Stress Fest, Round 1

How is it that it is just the second week of classes, and I have already managed to have stress out? It all started yesterday afternoon when I realized that I could feasibly graduate early (Dec. 2009 rather than May 2010). This would be a great way to save some tuition dollars and get a head start on my nutrition classes. However, then I considered all the things I would be missing if I skipped out on second semester senior year: sorority formals, walking at graduation, just being with my friends. Just thinking about missing those things makes me tear up as I type. I talked to my parents about it, and they gave me the exact wrong answer: "it's up to you, honey." They're letting me make the decision. How dare they! You mean I actually have to be an adult?! Anyway, I think my strong emotions ought to be heeded; I don't want to look back on my years at Duke with regret.

Academic rants aside, let's turn to a topic that keeps me on an even keel: food...

Saturday
When I was uploading photos on Saturday, I accidentally deleted some of my breakfast photos. I did manage to salvage one (below). I enjoyed a blueberry-soymilk smoothie with a dish of PB Puffins and almonds. Great way to cool down after a morning at the gym.
After a very necessary Target run, I settled down to a lunch of revamped leftovers: spinach salad with (local!) organic cherry tomatoes, kidney beans, and tofu. Another peach and toast points with cashew butter are what you see on the side.
Dinner was another spontaneous creation: sliced zucchini, chickpeas, garlic, red wine vinegar, basil, and oregano went into the pan. I had some couscous and chopped broccoli on the side, plus a yogurt with peanuts for dessert. Odd, but good.
I made a smoothie that evening, using some of that Alive! rice and pea protein powder. I snagged a few pouches of the vanilla flavor to last me until my order of Nutiva HempShake arrives. Anyway, this concoction featured frozen cherries (courtesy of SuperTarget), soymilk, and pumpkin flax granola. SO GOOD. The texture of this protein powder is such that it really puffs up once whizzed in the blender. It's like crazy good-for-you Cool Whip.
Sunday
I woke up bright and early on Sunday morning, thinking I needed to be at Chapel in an hour or so. I had gotten all dressed and made up, when my roommate looks at me and says, "why are you up so early?" I had gotten up an hour earlier than necessary. Oops. I took advantage of the extra time by making some stovetop oats with whipped banana and Target brand crunchy natural PB. I am normally very much a creamy girl, but this crunchy stuff isn't half-bad--it provides a nice change of texture. PS Does anyone know a good trick to get rid of PB smell on your hands? I made quite a mess while trying to stir the jar of PB, and my hands smelled quite peanut-ish for the entirety of the church service.
Lunch came together quick again. Inspired by V-con's Corn Edamame Salad, I combined frozen corn, edamame, cherry tomatoes, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. I didn't have time to chill it, so I just ate it hot. That's a sliced white peach with cinnamon (NOT an apple), spinach salad, and pistachios on the side.
Dinner was on campus, just before my first chapter meeting. We went to The Loop again, so I got my Crunchy Broccoli Salad and a bowl of black bean soup. I have a sneaking suspicion it wasn't vegetarian, but no use fretting over it now.

Another Alive! smoothie last night, this time with frozen mango. Please pardon the green color--I promise it tasted good!
Monday
I made overnight oats for breakfast today. I combined soymilk, oats, and dried cranberries last night and added almonds and blueberries this morning. I had forgotten how good this is--perfect for the girl who likes everything soggy:)
My pre-run snack today was a baggie of roasted soynuts and a local "ginger" apple. It was a tasty snack (especially the unique flavor of the apple), but I am not sure it fueled me well for a run. My pace was good, but I just didn't feel top-notch. Maybe less protein for tomorrow's fuel?
I came home for lunch: Goddess Garbanzos in an Italian Herb flatbread, plus a spinach salad. The herbs in the flatbread and the Goddess dressing complemented each other quite nicely.
I finally tried the snack you all have been raving about: a broken up Z bar in yogurt. My budget does not allow for Greek yogurt, so I just used regular plain yogurt and an apple cinnamon Z bar. Quite the treat!
After a dining committee meeting tonight, I just grabbed a quick salad from the salad bar for dinner: mixed greens, red bell pepper, mushrooms, kidney beans, bulghur wheat, and chopped peanuts, plus a cup of melon. The melon tasted like wood, but the salad (especially the bulghur) was excellent.
Wow. This is really long. I apologize for my excessive verbiage.Enjoy the rest of your evening!

In the Eye of the Storm

I write to you amidst a severe thunderstorm--there's quite a light show going on outside! Aside from the crazy (and a little frightening!) weather, I have been quite busy this evening--finishing anatomy lab homework, printing out worksheets, folding laundry...Wednesday nights always seem a little hectic. Oy.

Anyway, here are a few pics from the past few days.

Monday
I got a major carby-salty-sweet craving on Monday night. I decided to mix up some Peanut Butter Puffins with a few salted pretzel twists. It was almost like those tasty little PB-filled pretzel nuggets.
Tuesday
I thawed a couple of those bran muffins from last week for breakfast yesterday, but I discovered something that makes them even tastier--almond butter! I also had some more of that never-ending watermelon.
For lunch, I headed to California Pizza Kitchen with a few friends. I ordered the Grilled Veggie Salad (asparagus, avocado, Japanese eggplant) and a cup of vegetarian split pea soup. Super yummy, but when I came home I had a kiwi to balance it all out and fill me up for the remainder of the afternoon. Sometimes my stomach is a bottomless pit.

Dinner was inspired by a recipe in Food to Live By (Does that title bother anyone else? Who ends a title of a cookbook with a preposition?!). I made a Fusion Coleslaw using broccoli slaw, rice wine vinegar, honey roasted peanuts, raisins, and a few sesame seeds. Along with it, I had some sliced tomato, whole grain couscous, a grilled Quorn cutlet, and a peach. Wow, this quite a voluminous meal now that I look at it.
For my smoothie last night, I discovered a great combination--orange Spirutein, orange juice, soymilk, and plenty of granola topping. It tasted like an orange Creamsicle! By the way, that was my last Spirutein packet...expect different smoothie combinations in the near future!
Wednesday
Since I don't have class until 3 on Wednesdays, I had some time to make stovetop oats this morning. Techinically, I used that Quaker Mutligrain Hot Cereal, but it is very similar to oats. Anyway, I combined it with hemp milk, whipped banana, and some flax--holy omega-3s! This was my first time trying hemp milk, and I am not sure whether I like it or not yet. I'll have to experiment with it...got any suggestions?
Lunch consisted of healthy nachos, a side spinach salad, and a huge apple. The "nachos" were made from homemade baked corn tortillas, red beans, guacamole, and salsa. For the guacamole, I just combined mashed avocado with a new supermarket find--Goya Recaito. I love this stuff; just salty enough with a little cilantro kick.
For dinner I made a dish from Food to Live By (again). This time, I made whole wheat rotini with Edamame Pesto. I didn't follow the recipe exactly (shocker!), but I think it turned out pretty tasty, aside from the lingering garlic taste in my mouth. The consistency wasn't very pesto-like; on the contrary, it was quite creamy even though there was no milk, tofu, or dairy-ish ingredients. I also had some broccoli slaw, and a little mug of chocolate almond milk.
One more day until my weekend! (I don't have classes on Fridays). Now I need to go pack my lunch for tomorrow. Enjoy your evening!