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WIAW: The Hardly Cooking Edition

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I barely cook these days.

Pretty strange for a food blogger huh?

What can I say? Having a tiny human will do that to you. Instead of fancy gourmet meals, pretending I actually used to make those, I try to make sure my edibles are fast, easy, and tasty. Oh and they also need to keep me satiated long enough to last to the baby’s next nap and my subsequent morsel of food. Bonus points if they’re somewhat nutritious.

It’s a good thing my needs are so simple. Snort. 

It’s safe to say, I live my days according to the baby’s naps, which occasionally means I eat when I’m not hungry, mainly because there’s a window of time. It also means some days I shove a granola bar or a hunk of cheese into my face with shaking hands because I’ve suddenly gone low. Nursing takes a lot of me; quite literally.

With predictability out the window, it’s fast and easy eats for me, so with that explanation in place, Happy What I Ate Wednesday, also known as some random day last week. Thanks Laura and Arman for hosting.

WHAT-I-ATE-WEDNESDAY-NEW-BUTTON-PEAS-AND-CRAYONS

First Breakfast: a not pictured glass of warm lemon water, followed by oatmeal and coffee. I make my oats with a mixture of water and almond milk, a dollop of maple syrup, a splash of vanilla, a sprinkle of cinnamon, half a mashed banana, and some flax powder. I top it with the rest of the banana and whatever fruit I’ve got handy. This has been my morning staple for months now.

coffee-oatmeal-bananas-and-strawberries

Second Breakfast: a Liberte yogurt along with a side of planning. I adore these yogurts. They are chock full of fat (9% I believe) and made with milk and cream. Be still my heart.

liberte-french-lavendar-yogurt-and-planning

Lunch: s snack plate smorgasbord containing bell peppers, carrots and hummus, onion rye toast with butter, half an avocado, and a plethora of fresh fruit. I’m so not ready to say good-bye to peach season.  

snack-plate-lunch-veggies-and-hummus-bread-and-butter-avocado-and-fruit

Dinner is usually the only meal where I get crafty because I can cook while the Hubby watches the baby. Of course there are days where tummy time, story telling and all that play mat action wears me the ef out, so Brinner it is; I don’t hate it.  

Dinner: roasted potatoes, a leftover raspberry muffin and cheesy scrambled eggs made with almond milk, habanero cheese, salt and pepper.

dinner-scrambled-eggs-potatoes-and-raspberry-muffin

And for the grand finale, several spoonfuls of peanut butter with mini chocolate chips. It never gets old.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Spoon

Out of the above, which meal would you most like to have and why? 

Comments

  2. Those potatoes look good…. Buuuut I think I would have to go for your lunch out of everything. Onion rye – hello! Peaches and pineapple – sold!
    If we could get those yoghurts here I would definitely try it – French lavender sounds so good. I have been digging yoghurt recently too but I tend to go for natural and then mix in PB and jam…. Yum!
    Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…5 ‘excuses’ you should be listening to #5TTTMy Profile

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  5. I’d be delighted with any of those tasty vittles! My meal that I eat most often combines 3 of yours: nut butter, yogurt, and lots of nutritious mixins like hemp protein and honey and collagen. Chocolate chips even appear at some point because hey chocolate. I try and pack as much power into my yogurt that I can, then I throw it all in a mug and spoon vigorously as I’m feeding lulu. Yes it’s quite the life, at least it’s tasty. Luv you!
    Danielle recently posted…WIR sleep less play moreMy Profile

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  6. Liberte makes a lavender yogurt – what?! I’m pretty sure Liberte is a Canadian company, yet you guys still get the cooler flavours over there haha.

    I’m sad to see peach season go too, although the arrival of apple season helps to soften the blow. I’ve been enjoying the heck out of some gorgeous local apples this week.
    Chelsea A recently posted…What a Dietitian Eats at RibfestMy Profile

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  7. You’re going to make me choose!? Oh geeez. That lunch plate – somehow your avocado, your toast, and your fruit always look way better than any I’ve seen (both delicious and beautiful). Seriously, that peach. But I’d have to go with your dinner. Raspberry muffin be still my heart. Potatoes and cheesy eggs the perfect comfort food.
    PS lavender yogurt?! Never seen it!
    Cora recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday: Foodie Rambles and Bread CravingsMy Profile

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  8. These are clllllllll A+++ meals in my book. Your lunch is so colorful. And PB with choco chips – ah, never gets old indeed! Easy peasy and perfect 🙂

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  9. Haha! I’d eat all of those that you’ve got! Prolly all at once. Last night I tried mixing a lil organic vanilla vegetarian protein powder into my spoonsfull of p.b. And neatly choked to death. And it ruined my perfectly good snack which I ate anyway because Im no food waster. Don’t try it even if your doc says your protein levels are on the low side. Pro powder is for smoothies. Peanut butter is for chocolate chips 🙂

    Choosing one, I’d go for the eggs with pepper jack cheese. And the avocado. Oh my, don’t leave out the peaches of summer! I never say no to oatmeal, any time of day. I’ll eat just about anything. I just love food. Fancy to uncomplicated, I love it all.

    There is beauty and deliciousness in uncomplicated food served up close to it’s original form!

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      • Much as I try to eat a boat load of eggs, dairy, beans (I especially love them!) and the good vegetarian completers of protein combinations, I typically do come up short on protein and calories both. My doc is great at keeping watch on my nutrition levels and I’m fairly often short on this or that. Last time it was protein, but has been zinc and folic acid also. As we get older we absorb less nutrients and our appetite diminishes to a certain extent also. I REALLY dislike relying on those protein powders too! It’s a bit like trying to talk a reluctant toddler into eating anything they’ve already made their mind up that is not not good! I’ve not discovered one that isn’t gritty, sandy, or fake tasting and that I could ‘trick’ myself into thinking it wasn’t there!

        I am a good eater in that I love just about any food that comes my way. But I don’t eat very much anymore and apparently I do not utilize all that I do eat! Except for pie….that goes straight to my belly and thighs!

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        • Maybe the Ensure or Boost drinks would be helpful. I’ve never tried them but I know others who have used them.

          Also, check out Arman’s blog because he adds protein powders to lots of great recipes, including sweets and they’re really good. His site is http://www.thebigmansworld.com When it comes to protein powders, he really knows his stuff and might be a good resource for you.

          Blows kiss.
          Meghan recently posted…I Love My Kid, But…My Profile

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  10. I think the oatmeal in the morning is the best idea for breastfeeders. Nursing is exhausting. It’s the equivalent to a dairy farmer, seriously, so getting some stick-to-the-ribs food in tha bellay first thing in the morning is so important. I made a huge pot of oatmeal on Sunday and we’ve been eating it every morning and it’s honestly changing my whole eating habits (thank goodness!!). And your oatmeal bowls always inspire me, so I’ve got you to thank!
    Suzy recently posted…Only I Am Getting OlderMy Profile

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      • I went right to his very first birthday. But he took bottles here and there, just because of the nature of our family and the circumstances surrounding it. But my boobs, as small as floppy as they are, are mighty warriors. I can still squeeze milk out and he’s nearly 3.

        Katie was my longest nurser. I nursed her until 2. If you look up the Canadian guidelines for breastfeeding, they recommend nursing until 2. I nursed Jake until I got pregnant with Freddy (when Jake was 12 months) and then I nursed Freddy until 18 months (when I got pregnant again, but that wee one didn’t make it and I had a D&C) and then got pregnant with feisty Katie, who put up a HUGE fight during the weaning process, but I didn’t mind.
        Suzy recently posted…Tempo + Core = Sub-3My Profile

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      • Oh, and another thing. You gotta remember that once you introduce solids, the nursing will start spreading out to like 4 times a day, every 4 hours. And the older they get the more efficient they are. So if you can stick it out to 6 months, you’re going to be made in the shade. She’ll wake up, nurse at like 8, nap from 10:30-12, nurse at 12, nap 2:30-4, nurse at 4, and then awake from 4-7 or 8 with a big nurse before bed and that’s it! I mean, that’s a good day, of course. And each nursing sesh will only take like 10 minutes. No bottle washing, no coolers, ice packs, sterilizing, just whip out a boob and bam. Done.
        Suzy recently posted…Tempo + Core = Sub-3My Profile

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        • She actually nurses only four to six times a day now, and she goes anywhere from ten to twelve hours at night with no feeds (yep she’s pretty amazing). I’m sure it will get better once we introduce solids too, and I definitely appreciate the no bottles to clean, no formula to buy. I think we’re past the hump; it just makes me so damn sleep though. I think my boobs are milk machines so it takes a lot out of me. That and she’s boycotting bottles so it’s all me.
          Meghan recently posted…I Love My Kid, But…My Profile

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  11. I love Brinner… I could pretty much eat breakfast foods for all meals, though. It’s perfect because you can go sweet or savory depending on your mood. Plus, it usually includes carbs, so there’s really no negative that I can see. In fact, I’m making Biscuits and Gravy for Brinner tonight! 😉

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  12. I would eat ALL the meals! Well… maybe not the spoonful of peanut butter with chocolate chips, for obvious reasons 😛 But I eat basically the same way these days, except that I don’t have the excuse of being too busy to cook because of a tiny human. I’m just lazy 😆 In my defense, when I spend so much time working on blog/book recipes, the last thing I want to do is spend more time in the kitchen making fancy meals. Thank goodness for rice, beans, guac, and salsa <3
    Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…mini banana oat greek yogurt muffinsMy Profile

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  13. I’d most like to have the lunch. mostly for the peaches. The sorbitol in peaches can give me such a tummy ache. 🙁
    It’s okay to not cook that much. My mom hates cooking. Her default meal is something she calls “rice and stuff”: put whatever veggies and protein she has around in a Dutch oven, cook it while she’s at yoga class, and have my dad make rice when he gets home from work. It works!
    I’m with Trish. That planner is pretty dang cute.
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  14. I’m not ready for peach season to be over either. Since I just finished my bowl of oats a bit ago I would say the cheesy eggs and potatoes look delicious! I usually only have the time to get creative with dinner as well, and I don’t even have a baby! It’s definitely hard to make every meal yourself.

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  15. In my sleep-walking early morning state this week, I accidentally made an extra full-fat smoothie when I added half-and-half to the blender instead of almond milk. My thought as it came out was, “Wow, this almond milk is super creamy.”

    And I don’t even have a tiny human to blame!

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  17. I love how colorful your meals are so often. I’d totally love this whole day of meals. Even though you’re working your tail off at home, I do envy your at home lunches! I think I’d want your dinner the most. That muffin + eggs + crispy potatoes = <3

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  18. I barely cook these days, too. Hence the abundance of avocado toasts, fried eggs and smoothies on my snapchat. This is actually the theme of the post I am hoping to finish tonight so that I can publish it tomorrow.

    I would eat all of this! Embrace all the peaches as long as you can.

    Oh and I never told you that I actually got a planner like yours. And I underestimated how many stickers I’d need. But Germany hasn’t really hopped on the planner craze bandwagon yet so I need to start looking online. It’s exciting and a bit annoying because now I procrastinate with my planner 😛
    Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…Stargazing in the Desert – The Nightsky at Arches National ParkMy Profile

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    • Your avocado toasts are beautifully creative though with a balsamic drizzle. I just cut mine in half and eat it with S&P.

      Etsy has great planner stickers. If they won’t ship to Germany, send them to me and I’ll pass them along.

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