Bake sales are the best.
Homemade baked goods are the most “worth it” treat.
Amanda @ Run to the Finish has teamed up with Women’s Health and will be running and fundraising for the FEED Project, which seeks to feed hungry US kids. Their RUN 10 FEED 10 program is really cool – you run a 10K and 10 children in your community are fed with the proceeds. (Amanda has a discount code you may use here.)
But you don’t HAVE to run! You can opt to just eat. 
Amanda is hosting an online blogger bake sale where 100% of the donations will towards feeding these kids.
Bidding began yesterday (I’m behind – sorry!), and bids will be accepted until August 7th 9AM EST. Winners will be contacted and asked to donate the specific amount via CrowdRise.
Hurry over and bid on your auction deliciousness here. There are tons be homemade items from bloggers (and products from several sponsors) available for bidding. A batch of my vegan, no-sugar added Chewy Granola Cookies are up for grabs… you might even get a little something extra. 
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These WIAW meals were half eaten at work and half on the road. I didn’t do the most elaborate job of planning, as I am enjoying my final week of “freedom” before I start competition prep in earnest!
Read on for my traveling food, and then check out Jenn’s link up for everyone else’s delicious days.
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Breakfast:
My morning cocktail (apple cider vinegar, water, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos) happened, as usual. I swear this is the biggest addiction in my life.
I had an early morning meeting, so I made sure my breakfast was ready to grab a go. Overnight oats in a cottage cheese container! Almost as good as a PB jar…
This raspberry and maple-laced concoction was really good! And easy to eat from my lap on the way to work.
Raspberry-Maple Overnight Oats
- 1/4 C cottage cheese
- 1/4 C oatmeal
- 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
- 1 tsp chia seeds
- 1/2 tsp maple extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1/2 C almond milk
Mid-Morning Snack:
Like I mentioned last week, I have been into the Trader Joe’s Balsamic Chicken. It’s one of the few packaged things I buy, but when I’m traveling a lot this is a great (low sodium) item to keep on hand.
Eaten with veggies I pre-roasted on Sunday with some marinara sauce and nutritional yeast.
Lunch:
I was running out of my office to get my stuff ready for the airport (and squeeze in a workout… shhhh!), so this almost didn’t even get pictured. A mix of no salt deli turkey, celery, hummus, and cayenne.
It was so quick I called it the lazy girl’s turkey salad.
Afternoon Snack:
I have become obsessed with post-workout Chocolate + Beet Protein Smoothie Bowls. I used this recipe again, but added spinach and topped it with muesli and kabocha squash.
No exaggeration, I could eat this every meal.
Dinner:
Dinner was eaten in Florida. I hopped a plane, ate some unpictured pretzels, and went right to dinner with my co-worker. We hit up Columbia, a famous Cuban spot and Florida’s oldest restaurant. It was delicious!
We started with giant warm, crusty loaves of Cuban bread and the 1905 Salad. The bread was amazing… the salad… I’d say it’s basically a Chef’s salad with no egg and a ton of dressing. I also enjoyed a margarita – one of the best I’ve ever had!
Terrible pics… it was dark!
My main was massive. The server highly recommended the Camarones Rellenos “Jesse Gonzalez.”
I thought shrimp would be light-ish… I learned that it’s not when it’s stuffed with lump crab and a generous helping of butter. Did I mention it was served with rice, beans, and roasted veggies? And that my co-worker ordered sides of yucca and fried plantains?
Call me happy and roll me home.
Dessert:
You know I’m full when I can’t even imagine eating dessert. Hell froze over.
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Tomorrow I fly back home and Thursday I drive to South Carolina. Despite the craziness all I can think about is 1) When do I get to go to the farmer’s market to get “my” food and 2) How am I going to fit a workout in Thursday and Friday?
Have you checked out the bake sale? What item is catching your eye?
Does the combo of beets and chocolate sound #strangebutgood to you? I thought it was normal until I told my co-worker about it…
Hmmmmmm I have never had Cuban food, you make me want to try. Right now I am obsessed with Middle Eastern Food – Throw some Shawarma at me and I am a HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY girl!
Oh and if you had to sell your Granola Cookies at a grocery store, what would your brand be called?
Really??? I guese there aren’t as many Cubans in LA.
Brand name… that’s a good one. I’ll have to get back to you… sprint 2 the Cookie seems a little inappropriate.
Beets and chocolate sound totally normal to me. Love the overnight oats recipe too. I have a similar crazy travel schedule as you and all I can think about is how I can fit my workouts in. haha. Travel safe!
We should compare schedules – we may end up in the same place one day!
Yes! You should create a brand for your food/recipe line!
Beets and chocolate combo is supernormal, when you consider that beet is a sweet vegetable. Really, it is like pairing spinach with cinnamon. Normal, right?
I once did a workout on my balcony at 4:30 am, in the dark and not to wake up the neighbors. Worked!
i agree with lucie! brand it! i’d buy it!! safe travels friend. You can do it!
Awwww… you guys rock! I wish I could figure something like that out.
P.S. Doesn’t cinnamon go with everything???
I used to think chocolate and beet were kinda strange..until I found out that beetroot juice is used in red velvet cake! And hey, if zucchini works well with chocolate, no reason why beetroot can’t either right! Love the sound of your breakfast- bowls are so overrated ;)!
Yes! And oddly, i’ve never made red velvet like that!
Beets and chocolate are awesome together! It makes up one of my favorite desserts – red velvet chocolate cupcakes! Mmmm!
Ohhh… do you have a recipe for that?
those raspberry maple oats sound amazing!!
I lol’d hard at your roasted asparagus, mine turned out exactly like that when I kept it in the oven too long… which was a blessing in disguise as thats how I prefer roasted veggies now!
Love the breakfast idea, I seriously don’t know how my ‘favourites’ tab can keep up with all your creations on my to make list. I went to a restaurant once where they made chocolate cakes with beets in it so not that strange. Compared to some of your masterpieces its like a chocolate with wine
I do it on purpose – I likeit extra crispy.
Youre so sweet! I did that breakfast again today, but with Greek. So good!
Mmmmm… love shrimp n’ margaritas! Don’t worry about fitting in a workout Thurs/Fri. I know you’ll figure something out!
I’m going to have to check out that bake sale! All of your meals always look so good! A beet and chocolate smoothie sounds so good, im sure I could eat anything with kabocha all day long.
I really want to make a kabocha smoothie, but I always want to chew it too… life is so full of tough choices.
I wanna try that chocolate beet smoothie bowl… you have a busy week ahead! I’m sure you’ll fit that market trip and workout in somewhere.
Let me know if you do! It’s absolutely addicting.
I love your beet and chocolate concoction! Sounds delish to me!
Safe travels!
I have to agree with just about all the commentators – beets and chocolate sound normal and great!
So bummed I missed the bake sale though as I read your post at 9.03
Next time…
While I’ve never tried the chocolate and beet mix, I think it would work – beets are on the sweeter side!
I wonder if beet cider would be good…
I think you have your next Strange But Good experiment….
You were very clever in your food creation for these meals! I love the look of the balsamic chicken. Mmmm!
Thank you!!!
Looks like I’ve already been outbid… Better go again! You sound exactly like me when traveling… “When am I going to get ‘my’ food and squeeze in a workout?!?” Takes a lot of extra thought/ planning, but it’s worth it!!
Awww… thanks for trying!
You’ll appreciate this – I landed last night and went from the airport to the gym. Thank god for pre-workout stuff.
We recently bought some ACV, and I tried a tablespoon in 8 ounces of water, and practically gagged. I couldn’t even finish it off. Have you noticed a difference in how you feel because of your morning cocktail, or do you think it’s sort of just become a habit now? I’m interested in what people have to say on the matter, because if it really is a miracle drink, maybe I can find a way to make it work for me!
That’s one reason I use the Aminos too. It’s the perfect mix. Though now I’ve gotten to the point that I can take a shot of ACV. I’m hard core like that.
But yes, I notice a HUGE difference in digestion and energy levels.
You are the coolest for participating in that bake sale. And chocolate + beets sounds totally normal to me… that really says nothing of its normalcy though.
Adding maple extract to overnight oats sounds fantastic. I often add in vanilla extract, but next time I will have to try maple. I bet that almond extract would be delicious, too!
Almond is my #1 favorite! Try butter extract too.
Wait, you still have another week. Jealous!! It helps that you are already in such great shape, I wanted extra time.
Awww… you are in great shape too! I’ve just been around this block.
Whoo! FL is awesome! Beets and chocolate is totally normal. I put both together, chopped, in 2% greek yogurt with some cocoa powder, mmm…. Red velvet yogurt! My mom thought I was crazy when I told her about it and everyone else in my family lol
That’s one of my favorite mixes!!! I recently posted a cottage cheese chia pudding that is almost exactly that. Not weird at all.
I can’t believe how quickly time is flying. Weren’t we just at MetroFresh talking about how your surgery was soon and that you couldn’t train for the next comp for ages? Yet now I’m back in Canada and you’re about to get back to it… crazy. xo
I know!!! I need to come to Canada next, I suppose.
Damn, I missed your cookies & Lindsay’s bites!!! I am not good with remembering things.. plus I am broke too so I would never have won the bid!
SO happy you got involved in that!!!! I f I get rich, I have a list of charities a mile long to help out! 
I think they only went for $20… but I will totally just send you a batch anytime!
Darn it! Just got here now and missed the bake sale. I did get a giggle out of “call me happy and roll me home.”
i love chocolate beet protein shakes
you knew that already though 
i just just just finished my sweet potato and chocolate protein shake. now i could eat THAT for every frickin meal of the day 
Have you done it with cherries??? Butternut or SP and cherries is my #1 fav as far as squash-y smoothies.
omg that would be so good
Mmm I am loving the sound of a strange but good beet chocolate smoothie bowl. Even better, it involves kabocha. And I scored the Budi Bars from the bake sale, I am quite excited to say the least.
You have to let me know how those are! I’m so curious.
Wow a great fundraiser, I love that idea and what a great cause
I feel the same exact way when I travel + am getting ready for a HUGE move to Thailand so things have been hectic! Have a fun trip! Love + Shine CourtStar
I’m so excited for you! Can I come visit?
Oh man I love me some Cuban food…and music. You should get your salsa on; it could be your cardio for the day. Somehow I don’t think there’s a chance in hell of that happening though…
Ha! The salsa most certainly didn’t happen… that would be awkward with the co-worker.
Laura! What part is SC are you going to!?:) I might can help with farmers market info and let you know about where to workout !:) Welcome to my home state!!!:):)
I’m just here for one very, very long day. Work only.
Where do you find the kobacha year round!? It is by far one of my favorite foods but it is rare if I find it.
I get it at the farmer’s market, but I hear that Asian market tned to have them. Someone just told me that they got a smaller grocer to special order them!
These posts always make me so hungry. I’m heading over to the bake sale now. I might just buy those cookies up there. nommmm.
Awwww… the auction already ended. But thank you!
I always love seeing your colourful and inventive eats. Good luck with the travel… especially in this heat.
The only good thing about the monsoon in the South is that it’s not that hot. Yet.
I love that you snack on chicken! It’s one of my favourite things to have when I’m grazing, but I always feel SO strange doing it. Yay for not being a #strangebutgood loner, hah!
#strangebutgood brings people together!