Food for Thought

on July 20, 2010

Things are FINALLY coming off my To Do List. For three days straight, it seemed like it GREW daily, but now itâ€™s shrinking. It feels good.

And I had a fun play date planned for this evening! I met up with a reader named Anne for frozen yogurt. Isnâ€™t it fun when you have something positive to look forward to at the end of the day?

She was fun. 🙂

So, I realized around 3PM that I had not eaten a single vegetable today. It happens! I thought about making up some vegetable quota by blending up a Green Monster, but Greek yogurt seemed so appealing (and I also needed some protein).

And for dinner, I squeezed in some vegetables:

A spinach salad with carrots, broccoli, and tomato. With cilantro and jalapeÃ±o hummus on top!

Plus, a slice of Dakota.

And dessert, of course, was frozen yogurt. Which fulfilled my chocolate quota for the day. Yum.

Yoforia is going to be a problem, me thinks. Itâ€™s $$$!

When choosing meals and snacks, do you think about what nutrients or food groups you might be â€œmissingâ€ from your earlier eats? What food groups do you tend to gravitate to? I love those carbs â€“ especially granola and bread! Then I tend to go for fruit.

{ 73 comments }

JenATX July 20, 2010, 8:57 pm
I definitely consider my carb intake because if not I’ll eat too too many carbs (they’re just so good!) otherwise I pretty much get my fruit & veggie needs w/out having to think about it..
BUT ever since I’ve been trying to eat less meat I really need to think about how I’m getting my protein. This has been somewhat of a struggl…
Anyone have ridiculously easy ways to add proteins to lunch?? *this one is the hardest for me
- Sabrina July 20, 2010, 9:55 pm
  Beans or nuts! There is always a bean or nut that will compliment a meal. I have a million different kinds of each — but if you buy canned rinse them or the sodium will get ya
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine July 20, 2010, 8:59 pm
I’m definitely a carbaholic as well, but some days I crave nothing but veggies. I’ve found that it’s all or nothing for me…either I eat no veggies or twelve servings! It all balances out though 🙂
Kari July 20, 2010, 8:59 pm
Cilantro Jalepeno hummus is my FAV! It’s almost like guacomole…. and you can put it on/with anything. Mmmmmmm.
Jenna July 20, 2010, 8:59 pm
I probably should think about food groups more often than I do because like you, I am a carb queen. Oh, and did I mention how much I adore sugar?
Marilou @ Mostly Healthy July 20, 2010, 9:00 pm
I definitely have a carbs addiction .. but when I don’t eat enough veggies, I crave them really badly.

I follow my gut, almost never plan meals.

I thought the whole point of self serve fro yo was yo be cheap?
Callie @ Callieflower Kitchen July 20, 2010, 9:07 pm
I definitely gravitate toward carbs, fruit and chocolate. I find it really easy to fall short on my protein or veggie intake, so I like things like greek yogurt or protein powder that I can mix with fruit and carbs and get the best of both worlds 🙂

And oh my gosh, those fro yo cups are HUGE! I don’t think I’ve ever seen cups that big 😯 Why are they so gigantic?
Amanda (modernation) July 20, 2010, 9:11 pm
I like to think about what I am missing, but also know that I need to go with what my body is craving or else I will never be satisfied. I am starting marathon training soon and will then be more concerned with what I am missing to make sure I get all the nutrients I need to fuel my training.
Krystina July 20, 2010, 9:12 pm
I tend to think more about protein and fats. I always eat enough vegetables, fruits and grains, but I need to make sure to get enough protein/fat in every day.
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ July 20, 2010, 9:13 pm
Those are some good eats, some of my favorites.
Cyclist Kate July 20, 2010, 9:14 pm
I do try to balance throughout the day: first priority goes to veggies, then protein. Fruit and carbs are never a problem for me. I’m totally random about what foods I gravitate to day-to-day. Sometimes I’m crazy for protein and go for almonds, scoops of peanut/almond butter, hummus, parmesan cheese, etc. for snacks. Other times it’s chips and salsa, cookies, fruit and Greek yogurt, crackers with sliced parmesan. For meals, it’s the same deal. I feel like I’ve gotten in tune with my body enough that I trust it to balance out over the week or month, even if sometimes I’m craving carbs and others a big salad’s all I want in the world. It’s nice :).
Daniel July 20, 2010, 9:16 pm
I think about it way more than I should. I’m always trying to balance out food groups and I forget that the pyramid and other guidelines are there to ensure that you get adequate and varied nutrients – not that you need x servings of one food group!

I need to relax a bit more about it, I find that I’ll limit myself on grains way more than I should, but yea, I strive for lots of variety throughout the day. If I didn’t worry so much I’d say that I go more towards the fruit and grains.
Samantha @ Health, Happiness & Skinny Jeans July 20, 2010, 9:16 pm
I eat a lot of vegetables. In fact I feel strange if I eat lunch or dinner and it there aren’t at least two veggies on my plate. And now that I discovered spinach smoothies I guess I have found a way to get it in at breakfast too!!
Jaya July 20, 2010, 9:21 pm
I have to say that I honestly eat 100% based on what I crave. I just find that if I trust it, my body never leads me astray. I have GMs most mornings for breakfast because they are so delicious and refreshing, but I just find that it’s not a big deal anymore. The more no-holds-barred eating I do, the better I eat.
Marie July 20, 2010, 9:28 pm
I try to get in all food groups possible for lunch and dinner… but I don’t think too hard about it anymore, as it’s become more habitual. If I don’t have any fruit with dinner I’ll snack on some blueberries for dessert, or if I didn’t have any veggies with lunch I’ll drink a Green Monster later. I don’t beat myself up over it though, if I miss something here and there 🙂
Jordan July 20, 2010, 9:32 pm
It’s so funny to see your pictures and realize I’ve been there and sat at that exact table. That area of Charlotte where that picture was taken is so pretty! I go to that Yoforia every Sunday night with my family.
- caitlin July 21, 2010, 8:51 am
  Oh I love it! That Calvary Church nearby is epic!!!
Mary July 20, 2010, 9:35 pm
me too! I love those bagels and granola, then I go for any kind of fruit I can get my hands on. At the end of the day though, I really just want a big plate of veggies 🙂
Lee July 20, 2010, 9:35 pm
I don’t know if you’re a fan of Yoforia on facebook, but they linked your blog entry!
- caitlin July 21, 2010, 8:54 am
  hehe so fun!
- caitlin July 21, 2010, 8:54 am
  hehe so fun!
AngelaOSG July 20, 2010, 9:38 pm
I never used to be mindful of food groups at all in the past- just calories and fat grams. My whole mindset has changed and I find myself thinking about nutrients and food groups more now. It is nice when the focus shifts to something more positive. =) I don’t plan my meals beforehand though in terms of food groups. I often find myself doing what you did today and saying ‘Oh crap I didn’t have many veggies’ or ‘Wow I had way too much grains and not much protein’ You are right, it happens! I like to think of it as a balance over the course of a week and not necessarily over 1 day. 🙂 It evens out! I find my body craves more veggies the next day when I have a low veggie day too.
BroccoliHut July 20, 2010, 9:47 pm
I’m pretty conscientious about getting my food groups in…I tend to gravitate toward veggies and carbs.
Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) July 20, 2010, 9:57 pm
i need to be better about eating more veggies! i’m like you, i’ll go for carbs in the form of bread or bagels and then opt for fruit.
but i always manage to squeeze in my veggies 🙂 i love me some green monsters!
Anya @ Fitness & Sunshine July 20, 2010, 9:58 pm
I do try to eat balanced meals but I don’t obsess over it. If for example I just have some whole grains with fruit but no significant protein, that’s fine by me. Sometimes it’s just better to listen to my body. 🙂
Brittany (A Healthy Slice of Life) July 20, 2010, 10:08 pm
I need to go into to Charlotte to Trader Joes for the sole reason of picking up some cilantro jalapeno hummus… probably my two favorite flavors and I’ve never tried it. Tragic.

I guess if I’m in town, I gotta try Yoforia, too!

I keep a mental balance of my macronutrients… seems carbs are never a problem for me… but protein I need to keep an eye out for 🙂
- caitlin July 21, 2010, 8:55 am
  And you need to say hi to me!!!
Maria @ Oh Healthy Day July 20, 2010, 10:10 pm
I definitely try to keep a balance. If my lunch is low on nutrients, I get them in at dinner and vice versa. I never ever have trouble though with fruit servings. I’m a fruit-aholic!
Lisa July 20, 2010, 10:13 pm
If I let myself get lazy I definitely gravitate towards carbs, I don’t eat meat either so bread or an apple is too easy. Ever since I got my butt back into gear after the birth of my second baby, my body CRAVES whatever it is I am lacking…to the point where I get snappy, so these days I just have to be organised. Every couple of days I roast some veg, bake falafel and boil eggs (I usually ditch the yolk) and that way I can just toss it on some spinach or rocket with hummus or put it into a container and eat it on the run.
Tina July 20, 2010, 10:13 pm
I have felt the same the past few days. Things just keep piling up. I finally feel like I’m starting to get a handle on it though.
maria @ Chasing the Now July 20, 2010, 10:14 pm
Why not a GM with Greek Yogurt in it?
- caitlin July 21, 2010, 8:58 am
  you are so smart!
Alyssa @ bride to be fit July 20, 2010, 10:16 pm
I just recently started really paying attention to what nutirents I’m lacking for the day after reading betheny frankels books…. Now I’m much more aware with what my body needs!
tanyasdaily July 20, 2010, 10:19 pm
Yougurt always sounds good!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) July 20, 2010, 10:33 pm
Is cereal a food group? I tend to gravitate toward carbs and protein, and I do try to plan my meals out for a day, making fruit and veggies a priority, along with calcium and iron-rich foods.
Heather July 20, 2010, 10:36 pm
I watch my veggie intake to make sure I’m getting enough, that’s the one I really have to make conscious decisions about. And then I need to make conscious decisions to not eat too much cheese and dairy. I wish it was the other way around1
Heather July 20, 2010, 10:40 pm
I gravitate towards fruit when I am feeling like I am missing something!
Rebekah July 20, 2010, 10:52 pm
Carbs are def what my back up is. I talk myself out of fruit and veggies because I always think they won’t satisfy my hunger. When I stop listening to my belly and listen to my brain however, I usually try to combine my carbs to balance them out!
Melissa July 20, 2010, 10:57 pm
I definitely consider what else I’ve eaten when I decide on a snack. I actually sometimes put my greek yogurt in my green monster to get the protein and the veggies!!
Dynamics July 20, 2010, 11:12 pm
I need to be high protein and low carb. I can tell when the balances are off and try to log for a few days to get back on track. My go to is a protein shake in the evening to get my protein numbers up. Why it is so hard for me to eat enough protein is beyond me.
Janna @ Janna's Keeping it Real July 20, 2010, 11:16 pm
I definitely try to balance it out daily, but i tend to gravitate toward grains and fruit! lol

love me some carbs, yo!
Heather (heather's dish) July 20, 2010, 11:26 pm
i definitely try to make sure i have 1-3 servings of veggies or fruit per meal…i always know i’ll have protein and bready carbs, but i find that if i focus on veggies the rest of the meal tends to be healthier 🙂
Jo July 20, 2010, 11:27 pm
I tend to gravitate towards eating a lot of nuts–mostly bc of peanut butter and larabars. I have been making the effort to shift back to fresh greens and feeling better bc of it!
Sarah for Real July 20, 2010, 11:32 pm
I’ve been trying to eat more intuitively lately. I do think about including something colorful in each meal.

I use my blog to look back and evaluate the colorfulness of my eats but I try not to stress about it because that puts me in a bad place. Food should be fun!
Amber K @ sparkpeople July 20, 2010, 11:34 pm
I definitely try to make my dinner very veggie-centric as my breakfasts and lunches tend to revolve around whole grains and fruit. Even if I do manage to convince myself to get veggies in early, dinner with veggies is non-negotiable!
Chelsey July 20, 2010, 11:38 pm
I definitely feel weird if I don’t have any greens in my life. I try to have veggies at every meal (well, not breakfast).
marie July 21, 2010, 12:31 am
yeah, i didn’t have any vegetables today either. unless you count leeks… anyways, i bought a bunch of tj’s greek yogurt tonight, you inspired me! it’s delish!
Megan (Braise The Roof) July 21, 2010, 12:33 am
Definitely! My body can always tell when I haven’t had enough green vegetables and then I HAVE to have a salad or some roasted broccoli. 🙂 STAT!
Robyn July 21, 2010, 12:57 am
I used to be quite the carb-aholic, but nowadays I have to REMIND myself to get in my grains! I’m soooooooooooo good about the fruits and veggies and non-meat protein sources . . . but grains? Could stand to improve.
Hillary [Nutrition Nut on the Run] July 21, 2010, 1:00 am
Answer: Most definitely! I can’t eat carbs after I eat carbs. My taste buds switch exactly from sweet to savory every other meal – weird?
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs July 21, 2010, 1:27 am
I always do! I always think ‘protein, carb, veg’ – the veg bit is easy to think of, the others not so much! Unless it’s tempeh or durum wheat, my two favourites :p
Camille July 21, 2010, 2:07 am
Carbs! I need carbs more than anything else to function! I think I could live on no green (okay, maybe not) if I got plenty of carbs 🙂
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) July 21, 2010, 2:38 am
I definitely think about nutrients I might be missing from my day, or even week when I am choosing snacks. A lot of the time I need to sneak in more veggies/fruit, and sometimes more protein.
Stacey @ Tipping the (Kitchen!) Scales July 21, 2010, 3:49 am
Yeah, I second the carbs! I don’t think I ever have a meal without them! I try to be mindful of having some fruit and veg everyday but if I don’t then I don’t freak out about it. Instead I perhaps try to make sure I have lots of fresh produce the next day, by which time my body is usually craving it anyway!
Miz July 21, 2010, 4:57 am
I am 100% intuitive now…and amazingly I eat better than I ever have.
More…completely if I ever stop and take stock of my whole day’s eats.
for me when I tried to get in all the proper 🙂 food groups I ended up all KINDS of heavy on the carbycarbs.

rebellion?
probably 🙂
Jim P. July 21, 2010, 5:42 am
I am diabetic, and I try to limit my carbohydrates. The food pictures look great.
Jo July 21, 2010, 5:51 am
I definitely don’t pay enough attention to what’s been missing from my diet through the day. I’m trying to get better at eating more greens and proteins but I crave carbs (cereal and bread mostly) and fruit. We don’t have frozen yoghurt shops in Scotland so if they opened one I’d have to buy shares I think 😉
Kelli July 21, 2010, 7:12 am
Since I eat most of my meals at my desk (in front of a calculator and excel!) I get to make everything at once. I try to balance fruit, veggies, carbs, and protein as best I can!!
Faith @ LovelyAsCharged July 21, 2010, 8:01 am
In reality, I know that my body will crave the nutrients that it needs, so if a particular meal sounds good at a particular time, I’ll eat it without fussing over what I had earlier in the day. If I have one low-protein day or a day where my fat is a bit lower than it should be, I have no doubt that it’ll even out in the long run. That said, when I don’t have a particular taste for something, I try to get in a square meal with a little bit of each of the macronutrients!
Kelly July 21, 2010, 8:12 am
I normally grab a spoonful of nut butter to get more protein!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman July 21, 2010, 8:31 am
I gravitate towards carbs naturally, too. Usually I have to try to get more protein in. Somehow eating that is the least natural for me.
Anne July 21, 2010, 8:47 am
I find myself gravitating towards the carbs if I go too long without eating or don’t balance my meals properly. I try to eat lots of fruits and veggies during the day so that I don’t overload myself on the breads, muffins, etc. But it happens!

I had a great time last night! Bring on the froyo frequent buyer cards!!
sweetersalt July 21, 2010, 8:50 am
On the one hand I’m sad my town doesn’t have an overpriced yogurt shop, because they’re soooo good. On the other I’m happy because they’re soooo expensive!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday July 21, 2010, 8:51 am
How much does one of those yoforia’s set you back?
- caitlin July 21, 2010, 9:00 am
  $2 to $4
Wei-Wei July 21, 2010, 11:15 am
I always try to get some form of veggies in EVERY meal… if I don’t then I’ll compensate by having a veggie-heavy meal later. I don’t really think about anything else, actually… 😛

Wei-Wei
Michelle July 21, 2010, 11:16 am
Looks like a fun meetup! I definitely plan my meals to get all the good stuff in. If I haven’t had anything green during the day, its a huge salad for dinner!
Shannon July 21, 2010, 11:32 am
I definitely try to think of what I may have “missed” during the day and try to make up for it at dinner. I also really try to listen to what my body is craving: yesterday, it was veggies, veggies, veggies! I had TWO salads and loved it.
Danielle July 21, 2010, 11:41 am
I have to be cautious that I get enough fruits and veggies, and not too many carbs! i try to be vegetarian, and i find that i substitute pasta for meat… which is why i love your blog, you have such great ideas for balanced veggie meals! other than that, i just listen to my body.
Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun July 21, 2010, 11:54 am
I always try to make sure I get enough fruits + veggies. Veggies are always easy for me, but fruits- not so much. Carbs/Dairy are usually what I gravitate towards. I love my yogurt and cheese and c’mon who doesn’t like a hearty slice of bread?! 🙂
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin July 21, 2010, 12:32 pm
I always try to make sure I have at least one veg-heavy meal per day! But it’s not really something I have to think about because I tend to gravitate towards veggies anyway.
Jess July 21, 2010, 1:20 pm
Um carbs. So annoying. Once I start, just can’t stop 🙂
Sara July 21, 2010, 3:18 pm
LOTS of fruits! I try to limit carbs (bloat) and try to watch eating TOO many fruits, try to get enough protein and veggies in too!

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