Hi from the Tampa Bay area. I’m currently sitting in my hotel room, watching House Hunters and wearing a Cherry Jubilee Enzyme mask after taking my first Orange Theory class and having Thai food with my parents. I flew in yesterday to spend the weekend here for my uncle’s memorial service.
This week of eats has been all over the place. First, I felt like my schedule was extra condensed and fast-paced due to a short work week since I flew out early Thursday morning. Second, we had plans with friends and family on the days I was in Charlotte. Third, traveling always gets things a little out of wack, especially when you don’t have access to a fridge or kitchen when you travel.
So here’s what this week has looked like on the food front.
Breakfast
Breakfast Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday was smoothie bowls. Not sure why they were sounding so good this week.
My flight left at 9:50 a.m. on Thursday and it was Tanner’s birthday. I felt so sad to leave him on his birthday so I got up extra early to surprise him with breakfast in bed. Sweet potato breakfast bowls (I would have made him something more exciting but in the interest of time and what I had prepped, this was the best it was going to get!), scrambled eggs, orange slices and three cupcakes from Sunflour. He loved it! 🙂
And my breakfast this morning was Panera’s Power Almond Quinoa Oatmeal. I sliced a banana and stirred it in and added a packet of Wild Friends peanut butter from my purse. I shared this on Instagram but I don’t have a fridge where we’re staying to I have limited options for what I can keep there and the hotel’s free breakfast is the standard cinnamon roll, pancake, biscuit, pastries, cereal stuff that you see most places. I’m going to need to figure out a better plan for the next two mornings.
Lunch
Salad with leftover walnut-crusted fish.
Rainy day lunch of avocado toast on sourdough with scrambled eggs and grapes.
Farewell lunch at Dean & Deluca for my friend Lina who is moving to Brussels this week. 🙁
I Googled lunch spots in Clearwater Beach on Thursday when my flight got in and ended up at a little cafe that claimed to be organic and the #8 place to eat according to Yelp. I was excited to try the place because it was cute and the menu looked pretty good. The owner told me I “had to try the veggie burger.” I asked what it was made of and he said kale and quinoa so I said okay. When they brought it out I was underwhelmed to discover what was clearly a Dr. Praeger’s frozen veggie burger patty. So the veggie burger was neither homemade nor organic. Oh well. The ambiance of the place was nice and I got to walk down and see the beach so we’ll call it a win overall.
Diner lunch with family. I had a cup of chicken noodle soup, an egg salad sandwich and a side salad. I also split a piece of sweet potato pie with my momma.
Dinner
On Sunday night I made a walnut and panko crusted turbot that was so, so good. Roasted broccoli and sprouted rice and quinoa blend on the side.
Monday night was a Whole Foods rotisserie chicken with mashed sweet potatoes and peas.
Tuesday night was more rotisserie chicken with roasted brussels sprouts and roasted acorn squash.
I try to SnapChat (username: jendecurtins) my dinner every night and Tanner picked up the camera and snapped a pick of me snapping! 🙂
On Wednesday night we had dinner at Namastay Kitchen because Tanner’s mom was in town with a friend and wanted to bring her to the restaurant. I had our tuna and avocado salad and a sushi roll.
And on Thursday night I went out to dinner with my parents at a really good and cozy restaurant near our hotel. I had this awesome scallop dish and a side salad.
Etc.
An oatmeal raisin cookie from Sunflour while picking up the birthday boy’s treats on Wednesday! 🙂 I also may or may not have had a chocolate chip cookie from my hotel around 10:30 last night while I was working.
Have you been cooking or eating out a lot lately? I know December can get crazy for many people.
Favorite healthy travel breakfast? Bonus points if it doesn’t require a fridge.
Last time a restaurant didn’t live up to the hype or your expectations?
RX bars always work in a pinch, Maple Sea Salt is their newest flavor and it is delish! I like Oatmega Chocolate Mint Bars too. Or the old standard protein shake with a banana. Bet you’ll be glad to get back to a full kitchen!
I love it when the continental breakfast includes hard boiled eggs. In a pinch I also do kind bars, although they’re not my favorite.
i feel like I have been eating a lot lately too! I make oatmeal packets to take with me when I travel for emergency breakfast/meal situations plus protein powder and peanut butter packets. the Panera oatmeal is good though so you made a smart choice!
That fish dinner looks delicious! A peanut butter and banana sandwich is always my go-to travel breakfast.
Random question! What is the nail color/polish you are wearing in the picture with the Sunflour cookie? Love it!
I often pack my own oatmeal single containers and microwave at the hotel buffet. Sometimes they have greek yogurt and I’ll grab those from the buffet. Always grab the fruit off the buffet. I think in general eating, out is challenging and traveling creates a new challenge. Katie H, too funny but I think I’m wearing almost an identical color right now…OPI NL N48…called Thank Glogg It’s Friday. If you need any Tampa Bay/Clearwater food suggestions, holler!:)
I always bring oatmeal packets, nut butter packs and protein powder! How did you like Orange Theory? I try to go 1x a week when I’m not teaching my classes.
oh, I have been HORRIBLE about SUGAR lately … Lets me be honest: 2016 was the worst I’ve been in 10+ years!! I’ll also say that I’ve thought about doing a Whole30 for maybe 2 years and pretty sure jumping in with you in Jan … but I wonder sometimes if I say, “EAT ALL YOU CAN NOW and THEN …” but there hasn’t been an “AND THEN” – eek!! Couple this with the fact that most years I really pick up my mileage in Nov & Dec and even though you can’t out run a bad diet – it really DOES help. With injuries that derailed me longer than ever (and kicked me out of the 1/2 Training plan), eating awful, I have felt like a busted can of biscuits BUT … surprisingly have given myself more grace than ever – so there IS that sliver lining … My body and class are BEGGING me to GET BACK ON TRACK though!!
I’ve always been an ALL or NOTHING type girl.
I actually live in Tampa as well. I have followed you for years and have drawn such inspiration from you. If ever in town for a more upbeat reason with some extra time on your hands – I’d love to have a HEALTHY, HOMEMADE, DELICIOUS and ORGANIC meal with you … and / or try and class – take a run!! 😉
So sorry about your Uncle. Glad you are back in Charlotte.
I have experiences like that with food not in Asheville. We are SOOOO spoiled here with good food that I forget what the rest of the world is like.
We went to a restaurant on the Food and Wine best new restaurants of the year in Savannah and they had NO veggie options. So sad!
Ooooh, I love the colour of your nail polish!! 🙂