Category Archives: foodie friday

Foodie Friday — food repeats

Posted by JessSutera in foodie friday, healthy eating

Hill repeats, speed repeats…food repeats?

Yup, food repeats. They’ve been happening a lot up in here for the latter half of this week since returning from Little Rock (where wine was on repeat, above all else, hah). And it’s not because I don’t have plenty of food options to choose from,  I’ve just been gravitating towards certain foods this week. I think it’s mainly because I’m back on the traveling bandwagon next week for work so I’m trying like hell to fit in as many of my favorite healthy foods as possible before I’m back in un-routine mode again.

So what types of food repeats are going on over here? Well, why don’t I show you? ;-P

Coffee — homemade and lots of it. (working from home has saved me a bundle due to lack of Starbucks runs! I now reserve those for “venti Friday” for the most part, hehe).  This pic is actually from the cute little diner we found in the Baltimore airport en route to Little Rock last Saturday. I couldn’t help myself – there is just *something* about diner coffee (it’s gotta be the mugs!) that does it for me…

Flatout wraps filled with yummy goodness. My body must be craving iron because I’ve been stealing the deli roast beef from Scott’s stash for my own sandwiches this week. With a laughing cow herb-flavored cheese, lots of baby romaine and a side of fresh-cut cantaloupe, strawberries and blackberries. In a word: drool.

Bananas. Perfectly ripe. Bright yellow with a hint of green at the stem. Perfect. On their own. Paired with peanut butter (shocker). Or sliced into my oatmeal. <3

Other items in heavy rotation? Salads at dinner. I eat one with every dinner for the most part, come to think of it. And Chobani – with some chia seeds on top to keep me full. Annnnd oatmeal, obviously. That’s a daily occurrence around here – I even got to enjoy Heather‘s version of oatmeal while in Little Rock, twas lovely. ;-)

Even though I love variety in the foods that I eat, there’s also something to be said for certain food repeats, the good ‘ol standbys, if you will. Can be so very comforting and nourishing all at once. Exactly why I’ll miss it SO MUCH next week while in Cali for work. At least we all know by now that I come prepared for situations such as this – got my plain instant oatmeal, mini-packs of peanut butter, protein bars for in-a-pinch quick meals, and apples, all practically packed already in my carry-on, why yes, indeed!

…but I digress…((un-routine)) right??

Happy foodie friday friends – eat up! ;-P

Foodie Friday – an ode to oatmeal

Posted by JessSutera in foodie friday

Oh, oatmeal.

Oatmeal is by far, my favorite breakfast of all time.

The best combo I’ve come up with? Why I do believe I ought to share it with you.

EatDrinkBreatheSweat…Oatmeal
1/2 cup irish oatmeal
1 cup water
dash of salt
sprinkle of cinnamon

In a saute pan:
saute one apple, chopped
sprinkled with cinnamon

Combine the apples with the oatmeal and top with a tablespoon of peanut butter.
Promptly devour.

Seriously – I dream of this oatmeal concoction. (no really, I do)

Other variations have included sliced banana, chopped pear, and if I’m feeling really crazy – maybe a sprinkle of raisins on top, for texture.

And sometimes? I will run just a little bit faster, just because I know – the faster I finish my run, the faster I get to my oatmeal.

In other words: I run for oatmeal.

Foodie Friday – the lunch box edition

Posted by JessSutera in foodie friday, healthy eating

Welcome back to Foodie Friday! I’m loving this new little feature of mine – mostly because it made me giggle to read all of your comments on my post last Friday – who knew how interested you’d all be in what I like to eat! ;-)

I am dedicating today’s Foodie Friday to lunchtime. Now that I have the luxury of working from home most days — something I am eternally grateful for, you have no idea — I can get much more creative at lunchtime which I LOVE!

Just a few snippets from this week – I’m calling this the Lunch Box Edition (aside: I used to LOVE my lunch box as a kid, complete with the thermos for soup!):

I’m calling this one the best lunch everrrrr. It involved a bagel thin that I toasted and smeared with a laughing cow (herb flavored) cheese wedge. I topped that with fresh arrugula, sliced tomato, one fried egg and a half of an avocado. With a side of the juiciest pineapple and strawberries. Um, YUM. This stuck with me for almost FIVE hours too – which, if you know me, is unheard of!

Sandwich time — on my newest and latest obsession: Flatout wraps. They are AWESOME. So soft and flavorful and quite the bang for the caloric buck at 90 calories a wrap. This one included turkey, cheese, baby spinach and mustard. With a delicious arrugula salad with goat cheese. Goat cheese – another food item I could never live without. <3

Apparently I’m in a sandwich mood this week because yesterday’s lunch involved two things: An impromptu lunch date with my sis who came by for lunch amidst her erranding — I made her a delicious salad (she was craving greens after being away all week) filled with arrugula, baby spinach, strawberries, goat cheese and snap peas. I went with another turkey/cheese wrap but this time I went back for more of those strawberries and pineapple, and at the last second, tossed on some snap peas that were leftover from dinner the night prior. Another yummy and filling lunch — and even better to share it with my sis, I missed her!

(I gave her a couple slices of turkey for her salad, it needed a protein boost IMHO!)

So there you have it – some of my latest lunch “box” favorites of late. I tend to eat more sandwiches/wraps and “comforting” lunches (including leftovers, when available) in the winter and switch back to lots of giant salads filled with the freshest fruits and veggies I can find in the spring and summer. Wait till you see pictures of lunchtime in the summer – a bounty of freshness!

So now I wanna know: what was your favorite lunch box treat this week? That egg sandwich concoction was definitely my favorite of the week. I’m still dreaming of it. I love food. I just can’t help myself. ;-)

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(PS. I’m still figuring out Pinterest – if one of you could tell me how this  “pin it” widget works/looks to you, I’d appreciate it! Lots of trial-and-error over here! Thank youuu!)

Foodie Friday – things I could eat every. single.day.

Posted by JessSutera in balance, foodie friday, healthy eating

The other day, I tweeted the following:
Jess Sutera
JessFit654
Do you ever find yourself uninspired, blogging-wise? It happens from time-to-time and everytime it does, I hate it. Am I alone?

After weeks of blog posts just flowing right along, without ever having to stop and think about a topic to blog about, I hit major writer’s block this week. I was feeling uninspired and it was driving me nuts. I’m not one to “blog just to blog” so I was fully prepared to take a few days off from blogging.

But then, I got an email from blog bestie Heather. After a little back and forth with her, she suggested I might start talking more about the foods that I eat, the meals that I make, etc., since I sort of gave my eats a “makeover” when I started the 60-day challenge last May.

Um hi, genius.

Instantly, the ideas for posts started flowing. (thank you, Heather!!) Again, this drives back to me writing with passion. I am *so* passionate about food and my new(ish) approach to eating. So why have I not been sharing more of my foodie faves with you guys on the blog?

I have no idea. It’s long overdue.

With that, I bring you: Foodie Friday. I’m not sure yet if this will become a weekly series or not, for now I’m just going with it. (that’s how I roll, hehe)

Today I’m focused on things I could eat every.single.day (and in fact, pretty much do). Just a smattering of some of my fave snacks, treats, breakfasts, lunches, etc. With pictures (which I promise to do more of, especially when writing food-related posts!).

Peanut butter: I <3 it so much, I have at least one jar on backup at all times. And in this case, I also have some super-fresh PB that I ground myself at Whole Foods last weekend (I was legit giddy when I saw the machine in the PB aisle!)

Salads with yummy “things” in them. Think avocado with strawberries and mixed greens (dubbed the “barre n9ne summer salad by Tanya). Or goat cheese, figs and fresh spinach. Or blackberries, avocado and a bit of chopped almonds on top. Or mexican style with fresh corn from the cob, black beans and red onion. I could go on. And on. And ON.

Bananas – on top of a bagel thin with pb (duh), or in my beloved irish oatmeal (OBSESSED with oatmeal – deserves a post of it’s own and in fact, probably will be one!), or with a tsp or two of nutella. In fact, the bagel thin/pb/banana concoction was a favorite of mine this summer at the lake (ah, bliss).

Fresh berries. So versatile – can be sweet or savory. Savory in a salad. Sweet on top of yogurt. Or all on their own. Particularly yummy when freshly picked – like these from our summer outing to the local strawberry farm. mm.

Yogurt. Preferably greek yogurt (hi Chobani, I love you). Lately it’s been the apple cinnamon that has my heart. But yesterday, I went with plain greek yogurt with fresh blueberries and a drizzle of honey. Yum. Protein packed. Delicious.

Healthy appetizers ala date night in. This is a biggie for me. A little back story for ya’ll…

Prior to the food log thing, my biggest weakness (BY FAR) were the cheese/cracker plates Scott and I would devour with our pre-dinner glass of wine during our infamous date nights in. Once I was introduced to my friend moderation and realized that pounding a half a stick of cheese before dinner wasn’t exactly “moderation,” I was on a mission to find a good replacement for the cheese/cracker pre-dinner snack that would still give me the experience of an app and a glass of wine before dinner with Scott but wouldn’t leave me feeling like I was missing out. I bring you my solution: Fresh tomatoes and basil, a few sliced red peppers, two feta-stuffed olives and a baby belle (or laughing cow) wedge. Delicious, refreshing and barely 100 calories. Perfection.

Chocolate. And wine. Shocking, I know. I’m constantly posting about my love of Dove promises and a good glass of wine. A recent addition to that list? Anything salted caramel. OMG best invention ever.

And just so happens to pair beautifully with a glass of wine. I think it was created just for me, seriously. (another pic from this summer, can you tell I’m lusting for summer over here??)

So, there you have it. Just a few things I could legit eat (or drink) every.single.day. And because this was SUCH a fun post, I’m thinking I *will* make this Foodie Friday thing a weekly series. Whatcha think? ;-)