Good thing that my Lose the Dough challenge doesn’t “officially” start until next week. I’d be in some serious trouble, otherwise! 
Later this week, I am attending THREE foodie events in just as many days!
I’m really looking forward to all of these events. And, they’ll be great practice for Lose the Dough and changing some of my eating habits for the better. My plan is to indulge a little and enjoy myself, but not over-do-it and leave stuffed to the gills.
Lunch
One of my goals for Lose the Dough is to create well-balanced, satisfying meals. For awhile there, I got lazy with my meal planning– I’d just throw together a bunch of foods and hope for the best. So, not surprisingly, I’d end up starving just a couple of hours later.
Today, I tried to hit all of the major food groups with leftover pizza, a homemade salad, an apple, and some chocolate. 
Leftover pizza from last night.
Salad with romaine, grape tomatoes, cucumber, green bell pepper, and sliced almonds.
A Jazz apple.
(Reminds me of Jazz Hands! )
And some chocolate-covered Altoids to satisfy my sweet tooth.
I hit most of the bases, right?
Snack
After eating lunch at NuVal, I sipped on some coconut macadamia nut tea that my coworker gave me. Mmm!
And when I got home, I made myself an Arnold Sandwich Thin with peanut butter and banana slices on top to hold me over until dinnertime.
Squash and Spinach Soup
I received a recipe for Squash and Spinach Soup from Mary Ann Esposito’s PR folks the other day, and it sounded so delicious, I just had to pass it along. I might try to make it this weekend! I <3 soup! 
—
We’re having tacos for dinner tonight, so we’re killing two birds with one stone and taking Murphy for a 2-mile walk to the grocery store and back to buy taco seasoning. It’s good exercise for all of us!
Better bundle up!
{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
The soup recipe looks awesome, good for these cold days and nights! All of those events look like fun! Jealous, I want to go!
OMG that tea flavor sounds delish and I don’t even like tea!
Your lunch looks very well balanced. I don’t eat much meat, so I struggle with getting enough protein to keep me satiated. Meal planning is a must!
can’t wait to see how the soup turns out! sounds like a nutritious and delicious day
Those food events sound like a blast!!
Jenna
Thats such a great looking lunch! So balanced and I love it
Great exercise! Just dress warm because I went outside in mid day and it was freezing
I just re-dedicated myself to meal planning a few weeks ago – it makes trips to the grocery store so much easier and efficient!
That soup looks amazing… I’ll have to add it to the meal plan sometime soon
I know you want to the pug man on a walk, but you can make your own taco seasoning at home! I make a ton and always have it on hand, and I use it a ton. Check it out: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Taco-Seasoning-I/Detail.aspx
JAZZ APPLE! At my office, jazz apples may or may not be incorporated into a flagrant, jazz-hand-like display. (Grab the apple and, while still holding the apple, wave your hand like you’re waving goodbye. You know the drill. Choreography optional.) There is a reason I stick to Fuji apples now….
Those look like three delicious events! And the pizza for lunch doesn’t look too bad either
Nice..transportation, shopping and exercise (or pug-ercise? ha!).
I love events like the ones you are going to and they are very reasonably priced! For his birthday last year I got my boyfriend tickets to a sailing trip on the Hudson with NY state beer and cheese pairings. He countered it for my birthday and got us tickets to a Best of the Best Cheese Course at the infamous NYC cheese store, Murray’s Cheese. They really are great presents and always fun to go to. Have a great time!
I love your attitude towards the upcoming foodie events and “lose the dough.” When I have special events coming up that involve eating, I tend to adopt an all-or-nothing attitude towards it. I’m either going to deprive myself completely or stuff my face ’til I can’t stuff no more! I’ll be honest – I’m still that way around the holidays for sure (hence a 4 pound weight gain, whoops!). But the thing is – I find that the times where I adopted an attitude like yours (eating everything in moderation) is when I’m at my happiest. Not only that, but those are also the times that I most easily maintain or LOSE weight…even more so than when I’m depriving myself. So good for you, girl. Enjoy those events!
great work achieving a balanced lunch – looks great!
My hubs and I have both been feeling like we have a tapeworm or something lately we have been so hungry at night! And I realized it is because we have not been making “official” dinners but just grabbing whatever. I have plans to make a tasty and healthy sit down dinner tonight and hope that keeps us from snacking all night.
Good luck with all those tasty beer/cheese events..will be a good challenge for sure!
Courtney
adventures in tri-ing
Looks like a pretty well balanced lunch to me!
Chocolate-covered Altoids? Hmm…
This weekend is the annual Health & Fitness Expo in DC so I’m excited to attend for the first time — it’s free and there’s lots of swag and cool booths. Should be a fun event!
That’s the coolest looking apple I’ve ever seen!
I don’t think we have those here in the PNW.
Mmmm…these sound like perfect foodie events for the dead of winter!! Enjoy every bite!! (and sip)
This looks very balanced to me…you even included dessert!
Chocolate + Altoids, sounds like a winner!!! As does cheese, beer and fondue oh my! And the soup?? Well considering spinach and squash are possibly the top two loves of my life, and the fact that this Mary Ann chick spells her name like me (hehe, this is rare, I promise) I’ll bet that’s one tasty bowl o’ goodness!
MA
lilpauladean.wordpress.com
I often get anxiety at “food” events because I feel like I have no willpower sometimes. But it’s really nice to see how you aren’t putting your life on hold while you work to reach your goals…even if you’re not officially starting your challenge yet. It’s inspiring.
That photo of the apple made me want mine now. Perfect afternoon snack! Have fun at all of your events.
You can’t forget the chocolate food group. I recently started counting my calories to create more mindful eating. I get about 1/5 of my calories from chocolate. Hmmm. See more mindful.
You lunch looks exactly like mine will tomorrow!!
Yikes, those are quite the events! Good luck holding back…they all sound like so much fun!
Did you bring your own placemat to work? So cute! I used to work at a school where each child had their own placemat that they would use during lunch- it really set the tone for a nice atmosphere in the cafeteria.
jazz hands!!! i think of that too when i eat jazz apples.
Ummmm yeah that tea? Where does one get it?
Okay so I seriously think that apples might be the most gorgeous food!
Your pb & banana sandwich thin was exactly my b-fast x 2! Plus honey
That fondue event sounds fun- I love fondue! Oh yeah, and I want that tea.
Your lunch looks very well balanced. My husband is dying to make pizza at home…I guess I’m going to have to let him now! So jealous that you can walk to your grocery store. We live in a very walker unfriendly city. Hoping to move in the next 2 years to ChiTown where walking is VERY easy to do. Keep up the good work…
Great idea to walk (with your dog) to the grocery store…..although I would forego on the taco seasoning. Maybe it’s just me who doesn’t like that stuff? We have found that putting salsa in the blender to get it nice in smooth works great as a taco sauce. I just mix some of that in with the meat, and it makes it very flavorful!
Looks like a fun few days ahead!!
Man, I am not good at events like that! Moderation is not my middle name
(I posted it last night if you want to check it out 
)
Thanks for the encouragement on doing my video for Nasoya. I think it came out pretty well
I’ll do my condo tour tonight!
OOH you’ll love the squash soup! ANYTHING made with squash is a winning combo
Good snack too – PB and banana goes soo well together, it’s amazing 
have a good evening!
Chocolate-covered altoids?! Is that really considered food?? ha!
everythings else looks delish!
Your lunch looks so good! Thanks for sharing that soup recipe – it looks delicious.
Your foodie events sound fun!
Yay for Jazz apples!!! Love them
What kind of pizza crust did you use for the pizza?
that tea looks really good! what a yummy flavor.
Did not know chocolate altoids existed. Good to know.
Sounds like you have a ton of fun ahead this week!
It’s good you recognized that you need to eat a variety of foods in your meal that contain enough protein and fat to satisfy your hunger. Proteins take the longest to digest, fiber slows down digestion, and fat takes the longest to empty from your stomach.
Way to strike a balance and see what satisfies you the most!!
I love that you combined foods for a full lunch. I know when I balance the food categories I stay fuller longer. Good planning ahead.
I’m totally joining the lose the dough challenge! I’m starting today/ tomorrow and I hope my body looks half as good as yours did in those 2008 photos when i’m finished!
Hmmm, chocolate covered altoids — didn’t know they even made those!
Your one the chocolate covered altoids looks like smiley face.