Have I used that title before!!? I can’t remember 🙂
I spent some time in the library this morning working on my final project for Nutrition in the Lifespan. I’m not a library person (too sterile) but I kind of like Winthrop’s library and always choose a spot by a sunny window, which helps a lot. I was kind of hungry around 10:30 today and didn’t know if I would be able to go until lunch without a snack, but in typical Kath Stomach fashion, as soon as I drank some water and started my project the time flew by, immediate hunger went away, and I was perfectly hungry when I set out for EarthFare at noon.
I love the family diet project we were assigned. We have to plan 3 days of meals for a family of 4 (with specific lifestyles and diets, including a pregnant teenager!) but we have the flexibility to describe their lifestyles however we want. I’m basing my project around my family members for fun. For example, the dad is an engineer who gets up at 4 in the morning to beat the traffic in his hour-long commute to work. As the son of a farmer, he loves vegetables, never eats breakfast, and eats too much office food. The mom is a writer who works at home, likes to go out to lunch and has a sweet tooth! And I’m making my sister the pregnant teenager
I have to fictionalize much of it so I can make the family have worse habits than my parents do, but it’s been fun to write about the eating and lifestyle habits and then make suggestions and plan foods that they would enjoy and be able to incorporate into their lives.
So on to the non-fictionalized food.
I knew I wanted soup for lunch today, and EarthFare always has wonderful soups. I chose this one without a label, but I am pretty sure it was Butternut Squash. Actually, I’m pretty sure it was Butter Butternut Squash because it was sooooo buttery and thus, sooooo good! The photo came out horrible – whoops!
I also made a wonderful salad heavy on veggies.
- Spinach/mixed greens base
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Mushroom pieces
- Beets (love them!)
- Peppers
- Zucchini + squash
- Cauliflower
- A few marinated giant butter beans
- Some giant sprouts
- 3 tortellini
- A few tbsp garbanzo bean salad
- 1/2 a cupish sauteed snow peas
- Sprinkle blue cheese
- And the highlight in the back – butternut squash salad that tasted JUST like pecan pie!
They had FULL-SIZED cookie samples too but I resisted them knowing I’m running later and should eat lighter or I’ll feel sick. And because tomorrow is Halloween and between last weekend’s square foot of cake and probably eating some candy tomorrow as we pass it out, I thought I could do without the sugar. So that’s just some of my reasoning for you.
Chicago Bound!
I am getting SO excited about my trip to Chicago next week! Check out the list of fellow food and health bloggers I’ll be schmoozing with over some Quaker oats 
Carla of MizFit Online
Roni of Roni’s Weigh
Jennette of PastaQueen
Tanya of I Ate Pie
Lisa of Workout Mommy
Monique of Big Fat Deal
Leslie of Weighting Game
Anne Marie of This Mama Cooks
Amy of Super Healthy Kids
Jenna of Eat Live Run
Lyn of Escape from Obesity
Alanna of A Veggie Venture
Anne of Elastic Waist
Jason of Twit2Fit
Stephanie of Back Skinny Jeans
I can’t wait to meet them in person! I’ve been following some of their blogs for over a year.
The 15 of us are planning to have a blog reader meet-up on Sunday morning, most likely some kind of brunch event at the downtown hotel where we are staying. Jenna and I also may see if some of you might want to meet us for a drink around 9:30 or 10 on Saturday night (I think she already did a call for emails). So if you’re a Windy City reader (or just want to travel to Chicago to meet us together!) and would like to join us for either event, please shoot me an email at [email protected] and we’ll get something organized. Can’t wait to meet you guys!!
Off to Foodservice to learn about the school lunch program and our next big menu assignment…
Mariposa says
i wish i were going to be in chicago since I missed the Boston meet-up!!!
Mariposa says
i wish i were going to be in chicago since I missed the Boston meet-up!!!
rhodeygirl says
oooooh you are all going to have so much fun!!
enjoy!
Miss Tiffie says
Everytime I get butternut squash outside (like the mash or soup) it’s always overly buttery and I can never really eat much of it. I used to think that it was SUPPOSED to taste like butter until I started making it myself.
Cat says
ahh I wish I could go to Chicago to meet you guys! If you ever come to NYC please let me know!!
santabarbaradreaming says
Wow, your project sounds like a lot of fun! It’s cool you get to use your imagination too! What should a lady with a sweet tooth do?
Wish I could be in Chicago too… have a ton of fun!
Beadie says
I am so excited to hear about all of the fun with Quaker!
jbk says
Just wonder, what special diet needs do pregnant teenagers need? and do you think there is anything wrong with teenage pregnancy?
Alexia says
Love the story line of your project. Too cute!
Lunch looks great!
Hope you have a wonderful time in Chicago with all the bloggers!
caitlin says
sounds fun! wish i could be there!
peanutbuttalova says
Kath so exciting to hear you are all coming to Chicago. I usually never comment on your blog but i’ve read it every day for a few months and really love it:)
I live in Chicago and would love to recommend some GREAT restauarants if you are interested (i’m a huge foodie myself)!
-Renee
Fancy says
Kath! I just emailed you:)
Erin says
That’ll be so fun.
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
I’ve been reading Monique for years! And BFD is a great blog. Also love Elastic Waist. Sounds exciting and like you will have a blast!
BEllis says
Kath,
I would HIGHLY recommend the restaurant Carnivale (http://www.carnivalechicago.com/) in Chicago. I discovered this place a little too late while living in Chicago last year, but it is AMAZING! It would be a great place to get some sangria with the girls on Friday night! Have fun on your trip!!
Stephanie Quilao says
Butternut squash soup is one of my top faves, and also gotta have salad with those giant butter beans. I always get them when I visit the salad bar at Whole Foods.
I look forward to meeting you in person Kath, and some of your readers. It will definitely be good times, and we’ll be sure to take lots of pictures for everyone 🙂
Biz319 says
My twin sister and I will be there if its Sunday morning! I’ll send you a side email.
JennC says
does anyone else think that amy’s soups taste kind of bland?
coco says
You’ll have so much fun in Chicago! Let me know when you come to Maryland.
Robin says
How much does a lunch like that run you at EarthFare? I know at Whole Foods, a salad like that would run a pretty penny! It’s a shame, cause I don’t think a healthy salad like that should cost $8 or so if you’re at the grocery store.
Amy says
That sounds like a really fun assignment! You can creative with it which is fun. Salad + Soup look fantastic!
Good luck in class
Karen says
I’m so excited you’re coming to Chicago, I’ve emailed Jenna already, but just wanted to let you know that I’m excited. I second Carnivale….soooo good! Let me know if you need help planning anything, its my job!
Danielle says
Kath,
Do you always finish your salads? Haha, I’m just asking because you make them so huge! Although everything looks and sounds absolutely delicious, especially all the different kinds of veggies you throw in, I just don’t know if I’d be able to do it. 🙂
Have fun in Chicago! It sounds like it’s going to be a fantastic trip!
Megan says
That project sounds interesting! Have fun in Chicago. I have to admit that I am a little jealous!
smilesara says
hey kath,
i hope you have a great time in chicago! i wish i was there (i live there), but i’m actually in jerusalem, israel for the year doing research for my dissertation! have fun in chicago and enjoy all the american food!
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
I love how you always put a mix of things in your salads!
Lee (seelivelee) says
Wow–you are so lucky Kath you will have such an excellent time! good luck with everything and your lunch sounds so good-i love butternut squash soup!
Moran says
Have a great time in Chicago!
Lisa says
What a nifty project! I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I really think you would enjoy reading some work in nutritional anthropology.
Travel safely!
emily says
hey kath i don’t know if you saw it, but it mentions you? have an awesome day:]
http://slideshow.ivillage.com/diet/diet_at_the_village_slices_of_heaven/log_it_to_lose_it.html
Grounded Fitness says
thats a cool project. pregnant tennager- man they went all out.
have fun in chicago!
Kelly Turner
www.groundedfitness.com
Melissa (the other one) says
Ah, I’m so jealous! And if we weren’t just in Chicago last weekend, I’d go again….but it’s a 4 hour drive each way and about $10 in tolls to get there from Wisconsin!! Plus, that Sunday (the 9th) is my Birthday so it’d be a PERFECT Birthday present!!!
bobbi says
I love the project can’t wait to start school!!! I am also so jelouse that your going to CHI TOWN! I love it there:) Your going to have so much fun can’t wait to here all about it!
magpie says
I wish I could go to Chicago!!
Yummy butter butternut squash soup 🙂 That sounds so good. Even if the pic is blurry 😀
VeggieGirl says
Hooray for Chicago!! 🙂
Betsy says
chicago is one of my favorite cities…you guys are going to have a blast there!
Angie says
Looking forward to meeting all of you. I have emailed Jenna and yourself and posted on a few of the other blogs. Can’t wait!
Chelsea says
your blog makes me miss food 🙁
Jen says
Love what you said about getting involved with your project, and forgot about food.
Distraction, like it works with toddlers, also can work with food. As I write, I am having terrible PMS chocolate cravings and really want to stuff my face. So I decided to go blog hopping instead, and it totally helps!
Madison (FollowMyWeigh) says
i’m so excited to meet you guys!!
Amanda says
Thanks for listing those blogs..more to check out!
Kath says
jbk ,
Pregnant teenagers need to be especially conscious of getting enough nutrients when pregnant because some studies show that the strains of pregnancy can compromise the mother’s own growth and development. I don’t think it’s really my place to comment on teen pregnancy in general.
Robin ,
My salad was about $7. But when you think about how much lunch out at lots of other places, Panera, local sandwich shop, etc., it’s not really that much higher, if at all, especially when you consider the quality of ingredients on the EF salad bar. It’s not just lettuce and croutons.
Danielle ,
Yes, I almost always finish them. I’ve got a big appetite 🙂 Occasionally I will leave the rest, but I’ll tell you if I do.
smilesara ,
Jerusalem – wow!!
emily ,
I did see that – thanks for passing it on!
Melissa (the other one),
Happy upcoming birthday!!
Kath