Good afternoon! Megan and I went on a glorious bike ride this morning (we both decided we’d rather work in the evening and workout in the morning).
We don’t bike on the sidewalk, we were just taking a breather. We bike in the bike lane!
We had a nice ride. It was a little windy and chilly, but still very pleasant outside. I finished 18.0 miles in 1 hour and 10 minutes. Booyah!
After our workout, I ran some quick errands, including the grocery store. I posted this Operation Beautiful note in a random aisle:
If you’ve posted any notes lately, be sure to e-mail them to me at seebriderun@gmail.com! Each note goes up on the site, and I’ll link back to your blog, if you have one.
Time for lunch:
A few people have asked how I get my wraps to look so “pretty.” There is a technique! Here it is:
Start with a good, solid wrap that won’t rip. This is my favorite brand because it’s not calorie dense (100 calories; I’d rather fill-up on the nutrient-dense fillings) and doesn’t have any trans fat.
The key is to use some sort of “sticky” condiment to hold the wrap together. I usually use melted cheese, hummus, ketchup, or mustard. Also, you want to start on an edge of the wrap, not in the center. I started today’s wrap with hummus and sprouts.
The hummus was awesome, by the way. It was this wonderful Dill and Cucumber flavor that I found at my grocery store.
Then, add the bulk of your wrap. Be careful not to overstuff! I added grilled zucchini and squash that was marinated in balsamic.
(If you want to fold in the edges, now is the time to do it; I just don’t always do it.) Then, grab the end of the wrap closest to the edge and pull over the insides, tucking along the “glue.” Tuck it as tightly as possible.
Roll all the way up, flip over so the seam is facing down, and slice down the middle. Re-plate if necessary. 
I also had roasted yellow potatoes and ketchup.
Now that I’ve spent the morning playing, I need to get to work! I have tons of writing to do.
Are you a wrap or a sandwich kind of person? I must admit… I love a good sandwich.
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{ 86 comments… read them below or add one }
I didn’t think I was really either, and I went about 3months not having them. Then the other week I made an AMAZING tempeh sandwich, so I thought I was a sandwich girl – til I made my first wrap last week! Now I’m sold on them too
I posted some Operation Beautiful notes 2 or 3 weeks ago…do you still want to see them!?
Congrats on the bike ride btw
yes, definitely! email them to me! the more, the merrier.
I love both sandwiches and wraps. I try to alternate buying wraps and sandwich bread so I only have one in the house at a time. Great job on your bike ride!
oh, that’s a hard question: i really LOVE burritos and wraps, but nothing compares to a good sandwich. i love the wrap tutorial!
You ARE a great wrapper! I’ve been improving but I’ll try your technique next! Although I have become quite good a rolling sushi, I wonder if it’s similar? Hmmm…
I like wraps more than sandwiches. I just don’t like crusts! Although now that I’ve discovered sandwich thins there’s a bit of a toss-up!
Haha, that’s actually really helpful! Rolling wraps is harder than it seems.
I think I’d say I’m a wrap person. I love good, fresh bread, but I think it tastes better unadorned.
Oooh I would have to go with wraps! I love them and I don’t make them enough! Both are yummy to my tummy though!
I love a good wrap in the morning and a good sandwich for lunch or dinner. Does that make me weird that I like them both but at different times of the day? Just like you, my favorite wrap is this brand too! I love to pair it with some greek yogurt, strawberries, almonds and flax seed for a filling breakfast.
Nice bike ride. Now I have a goal for my first ride this aft.
You avergad 3.88min/mile so for 10 miles I will try for 39minutes. Just gives me extra motivation out there
you’ll do great. wear your helmet
definitely a wrap person and thank you for showing me how to wrap it-mine never look as pretty as yours! good job on the bike ride! i should be getting my new bike soon
I go both ways when it comes to wraps and sandwiches. Love em both.
I love wraps! And LaTortilla Factory are my favorite too. Have you ever had the green onion flavor?!? They are tasty.
i have not! but now i’ll be on the look out!
Thanks for the tips! I’m the one who usually has the fillings go flying
I love both! But I think sandwich takes the cake
Hilarious! You have no idea how many times I’ve been tempted to email you to ask you how to wrap a wrap!!! Thank you for posting!
One last question: How did YOU learn to wrap a wrap? Did someone show you? Did you teach yourself? Did you work at a fancy wrap restaurant???
hehehe close – i worked as a bartender at a mexican restaurant and the chef taught me.
I like to wet a paper towel a little bit (just so it’s damp) and cover the wrap in that, then microwave it for 15 seconds or so. When it’s warm, it doesn’t rip nearly as much when you stuff it, and the steam from the wet towel keeps it from drying out!
epic suggestion!
I feel like I SHOULD like wraps but I’ve never really had one that was so fantastic I needed to eat it again. But then, I’m a bread addict so….SANDWICHES!
ooo! Thanks for posting this! I was definitely not utilizing the “glue” component properly! Now I know how to make killer wraps! I have the same kind of tortillas at home. Score!
I was always trying to mimic how they do it at chipotle… but they always work so fast, it’s impossible to see the logical steps behind the magic!
Totally off topic, but do you have any awesome Tofu recipes? I have some Extra Firm tofu that needs cooked ASAP!
highly recommend my perfect baked tofu: http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/recipes/lunches-and-dinners
Thanks! I even have all of the ingredients.
Thanks for the wrap technique tip! My wraps are always big messes that fall apart, this is great to know. I prefer wraps over sandwiches.
Always slice in an angle for optimal prettiness.
I definitely prefer wraps, and I second Brie’s suggestion of nuking the wrap for about 15 seconds. It’s much softer and more moldable so the whole package stays together better!
Wrapping a wrap is alot harder than it looks. You don’t put everything in the middle? Every instruction packaging i’ve ever read says to put the crap in the middle. hm…
sandwich girl here. good job on the bike ride!
Strange question. I love those wraps too, but I find that since they are so pumped with fiber they do not agree with my intestines. Does anyone else have this problem? Maybe I’ll just get used to it. I normally eat a lot of fiber-y foods anyway, so it could be overload. Thanks!
i am too lazy to get up and look at the ingredients list, but i wonder if they have fake added fiber in them (like amazing grass does). that usually bothers my tummy.
I think the first ingredient in those wraps is oat fiber. I had them once and was in serious pain (I guess I just need my fiber in small doses?!). That, and anything with too much fiber tastes really gummy to me!
Overstuffing is definitely my main problem…
Speedy bike ride there!
I love wraps and sandwhiches equally. I’m jealous of all your biking lately. We don’t have bike lanes here, and I’m scared to actually ride in the road. People drive crazy and I’m afraid of getting hit. I wish I lived somewhere more runner/biker friendly.
I’m a wrap girl. I’m not the best at getting them to stay closed, but I love eating wraps.
I like a nice, toasted/pressed sandwich!!! And I wish I could always fit my workouts in in the AM. Jealous!!!!
You do make a pretty wrap:) I’m a wrap person- I like the goodies on the inside! Although I really like good bread too–just not competing with my sandwich fillings!
I am usually a sandwich girl, especially when there is some kind of sturdy, chewy bread involved. I really love your use of veggies on the sandwich/wrap. It is nice to have a reminder that I don’t necessarily need a meat for my sandwich, I just need to be creative about with what I have.
I’m so glad you mentioned operation beautiful in this post because I always forget to comment/email about a message on my jogging path. The path I take to run is about 3.2 miles and circles around a park. Well, about halfway around the park there is an arrow spray painted on the sidewalk with the words “You can do it!” underneath! I’m pretty sure this qualifies as vandalism, but it sure is inspiring and gives me a little boost! One day I will have to remember to take me camera and snap a shot of it!
i’d love to see that! at least it’s positive vandalism
Thanks for the wrap tips! I ALWAYS forget to think ahead and I put all my fillings in the middle, then I have to squish them over when I try to roll it up, haha.
Great tutorial. I am not a great wrap roller
I used to prefer sandwiches but now that I am gluten and yeast free, I eat brown rice wraps and like them. They make a good sub for when I am in the mood for a sandwich and don’t have time to make my own bread.
Thanks for the wrap tut! I usually tuck in the sides, but that’s a good idea to put the filling on one side instead of in the middle. I’ll try that the next time I make a wrap … probably tomorrow! Obviously I’m a wrap person
That wrap looks professional! LOVE it!
Sara
Aloha! I just nominated you for a Sunshine Award! Check it out:-)http://thegrainsofparadise.blogspot.com/2010/03/sunshine-awards.html
i love both! but i would have to say, wraps mostly take the cake for me =
That is one sexy rap
… I am a sammy guy though
I’m a sandwich person too since I’m not as skilled at wrap rolling as you are! I’ll have to give your technique a try.
It totally depends on the fillings. If I am using things that work better on bread, I’ll make a sandwich. And if I am using chopped veggies that would just fall off the bread, I use a wrap instead.
I love wraps and always use hummus or Laughing Cow as a glue.
I choose wraps from 12 noon onwards. But I could never give up my peanut butter and banana sandwiches. They are my favorite breakfast!
I ALWAYS have problems with wraps! Hummus and cheese are usually staples in my wraps but I pile them a mile high with veggies and can never close them. Maybe the key is to keep it simple!
I prefer sammies!
I love both…but nothing beats a sandwich with awesome bread
Oooh yum! I hadn’t thought to use grilled zucchini as the main ingredient in a wrap but this post gives me ideas! Looks delicious!
Great ride. The sunshine makes it look warm even though you said there was a chill.
It’s rare that I can eat a sandwich or wrap. If they are the slightest bit mushy, it makes my stomach flip flop. I would rather have my bread/tortilla on the side, dry.
Yum! I’m a wrap girl, for sure! Though I hardly eat either…it’s always leftovers!
Uh oh, this left me feeling a bit…boring when it comes to food, haha! Usually I only use wraps when we eat taco, but why limit it to just taco? As you show, wraps are very easy to use.
But, at the moment I have to go with the sandwich, since I am such a wrap- newbie.
I am not a huge wrap fan. I never really find a brand that Im crazy about. Perhaps Ill try the kind you use!
Thanks for the wrap demo, I am terrible at it! I actually probably prefer wraps (when someone else wraps ‘em) but I love sandwiches too
I love me a good sandwich and wrap. They both can be equally filling but sandwiches take me back to my childhood. Oh and thanks for teaching us how to “roll” something..tee hee.
I love me a good wrap! i love how you can have a bit of melded flavor, it just tastes so much better than a sandiwch to me!
The timing of this post is too funny! I usually don’t have wraps for lunch but made one with hummus today and wondered how you get yours so tidy and neat (mine ended up ok thanks to the hummus, but it was still much less photogenic than yours).
I’m usually more of a sandwich person but I love a good wrap! I’ve had a wrap almost every day for this week! And I use those tortillas too, they are awesome!
make a video of it please!!
I am normally a wrap person. I like all the insides and don’t want the bread to fill me up too much. Your wrapping technique looks very helpful.
Neither. I grew up in Japan, so everything is “rice”. So “bowl” would be my answer; what can I put over rice? What can I put in a bowl over rice? (Miso soup, stir fry, bologna sauce, ramen… endless possibilities!) I’m still not that down with the American sandwich tradition… maybe give it a few more years? haha.
Awesome tutorial! I think I like sandwiches better–I just love bread too much!
SANDWICH!!!
I never think to make wraps or sandwiches, but when I do, I love them!
Thanks for the tips with the wraps! I always screw mine up but that’s because I love to try to stuff it with a LOT of veggies and what not. I prefer open face sandwiches the most because then you’re filling up with less calories from the bread and still getting a ton of toppings! I really really enjoy wraps but there’s only so much you can put in and usually I end up with a good hunk of wrap left over at the end. :p
Have you been doing any hill work at all on the bike? I know the whole Florida = flat thing but I hope there’s something close by. I think the TT section of the Napa century has 2500ft or so of climbing — granted most of it right at the end of the TT.
im doing hill training tomorrow but in general i think im just doing to die during the century.
haha I had a wrap tutorial ove ron my blog too!!! love WRAPS! i am eating one right now in fact! that dill hummus sounds great!!
I am generally a sandwich person but have been trying more wraps lately.
I love your lunch posts because I always get such great ideas – I struggle coming up with things that aren’t boring. And that hummus sounds divine, I’ll be on the lookout for that.
I love wraps! awesome job on your bike ride!
I always overstuff my wraps. I know I’m doing it, but sometimes a little mess is worth some extra veggies. I’ve been grilling my wraps in the Foreman – you can fit more in that way because it gets pressed down.
If it’s really good bread, I’m a sandwich person, but I don’t eat them very often.
You totally need to come see the Lululemon outlet in orlando…. its covered in Operation Beautiful!!
I totally would pick a sandwich over a wrap any day but there are those times when a good wrap sounds super fantastic.
I don’t think I’m either–I had my first PB&J sandwich for lunch when I was in high school, but your wraps always look fabulous. Wraps over here are always filled with shredded iceberg and day-old tomatoes and the like so I can’t ever get myself to order one. I’ve always wanted to order one at a more fresh and health-minded restaurant but am still afraid.
The sticky condiment is genius. Dude, I worked in a deli where we churned out hundreds of wraps a day and I never even thought of that!! I prefer pitas above all else. You can cram waaay more goodness into a pita than you can a wrap or sandwich
It is my sole mission in life to wrap a wrap as good as you. bahaha.
my wraps always fall apart and make a big mess! thanks for this!
I love this blog. I linked to this post because it’s the best one I’ve seen for showing how to roll a wrap the right way
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