Food Survey: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Today I have a fun little meal survey I have seen floating around on a few other blogs, and as you know, I love my surveys. Here we go!

BREAKFAST

1. Favorite cereal as a child?

Either Peanut Butter Captain crunch or Frosted Cheerios. They are still some of my favorites. I ate a lot of hot cereal as a child, such as Cream of Wheat, Maypo or Wheatina.

2. Coffee or Tea? With milk or without?

Tea. I am also very strict with my tea. I have high tea at least four times a month when I can on the weekends. I prefer black tea with steamed milk and honey (if it is a fruit flavor) but if it is an earl or lady grey, I prefer brown sugar cubes with cold milk. If it is green or white tea, it should be unsweetened or with a touch of lemon.

3. The one food you eat most often at breakfast?

Figs, granola or soft boiled eggs. I change my breakfast on a regular basis and usually eat eggs four times a week for added protein.

LUNCH

1. Sandwiches are generally considered a “lunch food.” If you had to choose between a grilled cheese and a peanut butter and jelly, which would you pick?

Grilled cheese! My favorite? Three cheese- Monterrey, cheddar and pepper jack on white bread or tomato, cheddar, gorganzola with vegetarian "bacon."

2. You can only put four ingredients in your salad (not including greens); what do you throw in the mix? Additionally, which greens and dressing do you pick?

Ah, this is easy for me: goat cheese, craisins, candied walnuts and avocado. Honey mustard for dressing.

3. One food you can’t live without at lunch?

A hearty soup like split pea with croutons, cream of red pepper, or chicken rice and vegetables.

DINNER

1. It’s the end of the day. You’re tired, hungry, and your fridge is empty. If a fast food (from a chain) is your only option, where do you go and what do you order?

Hale and Hearty or Pret A Manger. Some of my favorites when I attended school and worked in NYC.

2. TV/computer on or off while you’re eating?

Off. I prefer conversation, otherwise if I am eating a snack or having something to drink. TV or computer is fine.

3. The one food you eat most often at dinner?

Crab cakes or pasta with shrimp and peas. Also a salad with avocado. Some of my favorites!

DESSERT

1. Choose between these two American desserts: cheesecake or apple pie?

Apple crisp or butterfinger, peanut butter cup or oreo cheesecake. I also love the red velevet cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.

2. Choose between these two foreign desserts: tiramisu (Italy) or flan (Spain)?

Neither, but if I had to choose it would be Tiramisu, but very light.

3. Ice cream: cone or cup?

Cup if it is a sundae (cookie dough with Reese's pieces, peanut butter sauce, hot fudge and crushed oreo), or a cone if it is straight ice cream (cookie dough or soft serve vanilla or twist).

Healthy Living Survey

Happy Weekend Everyone!

How was everyone's Thanksgiving and Black Friday? My family and I went out to eat locally for Thanksgiving this year, which I believe can be just as enjoyable, especially because there are no dishes to be done or leftovers to be packed up! Nonetheless, when we eat at home, I love to make my homemade Apple Sausage Stuffing and my Apple Crumb. For Black Friday, I purchased two bras (buy one get one 50% off) and a pair of underwear from Victoria's Secret and some hot yoga clothing for 15% off from Mika Yoga Wear. I know those purchases were for myself, but I am now thinking of what to get for my family members. I have some great ideas for everyone. Unfortunately, I cannot share them here because they read my blog. BUT, I will tell you what I got for them after the holidays!

 I found this fun little Healthy Living Survey from Running Around Normal the other day. I always enjoy filling out surveys, it brings out the young adult in me.   Let's play along!

1.  What did you eat for breakfast?

Frosted flakes and chilled apple cider. I was in a bit of a hurry!

2.  How much water do you drink each day?

I drink about eight 6-8 oz. glasses of water a day. If I am doing intense workout routines, such as Spinning, Boot camp, or Combat classes, my intake is raised to an additional two glasses each day. The only time I substitute Gatorade is when I am workout for more than three years a day.

3.  What is your current favorite workout?

A mixture of Spinning classes, weight lifting and flexibility classes, including yoga. The only three ways to get into shape: a mixture of cardio, weights and proper diet. Add flexibility classes to take that to an even higher level. Always exercise safely!

4.  How many calories do you eat each day?

Currently between 1800-2300 calories per day (depending upon my workout routine).

5.  What are your favorite healthy snacks?

• Yogurt with fresh fruit and granola
• Pirate's Booty
• Cliff bars and Luna protein bars
• Avocado and tomatoes
• Cucumber salad with dill
• Watermelon and mint
• Light string cheese
• Vegetables and hummus

6.  What do you usually eat for lunch?

1/2 of a sandwich (chicken salad, tuna salad or roast beef) and some crackers with a small side salad. If I am home, I love to have homemade soup or some cold pasta at home.

7.  What is your favorite body part to train?

My legs! I love Spinning classes.

8.  What is your least favorite body part to train?

Biceps...ouch!

9. What are your “bad” food cravings?

Chocolate chip cookies and cookie dough anything (ice cream, bites, cupcakes, etc.). Also red velvet cupcakes, toffee, and Oreo cookies in addition to cheese and chocolate fondue. If I didn't eat any of that [good stuff] I'd be really skinny as those are my only indulgences. I never eat anything greasy or deep fried.

10.  Do you take vitamins or supplements?

Yes: Fish oil, women's daily multivitamin, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Kelp.

11.  How often do you eat out?

Two to three days per week (I'm including going out for dessert, tea and coffee).

12.   Do you eat fast food?

Never. Simple as that.

13.  Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband, my parents and my brother. Also my grandparents and in-laws. I love them all!

14.  Do you have a gym membership?

Yes! I go there practically everyday, I love it! I usually like to go to two classes per day, one weights or flexibility/sculpt and a cardio class.

15.  How many hours of sleep do you get each night?

I sleep for 9-10 hours a night. I definitely need my sleep otherwise I cannot function!

16.  Do you have a “cheat” day?

Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday and sporadic days throughout the year (parties, a get-together)

17.  Do you drink alcohol?

Every once in awhile, but not often.  I love a glass of wine sometimes, but I dislike most beer.  I don’t like the price tag on alcohol so we don’t buy it much.

18.  Do you have a workout buddy?

Not really, I am very independent with my workouts and work in general. However, anyone can always join me. I sometimes workout in groups, with my brother, my husband, neighbors etc. 

19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle?

Inspiring others to make positive and healthy changes in their lives.  Hearing that just makes my day!

20.  What was the last healthy thing you did?

Skipped dessert and did two hours of Ashtanga yoga.

First Anniversary Dinner

Dear Friends,

Can you believe it has already been one year since my husband Kris and I were married? We had a terrific day yesterday reminiscing about our very special day. A day we enjoyed with our close friends and family. We were married on Sunday, August 14  at a local vineyard on the eastern end of Long Island.

Yesterday, we enjoyed looking through our wedding album together and watched a photo montage on DVD that my cousin made for us. We also looked at pictures from our honeymoon and additional photos that friends and family gave us from our wedding celebration. Our venue and all of the details were so spectacular! We remember how much food we had left over and how we enjoyed looking at our wedding photos and eating part of the wedding cake when we arrived home from our honeymoon. We went on a ten day trip to Disney World for our honeymoon! We had such a fun time; we visited again last December and hope to visit together again soon.

Me (Kris didn't want to be pictured)

For our one year anniversary dinner, we dined at The Living Room, c/o Maidstone in East Hampton, NY. The Maidstone Arms is a beautiful hotel, with nineteen rooms and cottages on the property. The restaurant was exquisite. The staff was attentive, friendly, personable and the delicious food truly reflected the impeccable service. I was blown away right from the start.

We first enjoyed their unbelievable bread. It was served warm with I believe a dill butter. Kris drank Chardonnay and I had a non-alcoholic peach mojito.

Next we both split their goat cheese ravioli appetizer: "Peas and Carrots" Tender sweet peas and
Laura Chenel goat cheese ravioli in carrot broth with shaved aged goat cheese. Next, as a toast to our anniversary, they gave us two mini shrimp skagens with clinatro and sliced cherry tomatoes. 

Goat Cheese Ravioli

Kris ordered the Roasted heritage chicken with potato pureé, spring vegetables and marjoram jus and I had the local fluke in a golden potato crust with lemon dill butter, carrot custard and Balsam Farms spinach.

We would have ordered dessert had we not had the wedding cake at home. There were so many to choose from. But we will certainly be back to try one...or two!


Our waitress suggested some fantastic specials, including a corn chowder and striped sea bass. As this was our first time dining at The Living Room, we wished to stick to what was offered on the menu.

The restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert as well as a bar/lounge menu and a menu exclusively for canine guests! As a Scandinavian restaurant with c/o Hotels hailing from Stockholm (with the management also being from Sweden), the menu offers various traditional Swedish recipes, including Swedish pancakes with lingonberry jam as well Swedish meatballs (Köttbullar) and Scandinavian 'Toast Skagen'. The Living Room as well as the hotel is open year round. Be sure to dine in and visit if you are ever in the area! I hope to visit for brunch in the near future.

After dinner we each had a generous slice of our wedding cake! It was tasty though it was definitely on its way out. What I intend to do is surprise my husband at one point with a cake from the bakery that made our wedding cake, Create-A-Cake. It would have the same filling and type of cake with a different color fondant icing!

We had vanilla and chocolate mousse filling!

Tell me about your anniversary celebration! Do you have any special traditions or place that you had or would like to visit?

Yellow cake with ivory fondant icing

Summer Food Tour Part 1

Dear Friends,

I would certainly say I have dined at a plethora of restaurants this summer season, with most serving one of my favorite dishes: The Lobster Roll. Below is a sample of the different meals I have enjoyed at home and out.

Whenever I am able to, I substitute french fries for steamed vegetables or a salad.

Traditional Wedge Salad

One of my favorites, chocolate mousse, fresh fruit, dulce de leche ice cream, and fresh whipped cream.

Creme Brulee

Sticky Toffee Pudding cake, one of the best I have had at a non-Brit restaurant

Another delicious chocolate mousse. I love the way it is served in the martini glass.

Yellow curry chicken. I will try to replicate this recipe at home soon. Notice the extra yellow curry sauce on the side next to the jasmine rice. When it comes to sauce, there may never be enough ;)

Green curry chicken *very spicy*

Avocado Pesto Pasta I made at home. Very easy: blend 1 tbs of pine nuts, two avocados, salt, pepper to taste and about 2/3 cup of olive oil, blend until creamy. Garnish with fresh basil. I used whole wheat linguine.

Sea bass with a creamy leek sauce with asparagus and mashed potatoes

I love when the roll is slightly toasted. Always best when paired with delicious cole slaw.

The little balls are fried goat cheese pieces.

Hush Puppies from Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., my favorite! I get this as my entree and it is surprisingly very filling on its own!

Mega chocolate chip cookie sundae at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Irish Soda Bread at Universal Studios, Florida