I feel like a normal American getting up, showering, eating cereal and going to work š I am (was) meeting Mary this morning to tie up our internship strings. But it looks like she might have broken her toe!! Ouch. So Iām in limbo at the moment ā still might go uptown to write at a coffee shop.
I couldnāt wait to have more Quaker Oatmeal Squares this morning in an old fashioned bowl of cereal. (Well I guess its hardly old fashioned with chia seeds, flax, hazelnut butter and soy milk) but you know what I mean!
Chomp chomp.
***
Relax, Breathe
My latest Breathe post is a topic Iāve been wanting to write on for a while: eating styles. With all the latest trends, I wanted to write a quick reminder that you donāt have to eat healthy 100% of the time to be healthy. You guys know I am all about being healthy and good nutrition, obviously, but taking a step back to think about the nutrition of our ancestors and their ancestors makes worrying about what youāll eat at that summer BBQ picnic seem a bit trivial.
***
KERF Bylaws
I created a new page in light of the discussion on product reviews and the FTC.
***
Peace
Katey says
i’ve seen those oatmeal squares at Jewel.. they look good & you make them look better! haha, I might try them š
emmy says
Kath I LOVED your breathe post! That is very similar to what I’ve been saying to my husband for the last couple weeks. While there is a lot I respect about, say the raw food movement, I have a real issue with the idea that any food (except maybe trans fat) is a ‘poison.’ It is great to eat healthy foods that benefit your body most of the time but it’s ok to eat things whose only benefit is fun too. If I really, really had to choose I think I would rather live to 50 eating chocolate and beer than live to 100 only ever eating things with 100% health benefits.
Lara (Thinspired) says
Great new page, Kath. I think your standards are high and this is really well done. Being in the UK I do not receive samples, but I admire the way you and other bloggers handle them! š
Ellen @ Peace in Motion says
mmm breakfest looks delish. and coconut chai tea!! where did you find that??
Amanda (My Summerizations) says
i used to love those quaker oatmeal square. my grandma always had them at her house and i would dig in with my hands when i was younger and eat them for a snack!
Tammy says
Love the cereal idea. Hazelnut butter is a new one to me!
Julie says
Can you elaborate on how exactly you eat cereal and smoothies with nut butter on your spoon? Doesn’t the cold liquid make it solidify on the spoon? Do you take little nibbles of the nut butter? It does not seem logistically easy.
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
I JUST ran out of my Zhena’s Gypsy Tea!! I had the coconut chai and chocolate chai – both awesome! Seeing your reminds me I must get some more ASAP!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I totally agree that food doesn’t need to be 100% healthy, 100% of the time. It’s all about balance!
Love quaker oatmeal squares. I never find them that filling, but they’re so crunchy and delicious that I usually find a way to include them as part of a snack if there’s a box in the house. Love ’em! š
Ada says
I just read your post from last night and that eggplant dish looks beautiful! Kudos to Matt!!!
Runeatrepeat says
I love those oatmeal squares for the texture too š
Erin says
Oh my, coconut chai tea sounds amazing!! I need to get some!!
Cynthia (It all changes) says
I like the idea of adding chia seeds to cereal…Do they keep you fuller in the morning?
I’m off to read your Breathe post. Sometimes my family doesn’t understand that just because sometimes I indulge doesn’t mean I’m still not healthy. Maybe this will give me some ideas of what to say.
Stephanie says
I love quaker oatmeal squares. They don’t get soggy too fast, especially compared to other cereals.
Emily says
Thanks for reminding me that just because I’m not vegan, raw, sugar-free, etc… doesn’t mean I’m not a healthy person capable of getting to and maintaining a healthy weight.
Have a great day! š
Vickie says
Hi Kath,
You have probably answered this before so I apologize, but what exactly is your food plan? How do you break up your carbs, protein, fat, etc? Do you have rough percentages or you just go with what your body is telling you you need? Just curious and if you have a previous post that answers this you can just direct me to that. Thanks!
Christie @ Quit Your Diet says
I commented on the article as well but wanted to give you a thumbs up for your new breathe article. I think the RD in you really shined through, in a positive and healthy way, of course. I think that you will really help people with your perspective!
Royal says
Hey Kath! This comment has absolutely nothing to do with what was written in your post however I wanted to tell you anyways. The other day I decided to give the ol frozen banana in the food processor ice cream of goodness a try and it worked like a dream! It sparked my curiosity though as to whether a chocolate covered banana would work just as well…and guess what….it did! i took a TJ’s chocolate covered banana off the stick cut it in chunks through in one additional frozen banana (i wanted a few servings) and it worked like a charm and my gosh did it taste good! I paired it with a cashew butter sandwich and that’s what me and my honey had for dinner! Amazing!
april says
Yummy looking breakfast! Every time I add nut butter to cereal it gets lost sadly!
Holly (The Healthy Everythingtarian) says
oatmeal squares are delish!
i love all the health talk – moderation, treats, exercise, stress busting – it’s all a part of being healthy. health does not equal food. health is whole!
rock on kath…have a good day!
Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) says
Great Breathe post! I’ve been eating a lot of ice cream lately (and feeling a little guilty about it…),but I eat healthfully 80% of the time, so I’m going to just go with the flow and enjoy it!
Mandy A says
haha yep, that’s my every weekday morning! Up, work out, shower, off to work… home and start all over again the next day!
Coconut Chai Tea sounds amazing! Would you mind telling me who makes that?
I’m off to read your article! Have a great day!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
I just love those Quaker Oatmeal Squares… definitely one of my favorites.
Yikes about the broken toe! Hope Mary is up and about soon!
Daria (Summer of the CSAs) says
There’s a box of the Barbara’s shredded oats (their version of Quaker oat squares) in my cupboard calling my name right now. š
Thanks for putting up the bylaws page!
Teddy says
Those blueberries look far from regluar! They look beautiful. Oh how i love summer fruits š
Teddy
Rebecca says
Ooo Coconut Chai! Sounds yummu!
Mel @ She Runs Brooklyn says
I completely agree. Taking a step back and looking at the picture takes off the pressure and makes life more enjoyable always.
Happy Tues š
Rebecca says
*yummy
Heather says
I love Quaker Oatmeal squares with soy nut butter – a great snack! Your breakfast combo looks great.
Also a really enjoyed your article from yesterday – as a new blogger it has caused me to think about balance in my life and how to make that work with blogging added to my new “to-do list.”.
Jenn (Eating Bender) says
I love Quaker oatmeal squares! And hazelnut butter is pretty tasty…I think it’s a VeggieGirl favorite, haha.
Love the FTC page you created – it’s definitely necessary. I will have to check out your Breathe post, too!
Caroline says
I adore Quaker Oatmeal Squares! Hmmm, maybe I’ll pick some up at the store tonight for a treat š
Denise says
Thats one tasty bowl of cereal if i ever saw one! Seems like its a good way to make cereal a little more fun to eat! i might try adding some goodies to my cereal tomorrow morning :p i dont think i ever have before! no wonder i am getting a little tired of it … time to change things up!
i want the weather to cool down so i can enjoy a nice hot bowl of one of your oatmeal creations SO BADLY.
i hope everyone has an amazing day!
Erica says
Yum, I think I’ll have to get some of those oatmeal squares. š
Andee (Runtolive) says
I just tried those Quaker Oatmeal squares this past weekend from a sample box I received. Very yummy but dangerous to keep around the house! I love your product reviews because they are honest and helpful when trying new products.
AnnQ says
The Quaker Otas cereal looks great with the blueberries!!! Yum!!
K says
Aw sorry to hear about Mary’s toe! I hope it’s okay!!
Susan says
Okay, this is totally off-topic, but when you put soy milk in your coffee, do you add it before or after pouring the coffee? I always put it in my mug first, then pour the coffee on top, and have never had separating problems like you do. Except, I did it the other way around today, and it got a little chunky. Just a thought anyways…hopefully it just wasn’t expired š Enjoy the rest of your morning! š
britt says
cereal sounds great! i’ve been drinking green monsters and juice for breakfast so much lately that a heavy breakfast doesn’t ever sound appealing. i definitely need to start pulling the cereal box out at night for dinner, though. such a classic!
amani says
Your breakfast looks yum. I’ve been hearing a lot about Chia seeds. How do they actually taste? I like trying new things, but I wanna know how it actually tastes before I go out and buy some.
Becci says
I love Quaker Oatmeal Squares, too, but I have to portion them out very carefully, otherwise it is easy to eat them all!
Funky Lady says
Kath…I saw somewhere ( I cannot recall where ) that the pyramid approach to eating did not work for you. The first food blog I discovered was Eat Like Me, so I mimicked that approach for a while and it completly backfired. So, what do you think is the issue with that way of eating? For me, I gave myself some sort of twisted permission to eat more if I did not get in all my food groups in a given day, like I was trying to fulfill a quota or something. Do you think it is simply not the right balance of food, or too much food?
Ruth says
It’s encouraging to know that you don’t eat healthy all the time. I struggle with doing it more often than not.
Angharad says
Yay for moderation – I would go insane if I stopped myself from eating anything for good. Life is all about the whole package for sure.
And…those oatmeal squares look yum!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
I LOVE Quaker oatmeal squares but they are REALLY high in sodium. š„ I wish I could tolerate more sodium… sigh.
I totally agree with not having to be perfect 100% of the time; my motto is: Strive for balance, not perfection. What you eat or don’t eat in one day isn’t nearly as important as what you eat over several days.
Jenn
leslie says
kath, i can’t even express how much i adore your breathe article. i could have written those exact words myself, but i’m glad you did, because you have much more credibility. š but you echoed my exact philosophy when it comes to health. i think healthy eating is fun – i enjoy it, i enjoy the foods that also happen to be good for me. i enjoy experimenting with vegan recipes and raw recipes. i also enjoy dining out for a gourmet meal, tasting duck and fish and butter and chocolate cake. and although i’ll never criticize anyone who feels better on the “diet” they’ve chosen, the balance i’ve found is most definitely the healthiest for me. i’ve learned so much of this from you!
hope you enjoy your coffee shop writing if you go – that’s one of my favorite activities. š
Deva says
Love the article and your bylaws – they are both extremely informative and your article definitely contains words of wisdom for everyone.
JB says
hazelnut butter sounds so good! i’ve never tried it. and coconut chai tea…mmmm!
Kath says
Julie ,
Ha! It isn’t logistically easy!! It does harden / fall off / get eaten in one bite / get lost in the milk. But I love it anyways, so I deal. Oatmeal is definitely the best though š
Re Chia Seeds,
I don’t really know if they keep me fuller or not. I bet they do, but I haven’t noticed an obvious correlation.
They don’t really have any flavor (more neutral than flax) but they are fun to eat in your teeth and they do gel in liquids, which is kind of fun.
Vickie ,
I don’t really have a food plan. I aim to have protein, carbs and fats at every meal. Try to get in veggies or fruits at every meal. Dairy at least once a day, sometimes more. I usually have 3 meals and 1 snack a day, sometimes dessert too. My meals are usually around 500 calories but they vary greatly in macronutrient values. I probably eat a higher carb percentage and lower protein, but that’s mostly because protein is expensive. I don’t keep track of calories or percentages so I don’t know specifics. I just vow to eat Real Food as much as possible and keep the food groups and macronutrients as even as possible.
Re. Coconut Chia,
I linked to it in the post so you can see the brand and hopefully a store locator.
Susan ,
yes, I always put it in the mug first and heat it up to temper.
Funky Lady,
I think you hit the nail on the head. It made me feel like I needed to eat more than I probably did because I “hadn’t had enough grains” or protein or fruits. And i also am not always in the mood for all of those food groups. Sometimes I eat more grains and sometimes more proteins but what is really important is the balance over time. You’re not going to get a nutrient deficiency over night!
Kath
Michelle Hisae says
What a great article, Kath. A definitely wake up call. Bravo!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
great article on breathe!
Joelle (The Pancake Girl) says
Hey Kath- I just wanted to tell you I absolutely loved your article! I completely agree with everything you said. I think sometimes those of us who enjoy reading healthy living blogs these days can lose track of the fact that not everyone in the world was meant to be vegan or a raw foodie, and there is nothing wrong (or unhealthy) about that. To each their own! š
Ally says
Kath – Awesome article. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
kitch28 says
She answered the question about the bears in the comments section, not in the post itself. I couldnāt find the answer either until I looked there.
Margaret says
For more information about chia seeds, and some recipe ideas, check out my website: www.chiativity.org