Unsweetened Almond Breeze - both chocolate and vanilla (I use this in my protein shakes and drink on its own, heated with cinnamon!)
Bumble bars (the nutty pack rocks!):
Pizzey's Premium Golden Flax. I won this through a contest on Emily's Blog. I am loving this flax (I use it in my granola, oatmeal, yogurt, etc!):
Last but not least! Josh had a dinner meeting tonight, so I decided to treat myself to Carrabba's Insalata Fiorucci. According to Carrabba's website, this salad contains "Artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers and grilled eggplant in vinaigrette, topped with a hazelnut goat cheese medallion." I got it without the roasted red peppers and added my own raw green pepper. I'm not a big chain restaurant fan, but I love this salad! I also ran into a reader when picking it up- Hi Carrie!! (hope I spelled your name right).
Totally delicious! So there ya have it! What is on your favorites list lately? Any new favorites?
One more quick item, as I noted in previous posts, I'm working on increasing my protein (at least 75 grams per day). My totals for last week:
- Sunday (7th): 76 g
- Monday: 93 g
- Tuesday: 81 g
- Wednesday: 76 g
- Thursday:86 g
- Friday: 79 g
- Saturday: 83 g
- Sunday: 75 g
Wahoo! How are you doing on your goals? Workouts going well this week? I have a pretty heavy teaching schedule again so the extra protein is defintely helping me kick my way through it :) Have a fabulous night
I love stevia in coffee and desserts! I'm trying to think of favorites right now and not too much comes to mind, but I'm glad to be learning of new ones on your blog!
ReplyDeleteI really want to try those bumble bars!! The packaging alone looks so adorable! ;)
ReplyDeleteMmmm almond milk, def one of my faves too! Glad you are having a nice week and had such a nice dinner treat too :) I'll be thinking of your sweet words to me as I head into surgery this week, and thanks again for being so supportive and helping me through this, means alot :)
ReplyDeletethose bars look great! i want to try them... i love lara bars and pure bars, so i'm sure these are great too! cool protein stats - this is proof vegetarians can eat lots of protein.. one of my guy friends saw me eating a chobani and said 'so that's how you get all your protein huh, that must be hard' (i rarely eat meat) lol
ReplyDeletesome things on my favorites list would have to be unsweetened vanilla almond breeze, chobani greek yogurt, canned pumpkin, and barney butter!
ReplyDeletecan't live without any of them! :)
Nice job on the protein. You are my idol:) I never get enough. Grrr...
ReplyDeleteI am addicted to steel cut oats lately. Posting recipe tomorrow:)
I'm the same way about processed foods-- I try to avoid as much as possible, but I do love my bars & almond milk... and peanut butter.... ;) hehe
ReplyDeletehope youre doing well, sleep tight
bec xo
All of your favorites are some of mine. I would have to add coconut oil (for baking), tecchino, brown rice flour, PURE bars, Coconut Milk for smoothies, and NuStevia Vanilla Extract.
ReplyDeleteI actually have doing very well with fitness. I went to Body Pump yesterday and I am so sore :)
I've never had stevia in the raw, but I love stevia in oats! I've really wanted to try the Bumble bars... I always pick them up then put them back down because they're $$$ near me.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for treating yourself to a nice dinner! Ari's gone for the week and I think I just may do the same.
Isn't Almond Breeze the greatest thing ever? I really don't know what I would do without it! That Carrabas salad looks so good, I'm a huge fan of grilled eggplant. :)
ReplyDeleteyay for protein!
ReplyDeletei would LOVE to meet up with you!! i will let you know the details closer to it! yay!
I've been wanting to try Stevia in the Raw.
ReplyDeleteMy new favorite thing is this local Atlanta Greek Yogurt. It's super expensive, but the best yogurt that I've ever had.
I've never seen that salad before but I've got to try it! I just love eggplant and goat cheese.
ReplyDeleteI like your list of favorites- have you tried chia seeds? So many bloggers are into them right now and I've never had them. Just wanted to see if you thought they were good.
congrats on getting in your protein!!! nice work Erica. I love almond milk and flax seed- I just got that stevia in the raw and it tasted sooo weird to me!?! is it my taste buds? I thought it would be great but I just can't seem to get past a chemical-ness... I know, I'm weird.
ReplyDeleteLOVE all your favorites...except stevia, I only like it in baked goods :( my current love is Grapefruit...I have no ideas why but my body has been craving the tangy-citrus! and GREENS&WHEY protein powder!! if you like stevia you would LOVE this pro powder!! I hope you're having a great week chica! xoxo!
ReplyDeleteyay for adding more protein! That Bumble bar looks really interesting. I love what bee's do, but I just don't like the stinging part. I don't blame them for their defense mechanisms...anyway I'm rambling. Have a great night!
ReplyDeletei am all over coconut oil lately. i mean, it's my new BFF.
ReplyDeletestevia in the raw. i have never tried that exact brand but would love to hear your comparison to it to say nu naturals or any other stevia you've tried!
bumble bars. nice. want those too :)
I love hearing about people's favourite products! I have only tried stevia a few times (in Trader Joe's samples of coffee, lol) and it was surprisingly good! I like almond milk a lot too- I don't buy it here because the only one available is really sweet. Current favourite products for me are Quark (texture of cream cheese, nutritional stats as fat free Greek yogurt), Joseph's lavash wraps and 0% Fage :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that salad as well! But last time I got it I was so bummed because they seemed to totally skimp out. Not sure if it was just a one time thing or if Carabbas has seriously decreased portion sizes, but when i pay 20$ for a salad, I want it to be something worth the money.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are having a great week Erica! Way to keep up with your goals!
<3 you!
I love Almond Breeze. It's all I use now. I even sneak the unsweetened original into the fam's food when they're not looking and they can never tell! :)
ReplyDeleteBumble Bars are something I've looked at but never picked up. I may just need to try one now that I hear they are good!
I'm not rocking out any fave's right now. Hopefully soon.
Have a great day, Erica!!!
I really need to try almond milk. I'm not sure why I've put it off so long. I haven't tried Stevia either. My mom is diabetic and has recently had her dietary restrictions tightened. The doctor suggested this to her and I told her I'd find some for her.
ReplyDeletei have yet to try almond breeze but great to hear your thoughts about it!
ReplyDeleteI need to try those Bumble Bars! Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze is my fav!! I'm not a big chain girl either so I had no idea Carraba's had that salad. It sound bueno! How fun is it that you had a celeb blogger sighting :)
ReplyDeleteWay to go with the protein intake!! I've re-discovered how delish the honey graham z-bars are and I'm addicted. I hope you have a great Wednesday - halfway to the weekend!!
Hey girl, I've been meaning to give your blog a visit since I read one of your guest posts and thought your recipes looked fabbb.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to increase my protein too (for health reasons). I'm getting up to 70g a day now, a far cry from my usual 40-50g!
As for favorites, they tend to change all the time. Right now I can't get enough apples, sweet potatoes, and winter squash for instance. I love all of your faves too!
I just bought Stevia for the first time this weekend! I'm anxious to try it. I hope they don't say it's bad for us in 2 years (umm....Splenda?!)
ReplyDeleteI have seen the Bumble Bars but I have not tried them yet, I will have to pick one up. I am super picky about bars so it is always REALLY nice when I find a good one!
ReplyDeleteGreat job with the protien!
Workouts going awesome this week! We have Les Mills Quarterly here in Arlington Saturday! CANT WAIT! A day full of working out! Gonna be fun!
ReplyDeleteawesome job increasing your protein intake, Erica!! beans are fulllll of protein and so cheap! you can even make homemade hummus which I have been doing lots of it is so tasty and you can control the flavor :)
ReplyDeletenever heard of those bumble bars but they look great as well!!
LOOOVE almond breeze, I dont have any in my fridge right now and sooo sad :(
I keep meaning to try that almond milk!!! Need to write that down finally.
ReplyDeleteI am sick this week: a diet of toast & ginger ale, exciting huh?
I went to Carabba's for the first time on Sunday, and let me tell ya-their food if so amazing!
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the same products, esp...almond milk and stevia...the best!
ReplyDeleteYou enjoy your hoppin good week!
xoxo
Mmm, looks like a very yummy salad! I've never tried almond milk, but really need to get my hands on some!
ReplyDeleteI've never tried Almond Milk before but I am very curious! I may give it a try soon. I will let you know what I think!
ReplyDeleteneed to get my hands on those bumble bars...ive never seen them!!
ReplyDeleteI love almond breeze- don't know what I did before discovering it! The bumble bars look yummy!
ReplyDeleteI buy that brand almond milk.. its my fav!!
ReplyDeleteYa for your protein intake.. sounds like you are really on the right path. You are inspiring me to track my own! :)
Have a super Wednesday, Erica!!!
If I put it on my counter and it doesn't start rotting then I don't buy it. that's the best way for me to gauge what's too processed.
ReplyDeleteI love using Almond Breeze for baking--I used it in my cooking class and so many people had never heard of it but loved it!
ReplyDeletei'm writing some of this stuff down, i really want to try them! great job on your protein goals!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAlmond milk is definitely up there on my list too! And so are larbars and of course the famous "almond butter" :)
ReplyDeleteI am a protien addict!
ReplyDeleteI love flaxseeds so good! I'm loving my sea cakes at the mo x x
ReplyDeleteSheesh, you go girl on that protein!! I'm glad you're doing such a great job of reaching your goals.
ReplyDeleteI'm not keeping track of my protein grams as you are (I probably should), but I am worrying less about my foods and have certainly gained the weight I'd been asked to. Don't love that, but *sigh* I know I should think of it as a good thing.
Hope things continue to go well!
ooh, i tried that salad but it came swimming in dressing :( i just had them bring me a new bowl of undressed greens and transferred the roasted veggies and goat cheese--much better!
ReplyDeletenever tried those bumble bars, but i have found the new clif bars excellent, easily digestible fuel before runs!
awesome sweetie! I love stevia in the raw too!! and almond milk is totally in my top 5 as well. Id have to add in some barney butter too. Ive been meaning to add in more flax into my diet too. Sounds great! Those bars look amazing...will have to find those soon. I hope you are having a great day!
ReplyDeleteI've seen those Bumble bars before, but haven't given them a try. I might have to, glad to hear they are good.
ReplyDeleteExtra virgin coconut oil tops my list right now, along with Cashew Cookie Larabars.
oh love your favies! almond milk is seriously the best thing since sliced bread
ReplyDeletehaha thats so fun that you ran into a reader! was it awkward??
my new fav thing is maca root powder! i've been sprinkling it on everyyyyyything and it tastes so delicious mixed with cinnamon and a pinch of cocoa powder on popcorn!
I adore Almond Breeze! And it's cheaper than milk and less calories so bring it on. When I am feeling saucy, I make a chocolate strawberry shake-heaven!
ReplyDeleteI will have to try that salad at Carabba's (I gave up meat for Lent) and love going there. And your idea for having a party now due to my new margarita salt and pepper shakers-I like where your mind is at!
love ground flax, its so much easier to use!
ReplyDeleteInteresting round up! Hope you're having a great week.
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of your coffee combination!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried Truvia?
Blumble Bars are great! I like the flax seeds.
Nice job on keeping up with the protein! I've been doing better on that too but haven't really started keeping a count. I really like Sun Crystals in my coffee. It's a mix of sugar cane and stevia.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Almond Breeze- it's one of my must haves :) I've never had the Bumble Bars but they sound really interesting
ReplyDeleteI want that salad! Sounds so awesome.
ReplyDeleteMy fave stevia for coffee right now is the NuNaturals vanilla stevia drops. SO GOOD!
I was wondering if you'd want to put up some strength training work outs for all of us :)
ReplyDeleteThat salad sounds amazing! I've seen the bumble bars before but haven't tried them yet, will have to check them out!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted you to know...I'm having a little bday party for Gina this weekend and am looking at some of your "get together" posts for healthy food inspirations! I may try the hummuses! And am definitely doing the fruit with yogurt dip.
I love the idea of heating up almond milk with cinnamon. Yum!
ReplyDeleteThat salad does look amazing!
Hey Sweetie!
ReplyDeleteCome visit me...I have a present for you!
xoxo
'i love almond breeze too! Its great in coffee. I haven't even been buying milk lately unless I specifically need it for a recipe.
ReplyDeleteGreat protein stats! I'm glad you're happy with the increased protein - I know there is a lot of debate about the average American's protein needs but I really find that I feel great and have more energy when I get more of my calories from protein.
ReplyDeleteMy workouts are going well this week - my hamstrings are killing me from deadlifts yesterday!
Love the look of that salad - I wonder if it is GF?
i just ordered 2 jars of cinnamon vanilla sunflower butter from kath's opensky special...i have a feeling that's gonna be my new fave...
ReplyDeleteI need to remember to get that Stevia in the raw, I tried it once and really liked it.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting my mileage back up, so things are good!
Morningstar Farms veggie patties.
ReplyDeletestill smitten.
SUCH easy and fast protein.
Some of your faves are faves of mine, too, Erica! Love the stevia :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and must try the chocolate variety.
ReplyDeleteHi Erica! I love the Almond Milk!! I started getting it a couple months ago and I've been using it in my lattes instead of milk because there's no sugar and so few calories. I'm so excited to try it warm with cinnamon!
ReplyDeletep.s. your blog is amazing love that you do this :)
Any specific tips on increasing protein? I just realized PB was my main source and I'm trying to readjust that! It really dropped once I quit eating lunch meat
ReplyDeleteOHH almond breeze is the best, I think we all clearly agree on that.