Hello! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I spent it running, brunching, napping, puppy-watching and showering multiple times because of the heat. Minus the last one, it was pretty great.
Side note: thank you all for your comments on Thursday’s post. I’m in the process of responding to everyone’s comments. They meant so much to me.
Today I want to share a few new-to-me food products as well as photos of recent meals. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve settled into a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday posting schedule, therefore, I skip the typical What I Ate Wednesday. Not to say I’ll never do one again, but this schedule works for me now. Jen from Peanut Butter Runner (my favorite) does “Recent Eats” posts with tons of meal inspiration. I’m going to try to do something like that every month or so and round-up food photos I haven’t posted on the blog or Instagram, although I can’t guarantee my meals will be as great as hers :) Also, the photos are all taken from my iPhone and not perfectly plated like I try to do for Instagram.
First, the new products. I’m doing this crazy thing and trying to not spend my life saving’s at Whole Foods, so these were “splurges” that will (hopefully) last longer than the typical produce and kombucha I normally buy.
New Food Products
Nutritional Yeast
I’m very late to the game on this purchase, I know. I haven’t cooked with this yet, so I’m looking for suggestions! For those who don’t know, nutritional yeast is a vegan cheese seasoning. I’m kind of put off by the name of it…sounds so unappetizing and fake. Thoughts?
Larabar Organic with Superfoods
Larabar recently (?) came out with a new “superfood” line of bars. The combos are incredible and unique! I bought three of this flavor (Turmeric, Ginger + Beet) because that’s the only one my store had in stock. I’ve been on a turmeric kick too so it fits well. I want to get the Coconut, Kale + Cacao one next.
Tessemae’s Honey Mustard
We love Tessemae’s in my house! I’ve used the BBQ sauce to make wings and the Balsamic as a chicken marinade. I recently bought their Honey Mustard to use as a marinade, as well. I made honey mustard chicken thighs for dinner this past weekend (see below). So good!
Recent Meals
Honey-ginger salmon with broccoli and spiralized rutabaga noodles. A few notes about this meal…1) note to self: don’t undercook broccoli (even though it’s charred on one side I had a stomach ache after…I don’t do well with undercooked cruciferous vegetables) and 2) the rutabaga noodles were awesome. Even my dad liked them. I sprialized two rutabaga, massaged the noodles with coconut oil and then baked at 400 for about 20 minutes.
Baked chicken with rosemary and Dijon (my favorite condiment), lemon zoodles, cinnamon roasted carrots and pumpkin seeds. Simple, go-to meal.
Lemon-dill salmon (made on a cedar plank!) with grilled summer squash and salad with carrots and strawberries. My mom made this meal and it screamed summer.
Unless I want a smoothie after running, breakfasts are a variation of this meal. One or two fried (runny) eggs with sautéed kale, carrots, sauerkraut and a starch (I’ve been alternating sweet potatoes, butternut and acorn squash).
Breakfast has always been a “phase meal” for me, meaning I’ll eat the same thing for a while before getting sick of it. I’m going on six months strong with this one. Anyone else go through phases like that? I’ve been through cereal, oatmeal and smoothie bowls.
Like I said, breakfasts are usually eggs, except for the one day we had leftover salmon and I decided to eat it instead. A random and already-cut-up plate but it included kale, salmon, avocado and a purple sweet potato. Not the most appetizing picture, I apologize! I felt spoiled eating salmon for breakfast.
And one more zoodle meal for this post…lemon-dill shrimp and zoodles. The shrimp was marinated in lemon and dill and then the zoodles were simply sautéed in lemon and olive oil. This is a picture of the serving bowl because I was too lazy to dish it out and pose.
Here are the honey mustard chicken thighs. I marinated the thighs in Tessemae’s Honey Mustard, rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper for about an hour. Then, I browned them on the stove top in our Le Creuset dutch oven before putting the pot in the (real) oven for about 10 minutes to finish off. I need to use the dutch oven it more often! I paired the chicken with cinnamon roasted carrots and a sweet potato, which wasn’t done cooking when I took the photo.
I should note that I did not eat all of this plate (although I probably could have). I shared half with my dad!
The grand finale…a tuna sashimi bowl. I did share this on Instagram. In the bowl: kale, cucoodles (cucumber noodles), coodles (carrot noodles), avocado, cashews and tuna. The tuna was marinated in coconut balsamic and lime olive oil and dusted with coconut flakes. Went back for seconds on the tuna…or thirds. I can’t remember.
My “meal method” is pretty simple: protein, vegetable, starch. Done. I might add a “healthy fat” group, too, although I always cook with coconut or olive oil. Varying the cooking methods and flavors keeps it interesting for me, although I tend to revert back to “KISS.”
I didn’t have any pictures of lunches or snacks that were worth sharing. Safe to say I still eat those meals but 1) they look the same most of the time and/or 2) I just don’t have the patience for photos 24/7. If you’re curious, lunches have been salads with a protein, berries, avocado and nuts/seeds or, if I’m lucky, whatever we have for leftovers. Snacks are the usual nut butter, smoothies and energy bites.
On this weeks menu: burgers, fish tacos and salmon, because it’s the best.
I need to bust out of my nutritional yeast rut. We use it every damn day but only on popcorn :-)
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Oh that’s a good idea!
I could go for some fish tacos, lol. None of my meals have been amazing lately. I also still don’t have a spiralizer. Ugh when will I get wwith thte times, lol
heather @Lunging Through Life recently posted…One Hot Weekend 6/26/16
I use mine probably three or four times a week! :)
It’s time to make some MAC AND CHEESE with that NOOCH <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Strawberry Cappuccino Ice Cream
I think you’re right :)
Angela from Oh She Glows has a great vegan cheese sauce she uses on noodles, it’s my go-to recipe for cooking with nutritional yeast! http://ohsheglows.com/2011/08/18/quick-dirty-5-ingredient-vegan-cheeze-sauce-recipe-challenge/
All of your meals look absolutely delicious!
Sara @ Oats & Rows recently posted…Currently: June
Thank you so much for sharing that link! Going to look at it now :)
I love nutritional yeast!! Its great on grilled vegetables or in soups. I also will use it on eggs since I don’t eat cheese. And you can’t eat popcorn without it :)
Adding it to eggs is a good idea! Thanks!
I just recently started trying Tessemae’s salad dressings and I love it! So much great flavors and you just cannot beat that ingredient list. I want to try out some of their products for BBQs!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Race 13.1 Detroit Half Marathon Training Week 3
Everyone in my house loves the BBQ sauce (and my dad and sister are picky!). Such a great company.
That tuna sashimi bowl made me hungry for tuna! And nutritional yeast is interesting. I’ve used it for a ‘cheese’ substitute. I love that you’re adventurous to try new things! Also, those Larabars look pretty good? Are they sweet or sour? Oh, and I just tried golden milk overnight oats. I’m excited to try it!
Emily recently posted…Why I’ve Struggled with Self Care
I would say the bars are more sweet! I love golden milk! I’ve seen a few new recipes for overnight oats with it. They all look amazing.
I tried out nutritional yeast WAY back in the day (i was still in NYC!) and I just couldn’t get into it. :Nooch” then became all the rage, and now it seems to be entering a resurgence. I have just discovered a new protein powder supplement that I am loving–and I’m not even big on protein powders, so that is saying something! More to come on the blog soon ;D
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Resisting All You Can Eat Sushi Is an Exercise in Futility
LOVE COLLAGEN! Totally on the same wavelength :)
The name of nutritional yeast grosses me out, and I usually don’t tell people when I use it because it tends to elicit the same response, but it does taste nice and subtly cheesy. So, I like it (in eggs, to season meat, etc.), but I don’t like to talk about it ;)
And a lot of my weekend eats were recipe testing or boring, but Friday night I did have Chilean sea bass steamed with ginger. Since steaming doesn’t add any fat to the fish, I never do it, but the waitress recommended it and it was freaking amazing. :) Your eats all look delicious, as always. We’re food twins.
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…(Paleo) Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
I haven’t had Chilean seabass in so long! Such a treat when I do find it at restaurants.
I definitely go in breakfast phases, although eggs and yogurt are in the rotation constantly because I like eggs after weekend long runs and yogurt is easy as a base to build on at work.
I’ve been thinking about scaling back the WIAW posts too just because I wonder how much longer posting the same thing every week is going to be fun for me/other people to read, then again they do seem to be enjoyed so it’s a balance I think? :)
People do love them! I’m one of those people! Yet I can rarely remember to take a picture of everything in one day, plus a round-up like this lets me include more.
I LOVE nutritional yeast! It’s literally good on everything. Veggies, pasta, popcorn (!!!), chicken…probably would be good if I just put it on the wall and licked it off honestly.
Annalise Mishler recently posted…Read This If You’re Falling Behind in Life
Haha I’ll have to give all of those a shot! I might save the last one until the end ;)
I’m also all about Tessemae’s and the purple sweet potatoes! New items for me range from pinot noir wine to red kale to frozen sliced beets (aka apparently I have a thing for red/purple foods haha)!
Frozen sliced beets?! Perfect for smoothies! As of last week, my Whole Foods stopped carrying purple sweet potatoes :( Something to look forward to in the fall, I suppose!
Ooh Tessamaes is a local MD product-I love their dressings but haven’t tried their honey mustard. I LOVE honey mustard with chicken tenders or anything pretty much.
I’m obsessed with their products! Such a great company!
Look at all those seafood dishes…Lately I cannot get enough of seafood either…Tuna Fish out of the can, salmon, cod, and whatever else I can get my hands on…It’s summer and seafood tastes so good this time of year! :)
ACKTIVE LIFE recently posted…#SummerStrong Outdoor Workout
Yay for a fellow tuna fish lover! I agree, it’s the best this time of year!
I like nutritional yeast. It’s kinda strange though and I’m not sure what exactly to put it in. The best meal I’ve had recently was burrito bowls my flat made together. Can’t go wrong with cheese and corn chips.
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People have suggested seasoning veggies with it! I think I’ll try that soon.
Kristy over at Southern In-Law actually had two yummy-looking recipes recently using nutritional yeast, and I think that one of them is paleo! The zoodles and shrimp look fantastic. The best meal I’ve eaten recently was when my dad and I went out for dinner on Saturday night–I had crab-crusted snapper over stir-fried veggies. :)
Claire @ My Pink & Green Life recently posted…Travel: Camping at Lake Maria State Park
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll look at her site :)
Crab-crusted snapper sounds incredible. Perfect summer meal!
I LOVE nutritional yeast. My favorite way to eat it is to coat veggies in it and then roast them. I’ll do just oil, nutritional yeast, and salt for a basic one but you can combine it with all kinds of herbs, and even mix it up with some tahini for a yummy coating on veggies. Delish. Also loving your rutabaga noodle idea! So fun!
A few people suggested roasting veggies with it! I think I’m going to try that :) Tahini sounds like a great addition, too.
I love nutritional yeast and I’m so glad I can use it again! For a few years i wasn’t allowed to touch it as my body weirdly decided to hoard vitamin b6 a couple of years back (which my haematologist thinks was a weird coeliac related issue as my body was throwing out every ounce of iron at the same time) and I ended up with sensory neuropathy.
Now I can eat all the cheezy things (and real cheese because nothing beats real cheese) and I had my levels checked a few weeks ago and my body has decided it’ll take b6 in moderation instead :P
Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Vegan Cheesy Chickpea Bites (Grain Free)
I know the feeling of having celiac-related issues. Not fun, but I’m glad you can handle it now :)
I gotta try nutritional yeast! I keep seeing it everywhere. I am glad that you had a relaxing weekend Emily! It was so hot here in the Boston area too. Def needed to keep reapplying my deodorant haha.
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If I don’t shower twice in one day, it’s a good sign! Haha
Those larbars!!!! I’ll have to be on the lookout for those :-)
Carly @ Fitliving Eats recently posted…Kale & Mushroom Enchiladas Three Ways
Love the wrappers, too!
I need to find those Lara Bars! What a wonderful line of products! And cedar plank salmon….mmmmm THE BEST!
Diana @ Live Lean Eat Green recently posted…Rock ‘N’ Roll Seattle Marathon Race Recap
Ah cedar planks make the best fish! Tastes like a fancy restaurant.
SO many yummy meals! I like your simple protein, starch, veggie method for easy healthy meals. I’ve actually never had nutritional yeast and I think the smell has always turned me off to it…but I might have to pick up a scoop from the bulk bins at Whole Foods the net time I go, just to give it a chance!
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