First day of Whole Foods Challenge - - done!!

Yesterday began my month long journey into not eating anything processed. I started the day in a rush, because I had gone out the night before and wasn't at ALL prepared for the next morning. I will now try to fix everything the night before.

I had made a box of quinoa the night before, and in the morning, threw some in a bowl to heat up, then added fresh strawberry and cinnamon. I dashed to work, prepared to shove that in my face in our Staff Room. I also packed a romaine lettuce salad, with shredded carrots and chick peas covered in my homemade tahini dressing (tahini, lemon juice, garlic and water). Plus an apple and banana. The quinoa did NOT go over very well as a breakfast dish, it was too dry and I felt like I was choking it down. Ick. That's when I decided I needed a new blender to make smoothies for breakfast (I have my parents old one from ca. 1970, complete with earth tone colors and loud-ass blending action).

I searched online, but didn't want to spend a buttload of money, so was going to go to Target, which is on the other side of the island from me. The bf was out already (I was working), and he picked me up this:

Blend in the same cup you drink in??? HECK YES. And it's orange...so it's fun ;)

I ended up shoving my banana in my face BEFORE lunch because my stomach felt like it was eating itself, then had lunch at 1. I went to our local farmer's market (the Green Market in St. George, Staten Island), and was so disappointed to find NO VEGETABLES. Now, they close at 2, so I guess maybe the vendors left already - - but come on. There was only a fruit stand, plant stand and a baker. Woe is me. I trudged back to the library and ate devoured my salad. Then had a break at 3:30, where I ate my apple, and by 5pm I was RAVENOUS. I definitely didn't pack enough to keep me satisfied during the day and the fact that I couldn't run across the street to one of the stores and get something yummy was making me grumpy. Grrr. >:-{

I did some grocery shopping after work (sweet potatoes, another bag of Romaine, roasted red peppers in water, sun dried tomatoes, eggplant and almond milk). Came home and made dinner:

2 sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed
1 can no salt added black beans
tbsp minced garlic
few shakes of cayenne, onion and chili powder

I formed them into balls and dredged through a flax seed meal + nutritional yeast combo, then baked at 350 for about 25 minutes. I took the extra and formed 2 patties, which I put in the toaster oven for awhile (that's my lunch today).

Served it with quinoa, salad with tahini dressing (I added cayenne and WOO did it give it a kick), and fresh mango salsa (not homemade, but fresh from the store). It was delicious and so satisfying. But next time, I'm putting the damn potatoes in the microwave. They took SO LONG on the stove. I didn't even WANT dessert afterwards, and am looking forward to making this in a month, but dipping the balls (hehe), in vegan sour cream. Yummo.

This morning I tried out the blender -- it's great! It blends and detects when it's done and stops (pretty snazzy, if you ask me, considering my OLD blender). I made a Choco-Cherry Bomb smoothie:

2 cups of spinach
1 tbsp flax
1 tbsp cocoa powder
half banana
handful frozen cherries
1 cup unsweetened almond milk

I took it in my to go mug and drove to work, chugging away. It was delicious :D

Success feels good! And I know I shouldn't weigh myself EVERY day (I'm excited to lose weight on this challenge), but I'm down a pound from yesterday morning. Sweet.