I had a killer morning at the gym. As in, killer workout and I killed it. Maybe because I actually stayed on track with my nutrition plan yesterday? Maybe because yesterday was a rest day? Maybe because I actually slept last night? All of the above?
Anyway, it’s time for What I Ate Wednesday. These are Monday’s eats, since they are roughly the same as what I will be eating (except I’ll be following my plan successfully…) today.
I used pictures from the weekend since, while I’m eating the same things in my lunch this week, they don’t look quite as nice after being shoved into plastic tupperware. And of course, I got some major inspiration from the blog world again this week.
4:00am. Breakfast Bake.
Quinoa flakes “baked” in the microwave and topped with peanut flour sauce. Mmm. And some coffee. 4am is too early to remember to take pictures.
6:00am. Protein.
Quick post-workout gulping of protein powder + water.
7:00am. Cookie dough shake.
Oatmeal, banana, deliciousness and protein (no raisins this time, though–using a recycled pic). The perfect post-workout meal! As if I haven’t thanked Laura enough for this recipe…
10:00am. Steak, bacon and gravy.
Wait…what?
Kristina’s cauliflower steak surrounded by homemade tempeh bacon with a side of roasted okra and healthy nutritional-yeast-based “gravy.” This was so homey, filling, delicious and just plain good.
1:00pm. Plate of Delicious Mush.
Yes, I ate this last week too–and somehow didn’t get ooo’s and ahhh’s about a pile of smushy brown. So this week I paired it with lettuce. Red lentils mixed with a spicy eggplant-peanut sauce. Delicious mush.
(4:00pm. “African” Bowl.)
So this is what I should have eaten…but may or may not have skipped…I know, I know. Monday was only day 4 though! Today I will eat all my meals.
A super-basic “African” peanut soup (fresh tomatoes and onion stewed with hot pepper and peanut flour) with a side beet greens and Rooibos-steeped tempeh (if you haven’t tried marinating tempeh in tea, check out Meg’s recipe that inspired me). The stew? Amazing, simple and clean. The tempeh? Good, but I really don’t like Rooibos tea (I was trying to use up the last few leaves and figured it is “African” after all). I have some ginger-lemon tea that is just begging to participate in an Asian-based round two.
5:30. “Cream” of Broccoli Soup
Sometimes the simplest meals are the most surprising and delicious. Steamed broccoli + cashews formed the base for this soup, and I topped it with a dollop of homemade tofu sour cream. The “sour cream” made for a great cool and tangy accompaniment to the soup–but on its own? No vegan whipped cream.
8:30pm. Protein Paste.
Now doesn’t that sound appetizing? I don’t know what to call it. Part cookie dough, part batter, part, well, paste. And all delicious. New favorite one-minute-to-make “dessert.”
Protein powder + sunflower seed butter + almond milk, made into paste. And then I had a handful of cashews too–to make up for that missed meal, right?
What recipes have been inspiring you? Favorite Wednesday eats?
Your African soup is definitely inspiring me to whip up some more creative ethnic dishes! I’m headed to an Ethiopian restaurant tonight, which I’m pumped for, but I defintiely need to channel some of your creativity in making my own versions!
Ohh, I love Ethiopian and I haven’t been in forever! Now I want to go! And seriously, easiest soup ever. 4 ingredients, maybe five minutes on the stove, and instant multi-culturalism
I need to try that cookie dough shake…looks divine! Favorite Wednesday eat as of now (it’s still lunchtime here) is the Lindt Dark Chocolate with Caramel & Hint of Sea Salt. They keep introducing all these amazing flavors and I just can’t keep up … #firstworldproblems. Hope you manage to stick to the eats- they look great!
Mmm, it is so good! And can you believe I’ve never had salted dark chocolate?? I hear so many recommendations for it, though.
A lot of my food ends up brown and mushy too…still delicious, though
That’s the problem with lentil/bean dishes–they are SO good, but there’s no way to make them look as tasty as they are
All of your recipes have been inspiring me! I am so excited to get back to LA so I can pick up your staples! We had a typhoon in Cabo so there has not been much fresh produce but once I get my hands on a real Farmers Market and a Whole Foods I will try some of these out Love and Shine CourtStar
Woah, typhoon AND no produce? Not sure Cabo sounds so picturesque anymore, haha. Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Everything looks so good! Thanks for the shake shout out again. There may be another surprise coming your way soon…
I had to do a double take on the “steak.” I have Kristina’s recipe marked to try!
Oh my gosh oh my gosh–Is it what I think it’s going to be?? I seriously get so excited for your blog posts, haha, there is always something tasty or inspiring or must-make on there. (My TVP better get here today…)
Hint: you requested it a couple of weeks ago…
You’re a protein machine! I don’t know how you can eat that often. I’d go crazy!
I actually love it in the mornings, but I’ve always been a huge early in the day eater and had about 3 breakfasts anyway. The afternoon is definitely a challenge, though.
woo HOO, glad to see you enjoying your steak! (before I realized what it was, even I read that and thought, wait WHAT?)
so fun.
all of your eats look great, again – so colorful too, which you know I like!
It was broiled instead of grilled, but OM NOM, definitely making it again! And as for color…if only I’d posted some of my hot pink tofu and beets
I am always super pumped in workouts that I do after a rest day! I think my body just craves that release and I have to give it break at some point in the week, so it’s ready to go!
Yeah, it definitely shows how important rest days are! You come back recharged and ready to PUSH!
I’m glad you had a killer workout! Those are the bomb diggity.
Killer workout+amazing looking smoothie and african bowl things and protein paste+happiness = one rockin day in my book!!
You go girl!
Amazing–seems like you spend a lot of time on food prep!
Honestly–I don’t! I made these dishes over the weekend, and made LOTS, so it’s all in tupperware–my daily prep involves nothing more than dumping containers into my lunchbag, and I didn’t spend any longer cooking bigger batches on the weekend than I would have cooking just those meals anyway
Sometimes your body NEEDS a cookie dough shake at 7AM!
Sometimes…or always
I have never had any African cuisine! I want to try it!
As soon as your comp is over, you have GOT to find an Ethiopian restaurant (especially if you like spicy). The tangy sourdough flatbread? The amazing spiced curries? Ohhh yeah. An all-time favorite.
A “plate of delicious mush” sounds like my kind of meal – and it does look delicious! That cookie dough smoothie sounds heaven and cauliflower steak? I need that.
Looks like a great day of food – and I can’t salute you enough for starting it a 4am,respect!
Rooibos is an acquired taste. Try it with honey
I love the idea of that African soup. Looks crazy good!
That cookie dough shake looks so tasty & that greenish soup too!
I love walking away from a gym session thinking, “I killed that.” It’s a great feeling.
http://www.glamkittenslitterbox.com/
Twitter: @GlamKitten88
I really like broccoli soup! Porbably my fave.
Sandra from The Puzzle of Sandra’s Life
I love the names of all these meals, protein paste, and plate of delicious mush being my favourite!
That African bowl sounds like a really interesting flavour combination, I have got to try it out! 
I love the paste
I like making stuff like that, rolling it into balls, and throwing it into cereal…it’s like little bites of cookie dough among the cheerios!
I am totally forwarding that cauliflower steak recipe on to E’s sister (vegan). And I might even have to give it a try myself so awesome!
Mmm, everything looks delish…yes, even the protein paste!
I JUST pinned Kristina’s cauliflower steak and hope to make it in the next couple of weeks…I can’t wait!
That peanut stew looks amazing! And I’ve GOT to try that marinating technique!
I’ve been getting SO much inspiration from blogworld lately but Laura is ALWAYS a source of inspiration…her roasted beet and orange smoothie is next on my list!