Flax, Fuji + Fun

Written by on in Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Snacks

It may have taken me an entire day, but it’s starting to feel as though I’m finally caught up in all my work and social responsibilities, which is good news for the busy weeks ahead. The holidays bring foodie fun in droves, but they also make you earn that free time – with final exams and projects! Luckily, I thoroughly enjoy my classes this quarter, so the work doesn’t feel like work. It’s good to be a nerd!

To jump start the first of several busy weeks, I tried a new breakfast combination on Monday morning. It was spectacular! I combined 1 cup of Nature’s Path Puffs with 1 cup of Kashi Go Lean, 1 tbsp. ground flax and 1 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

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If you can believe it, I’ve actually never tried Kashi Go Lean before. I’m really glad I decided to buy a box because it’s way better than any other high fiber cereal out there (in my opinion). It has so many different textures and combined with the almond milk, took on a sweet taste that was out of this world good!

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The fiber in the cereal plus the healthy fats in the flax and almond milk held me over all morning long. And when combined with a morning cup of Coffee Cocoa, breakfast doesn’t get much better.

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The mug doesn’t lie!

Monday was one of those days where every meal included something new with a delicious result. Don’t you love days like those? For lunch, I made a “burger” out of an Arnold Sandwich Thin and a Boca Vegan Burger.

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I spruced it up by adding in some spinach and topping the “burger” with reduced fat Mexican cheese. I also cut it in half to savor the flavor for longer.

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Combining burgers of any kind with these sandwich thins is such a cool concept. They take on the role of your typical burger bun without overpowering the flavor of the meat.

I used some leftover spinach and cheese to make some microwaved egg whites on the side. It’s like a 2-minute omelette that requires no pan flipping – I love that!

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And last but not least, I switched up my usual combination at Panera in favor of one of their seasonal salads – the Fuji Apple Chicken. This salad has a great list of ingredients – tomatoes, chicken, gorgonzola and apple chips with a sweet viniagrette.

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I used to think that I hated gorgonzola/blue cheese, but after accidentally getting it on top of one too many salads, I started giving it a chance and now I think it’s great! It really adds an interesting flavor to any salad, no matter what the ingredients. With my salad, I had a cup of the Garden Vegetable soup, a hearty tomato-based treat that warms you from the inside out.

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And last but not least, I have to call your attention to an absolutely wonderful nighttime treat. I’ve written in the past about the Island Way line of sorbets, but the coconut flavor is by far the star of their show.

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Not only does it come in an actual coconut shell – perhaps the best part about this brand of sorbet! – it also has an alluring, tropical taste. Perhaps this fact is not necessarily timely considering the 30-40* temperatures we are currently experiencing, but it works for me 8) I’ll take any excuse to momentarily transport me somewhere warmer!

Tagged

As mentioned in my previous post, I was recently tagged by Jenny from This Winding Road to join in on a “random facts” game. Check it out if you’re interested!

Rules:

  • Link the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
  • Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
  • Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links.
  • Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Random Facts:

  1. I have a scar on my chin that I got when I was roughly two years old. The best part about it is that every time I meet someone new, it takes about a year for them to notice it and when they do, they always assume that something must have just happened and say, “Oh no! What happened to your chin?!” 🙂 I get a good laugh out of telling them that I’ve had it since I was two and they just never noticed!
  2. As of this upcoming November 16, 2008, Bobby and I have been dating for 5 years. That’s half a decade! We started dating junior year of high school and are one of those annoying couples who ended up at the same college. And that in itself is a whole other story!
  3. I am double jointed in my left pinkie.
  4. If you include my wisdom teeth, I’ve had 12 teeth pulled! While most kids were getting money from the tooth fairy, my teeth would not come out! So I’ve had my fair share of laughing gas.
  5. My favorite candy of all time is Sour Patch Watermelons.
  6. I was born at 8:07 am in 1987 and weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz. No joke!
  7. My middle name is Lynn.

And now you know more than you ever probably wanted to know about me 🙂 But it was fun! And I’m kind of late in the tagging game, so I’m going to leave the option open and encourage anyone who hasn’t been tagged and wants to share to consider themselves tagged by me!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

31 Comments

  1. So glad you tried Kashi Go Lean and liked it. It’s still my favorite cereal of all time – I’ve been eating it for a couple years now (since it came out anyway).

    You and Bobby have been together for so long! Wow! Do you go to the same school?

    Thanks for sharing those facts about yourself!

  3. hey!! sorry i’m just now getting caught up on your blog– i’ve been crazy busy with projects and hw, too.
    so glad you liked the kashi go lean! it’s one of my favorite cereals!
    i love that papa bender and lil bro went to visit you 😀 looks like a wonderful time
    the facts are so fun– i have a scar on my chin, too (i was bit by a dog when i was 3) and people do the same thing and asked me if i recently did something to it
    happy almost 5 year anniversary! any big plans?
    hope you’re enjoying your week!!!

  5. OH YUM! That coconut sorbet looks amazing!!!

    I just saw your last post with the new seasonal clif bar finds!!! I’m jealous, they don’t have them anywhere near me!!!! 🙁

  6. Hooray for feeling caught up!! Always a good feeling 🙂

    I used to eat the Kashi Go Lean cereal all the time!! Damn gluten/wheat allergy… 🙁

    AMAZING sorbet!!!

    Love your facts!! Especially #2 – so sweet!!

  11. i hope you do a review on those clif bars soon! And yummmm i can’t wait to try those arnold sandwhich thins!! *i’ve had those sorbets before–yum yum yum!!

  12. I love that saying on Caribou mugs. Mine is my favorite morning coffee mug. You have me craving Panera. First place I will stop when I get back to the States for the holidays, well, either there or Starbucks. 🙂

  13. I have a scar on my lip that I got when I was just learning to walk. I fell and hit the corner of a coffee table and busted my lip open. It had to be stitched shut and now that part of my lip has a scar and is a little bit puffier than the rest of my lip. No one will notice it and then all of the sudden it’s, “What happened to your lip?! Did you get hit?!” And it takes me a second to figure out what they are talking about. LOL

    Love Panera!

  14. I’m a middle name lynn too! and that is what my parent call me most of the time (rather than Erica)!! That is crazy about your birth day , time, and weight! Cool facts, love it!

  15. kashi go lean is my OBSESSION. it’s by far the best cereal out there in terms of taste/satiety/nutrition in my humble opinion : ) and with vanilla almond milk—SO good.

    i need that sorbet!

  18. So glad you tried Kashi GoLean! Next time try slicing a banana on top, it really is a wonderful flavor combo!

    Cool facts! Wow congrats on the 5 year relationship, haha I don’t think it’s annoying, it’s nice you’ve found someone that you can stick with for so long!

    I like the looks of that “2-minute” omelette, I’m such a fan of microwaving eggs 😉

  20. I love that blue/green bowl – very fun and springy/summery!

    I can’t find those arnold sandwich thins for the life ofme but i want them so badly!

  22. How cute are you and bob-diesal?
    All I really want to do is keep coming up with nicknames for Bobby.
    Your AM bowl is so cheerful, I love it!

  23. One Monday night a food blogger in R.I. and a food blogger in Chicago each dined at their local Panera!

    I totally agrree about the thins. Perfect ratio of burger to bread.

    You and Bobby are from the same high school! How cute. I had no idea and I think it’s sweet not nauseating. I love it. 😀

    Heather

  24. Rose ~ Yes, we go to the same school 🙂

    Megan ~ Thanks!

    Gina ~ Thanks! We are thinking of going to a local vineyard to do some wine tasting!

    Melissa S. ~ Woah, and I thought 12 was unbeatable! Kudos, chica!

    Melissa ~ Let me know if you want some!

    VeggieGirl ~ Yes, damn that allergy 👿

    bobbi and Meghann ~ Thanks 🙂

    Katie ~ You are correct!!!

    ttfn300 ~ As long as it’s not in massive quantities, I can handle it!

    seeleelive ~ I will do the Clif reviews ASAP!

    Lori ~ So many delicious options!

    Andrea ~ It’s always so funny when you can tell people “THANKS FOR NOTICING” 😉

    Erica ~ Yay Lynn!!!

    Sarah ~ Agreed 🙂

    Maggie ~ Thanks.

    runjess ~ I agree about the Fiber One!

    jenngirl ~ I will definitely try it with a banana – thanks for the tip!

    thinspiredblog ~ You’re welcome 🙂

    Allison ~ I’m trying to hold on to the warm weather!

    Fit Bottomed Girls ~ Ooh a club?! Awesome 😉

    Erin ~ Haha, you are hilarious. My mom is always trying to come up with new nicknames for Bobby. I guess he is very nicknameable!

    HangryPants ~ I love your comment – it sounds like the beginning of a foodie bedtime story 🙂 And I’m glad it’s not nauseating for you!!

  26. Werd to Arnold Sandwich thins!!!

    I’ve never tried Almond milk…..yes, STILL. I should probably get my hands on some.

    And wow! I had no idea you had been with Bobby for that long! Wowzer! 5 years IS a long time! That’s so awesome!

    Someday I will have to try that sorbet…but with the temperatures as low as they are now…….that probably won’t be for a good while!!

    Have a great Wednesday Bender!!

  27. That sorbet is SO CUTE… it’s still warm here, so I may have to give it a shot!

    I’ve never tried the fuji salad at Panera- always end up with the same thing (mediterranean veggie sandwich) but the ingredients sound awesome.

    Good luck getting all of your school stuff done before finals!

  28. bender ( Jenn) , sorry for the delay… I am glad you are feeling caught up as I am so behind in my comments. You day of food looks great…. loving the cereal. It was fun to learn more about you! I have to do that tagging as well.

    zesty

  30. Hi! I read your blog and added you to my blogroll– I’m relatively new at this, but check mine out! lajeunechouette.wordpress.com

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