Check out my progress on Java Junkie?
Coffee and I have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. I started drinking it when I was 15, not for the taste or the energy boost but rather for its alleged diuretic effects. Indeed, coffee was a part of that downward spiral of unhealthy eating habits called anorexia. As a result, I had developed an aversion to the taste of coffee, merely due to its association with a less-than-pleasant time in my life. Just like Nutrigrain bars and fat-free cheese, coffee was something I vowed to avoid for the rest of eternity.
Until now. A few weeks ago, Seth and I hit up Bruegger’s for brunch, and I happened to pass by the coffee table on my way to the front counter. I caught a whiff of something refreshing and sweet—the hazelnut crème coffee was beckoning me by the nose. On a whim, I ordered a small coffee, just so I could try the magical brew for myself. Ah-may-zing.
Ever since, I’ve been craving coffee like a regular java junkie. Fortunately, for the sake of my daily caffeine intake, I don’t own a coffee-maker so my intake of the beverage has remained moderate.
How do you feel about coffee? Do you drink it daily? I usually opt for hot tea with breakfast, but it’s only a matter of time before I invest a coffee-maker…
Onto my caffeinated day of eats…
Before setting out on my double-whammy test day, I scarfed down some GoLean.
For lunch, I packed a colorful salad and a handful of Pretzel Crisps.
Tonight’s dinner was an Ellie recipe, Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Walnuts & Feta Cheese.
My tweaks:
-I used whole wheat shells instead of fusilli. Same stuff, different shape.
-I used apple cider vinegar in the dressing instead of red wine vinegar simply because I didn’t have any—I guess that’s kind of a pantry staple I should have on hand, huh?
-Because I was eating this dish as a main meal rather than as a side item, I added extra feta and chopped spinach to the mix.
This recipe gets an A+ for time commitment—from setting the water to boil to clean-up, it took me about a half-hour. After a rather frustrating encounter with statistical software this evening, I was in no mood to cook a time-consuming recipe, so I was pleasantly surprised by the quick & easy nature of this pasta salad. My only complaint? The combination of raw garlic and raw onion has made my breath pretty rank. Sorry, Seth.
To try this recipe for yourself, click here: Whole Wheat Pasta Salad with Walnuts & Feta Cheese
Spring break has officially begun! Off to relax.
Filed under: Meals
Caroline Yoder, dietitian-to-be and all-around foodie.
Black coffee. MMmm…
I drinkmit daily fir it’s taste! Love it!
I looooove the smell of coffee, and all things coffee-flavored.
But I’m just not big on the taste. Maybe because it just never tastes like the smell. I mean, “Snickerdoodle Coffee” or “Raspberry-Creme Coffee” sound really great, right?
But they just don’t live up to their names lol.
i am definitely a coffee addict. i love everything about coffee – the warmth, the smell, the taste, and the comforting feelings it gives me
i can drink it anytime of day!
I sort of wish coffee tasted as good as it smells. I like coffee and all but it smells WAY better.
Mostly I”m a tea drinker, but I enjoy my coffee now and then too
hi caroline
that’s funny how you mention your association w/ coffee and your ED past. i think the same way (i’m still a caffeine junkie though).. i think since coffee normally suppressed my appetite it was an easy way for me to skip meals. i wanted to share that if you are TJ fan, they also have low-acid coffee now for a great price!!!! =D
Not a coffee or caffeine person– yes, I never got pulled in to the caffeine trap. I guess I’m just “different”
The smell always is better than the actual taste, in my opinion…..
coffee! i don’t know what i would do without it
I do *love* my coffee, but unfortunately, coffee does not love me. I always get the nervous jitters and upset stomachs as an after effect. I still drink a smaller amount on the weekends though, because I absolutely love having a hot cup of coffee to wake up to in the morning.
I despise coffee, and have ever since I was a little kid and my mom gave me a taste of her morning coffee one time… I’m definitely a tea person! I’ll drink pretty much any flavour of tea (green tea, black tea, red tea, “herbal” or “fruit” tea (though those are actually tisanes, not teas)), but won’t touch coffee, mocha, espresso, etc.!
It’s great that you like coffee now – and that’s a genuine “like” and not influenced by any sort of disordered eating. Your inclusion of healthy fats in your life is a great indication of how healthy YOU and your state of mind both are, also, of course.
Coconut, avocado, walnuts? Yumm! (I’d also argue in favour of feta though I’m sure there are probably people who’d disagree with me because of the sat fats in dairy products…)
Your breakfast bowl looks so delicious! I can’t wait until fresh berries are cheaper here. Come on, Spring!
I drink coffee daily every morning with breakfast, and sometimes later in the day if I’m dragging or I meet someone at a cute coffee shop. Cute coffee shop coffee always makes me feel cozy!
Coffeeeee! I used to be a real junky, I completely quit regular when I got pregnant. Now I have decaf every once in a while. Hope the tests went well. Those pretzels crisps are so yummy. And I believe I’ve made that Ellie dish before and loved it. A great combo of flavors. Happy Friday!
I generally have a cup in the morning, then switch to tea during the day/night. The intoxication of the smell of coffee just energizes me so that I’m ready to take on the day!
Have a great Friday
I started on coffee in high school because I love the flavor, but just a month ago I stopped cold because i hated being caffeine dependent! Now I do hot lemon water and love it!