Food Confessions
I have a confession - I could live off dry cereal. Perhaps I have a very lame palate, but I have found that's all I want to eat lately and would choose it over a meal if I could. I'll come home from work, open the cabinet while trying to decide what to eat and there I see the cereal staring me in the face. Now, I rarely actually choose this for a meal because this isn't the best option, but I can't say that I don't want to. I've never even been much of a cereal eater seeing that I'm not a huge breakfast person. I'm really not hungry when I wake up, so typically either skip it all together or have a late morning snack that is something I can grab and go, like a Fiber bar or a Yoplait. Since having kids, cereal naturally became a staple in our household. Now, walking down the cereal aisle is like an adventure, with each colorful box calling out my name. It has become quite the challenge lately just making up my mind. Sometimes it depends on what's on sale or if I'm really hard pressed for a certain kind, I'll just have to pick up it up regardless of if it's $.50 more. So, what kind of cereal you ask? Well, I am not limited to any one kind. I do love all the Special K flavors, particularly the Cinnamon Pecan and the Chocolate Delight (heavenly!). Silas loves Cinnamon Life, so I buy this pretty often and it is equally addicting. But sadly, the ridiculous sugary kid's cereals are the best - Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast, Captain Crunch, and the #1 addicting cereal of all time... Reese's Puffs. Shameful, I know. But, it's the best and I could eat a whole box if I really wanted to. I actually stopped buying it for awhile but recently caved and picked up a box.
Two days ago, for some reason I picked up some Lucky Charms. Let's be honest here, why do they even bother with the actual cereal part - they may as well sell the box with only the marshmallow shapes. Who doesn't just pick them out? I laughed at myself this morning because I found myself holding the box and picking out the marshmallows like a little kid. And I must say, you can't even out smart a little two year old. Eli had never tried this cereal before, so this morning I poured him a bowl. I noticed him picking out the marshmallows and then eventually he dumped the bowl of cereal on his tray so he could find the remaining few treasures. Later, we were in the car and he had a baggie of cereal and was doing the very same thing, and even caught him throwing the other pieces on the floor. I glanced back at him a few minutes later and he had the ziploc bag held up to his face, looking inside and saying, "Find em. Yummies." I seriously could not stop laughing. I took the bag from him and he hadn't missed a single marshmallow. No matter how oblivious he can be, this proves just how smart he is. Below are some pictures of him in the car eating his cereal, or well, marshmallows.
Speaking of food, really I am pretty boring. I like to eat the same things - and typically do. So, since I'm thinking about food, I'll list My Top 10 Favorite Things to Eat (in no particular order and excluding the above mentioned cereals)
1. StarKist Sweet and Spicy Tuna or the BumbleBee Sun Dried Tomato and Basil Tuna. I LOVE both of these. Absolutely delicious and can eat them straight out of the pouch or can, but great on some sort of toasted bread or with crackers.
2. Jamba Juice - Matcha Green Tea Mist with Bananas. Now this is an addiction. I literally used to get one every single day when Silas was little and I worked longer days. This was also before Eli - now that I have two kids to get in and out of the car, I have less motivation to make a quick run inside Jamba Juice. Now, I make my own smoothies because it's cheaper and easier, although I definitely still treat myself on occasion.
3. Yoplait Yogurt with Cereal - I know I said I wouldn't mention cereal, but since I add to it, it doesn't count. So, Yoplait makes a light banana cream pie flavor that is so tasty. I take this and add a serving of the Special K Cinnamon Pecan Cereal, throw in a few roasted almonds and slice up half a banana - it is like a dessert, but ridiculously low cal and very filling.
4. Dole makes a Southwest Salad Kit and I love to take either chicken or ground turkey and flavor it with a packet of taco seasoning to mix in. It is really yummy and sometimes I'll throw in a few extra things such as avocado or black olives, or you can put it on top of tortilla chips to make a taco salad. You really can't go wrong.
5. Yogurt Mill - This could be too close to my house for my own good. I had the most amazing combination I've ever had there last week. I got vanilla with pralines and cream with chopped almonds. Seriously to die for. I'm not even ashamed to say that I ate every single last bite (typically I have plenty left over to enjoy the next day). It was so delicious I could not put it down - literally.
6. Pizza - as far as unhealthy foods go, this is my one indulgence. I can pass up a burger and fries, chinese food, mexican food, etc. any day. But pizza is my weakness. Hands down, Chicago pizza is the best pizza in the world. Since I don't live in Chicago, my favorite is the Veggie Pizza from Round Table. But, there's a pizza store on the way home from Dusty's work that we call the $5 pizza store (not sure of the actual name), but you guessed it - the pizza is $5. We love it. Also, I am not a pizza snob and even think the really cheap frozen pizzas are yummy. Although, I never buy these, just saying.
7. Air-popped popcorn - I really do love it without all the butter and salt. In fact, the popcorn at the movie theater is almost too salty to bear. The boys LOVE helping me make it and watching it pop - they think it's so fun.
8. As far as snacks go, I love Quaker rice cakes. Eli does too, and he thinks they're chips. I get either the ranch or cheddar flavors because that's all my Target sells. If they made a Barbeque flavor, I'd be in heaven (I think they actually might, but I can't find them). I love barbecue flavored anything.
9. Salads - ask anyone that goes out to eat with me - I love a good salad. Of course, this is only with the dressing on the side. I'll never live down my order at Mimi's when I was pregnant. They have a bleu cheese and walnut salad that I love, but you're not supposed to eat soft cheeses while pregnant. So, I ordered the bleu cheese and walnut salad, minus the bleu cheese - substituted with cheddar cheese, with the dressing on the side. One time I had to use the restroom so Dusty had to order for me. I think he was quite embarrassed.
10. Coke Zero - now, I know this isn't a food, but it can go on my list because I'm making it. I think it's the greatest thing ever invented! Diet Coke is okay, but not the best. Regular Coca Cola is way too sugary. Anytime I could get near a soda fountain, I used to mix my drink, 9/10th's diet and 1/10th regular. Also another thing people tease me about. Then Coca Cola came out C2, which was half the calories and a perfect in between of diet and regular. I don't think they make this anymore, but I did like it. Does anyone remember this? Then, Coca Cola outdid themselves, creating the perfect balance between diet and regular, Coke Zero. To me, it tastes like regular (except not too sweet), but the benefits of diet, without the unnecessary calories. Thank you Coca Cola, for finally getting it right. I will never drink anything else. I also love the vanilla and cherry flavored Coke Zero's.
0 Comments