Today is a better day.
I ran 15 miles this morning. I think that’s the farthest I’ve run in over 6 years. While I’m definitely “feeling it” as I sit here and write this post, all things considered, I am good. It was 48 degrees outside and the most beautiful fall day. Running has been such a gift this fall and an amazing tool for dealing with everything.
My dad is home and resting. Funny story…when my mom asked what he wanted for dinner tonight, he asked for sourdough toast with butter and jelly. My mom told him he had to have a little protein too so he said, “a poached egg.” But I thought it was too cute and totally typical of him that he wanted sourdough toast for dinner. 🙂
I ended up completely deleting the post I had in drafts and decided to start over with this one.
Here’s what I/we ate last week.
Breakfast
Sweet potato bowl, scrambled eggs and bacon.
Acai bowl.
Scrambled eggs with grapes and a paleo banana muffin.
Pumpkin muffin with grapes and tea.
Sweet potato breakfast bowl to-go eaten at the gym between clients.
Lunch
Give me the fall salads! Arugula, pears, pan-sauteed chick peas in curry seed salt, roasted pumpkin seeds, hearts of palm, tomatoes, dried cranberries, avocado.
Lunch out at Dean & Deluca with a girlfriend. Build your own salad with spinach, chick peas, artichokes, beets, dried cranberries and a hardboiled egg.
Lunch out at Sunflour. Egg salad sandwich on sourdough and an oatmeal raisin cookie.
Another fall-inspired salad with arugula that I tossed with lemon juice, olive oil and sea salt and then topped with avocado, hearts of palm, pears, tomatoes, chick peas, toasted almonds and dried cranberries. Finished off with some balsamic.
Dinner
Leftovers. I had sprouted grain blend topped with peas and mushrooms, chicken tenders and hummus. I fed Tanner flank steak, half an avocado and sliced tomatoes.
Blue Apron salmon with roasted apples, rutabaga, potatoes and onions and an apple mustard topping.
Blue Apron pork steam buns with black garlic mayo. These were REALLY good and the black garlic was incredible.
Blue Apron spicy chicken and carrots over a roasted chickpea/basmati rice mix.
Salad eaten on debate night. It was all I could stomach. 😉
Etc.
Espresso and protein smoothie for afternoon snack.
Almond milk latte at Sunflour while working.
Takeaways
- Switching up salad toppings really helps me stay interested in daily salads. This week it was hearts of palm and chick peas with a “fall-ish theme” and I was digging it!
- I forgot to cancel our Blue Apron delivery. It was nice because I didn’t have to meal plan but it wasn’t my favorite week of meals. (Although those pork buns TOTALLY made up for it. They were seriously so good.)
- Food photography taken at night is sad.
- I need more egg salad in my life.
- I am done with almond milk lattes. Every time I get them I decide they’re gross and then I buy them again. Does anyone else think they taste really “chemically?” That’s the best way I have to describe it. I still prefer soy for a non-dairy option but I am trying not to eat/drink a ton of soy these days. And I avoid regular milk because of my skin and breakouts. What’s a girl to do!? Think I can bring my own homemade almond milk or canned coconut milk to the coffee shop? 😉 At least there’s always regular coffee or shots of espresso, right?
See you guys on Sunday with our meal plan and some of my favorite fall recipes.
What’s your favorite latte milk option?
What are your current favorite salad toppings?
Egg salad, yes or no?
I don’t know why, but I find the almond milk lattes from Whole Foods to be just horrendous. But if I get them at our two independent local coffee shops? They’re delicious and I could drink one every day. I wonder if the brand of milk really has that much to do with it? Or maybe the temperature they heat it to? I’m not sure, but when it’s bad, it’s really bad. 🙁
Yes, I really think the brand does have to do with it. And many others have commented the same. I agree. The bad ones are TERRIBLE! Like I can’t even drink it.
Why do you try to avoid soy? I use unsweetened soy in my coffee, but don’t eat a lot of other soy products even though I think they are fine. It seems a lot of people especially men, think soy is harmful. What are your feelings about soy?
I have been using rice milk, but mostly coconut milk in my tea. It cuts down on the acidity, and gives it a nice creamy flavor. Add in a smidge of vanilla and a hint of cinnamon and it is sooooo good!
Oh I don’t know that I’ve ever tried rice milk. I like how creamy coconut milk is, the stuff out of the can not the carton. Yum to the vanilla and cinnamon in tea!
I just told someone the exact same thing about almond milk lattes the other day. I always ask for coconut milk. I find most places are carrying it now.
I’ll keep trying! And boo to almond milk tasting so weird.
Starbucks has coconut milk now and i’m a big fan! I still love a good hot soy latte though.
Agreed, their soy latte is my fave. I think it’s because they use vanilla soy so it’s a little sweet! 🙂
I completely agree with some of the other comments about variation in type and quality of almond milk. Some places make amazing almond milk lattes and so do taste just horrible and “chemically” as you said. If I know I don’t like a certain place’s almond milk variety I tend to go with a small cup of black coffee.
Also, thanks for mentioning Sunflour’s egg salad sandwich! I’ve eyed it on the menu many times but always opted for something else. Ill definitely have to try it next time, preferably with a cookie on the side!
Do you know what brand is good versus “chemically” and bad? And are there any places here in town where you like their almond milk lattes?
You must try the egg salad + cookie combo at Sunflour!
I like making egg salad with tahini for a mayo-free version (or avocado)! My favourite is coconut milk lattes. Whole Foods here in Vancouver makes them so I’m sure they would in the US too! I like the taste so much better than almond milk.
Thanks for the egg salad idea with tahini or avo. That sounds yummy! (Maybe a mix of both?)
My university has a coffee shop with macadamia nut milk and it is by far the best non-dairy milk for lattes!
Interesting and good to know!
I’m SO glad today is a better day. <3
Have you told your favorite places that you don't like their almond milk or at least ask what brand they use? I mentioned to one of my coffee shops that their almond milk tasted different from one location to another (and not in a good way); and they were really glad I told them; the person who made the nondairy milk shopping decision for the yucky location doesn't actually drink nondairy milk and was clueless. So the feedback was passed along and they finally switched brands! Worth a shot!
This is a great suggestion. Thank you! Do you know what brand you do like?
I always order a skim milk latte. I drink unsweetened almond milk in my coffee at home, but when I do work at the cafe I can’t get it. And yes to EGG salad. I haven’t had it in a while. Lately I have been eating a ton of chicken salad. The Stop & Shop has great options, especially their curry flavor. 🙂
I used to get skim or 2% lattes but one big takeaway I had from Whole30 is that dairy causes breakouts on my cheeks and chin. So BOO! Not the worst problem to have, at least there’s still coffee and tea! 🙂 Or I can make my own at home.
Omg I had the save realization about almond milk lattes the other day!! I really hate Starbucks almond milk and totally prefer coconut milk lattes now as I have the same issues with regular milk. Sometimes I like the first couple sips of almond milk lattes but then it always ends up tasting like dirty dishwasher. Glad it’s not just me lol.
I think it totally depends on the brand of almond milk. You are not alone!
Whatever brands of soy and almond milk they use at Starbucks are no good, but I like the almond milk they use at Dunkin! I have cut down on dairy for the same reasons as you so non-dairy options are key for me at coffee shops… I’d rather have my dairy in cheese form 🙂
Good to know about Dunkin. I never think of it! RE: the dairy, sadly I can’t even do cheese without a huge breakout. It sucks! 🙁
I totally agree about the almond milk. My go to drink now is an Americano with a packet of sweetener, no cream/milk, add light ice too cool it down.
I tried the Americano a month or so ago and didn’t love it. I think I’m going to have to stick to regular coffee or tea unless I do soy from time to time or make my own at home with homemade almond milk or coconut milk.
Hmm, I use almond milk in my coffee at home but just get low-fat cow’s milk when I get a latte out. I don’t eat a whole lot of dairy (just personal preference, no health issues) and I get coffee out so rarely that the regular milk is fine with me. I think for lattes, the fat content makes a difference. Maybe almond milk just doesn’t have enough fat to make a good latte?
Hey Rebecca –
I used to get 2% milk in my lattes when I got them out and I loved it but one huge thing I discovered through Whole30 is that dairy causes breakouts for me along my cheeks and chin. Agree with you on the fat content. I think coconut milk (the real kind from a can, not from a carton) would be a great solution but they don’t carry it in coffee shops. At least there’s always tea, coffee and soy on occasion!
I’m 100% with you on the almond milk lattes! My solution is to make my own batch of cashew or almond milk at home each week. When I go out to coffee or go to work I bring a small mason jar with a couple ounces of the homemade nut milk and I add it to cold brew. Yes, it’s high maintenance, but tastes so good and doesn’t bother my stomach or skin at all! 🙂
I don’t think that sounds high maintenance at all! Ever since I started making my own almond milk, I really dislike the taste of the store bought stuff.
I love almond milk lattes! I do really think it’s the brand though. The best tasting lattes I’ve had were made with almond breeze and that’s the brand I use daily in my coffee.