Call Me Even Steven

As we bid adieu to 2008, I look back on the year as one filled with new beginnings for me: I decided to pursue a career as a nutritionist; I became a runner; and, of course, I began writing this blog. 2008 will for sure be a year to remember. What will you remember about 2008?

Milestones aside, I can't help but be a little annoyed that we are moving into an odd-numbered year. Maybe I am just weird, but I simply prefer even numbers. Perhaps 2009 will cure me of my distaste for odd numbers...

Alright enough about my numerical hang-ups. Let's get down to business so the partying can begin!

Monday
Immediately following Monday's post, I settled down to make dinner. The centerpiece of the meal was Lindsay's African Kale and Yam Mash (although I used sweet potatoes). I served the mash alongside some pan-fried tofu, which I had seasoned with garlic powder and cumin. A salad with Woodstock dressing completed the meal.
The shake of the evening featured strawberries, banana, chocolate hemp protein, soymilk, and chocolate syrup. Yummy, as always.
Tuesday
I woke up yesterday craving some scrambled tofu. This version included spinach and green onions...I think I was a little heavy-handed with the turmeric, because this dish was practically glowing yellow. On the side, I had a whole grain English muffin and a few clementines. PS I stocked up on chopsticks at World Market over the weekend:)
I was hungry by the time lunch rolled around, so I kept it simple with a hummus veggie wrap. That's shiitake-sun dried tomato hummus along with steamed kale and baby bellas inside the wrap. I also had a salad with Goddess dressing and an apple.
Speaking of 'shrooms, have you heard about these new vitamin D-infused mushrooms? Somehow the folks at Monterey Mushrooms have managed to grow mushrooms with significant amounts of the sunshine vitamin. Personally, I am excited about this innovation, since most natural food sources of vitamin D are not ones that I include in my diet (egg yolks, cod liver oil, salmon). Supplements and sun exposure are alternative sources, but I prefer to not use supplements, and sun exposure poses the hazard of skin cancer. With the benefits of vitamin D becoming increasingly apparent, these fancy shrooms seem like a perfect solution. Read more about it here.

Whew, I apologize for the tangential nature of this post. Anyway, here's dinner: whole wheat waffles (made with my new waffle maker!) with strawberries, plus a new kind of Greek yogurt mixed with pumpkin.
The shake last night consisted of peach Spirutein, soymilk, peaches, and non-dairy vanilla ice cream. Peaches 'n cream, to the max.
Wednesday
After a very chilly run this morning, I knew I needed a hot bowl of oats to warm me up. I combined vanilla almond milk, oats, cinnamon, pumpkin, and banana, then topped the combination with cashews and chocolate chips. This was my first time combining chocolate with pumpkin...I haven't decided whether I like it or not. I am so accustomed to my usual pumpkin-raisin combination.
I got the chance to visit The Fresh Market this afternoon, where I picked up a few out-of-the-ordinary groceries:
Today's lunch was a simple tofu salad: silken tofu with vegan mayo, paprika, celery, and a tad of whole grain mustard. I stuffed it into a pita and served it alongside a big salad and an apple with my new Mighty Maple PB.
Before I let you go for your evening of celebration, check out what I got in the mail yesterday:
Thanks to Robyn from Gnu Foods for sending me these samples! I am stoked to finally get a chance to try all the flavors!

Happy New Year!

Parental Invasion

This weekend is Duke's annual Parents' Weekend, so as of about 1 PM today campus has been swarming with the "50+" population. Everywhere I look, there's a proud dad toting around a bag from the University Book Store, or a beaming mom snapping zillions of pictures. Gotta love it.

My parents arrived this evening, after multiple flight delays, but they landed safe and sound (albeit a little hungry!). We have plans to go to the basketball game tomorrow (my mom's first!), and to make a trip to Banana Republic. Aah, two of my favorite things in the same day: Banana Republic and basketball.

I plan on catching up on some much needed sleep tonight, so I better get crackin' with the last few days' food.

Wednesday
As a study break on Wednesday evening, I decided to take the time for a real meal, rather than slapping together a PB&J as I had been planning. With the help of my trusted friend George Foreman, I grilled some eggplant slices that I had rubbed with garlic. Once adequately charred, I drizzled the slices with tahini and served them alongside a mound of whole grain couscous. I also had a salad which consisted of spinach, chickpeas, soynuts, and sliced mozzarella.
I called it a night with a frozen treat: blackberries, chocolate rice protein, soymilk, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips.
Thursday
When I am in need of a one-bowl breakfast, I consistently turn to CCV's Banana Bread Blender. This time, I used pecans (rather than almonds or walnuts), plus my usual rice milk, vanilla extract, bran flakes, and frozen banana. So yum.
I started out making sloppy Joes for lunch with lentils and tomato sauce, but it took on a decidedly Italian twist when I added wilted spinach, garlic, and oregano. The Italian version still ended up delicious--I enjoyed the mixture atop toasted whole grain bread and served it alongside an apple with cashew butter.
My Thursday nights are now occupied by RUF (Reformed University Fellowship) meetings, so I kept dinner simple last night: Chef Salad with Romaine, Tofurky, carrots, mozzarella, and honey roasted peanuts. I also had a pear and some crackers.
For last night's shake, I used up the last of my strawberries along with cocoa powder, soymilk, chocolate rice protein, and chocolate chips. I apologize for the monotony, but I don't have many options until my shipment of hemp protein arrives.
Friday
I have been having major back pain lately, so I had to do some low-impact cardio today and use the elliptical rather than go for a run. I returned to the apartment for a quick breakfast of a peach-banana smoothie and a bagel with Sunbutter. Afterward, I darted off to campus again to do some promotional stuff for my sorority's "Mocktail Blendoff." Sounds like my kind of event, no?
I also made a Whole Foods run today (of course). Here's a look at the loot:
I needed something to warm me up after my errands in the cold, so I made a bowl of lentil chili for lunch. I combined tomato sauce, water, lentils, corn, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and ground red pepper and let it simmer while I did my laundry. On the side, I had a salad with a new salad dressing (Annie's Woodstock) and a beautiful Fuji apple that was just too pretty to slice.
Once my parents finally arrived, we went to one of our favorite restaurants in town, Taverna Nikos. We ordered an eggplant dip for an appetizer (although it was not labelled baba ghanoush). I thoroughly enjoyed the "herby" flavors that shone through in this dip; plus, my parents let me have the olive:) For my entree, I ordered the Vegetable Souvlaki, which consisted of vegetable skewers served with pita and tzaziki dip, plus a bed of rice. I practically licked the plate on this one.
We made a much-needed Target trip after dinner, and now I plan on settling in to some TLC before bed. Wild and crazy Friday night, right? Hope you're having fun tonight, wherever you are.

I will leave you with a pic of my mom and me at dinner. Love you, Mom!

Too Many Distractions, Not Enough Time

Normally, I am a conscientious student who has no problem getting her work done. That description does NOT apply right now. I have a big midterm on Thursday for my "Gender and Language" class, but I have been slackin' on the study schedule for the past few days. I meant to do the bulk of my studying yesterday, but somehow time just got away from me. (Strike 1). Today, I intended to get some studying done between classes...I decided to have a tea date with a friend instead. (Strike 2). Due to a fortuitous, last-minute class cancellation, I planned on squeezing in some study time this afternoon...I planned out my spring classes instead; the schedule just became available today. (Strike 3). Rather than make another ill-fated attempt before my busy evening, I sit here typing to you. I've got priorities:)

Saturday
Weekend mornings are supposed to be relaxing, right? Wrong. I had a meeting at 11 on East campus, so I decided to head over there early to squeeze in some treadmill time. Let's just say I ended up getting out of the meeting at 12, running to the bus stop, stuffing my face with "breakfast," showering in 3 minutes flat, and running to the basketball stadium for the scrimmage. Anyway, here's what the meal looked like: mini bagel with Sunbutter, pear, and plain yogurt with pumpkin. I scarfed it down as I stepped into the shower, so I don't really remember if it tasted good.
For lunch, I decided on an old standby: Goddess Garbanzos. This was a pimped out version though because I added chopped carrot, dill, and kelp granules. I stuffed it into a pita and served it alongside a spinach salad and an apple.
I kept dinner simple too. I finally finished that box of Boca burgers so that I could get the good stuff--Amy's Bistro Burgers. Bistro patty + whole wheat bread + organic ketchup/mustard = darn tasty sandwich. I also had a salad, steamed asparagus, and a banana with cashew butter.
The vanilla hemp supply has sadly dwindled to near nothingness, so I have been experimenting with the chocolate variety. Saturday's was blueberry-flavored, with a few chocolate chips on top. Surprisingly delicious.
Sunday
Yesterday morning, I decided on making a "harvest pie fusion"...in a bowl of oats. Pumpkin, oats, ginger, cinnamon, brown sugar, and pecans made for quite the breakfast treat. No need to decide between pumpkin and pecan pie, when you can have both in your oatmeal for breakfast!
In an effort to use up some things in the fridge before the start of a new week, I made hash for lunch yesterday: spinach, red onion, garlic, silken tofu, nutritional yeast flakes, plus a few spices I don't remember. On the side I had toast and an apple with cashew butter.
Dinner was prepared and consumed in about 10 minutes. (Pesky chapter meetings...) As a result, it was rather uninspired: hummus and pita, salad with soynuts, and broccoli. When I got home I had a banana with Sunbutter too.
The shake last night was another choco-berry experiment that turned out scrumptious. Strawberries, cherries, chocolate hemp, and soymilk made for a tasty evening snack. I randomly added wheat germ on top for texture.
Monday
Another typical, rushed Monday morning. Cheerios with rice milk and dried cranberries, plus an apple with PB. Totally boring.
I remembered to buy some lentils at Whole Foods last week for the Blogger Secret Ingredient contest, (although I think it has ended now...oh well). I put those to use for lunch today. I combined lentils, garlic, spinach, ginger, cumin, and creamy tahini and served it alongside whole grain couscous and an organic pear. Delish.
As a side note, I thought I would show you some coupons that I scored at Whole Foods:
They were sticking out from the bottom shelf in the bar aisle, where the Z bars typically hang out. 50 cents off an individual bar makes them less than 20 cents each! I like that price. S'mores bar, anyone?

OK, I am off to my meetings, etc. Please send "motivation vibes" my way so that I might actually study in the near future!