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Appetites and Adventures

Silver Balls + WIAW

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“Normal” people think I’m strange.

 

It’s perfectly normal to blow up a 65 inch fitness ball at your desk, right?  The stares would indicate otherwise.

People who have never even bothered to say hello in the elevator before stopped by to comment.  I’m sure this could be turned into some social experiment.

 

 

Whatever.  My butt falls asleep in my chair and it makes my hips hurt to sit there all day.  Everyone can kiss my big, silver ball.  (Yessss… I worked balls into yet another post!)

 

Since I’m not allowed to try running again until Saturday, I’m modifying The Sweaty Betties’ January Mile-a-Day challenge.

 

Runner's Knee or some IT-related thing. Lovely.

 

I’m now using a bike or elliptical for 30 mins of intervals in lieu of running.  Which only make me want to run more.  That’s how I started my day today, along with P90X Ab Ripper X.  Shout out to Dr. Schuman at 1st Choice Healthcare – it does feel better today!

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My big silver ball and I are happy it’s time again to celebrate Hump Day with  What I Ate Wednesday! 

 

 

Breakfast:

Covered in sweat after the elliptical, I was actually chilly when I got back to eat breakfast.  I had a craving for some deliciousness I created over the weekend: Shredded Sweet Potato Oatmeal.

 

I had shredded sweet potato left over from my Asian-Inspired Sweet Potato Lentil Loaf.  What better use than in oats?!

Yes, I realize I’ve made Sweet Potato Pie Oatmeal before… that used sweet potato puree, which make it more pie-like.  This was more in the vein of Carrot Cake Oats with the grated potato.  Less silky, though no less lovely.

(Recipe at bottom)

 

Lunch:

I still can’t get enough green!

 

At a loss for lunch inspiration, I stumbled across Sunflower Beet Pesto (which I made and liked before my recently acquired taste for beets) in my freezer.  I made a hodge podge salad and used the pesto as dressing.  With a side of Salt & Pepper PopChips, this was an winner.

In my salad:

 

Dinner:

My boss is in town from Houston, so we hit up one of my favorite spots for dinner: Top Flr.

Top Flr offers several vegetarian-friendly menu items.  I’ve been successfully avoiding meat (aside from one digression to have a taste of foie gras ice cream) since January 1st, and I have felt better.  Most dining establishments offer at least a few sides that are veg-friendly, but finding a tofu/soy-protein-based dish is still rare.

We started with hummus with chili oil and fried capers.  I don’t know what they do to it, but it is the most amazing hummus I’ve ever had… and I’ve had a lot of hummus.  Served with grilled pita, hot peppers, and olives.

 

 

My main was a the Orange-Apple Tofu, served with Baby Bok Choy and Japanese Eggplant Miso.  I order this every time I go.  Normally I don’t eat fried stuff, but I make an exception for this dish.

The freshly breaded crunch contrasts perfectly with the pillowy tofu.  I also loved sweetness of the orange with the savory miso sauce.  The bok choy was a little too done and covered in sauce for my taste… but I can forgive them for tofu perfection.

 

 

Sadly, the server dumped our check on the table without offering dessert.  There was a bread pudding on the menu I would have dove into.  I probably didn’t need it anyway. 🙁

 

Verdict: I’ll be back.  I could live on their hummus and the stellar cocktail program alone.

 

Snacks:

It’s no secret I’m a snack whore.

Especially for homemade Granola Cookies that have just 3g of sugar.  Not to worry, I’m sharing the recipe soon. 🙂

 

 

Followed up with a Cutie.  Because they’re not just for kids.

 

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Shredded Sweet Potato Oatmeal

  • 1/2 c unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 c water
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/2 c oatmeal
  • 1/2 grated sweet potato
  • Shake of salt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp allspice
  • Maple syrup + ground cinnamon, to taste

 

Bring milk and water to a boil in a small pot with cinnamon stick.  Add oatmeal, grated sweet potato, and salt.

When 1-2 min from being done, add vanilla and spices.

Scoop into bowl and top with cinnamon and syrup to taste. 

***

Thank you SO much for all the well-wishes on my knee.  I don’t say it enough, but it means a lot to have such an awesome support group.

If you’re not a vegetarian, do you enjoy ordering veg items at restaurants?

Do you work in a state/location separate from your boss(es)?  Does it make a difference to you?

 

Comments

  1. Can’t wait for the cookie recipe!!! Your salad looks wonderful . . .

    So I got the Forever Lazy yesterday. The Husband LOVED it. He said it was the perfect gift. And quick tip – get it at Bed Bath and Beyond, where it is on sale for $15, use the 20% off coupon and it comes to $12! lol.

  3. Thats crappy about your knee 🙁 Hope it heals quickly! I don’t know if it’s the colder weather or what but every little ache and pain seems to be surfacing right now. I felt like I was held together with duct tape on my last run! :/ Love the ball as a chair idea! It’s supposed to be great for correcting your posture as well as a numb bum! 🙂

    • I know exactly what you mean about being held together with duct tape. I like your idea of blaming the weather. Hope the next run is better for you!

  4. I think you know how I feel about the sweet potato oatmeal.

    And that I, too, am a snack whore. [Perhaps that will be the title of my next blog? Or my cookbook?]

    One thing I truly miss about living in a big(ger) city was the availability of lots of vegetarian and vegan-friendly foods. I hate that all the vegetarian options seem to just rely on dumping cheese everywhere…

    PS- I totally would have tasted the foie gras ice cream. And I would have probably been in incredible pain. But I would have done it anyway.

  5. Is this the first balls post of the new year?!?!? LMFAO! And sorry about the knee… but I don’t feel that bad bc you soothed your pain with this yummy looking oatmeal I’m sure!

  6. I know a lot of people who sit on balls at work (haha). I actually have the perfect office to try it out…maybe I’ll look for a ball this weekend.

    That oatmeal sounds delicious. Sweet potatoes are my new favorite vegetable. I love them with black beans!

    Hope your knee heals soon!!! I know not being able to run is probably killing you.

  7. I want to hit up TOP FLR. I want to sit on an exercise ball at work. I want I want I want I want… 🙂

    Hope the knee feels better!

    • This is definitely one to try if you aren’t a beet fan. I loved the sunflower seeds and the creaminess they added.

  14. Ohhh – I hope your knee feels better soon girl! I too once blew up a ball at my office and people thought I was a tad crazy too – BUT who cares – its much better for you!

    Fir sounds delicious.
    xoxo from Trinidad

  16. I don’t usually eat a lot of fried stuff either but fried tofu is really delicious. I’ve only been to Top Flr once and I think I got scallops.

  17. So sorry your knee is making you sit out on the running. That is no fun! The last office I worked in, a co-worker used the exercise ball as her chair and she swore it helped her back problems and made her core stronger. I think its a great way to sit at your desk.
    And I want your breakfast now! I have oatmeal every morning for breakfast but I have the same thing (blueberries, agave and a dash of cinnamon) and just this morning I hit a wall with it. I need something different in my oatmeal. Thanks for the recipe idea!

    • Let me know if you try it! I think my very favorite oats are my Zucchini Bread Oats. In fact… that may happen for breakfast tomorrow…

  21. That beet pesto sounds hella intriguing!
    And hey, I always spread out my workout clothes to dry under my laboratory bench, people get used to it 😉

  24. I am a stability ball fan, too–except I take it to a whole new level by rolling backwards on my back to get the kinks out and work on my posture. It looks super weird, like I’m saying “take me now!” with my body language. But in the end, I don’t really care, and continue to do it multiple times a week at the gym 🙂

    • Love that idea! It’s only a matter of time before I begin rolling on mine. And maybe some midday sit ups…

  25. I really love your photos and sense of humor–will be checking out your posts more often! I have a fitness ball, and honestly they make for a great seat and a good reminder to keep good posture. And beet pesto? It had never occurred to me–what a great idea.

    • I can tell already – if you slouch or lean too much in one direction, you fall! Not that I’ve fallen… ahem…

  35. see, this is why i read and write a healthy living blog. because although i never have used a big silver ball as a desk chair – i totally get and support your use of one! how great to have a community of people who get our ‘non-normal’ qualities. whatever works…right? 😉

  36. You ice balls, you eat balls… and now you sit on balls all day. This might be filed under a ball obsession, and I can’t say I blame you. Balls are great for so many things. Heck, the earth is one big ball!

    That lentil loaf sounds really amazing. I’m thinking of trying it out soon.

    Here’s to a healthy and happy 2012!

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