Despite my flair for the dramatic, I like things to be simple.
I appreciate when people get right to the point, my own blogging aside of course, and I value efficiency.
While I weirdly, and in some twisted recesses of my mind, enjoy watching the Housewives of Whatever County, I never want that kind of drama in my life. Truth be told, a good day is one where I knock a lot of items off my list, especially when those items involve things like read book, eat dinner, and make Blueberry Oatmeal Crumble Bars.
I appreciate the days where I get a little, or even better a lot, of monkey loving, days where I get in a spin class and then come home and hang with the kitties in the yard, preferably next to my exploding cucumber patch and blossoming tomatoes. That my friends is an ideal day for me and simplicity at its finest.
I’ve decided to stick with that theme for today’s What I Ate Wednesday and share my Monday eats. It was three straight up meals, no snacks, no gimmicks, just easy and simple. Please give a warm welcome to Jenn, our lovely hostess with the mostess…and a chickpea, and a feline and a pilot. Now that’s a menagerie.
And away we go.
Breakfast should have been a banana, followed by a bowl of homemade Lemon Blueberry Granola, a dollop of Greek yogurt and fresh blueberries. Sadly I went to work and left breakfast in a bag right by my back door. Fricken, fracken. Out of desperation, I hit up the lunch room’s vending machines and went with a banana (no surprise there) and two cheese sticks (again no surprises). A bit unusual, but it did the trick. I’m actually thinking if I upgrade to a better caliber cheese, this could become a regular occurrence.
For lunch, I was fortunate and had a rare meal out at Ken Stewart’s, where I dined on Farro Risotto with baby kale, corn, edamame, and roasted tomatoes. Oh and my coworkers didn’t even bat an eye when I whipped out my phone and photographed my dish. They’ve become desensitized to my ways, which pleases the crazy in me to no end.
Dinner was a special treat and one I haven’t indulged in a quite some time. I ate an entire head of cauliflower, the one in the very first picture to be exact, which was harvested from my very own backyard garden. I roasted it and then covered it in a Blue Cheese Vinaigrette dressing. It was sensational and yes, I am still talking about cauliflower. Go ahead and try it, then we’ll talk.
There you have it, my friends: three simple meals for a simple gal, living a simple life, or something to that effect.
Do you prefer three solid square meals and nothing else or a bunch of small meals or perhaps even both? Do you like the simple life or do you prefer some drama in your day?
Kirsten says
I have an almost maternal (which is so weird esp since your boobs are bigger than mine) sense of pride at your garden produce. Now don’t forget to save your leaves this fall (shredded, if you can access a mulching mower or leaf blowing shredding thing) in bags in the garage. Mix them with kitchen scraps for compost, use them to mulch around the plants, put a layer over your garden when you tuck in your garlic this Fall.
[Is that too subliminal?]
You can fix me cauliflower anytime, I promise to have an open mind about it.
And drama? Hell, my life has plenty just the way it is, thanks. I prefer as little induced drama as possible.
Kirsten recently posted…Hatch Chile, Egg & Potato Casserole
Meghan says
So the crazy instructions which came with the composter said NO OAK LEAVES and of course our house is surrounded by oak trees so I’ve avoided putting them in the composter. What say you?
Induced drama…very good distinction.
You should feel maternal about my garden and probably all my freezer goodies too. I owe most of it to your tutelage.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Pip {Cherries & Chisme} says
I’m definitely a snacker as I struggle to eat enough in each meal to keep me going ’till the next – especially between lunch and dinner. Not going to lie, I love snacks but I am trying to decrease this in favour of eating more healthy fats at meal times… Let’s just say it’s a work in progress!
That cauliflower looks divine π I had coconut cauliflower rice last night, so delicious.
Pip {Cherries & Chisme} recently posted…{WIAW} Whole 30 β Day 7
Meghan says
I think part of the reason I haven’t been snacking was 1) I didn’t have any on hand and 2) work has been so crazy I’ve barely had time to eat.
Cheese is a wonderful fat, which I would argue is healthy in moderation. π
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
lindsay says
thank you for getting to the point. I love it, i try to do same. But more importantly… I am now coveting the blue cheese dressing. MUST find and MUST make that dish!
lindsay recently posted…What We Eat to Maximize Recovery and Fight Oxidative Stress
Meghan says
I think I’d love to cover everything in a blue cheese vinaigrette. Mmmm, that’s my happy place right there.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Khushboo says
Gimmme some of that risoto- looks divine!! I gotta give you props for your breakfast- looks like you did pretty well given the slim pickings! Can I choose both and say I’m a 3 meals PLUS snacks kinda gal…I find myself getting hungry every 3-4 hours so I’ve stopped fighting it- clearly my body needs more food so I just oblige as necessary!
Khushboo recently posted…High-Protein Oatmeal Waffles
Meghan says
The risotto was fantastic. For real, it had everything a girl could want. Speaking of girls, Biggie’s Hypnotize came on when I was driving home tonight and I immediately thought of you, my home girl.
You said it, gotta listen to your body.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Davida @ The Healthy Maven says
Lately I’ve been forgetting to eat…don’t ask me how. So I find myself eating breakfast at 11 and cookies for dinner at 9. It’s shameful. Please donate to me from your garden!!!
Davida @ The Healthy Maven recently posted…{Blogging As A Business} The Cons of Blogging
Meghan says
I picked a cucumber and a zucchini today, so which would you prefer? Both phallic and fun. π
Shannyn says
Love simplicity. No drama just like Fergie sang…No no drama, no, no no drama…lol.
I love the easiness of summer where fresh fruits & veggies are abundant and you don’t have to worry that they were on a truck for 5 days and covered in chemical gak to stay fresh. Don’t know that I could eat a whole head of cauliflower though…!! π
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Meghan says
You and me both. It sets my mind at ease and allows me to really enjoy the fresh and local produce. There’s nothing quite like it.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Amanda @ .running with spoons. says
I honestly can’t handle drama and go out of my way to keep it out of my life as much as humanely possible. Drama is like clutter, which… again… I go out of my way to keep out of my life. I like the simple life, and I’m not talking about Paris’ reality show which I actually caught a few episodes of back in the day.
And when it comes to meals vs. snacks… I’m definitely a snacker. There are days where I literally eat 10 times throughout the course of the day, but I totally blame that on the fact that I work from home and my fridge is literally within arm’s reach at all times π
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. WIAW… i’m still eating! .
Meghan says
Paris has a reality show now? How did I miss this?
You know I love my snacks. I’ve just been too busy lately to make time to eat them, so instead I’m making each meal really count. Like tonight’s cabbage, red skinned potatoes and eggs.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I like a bunch of meals. I’d like to say I prefer a simple life… but every time I achieve that I get bored and invent new challenges. Glutton for punishment. Glutton for gluttony, really.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Laughter Is Good Medicine + WIAW
Meghan says
I can appreciate that kind of gluttony, well except the punishment part and only then in special circumstances. Bow chicka-wow-wow.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Kaitlin says
That dinner is probably something I would eat all day and every day if I had the chance! Love it all!
Meghan says
Yup, roasted cauliflower is fantastic, especially when smother in a blue cheese vinaigrette.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Brittany says
I go back and forth between multiple mini meals, and three BIG meals. Although even with my three larger meals, I have a few snacks in between. Depends on how much protein I have at each meal really! Your garden harvest continues to give me a blogging boner.
Brittany recently posted…Quality Over Quantity
Meghan says
I’m glad I’ve been getting you hard. It’s a talent of mine. π
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Ashley @MilesonOats says
Oh my my, I will be polishing off the last half of my cauliflower head tomorrow night with chunky caesar dressing. Does that count? Fricken, frack is right. Those are the moments where I question life. Okay – not that extreme. But it gets my nostrils flaring, and those bad boys can get pretty damn big.
I am diggin’ that breakfast of champs though. I am thinking a brie or sharp aged cheddar upgrade?
-Ash
Ashley @MilesonOats recently posted…WIAW #12
Meghan says
Amen to the sharp aged cheddar upgrade. I’m really thinking about a fruit and cheese breakfast from this point forward. Carbs, protein and fat all in one easy meal. Bam!!
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Erin@LivingMadeHealthy says
Yum! I’ve never had farro but that looks AMAZING!
Erin@LivingMadeHealthy recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday
Meghan says
The farro risotto was so delicious. It’s reminiscent of barley and rice. I need to figure out how to recreate it.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Sarah Pie says
I hate it when good food ends up forgotten at home… sadly that used to happen to me more often than I would like to admit (I blame it on looking like a bag lady when I leave the house in the morning).
That being said it looks like you still had a delicious day of eats, I’m totally jealous of the beautiful head of cauliflower. Getting back to school I’ll probably be a two meal and a bunch of snacks girl, though three meals a day is my preferred option.
Sarah Pie recently posted…How to not hate your morning workout
Meghan says
You must be so excited to be getting back to school….teaching this time around.
I’m a total bag lady in the mornings too, especially on Monday’s since I bring breakfast for the week, a couple lunches, usually some snacks when I have them and my gym bag. Some days, I’m surprised I can carry it all and then I realize how stubborn I am and it’s all good.
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
GiGi Eats says
I am ALL ABOUT SIMPLE – I like my food pretty naked and easy to make. I also only eat 2 times a day. When I go home, my dad makes HUGE and ELABORATE meals that take forever, so by the time dinner rolls around I am the crabbiest person EVER, so much so, I can barely enjoy the food! LOL! OR I eat WAYYYYY too much!
GiGi Eats recently posted…Coho Salmon, An Oscar Winner… And More!
Meghan says
Only twice a day. Now that is impressive or slightly crazy or both. π
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Lucie@FitSwissChick says
It’s weird. I love a simple life, but drama always sneeks in. I swear, I don’t want it, but I seem to attract it. It’s ok, cause most of the time it’s harmless, clumsy and funny, so everyone gets some entertainment around me.
Isn’t it the worst when you realize that you forgot your food at home? Honestly, I always have a little panic attack.
And I LOVE when my people accept the fact that I need to take pics of everything. Some even want to be IN the picture to be featureed on the blog. Now that makes me freak out from happiness.
Lucie@FitSwissChick recently posted…My story Part 1 β stepping into Anorexia Nervosa
Meghan says
I think you’re very much like my Hubby, not in a dramatic sense but in the way people are attracted to him. He’s charming and has a way about him where people are drawn to him. He loves to be with people a lot of the time too and can be the life of the party. I envision your the same way, which is actually one of the reasons I enjoy you and your blog. Opposites attract and what not. π
Meghan recently posted…WIAW: The Simplicity Edition
Lucie@FitSwissChick says
Aww! That is by far my most favorite comment reply I ever got.
Love you girl!!!
Lucie@FitSwissChick recently posted…My story Part 1 β stepping into Anorexia Nervosa
Tiff @ Love, Sweat, & Beers says
Simple works for me! As would that risotto…
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Meghan says
Yeah that risotto in particular worked for me. So much flavor in one simple dish.
Meghan recently posted…My Top Ten Pet Peeves
Arman @ thebigmansworld says
Oh drama. It’s bloody everywhere. Sometimes, the office environment makes any of those franchises seem like sesame street. Although there may be drama there too….Thanks, Burt and Ernie.
You and I share the same love of cauliflower- especially burnt to perfection, and I would and do go gaga over it. Your fallback breakfast is often a common one with me- swap the banana for potatoes and BOOM. I’m still finding the happy balance of enough in one meal to sustain to the next- so far it’s been a mind fook.
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy No Bake Double Coconut Rice Crispy Squares
Meghan says
I did in fact go with fruit and cheese for breakfast a couple of days later. This might be a new staple for me. And any night I get to eat an entire of cauliflower for dinner is a star in my book.
Meghan recently posted…My Top Ten Pet Peeves
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles says
I love roasted cauliflower and will eat as much at a time as my stomach will allow. And sometimes, more than my stomach will allow but it is so worth it!
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted…GF Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Protein Bites
Meghan says
I think roasted cauliflower is a gift from heaven. I’d be so very sad if my stomach wouldn’t allow me to eat it.
Meghan recently posted…My Top Ten Pet Peeves