What Kate Ate

We are supposed to have Internet at the new house up and running by Friday!  Of course, it was supposed to be up and running on Monday… but I prefer to stay optimistic.  I am hoping  I can get the blogging rolling again by next week.  Even though our kitchen was a disaster, we wanted to have a real home cooked dinner last night.  We decided on spaghetti because it is super easy to make and all of the ingredients come ready to go.  It was a late dinner because it took me an hour and half just to get the organized enough to cook.  Sorry no pics!

Ingredients -

1 box penne (Mike eats the leftovers for lunch)

1 jar Ragu chunky – I think we got the tomato and garlic

1 can italian diced tomatoes

3/4 lb leanest beef you can find – we got 93% lean

S&P

Italian seasonings.

Cook pasta according to instructions.

In another large pan, brown meat with S&P and italian seasonings.  Drain off extra fat.  Add jar of tomatoes and sauce.  Add seasoning to taste – we didn’t need anymore.  When pasta is done and sauce is heated through – Assemble.  Voila.  We also got a mini loaf of italian bread which was very yummy. 

So I have had a request to talk about how not to over eat spaghetti or I suppose pasta in general.  The first tip is to never put your spaghetti on a plate.  Never.  Always use a bowl.  And not  one of those over-sized bowls you get from the Pottery Barn.  Just a regular sized bowl.  Better yet, use one of the fancy bowls that comes with your wedding china.  The less you serve yourself, the less you will eat. 

Secondly, you have to work on your mindset and this goes for all food not just pasta.  Food is always available.  You can go to your fridge or pantry, grocery store or 7-11 at any time of the day or night if you are hungry.  You don’t have to try and eat as much as possible at one time.  You also dont have to eat until you are full.  Eat a reasonable portion, sit back and talk to the kids for a few minutes, if you are still hungry, get more.  Lots of times I don’t feel full until 20-30 minutes after I get through eating.  Besides, if you aren’t stuffed then you will have room for dessert!

But back to spaghetti.  The next step is to figure out how much you want to eat.  Your method will depend on what type of weight loss program you are using if you are using one.  You can start by serving yourself the serving size listed on the package but this will be tough unless you have a food scale.  Use points or calories or hunger levels, whichever.  If you aren’t trying to lose weight but just want to avoid a spaghetti binge then really try and focus on how you feel.  Serve yourself what you think is a reasonable portion and then check in with yourself about half way through and see how you feel.  Do you still feel hungry?  Yes, keep going!  No, slow down or stop all together.  You can always get more later!  Generally, I have about a cup of pasta and 3/4 cup of sauce.  When I am finished, I wait a few minutes and if I am still  hungry then I get more. 

The last tip on how not over eat on spaghetti is to serve it with a salad.  Put a bowl of spaghetti on your plate and then fill up the rest of the plate with salad.  It can get a little messy but all your brain will see is a giant plate full of food. 

When I get the blog going again I am hoping to include some weight loss tips that worked for me, if you are interested in hearing them.  I also want to talk more about my “weight loss journey” (sounds so dorky) and my mindset evolution.  So many things have changed but a lot has stayed the same.  More to come!

Barely! Sorry for not posting but my free time is almost non-existent.  I miss blogging so much and all day thoughts pop into my head that I want to share with you.  I am still taking pictures of most of my food and I hope I can get back to regular blogging soon.  Don’t think you are missing anything though.  We have put ourselves on a super budget so our meals are pretty boring.  See you soon.  I hope!

We went camping!  Yesterday, we drove up to High Falls  State Park to camp for the night.  It was beautiful but very very hot.  We went hiking, canoeing, drank beers in a dive bar, fed some ducks and fed ourselves lots of yummy yummy food.  Since this is a food blog, I will focus on the eats but I will add some pic from the trip!

First breakfast

Straight Raisin Bran – It’s all I have left

We packed up and hit the road.  But first we had to make a pit stop for second breakfast

Venti Iced Coffee with milk and the Apple Bran muffin.  I have to tell you something else disconcerting that I have learned about this muffin.  It has cherries in it!!!!!!!!!!  I hate cherries! But whatever it is I don’t like about cherries, I can’t taste it.  Lesson learned – always try new things even if you think you might hate it.  *This rule doesn’t apply to animal parts*

We set up our camp site and then went hiking.  We packed some snacks for lunch along the way.

Before

After – And there weren’t even any instructions

We went hiking on all of the trails for hours and hours!  We kept finding little side trails to explore.

King of the mountain

Nuts break

I was starting to get a little crabby, so Mike thought it was time for this.  More nuts!  This bar was super delish but it was pretty expensive at $2!  The nuts definitely kept us full.  After hiking, we went canoing and then came back to the tent for a little break.

One for me and one for Mike.  Then we headed into town and got some beers at a little whole in the wall.  I left the camera in the car, so no pictures but it was exactly how you would imagine. 

It was still early, so we headed back to the trails!

Then it was finally time for dinner!  We made fire!

This seriously was the fire that would not die! 

These are two separate dogs!  I was hungry!

And camping wouldn’t be camping without s’mores!

Multiply by 3!  Super yummy.  I think our neighbors were jealous.

After dinner, we hung around and then went for another walk or two. 

We went down to the lake and just couldn’t resist these adorable birdies.

It was a restless night!  It was hot and then cold and then damp (humidity not rain).  In the morning, we packed up and came home.  I can’t get the tent to fit back in the bag though!  Why is that always the case.  It will be another very crazy week at work this week, so I will post when I can.  Off to watch some football game and do some reading.  And fold laundry.  And make my lunch for tomorrow.  Yikes, I better get crackin’!

Not enough time for a real post tonight.  Mike and I are going on a mini-trip tomorrow so in effort to lure you back, I promise a super recap post on Sunday.  Don’t think you missed anything today.  Everything I ate was something that I have had in the past few days!  Nothing exciting.  Gotta pack and get to bed early!  Have a great weekend and see you on Sunday!

Boy do I have a lot of food to catch up on!  Dinner is in the oven now, so tonight’s pics will have to wait until tomorrow!  I am fine, just busy and tired!  There really are just not enough hours in the day. 

Wednesday!

I am all out of my bulk cereals.  That is usually a cereal that is around 100 calories a cup.  So these bowls have been a little higher calorie wise then usual.  Tell that to my stomach, which is still ready for lunch at about 9:30

In the mix – I totally can’t remember but probably equal parts

Post Raisin Bran

Kashi G.L.C.A.H.F.

Sprinkle of gross TJS granola.  Its growing on me.

I had absolutely no energy to put together any sort of lunch today.  I was seriously out of it yesterday.

Sorry, I forgot to flip the pic.  This was actually something Mike bought for himself a few weeks ago.  I don’t think he will notice.

This is just plain bread.  I couldn’t even be bothered to add butter or peanut butter

Multiply this by about 5 over the past 2 days.

Drive home saviours. 

My exhaustion must have been written all over my face because as soon as he saw me, Mike said, let’s go out.  He knew I just wasn’t in the mood to cook.

Oh, Five Guys, you are so delicious.  I really felt tons better after I had this HUGE dinner and shockingly, I wasnt even too full.  Usually I feel like a Macy’s blimp when I leave and I really just was on the other side of full. 

These fries really are as good as they look. 

I get the little hamburger.  Although its not really little.  I dont get cheese or mayo or anything like that.  Hey, I’m not totally nuts!

A totally worth it treat!  Maybe I was low on protein because I really felt tons better after eating.

Thursday.  Is it weird to think “Thursday already!” and “Its only Thursday” at the same time?

Same as yesterday, only super close up version/

I had enough get-up-and-go to put together a salad this morning. 

In the mix

Field Greens and Strawberries from Sam’s (Thanks Dad!)

cucumber

green pepper

hard boiled egg

tomato

sprinkle bacon bits

Last of Fresh Market croutons

It’s interesting.  A lot of people at work seem to think I “sacrifice” a lot with my food choices but every time I bring in one of these salads, I am the envy of the group.  Everyone is worth the time and effort to make a good and healthful lunch. 

I was so busy that I never got to eat my yogurt!  I had to leave lunch half way through and never got to finish!

Ride home apple – its foggy because of the heat!

Yesterday was a day of of exercise but today I ran a good 3 miles.  And afterwards, I had a little wine….in a beer glass.  So sue me.

Okay dinner is ready.  See you tomorrow!

Sorry! I was just so tired all day yesterday!  By the time the computer was free for a blog update, I just couldn’t bring myself to do anything but go to bed.  My body is obviously sending me a signal that it needs a break.  About half way through the day yesterday, I knew my scheduled run just wasn’t going to happen.  I decided on a long walk instead.  Four miles is still four miles, no matter what speed you take it at.  However, Mother Nature intervened and poured rain down on us.  I ended up getting in a stroll around the block. 

I will post food pics eventually.  When I got home from work, Mike took one look at my droopy face and said that we were going out for dinner!  Chik-fil-a is closed for renovations so that meant we just had to go the burger place ;0)

I am still tired today but feeling a little better.  I have the sneaking suspicion that I might be coming down with something.  Hopefully I will be able to post a real blog tonight!

I don’t feel much like blogging, so I will just let the pictures do the talking!  Back to normal tomorrow.

Plus I had a piece of Mike’s pizza.  I’m nice and full now.  Have a great night!

Boy, I sure was a crankypants yesterday!  I am still super sore but sadly the only cure is more exercise.  I think it is all part of an evil plot.  Just like the addictive chemical they put in fried chicken “to make ya crave it fortnightly!”

I hope you are all sitting down, because what I say next might shock you.  I did NOT have cereal for breakfast.  I just wasn’t in the mood for it.  I had this instead!

Somewhere under all of that fruit are two waffles with a little butter and syrup.  This is on a small plate not a dinner plate!  I think I cut up 4 strawberries and a whole peach.  It was heavenly. 

Plus a little something extra for the car ride

A very yummy little donut.

Work today was a long day of shopping.  I know that sounds like a lot of fun but I promise you it is the exact opposite!  It is very time consuming and trying to pick out a work bench just isn’t the same as jeans or a party dress.  The day flew by pretty quickly though.

For lunch I just had to have a salad.  We still have that huge container of green from Sam’s and now we have a 2 lb container of strawberries (Thanks Dad!)

Supreme crouton close up

In the mix

Field greens

strawberries

cucumber with dill

1 hard-boiled egg – overcooked

Fresh Market croutons

Strawberry balsamic dressing

Both my breakfast and lunch tasted great and there isn’t anything better then in season fruit, but I was STARVING by the time my drive home came around.

I could barely wait to take the picture.

I was hungry again when I got home but had to fuel up for class, so I had a few teaspoons of peanut butter.  For me, it is the best way to get some fuel without any food in my stomach.

Monday night = Quick dinner night!

If you are going to have Mac&Cheese from the box, you might as well get one that is kind of good for you.  Annie makes a lot of really good organic/healthy versions of quick foods.  They are pretty much available everywhere.  I also highly recommend her Chili bowl with cornbread!

Since man cannot live on Mac & Cheese alone we had “Peas and Carrots” on the side.  Does anyone see anything wrong with this picture? 

Here is the package

Here is the product

How annoying!  Especially since I really wanted the peas! 

Now my dinner looks jaundiced!

Still delicious though.  Especially all mixed up!

There was just a little bit of wine left, so I decided to go ahead and polish it off!

Now I am no oenophile but red wine does NOT go with Mac & Cheese!

This is a much better combo

Time for bed!

Sometimes it is just a donuts for dinner kind of day.  My appetite has been out of whack ever since breakfast.  I wasn’t even remotely hungry but it was getting close to 2 and we were about ready to go out and run errands, so I packed a PB&J for the road.  I eventually got a little hungry, so I went ahead and ate it.  I am all out of preserves so I used that Farmer’s market jam instead.  I am officially not a jam person.  It was chewy.  Ew.  My stomach was feeling a bit upset but then when we were at Sam’s I was suddenly hungry.  Not in the store 5 minutes, I was given a plate with a little slice of pizza, a chicken nugget, a bite of waffle and a mini pb&j.  I couldn’t even look at the pb&j!  Mike thought for sure that trip to the Starbucks would set me right again but I am still just feeling out of sorts. 

Now, you might be asking yourself, why aren’t there any pictures?  I left the card in the computer again.  Grr!

Around 5:30, I was starving again!  So I had a little snack

These are the dill pickles from TJs.  They are really really great.  The nutritional label says 1 oz. of pickle (?) is 0 calories.  How can that be possible?

I was on the phone with my sister, when I Mike brought me these.

Two chocolate mini donuts!  How elegant.

I wasn’t feeling very hungry around dinner time so I just made myself some oven baked sweet potato fries with Mike’s regular fries.

And then I was suddenly hungry again!  What is going on?!  So I had a bowl of cereal and another donut!

In the mix

a bit of Raisin Bran

a bit of Kashi G.L.C.H.A.F.

and another donut – How did that get in there?

*Donut removed from cereal prior to consumption*

I think I am ok as far as food goes and probably all I need now is a good night’s sleep!

Welcome to blogland Dixie Chix!  Good luck with weight loss month!  If you stick together, you will surpass all of your goals!

Edited to add this photo.  Not to show off my sexy legs but my beautiful clean floor!

of the freight train that hit me?  I feel like CRAP!  Between the body sculpting class yesterday and spending two hours on my hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor (yes, 2 hours!) I think every part of me is sore.  I ran my 4 miles outside this morning and it was pretty tough.  I couldn’t get warmed up (internally, it was super hot externally!) and my legs felt like lead bricks.  Running, or slow jogging in my case, is just as much a mental exercise as a physical one.  I couldn’t wait to dive into a bowl of cereal when I got home.  I was so gross and sweaty though that I had to take a shower first.  That was as long as I could hold out though and I ate while still wrapped up in my towels.

In the mix

1 cup Post Raisin Bran

2/3 cup Kashi G.L.C.H.A.F.

Last little bit of the Post Pecan Select

Now, I will rewind back to last night.

As a reward for cleaning the kitchen, including the fridge and behind the stove (soooooo gross), Mike got me a little treat!

I ate half and am saving the other half for later.  Seriously though, sometimes I wonder if this apartment has ever been properly cleaned. 

Time for date night!  Spaghetti, Salad, Bread and Wine.  The Funk Specialty!

The salad was the mixed greens we got from Sam’s (Thanks Dad), tomato, cucumber, leftover bacon, a little dill,  S&P and Fresh Market bakery croutons. 

I was thinking to myself the other day, why I haven’t been in the mood for my salads lately when it hit me.  I don’t like the salad dressing I have.  I’m not sure why that never occurred to me while I was eating but it was easy enough to remedy

Much better. 

Tres Pinos was another good pick!  Another super blend.   I think it has every grape in the world in there. 

Look at the current state of our wine supply

hint hint

Oops!  Here is the salad with the croutons.

My portion

Seconds!

My portion of pasta

TJs spaghetti noodles, Barilla marinara and 3/4 lb 95% lean sirloin, italian seasonings, S&P

Who needs garlic bread!  WW bread with a little butter and a dash of garlic salt.

I was stuffed!  Mike and I then went out on the town and had some unphotographed beers! 

Now to solve an age old dilemma.  Wash the dishes or watch tv?