Trying for the Sake of Trying

Does anyone else ever find herself caught up in the whirlwind of a new fad? Well, I'll go first.

 

Hi, my name is A.K., and I bought almond butter and almond milk on Tuesday for no particular reason.

Sometimes I find myself writing down atypical grocery items on my list (e.g., soups containing barley, lactose-free milk, coconut oil, Smart Water, natural peanut butter, Fage yogurt) simply for the sake of trying something new. But am I really buying these items to try new foods? Or am I buying them because other bloggers, Tweeters, healthy-living pursuers, or friends mention something in passing that I just can't get out of my head?

I'll give you a prime personal example. About a year ago, I found myself in a meal rut; I was making the same 4-5 recipes repeatedly, and I was starting to seriously feel the need to branch out. I decided I could start by replacing some of the less healthy ingredients in these recipes (cough, mayonnaise, cough) with healthy substitutes. I replaced the heavy mayonnaise base in my godmother's chicken casserole recipe with plain Chobani Greek yogurt. I continually read about people extolling the virtues of Chobani as a substitute for different creamy bases, so I said, why not? 

I'm not an experienced enough domestic goddess to know which substitutions are actually feasible, so I didn't anticipate that I would sacrifice the creaminess and hint of sweetness of the mayo for the chalkiness and bitterness of the yogurt. The casserole turned out terribly, and I ruined two nights' worth of dinners.

 

Naturally, I had to stop and ask myself: would I have been better off to suck it up and use a more caloric base, or ruin dinner for several nights and waste a ton of fresh ingredients? Since then, by the way, I use olive oil-based mayonnaise when I absolutely need it. It's one of those condiments that really kind of grosses me out, since it's essentially lard... but that's beyond the point.

 

I had also read many bloggers' posts about replacing sour cream with plain Greek yogurt. I was a little wiser this time around, so I did my homework before I automatically became a drone, mindlessly replacing foods I enjoy with foods I have to choke down in the name of "health."

Since I purchase store-brand fat-free sour cream, I'm consuming 10 calories per tbsp. If I were to substitute the dollop or two of sour cream I enjoy atop my favorite vegetarian chili with plain Chobani, I'd be consuming 15-20 calories per tbsp. But I count more than just calories; the nutritional values are actually comparable (with the exception of protein). In this case, making such a switch is a personal preference, as there is no alarming difference I can see between using fat-free sour cream and plain yogurt.

(Mind you, I'm pretty sure I keep the Cho section of my local Kroger in business, but I'm just making my point.)

 

Back to the almonds...

I've tried almond butter before, and I wasn't impressed. As much as I love whole, unsalted almonds, I think I expected almond butter to be sweeter and creamier, like the peanut butter I'm accustomed to buying. Probably because so many of the well-known varieties are chock-full of sugar and preservatives... Oh, right, it's not time for a soapbox spiel. In any event, I'm really enjoying my almond butter. I had to stop myself the other day from eating it by the spoonful. Surprisingly, I like that it's drier than PB and equally as easily spread. I can't say I'm thrilled about 190 cals per serving, but the protein content and the heart-healthy endorsement put me a little more at ease.

 

I really don't know what compelled me to purchase lactose-free milk. I agonized in the Natural Foods section for a solid ten minutes before finally selecting vanilla-flavored Silk Pure Almond. I hesitantly tried it yesterday morning with my beloved Kashi Honey Puffs. I dabbled with it later in a cup of Joe, but I can't say it was as great in coffee as it was in cereal. At more than twice the cost of skim milk for half of the quantity, I'm questioning my M.O. on this one more than the others.

 

In the end, I'm not always sure why I make some of the purchases I do, particularly ones of which I might've initially been skeptical.

Why have I suddenly changed my mind?

Am I becoming a so-called follower? Or worse, the old insult, a copycat?

Nah. I think I'm just curious. Whatever the reason, I'm learning a hell of a lot more by experimenting than I ever did simply reading about other people's exploits or sticking with my same-old-same. For me, that's what this has all been about.

 

P.S. Back to my question: do you ever find yourself getting sucked into "fad foods" or trendy new diet options?

Over the Moon for Skinny Cow

I've been pretty open about the fact that I don't often buy dessert-y or indulgent items for my apartment... because they'd all be gone within the hour. I'm serious. There's no chance that chocolate or Doritos could mellow for a day or two. Just because I love to find ways to eat well doesn't mean I don't sometimes crave Forbidden Foods.

 

Well, my blends, the dessert-less apartment era may be on its way out.

 

During our requisite grocery shopping trip our first evening at the lake, Mom and I were looking for some sweet treats. (Because, you know, the Famous Amos cookies and the Tupperware container of M&Ms weren't enough.) We stumbled across Skinny Cow miniatures in the ice cream section.

 

Now, let me just say, I don't often allow myself to venture into the ice cream section, because I go starry-eyed like a drooling kid in front of the the Cocoa-Choco-Peanut Butter-Fatty Crisps in the cereal aisle. I have to resist the strong, pulling, uncontrollable urge to stuff my pie hole with every rich ice cream in sight.

Okay, allow me to wipe my chin as I get back to my story...

 

So we compared various miniature ice creams' calorie, fat, and sugar contents. Skinny Cow came out the clear winner. At just 4 Weight Watchers points, I knew my sister would be pleased. At 150 calories, I was pleased! This ice cream is some of the creamiest, dreamiest, tastiest ice cream I have ever had. I'm not a big strawberry cheesecake girl, but the Skinny Cow variety wholeheartedly has my vote.

Move over, Obamney!

 

Yesterday afternoon, I wrote ice cream on my grocery list for the first time in probably literally a year. I was all too excited to get to the frozen foods section of Kroger to see which flavors they offered. I settled on Strawberry Cheesecake, Cookies 'n Cream, and Chocolate Fudge Brownie. And ya know what? I don't feel one bit guilty about having three containers of ice cream in my freezer.

The serving size is perfect, the texture is beyond, the flavor is incredible, and the benefits of knowing I can have dessert without feeling like a bloated whale are untold. Three cheers for Skinny Cow!

 

P.S. Have you tried Skinny Cow products? If so, which flavors do you recommend?

 

Disclaimer: All opinions and product endorsements are my own. I received no compensation, monetary or otherwise, for reviewing or promoting this product.

Martini Therapy

The solution to everything is liquor time with girlfriends.

I like to call a dinner date incorporating drinks with the girls either "martini therapy" or "margarita therapy," no matter what we're actually drinking.

Last night's poison of choice was Robin Alexander martinis -- "James and the Giant Peach" and "Andes Mint," to be exact. My sister said it perfectly over the weekend: there needs to be a day between Sunday and Monday to ease us back into the week. That's exactly what last night was!

In this order, I was in desperate need of:
1. Girlfriend gossip
2. Martinis

3. A scrumptious salad

4. Martinis

Martini therapy doesn't entail much except secret-sharing, delicious food, a few naughty drinks, and a chance to relax for a few hours. Unfortunately, martini therapy is practically as expensive as actual therapy, but the benefits are untold ;) Nothing quite beats a cancelled class and a night out with my ladies!

P.S. Do you have a special place you like to go with your girlfriends? If it's in RVA, please share!

Fall Break R&R

This weekend was completely perfect, folks.

Perfect.

I didn't blog because the house my family rented for my sister's and my Fall Break didn't have Internet access, and I wasn't about to find a library in BFE to post a few words. So, I'll just cram it all in now!

 

The house we rented was in a quiet, secluded lakefront community, so we had as much peace and quiet as we could handle. I had truly forgotten how much I enjoy reading for pleasure. I brought schoolwork with me because I'd have felt guilty if I didn't, but I had no intentions of touching it. This weekend was all about rest and relaxation. The rest part was a bit dicey, considering the twin bed I called my own for four nights was about as comfortable as a few reams of printer paper... but I think that was my only complaint.

 

Thursday, my parents picked me up at my apartment around 12:30, and we hit Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Honestly, I'll never turn down the Chick'n Strips Salad and a Diet Lemonade. Then we were lake-bound! I was in comfy clothes with hot tea and a new book in my hand faster than you could say vacation.

 

I lazed around, read (Kristin Hannah's Magic Hour), cat-napped, and soaked up the beautiful weather. Mom and I had planned scrumptious, health-conscious meals, so Thursday night, my parents and I made gigantic spinach salads topped with salmon.

I even indulged in the random assortment of beer Dad brought along ;)

I'm not sure whether I'm embarrassed to say we watched and commentated the VP debate... but I can say I learned virtually nothing.

 

Friday, after Mom and I snooped around the gorgeous house next door which was for sale and poked around the dock, Caroline arrived. We elected to have turkey burgers, sweet potato fries, and salad for dinner to "carb up." We spent the evening watching an episode of Jeopardy!, sipping hot tea, and reading.

 

Saturday, we were up before the sun to be in Vinton -- 45 minutes from our rental property -- for the 5k. I was more nervous than I anticipated being, and the 40-degree temps didn't warm my confidence. You know you're participating in a small race when it begins with some guy in an orange vest shouting instructions and then pressing an air horn. I was also surprised by how many cross-country runners and sprinters participated in this small-town event. I tried not to focus on how far we'd run, and instead focus on the scenery and the town. The course was out-and-back, so I got to see everything twice as the sun melted the frost and brought neighbors out to the blocked-off course.

 

When I thought we were probably nearing the finish line, Dad said, "Just up around this bend, go around the block, across the street, and we're there." He confirmed that we were on pace to finish in 35 minutes. We picked up our pace as we passed back over the creek, especially after he reported, "Less than five minutes." My lungs were burning and my legs were getting a bit tired from pounding pavement, but I said, "Run!" when he reported that we had 30 seconds left. We sprinted across the finish line in exactly 35 minutes. He stepped back to let me pass a few seconds ahead of him, and I felt so triumphant that not only had we completed the race together, running the entire distance, but we accomplished our goal. My dad knows how to inspire, y'all.

 

After we changed into warmer clothes and hydrated, we made our way toward the pancake breakfast. Let me tell you, those were some of the most moist pancakes and some of the juiciest sausage I've ever tasted. After breakfast, it was only 9:30, so we began meandering among vendors' booths. The Vinton Fall Festival was actually pretty cool, and there was a lot of interesting stuff for all ages to do and see.

 

Later that afternoon, I was torn between my mind craving more reading, and my body craving a nap. I compromised by reading until I dozed off. Yeah, I'm 90. Saturday night, we made BBQ sandwiches topped with angel hair cole slaw (I literally did not know such a thing existed) and accompanied by veggies and fruit. I was satisfied to be in my tiny, rock-hard bed early Saturday night.

 

Sunday, I slept in until the very late hour of 8:45. We had decided to rent a pontoon boat for the day to cruise the lake. My face got pretty sunburned because I spent four hours in the bow, scoping out million-dollar homes and delighting in the wind and the waves. We pulled up to a small marina for 30 minutes or so to have an on-board picnic lunch, and then we were back at it. Sometimes I feel like I was born to be on the water.

 

Sunday's menu consisted of chicken, mushrooms, onion, and asparagus over whole wheat pasta, with sides of fresh strawberries and light garlic French bread. After everyone was done lounging and digesting, we wandered down to the sandy beach in front of the house to set up the "instant fire pit" my mom found. I toasted one marshmallow after another until I was s'mored out. We read until everyone was pooped, and then called it a night.

 

This morning, it was gloomy and pouring when my alarm went off at 8:00. It was the usual frenzy to pack everything up and be out of the house by 10:00. I always hate the sad, slow feeling that inevitably means it's the last day of vacation. I'm pretty sure my family and I are Smith Mountain Lake lifers. Now it's back to the real world...

 

P.S. As always, I hardly took any pictures to document my adventures. I need a new memory card for my new digital camera. I'm working on it!



Coffee vs. Tea: The Smack(ing Lips)-Down

I've always liked both tea and coffee. I'm more likely to order tea with dinner and coffee after dinner as a treat. I like either beverage equally hot or iced. I don't care for either paired with alcohol (think Firefly).
As part of my drink-more-water campaign, I've been experimenting with tea. Don't get me wrong -- I still love my Dunkin and my Folger's decaf.

I just decided to pick up a couple varieties of tea and see what I liked or didn't like about it.

As it turns out, I'm leaning toward tea these days.

As a huge type-A personality, a "pros" list for each option is a must (pros are strictly my personal opinions):

Pros of tea                                         Pros of coffee
Lighter feel                                    Bigger caffeine boost
More refreshing                                  More filling
More thirst-quenching                               Sweeter
Energizing                                       Sleep-inducing
Fresher breath                                  More flavorful
Healthier additives (e.g. natural honey)       More additive options
Great on the porch on a fall day!               Great on the porch on a fall day!

I find that I'm more likely to make 2-3 cups of tea per day, whereas I drink a maximum of 2 cups of coffee per day (one with caffeine in the morning, sometimes one decaf in the evening). I just feel lighter and more refreshed drinking tea, and I don't feel guilty making multiple cups per day because I'm adding natural sweeteners to it.

I've found that I don't necessarily need a jolt of caffeine in my day. Since I eliminated soda from my diet, coffee and tea are the only sources of caffeine I consume, neither of which I need if I (a) get adequate sleep and (b) get a good cardio workout in.

I'm not looking to stick solely to one beverage or another; I'm just kind of weighing the pros of each on the blogosphere. I'd love your input, whether you are strictly a coffee-drinker, only a tea-drinker, whether you don't have a preference, or whether you drink something else entirely!

Overall, my goal has been to drink more water, and that is exactly what I have accomplished. Truth be told, since both tea and coffee are made from water, neither beverage has much effect on my daily H2O consumption -- I just like them :)