Surviving Social

Choosing a 30 day timeframe in which to tackle the Whole30 program proved to be difficult.  At every turn I found something on my calendar that put a wee hitch in how I was going to pull this off.  Being on a strict diet can really mess with social time!  I promptly decided there’s never a ‘good’ time to do these things and opted to just deal with the situations as they came.

Within the first week of my Whole30 I attended a volunteer event with my coworkers.  For the most part it was no big deal… I brought my own coffee with coconut milk, passed on the free cookies, and made sure I ate a good breakfast before I went.

The trouble came when the gang invited me to join them for lunch afterwards.  I initially said no thanks but to be honest, I really wanted to go!  This was my first event with these girls and part of the fun of these things is the social aspect.  So I changed my mind and tagged along to the local burger bistro and hoped for the best.

I found that I could order a plain burger on a bed of lettuce, asked them to cook mine in a dry pan because they used canola oil (which is not W30 compliant) and ordered a side salad with lemon wedges.  Sure, it was about the most boring meal on the planet, but I was there for company and it was really fun.  I’m glad I went and proud of myself for sticking to the W30 rules!

That same weekend Michael decided he’d like to host an impromptu family BBQ.  Not wanting to rain on the parade (like the weather did on our day!) I put on my thinking cap and came up with options that I could eat that everyone else would enjoy.

Believe it or not, Costco came through for me!  I found some really great frozen burgers with no crazy additives, chicken breasts, Wholly Guacamole, and a huge shrimp tray.  I bought a fruit platter and a carton of strawberries, which I turned into a huge fruit salad and picked up the ingredients to make a really fun bigass salad.

{Mixed leafy greens, sliced Gala apple, red onion, fresh basil, roasted beets and carrots, tossed with just olive oil, lemon juice and salt & pepper.  I also crisped up some whole pecans in some coconut oil to throw on at the end.}

There was homemade potato salad and other yummy BBQ favourites on the buffet but I was totally happy with my W30 meal.  Filling and delish!

The following weekend I hosted Girl’s Night at my place.  Oh sure!  A hostess who tells you she can’t eat the usual bags of licorice, brie and baguette, or share in the bottles of wine.  Good times, eh?

Well, my girls were super supportive and rallied with no problems at all.  We feasted on homemade guacamole, devilled eggs with homemade olive oil mayo, cold shrimp, apple chips, fresh veggies and a creamy cashew dip I put together.  While they all sipped on wine, I killed a bottle of Perrier.  :)

The very next day the sun was shining so Michael hosted another family BBQ.  Thankfully there were still the compliant burgers and grilled chicken, and this time I loaded up on more salad, grilled zucchini and sliced avocado.  Second time around was easy!

Not to say that I didn’t really want to partake in the other things, because sometimes I really did wish I could have a glass of wine or an ice cold beer… but I knew it was just 30 days and I really only wanted these things because I couldn’t have them.  Well, screw you cravings.  I know what you’re all about!  You can’t beat me! 

Even my Mama got sucked into my Whole30 since it overlapped Mother’s Day.  I always head to my hometown to spend Mother’s Day with her, and we have a tradition of going out for a steak and seafood dinner.  This year she agreed to postpone and instead I cooked us a lovely dinner at home.  Chicken, baked yams and asparagus.

The next morning I wanted to make sure she still got a tasty brunch, so I tried my hand at the Salmon Cakes from It Starts with Food (yummy!), topped with over easy eggs, and served with wilted spinach and sliced avocado.  Mom was happy, so I was happy!

So, the point is, it can be done.  Just like the rest of this diet lifestyle, it requires a lot more thought and preparation that most of us are used to…but it comes together and everything works out just fine. 

In the end, these social situations are really about the people and not the food anyway, right?!  A good lesson for all of us.

Bigass Salads

Happy Leap Day everyone!  Did any of you ladies propose to your men today?  I thought about jokingly asking Michael but then decided that wouldn’t really be so funny.  How mean!  (Not that he would have taken me seriously…I’m a terrible jokester!)

Since today is somewhat of a bonus day on the calendar (although I never feel like we gained anything…it is still just a Wednesday after all) I thought I’d just do a quick bonus post.

Bigass Salads in the Big Silver Bowl

The greens are usually either baby spinach, mixed baby lettuces, or a combo of the two…really just depends if something is on sale.  :)  The veggie combos also vary based on the grocery store sales, but just about always include carrots, radishes, tomatoes and yellow or orange peppers.  Today I have cucumber and cauliflower for something different.

The fun part is the protein topper!  My favourite is roast chicken breast from the grocery deli.  I peel the skin off then shred the meat onto my salad while it’s still warm.  So yummy and filling! 

Other easy favourites are boiled eggs, black forest ham, roasted beets and goat cheese, chick peas or tuna salad. Last week I actually had black beans and grated cheddar on my salad three days in a row!

For dressings I keep a couple of store bought varieties in my fridge but sometimes it’s the best way to get a healthy oil in for the day.  Depending on the toppings a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of coarse salt is all it might need!  Coconut oil is super deeeelish too.

Got leftovers?  Pile them on top of some mixed greens and call it salad.  :)

Last night I had some asparagus and mushrooms dying a rapid death in my produce drawer so I roasted them up, mixed them with goat cheese and piled it all atop a bed of greens and tomatoes.  Didn’t even need dressing.  So delicious!

What’s your favourite salad mix?  Favourite protein to build it up?  Do you eat salad because you love it, or because it’s good for you? 

Obviously I’m a fan.

Bigass Budget Salads

Happy Monday everyone!

As I do every Monday I am sitting here writing my to-do lists, planning my weekly workouts, balancing my bank account and budget, and putting together my grocery list.

Since I have pretty much spent all of my grocery money on a microbrew collection I am currently hoarding in my fridge this week’s challenge is to buy as few groceries as possible so as to stay within budget.  Thankfully I have a decent selection of items in my freezer, a freshly boiled bowl of eggs, and lots of odds and sodds to turn into quickie breakfasts and lunches this week.

But what about those bigass salads I’ve been known for?  The big silver bowl is back in the rotation and I love to fill it chock-o-block with lots of healthy vegetables.  What I’ve learned though is this is the place it is easy to bust my budget and have started to pay close attention to how I’m getting what I want and need. 

Where I’m willing to spend:  Those convenient tubs of pre-washed baby lettuces and/or spinach.  It’s faster, easier, and tastier than some boring but cheap head of green leaf lettuce.  I am far more likely to make my salads if I can reach into the tub instead of having to clean, dry and prep the greens.

Keeping on budget with the rest of the fillings is the ticket to making that tub o’ greens worth it.  I look for veggies on sale or reasonably priced when bought in smaller, as-needed quantities.  It’s easy to get a few carrots, radishes, celery, and red onion for a couple of bucks.  One avocado can last for four salads.  Last week broccoli was on sale…this week it’s tomatoes.  Shopping the sales not only saves money but creates variety without even really thinking about it.

To keep the salads even more interesting I reach into my baking cupboard.  A sprinkle of some kind of nut, seed, or dried fruit makes the bowl seem fancier than it is.  If the salad is intended to be a meal I top it with whatever protein I’ve decided on for the week…whether it’s roast chicken breast from the deli, beans from my pantry, last night’s leftovers, or one of those boiled eggs I remembered to cook up this morning.  Combine all of that with a quick squirt of dressing, or drizzle of oil and vinegar and it’s a complete bowl for a reasonable price and a fast preparation.

So this week I’m aiming to spend less than $30 on groceries for myself, but will still manage at least five bigass lunch salads and a batch of homemade granola bars.  And no, that doesn’t mean I’m eating Mr. Noodles for dinner!  :)

Do you have any budget tricks to keep your grocery bills from skyrocketing?