Well what a weekend it has been, I feel like I haven’t stopped! Yesterday we were in Newcastle and I picked up that tiny kabocha squash, a harlequin squash and some fresh coffee. I got some decaf, as one of the things I’ve become more aware of from doing the Super Conscious Living Programme is that I may love coffee but it doesn’t always love me, especially when I exceed 1-2 cups a day!
More on my time in Newcastle yesterday in a mo, rewinding back to Friday I was at the Health and Wellbeing Event at Sunderland University:
I was soooo nervous about this event and having to do more food demos to an audience I haven’t presented in front of before. However, it was awesome! I had a great day and met so many lovely staff and students from my old uni (hello if you are a new reader!) My theme was healthy food on the go and I demonstrated overnight oats in a jar, wholemeal banana and peanut butter wraps and dried fruit, nut and seed trail mix (of which I gave out samples). I’m hoping to get some pictures of me in action soon! I also had some recipe sheets to give out as well, all good stuff!
After that I drove back to Durham and treated James and I to a Starbucks (Pumpkin Spice for me, obsessed!) before we got ready to go and see Jamie Cullum at The Sage Gateshead:
I liked Jamie Cullum, but now I love him! He was amazing – seriously, even if you aren’t a huge jazz fan, go and see him because that was one of the best gigs I’ve ever been to. He put on such a great show!
Yesterday we woke up far too early so lay on the sofa watching random crap on Netflix, I had a big bowl of frozen cherries with full fat greek yoghurt and peanut flour for breakfast:
Then for lunch I had a big salad with mackerel:
I added some olives, olive tapenade, red onion and some jalapeños, yum!
Later on we headed over to town to get ready for gig no 2, Daughter at the Tyne Theatre. It was match day so everywhere was busy. We had another Starbucks fix and then tried to find somewhere to eat which was pretty hard given how busy it was every where. Note to self, on match day book! We tried to get into a few places with no luck, so ended up going to a Chinese Buffet place…
These restaurants are my nemesis! I have no self control when I am in them, so they are always a last resort but I think I was so tired and hungry that when James suggested we go I couldn’t help but agree.
One of ahem, a couple of plates of food was this gorgeous sweet chilli tofu, some thai red curried duck and a few token veggies.
For dessert I had a little cake thing, some ice cream and, I have to say, the most delicious mango pancake filled with fresh cream and mangos. I was obviously stuffed after this, but I did enjoy every bite. I made the decision that since I was going to eat there I’d might as well just enjoy it, then move on from it. As James reminded me, we don’t do this very often and I’d eaten well and healthily earlier in the day.
After that we had time to get caffeinated before the gig:
Latte for him, Americano for her. I love Intermezzo and the fact it stays open late as a bar too!
I really loved their fairy lights too. Then we went to the gig which was great, I really enjoyed Daughter and found that they had quite a different sound live to when you just listen to their recorded music.
After that I came home and pretty much collapsed into bed exhausted! I did feel some guilt about that Chinese meal, but I know that it all balances out when I listen to what I’m craving. All I’ve wanted today is a green smoothie!
Have you had a good weekend? I always think that if you are only eating out once – twice a month you’d might as well have what you want and enjoy it, then if you eat out more often it might make sense to mostly go for the healthiest choices, but of course that balance is different for each of us. What is your approach to eating out?
I eat out fairly often maybe once or twice every 2 weeks. As I enjoy it I go out more for smaller meals like breakfast or lunch not 3 course meals. I choose what I want but try to eat slowly and stop when I am full. Today I had pancakes and berries but stopped eating after one and a half pancakes as I was just full. I don’t feel any remorse as long as I do this and don’t stuff myself.
That sounds like a good strategy, generally I prefer eating out like that as well rather than evening meals but sometimes that’s just the way it goes. I do still have trouble stopping when I’m full, especially when there’s delicious food ;-)
I don’t really eat out that often either, so when I we do go out I love to just go for it and spoil myself. A lot of the time I try and look at the menu first, but I guess that kind of ruins the surprise and anticipation of eating out. Depending on where we are going I may eat a little lighter in the day to compensate for the splurge later on. I think it’s all about having that balance in place and I do feel guilty sometimes if I have really gone for it, but then I realise that I eat a pretty healthy and balanced diet anyway so it will all be OK in the end. Glad you had a great weekend, Jamie Cullum is pretty fab! :-)
I like looking at the menu too, although I think it does the opposite for me, I look forward to it even more! Very good point about eating lighter in the day, I do tend to do that but didn’t really think about it that much, so thanks for the reminder! :-)
Glad to hear that your demo went well! Your setup looks really great :)
I don’t tend to eat out all that often since my allergies make it more of a pain in the butt than it’s worth, but when I do go out, I totally agree that eating what you enjoy is the way to go… otherwise, what would be the point?
Hope you’re enjoying your Sunday, Laura.
Thanks Amanda! Haha, yes I agree that is exactly it, what would be the point at all lol ;-)
Sounds like a busy but fun weekend! I just stocked up on some squash at the farmers market today. We eat out quite often- at least once a week, so we don’t ever really go overboard, if it’s for a special occasion like a birthday then we are more likely to get 2 or 3 courses, but mostly we would eat pretty healthily while out and about. Glad your food demo went well.
That sounds like a nice approach, I think I just need to do just that, not go overboard!
I wouldn’t say eating out was a ‘fail’ for you if you don’t feel too guilty about it. Personally I have so many allergies and intolerances (and dietary preferences, I guess) that eating out is pointless, unless I somehow moved to a place with more vegan/raw restaurants. Even then, I’d have to be ‘that’ person making special requests, so I’m not really bothered.
Obviously I love all the coffee in this post ;) Looks like a good weekend for you overall :)
xxx
Thanks Jess, not wanting to blame him, but I think that its harder to eat somewhere with better options when I’m with James as he’s such a fussy sod. I think raw vegan places would be happier and more understanding of those special requests anyway :-) Yes I am a coffee fiend at the moment!
Sounds like a fab weekend! Coffee and squash in one post…yumm <3 I love Intermezzo too, such a cool little place :)
Argh I totally avoid match day…such a nightmare haha! I'm glad you decided to just spoil yourself at the buffet because you do eat healthy the majority of the time :) I don't really eat out often anymore now that I live away from home. My parents eat out every week but since I became a student they hardly ever go out or want cheap places where I more often than not can't eat at with not being allowed gluten. Whenever I go back home my parents treat me to meals out but I must admit being gluten free helps in making good food choices it seems.
Oh god yes, James and I realised that when we come into town its usually a morning before it gets busy. It was craziness on Saturday! I can imagine the gluten free issue does make it easier. I know a work colleague of mine has a lot of intolerances and has some amazing healthy stuff made for her, I get jealous!
I wholeheartedly agree that if you’re eating out you might as well enjoy it, though admittedly if I’m eating out regularly I’ll try to choose healthier options on occasion (and in fact I’ll crave the healthier options if I’m eating out lots!). That said, those all-you-can-eat buffets are also often my downfall due to lack of self discipline and although I can enjoy the food, I’ll often eat way more than I would and end up uncomfortably full, not good! Am getting better at just eating until I’m full though :)
The Wellbeing event sounds awesome, must have been super fun sharing all your ideas and am sure the uni students would have found them so helpful (wish I had had something similar when I started uni! I ended up living on pot noodles for a while..!)
Oh yes to the craving healthier options – isn’t that such a good feeling? If I eat out more than a couple of times in a couple of day, like being on holiday, I do start feeling the need for healthier stuff which is reassuring.
I love going to see bands,especially when their live music is different to the recorded stuff- otherwise I may as well just play the record up loud!
We don’t tend to eat out that often- generally only when we are away somewhere else. I tend to choose normal dinners (eg nice filling salads and things) as I prefer those, but I do get tempted by desserts! Usually we give them a miss, but if we go to a tearoom we will have cake, but I always think it is not every day, and I eat pretty healthily the rest of the time so I try not to worry.
That is just what James and I were saying! I hate it when they don’t do anything different for the live shows. I think you have such a perfect balance – I think had we got into the place I was hoping we could eat at, I would have had a nice dinner too, so I need to make sure we book in future!
Ahhh I love Jamie Cullum. Saw him a few years ago and he did the most amazing show, it seemed to go on for hours, never seen anyone like him since. Hmmm I struggle with eating out, often I will try to have a healthy option, but then I think I could always make better and cheaper at home, especially with a salad, so I often pick what I want as I know I don’t eat out that often. Especially if it’s not something I could easily cook at home or know how to cook.
Yes I think he played a good 2 – 2.5 hour set, he was so awesome! I feel just the same with eating out I often think I could eat better at home, I need to remind myself of that!
Buffets are my nightmare too. I just can’t stop. But, like you said, it’s once in a while and you might as well enjoy it! I always think to myself, if I can’t have it at home or enjoy it every day then make the most of it while it’s there. The next day you just wake up and move on. It all balances out eventually and there’s no point regretting it!
Your dessert plate = heaven!!