Giving Up The Routine
Whew! I finally feel caught up on stuff. Strange how just a couple of days away really screws up the routine!
Speaking of screwing up the routine, the daughters are off from school now through April 6th! Aaaah! I’m hoping we can do fun things together and enjoy our togetherness without me having to do a lot of this…
(source)
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I wasn’t so hungry for breakfast this morning. It took me a while to decide what to eat. Finally, I opted for a bowl of Kashi Go Lean Crisp with Almond Breeze and a load of strawberries…
and a cup of french press with swirling coffee grinds 
I spent some time blogging, reading and cleaning, then picked up little daughter from her half day at school. I took her out for a Mom-Little Daughter lunch. Her restaurant of choice was Panera Bread. Works for me!
I had the Garden Vegetable Soup and Tomato and Mozzarella Panini…
Yummy.
It was such a beautiful day that I dragged the daughters ( and Rocky!) for a walk around a nearby trail. I LOVE SPRING! While walking, I snacked on an Attune Bar that I got at Fitbloggin…
Dinner was breakfast for the family. I, of course, did my own thing. I made it just as quick and easy. This heat and eat rice mix from Trader Joe’s is really good…
I added some chickpeas to it …
and served it with leftover veggies…
I like the flavor contrast of the rice mix. It’s got just a hint of spice and a bit of sweetness from the raisins and apple. Very nice!
I ended the night with a cup of Celestial Seasonings Madagascar Red Tea……along with little daughter’s creepy toy left by my computer…
Forgive my complaining, but this vegetarian for lent is wearing on me. In a way, I’m glad because that is the point of giving something up to begin with! But, it’s getting really difficult and my original enthusiasm about it is waning. I’ll save my thoughts on it all and what I have learned along the way for a Lent-end post. Which will no doubt end with me writing it while eating a GIANT turkey sandwich 
Have a great day, everyone!
What is one food that you could never give up?
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
34 comments
BIRYANI!!!!!! Mmmmm! Love me some Panera bread too, its been a while…
food i can’t live without….hard one! i’ve gotten VERY addicted to fruit smoothies, and i absolutely love my shrimp!!!
I gave up chocolate for lent one year. Never again! I felt so deprived and ended up eating every other sweet thing to get around my cravings. I know the point is to feel a little deprived, but it was pure torture.
There is not any food that I could not give up, but one liquid I never can. Coffee !!!!!! I have tried several times and have come to the conclusion that they will have to pry the mug from my cold, dead, frozen hand.
Hang in there- Lent has only 2 weeks left, and a lot of people decide that starting Holy Thursday it’s a done deal
Marisa Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 4:26 pm
LOL! I hear ya on the coffee!
Yeah, I’m thinking Holy Thursday is looking like Holy Turkey
I love the tomato panini at Panera! I asked them to put it on the whole grain bread instead of panini bread last time and they did it
Yay for attune bars
I could never give up coffee… or bagels…. or chocolate….or….
I could never give up coffee – it gets me out of bed in the morning! really enjoying reading your posts!
Marisa Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Thanks, Kristen!
Ketchup! Well….I know it isn’t really a food per se but it is the #1 thing for me.Yes I have always danced to the beat of my own drummer, but I have tried before to make my own, trying to give up HFCS. Nope! Can not do it! NO NO NO!
Cheese.
Never never never.
Marisa Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
True that!!!
I could never give up dark chocolate. No way, no how.
I LOVE those Attune bars. So yummy.
the panera lunch looks good. i’ll have to get that the next time i go!
I love meat too! And ice cream!
I cross-blogged this with Kelly at Happy Texans and wanted to share with you too…
I’m going to cross-blog this next comment with Marisa at Trim the Fat. I thought you would both be interested. I read an article about a guy in the northwest suburbs of Chicago (where I live) and he has run every day for the last 9,000 days. That’s almost 25 years of running every day. I think it said he is now 71. He used to run an average of 10 miles a day or something but now he only runs like 4-5 miles a day! lol. He keeps track on his Excel Spreadshet. He is CRAZY! Thought you would be interested!
Marisa Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Wow, he is CRAZY! Thanks for sharing that
lol, forgot to take out that first part about sharing it with you. Oh well!
I like that rice from TJ’s too!
I also like Panera!
YUM!
I was in the mood for MEAT yesterday and had to grill up some turkey breast cutlets. I have leftovers, come on over! lol
Marisa Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
I’ll be over on Holy Thursday
Oatmeal… Love, love my oatmeal
I’m not sure…I would probably say fruit or bread/wraps. Those are pretty much staples in my diet!
PS My mouth officially started watering at the sight of all those beautiful red strawberries!! Mmm, need to hit the grocery store for some of those beauties!
eggs.
my morning cup of coffee. I use 1 packet raw sugar and 2 creams. I found I don’t like using fat free or artifical in my coffee. So I have only 1 cup, made the way I like and I’m happy for the rest of the day:)
I honestly wondered how you would fare without your turkey! I’m proud of you for sticking with it. Glad to hear you’re back to the routine. Routine is nice after a few days away.
What a cute bear cup!! The strawberries look so tasty. That’s it, I’m definitely buying strawberries this weekend!
Sounds like your girls are on Spring Break. I was on Spring Break last week and man am I having a hard time adjusting in getting back to the swing of things.
Man I really missed out on that fitbloggin. Was this your first time going?
I love Panera Bread too. The black bean soup is delish! Kudos to you for sticking with your vegetarian lifestyle for lent.
Marisa Reply:
March 25th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Yep, first time for any conference. It was intense, but fun!
LOVE Panera bread! If I were you, I’d eat a big juicy burger the day after Easter!!
Ingredient – Cheese – I cannot live without it.
Food – Pizza!
I’m glad you say that. Because my going-without-sugar-treats-Lent is KILLING me. Something lately is just having me drool at the slightest mention of sugary things. Help me Please? I thought being more than halfway through/doing it for a good cause would make it easier…
I have a couple foods I can’t give up: Cheese, Sushi, Starbucks.
I don’t have them every day but I have trouble cutting them out completely.
all this work travel definitely has me feeling off schedule which I just do not like!!
I am so impressed with how well you are sticking to vegetarian choices!
I could never give up coffee and tomatoes! And yes, just a few days away, messes everything up for days…
Have fun with your daughters!
sushioatmealmoviepopcorn.
I’ve been wondering how your vegetarianism is going! The main question I had being if you were going to stick with it. I have been trying to incorporate a lot more vegetarian meals into my diet lately. I’m really looking forward to your post-Lent post. Unfortunately one of the foods I could never give up is salmon. I just love it too much!