoon

THANK YOU for all of your kind and encouraging words this morning about my career change to become a personal trainer! You guys made me feel even more excited and confident about my decision! It's pretty scary doing a total 180 with my career, but your inspiring stories and support make me feel like everything is going to work out just fine! (The NASM is a whole different monster though-- I'm feeling so overwhelmed by it! Breeeeaaaath... one day at a time!)

Mid-morning, I made myself a cup of joe with soy milk and agave nectar. The agave nectar is so sweet-- a little goes a long way!


Lunch was the best of both worlds: pizza + salad. My homemade salad included romaine, grape tomatoes, and jalapeños. (Now we are really out of food!)


I also chowed three pieces of leftover Buffalo Chicken Pizza... soooooooo amazing!


After lunch, I had a small sweet snack: 2 dark Hershey's chocolates with a scoop of peanut butter. Of course, I dipped my chocolate in the PB!


I took a break after lunch to do some studying for the NASM. (Hence, my recent anxiety!) I bought a bunch of index cards to make flashcards, so hopefully, I will have an easier time learning all of the technical exercise science terms. (I can't tell you the last time I used a flashcard!)


My afternoon snack was my Kardea Nutrition Bar from yesterday. (I never had a chance to eat it.) The lemon ginger flavor was by far my favorite of the 4 different kinds that I have sampled. It reminded me a lot of a lemon square-- it had a nice strong, but sweet lemon flavor with a soft texture. It was surprisingly dessert-like.


So, yea, this afternoon is totally dragging! Blah.

**Update: I'm hungry again-- just made myself a packed of Kashi instant oatmeal. Feeling bottomless today!

Leftovers Atop Salad

Last night's Thai Chicken Noodles + homemade salad = wicked yummy and healthy lunch!


This was my type of salad-- not at all boring! In the mix: romaine, tomatoes, jalapeños, black beans, bok choy, lemon-ginger chicken, and whole wheat noodles. I ate every last bite!


I followed-up lunch with a sweet snack made with Annie's Honey Bunnies cereal, raisins, and peanut butter and chocolate chips.

Approximate measurements:

• 1/3 cup Annie's cereal
• 1 tbsp peanut butter and chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp raisins
  

My lunch kept me feeling full all afternoon. Around 3:00, I was only a tad hungry for a snack, so I decided to take advantage of my Starbucks $2 afternoon beverage. I enjoyed an iced soy latte (straight up, no sugar) at Starbucks while doing a little studying (big announcement about this next week).


Let the countdown to the weekend begin!!!!!

Where All the Magic Happens

It's another busy day at the office! Gotta make this post quick! My job gets in the way of my blogging! :)

Lunch today was a homemade salad with romaine, tomatoes, black beans, and jalapeños. Like always, the jalapeños made the salad!


The other half of lunch was leftover Zucchini Fries, which were very soggy by day #3. Zucchini Fries definitely do not make friendly leftovers.


Attack of the office treats! I love the School's freshly baked cookies, so I treated myself to half of a peanut butter chip one. Totally worth the splurge!!


My snack was vanilla Chobani (the best flavor, in my opinion) with fresh strawberries. Divine! I'm meeting a friend after work for a drink, so let's hope those 16g of protein hold me over until I get home for dinner!


Thought you guys might be interested in seeing where all of the magic happens: my desk! Here's the front view... my desk is always a little messy during the day, mainly because so much is going on! By the end of the day, however, I always take the time to neaten it up. It's so much nicer to come into a clean and organized space the next morning. It definitely starts me off on the right foot!


To the left of my computer: Sigg (hydration!), phone, Rolodex, planner, bulletin board, pens and pencils, stapler, scrap paper...


... to the right of my computer: calendar, files, computer mouse, mouse pad, no-name plant, junk...


I'm off to enjoy happy hour with Miss Carole! See ya later!

TGIA4-DW

(Thank God it's a 4-Day Week!)

I am busy, busy at work! Mid-morning, I took a quick break to enjoy some French Roast coffee with milk, sweetened with agave nectar and a shake of cinnamon.


Today's lunch was a homemade salad with romaine, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, black beans, and jalapeños. I'm convinced that jalapeños make just about any meal more exciting! :)


Lunch also included a Kardea Nutrition Bar - Cranberry Almond flavor. My review of this flavor is pretty much the same as my original review of the Chai Spice bar. The Cranberry Almond bar has a delicious, strong aroma and flavor, but the same sticky, taffy-like texture, which I am meh about.


Lunch concluded with a few fresh strawberries.


Might as well enjoy them before they are out of season!


Snack

I am loving these Chobani yogurts! The consistency is amazing-- much better than other Greek yogurts I have tried. The non-fat plain variety is good, but I prefer the vanilla flavor a lot more. The vanilla is almost like eating dessert. In addition to the cereal, I added a spoonful of peanut butter to the plain Chobani to give it a little more pizazz.


My afternoon snack also included a mug of peppermint tea (also sweetened with agave nectar).


Haircut

So, I am scheduled to get a much-needed haircut this evening. I haven't had my haircut since well before our wedding, so it's super long and dead on the ends. (Eww.) Anyway, I was thinking about getting bangs-- the side swipey ones. I'm still kind of on the fence. Can you picture it? Should I go for it?

Dinner on the Table

Dinner was practically on the table and ready to eat when I walked in the door after work this evening. My wonderful and amazing husband prepared the recipe that I planned to make for dinner tonight. He knew that I had a really busy day at work, so he decided to cook for me! Of course, I was super thankful and gave him a big hug as soon as I smelled something cooking. I felt so pampered sitting on the couch waiting for dinner to be served! :)

Tonight's dinner included a great big salad made with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, snap peas, scallions, and Claire's relish...

... and the most incredible meat loaf! Mal made Turkey and Roasted Red Pepper Meat Loaf. Mal's meat loaf was nice and moist with lots of flavor. The roasted red peppers added a nice "kick" to it, and I loved the strong parmesan flavor! I'm usually not a big fan of meat loaf, but I chowed my piece. This recipe is a keeper!

Turkey and Roasted Red Pepper Meat Loaf
From Real Simple, March 2008

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 cup grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 7-ounce jar roasted red peppers, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Kosher salt and pepper
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups mixed greens

Heat oven to 400° F.

Combine the turkey, onion, bread crumbs, egg, Parmesan, 2 tablespoons of the mustard, the parsley, red peppers, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Shape the meat into an 8-inch loaf and place in a baking dish. (See Tip, below.)

Bake until no trace of pink remains (internal temperature should be 165° F), about 45 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest 15 minutes before slicing.

Whisk together the remaining mustard, the vinegar, oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.

Divide the greens among individual plates and drizzle the vinaigrette over the top. Serve with the sliced meat loaf.

Tip: A loaf pan isn't the best choice for baking meat loaf. Instead use a large pan with 1 1/2- to 2-inch sides, such as a metal, glass, or ceramic 7-by-11-inch baking dish, which will allow the heat to circulate over the meat, cooking it evenly.

Yield: Makes 4 (enormous) servings! (We divided our loaf into 8 smaller servings, 305 calories/serving.)

NUTRITION PER SERVING:
CALORIES 610(50% from fat); FAT 34g (sat 6g); CHOLESTEROL 83mg; CARBOHYDRATE 21g; SODIUM 1089mg; PROTEIN 47g; FIBER 3g; SUGAR 3g

All together...


Dessert was a small bowl of fresh sliced peaches, topped with plain yogurt, and chocolate and peanut butter chips. So yum!


Barney Butter Love

Look at what came in the mail today! Jennifer at Barney Butter sent me one of their new t-shirts. How cute are they!?


The Barney Butter t-shirt is soft, light-weight, and fitted, and I love the long torso fit, which can be so flattering! The logo on the front says: "All Natural Barney Butter Almond Butter, Peanut Free, Premium California Almonds." On the back is the Barney Butter website ("www.barneybutter.com"). I really love this shirt-- it's totally something I would buy myself! Thank you, Jennifer!


Afternoon Snacks

Two Lindt Lindor chocolate balls...


... and cantaloupe with Barney Butter drizzled on top. It sounds like a weird combo, but it was actually very tasty!


Almost time for BED! I want to watch a little of the DNC first! :)

Need Groceries

We desperately need to go grocery shopping again. It's amazing how quickly we go through food. I guess that's what happens when you live with a growing boy!

Lunch today ended up being a bunch of snacks and not really a meal. I started with Fage mixed with peach slices and half of a crumbled Blueberry Vanilla Granola Plank. All together, it filled me right up and satisfied my end-o-meal sugar craving.


Up close... lots of different textures and flavors. Love granola + yogurt!


On my lunch break, my coworker and I took a walk to Whole Foods to pick up some groceries for tomorrow's brunch. (I'm taking tomorrow off!) In addition to my groceries, I picked up a bottle of Hint in pomegranate-tangerine flavor, which tasted like fresh, pure water with just a tiny hint of pomegranate and tangerine. The Hint drinks are made only with natural flavors-- no sugar and no artificial sweeteners. It's the perfect beverage if you're on-the-go. Very refreshing.


Lunch was small, so almost immediately after returning from our trip to WF, I dug into my Larabar. It was Ginger Snap flavor, my fav!


I followed-up my Larabar with another piece of watermelon and a Pecan Caramel Cluster (sorry no photo... it just kind of happened!)


Lots going tonight! Not sure about dinner plans yet, but I know drinks at the Top of the Hub follow! Can't wait! :)

Masterpiece Salad

A late evening and an early morning forced me to buy lunch from the salad bar today. I actually reeeaaally enjoy making a big-ass salad from the salad bar. I love seeing all of the different options and colors, and creating a "masterpiece" based on what I'm in the mood to eat. The salad bar at the School changes a little from day-to-day, so there's always something new and exciting to try. My salads are never the same thing twice!


Of course, eating a salad is even more enjoyable than making one. I love, love, love mixing random flavors together in each bite. I especially like the combos of fruit + veggies and hot/spicy + sweet. It's fun to have all of those different tastes competing in your mouth at the same time. (Ok, I'm definitely WAY too excited about today's salad!)

Tips to Build a Better Salad


Lunch also included an Oatmeal Raisin Bar and a small peach from yesterday's visit to the Copley Square farmer's market. Both delicious.


My afternoon snack was 1/2 cup of diced watermelon and a Nature's Choice blueberry cereal bar.

Is anyone else with me that cereal bars are just kind of blah? Maybe I've eaten too many Larabars, so now I know what a good snack bar tastes like?


I'm suppose to go to Trivia Night again this week, but I'm feeling totally sluggish. I want to hangout with my friends, but I have a feeling I won't be any fun. Ugh, what to do?