Lunch: power smoothie- unsweetened vanilla almond milk, mango granola, banana, almond butter, various dried fruits, nut mix, flaxseed, wheatgrass, kiwi
Dinner: quesadillas- black beans, guacamole, spinach, shredded cheese, brown rice, mushrooms.
Snacks: pomegranate greek yogurt, Mediterranean quinoa salad from Capen cafe
So this week was a little hectic for me especially when it came to planning because I've literally had no time to do anything but work and study. I used what I had left in my fridge to whip together something quick for breakfast, added some hot sauce and made iced black coffee to get going. After a few solid hours watching lectures I came home and made myself a shake packed with all kinds of fruits and what not to take with me to work. However I, apparently not knowing my own strength, closed the shaker way too tight and when I was done making it could not for the life of me get it back open. I had to call in some man power for help because there was no way I was leaving this masterpiece behind on top of the fact I was running late and needed food asap. Before I left campus though I stopped at Capen cafe and grabbed some healthy snacks to take with me in case I got hungry that way I wouldn't be tempted eat somewhere unhealthy in the mall (I work at Aldo by the way feel free to come say hi).
When I finally made it home I busted out my quesadilla maker and made some black bean quesadillas. I bought avocados and fresh salsa on my way home to make my own guac and cooked the rice while I made it. I used whole wheat wraps, layered all my ingredients then closed the grill for a few minutes to let it all melt together. All in all it only took me about 15-20 minutes and it makes 6 quesadillas so I had some left over that I saved for another day.
I definitely didn't spend as much money this week because I stuck with simple ingredients and I had a lot of them left over from the previous weeks already. I also always have leftovers so I can eat the rest of it later and not spend any money buying more food or eating out. I don't think anyone was really affected by me this week except my friend Matt who came to the rescue and pried open my shake. Other than that my meals have been rather quick and on the go and no ones been around to witness my creations when I have cooked. I didn't use any websites this time to get ideas I kind of wanted to just throw some things together and see how it turned out. Mainly I just used what I know thus far about going meatless and incorporating plant proteins like the black beans and quinoa in my salad.
I wish I had more time to get more creative this week but my busy schedule just didn't allow it. However I think I did pretty good for being strapped with time and still made some delicious meals in the end. I always forget about my quesadilla maker but when I was thinking about something quick and easy to make that's the first thing that came to mind. And it heats up quick so once you have your ingredients in and close the lid it only takes about 5 minutes.
I feel like doing meatless Mondays sets up my week to just eat healthy and as clean as possible because I'm being mindful about my food choices. So each time I go to eat I think about balancing my plate and getting the right amount of nutrients, but also think about what I've already ate that day to try and get some more variety. I want to try and get some friends to do it with me next Monday and actually I had a friend send me some challenging dishes he thought would be fun to try out, we shall see!
I too realty don't have time to plan something to eat and so I don't really eat on Mondays. Those quesadillas sound really good along with all the other food that you had to eat. For just throwing things together you ended up with very good meals for the day. And you even have a little left over. I 100% agree with Mondays setting up the rest of the week to eat healthy especially if it includes going to the gym that day too. I feel like using websites to come up with ideas for what to eat is good but at the same time it doesn't allow you to experiment with different foods and spices or sauces and make something good that way on your own. The only thing I could say to help you out if you have a busy week is try and make food Sunday (if you have time) so you can just heat it up or whatever and you're good to go.
ReplyDeleteHey Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you enjoyed making your meals with all those ingredients. I think you had made use of what you had at home and got creative in your meals. You did extremely well in participating in meatless Monday this week because your schedule definitely sounds like you were on tight schedule. Yet, you still took time to make yourself a meal. You can also get creative with your leftovers too. Even though, I just tend to warm up my leftovers the next day and eat it just like that. Also, I hate it when lids are too tight! Sometimes I place a cloth over the lid and that can allow the lids open easily. If that does not work, I always have to ask my brother to open for me. I believe it was smart idea for you to go to the store on your way home from work. That definitely helps you stay on track of eating meatless for the day. Those quesadillas sound delicious! I would love to try to make those soon! I also agree that meatless Monday has allowed us to eat more healthy and clean meals. I have started to incorporate more vegetarian meals on the other days of the week too. Hopefully you are able to convince some of your friends to participate in eating meatless on Monday. I think that if one is surrounded by a supportive group of people, one will be able to participate in meatless Monday with more ease. Great job and best of luck next week!
Hey Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. It was so lively! It sounds like you had a really good meatless Monday considering your time limitations. Quesadillas are pretty much the easiest things to make and are so good for you when you make them right (which it sounds like you did). They're pretty filling, don't take much time, and the ingredients are relatively cheap when you buy them at the store. I always accidentally put the lid on too tight so I feel your pain on that one. I made pesto the other day and it took attempts from different people to get it undone. Definitely puts a damper in my cooking vibe. Overall, I think you did a really good job this monday and keep up the good work!! :)
Cristina