I don’t like labels. At all. Don’t fence me in!
When it comes to food, it’s pretty simple: I like to eat things that are minimally processed, economically- and environmentally- friendly, nourishing, don’t hurt my stomach, and- most important- taste good! Some people like to “eat the rainbow,” and Mark Bittman follows a vegan diet before 6 PM. I try to make one of my meals a big salad on most days, but I also don’t beat myself up if I have a chocolate chip brioche for lunch. (No regrets, remember? Most of my days spread across the dietary spectrum; I’ve eaten fish for all three meals, and I’ve also unknowingly gone the whole day without dairy. Eat what you like, is my one big rule. Just do yourself a favor and give yourself high quality grub. You deserve it!
Yesterday was pretty typical in terms of the variety my meals can take. The below doesn’t include everything, but you’ll see that they’re all over the place!
Breakfast: vegetarian! I was craving something a little bit fancy but still low-maintenance so I dreamed up this bowl of savory oatmeal. It worked fabulously, and would find a welcome home on a locavore café, if I do say so myself!
OATS FLORENTINE
Serves 1
- 1/3 cup rolled oats
- 2/3 cup water
- 1/3 cup milk of choice
- 1 t chia seeds
- 1/2 cup spinach
- 1 oz goat cheese, divided in half
- 1 egg
- salt and pepper to taste
Combine oats and water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and stir in chia seeds and milk. Continue cooking until creamy. Stir in spinach, half of the goat cheese, salt and pepper. Meanwhile, fry your egg.
Pour oatmeal into a bowl and slide your egg on top. Crumble the rest of the goat cheese, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Lunch: pescatarian! Mixed greens with steamed green beans, steamed butternut squash, avocado, and salmon (which my dad cured himself! He’s cool like that).
Dinner: vegan! My friend Caitlin and I met for dinner at Peacefood, which has become our unofficial date spot. We shared the chickpea fries, which I could eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Perfect texture, perfect amount of spice, and a delicious tahini dipping sauce. (Speaking of Caitlin, she interviews her good friend Darren Criss of “Glee” here!)
We both tried to branch out and try something new, but we always go back to the Japanese Pumpkin Sandwich with caramelized onions, ground walnuts, mixed greens and cashew cheese.
Photo credit from 2 years ago!
Dessert was just… delicious. Vegan, carnivore, fruitarian, whatever… this chocolate mousse is for you. I topped mine with accidental caramel sauce and toasted pecans.
Unfortunately, I’ve just come back from the allergist and things are about to change a lil’, but that just makes things more interesting.
What are your food rules?
I’ve been wanting to make cured salmon!! Does your dad have a recipe? And I love eliminating food rules. I catch myself with weird ones at time and make a point of breaking them!
I’m just like you. I hate labels and always just try to eat what I know and feel is right for me and my body. Right now, I’m eating meat (chicken) because at this point, it is what my body needs. I hate having to explain myself so I just do it. People go through different phases of their lives and their eating habits should change based on those phases. That is why it’s impossible to imitate someone else’s exact way of life…it so relative for everyone.
Wait, I just realized that I totally misunderstood what you said about allergies this morning during breakfast- I didn’t realize that it was YOU who was the allergic one! That sucks. Hope it’s not a butter or chocolate allergy.
i love your food rules!!
everything looks amazingggggg
I’m so with you. Labels are lame. It actually took living with someone who called himself a vegetarian to realize that the most important thing is doing what works for you and your body—no explanations or apologies required! Sorry to hear about your allergies! I found out this summer that I can’t eat certain nuts, like almonds and hazelnuts, and while it sucks sometimes, it’s been nice to be able to breathe again.
I love your food philosophy! I really don’t like labels but see them as a necessary evil. I’m ‘mostly’ vegan because I feel my best when I eat that way, I still think I’d eat diary and eggs from time to time if I craved them and if they were from a good source but meat is definitely a no no for me right now.
Mmm…I’d definitely live by your food “rules” if I could eat savory oats, homemade-cured salmon and chickpea fries every day! Oh, and that sandwich–yum. I think I need to return to NYC just so that I dine at Peace Cafe.
My #1 food rule is pretty basic: hone in on what I’m craving and eat it. However, if I’m honest, it goes quite a bit deeper than that. I prefer things minimally processed, organic (if possible) and nutrient-dense. As of this week, I’m starting Body For Life, which specifies a relatively specific nutrition plan, however I’ve chosen to follow only the rules that I like. Life is to short to say no to ice cream and chocolate mousse. (<–I'd love to try yours!)
Happy Friday!
And by Peace Cafe, I meant Peacefood. :-p
My rules are to keep things as unprocessed as possible, which can be a challenge when traveling.
I don’t have any allergies (aside from a nasty allergy to artificial sweeteners), so I can eat pretty much what I want. My hubby and I stick to a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet with the one meal a week “carnivore option” that we usually use on sushi. We find we feel better by limiting meat in our diet, so it works well for us!
Also, I’m with you on the “no regrets” thing. If I eat that cupcake, I’m going to enjoy every crumb of it!
uh oh! i’m anxious to hear your allergy report. i am allergic to gluten (celiac represent!) and sensitive to cow dairy so if i eat dairy at all, it’s in the goat form. i adhere to a paleo diet and while some thing it’s heavy on the meat or low carb i beg to differ. often the only non vegan thing i eat is an egg or other days i’m pesca. i only have red meat a couple times a month and unlike some paleo hardcore fanatics i am a fan of fruit. it just makes me feel better! and i would rather eat that than a really processed sugar bomb.
I don’t have too many food rules, but I do love Peacefood! I would get the exact same meal as you had, yum!!!
ahhh the peacefood japanese pumpkin sandwich!!! i miss it so much.
fancy grilled cheese soon, yes?
i don’t have too many hard and fast food rules, but i’ve been trying to be more discerning lately. i’m attempting to avoid sub-par foods just because they’re lying around (i’m talking to you snacks in the office break room…). usually my diet includes: lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, full fat dairy (it tastes so much better), seafood, nuts, seeds, WINE, chocolate, cookies…
those are the staples
LOVED this! give me that salmon NOW. we had salmon last night but something was off with it
i think my major food rule is protein at every meal, i feel lost without it!
dyyyyyyyyyyying to go to peacefood cafe!!!! get me there now!
chickpea fries! want! want! want!
also: what did you think of that movie? I saw it in the theaters by myself. it was the first time i’ve ever gone to the movies solo, and I liked the experience (though not the film as much).
My food rule or (sort of rule) is to just try and eat things are minimally processed as possible. Processed food usually isn’t satisfying and generally kind of depressing!
Hmmm I don’t have any! Other than no wheat, but that’s cause I’m allergic.
That sandwich has me drooling. I would go to NYC just for that. If I wasn’t allergic to the bread. I hope your allergy test doesn’t come up positive!
That Japanese Pumpkin Sandwich sounds fantastic! Yum, yum, yum.
Eat what you love, and love what you eat.
No food rules for me. I just try to stick to natural unprocessed foods. I’m going for more local, fair trade, and organic foods, but this is a Goal for the year…not something I do completely yet
I like to eat at certain times and I also don’t eat sugar until after dinner. Those are really my only food rules. And of course I try to avoid eating anything processed!!