This morning I was going to try to make it to the gym, but I had a hard time falling asleep last night and decided the extra sleep was more important.
In lieu of oatmeal, I had two slices of whole wheat toast with cashew and peanut butters, a banana, honey and cinnamon. It was one of my favorites before it was race fuel!
Speaking of breakfast, I found this great article on Runnersworld.com about how to make your healthy breakfast even better. Have you stumbled on any new breakfast foods or combinations I should try?
I brought fruit to work. Who would l be if I didn’t show you my orange granny every day?
It was warm enough to eat outside today! It was about 20 degrees colder in the shade than in the sun, but we didn’t care. Give me that blue sky!
- mixed greens
- sprouts
- carrot peels
- grape tomatoes
- chik’n burger
- hummus
- lemon juice/olive oil/salt
Later in the afternoon, I snacked on a fiber bar (which I keep in the fridge… Mama Pea was a little worried about the mush factor, but they’re still great!).
I was really busy all day and barely had a chance to catch my breath. I left the office at 5 to get some reading done at home, and unfortunately had to cancel my dinner date 
When I got to the apartment I was multitasking in hyperspeed, prepping dinner while the oven preheated and a load of laundry was going. While I jumped around, I snacked on cucumber slices with Bragg’s and pepper and a glass of pinot grigio. Sometimes wine helps with work!
When I was in Minnesota, my uncle gave me a bag of buckwheat (or “kasha”). While I’ve had things made with buckwheat flour before, the only I’ve tried that’s made with the buckwheat groats themselves is kasha varnishkes, a Jewish side made with buckwheat and pasta. Isn’t the bag great?!
I toasted the buckwheat in a skillet over medium-high heat, then boiled it for a few minutes until tender.
Meanwhile, I roasted diced zucchini, bell peppers, and a carrot in coconut oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, ground ginger, salt and pepper at 450 for 25 minutes.
I took a big handful of mixed greens, and topped it with the buckwheat and roasted veggies.
Added a little marinara…
…and some goat cheese, for good measure.
For dessert, I had a sliced frozen banana and pieces of Chocomize chocolate. It’s been a really long day, and, honestly, sometimes chocolate does make it (mostly) better.
Chocomize is a chocolate company based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey that lets customers customize each chocolate bar.
You start with a white, milk, or dark chocolate base, then choose from a variety of toppings from five different categories: nuts & seeds, fruits, herbs & spices, candy, and decorations. It’s fun to just play around at the creation station and see what fun bars you can come up with!
I customized two delicious bars.
The dark chocolate bar is topped with hazelnuts, organic sesame seeds, diced ginger, and cardamom.
The milk chocolate bar has whole almonds, sour cherries, sea salt, lavender, and caramel pieces.
They were both so good! Sea salt + caramel is a classically good combination, and the lavender made it really special. It tasted like Provence! Dark chocolate with ginger is one of my favorite Chocolove bars, and when you add hazelnuts, sesame and cardamum to it? Bombdiggity!
These would make great personal gifts for chocoholics like myself. I’d planned on making Ari a bar with milk chocolate, peanuts and caramel… but I got a little carried away. Next time!
Want to make some of your own bars? Enter code lilveggiepatch at checkout for a 10% discount off your order.
What’s your favorite way to eat chocolate? Do you like it plain and straight up, mixed with other flavors, or in baked goods?
haha i love that ‘katies awesome chocoalte bar’ .. did u like the kasha/buckwheat groats? ive had them and i didnt really like them.. had a weird flavor.. could have been the brand though.
hmm i like chocolate weither baked into things or in a bar that has crunchy bits like nuts and coconut and dried bits. i like my chocolate to have a crunch. oh and i also like it in dried fruit too! but then again.. i just like chocolate in general lol.
whats weird is i like it REALLY cold! like hard choc chips or chunks… if its melted im not a big fan.. hmm weird..
xoxo <3
Ok, that hummus in your lunch…made me really crave some but I just finished my tj’s one…need to get some more ASAP (or make it…)! Chocolate wise…anything dark is pretty much good with me. I like dried fruit, nuts, coconut, pb too with it but plain dark over 70% is just, well, amazing. I also want to know about your kasha review cause I saw it at the health food store and thought about buying a small amt from the bulk section when I embark on a gluten free week.
I’m with Claire, that hummus glob is making my mouth “watah.” That’s my Australian Toaster Biscuit commercial imitation. You are too young to remember. Google it. It’s worth it.
Loving the breakfast : ) looks yummy!
Im having one of those go back to sleep mornings! I did not sleep well last night, so I think I might go back to sleep!
Loving the chocomize! Looks yummy! I have been seeing it all over blogland! How cool to create your own!
xoxo
Oooh, I love the addition of lavendar to your chocolate– brilliant!!
I love your dinner! Looks so yummy. Frozen sliced bananas are fantastic, but lately, my frozen bananas have been made into frozen custard!
Don’t think I’ve ever thought of marinara on a salad. Definitely a wild concept but I’m intrigued!
I gotta be honest, I stopped reading after you said “varnichkes” because well, no one EVER knows what those are! EVER!
You created some genius chocolate combinations there, Katie! I don’t even know where I’d start making my own – coconut? raspberry? orange? almonds? Maybe not all together, but a mixture of two or three would be good.
Hope your weekend is a little less rushed!
DEFINITELY KEEP AND FRAME THE WRAPPER! Had to read the post twice to notice it’s awesomeness.
marinara used to be my go to dressing on my salads — the girls i lived with thought i was CRAZY, but really, it makes everything taste better. i can finish a jar in two days!
i love the chocolove bars – dark all the way.
My favorite way to eat chocolate DEFINITELY melted/syrupy drizzled over fruit like bananas or strawberries!
Yeah for all the banana-rockstar eats!
I still think of that when I eat bananas now.
Did you see the new Green and Black’s caramelised peanut and sea salt chocolate bar?! I like milk chocolate, but only in stuff or with stuff (ie, brownies with ice cream or peanut butter cups)
I like my 72% chocolate straight up! Or sometimes a little melted in the microwave. Simplicity is sometimes the best way.
haha if i didn’t see your oranpple every day i would actually be really sad. it’s expected so don’t you dare let us down.
i love me some unsweetened cocoa powder!i know thats a weaksauce answer but i’m not really a chocolate person haha but i have been developing an overly large love for unsweetened cocoa powder. i pretty much find a reason or way to put it on errrrrythang
My new favorite way to eat chocolate is melted in oatmeal, so good! Everyone seems to be loving the custom chocolate, but I bet it costs more than a little hehe.
Your very own personalized chocolate bar!!!! Looks delicious, I am a bit a jealous!!
Your breakfast sounds almost like what I had this morning… an almond butter + banana quesadilla! It’s one of my favorite breakfasts. Smear almond butter and mushed banana on a whole wheat tortilla, add a bit of honey and cinnamon, and heat in a pan until the almond butter is melty and the tortilla is crispy! SO good.
I prefer straight chocolate, but your chocolate bars looks amazing too! I’m not sure which sounds better, except I’m a big fan of dark chocolate over milk chocolate. I can imagine topping oatmeal with bits of your bars… oh my!
Yum! Those bars look amazing. I so want to make some of my own!!!
Loving all the hummus action in your lunch–I couldn’t even tell there was a chik patty in there!
I love chocolate in my protein shakes:)
buckwheat! way to go! I know some people use it in vegan “burgers” rather than beans or even in desserts as a binder. it’s super versatile. and yet i have never cooked with it! crazy, i know! You inspire me though!
chocomize…ran a give away for them and hell yeah, i customized a few delish bars and loved them
I love kasha! So many people are haters. I think it’s delish, and it’s nice to see it here.
I have a bag of kasha that I need to try out as well- thanks for reminding me.
OMG – those chocolate bars look like they could make any day better. Holy Yum!
Chocomize! I saw it mentioned on another blog too, and it looks awesome! I shall have to try it some time. But I do agree, chocolate tends to fix many things . . .
I love chocolate straight. It’s a good feeling to find mini bars of chocolate that you still had in your bag.
The weather has been great for eating outside lately. Sad thing is, I hear it’ll rain again real soon. I hate bi polar weather.
that chocolate company sounds AWESOME!! i am soo super jelous of you! i LOVE dark chocolate straight UP!
I got a chocomize bar from a great friend and have yet to try it, but it’s filled with all my favorite things! i love what you put in yours tho!
thats an elise kind of hummus serving. love it
my ukrainian father buys that same kasha from a russian grocery store. its so much cheaper from there too! i’ll typically make it cooked like rice, and add sauteed mushrooms, garlic & onions.