Author: Lauren @ ihadabiglunch

South of the Border Frittata

I think it’s safe to say that every diet-friendly cookbook idea known to man has been written. Just looking at Amazon I saw “Thug Cookbook”, “The Disney Princess Cookbook”, “Giada’s Feel Good Food” and “Simply Skinny.” There are so many cookbooks out there claiming to have a variety of recipes that will make you feel your best and will be super easy to cook and cheap to buy. But in my humble opinion there are only two words you need to know to eat well, eat fast and eat cheap.

Mexican food.

I mean really. So many veggies. So many whole food options. So many spices. And they respect the power of guac and cheese, which I can always get on board with.

I plan on moving out of my parents’ house sometime in the next month (fingers crossed!) and I know between rent, the cost of living in downtown Chicago, and my admitted love of Trader Joe’s and fitness studios it’s going to be a tight squeeze on my wallet. And since I’ve never been a huge pasta person I need a cheap go-to option.

Mexican food can be the healthiest food or the most unhealthy choice. Why yes, I do love me some nachos and a margarita the size of a small child. But I also love burrito bowls, shrimp fajitas and would swim in a pool of black beans. All wonderfully healthy options. Not to mention that when I’m making Mexican food I’m almost always downing it in red pepper flakes, an addition that has been proven to shake up your metabolism. Which is a healthy living tip I’ve always taken extremely seriously because my metabolism might be kicking now but if my love of food doesn’t die down sometime in the next decade there might be troubled waters ahead.

So now that the move-out date is approaching, I’ve started my experiments. And since I’ve been in the midst of a desperate attempt to veggiefy my life, I threw the contents of my fridge into a cast iron skillet and hoped for the best. My prayers were answered and I was left with a kick ass fritatta.

South of the Border Frittata

Ingredients

10 eggs
1/3 cup almond milk
1/2 cup salsa
1/2 block sharp cheddar cheese
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1/2 bag store-bought spinach, chopped
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon McCormick Cajun seasoning (or just paprika)
Sprinkle of red pepper flakes
Salt/pepper to taste

Directions

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a cast iron skillet on medium heat
When oil is hot, add onion and pepper to the pan. Let cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and chopped spinach.
Add spices and salt/pepper to taste (personal preference is key here!)
Turn heat to low until the spinach wilts. Stir in salsa.
In a separate bowl whisk together the ten eggs and almond milk. Salt and pepper.
Turn heat back to medium and pour the egg mixture over the cooked veggies in the skillet.
Stir constantly until the veggies are all evenly distributed and the egg begins to set. Add the cheddar cheese to the mix just before it hits the oven.
Place skillet in a 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes (mine took 14 but ovens vary)
Serve with salsa, black beans or avocado toast. Or all of it. No judgment.

Questions:

What’s your favorite cultural food?
If you had to pick one dish that is your go-to cheap, healthy and fast choice, what would it be?

NASM update, metta success, and college-town cavorting

It’s been awhile since we’ve talked, hasn’t it?

I was on a serious roll the past few months, but I have to be honest: the next two months I’m going to be just a bit less consistent. I’m in the home stretch of NASM studying and really need to focus on that. It’s tough to work, blog, and study, not to mention be committed to fitness and having a semblance of a social life while doing those three things. Writing is my outlet, though, so I’ll still be around. But that NASM textbook is my new #1 priority until the second week of January.

The metta movement on Friday was a HUGE success! Dave DID run the full 100 miles and raised more than his $25,000 goal – last time I checked he was at $28,950! That means even MORE kids are going to have that life-altering surgery. I’m not going to lie–the whole experience moved me. We surprised Dave by holding up photos of the kids he was running for and he broke down in tears every time. Needless to say we all broke down as well. I had a moment later in the weekend where I realized just how crazy it is that $250, something I would spend on clothes, shoes or food in a few weeks, can completely transform a child’s life. It is the difference between living as a leper and living in a world of possibility. I thought about those 100 kids that Dave’s feat is going to help. That’s 100 people who will now be able to thrive in society – they may go to college and discover the cure for cancer or become a global diplomat and solve world hunger. It’s just a mind-blowing thought and extremely, extremely humbling.

I spent the remainder of my weekend in Ann Arbor on a road trip with my girlfriends from college. Martina (think hipster-architect and probably the actual inventor of Pinterest) is going to the University of Michigan for grad school (Go Blue!) so we drove up to spend the weekend with her. We ate bagels and pizza like it was going out of style, laughed constantly, and danced until the early hours of the morning, losing complete track of time.

See this is what I hate about not blogging for a few days – I start to remember a million random things I want to share with you all and there’s just no ebb and flow to the post anymore. Maybe I should rename my blog to “I Had A Big Lunch – Now Read My Word Vomit.” But anyway, did I tell you that I tried barre finally? I’ll share my review of the studio another day but it totally kicked my butt in a way that my butt has never been kicked. It wasn’t a “holy crap look how much I’m sweating” -type workout. More of a “holy crap how long can I hold my leg up like this before getting a debilitating charlie horse” and “holy crap there are a lot of mirrors in this room so I should probably actually hold a firm core for the first time in the history of a group fitness class.” Stellar.

Just another new fitness routine to add to the mix. Can we add another day to the week so I can fit in all the workouts I want to do every week? That would be perfect.

So tell me…

Questions:

When was the last time you stayed in a college town? Did you have a blast or feel like an old prune in a sea of young, prime grapes?
What’s your opinion on barre workouts?
What was something funny, embarrassing or crazy about your weekend? Did you finally go for it and spend $15 on that jar of nut butter or spend six consecutive hours watching cat videos on YouTube?

metta movement chicago: #100miles100smiles

Lately I have been incorporating more yoga into my life. Not just the physical poses but the mental and emotional dedications that it calls out of you. And while I’m still getting the hang of the physical aspect, I can’t begin to tell you how much happier I am when I take moments every day to move closer to a yoga state-of-mind.

In yoga there is a deeply rooted belief in giving without expectation. This is one of the most beautiful phrases to me and, coincidentally, one of my greatest challenges. I always, always, always give with expectation. I am loyal and am always thinking two steps ahead about how to add a little sunshine to someone’s day. I love people and so I find myself thinking about them more than the average person (or so I think). Unfortunately, in the past, this has been met with very high expectations in return. When people don’t return the, for lack of a better word, favor, I get disappointed and hurt. It has affected many of my relationships in many different ways. That being said, sometimes our greatest weaknesses can transform into our greatest strengths once we identify them, and thanks to yoga and the philosophies surrounding the practice, I have been able to face that weakness head on and work on it.

I’ve said it before and I’ve said it again: I’m extremely lucky to work for a company that not only exemplifies a healthy outlook on life but fosters this kind of personal development. And beyond individual well-being, lululemon athletica is dedicated to social health as well.

Every year lululemon provides funds to support community projects that contribute to social and environmental health. This is called the “Metta Movement”

Metta

the idea of generating love and happiness for others

an altruistic attitude of love and friendliness as distinguished from mere amiability based on self-interest

the strong wish for the welfare and happiness of others

This year is my first year participating in our Chicago-area Metta Movement, and I couldn’t be more excited to share the details with you! (I’m looking at you, Suzy, Bethany, Amy and all my other Chicago-area bloggers!)

#100miles100smiles

This Friday (November 7th) lululemon athletica Chicago will be hosting our first ever 24-hour event to raise funds and awareness for Smile Train, an organization dedicated to providing free, safe surgery for children in developing countries with cleft lip and/or palate. David Coligado, one of our store ambassadors, was inspired after a trip to South Africa where he saw how poverty has affected how the other half live. A particularly saddening fact is that physical deformities can affect children for the rest of their lives, not only physically but socially. For example, every baby born in Uganda with a cleft is given the name Ajok which means literally, “cursed by God,” with some newborns killed or abandoned right after birth. What people don’t know, however, is that any child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 and takes as little as 45 minutes. That is life-changing for a child in a developing country, and a goal that Dave literally wants to run for.

Through this year’s Metta Movement, we, alongside Dave, are hoping to raise $25,000 for Smile Train. Dave is, in a word, a superstar. He will be running on a treadmill in our store window for 24 hours — with the goal of running 100+ miles.

**drops the mic**

No, he’s not a robot but he’s as close to superman as I’ve ever seen.

In order to give him the most support, love, and gratitude, we are opening the doors of our Rush/Walton location this Friday night at 8pm after our normal shopping hours are done and throwing a party all night! That’s right, as he runs into the wee hours of the night, we’ll be hosting an event unlike anything we’ve ever done before! From appetizers (by Graham Elliot) and improv, to neck massages, flash tattoos, silent auction and everything in between, the night is going to be a blast! And that’s not even the best part: we are hosting workout classes in our store ALL NIGHT. Ever wanted to try Shred415? Head on over to lululemon on Rush/Walton at 1:15am for a free class (yupthat’srightfreeeee). Boot camp? No problem. See you at 2:15am. Hip hop yoga? 5am it is! And if you’re just a crazy person and want to jump in the lake with Dave and all of us crazy educators, we’ll be jumping in Lake Michigan at the end of the event! Because, I don’t know, I think Dave might need an ice bath after that. Just sign up!

If you’re not from Chicago you are still MORE than welcome to support Dave in any way you can – thoughts, prayers, vibes, or heck, your wallet. Whatever strikes your fancy. Just visit his site – get to know him a little better. He’s a Chicago gem.

We are crazy-excited to help Dave reach his goal so that he can travel overseas this December and personally deliver a check to the Smile Train medical team. I mean, how often do you get to be so directly involved with changing the lives of one person, let alone a hundred children?!

Please feel free to reach out to me via email {ihadabiglunch@gmail.com} if you have any questions or want more information about this amazing event Friday night! You know you wanna go 🙂 It’s like having a slumber party, but with all the other fitness freaks of the world. Can I get an amen?

Here’s the final schedule – take a look!

**This post is composed of all my own thoughts and opinions about this event – it does not come from lululemon athletica.

Halloween 2020

In a surprising twist of events, Halloween 2020 ended up happening six years early.

Apparently if you have an open day and a whole lot of friends whose plans are cancelled last minute, you can throw an adorable ALMOST Pinterest-esque Halloween party. No, there weren’t donuts hanging from trees or apple bobbing, but there was Catch Phrase, spiked cider and squash so I’d say it was a success.

I started off the day in pure pumpkin bliss: pumpkin pancakes (my favorite Kodiak cakes + pure canned pumpkin + spices) and coffee filled to the brim with Bailey’s pumpkin spice creamer.

Once I heard that people were going to come over after all, I got to the prep. We ended up with quite the feast, thanks to some easy recipes and family brainstorming.

The final spread:

Shrimp cocktail
Tortilla chips and homemade guacamole
Grapes
Clementine Jack-o-Lanterns
Greek yogurt Spinach dip and pita crisps
Candy corn and peanuts
Spiked cider
Dirt cups (vanilla pudding + orange food coloring and crumbled oreos)
Delicata squash roasted with coconut oil, stevia and cinnamon

We spent the night listening to the monster mash, handing out candy to a dozen characters from Frozen, playing Catch Phrase, and watching “Zodiac.” It was everything I imagined my Halloween 2020 party to be and more.

And just when I thought the weekend couldn’t get any better, I totally kicked butt in the breakfast department on Saturday. I was running early for work so I decided to take myself on a little date to my favorite bagel shop downtown, NYC Bagel Deli. This place rocks my world. I had an everything bagel with two eggs, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and green peppers.

Please let there be bagel sandwiches in heaven.

Questions:

How did you spend your Halloween?
What’s your favorite Halloween candy?
Have you ever played board games at a party? What’s your favorite?

Thinking Out Loud: franken fraps and waterboarding

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve shared the random ramblings that go on inside this (oversized) noggin of mine, so let’s just jump right in.

1) Let’s set the mood. I couldn’t pick between these three songs so you get ’em all:

2) I woke up at the crack of dawn this morning, determined to hit 6 miles before the majority of people would see me dying on the side of the road on their way to work. It was freezing. Winter is coming, Chicago. I’m here to tell you.

Lucky for me cold weather running is my jam and I made that six miles my b***h 😀

3) I am incapable of washing my face and not making a mess. A total mess. I get water like two feet from the sink, get mascara all over my towels and go to bed with facewash in my ears. IN MY EARS. Did I just not learn how to wash my face right? Was this a lesson they gave while I was in speech therapy? It gives me anxiety when I stay over at someone else’s place because a) why is everyone’s sink so small?! and b) where in the world does their mascara go?! Clearly not on the pristine white hand towels that everyone seems to have.

4) Speaking of speech therapy, fun fact: I had a speech impediment growing up. I sound like a normal human these days but back then S’s were tricky and I couldn’t for the life of me say the letter R. That was a real treat because my name has an R in it. I even called my aunt rich once and hurt her feelings, having just been called a “witch” by her niece. The word “world” is still tricky for me to say to this day. So let’s just say I’ll never be writing a novel called “The World According to Lauren.”

5) I realized after spending lots of time reading all your blogs and commenting yesterday, that I included the word “literally” in, literally, every comment. Guys I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. Things were getting real literal in the blog world, apparently.

6) I haven’t had wine in a full week. That’s SEVEN MOONS’ TIME. Funny how six months ago I didn’t touch wine – but when I was dealing with all that ish this past summer wine became my best friend. Weird how I now notice the time I DON’T have a wine glass in my hand, and not the other way around.

7) I had a sleepover the other night. At a personal chef’s house. I came home from work and this was waiting for me in the fridge:

A beautiful Greek salad with my NAME written on it. I felt like the queen of England. I need to continue to make friends with like this. These are my people. They just get me.

8) I can’t wait for Halloween. Scratch that – I can’t wait for Halloween 2020. When I’m a a real adult and can throw real holiday parties where people send out cute Etsy invites three weeks ahead of time and people actually RSVP and you make six hundred adorable Pinterest-inspired apps and have costume contests. Right now is not a good time to be a holiday lover. 50% of people my age want to dress up as a slutty minion from Despicable Me and the other 50% don’t want to do anything. Not a fan of this middle ground. I want apple bobbing and beer tasting, eating donuts that are hanging on strings from the tree in my front yard and handing out candy to kids when they ring the doorbell. So basically I want my Halloween to be straight out of an episode of 7th Heaven.

9) Speaking of Hallween did you all see this??

The limited-edition Franken Frappuccino is a Green Tea Frappuccino with peppermint syrup, white chocolate sauce, java chips and topped with whipped cream and mocha drizzle. To celebrate the spooky holiday Starbucks is serving these creations for $3 for a grande after 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. I’ve never been a huge frappuccino fan but in the spirit of the holidays I’m definitely going to get one. I’ll let you all know how it goes!

10) I decided to make some money on the side by participating in focus groups in Chicago. Well I’ve been at it for two days now and I am officially qualified for ZERO focus groups. So…either I’m an awesome/unique individual whose life just can’t be quantified, or I’m a loser.

That was a LOT of rambling. If you made it to the bottom I’ve officially succeeded as a blogger, as I’ve kept you entertained longer than a standard YouTube video. My work here is literally done!

Questions:

Are you a holiday lover? Do you throw any cool parties for any specific holiday?
Will you try the Franken Frap?
Anyone else make a complete mess whenever they wash their face?
Any fellow speech class peeps?

Crockpot Apple (Cider) Sauce

I was trying to think of a long-winded intro for this recipe but it’s just too simple. I figured I owed you all ONE fall recipe that was apple-themed instead of continuing my minor squash-obsession. So if you have an extra hour of prep time on your hands (coring, peeling and chopping apples isn’t an easy task) or just really need to take out some stress on food, then dedicate some time to this. Because you know what they say – all good things take time. Except microwave popcorn. And 4G LTE.

Crockpot Applesauce

Ingredients

24-30 cored/peeled/chopped apples – variety of Macintosh, Jonathan, and Golden Delicious
1 cup of Trader Joe’s Honey Crisp apple cider
3/4 cup sugar (I used 4 packets of stevia instead)
1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon

Directions

Combine all ingredients in your crockpot on low for eight hours.

PS apple is one of those words that, when you write it enough times, you take a step back and think, “What IS that word?” Weird word.

Enjoy!

Questions:

Do you ever use your crockpot to make sweet recipes? I hadn’t before this!
Do you like your applesauce plain or with cinnamon/sugar, or another combo?

weekend in rhymes + workout accountability

Having a schedule like mine is super weird. Not sure if I’ve mentioned that before (sarcasm).

Sundays used to feel odd – like the “end” of something. Now it’s just another day, and knowing that this morning is a Monday ain’t no thang. That being said, the one thing I do appreciate about the weekends is I get to spend a lot more time with loved ones (because, sadly, most everyone else has a normal life and they use the weekends to do activities. how rude).

Lot’s happened this weekend. so let’s be obnoxious and rhyme about it.

There was spinning, painting, applesauce-making and Red-Robin-shaking (those bottomless fries, yo):

There was running at sunset down Lake Shore Drive (with donuts on donuts for my running to thrive):

There were babies in costumes I creeped on online, and Hawks game raffles where I won a prize:

Popcorn and sweet potatoes, surprise surprise. You fools dominate my taste buds, despite all other tries:

Okay end rhymes. My “Sunday night glass of wine” brain thought that was a good idea five minutes ago but now it’s clear I’m running out of juice (both figuratively and literally).

Finally, a few funnies to start your week:

Just kidding that wasn’t last – I have to keep making sure that I’m holding myself accountable for my workouts. I did pretty well this past week!

Workout Accountability 10/20-10/26

Monday: 4 mile run
Tuesday: Body by Jake full-body video (free on Hulu!)
Wednesday: Yoga Sculpt
Thursday: Flywheel
Friday: Rest
Saturday: Rest
Sunday: 5.25 mile run

HECK YES!

Questions:

What was your favorite workout this week?
Do weekends seem like a big deal to you or do you have a wacko schedule too?
Ever been to Red Robin? What’s your favorite thing there? (bottomless fries are a given).

that time I almost went to jail

The day was October 22nd, 2014.

I had just left a particularly trying sculpt class when all I wanted was FOOD.

I was heading to a friend’s place so I figured I’d just go to the nearest grocery store and pick up something quick to make. As I turned a corner I was face-to-face with a Whole Foods. Woooo! I figured now was as good a time as any to try out their hot food bar. It seemed like a happy compromise – that way, I wouldn’t have to do any real work but I could still feel good about what I was eating. Wins all around!

By the third time I circled the store I was, in a word, overwhelmed. I guess it’s never a good idea to lose your Whole Foods hot bar virginity at 6pm on a weeknight but hey, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. Aside from the masses of men in suits, the dreadlocks, and the women in yoga pants (I’m ashamed at how much I fit in), THE PRICES. I mean, I’ve shopped there before and if you play your cards right it’s really not as bad as people say. But the prepared food…I could have spent enough money to put a down payment on a car if you let me roam around there long enough.

After half an hour or so I finally narrowed it down to a piece of fish with a baked potato or a piece of chicken with veggies. I figured, how bad could it be?

I politely asked for the most simple of the fish: a piece of salmon. No frills, no sauce, no sides, just a piece of fish with some salt and pepper on it. “Did you want a particular piece, miss?” I was surprised by this question and it got me to thinking how annoying it must be to work there with snoopy people leaning over the glass pointing “no no no, THIS one, no no no, THAT one.” But I smiled and said “Just the one in the back, thanks.” Bada bing, bada boom, she slapped the price tag on the bag and handed me my piece of fish as I examined the sides deciding which one I would take to go along with it. Oh, how naive I was. I could’ve had some of their homemade pizza so I was pretty proud of myself at this point. Until I looked down at the price tag.

$9.75.

For a piece of fish.

As the woman eagerly waited for me to pick my sides I smiled and said, in the most convincing tone I could, that I was going to continue looking around the store.

I couldn’t stop looking at the packaging. I wish I had taken a photo! It was such an unassuming piece of fish, the size of my palm and plain as could be, with just the little specks of black pepper showing.

I panicked as I walked up and down the aisles of that Whole Foods, trying to decide what my next step would be. Dollar signs began flashing before my eyes, visions of student loan payments and upcoming Christmas gifts dancing in my head. And here I was, starving, holding a $10 piece of salmon.

I thought about giving it back. I really did. But I had a feeling there was going to be some health code issue where they can’t take back meat like that that’s already been taken from the counter. But I just KNEW I couldn’t walk out the door with that stupid piece of fish.

It was then that I decided to commit my very first crime (that I know of).

If you’ve ever been to a Whole Foods during peak hours you know that there are about seven hundred employees in the aisles as well, so disposing of said-fish was going to be tricky.

I meandered up and down the aisles looking like a straight-up idiot carrying a piece of fish by itself until, by some grace of God, I came across a frozen food aisle that was empty AND out of view from any of the counters that lined the perimeter. I approached the gluten-free bread section, pretended to compare the cinnamon raisin and the sprouted whole grain, had one last moment of remorse, opened the door, and threw the fish in the freezer.

I figured at least there it had a chance. A chance to be discovered, nursed back to health and put back on display. I was even a little proud of myself that I had enough self-control and wherewithal to not shove it behind a cereal box or something where it would stink to high heaven the next day.

And then I ran.

I was 30% sure that someone was going to stop me and ask where my fish was. After all I had been roaming alone with that sucker for awhile and then *snap* it vanished. But I was able to escape without being arrested and charged with salmon swindling.

And that, my friends, is why I will never buy from the Whole Foods hot bar.

(Oh, and immediately following this I went to Potbelly and got a toasted turkey sandwich + chocolate smoothie — $8.25).

Questions:

Anyone know what the jail time is for salmon swindling?
Do you shop often at the Whole Foods hot bar? If so, which street corner are you prostituting yourself on that makes your trips there possible?
What’s one food that you’ll always splurge on, no matter the price?

the wonderful world of unexplored squash: what to do with a delicata

Squash is one of those words you only ever hear from the months September-November. Can you imagine any scenario when you would bring up the vivacious veggie in conversation in, say, June?

Nonetheless, squash becomes a bit of an obsession this time of year.

From butternut to pumpkin, acorn to spaghetti and everything in between, it’s like there’s this tiny window of opportunity to cook such a unique species of vegetable that it makes foodies everywhere dash to their ovens and hike it up to 425 yelling “Let the roasting commence!”

Yesterday I shared with you that I recently cooked a delicata squash. I realized when I woke up this morning how unfair it was to just share that photo with you and not really get into some more detail about the wonderful world of unexplored squash (doesn’t part of you just wish that the plural of squash was “squashes”?)

I stumbled upon this darling delicata last week at Trader Joe’s. I was swapping stories with one of the employees while sampling their pumpkin spice coffee and delicious spiced apple cider when I asked what her favorite pumpkin products were this year. If anyone else took a glance at the latest Fearless Flyer you know that there are probably a dozen pumpkin-themed products lining the shelves of TJ’s and I really needed an insider’s take on just which ones were worth it. Instead of leading me to the pumpkin pancakes or butternut squash soup she pointed directly at the delicata squash. “You have to try that.” So into my cart it went, what looked like the cross between an over-sized cucumber and a giant peanut. All I was armed with were the instructions to “cut, drizzle with olive oil, season, and roast.”

Ah the risky life of the ever-curious foodie.

Long story short I did exactly what she told me and was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it! I sliced off the ends of the squash, cut it lengthwise, cleaned out the insides (post-picture), drizzled it with EVOO and salt+pepper, and stuck it in a 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes, or until the insides were soft when I stabbed it with a fork.

So what does delicata squash taste like? It tasted slightly sweet, like a sweet potato, but the texture was just a bit more firm, kind of like a spaghetti squash. It was smooth but not as creamy as sweet potatoes are. Like most squash, it really took on the flavor of the olive oil, salt and pepper but still tasted fresh and earthy, making it the perfect side to any lean protein. I ate half the squash while waiting for my fish to cook because I just couldn’t stave off my curiosity any longer.

Some quick facts about delicata squash:

It goes by many nicknames: the sweet potato squash, the peanut squash, the Bohemian squash
A 3/4-cup contains 30 just calories
It is fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, and a great source of Vitamins C and A
Throw the peeler aside – you can eat the skin!

Here are a few amazing recipes I came across will be using for inspiration over the next few weeks:

Roasted Squash Blossom

Delicata Squash Soup

Roasted Cinnamon-Ginger Delicata Squash delicata-7

Delicata Squash & Chard Penne Pasta

So join me in pumpkin rehab and pick up a delicata squash after work today. Because honestly, why the heck not? It’s like $2 and it keeps you from having to turn to those frozen mixed vegetables (again) that I know we’re all guilty of hoarding.

Questions:

What’s your favorite fall recipe/food that doesn’t include pumpkin or apple?
Do foreign veggies like this one intimidate you, or do you pick one up and experiment just for the heck of it?

Jim Halpert + delicata squash

I’m ashamed of myself for missing yesterday. Mostly because it was this man’s birthday:

Hello, giggles. We miss you on primetime TV. I’ll be watching It’s Complicated and Something Borrowed in honor of how good he makes 35 look.

And since it’s been awhile since I’ve shared my eats with you, I figured now’s as good a time as ever. I ate by myself at Portillo’s last night and it was liberating. I got to scroll through Instagram and people-watch without any of that pesky conversation to worry about. Other than that it’s been plenty of home-cooked meals, new snacks from TJ’s, and a few outings. A great balance.

Starbucks still gets a huge % of my paycheck

Annie’s Organic Mac n Cheese with edamame mixed in

Lemonade-coconut water — not my favorite but the company dropped samples off at the store and nothing tastes better than free

Delicata squash!!

$7 taco platter!!! So freaking delicious. Thanks, Theory. I didn’t know you had it in you.

Oh and $7 margaritas in the city ain’t bad either

My new nut obsession – must be salted or what’s the point?

Always a great option for a quick mini-meal from Starbucks

Fish rice and veggies – ketchup is a veggie right?

Tuna sandwich + pumpkin cranberry crackers and Laughing Cow

Portillo’s chopped salad – it just never gets old

Clearly my head wasn’t in the food-photography game this past week. When writer’s block strikes, you get whatever photos I have of my food that I can pass off for an excuse for a post. Bear with me 🙂

Questions:

Do you ever eat alone in restaurants?
What was the best thing you ate this weekend?

i had a big lunch

Because dreaming about food and fitness was no longer enough

Author: Lauren @ ihadabiglunch

South of the Border Frittata

NASM update, metta success, and college-town cavorting

metta movement chicago: #100miles100smiles

Halloween 2020

Thinking Out Loud: franken fraps and waterboarding

Crockpot Apple (Cider) Sauce

weekend in rhymes + workout accountability

that time I almost went to jail

the wonderful world of unexplored squash: what to do with a delicata

Jim Halpert + delicata squash