Do you ever have days where you're just not that hungry but you know you should eat anyways because it's time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner? Well that happens to me sometimes for a few days at a time. In general, I think that we tend to over-eat in our everyday lives so to counteract this habit I really try to listen to my body and only eat when I get hungry. I feel healthier eating this way instead of eating a decent breakfast, a medium-big sized lunch, and a big dinner like most people are used to. So, on that note, if you ever see a day in this food journal that doesn't have that much food on it, that's why. But don't worry! Some days I have days where I feel really hungry and I eat more than usual. It all balances out in the end.
Brunch:
- Chai Tea
- I got this from Amherst Coffee. It was really tasty, it was a good blend of spice, but it wasn't as warm as I had hoped. Whenever I go to drink a warm beverage I really want to get that feeling like you're stepping into a hot bath with every sip. That's why hot chai teas are the best in the winter!
- "Black Sheep Baguette" from The Black Sheep in Amherst
- Toasted small french baguette with basil pesto, balsamic, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella
- The baguette was a little tough, but still added a good crunch to the sandwich
- The sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella were a juicy combination full of flavor
- The basil-pesto was garlic-y, but not overpowering
- The balsamic added just enough tang
- I ate this sandwich on-the-go because I had to get to work on time. It was nice to bite into it on a slow walk down the block. I tried to take my time eating even though my feet were moving fast. I learned from the other day's post that even when you're in a rush, if you're choosing to eat you should take your time. My mom went to Italy a few years ago and I remember her saying that you don't eat there, but you dine. You take your time with food because it's a little gift in your every day life for you to appreciate. There's something about this mindset that I love. To...take...your...time...with...life. Wow. We just don't do this enough in America! I believe that if we practice simply eating slowly and enjoying ourselves each time we take a bite, this practice will inevitably leak into other aspects of our lives- our work, our relationships, etc. Think about how much happier, how much more passionate and loving you would become by making this a real routine and embracing it! Food is such a huge part of our lives and if we don't make time for eating then we miss the beauties that lie within it. We miss the joys of eating when we aren't mindful! When you go to the McDonald's drive-through you might be eating it in the car while rushing to the next place thinking "yea, this tastes good" but not much else. If you really sat down, took apart that Big Mac and looked at it, then learned and thought about what it took to make that burger-- where the meat came from, what that shiny gloss on top is, what nutritions are in this meal-- I can almost guarantee that you would be too grossed out to eat it, even if it did cost a buck or two. Watch "Super Size Me". If you still eat it after knowing all of that-- after taking it apart and looking at it face to face-- all I would do is shake my head and tell you to gain some self respect! Your body does so much for you every day that you could at least try to find something healthier that will still be affordable and fill you up. If you feel like you've exhausted every possibility and that nothing else is affordable, then that's a different problem. But if you can afford a different option and you still choose the BigMac on-the-go, in my eyes that's a very sad story. One would think that after watching a documentary like "Super Size Me" no one would ever want to eat fast food again, but that's just not the case. No, instead we continue to drive through that U-shaped in and out line and mindlessly gobble down our fast food because it's quick, easy, tastes good, and fills us up. Oh, and did I mention in kills you slowly by increasing your chances of chronic heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, and cancer? Yeah, that too.
- It was around 1:30pm when my stomach finally started to grumble and this sandwich was actually too filling! I hate wasting food so I ate the whole thing anyways, but by the end of eating the sandwich I wasn't hungry again until like 8:30pm
Snack:
- Maple Steamer
- This is a Massachusetts thing. Originally I am from Chicago and I had never thought twice about putting maple syrup in milk before I got here. It's so different and so simple and so delicious I can't believe they don't have maple milk everywhere! Hot or cold, it's a great sweet little treat.
Dinner:
- Poached egg udon noodle soup
- Miso vegetable broth
- Yum. Yum yum yum.
- Udon noodles
- These could possibly be my favorite kind of noodles. They're just so much fun to eat!
- Tofu
- Just a few pieces, which was good. Any more would have been too much because the eggs were also in the dish.
- 2 poached eggs
- So light and delicate. They floated on the top of the soup on bed of noodles
- Cabbage
- Crunchy small pieces that were cooked well, but I don't think they really added anything to the dish. I could have done without them.
- Carrots
- Cooked so that they were soft enough to bite into without a crunch but they weren't mushy. I loved getting through the savory to have a little bite of sweet carrot to break up the flavor.
- Zucchini
- Cooked similar to the carrot, but like the cabbage, I could have done without it.
- Shitake mushrooms
- I love shitake mushrooms. This was right up there with my favorite parts of the dish. They were cooked so that they were smooth and chewy. The shitake mushroom flavor pairs so well with miso and nori. I think if I were to run a restaurant day I would definitely include a shitake miso vegetable soup of some sort.
- Nori
- Dried and used as a garnish
- Scallions
- Scattered through the dish. They added that little extra kick when you bit into one. Loved it!
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