Every once in a while I remember to whip out my camera and capture some of my daily eats to share on the blog. (Instagram Stories has been GREAT for motivating me to give you guys a glimpse into some of my meals again in real-time!) I actually managed to snap pictures of a decent number of the breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks I ate last week to highlight on the blog today in a roundup post of some of my recent eats!
Let’s dive right into the delicious eats, shall we?
Three Breakfasts
- Overnight Oats
I took a bit of an overnight oats hiatus in the winter months but now that warmer weather is back, beginning the day with a cold and creamy (and filling!) bowl of overnight oats sounds awfully appealing and I’ve been eating overnight oats on repeat again. This creation included old fashioned oats, light coconut milk (from a can), Greek yogurt, chia seeds and a small drizzle of honey. I prepped the oats the night before and topped them with a dollop of peanut butter, fresh blueberries, hemp seeds and cacao nibs before digging in the next morning!
I shared this recipe years ago on the blog (hello, 2014!) and it’s still a staple for me. I love the way it doesn’t require protein powder, a blender or food processor and is packed with protein thanks to egg whites. (I use a carton of egg whites to make this pancake which makes the recipe even easier.) The ingredients are super clean and the recipe is pretty forgiving if you want to add anything to it! I will often toss in cacao nibs or sliced almonds and then top it with fresh berries or a smear of nut butter. I also love this pancake as an afternoon snack!
- Frittata with Avocado and a Banana
My passion for frittatas is STRONG, you guys. I make a frittata every single week (sometimes twice a week) because it makes breakfast so darn easy. To prevent frittatas from tasting rubbery and watery the next day, I line a Tupperware container with paper towels to soak up some of the liquid that I inevitably find at the bottom of the container and slightly overcook the frittata. It makes the frittata hold together much better and taste great the next day. No weird texture issues over here!
Three Snacks
- Apple Slices with The Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Cheese and Chopped Almonds
There’s something about The Laughing Cow spreadable cheese wedges that will always remind me of college and my first job after I graduated. I could not get enough of the cheese and it’s been a go-to for me for years when I want a creamy, savory snack like I did last Thursday! The texture freak in me loves spreading the cheese onto something crispy and refreshing! There’s something so darn tasty about pairing cold, crisp apple slices with the savory flavor of The Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Cheese wedges and crunchy almonds. I love this combination so much and will also swap the apples for peaches and pears and the almonds for salted pistachios (a definite fav!) and macadamia nuts and can’t get enough. I love the versatility of this yummy snack option, especially since The Laughing Cow makes tons of different flavors the compliment a variety of foods!
- Homemade Chocolate Protein Bar
I need your help with this one! I am trying to make a no-bake protein bar but every time I try they kind of taste like I’m biting into protein powder which isn’t ideal. Any tips for creating homemade protein bars with protein powder!? Thankfully I do like the flavors of the protein powders I purchase and so my latest attempt didn’t go to waste. This combination included SFH chocolate protein powder, dates, roasted peanuts, coconut oil and a pinch of salt.
- Yogurt with Trail Mix and Honey
Yogurt has been a go-to snack for me for years. I think it’s often because my sweet tooth rears its head in the afternoon so a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with a sweet drizzle of honey and a handful of trail mix or hemp seed granola almost always sounds appealing!
Three Lunches
- Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad with Shrimp
This lunch was an easy one to assemble last week! When I prepared a batch of my Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad for the cookout we had with Carrie and Dru and their boys during their visit, I doubled the recipe so Ryan and I could have the salad on hand to enjoy for lunches/dinners the following week. I topped my salad with some shrimp and it was such a tasty midday meal!
- Wild Caught Salmon Burgers, Sautéed Veggies and Brown Rice
I’ve been on a HUGE salmon burger kick lately ever since I discovered Wild Caught Teriyaki Salmon Burgers at ALDI for super cheap. They’re incredibly flavorful and I simply cook them in a bit of coconut oil on the stovetop along with whatever veggies I’m feelin’ at the the moment. I then chop up the burgers and put them on top of a bed of brown rice or quinoa, along with the sautéed vegetables and some avocado. It’s such a satisfying lunch!
- Chicken Sausage Cabbage Soup
I made this recipe on a whim a month or so ago when I crossed my fingers and hoped I could find a tasty recipe that called for ingredients I already had on hand in my pantry. I am a huge fan of cabbage and the recipe was an easy one to make that tasted fantastic as leftovers as well so I made it again last week! Since leftovers for lunch are one of my go-tos on busy weekdays, the ability to simply reheat a bowl of this soup for lunch the next day made digging into a healthy lunch oh so convenient! I paired it with an apple and some nuts on the side for a little more staying power.
Three Dinners
- Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Venison Meat Sauce
Some nights there is nothing I want more for dinner than a big bowl of pasta! I am probably going to horrify those of you who make your own pasta sauce with this dinner but I added ground venison to a jar of organic marinara sauce and tossed in some spices and called it a meal! We topped everything with Parmesan cheese before digging in. Chase actually surprised us and loved the ground venison meat sauce as well!
- Slow-Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
It’s a little too hot to bust out the slow cooker regularly around here but a cloudy day last week made a warm and comforting meal seem extra appealing. I followed a recipe I found on The Kitchn’s website but modified it slightly to make it even easier. I didn’t chop the chicken thighs, used ginger paste in place of fresh ginger and added all of the ingredients to the slow cooker at the very beginning and it turned out great! Keep this one on your radar!
I’m almost embarrassed by how often we make this dish in our house. Can’t stop, won’t stop! We just love the combination of sweet and savory flavors and since it’s a hit with the whole family, it’s an almost-weekly staple. I’ve changed it up a few times and used peach slices in place of the apples and white potatoes in place of the sweet potatoes and we still loved it. You can also add chopped kale or spinach to the dish for the last few minutes it’s in the oven so the greens have time to wilt a bit if you’re looking for a way to add even more veggies to the dish.
Question of the Day
What are some of your go-to snacks lately?
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Thank you for these awesome ideas! My snack choices are usually pretty boring and I almost always gravitate toward easy-to-grab popcorn or fruit.
Although lately I’ve been enjoying avocado toast with sliced tomatoes on top (garden tomatoes > store bought tomatoes)!
Have a great day!
you cannot go wrong with avocado toast!!! i actually made that yesterday as well… well, technically mine was more like guacamole toast, but if avocados are involved, i’m a fan!
Nuts N More PB powder with an apple has been on repeat. I like the cheese on the apple idea though. I’ve never had that combo.
These all look delicious! I love adding coconut milk to my oats, so creamy and summery. My favorite new snack is these ranch flavored chickpeas I found at Trader Joes…they are probably not healthy in the last, but I can at least pretend since they’re chickpeas 🙂
Now I know what I will cook for dinner 🙂
Thank you!
Your breakfast options are my go-tos as well. For snacks I love nuts and hard boiled eggs plus a little fruit for sweetness!
My go to snack has been watermelon or Greek yogurt! I ate almost half a watermelon yesterday…no shame!
https://maureengetsreal.wordpress.com/
Watermelon is the BEST this time of year!
Yum! This gave me some great meal and snack ideas. I have always loved those Laughing Cow cheese wedges as well. My go to snacks recently have been Rx Bars and peaches with a side of nuts or trail mix.
RXBars are SO good! Have you seen the kids ones? Chase loves them, too!
I have heard of them, but have not seen them anywhere in my area. I am keeping an eye out for them.
These are my go to protein bars:
4 scoops chocolate protein powder
2/3 cup flax meal
4 Tablespoons natural peanut butter
1/4 cup water
Stevia or succinct to taste
Add ingredients in a large bowl and stir. If sweetener is desired, choose your favorite and add. At first it may seem like it is not enough water but keep,stirring and it will eventually become a sticky blob of dough. Add 1 Tablespoon of additional water, if needed. Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts and place on separate pieces of plastic wrap (or wax paper), shaping them into a rectangle (you make them as thick or thin as you might like). Store the bars in the fridge or freezer. Serves 4. Appox. 284 calories, 20 grams, 6.5 grams of fiber per bar. Recipe is from Clean Eating from a long time ago. The recipe seems odd when putting it together but really worth the effort. Enjoy!
I have a giant bag of flax meal that is taking me forever to get through so this sounds like a perfect way to use! Thank you for sharing.
I really like this feature! I’m always looking for new snack, lunch, and dinner ideas, especially ones that I can prep on Sunday to reheat throughout the week ahead.
I love sweet and salty combos, so cheese and apples is one of my favorite snacks!
Ooo love meal inspiration posts. Laughing cow is SO good. I buy it quite often— so great for snacks!
Love meal inspiration posts! I actually just made protein pancakes this morning, with powder though, great idea to use egg whites. And maybe try adding nut butter into the protein bars?!? That’s the only thing I can think of.
I used to love using the spreadable cheese wedges from ALDI on an English muffin for a snack! But now that I live in Idaho there aren’t any ALDI stores around anymore 🙁 I love the chicken sausage potato bake, so simple and tasty!
Hey Julie, here is my homemade protein bar recipe. I make these on a weekly basis.
16 oz of Almond butter (you can use any type of nut butter, I use crunchy almond butter)
1 1/4 cup honey or Agave
2 1/4 cups of Protein Powder (I am consultant with Arbonne so I use Arbonne chocolate or vanilla plant based protein)
1 1/2 cups dry, uncooked oatmeal (I use Trader Joes gluten free oats)
1 1/2 cups of brown rice krispies cereal
1 cup of dried cherries (you can use any type of dried fruit)
1 cup of nuts (chopped almonds, cashews, etc) *this is optional. I don’t add nuts because I use the crunchy almond butter so it already had the crunch of nuts in it.
In a microwave bowl, combine almond/nut butter ad honey/agave- heat in the microwave for 1 minute
Gradually add protein while stirring. Gradually add oatmeal and krispies while stirring. Add chopped nuts and dried berries. (can use clean hands to mix). Consistency should be like thick cookie dough. Press into a baking sheet and press evenly out. bars should be about 1-1 1/2 in thick. Store in refrigerator until solid enough to cut into bars. keep refrigerated. You can also store in the freezer.
They are SO good!
My 2 year old also likes these
Making these ASAP! Thank you for sharing!!!
Welcome! 🙂
Usually I like to have nuts, popcorn or fruit. Something else I have been making…melt one or two laughing cows and add some salsa. it makes a nice portion controlled queso…it is great with carrots (and tortilla chips :-). I also like to use this as a topping on mexican dishes or baked chicken.
I love peppers and veggies too – it’s such an easy dish to make in the oven and it always turns out tasty. You’re definitely not the only one who makes it too often.
Thank you for the tip on the frittata I always struggle with that! But I love them too! My go to snack has been peanut butter perfect bars! If they weren’t so expensive!
I love how you change up your breakfasts/lunches throughout the week. I am SO guilty of getting stuck on one thing and eating that dish until I am sick of it. Thank you for the inspiration!
I love overnight oats during the summer! It’s so easy to throw together the night before & I can eat my breakfast while I’m getting ready for work. I need to try this version, it looks so good!
I am so the opposite of a self-promoter, but since it is technically my husband’s recipe I’ll share it. 🙂 He came up with an amazing protein bar recipe that I shared on my blog if you want to try it out! http://www.whatigather.com/k-bars-healthy-protein-bars/
Thank you so much for this awesome Tip..
i’m loving all of these ideas!!! i’ve been taking a break from overnight oats too, but they’ll always be my favorite! and that rice and beans salad with shrimp sounds so delicious for summer…totally making that this week!! we’ve been on a shrimp kick lately 🙂
My favorite protein bar to date (also the only one I’ve been successful at making) is this one: http://hungryhobby.net/pb-yogurt-bars-2/ My sweet tooth is always loud and clear in the afternoon too! Sometimes I call my afternoon snack my desssert ha ha !
These meals look so good! Especially the overnight oats with real coconut milk.
My favourite homemade protein bars are from Busy But Healthy. Here is the link to the ones I make all the time – http://www.busybuthealthy.com/no-bake-chewy-better-than-store-bought-protein-bars/
She also has a great protein cheesecake recipe that I love for snacks 🙂
Thank you!!
Yum, all those meals look so good! I’m going to try the chicken sausage bake next week.
I have been all about fresh pineapple so that’s my favorite snack lately!
Hi Julie,
I’ve been following your blog for a few years now and always really enjoy reading your posts – thank you!
As this post is sponsored by the Laughing Cow, I wondered though if you’re aware of the horrors of the dairy industry (and animal agriculture in general) and also the negative impacts that dairy (and meat) can have on your health?
I know you’re an animal lover (particularly of the lovely Sadie!) as I am and of course you’re also very keen on living a healthy life, so I just wanted to mention it.
I hope this doesn’t come over as too pushy, but I’d really recommend watching ‘What the Health’ on Netflix (it’s a really interesting documentary) and this YouTube video about dairy is very eye opening too https://youtu.be/UcN7SGGoCNI
Hi Helen! Not pushy at all!! I’ve heard a lot about this documentary lately and admittedly haven’t watched it yet myself but it’s definitely on my radar. Thank you for the recommendation.
I have a smoothie for breakfast basically every morning but I love switching it up with overnight oats. SO good!
I’ve never tried the overnight oats but you make them look so good! How long are they able to be stored for?
Thanks for sharing!
I’d say about 4-5 days if they’re covered in an airtight container in the fridge!
I make mine twice a week – One day I prep 3 mason jars of overnight oats and another day I prep 4 jars. I’m not sure I’d go longer than 4 days though.
Hi! I have actually made your coconut oil chocolate with that powdered peanut butter stuff. I’m not sure how much protein is in it, but it came out delish!! I didn’t taste too much pb flavor so I may add more next time!
Yay! So glad you liked it!!
I love this! So many great ideas and reminders of past recipes. My go-to lunch this summer has been buying a bag of chopped salad mix, toss in some extra veggies and chicken or shrimp.
Hello, Julie!
Quick question – your link for the Egg White Oatmeal Protein Pancake goes to your post of just Egg White Oatmeal. Do you literally just use that same exact thing for the pancake batter?
Thanks!
Oops!!! No! Here is the correct link: https://www.pbfingers.com/egg-white-and-oatmeal-protein-pancake/ Just updated the post. So sorry for the error! Thanks for letting me know!
All of these meals look awesome! I used to eat overnight oats frequently, but my body doesn’t like Greek yogurt anymore. I’m so sad about it, too! Some of my favorite snacks lately include fresh cherries + a protein bar if I’m on the run, or fresh guacamole with homemade tortilla chips. I’m also loving homemade smoothies with frozen bananas. So creamy and nutrient-rich!
I have really wanted to try making homemade protein bars myself! They look delicious!
No need to feel ashamed about using jarred marinara! Sometimes I make my own sauce, sometimes I don’t. My husband actually prefers the jarred sauce to the ones I’ve made from scratch, so I guess that says something! 🙂