Good afternoon, blog friends! 
I’m blogging from the Café Gato Rojo in Harvard Yard once again. It’s such the perfect place to blog– cozy setting, ample space, dim lighting, good tunes (right now Amy Winehouse is playing), and cheap coffee and cookies! 
The Café Gato Rojo is totally student-run, so I try to purchase something each time I blog here. Today, I ordered a small cup of decaf coffee with soy milk and cinnamon. The soy milk + cinnamon added a tiny amount of sweetness to my coffee, which was exactly what I wanted.
Lunch
This morning’s toast + fruit did not hold me over until lunchtime like my oats + nut butter usually do, so I ended up breaking into my lunch around 11:30. I was insanely hungry by 11:00– I’m surprised I even waited another 30 minutes!
For lunch, I had a big homemade salad with all sorts of veggies– some raw, some oven-roasted. In the mix: arugula, red and green peppers, summer squash, grape tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, and cucumbers.
Last night, I tossed the red peppers, summer squash, and zucchini in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper, and roasted them for 15-20 minutes in the oven on 375*F. Roasted veggies just add a little something extra to a boring homemade salad.
After my salad, I tried a new bar: Think Thin Creamy Peanut Butter.
From the Think Thin website…
Our natural high protein thinkThinTM bars are draped in rich delicious chocolate and delivers 20g of protein. Rated one of the top protein bars in the natural industry, thinkThin is the ONLY naturally sugar-free, high protein bar for an active lifestyle. Our thinkThin bars also appeal to consumers with special dietary needs because they are gluten free, have 0g of sugar and offer diabetics an alternative healthy protein snack.
Gluten Free
20g Protein
0g Sugar
No Cholesterol
Fortified with 18 Essential
Vitamins & Minerals
No Transfat
Excellent Taste
My review: I had high expectations for this bar– I mean, the wrapper said “creamy peanut butter,” so I was expecting sweet, smooth peanut butter inside. Sadly, the peanut butter “filling” was dry, artificial-tasting, and just sort of weird. The outside chocolate coating tasted pretty good– it was basically the only redeeming quality of this bar. If the bar hadn’t been coated in chocolate, I probably would have thrown it out.
I’m actually sort of disappointed that my Think Thin experience didn’t turn out better. Their bar packaging and flavors make you think that they would be full of flavor and exciting. 
Oh well. I guess there’s a reason why I hadn’t heard of these bars until now.
Afternoon Snack
As afternoon snack, I have a baggie with Food Should Taste Good chips (carbs), pecans (protein and healthy fats), and an Adora disk (calcium and Vitamin D).
I’m trying to make more of an effort in “balancing” my afternoon snacks. A lot of the time, I will only eat a piece of fruit in the afternoon, and typically, it does nothing for my hunger– usually I am hungry again not even an hour later. Combining carbs + protein+ a little healthy fat should hopefully do the trick! I also think that the sweet + savory aspect of this snack will help satisfy my “afternoon” cravings.
What are your favorite “keep-you-satisfied” snacks?
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I also find the best luck combining carbs. protein and fat in my snacks! One of my favorites is an apple with cheese or PB
I had my newest favorite snack yesterday, low sodium cottage cheese over a small salad of mixed greens and tomatoes with olive oil dressing. A nice balance of protein, carbs and fat
I like a protein bar or yogurt and a carb like pretzels or a granola bar!!
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I’m not a fan of the Think Thin bars either – they just don’t taste like real food.
One of my favorite satiety snacks is greek yogurt with fresh fruit and a bit of granola.
I love little campus or college-y cafes. Your coffee looks delicious!
Fruit is always refreshing for a snack, but since its mostly sugar-carbs, it isn’t satisfying. I like yogurt + nuts, larabar + a fruit, pretzels + pb, crackers + hummus, or greek yogurt + granola. basically any combo of carbs, fat, and protein! and i always count a latte or coffee with soymilk as protein ;D
have a great day, tina!
ooh, that cup of coffee looks so good right now. that little cafe sounds really neat.
one of my favorites lately has been yogurt + cereal/trail mix/nuts + fruit. It holds me over really well, especially when we have bodypump after work!
I love banana and PB or yogurt and cereal a filling snack!
Two things: (1) I tried a Think Thin Bar once and I couldn’t even finish it. I too was lured in by the packaging and flavors; (2) Adoras are on sale 2/$10 at Whole Foods.
Thanks for the ThinkThin review! I’ve been seeing them around and probably would have ended up buying one eventually.
Fruit with pb is my “keep me satisfied” snack. But when I’m not at home, it’s usually just a luna or lara bar.
I tend to fall back on another packet of instant oatmeal in the afternoon. Nothing, and I mean nothing, holds me over like a bowl of oatmeal and it keeps my blood sugar level for my afternoon run.
Oh, an I tried Think Thin once too and I ended up throwing out 1/2 the bar. I gagged the first part down and it gives me shivers thinking about the taste now.
I used to eat a Think Thin protein bar every single morning for breakfast, since they were portable, reasonably healthy (maybe?), and had no added sugar. After about a month, I totally maxed out on them. I tried one about two weeks ago, and ew. I really don’t know how I ever ate them consistently! I much prefer LaraBars and Balance Pure…while they may not feature as much protein as the Think Thin bars, they taste much better–and lack the artificial ingredients.
So, I completely agree with your assessment of the bars! Far better options exist.
Yeah, I’ve only had bad experiences with Think Thin bars. I have a Creamy Peanut Butter left over from a few months ago, so I was hoping you’d say it was good… oh well!
I like bananas with nut butter and yogurt with fruit. Too bad I didn’t take my own advice and had a rice krispie treat instead today!
I have to agree that those Think Thin Bars are awful. I picked one up on a business trip once because there was a Trader Joe’s across from my hotel and blech was it bad. I got chocolate fudge or something similar and it reminded me of one big calcium chew.
My favorite right now is a slice of toasted cinnamon raisin ezekiel bread with natural almond butter and thin sliced fuji apples on top..yum..add a bit of agave or honey and you are good to go!
Another vote here that Think Thin bars are terrible. The packaging does lure you in… give me Larabars any day!
Apple & peanut butter or apple & cheese is a great snack, I find. Or a small bowl of cereal & milk, but that’s hard for me to take to work.
In the afternoon I’ve been LOVING the combo of 1/2 cup of greek yogurt with a tablespoon of better ‘n peanut butter. I am not a fan of BnPB on its own, but it gives the greek yogurt a caramel-like flavor and sweetens it up without too many additional calories. A little bit of flax or granola on top is awesome too.
I also HATED the ThinkThin bar I tried. I could barely finish it, but I hate to throw away food (especially an expensive protein bar). It tasted like medicine to me.
i am loving that salad. as far as the think thin bars, i agree they are nasttty. i got a slew of them for free in a goodie bag after a 5k i ran.. um.. i think there are stll 5 bars sitting in my cupboard. what a let down. looks like a yummy cup o joe!
Apples with cheese- great combo that tides me over. Or, Apples with PB2!
the sugar alcohol in the think thin bars WRECKS my stomach and GI system…good luck!
Hi Tina!
I LOVE cafes like the one you were blogging at. I remember the student run ones back from my days at U of T and I always loved hanging out there- although I didn’t blog at the time.
Your salad looks amazing! I love veggies so much!
I have been disappointed with the Think Thin bars too. Oh well.
My satisfying snacks include: nature’s path bars, luna bars, fruit & yogurt…..I’m definitely a snacker…
The cafe sounds so cute and comfortable – a great place to relax over a delicious looking lunch! Thanks for the heads up about the ThinkThin bar – it even looks dry in the picture.
I too am not a crazy about the THINK THIN bars, however i am a HUGE fan of the THINK brand (same brand) THINK ORGANIC bars. They are similar to Lara bars but actually have less calories (i believe around 160) and are the perfect snack size and calorie amount, especially when I pair it with a soy latte!
I really suggest you try these bars before you write of the whole think brand! My favorite is the chocolate coconut! YUM!
I love either an apple with nut butter or some veggies with hummus to tide me over til my next meal.
I love the roasted veggies on your salad – it looks delicious. I tried the Think Thin bars a while ago (when I was still eating soy) and I agree with you – the texture is not palatable.
I’m always armed with high protein snacks nowadays with this new “thing” I’m on! They are usually as follows:
-light string cheese wrapped in smoked turkey breast + baby carrots
-sugar free chocolate jello pudding + sliced strawberries
-blue corn tortilla chips with 1/4 cup black beans + light sour cream + salsa + black olives
-1 cup PB puffins + random piece of fruit
- 1/4 cup bear naked granola + 1 tbsp chocolate chips + 1 tbsp raisins
I can keep going! If you need snack ideas I”ve got ‘em!
Oh I forgot my favorite one – TJ’s multigrain crackers with edamame hummus!
Ick. I’ve only tried one of those thinkthin bars and did not enjoy it. My favorite snack currently is a bit of smashed avocado spiced up with cumin and cayenne and carrot sticks for dipping.
You should definitely try a ThinkOrganic bar if you haven’t yet. My favorite is Cashew Pecan. Same company, better taste.
Because of my GI issues, ThinkThins are one of the only bars I actually can have because they’re fairly low in fiber. But I agree on the weird taste issue. The crunchy PB is slightly better.
The only ThinkThin bar I’ve liked so far was the Chocolate Brownie. It’s not my favorite, but it does the trick for chocolate cravings. I agree with Simone too about trying the other Think products…..the ones that are just like Larabars (ThinkFruit) are great! The Peanut Goji and Chocolate Pomegranite Power are so good! They have a purple wrapper
I’m not a big snack person, but I like fruit with pb or those chips with salsa.
Those roasted veggies look great and I can’t wait to get home and roast some for my dinner.
i haven’t tried the Think bars but I have a coupon for them burning a hole in my wallet! i like to keep little servings of raw nuts on hand for a calorically dense, satisfying snack. usually i will have some with a piece of fruit.
My sister said the same thing about the ThinkThin bars. She couldn’t even finish hers. Boo, and they sound so amazing!
I make my own trail mix for snacks.
-Almond Clusters
-Dried Fruits (I love figs or apricots)
-Carob Chips
-Graham Cracker Sticks
It’s deeeelicious
I love the sound of that cafe, i need to visit that and your cookie place when i come back
I feel like the think thin bars get all caught in my throat after a few bites!? Too protein-y if that makes sense! My fave snack is similar carbs + fat, like a pita with PB, or yogurt and granola!
I LOVE your bag! That cafe sounds like a perfect blogging location. My favorite snacks would be anything involving peanut butter or lots of protein (Pure Protein bars for example).
I like Zone or Balance bars on the go.
Otherwise a dairy/fruit combo fills me up, like a latte and clementines or a nanner.
Sometimes graham crackers with nut butter hits the spot!
I try to aim for a balance of carbs, but really as long as there is at least protein and carbs I’m good. I love cottage cheese w/fruit & TJ High Fiber Cereal, greek yogurt w/fruit, pb and TJ High Fiber Cereal, Kashi GoLean Rolls, Luna WC bar (so good!), pure protein bars, 1/2 english muffin w/pb and yogurt or cc…etc.
oh meant to say i try to aim for carbs, fat and protein
ThinkThin bars always leave me a little unsatisfied
I want them to be so good, but they never seem to get there.
Think Thin bars are just gross. Plain old gross!!!!!!
I got one of those ThinkThin bars as a free sample and I totally agree – not good. My go-to afternoon snack sounds pretty popular – apple or banana with nut butter! Can’t get much better than that.
that coffee looks incredible!
I hear you about the afternoon snacks. Its funny I put so much thought into my brekkie lunch and dinner meals, but I rarely think about whether my snacks are balanced!
I like dipping carrot sticks in guacamole – the fat really does make a difference. Also, I LOVE your leather bag!!!!!
I haaaate those bars, too. I’m so glad I’m not the only one.
Ooh, love your blogging destination–I need to find something similar for myself!
Go for the ThinkFruit (NOT think green, ewww ew eww, unless you want spirulina + desserty flavors) they’re very much like Larabars except more slender and coming in exotic flavors like Cashew Acai Protect, Peanut Goji Glow, Chocolate Pomegranate Power, and Apple Noni Nourish. A little more chewy than Lara’s typical texture.
My go to snack: edamame + Luna/Lara bar
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