PB&J Protein Smoothie without even thinking about snapping a pic. The nerve! 
We can just pretend that it looked as pretty as it does in this picture. Ha! 
I was hangry pants t minus five seconds after my smoothie because that’s how my body rolls these days so I snacked on a No-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Bar. These protein bars are the BEST—they’re even man-approved! Big-muscle-man-approved, to be exact. I’ve been having some weird salty cravings lately, so an hour or so later I noshed on a couple pieces of unpictured wild smoked salmon from Trader Joe’s. It kicked that salty craving right in the behind! I think I’ve been such a hungry beast lately because I’ve been doing Barre3 or Body Pump every week day. Or at least I’d like to blame it on that. 
I took the girls I babysit to the pool to celebrate their last day of summer, and it actually has some impressive healthy options! We got the Mediterranean wrap as a salad instead of a huge white flour wrap, a couple hummus bowls with veggies and pita, and a fruit cup. They have plenty of pizza, chips, nachos, and ice cream, but I really appreciate that they have real food as well. 
Afternoon snacks included a sliced granny smith apple with almond butter (totally into green apples right now), a few snap pea crisps (otherwise known as crack), and an unsweetened peach black iced tea from Whole Foods before Barre.
Speaking of Whole Foods, I have two new natural body care products that I’m loving lately! The first is their Good Bar soap. The coconut bar smells beyond unreal, but they have lots of other yummy flavors too. Obsessed! Typical soaps are packed with harsh detergents and artificial fragrances, so it’s important to me to buy soap bars with just a few simple ingredients since I’m slathering it on my body every day. 
Second is this Tom’s Wicked Fresh Cool Montain Mint Mouthwash. I must admit that I hate the taste of Tom’s toothpaste (I use Nature’s Gate, which I adore), but their mouthwash tastes so fab and fresh without that stinging alcohol affect. It’s sweetened with xylitol (just like my favorite aspartame-free Pur gum), which is a natural sweetener alternative to the usual artificial sweeteners you’ll find in toothpastes, gums, and mouthwashes. You’ll notice that it isn’t bright blue either, so there aren’t any sneaky artificial colors hiding in there! Who wants to swish those around their mouth? For more of my natural body care faves, check out my post Life Lessons: On Natural Body Care.
I was the first spot on the wait list for Body Pump and didn’t expect to get in, but then I did! Two workouts in one day hayyyyyy! That pretty much never happens. #Hungryalllllthetime. I was starving after Barre so I snacked on some sprouted tortilla chips with salsa and hummus before leaving for Body Pump. Not the most ideal pre-workout snack, but I was craving tortilla chips so I ate tortilla chips. Lots. 
Thank God I already had roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli in the fridge because I wanted something quick when I got home from Body Pump. I sautéed a chopped red bell pepper and some onion, topped it with some of the reheated sweet potatoes and broccoli, and then topped the veggies with scrambled eggs. I had salsa and hummus with hot sauce on the side for dipping. It was super easy and loaded with veggies, so I’ll definitely be doing this more often. Eggs are such a great meal in a pinch! 
After dinner I had half of a vegan zucchini banana muffin and a piece of the best dark chocolate ever—Endangered Species intense dark chocolate with cacao nibs. Heaven.in.my.mouth. 
Lastly, I’m thinking about doing a Q&A post about any questions that you’d like me to answer (nutrition, food, fitness, blogging, personal, etc.) so if you have any questions, leave them in the comments or email me at [email protected]!]]>
What I Ate Wednesday
August 20, 2014
Those poor kids. Your hummified them. Now not only do they have to eat hummus while you babysit them at home..that’s what you feed them when they are out.
And YES to a Q+A style post- I have to put the calls out next week too.
Q- Hi.
I hummify everyone I meet. Fact. A- HIIIIIIII Steaky Boo Boo.
Your eats always look so damn good. Black bean tortilla chips? Wow you guys have such good snacks over there.
Love the sound sound of a Q and A 🙂
Aww thanks, Lauren! Yes–we do have some pretty tasty snacks…too many!
I’m always ready to eat the house down after Body Pump! Heading over to check out that muffin recipe- those look delish!
you must make the muffins. they are AMAZING! so moist and tasty. do it now. you won’t regret!
Thanks, girl! Body pump will most def rev up that appetite!
Sna on dinner…although that was my lunch today (sweet potato on the side dipped in almond butter)! Loving the look of that Mediterranean spread…although I’m more jealous of that pool!!
I’m so sad that pool season is coming to an end!! Where did summer go?!
Props to the pool for having real food, lucky girls to have and RD babysitter. I need to steal your roasted veggies and hummus idea… raw broccoli is tough on my tummy but i love it cooked and everything is more delicious with hummus 🙂
They definitely know more about partially hydrogenated oil than the average child 😉
My life = constantly hungry. I think it’s from running so much? I have no clue. I just have to warn everyone in my life I’m always hungry and that I need lots of snacks/real meals. I just try to own it… and keep foods around that I love. Anyway… I would say you can blame it on working out 🙂
Running so much will for sure raise that appetite! The day I ran three miles I thought I could eat every piece of food on the planet.
Lately my appetite has been a hangry beast and it sometimes really drives me nuts and can’t figure out what the deal is…Like I am always hungry and thinking about food, but eating right. Our gosh darn ever changing bodies…HAHA! Maybe I need to increase my nut butter intake…
OMG let’s both use this as an excuse to eat more almond butter!
Totally agreed on the Endangered Species chocolate… it is THE best. I used to never really be truly hungry but since I worked on repairing my metabolism I am hungry a lot during the day. It’s quite amazing! I like quick satisfaction when I do get hungry though, so if I didn’t prep certain things I would be shit outta luck when hunger struck.
When hunger strikes, it’s the BEST feeling having prepared food in the fridge! Glad you love the chocolate too 🙂
Your eats look really yummy – We also use Tom’s it is great stuff.
Great to know!!
First off I saw those snap pea crisps the other today at the grocery store and I was debating on whether or not I should get them. I will have to go back and get them now. Second, last night I was totally thinking how I wanted to make sweet potatoe, broccoli and eggs for dinner but thought it was kind of a wired combo, but then I saw this post. I am totally going to have to make them now.
You go girl! I seriously can’t help but eating like three servings in one sitting. Hopefully you have more self control than I do…they’re so delish!
I have so many comments. Where to begin… I am STILL obsessing over the nanner zuch choc chip muffins. They are so good, though. No idea how you only ate half! Your dinner looks incredible – why have I never thought of doing that? I’ve made many a veggie egg scramble in my day, which I guess is sorta similar. Also, GO YOU little workout bunny! Are you sore today? 🙂 Pump it upppp. I need to go to Body Pump but I already go to a gym so I’m too cheap to spend extra $ on other classes. Sorry, muscles. I ALSO use Good soap and love it! It was an impulse buy when I was at WF a while back. I have the vanilla and it is so yummy. I also bought the sunshine one that I meant to send to you and never did – so it’s mine now. SORRY! The peach iced tea sounds good. Love seeing your eats! Did you follow Davida’s recipe exactly for the mint bars? I don’t have cereal at home so wondering if I need it. What kind of nuts did you use? Can you tell I would like a Q&A post? I tend to have a lot of questions — such as, for example, to name a few, etc etc etc: What kind of protein powder do you like best? What are suggestions for coffee/tea (hot & cold) to order at a coffee shop that aren’t loaded with sugar and calories? I’m sure I can come up with others. HAPPY WIAW! xoxox
Aaaaaaaaand now you’re my recipe tester. Off to send you #alltherecipes. Hashtag Hummusapien 4 lyfe. And yes, I followed the recipe exactly except I used all almonds and didn’t use the cereal. I will answer your other questions in the Q&A my dear!
How do you feel about quest bars?
I try to stay away from whey protein isolate and stick to plant-based proteins (though I do eat eggs and fish), especially in processed things like protein bars. I like to get my protein predominantly through whole foods sources, and when I do eat protein bars, I make my own using brown-rice protein powder. I think quest bars are ok for body builders and people looking to add muscle mass, but I’m not one of those people 🙂
The pool you went to had THOSE food options?? Wow, that is impressive! It makes me think there is some hope for America after all 😉 haha
You would have DIED. Hummus and veggies galore!!
Oh my goodness, everything you had looks so delicious and like a perfectly balanced day of eats! Those mint-chocolate bars look fab and I will definitely have to make them soon! And how have I never seen that flavor of Endangered Species chocolate?? I’m going to be on the lookout now!
Thanks my dear! I got the chocolate at Kroger one sale 🙂
those muffins….i have a major obsession with snap pea crisps too.
Seriously….they’re like Pringles–once you pop you just can’t stop!
I SEE COSTCO SELLS COCONUT FLOUR AND HAVE YOU MADE MUFFINS , COOKIES AND SOMETHING YUMMY WITH THIS ADDITION TO ALMOND AND OTHER FLOURS?
I just saw coconut flour at TJ’s! My two-minute paleo raspberry mug cake uses coconut flour…one of my faves!
I do not think I would be able to just eat ONE of those mint chocolate no bake bars!
I literally could have eaten the whole pan. In one sitting. But really.
Big muscle man +tatted man approved! Exactly what I had in mind when I made them…speaking of which, must make more!
Yes to Q & A! I need to know everything about you. LIKE EVERYTHING!
You already know like alllll the things. Now go make more protein bars for C!!