Did Monday fly by or what?!? Holy moly! 
Today was one of the fastest Mondays that I’ve had in awhile. Let’s hope the rest of the week flies by this quickly! 
Ok, let’s get right to it and recap today’s eats. I have a hot date with my husband, pug, and couch in a few minutes. There’s some serious cuddle + TV time on the agenda for this evening. For some reason, we’re all exhausted tonight.
Snack
After lunch, I snacked on a Mmmaple Pecan Chewy Granola Bar from Nature’s Path, which was very tasty. It had lots of sweet maple flavor and it was soooo soft and chewy. The texture sort of reminded me of a cookie. I also drank a mug of Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride with my granola bar.
After work, I headed straight to Starbucks to write. While there, I ordered a non-fat Dark Cherry Mocha, which is a brand new drink at Starbucks. The Dark Cherry Mocha actually debuts tomorrow, but I got a special sneak preview today!
The Dark Cherry Mocha was quite delicious– very chocolaty with a hint of cherry flavor. It could have easily passed as a dessert, especially with the whipped cream on top.
Instead of whipped cream, I asked for extra foam on my mocha.
Before dinner, Mal and I took Murphy for his long walk of the day. We chatted and walked around our neighborhood for a good 45 minutes before heading home. The weather was absolutely gorgeous this afternoon! I am so ready for spring to be here!
When we arrived home, I snacked on a mini Larabar that Amie sent me the other day. I love these little Larabars! Thanks, Amie! 
I was really snacky this afternoon, wasn’t I? I didn’t realize how much I ate until I started writing about it. I guess I was just really hungry? Or stressed? Bored?
Dinner
A little while later, I started making dinner. I’ve had some pesto from Bear Pond Farm in the freezer for weeks now, so I finally incorporated it into a meal this evening.
Inspired by a Women’s Health magazine’s recipe for Savory Seafood Penne, I created a similar pesto-penne dish for dinner tonight.
In the mix:
- Bear Pond Farm pesto
- Whole wheat penne
- Shrimp
- Tomatoes
- Black olives
- Arugula
It was a great meal– lots of bold flavors, satisfying, and tasty.
Guiltless Goodies Week
Guys, I have something to confess: I ate the entire dozen of Sweet and Salty Oatmeal Raisin Cookies that I baked on Saturday afternoon in about 24 hours. 
It wasn’t my finest moment, but stuff like that happens every now and then, right? So, after another cookie “overindulgence,” I’ve decided to treat my dessert habit a little differently this week. I suppose we can call it an “experiment.”
As you know, I almost always crave something sweet after meals– usually a cookie or a piece of chocolate will do the trick– but maybe a more nutritious treat would satisfy my cravings, too? So, this week, I’m going to create semi-healthy, single-serving goodies to see if they will satisfy my sugar cravings (instead of baking a dozen cookies!).
I realize that not all of my recipe experiments will turn out perfectly (mostly because I am just winging it in the kitchen), but hopefully, they will give those of you with a sweet tooth some ideas for more nutritious desserts, and if one of them sounds good to you, definitely give it a try!
Here’s tonight’s Guiltless Goodie:
Granola Pumpkin Cake
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
- 1/8 cup liquid egg whites
- 1/8 cup granola
- 1 tsp agave nectar
- 1/4 tps baking powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl; mix well
- Cook in microwave for 90 seconds
- Allow to cool before serving
This Guiltless Goodie turned out pretty well. It was soft and cake-like with a subtle pumpkin spice flavor to it. It wasn’t my best kitchen experiment, but it definitely satisfied my dessert craving and filled me up. The combo of pumpkin + egg whites is sitting in my stomach like a rock!
Time to chill with M & M! Good night!
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The same sometimes happens in my house, too! I found having something small after each meal helped me a lot!
Thanks for your honesty Tina! You’re human afterall?!!!
Your granola pumpkin cake looks yummy, although granola can’t be brought into my house. No sir, no can do! It’s definitely a trigger food for me and I would eat the whole box in 24 hours. I am however totally in LOVE with your 3-Minute Oatmeal Cookie idea and I make those all the time. Sometimes for breakfast and for dinner. Keep the great ideas coming and I cannot wait to read your book!!! Please let us know when or if we can pre-order a copy.
Sometimes, it’s TOTALLY necessary to eat an entire batch of cookies.
I haven’t been able to find Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea at any store! But I LOVE the Candy Cane Lane tea. It’s fantastic.
Yum, dessert. And that new Starbucks drink looks good!
i forgive you for your sins. Me and toblerone became bffs the other day.
I have that same pesto in my freezer. Your penne looks great! Have a good night.
Sugar is seriously addictive! Ok I’m totally not trying to drag you to my site or anything…but I made a microwave banana cake that sounds like something you’d like! It’s worth a shot
http://coffeerun8.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/day-6-microwave-chef/
You make that MMmmaple pecan bar sound so good! I can’t wait until i get some.
I wouldn’t worry about the cookies; if you were hungry for them, and they were fresh, why not? Today I was a bottomless pit. I just kept reminding myself tomorrow’s workout will be that much better
guiltless goodies looks great!! and super easy!
now you get to hang out with your GUILTLESS M&Ms (super cheesy, sorry!)!
Yum
I’m looking forward to all of your creations this week!
Glad your Monday flew by, mine did too actually- good sign for the week!
I really appreciate your honesty on this blog. Too often healthy living bloggers come off as perfect eaters and exercisers; it’s important to remember that we’re all HUMAN!
Perhaps you can try vanilla yogurt with some sweet mix-ins? Fresh fruit, chocolate chips, sweet granola?
We all have good days and bad days. That’s life.
I once ate 4 Krispy Kreme donuts in 1 day…that’s about 1000 of those cookies!
Thank God tomorrows a new day eh…
The Dark Cherry Mocha sounds fantastic! I haven’t had a mocha in a very long time. That one might just have to break my non-mocha streak!
I think it’s great that you can be honest, step back, and create a plan after indulging! But also yeah, it happens! We all overeat and there’s nothing EVIL about it ;> So you were hungry. So the cookies were good.! I can’t wait to see what single-serving treats you come up with, and dinner looks awesome! I’ve gotta go whip up something for us myself… have a great night! Do ya’ll watch 24?
Overindulgence happens every once and again. I try to freeze cookies right after I make a big batch so they aren’t right in my face. That def. helps for me. Your single serve dessert looks great though! my new healthy dessert is alittle greek yogurt frozen with cacao in it.
Don’t feel bad! It happens!
I like your idea about the healthy snack to satisfy the craving…I’ll look forward to other ones you come up with!
You’re not alone, I’ve totally overindulged in something I’ve baked, many times! I’m getting better though. I like your example of finding something healthy that will satisfy your sweet craving, rather than just denying yourself a little treat. That just leads to more overindulgence!
Oh holy moly, dark cherry mocha sounds DELICIOUS. We don’t have it out here in Australia & I’m terribly sad about that
I’m so jealous that you still have Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride – I will definitely stock up next December! I’m looking forward to your guiltless goodies. I always have to satisfy my sweet tooth, too, so I’ll be giving your recipes a try. Thanks!
Hahah aw who cares, sometimes you just gotta eat cookies. I’m sure I’ve done the same in my time! I’m not a big Sbux fan but that drink sounds delicious.
I had a similar 24hrs this weekend!
Too funny, I got a larabar package from Miss Amie too. Love it! Haven’t tried mine yet. Sounds like we had a very similar Monday. Mine was great – must be the sunshine we’re having!
Do you like oranges and grapefruits?
I crave something sweet after dinner every night too, but on weeknights I substitute a more desserty thing in favor of an orange or grapefruit. I love these citrus fruits, and it takes me a little while to peel, remove the pith, and eat each segment and I’m pretty satisfied after. If it’s a bad day and I still crave something, I’ll have some sugar free hot cocoa. Maybe if you like citrus fruits, give that a try one day?
I do like your 3 Minute Cookie though, and the Granola Pumpkin Cake looks just as good.
I totally know what you mean about craving sweets after meals. One of my favorite guilt-free desserts is some fat free ricotta cheese mixed with some vanilla extract, a sprinkling of some hot chocolate powder, some chopped walnuts and some chocolate covered nibs. It has a lot of healthy, natural foods but tastes decadent!
That happened to me too. I messed up a batch of cookies so they all got broken, then I ended up eating the whole thing. I felt sick afterward and terrible, but that’s okay. Today was a new day! I appreciate you admitting that you overate. A lot of bloggers just seem so perfect all the time. Flaws are endearing and humanizing.
I love the lemon Lara Bar, I had one today.
That goal will be very helpful not just to you but to many of us! I am struggling with the same problem right now and am looking for new options. Thanks!
I feel a bit better now.. I may or may not have eaten almost an entire carrot cake in less than 48 hours… oops
Yum that mocha sounds good! I’ve just gotten a microwave so I’m so excited that I can now try all of your microwave goodies!!!
i usually only bake stuff if i know i’m going to be taking it elsewhere the next day…otherwise i totally eat it all and don’t even think twice! can’t wait to read the new recipes
You are so sweet and honest! Can I offer some advice?
I avoid fake sugars as I find that they wreak a havoc on my blood sugar, causing me to crave sugar. I recently learned that sandwich thins contain sucralose. Could your lunch be responsible for your snacking in the afternoon?
I have found instead of getting rid of my snacks, what has helped is asking myself this question: Am I hungry enough for an apple? If yes, then I eat an apple. If no, then find out why I am craving something. Like you said, is it boredom, stress, etc.
If you have to have something sweet after every meal, I think your single serve approach is a great way to go. Best of luck!
Great idea to bake in single portion quantities! I agree with Heather that it’s better to save your baking when you will be taking it elsewhere.
Tastes like a gourmet Reese’s cup!
Also, you can wrap and freeze your baked goods in individual portions. I usually forget about stuff in the freezer that way, but it’s there for me when I want it. For a quick sweet treat I like to eat a small square of dark chocolate with a teaspoon of peanut or almond butter, then close your eyes and savor
Ah, the cookies! Been there, done that. It’s done and you learn and you move on. I always like a little something sweet everyday – somedays I want more, some less. I keep healthier options around. I avoid having anything I know I can’t control myself around.
I LOVE your honesty Tina…seriously! It takes a lot to admit it but it also makes us all feel more normal in knowing that we all (YES ALL) have moments like that! It is what it is and the best thing is just to move forward.
Rock on….
i ate 5500 cals in one day cause i binge/restrict. also not my finest hour. i do feel better getting it out, even to the anonymous computer world. your indulgence is not the sign of an eating disorder but of being human. don’t feel badly… cause where does that leave me?!
I think you are great! I love always keeping up with your blog!
I do that all the time with baked goods. No reason to feel guilty about it. I think you have a great attitude about it and I love your strategy for keeping it from happening so much again!
I love the guiltless goodie week challenge…I always try to think of “better for you” goodies, but I definitely have been guilty of eating all the baked goods before too, and I just made brownies today…hopefully my fam will help me out with those ones!
by the way – i know this post has nothing to do with eating disorders, but someone i knew posted this in her live journal and i thought it was so inspirational, i should share it:
Sometimes when I get really upset I have a very hard time eating. I just can’t swallow food. I didn’t eat for a few days when Loda died. When I got divorced, I went down to under a hundred pounds. My ribs showed. People were concerned (I thought I looked awesome). I had picked up the voice mail when we were on our way out to grab some food. I immediately lost my appetite despite having burned so many calories on the bike earlier. I stared at the menu and didn’t want to order anything. Then I though of Joyce in the hospital. I thought about when I was in the hospital. Miserable. Unable to eat. Unable to enjoy food. I ordered some nachos. As I ate them, I made sure I tasted each one. Really taste the flavors. Taste what it feels like to enjoy them. To enjoy life. There were a few moments when I thought of Joyce and had to force myself to swallow, but I was able to enjoy the full plate. I was able to enjoy my beer. I’m alive. I’m grateful to be so lucky. I’m grateful for my taste buds. I love my body. I love it because it is working. I don’t want to miss any details.
Ugh– this week has not been the best for me either. Everyone has their week moments. No worries. You’ll get back on track soon enough!
Dinner looks yummy! I made a pesto shrimp salad last night. Its such a good combo of flavors!
totally have to try this pumpkin cake thing! sounds so good. i made my first pumpkin oats yesterday morning. and they were delicious!
Awesome idea girl!!! that’s what I do. I let myself have a real dessert like once a week and other nights I go for something healthier… cause a girl has to have her dessert, you know? One of my favorite finds lately is a microwaved apple with cinnamon and a Caramel Oikos.. tastes like a caramel apple! yum!
I think you should take a lot of pride in the fact you admitted that to all of us — a lesser woman would have swept it under the rug and then sat on it, wiping the crumbs off her face
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Good for you finding a new approach. You control the food, not the other way around!
Thank you for being so honest – it helps me realize that it is okay to overindulge sometimes. I once read a definition of normal eating that included mention of sometimes eating an entire batch of cookies right out of the oven just because they taste good and are fresh, and that its OKAY! I also need something sweet after every meal. I like to have a mini York Peppermint patty as I am a mint-chocoholic
May not be the healthiest choice, but it satisfies me. I look forward to hearing how your experiment works this week.
I love the guiltless goodies idea! I’m the same way with needing to eat something sweet after a meal. I’ve tried fruit or a single piece of dark chocolate, but it never does the trick! My favorite sweet treats for dessert are VitaTops or a slice of bread/wrap with peanut butter.
That chocolate cherry drink sounds amazing! I am totally going to Starbucks tomorrow! What Starbucks do you go to around Braintree? I work there and always go to Barnes and Nobles to do work, since I have no clue where there is a Starbucks! B&N’s drinks are just not the same…
Thanks for being honest about your cookies – they sound so good, i’d probably polish a dozen off in one sitting! Your guiltless dessert sounds great!
ohh love the sound of Granola Pumpkins Cake! I saw that new drink at the Starbucks here in AZ today. Always love their new varieties
i love microwave pumpkin pie. your “cake” version sounds pretty great!
I like single-serve desserts. I tend to satisfy my sweets craving with some dark chocolate after dinner. Sometimes, though, my sweets cravings get the better of me!
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