Wow…what a busy day at work!!! The phone didn’t stop ringing ONCE! I hardly got time to eat lunch…I was taking reservations while eating my hummus sandwich 🙁 The sandwich was very good…I love the combo of creamy hummus, crisp veggies and soft bread. For the reader that asked, that bread is 100 calories a slice and 100% whole wheat—the best I have found, for sure! Unfortunately, my nectarine was GROSS. I bit into it and it was nasty and soft and tasteless! What a major disappointment!!!! Luckily I had stashed a crisp green apple into my bag this morning at the last second so I had that instead.
Another person asked if hummus fills me up like meat….it is totally different! When I would have ham sandwiches, I would always feel kind of gross and bloated afterward….yes, I felt full…but not a “good” kind (well to me anyways!). After eating my hummus sandwich today I was satisfied. I was not in any way stuffed and for a second thought I might still be hungry, but I didn’t even need to eat my snack (amazing apple pie larabar) until 3:00. I ate lunch at 11:30. It’s the kind of full that keeps you going, a slow release of energy. Sort of like the larabar. It’s not particularily “filling” right after you eat it, but it slowly releases fruit sugars and healthy fats into your body instead of a quick hit like a candy bar that would fill you up for the minute then leave you craving more in an hour. I was surprised: I ate the larabar at 3:00 and went to work out (running 25 min. on treadmill) at around 4:15 or so…I didn’t eat dinner until 6:00 and was totally FINE. Not starving. I was hungry for dinner, of course, but it wasn’t killing me! I easily made it through my workout, steam and shower at the gym no problem :).
So, on to dinner! I love creating simple, healthy pasta dishes that nourish my body. I came up with this one back in college and its still one of my favorites because its filling, tasty and healthy. Not to mention fast! I’ll post the recipe but its sooo easy! Basically, its just whole wheat pasta with crumbled soysage (or in my case, Amy’s veggie patties—soy free and made from walnuts, spices and ground veggies), garlic, olive oil and bell peppers. I just sauteed everything together and tossed it with the cooked pasta. Ta-dah! Super easy and very filling.
I’m off to do major laundry and some cleaning…and answer questions! Sorry I’ve been so busy this weekend but I plan to make it up and answer your questions right now 🙂
Katherine
February 10, 2008 at 11:44 pmWhat is opinion about flavored yogurts such as stonyfield? They have sugar but are not artificial. Is there a difference b/w eating plain and adding honey versus eating stonyfield?
Also, I noticed that you often eat a half of cliff bar, which would be about the same calories as a whole kashi bar. Do you find a half cliff bar more satisfying? Thanks!
p.s. for some odd reason I find doing laundry relaxing, so enjoy your laundry 🙂
Katherine
February 10, 2008 at 11:51 pmVeggie girl, I am allergic to soy. A lot of health food products include soy in one form or another (soybean oil, etc). Do you know of any granolas that are soy free? thanks!!
Casey
February 11, 2008 at 12:03 amhow far do you run in your 25 min?
Kay
February 11, 2008 at 12:06 amYour dinner looks great!
I made the Olive Oil Cake today. I actually made cupcakes and they were awsome!!! Only 20 min in the oven 🙂
Krista
February 11, 2008 at 12:17 amthanks girls for the dessert talk yesterday!! Jenna I would love to know your approach too!
Also I made your chili and cornbread yesterday an it was awesome~loved it!!!
Erica
February 11, 2008 at 12:18 amI had practically the same exact dinner tonight! Was super yummy, healthy and filling. 🙂
Tina
February 11, 2008 at 12:27 amI love your recipes! Do you have one for this pasta dish to share? 🙂
emily w.
February 11, 2008 at 12:30 amI have a quick question for anyone who wants to give me some advice! I wanted to make this recipe (http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1097043) and I was wondering if I should salt the eggplant before grilling it (like salt it over the sink for like 30minutes..)? I have always heard that you should do that, but I wasnt sure if that is only for certain recipes?! Thanks!
VeggieGirl
February 11, 2008 at 12:50 am**Katherine:
Your question is perfect, since I don’t consume any soy; and I eat granola practically everyday!! :0) The granola that I eat practically everyday (and is completely allergen-free) is the following brand (click on the link): http://enjoylifefoods.com/our_foods/granola.html
If you need any other soy-free product recommendations, feel free to ask!! :0)
VeggieGirl
February 11, 2008 at 12:52 amJenna, I’m so sorry that you weren’t exactly able to enjoy your lunch in peace (since you had to keep answering the phone, haha), and that your nectarine was disappointing – bummer!! But at least your pasta dish delivered in flavor; and in appearance!! It is so colorful and wholesome – love it!! Oh and are you talking about the Amy’s California veggie burgers? That’s my favorite type of Amy’s burgers (since, as you said, it’s soy-free and chock-full of great ingredients).
Have fun with the laundry!! :0D
BethT
February 11, 2008 at 12:53 amYour recent conversion back to veggie-ism made me think you might appreciate this recipe – my all time favorite vegetarian recipe, adapted from my all-time favorite vegetarian restaurant in San Francisco. If you’re a meatloaf fan, give it a shot – it’s the closest to a meaty texture I’ve ever been able to find!
4 eggs
2/3 envelope vegetarian Onion Soup Mix (the whole packet measures
1/3 LB low-fat ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
1/3 LB firm tofu (mashed into small pieces)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup onions
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1/4 tsp. rosemary
4 cups (dry measured) high fiber flake cereal (I use nature’s path)
1 clove garlic, chopped
Sautee onions and garlic until soft. Beat eggs and combine with all ingredients except cereal. When combined, add cereal and mix well, breaking up flakes as you go. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour. After one hour, remove and top with organic ketchup or BBQ sauce (I make my own by simply combining ketchup, dijon, brown sugar and a splash of vinegar). Top with sauce and return to oven for 10 mins.
Can we say….yum??
pns
February 11, 2008 at 12:59 amyou should always salt eggplan — cut into 1-inch slices, salt twenty minutes each side between (paper or cloth) towels. this gets the bitterness out of the eggplant
Laura
February 11, 2008 at 1:10 amHey girls- I thought I would update about my intuitive eating today! I just read your really super encouraging replies in the breakfast/lunch post. Thank you all! I am glad that I am not the only one struggling with letting go of the obsession that calorie counting can become.
So today has been *interesting* to say the least.
I told you all about my small, unmeasured bowl of Kashi cereal and milk this morning. That went surprisingly well. Although I found that after my lunch, all I wanted to do was eat! (because I felt like I *could* and I was *allowed*). I guess this is a result of denying my body for so long. To be honest, I think I need to re-learn my body’s signals and cues because for so long I ignored them, and like others have mentioned, I ate because it was a certain time, or I had ‘x’ amount of calories left, etc. I have felt pretty scared today about not controlling how much I am eating, but I just have to push through and trust myself. I DO think this will get easier as time goes on.
I would love to hear others experiences and thoughts. 🙂
Kay
February 11, 2008 at 1:22 amVeggieGirl:
Do you have a particular reason why you don’t consume soy? I have read different studies on soy and some seem really bad (contradictory to say the least). I guess it all comes down to moderation in the end… I am just curious, what kind of foods do you eat or like? By the way, I am always impressed with your proper and still fun writing!! I want to try carob but can’t find it in store around where I live… shoot!
rachel
February 11, 2008 at 1:41 ami have a serious sweettooth–especially when it comes to chocolate. i can eat wonderfully, healthy meals all day (with ample calories) but when sweets are around i am rarely able to resist them.
do you have a sweettooth? if so, how do you curb it? do you think limiting myself to 1 dessert/week would work?
jenna
February 11, 2008 at 1:56 amCasey,
when I run 25 minutes on the treadmill its a combo of running and walking. I’ll warm up for 5 minutes (walking), run for 15 minutes, walk at a super duper incline for 5 minutes then cool down for another five minutes. Today it showed that that combination got me a little over 2 miles.
VeggieGirl
February 11, 2008 at 2:15 am**Kay:
I’m not allergic to soy, but I find that it aggravates my digestive system (I have Crohn’s Disease); and frankly, there are so many other quality protein sources out there (that are NOT animal-based), that I don’t need the soy.
It’s definitely moderation, in the end – I personally find that I don’t need it, but there is no reason to be “afraid” of it. However, it IS better to consume soy in its “purest” forms (such as miso, soybeans/edamame, tofu, tempeh) more frequently than in its more processed forms (soy “meats,” “cheeses,” protein powders, etcetera).
I follow a high-raw vegan diet (eating 75% raw; 25% cooked foods), based mostly on fruits, vegetables, nuts/seeds; some grains (and of course the baked goods that I make, haha). I love lots of foods, so it’s hard to just mention favorites off-hand :0)
You could always try to buy carob online – carob chips, carob powder… it’d definitely be worth the price!! trust me!! :0)
Kate
February 11, 2008 at 8:37 pmI just wanted to thank whoever suggested making veggie burgers in the toaster. I do not have a toaster over so my burgers always came out of the microwave a little soggie. Yesterday, I put a garden burger in the toaster (2 presses) and it came out crispy and perfect and did not make any mess. Thank you again for the great tip, you girls are great!