After the gym today, I decided to go check my mailbox. I am heading down the hallway, on auto-pilot, turning at the third corner on the left where my mailbox is--or is it? This is definitely the area where my mailbox was last year, except now the numbers are all significantly different. How does that happen?! After wandering around for a few minutes and scanning rows upon rows of numbers, I finally found that elusive 97844. Alas, it was empty.
Despite my mailbox being empty, I did receive not one but two packages today. Score! The first was a box from Amazon--I had a $25 gift certificate just itching to be spent. Here's the loot (don't laugh!): HempShake, berry pomegranate flavor, two big tubs of ground flax seed, and a bottle of Primal Elements Grapefruit Body Wash.
In case you're curious, here's a little quote I liked from the Primal Elements website:
"The folks at Primal Elements make their soap from pure vegetable glycerin, creating scents (and looks) that Dial only dreams of." GQ Magazine, December 2002. Hemp, flax, vegetable glycerin. Yes, these are the types of things that excite me.
The second package came as a surprise. My aunt has been e-mailing me for the past few weeks about what I want for Christmas (she usually sends the gifts before October 1!), so I told her a new blender for my apartment might be nice. That's exactly what I got! It's even red, to match the rest of my kitchenware. I'll still use my MB for food processing, but I think my smoothie time has just entered a new era. 
Onto the food:Monday
I'm really getting into this chocolate + fruit thing. I'm still not so sure I would like orange + chocolate. Anyway, this was another chocolate-strawberry concoction--those are whole grain graham crackers taking a dip in the deliciousness.
Tuesday If you've ever frequented Dairy Queen, you've probably heard of the Peanut Buster Parfait. My Granddaddy used to get it every time we went (he's the one married to my dietitian grandmother--go figure!). I decided to make a healthful breakfast version with PB Puffins, slice bananas, organic plain yogurt, and roasted peanuts. Definitely spawned a food fugue.
For a pre-run snack I packed a string cheese and a whole wheat mini bagel with blackberry jam. The combination of the soft bagel and the jelly reminded me of a jelly doughnut--I think that's demonstrative of how long it's been since I had a jelly doughnut...While tasty, this was not a stellar snack before exercise. Someday I'll get this exercise fueling thing right. 
Lunch was another salad bar special: mixed greens, steamed broccoli, snap peas, 'shrooms, and sliced olives. When I got home, I added cubed tofu, chickpeas, and an agave-mustard dressing. I hate to think how far those strawberries traveled to get to my plate, but they were surprisingly tasty.
For dinner, I threw together a simple lentil salad: lentils, cherry tomatoes, green bell pepper, grated garlic, dill weed, and red wine vinegar. I served it with pita and a salad. I had cottage cheese with crunchy PB for dessert--not a combo I will repeat. The salt from the PB and the cottage cheese seemed to compete--not enough sweet!
Last night's smoothie was a chocolate-blueberry rendition. I wish I had had some cocoa on hand. 
Wednesday Return of the agave-tahini toast! This time I topped the toast with sliced Ginger Gold apples. I washed it down with a cup of almond milk.
I dug into my bar stash again today for pre-run eats: TJ's Fig Bar, plus a few peanuts. 
After my post office meandering, I returned home to make a mountain meal: corn and tofu cooked in chili powder and ground red pepper, topped with salsa and mashed avocado.
Using my new flax, I made a snack of Key Lime Pie yogurt and ground flax. At last, I have a way to get my omega 3s again! PS Has anyone ever noticed that the Stonyfield cow has a different "look" for every flavor? The French Vanilla cow sports a dashing beret, while this one tucks a flower behind her ear. Cute. 
For dinner, I decided to bring back my lentil bolognese from last year's dorm days. I added basil, oregano, and fresh garlic to a jarred pasta sauce. Salad, broccoli, and almonds filled me up nicely. 
That does it for now...be back soon!
