enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

A few weeks ago I shared some of the diet changes I have made this summer and got a few requests for actual recipes. I have to say, at the moment, I am pretty uninspired in the kitchen. I am a creature of habit (as in I would eat the exact same dinner every night) and so with Paul gone, I have been rotating through the same dishes over and over.

Regardless, I decided to share. So here is what I am eating now :

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Breakfast is always oatmeal (cooked with milk, not water) or cereal. Sometimes granola, sometimes Kashi or a Kashi like store brand. When I have blueberries, those get tossed in too. Sometimes a cut up banana gets added. I think I could probably be getting more protein in my breakfast, but right now, this keeps me going through Bar Method and until lunch at 11:30ish.

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Lunch is usually bread (either what I recently made or Trader Joe's sprouted wheat) & peanut butter OR

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bread with an egg scramble (2 eggs, spinach, ham/turkey, onion & cheese). I always eat a piece (or two) of fruit with lunch too.

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When I get hungry in the early afternoon I'll eat a handful of almonds and another piece of fruit or my recently discovered obsession, Larabars.

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I usually eat dinner pretty early and these past few weeks that means either a pasta dish (wheat noodles, olive oil, butter, salt, pepper, tomatoes, bit of basil, almonds, blue cheese & sometimes a grilled chicken breast) OR

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a salad with whatever I can find in the fridge and fruit bowl (which at the moment means spinach, sliced turkey, almonds, walnuts, strawberries, onion, goat cheese & dressing). My new "trick" for salads it to cut everything as small as possible. Then I can get every flavor in each bite.

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Recently I have been having "desert" of greek yogurt, honey and fruit. My new favorite combination is greek yogurt, honey, banana and walnuts. And every few nights I definitely have red wine. If I'm hungry again before bed, I'll eat sugar snap peas, fruit or a spoonful of peanut butter (and sometimes all three).

So, yeah, it's pretty boring. But as mentioned, I am a habit girl and enjoy it. Clearly, my favorite food is fruit and I buy it like a crazy person. I never have a plan (like "get apples") but instead just buy whatever is on sale that week (usually whatever is on that front stand is what they are trying to push out the door). When I do go out to dinner, I'll eat whatever sounds good. I have done the "grilled chicken breast & steamed vegetables route" in the past and it was not a good match for me.

When Paul is home, we are a bit more exciting. Below are links to some of our favorite foods I have shared here in the past. All of these are still things I would eat on this new food plan and I am sure I'll be making (and then saving leftovers) often this fall.

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25 responses to “so what do I eat?”

  1. Sarah Avatar

    I am the same way – I could eat the same thing day in and day out 🙂 I am glad I am not the only one! I eat similar meals to you. I do try to eat protein for breakfast, like scrambled eggs or peanut butter on toast because that tends to keep me full all the way until lunch. For dinners, you might want to look into a baked dish. When my husband is out of town, I find myself eating cereal for dinner, and by day 3, I am starving! So, I make myself a casserole dish at the beginning of the week, so I can eat it for lunch and dinner while he’s away. Casseroles tend to be a lot more filling that Cheerios! 😉

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  2. Ell Avatar
    Ell

    Hi Elise,
    I eat pretty similar to you as well, and while I know I have a challenged digestive system, I have one question. Do you find that when you get together with friends, and eat/drink out, it really takes its toll? Seems like eating a meal @ a later hour (which of course is what you do when you aren’t 65+!), and eating heavier restaurant food (like a burger…) shocks my body and I feel like I pay for it for days. I don’t typically get salads in restaurants ’cause I usually want something from elsewhere on the menu.
    Anyway, just wondering if you find this too.

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  3. tara pollard pakosta Avatar

    love this post!
    I TRY to eat healthy, but then go on to an
    unhealthy kicK! such a bad habit to break out of.
    I LOVE all of the foods you make, so why don’t I just eat them and be healthy all of the time!!!
    I have a bunch of yummy healthy recipes if you want them I can email you them! things like African Chicken stew, black bean chicken tortilla soup etc…..
    tara

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  4. Suzanne Avatar

    that’s so cool! I’ve been obsessed with Larabars for the past year ever since my naturopath discovered I was gluten intolerant. My faves are the pecan pie and chocolate chip 🙂

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  5. Koko Avatar

    All those look AMAZING actually hahaha. I’m such a creature of habit too, your pasta looks so good I just want to eat it now for breakfast.

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  6. alexandra Avatar

    it all looks good to me!!
    I’m loving greek yogurt now too – I add granola and blueberries and (instead of honey) I add light agave (a low glycemic organic sweetener – very much like honey) – yum 🙂

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  7. elise blaha Avatar

    Thats a great question. I would say not really… at least it is not something I notice. After vacations, like the one I just went on, I definitely feel off, but I think that was because it was such a long stint of eating meals out. Something that I really try to do at restaurants is take. my. time. with the meal. Put my fork down, drink lots of water, talk, etc. Sometimes I will realize I am full earlier than I thought and that keeps me from super over indulging. Hope that helps a bit!

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  8. elise blaha Avatar

    I totally agree. I cannot do cereal for dinner, I just end up eating another three bowls a few hours later. Casseroles are a great idea. As soon as it gets cooler here I will be making some along with crockpot soups and meals. 🙂

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  9. Ell Avatar
    Ell

    Great advice!

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  10. Michelle Avatar

    I love new healthy suggestions! Have you tried this cereal: http://www.naturespath.com/products/cold-cereals/optimum-blueberry-cinnamon-cereal?page=2 Its my back-up for when I don’t have time to make oatmeal! Also love, love LARABARS! It still amazes me how few ingredients they contain.
    And going back to your original post, you’ve total intrigued me into purchasing and reading this book! Thanks 🙂

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  11. elise blaha Avatar

    great tip! And lots of protein in there!

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  12. Ashlee Avatar

    Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed seeing what you eat and has inspired me to try and eat better. Being a college student it’s hard to shy away from what’s quick, fast, yummy, but ultimately bad for you. Thanks for the inspiration! ❤

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  13. Sarah Avatar

    Good for you! When my husband is gone my food consists of runs to McDonald’s, frozen dishes (TGIF potato skins are my vice) and sandwiches and cereal. I’ve recently been eating better too and cut out fast food completely for the month of September. Just doing that, I’ve dropped a pound and a half!

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  14. Jill Avatar

    Hey Elise –
    So the sprouted wheat from Trader Joe’s is a thumbs up for you? I’ve wanted to buy it but haven’t. I love wheat bread overall – maybe I should give it a go. What do you find different about it? Thanks 🙂

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  15. desiree Avatar

    yum. your inspiring me to eat healthier. – I have never been much of a fruit girl, but that doesn’t mean I can’t start 🙂

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  16. Lisa Avatar

    Thanks so much for this post! So many times it’s easy to make excuses for not eating well…it’s too hard, it costs too much, etc. Your meal ideas look yummy and easy! I made the oatmeal bread you posted yesterday too…it is delicious!

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  17. elise blaha Avatar

    hi Jill, I tried it on the recommendation of the book Secrets of a Healthy metabolism. I know there is tons of info out there about why it is good for you – but all I really know is it tastes good and has less carbs and more healthy nutrients than regular wheat bread. 🙂

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  18. kristen Avatar
    kristen

    Love this post, and am now intrigued by Larabars – I haven’t heard of them before, but definitely want to give them a try! Did you get them at Trader Joe’s? Or are they available at regular supermarkets?

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  19. elise blaha Avatar

    hey! you can find them in packs at Target in the powerbar section (not with the food, but close to the supplements). I am pretty sure normal grocery stores carry them two. They have like 3 ingredients, like dates, cherries peanuts. THAT IS IT and their fantastic. let me know what you think!! xo. e

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  20. Joeynumber41 Avatar
    Joeynumber41

    I love the blueberry Larabars! (You can get them at co-ops, too). A great source of a complete protein, omega-3, anti-oxidants and fiber is chia seeds.
    A great recipe that you might is in the new Vegetarian Times.It is braised kale and it is delish! (Sorry I couldn’t find a link :()

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  21. Nat Avatar

    I agree re being uninspired when cooking for one’s self. My husband and I are avid cooks, but one summer when he spent several weeks away, I totally lost my mojo and didn’t feel like making anything adventurous. Still, it’s not like being uninspired is resulting in you going to McDonald’s several nights a week, so I wouldn’t feel bad about it!

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  22. Ana Avatar
    Ana

    And they’re the invention of a USC alum. Gooo Trojans!

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  23. Dayl Avatar
    Dayl

    Sounds pretty tasty and I totally get not being inspired to cook with as much variety when your other half isn’t there… as for the more protein with breakfast, I have found that some of my favourite ways to add it into your existing breakfast it to add a small handful of hazelnuts or pecans to your oatmeal when you’re cooking it, or to add a few teaspoons of unsweetened almond butter to your cooked oatmeal and stir it around. Both tasty. One is crunchy and one is a bit more creamy. And if you’re feeling a bit decadent, then add both the nuts and the almond butter! YUM!

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  24. Julie Coryell Avatar

    Thanks for sharing this info! I’ve been doing really well with the excercising but have struggled with my eating. I’m definitely going to try some of your foods, they look great. One question: what kind of dressing are you eating on your salad? bottled or homemade?
    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  25. elise blaha Avatar

    I use ones that come it packets that get mixed with water, vinegar and oil. I think they are called Good Seasonings and taste great. 🙂

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