So, judging from the responses to my morning post, a lot of you are addicted to coffee, too!  Your other addictions include:

• Tea
• Booze
• Hot Chocolate
• Diet Soda
• Peanut Butter
• Chocolate
• Bread
• Sugar Free Gum

I want to point out that I think these *addictive* foods are completely awesome (well, some in moderation).  I would really never want to go through life without any of those treats.  And I strongly agree with the CHOCOLATE and BREAD addictions!

A Healthy Lunch

In comparison to our favorite "bad" treats, my mid-morning snack and lunch was quite healthy! I had another True Delights bar for my snack.

And lunch featured my favorite healthy combo:  sweet potato and black bean!

I mashed 1/2  cooked sweet potato with 1/2 cup black beans to create a burger, which I think cooked on the stovetop.  I added some cheddar cheese on top – yummmmmm!

With a delicious romaine salad with cucumber and sun-dried tomatoes.

Maggie says, "Hello, everyone! I’m cold!"

Interview!

Jess at Run Girl Run "interviewed" me.  Here are her questions and my answers….

1. How do you come up with the creative foods you always feature on your blog and do they take you long to make?

I find cooking inspiration from other blogs and from restaurants.  First, other blogs have introduced me to so many different types of foods (like quinoa, tofu, oatmeal) that I never tried before or enjoyed.  Secondly, I love reading restaurant menus and trying to recreate something similar (and probably healthier) at my home.  Although Healthy Tipping Point focuses more on fitness, I am definitely a HUGE foodie, and I really appreciate culinary creativity.

BUT, I do not enjoy spending tons of time in the kitchen.  I try to make simple meals that can be put together quickly.  Casseroles are one of my favorite types of meals because it’s usually just chop, mix, and bake.  I would say I spend about 20 – 30 minutes a night prepping and cooking dinner.

2. In terms of running, what is your favorite distance and where is your favorite place to run?

I would say my favorite distance is either 5.0 miles or 8.0 miles.  5.0 miles seems to be the perfect training distance for a "quick" run, as it takes me about 2.0 miles to start feeling good and actually enjoy the run.  I really hate running 6.0 miles for some reason.  8.0 miles is a nice "long run" distance that doesn’t wear me out like a double-digit run does.

My favorite race distance is definitely a 15K (9.3 miles).  I feel like this is a distance in which I can excel because I’m not super fast, but I do have endurance and can out-last other runners.

My favorite place to run is at my in-law’s house on the coast.  They live near a nature preserve, so my runs take me through mangrove swamps, over boardwalks, along the ocean…. it’s great!

3. If you could spend two weeks visiting any place in the world without having to worry about cost or travel details, where would you go?

If money and time were no object, I would definitely go to Australia.  If I have to be a little more realistic, I would want to go to London with the Husband.  He’s British and misses the Motherland very much!

4. What is the best part and what is the most challenging part of being a newlywed?

I love being a newlywed!  I would say the best part is the quiet contentment that I share with Husband.  I have a great deal of peace in my heart.  The most challenging aspect is…  his serious obsession with sports challenges my patience sometimes, but that was always a sticking point. 🙂 Husband is wonderful, and he is the light of my life.

5. You feature delicious looking oatmeal pretty regularly. Why is that such a staple to your diet and where do you get ideas for your toppings?

I actually didn’t like oatmeal until about 1 year ago.  Kath got me into banana oatmeal.  I eat it so much because it really holds me over through lunch, and I like adding in different toppings or mix-ins to change it up.  When I’m at the store, I find stuff that I think "this would be awesome on oatmeal," and I just stock up.  Every morning, I open my fridge and pull out about 2 to 5 toppings and just add it on.

If you are a blogger and want to play along:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."  If a few people want interviews, I will randomly pick 2.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Have a great day!