Spaghetti Squash Mexicana with Tropical Avocado Salsa Fresca

WOW!  Dinner was soooo good!  I made Veganomicon’s Spaghetti Squash Mexicana with Tropical Avocado Salsa.  It was perfect, and the flavors were great.  In it was spaghetti squash, corn, black beans, onions, jalapenos, vegetable oil, chili powder, cinnamon, and some other spices.  The salsa topping was served chilled (mango, tomatoes, avocado). I’m going to have to eat this for the next few days though so it doesn’t go to waste I don’t really mind though because I loved it soo much.  I made the mango version salsa.  Yumm!  I am going to need a snack though later because even though this was very high in volume (a definite plus in my book), it was only about 300 calories for the whole bowl I ate!!!  It was extremely satisfying.  I cannot say enough about this book.  So happy I bought it!  At the gym at 4 I did 40 minutes ET and 10 treadmill both moderate and a little intense on the treadmill running.  I did some stretching afterwards, pushups, and sit ups.  Yay for me!  Unfortunately, my e-mail started acting goofy, and 

 

 

Persea americana and Mangifera indica

Straight from getting off the bus, I drove to the gym and got in a nice refreshing workout of light ET for 35 minutes, and treadmill for 15 run and walk.  I was having trouble deciding what to eat/make for dinner.  I wanted a mango, and I knew I had to use an avocado because they are on their last legs, and I still have 3 left!  (So, if anyone has any suggestions on what I can do with these I would love to hear!)    So, I had a box of Near East garlic and olive oil couscous in the pantry…I cooked that, and for on the side I stewed some fresh tomatoes, added spices, broccoli, and spinach (the same veggies I’ve been eating for the past week or so! haha!..they’re new though, and haven’t been sitting in my fridge for that long).  The couscous was very good!  I haven’t had it in so long either.  There was no real protein source in my meal (well 8 grams in the serving of couscous and a tiny bit elsewhere) because I have already gotten enough protein today anyways.  I sliced up an avocado and topped it with some salsa!  Mango sliced up on the side!  This was a very tasty meal, and so simple.  I am very pleased  A muffin is waiting for me in the freezer Oh yeah, I’m sure you may be wondering what the title of this post is supposed to mean…I’m terrible at coming up with titles, so I used the binomial names of avocado and mango!  I know, I’m lame…    

 

Meh

Lunch was at the dining hall.  Stewed tomatoes and chickpeas over basmati rice.  They had almost the same thing as yesterday…not very exciting at all.  It was a little bland, and not very satisfying.  My picture from above did not take for some reason A bunch of mangos are at home waiting for me, so I did not want to have any fruit!  I just ate a Lemon Larabar for some healthy fat to kind of balance out my lunch.  I just read this article on MSNBC health about water http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23921635/ , and I don’t know what I think about it.  I think water is still good.  Not saying that you need to constantly be drinking it, but it has no calories, whereas most other drinks are full of sugar, no fiber, and empty calories.  Even if water doesn’t do miraculous things, it is still better than any beverage I can think of (well, and hot tea!)   Sorry this is so boring, and short.  One more class to go, and then it’s the weekend for me!  Hooray!    

 

Pasta bowl

I went to the gym and did 20 minutes running on treadmill and 20 minutes ET. Intense workout, and I felt so great afterwards!  I really feel like I am getting much more fit.  I quickly whipped up dinner:  whole wheat spaghetti, chickpeas, broccoli, spinach, garlic, onions, tomatoes + tomato sauce, seasonings, and a bit of EVOO.  Yummo.  I’m going to enjoy another PB and honey pumpkin muffin, now and watch the Penguins hockey game.  Only two games left until the playoffs!!!!!!!!! GO PENS!  

 

Taking a break

I am taking a break from doing work today.  I was up until 1 am last night typing my paper, so I feel I need a day to slow down and relax.  I have another paper due Tuesday though  Maybe I’ll start it later haha.  Breakfast was a delicious bowl of pumpkin steel cut oats again.  I can’t get enough of it…I wonder if I will ever get sick of it.  I can’t imagine that happening.  I never want cold cereal for breakfast, but perhaps things could change if the weather ever gets warm!  It’s getting there  Lunch in the dining hall consisted of stewed tomatoes over rice…I think basmati rice?  Plus, I had a small apple, two little chunks of fresh pineapple, and an orange wedge.  That wasn’t enough, so when I got back to my room I ate a Silk live blueberry yogurt.  Shortly after that I had a Pecan Pie Larabar….Satisfied.  Now, I’m brewing a cup of tea.     

 

 

 

Leftovers

My calves are soooo sore for some reason today, but running and ET don’t bother them, so I did 40 minutes ET and 10 minutes on the treadmill at the gym.  (Before the gym I ate some of my leftover Easter candy…peanut butter egg, jelly beans, and a marshmallow peep).  All were yumm, but not vegan.  For lunch I had some of my hummus and tomato on two slices of Ezekiel bread.  I had more hummus on the side with tomato slices (I just loovve tomatoes!), celery, and carrots.  Plus two kiwis!  :-)  So good, so good.  The picture is incomplete due to my blogging forgetfulness.  Dinner was the exact same thing (pasta with beans, spinach, and broccoli in a tomatoey sauce) as last night for me because I loved it so much, and was feeling lazy to think of something else to make.  It wasn’t really leftovers because I cooked it from the beginning again…just the same thing though.  I’m going to drink some hot chamomile tea and cuddle up with In Defense of Food.  I might get some studying in too for my microbiology test on Tuesday :-(  Oh, and I included a picture of my pumkin muffins!  I just may eat one for snack later

 

A quick summary

I haven’t been taking pictures and blogging like I should.  :-(  These past few days have been filled with oatmeal breakfasts and PB and honey sandwiches, so you didn’t miss much!  I bought some yummy things at the grocery store though!  I got kiwi fruit and chili powder…and some other stuff too, but those are my favorites!  I bought In Defense of Food and Veganomicon!!!!!  I haven’t made anything from it yet, but I wanted to make chickpea cutlets yesterday and couldn’t find vital wheat gluten in the store.  :-(  I will have to find it one of these days though.  I can’t wait to start reading In Defense of Food though.  I am almost done with Superfoods Healthstyle.  I wanted to buy Skinny Bitch, but I didn’t allow myself because I already spent enough money!  All of the books I want (those plus Eat, Pray, Love) were on the Bestsellers shelf!  That made me happy!  I told my dad I was going to get another one, and he asked what it was called, and I told him Skinny Bitch.  He got mad, and said don’t be doing that and be one of those bulimics.  I was offended.  It’s not even about that, but he didn’t understand.  Can’t I be healthy and interested in nutrition, as it is my passion, without others thinking I am harming myself?  That makes me think…if someone is trying to be healthy and eat how he or she should, people automatically think that person has an eating disorder or something because everyone is so used to putting junk into their bodies.  Anyways, yesterday I had the usual oatmeal for breakfast, and then went to Pita Pit for lunch and got a hummus pita with avocado and all sorts of other veggies on a wheat pita!  I think I asked for too many veggies because the guy had trouble putting it together, and it started to fall apart!  haha.  Last night I threw a quick tasty dinner together.  I cooked some whole wheat penne, and in a skillet I chopped up garlic, onions, tomatoes, and broccoli and let that cook in 1/2 tsp EVOO.  Then I added spinach, 1 cup tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, and 1/2 cup great northern beans!…Plus spices and other things..pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, chili powder!, lemon juice, and lemon seasoning.  It was very tasty and hit the spot!  I had kiwi and strawberries on the side.  The kiwi was delicious!  Later, I ate a pumpkin muffin that I got from IntuitiveKitchen’s blog, plus 2 pieces of dark chocolate!  The pumpkin muffins are great and moist, and they were sooo easy to make!  I will take a picture of one later today.  This morning I had a bowl of oatmeal with whipped banana, cinnamon, vanilla, flax, walnuts, and PB.  YuMMMM! :-)  I’m going to the gym now for a nice workout. 

 

vegetable fajita

I slept in until 10 again!!  I stayed up until 1 watching the food network although I was tired, but I had to see who won the cookie showdown! dork.  9 hours of sleep… felt great!  I had another 2.5 cups (3.3 servings) of Kashi H2H for breakfast with cup of soymilk.  Then I went to class and had lunch after at 1.  I got a salad of spinach, chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumbers, a little olive oil, and vinegar.  I also got a vegetable fajita minus the sour cream and cheese that had black beans, roasted red peppers, onions, and green bell pepper on it.  I didn’t see them put any oil or anything on it, so that was nice.  It was served on a white tortilla that was probably 12 inches.  I peeled off a lot around the edges because it was way too big, and there wasn’t much “stuffing” in it anyways.  I cut it down to probably an 8 inch?  It was good.  I am getting bad at remembering to take pictures.  So, here is a picture of it almost gone!  :-O   

 

Fruit and veggies

Before I went to the gym I had a clif nectar cranberry, apricot, and almond bar.  I did 50 minutes on ET plus some stretching.  I have decided that I am going to start lifting weights 3 times a week and cardio like i’ve been doing 2 or 3 times a week.  On my strength training days I will do 10 minutes warm up, long stretching, then lifting, followed by another 10 minutes of cardio and light stretching.  I decided this after reading Every Gym’s Nightmare’s blog, plus I need to tone up…mostly my arms and stomach.  I enjoyed a very relaxing day today.  Only my one class in the morning and the rest of the day free.  I get to sleep in again tomorrow and go home later!  I’m very excited.  I enjoyed dinner in the dining hall with about 1/2 cup brown rice, 1/2 cup white beans and escarole, and a fruit and veggie plate (grapes, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and cherry tomatoes).  I also had a scoop of fresh salsa that I ended up mixing in with the rice.  It was a filling dinner.  Now, I’m drinking a cup of spiced chai tea.  I’m tired.      

 

Dinner

Dinner was pretty simple and filling!  I made some whole wheat penne (1 cup cooked) with a cup broccoli, a cup of diced tomatoes, a cup of chickpeas, sauteed onions and garlic, tsp EVOO, lemon seasoning, pepper, basil, thyme, and oregano.  I also had a salad (not pictured) with tomatoes, cuc, and onions with a tiny bit of balsamic vinegar.  I am not really big on dressings.  Oil and vinegar is my favorite!  I bought some tahini to make hummus with tomorrow, Ezekiel bread (100% whole grain), Ezekiel cereal, and Bob’s Red Mill Wheat Germ.  Can’t wait to try the Ezekiel products!! sorry for the terrible pictures