Easy, Breezy Leftovers Kind of Day

by Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

June 29, 2011 • 5 comments

Let’s see, what did I eat yesterday? What city was I in? Oh, yes, I languished comfortably at home wrapping up work before yet, another trip.

A perfectly ripe peach (we’re in peak season folks, so get them while you can) sat on the countertop and I layered slices between granola and schmears of plain Greek yogurt, and honey. The full fat yogurt was on sale I so decided to go for it. Though it contains more calories from fat, the saturated kind, it possesses almost a whipped cream consistency and flavor, which seems to require less sugar. I toasted a poufy whole grain English muffin and applied a thin layer of spreadable butter with canola oil. Scarlet spotted me eating it and ended up taking a quarter of mine! See? The Mommy Diet.

I strive to eat lunch at home with Scarlet whenever I can. She ate hers at 11am, which led me to skip my morning snack and enjoy an early lunch with her. The Italian breaded pork chops and roasted potatoes I made Sunday night sounded appealing again, as well as the carrots and celery from the chicken broth I made ahead, too. And a squirt of ketchup made with sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, accompanied the potatoes, of course.

1:30 Dirty-dirty. As if I needed any more of an adrenaline rush. On second thought, I’ll take it.

Serenity now with a KIND Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein bar. The KIND people sent me free samples of these. I like that these bars don’t have all of the gunk found in many other bars. Just yummy goodness. And chocolate!

After my workout I was famished and discovered Scarlet eating the meatball stroganoff I’d set out for her dinner with a sitter. I gobbled up what she didn’t eat, two meatballs and a few bites of pasta. So good.

Scarlet was in a  high maintenance state and needed mommy, but I managed to whip up a salad with arugula, avocados, walnuts, tomatoes, blue cheese, and Garlic Expressions cider vinaigrette, which you’ll find with the salad dressings in your grocery store. I love my restaurant-style stainless steel bowls for tossing  salads. I even eat from them when it’s just me.

After I settled Scarlet down for her favorite tv show, I re-heated the whole grain egg noodles and tomato sauce I prepared yesterday. A sprinkling of Parmesan cheese added extra zest. As soon as Steve arrived home I was able to pass out on the couch. Exhausted. Game over.

Estimated calories: 590 (breakfast), 745 (lunch), 600 (dinner), 355 (snacks)

What’s your favorite go-to salad?