Boy is it warm out.
On the one hand, I just cannot complain about warm weather. It is fabulous!!
On the other, I would really like to wear my sweaters, put on the Christmas music and get cozy with a bowl of soup.
Would you believe that Matt was in favor of getting our tree yesterday and this Christmas fairy declined because it was “just too warm to get a tree.”
Now if I lived in Florida, I could get used to this! But I do not.
However, there is one really, really good reason I’m thankful it’s so warm today:
We’re getting our NEW FRONT DOOR!!!!!!!!!!!
Say goodbye to this hideous screen door, and a rectangle the workmen are joking was a “piece of cardboard” acting as our former front door. I cannot wait to see the final result!
Storm door be gone – your only purpose was biting my heels.
Our new backdoor is also being painted today. Our porch/door projects are nearly complete!
This morning I made chickpeas (wheeee!)
And went to Body Pump, which kicked my butt.
I decided to take myself out to lunch to sweeten the sting of going grocery shopping (who am I kidding – I love grocery shopping!) But really, it had been a while since I’d had a Whole Foods salad and all those veggies sounded so good today!
Perimeter Cart Filling Strategy: The basics
- 2-3 seasonal fruits
- 1 bunch bananas (with green tips!)
- 1 kind of greens (like kale, collards, etc.)
- 2-3 green vegetables for dinner sides
- 1 container salad mix or 1 bunch leafy lettuce
- Carrots and green pepper for salads (if we’re out)
- 1 kind of starchy veggie (like sweet potato or squash or corn in the summer)
- Mental check on bulk food stock (refill anything we completely used up)
- 1 meat (we already have salmon on hand this week)
- Eggs/milk/yogurt (if we are out of one or all)
- Mental check on pantry staples like tomato sauce or sardines (will venture into an aisle if I need it)
- 1 cheese for salads, 2 if planning to use some in a meal
Occasional Splurges: tortilla chips, pre-made hummus/sauces, extra cheeses, more expensive fruits/veggies like berries, non-bean/grain bulk bin stuff like dried figs, fancy drinks like kombucha
I piled in the greens and a few raw veggies and topped them with wheatberries, baked beans, sweet potatoes, green curry tofu, yellow curry fish, a piece of tempeh, candied pecans and some fruit
It was delicious!
Seltzer to drink
And my book to read. LOOOOOOVE the Kindle app!! I never knew I owned a Kindle and didn’t know it!
Headed to the bakery in a bit to work on things! See you tonight!
Christine @ Oatmeal in my Bowl says
So jealous I don’t have a Whole Foods in my area. I heard their salad bar is divine.
Great shopping strategy. Great lunch. Can’t wait to see the new front door. House is really coming along nicely. I love your style!
Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says
Love the “Perimeter Cart Filling Strategy”… smart!
Your new door: congrats! I grew up with a storm door and I know exactly what you mean about them biting heels. Thousands of times growing up that thing bit me. lol
Owning a kindle and not knowing it? I think I probably do too….I am downloading that app, pronto. Duh. Why didnt I think of this!?
Katelyn @ Chef Katelyn says
The Kindle app is LITERALLY the greatest thing ever. As is Perimeter Shopping. Eeeeewwww oreos make me gag.
kathleen @ the daily crumb says
lunch looks delicious! i have a lunch date at the whole foods salad bar tomorrow and cannot wait to pile in the veggies.
i love your perimeter plan… i really should go to the grocery store more prepared, otherwise it’s bank account suicide.
Sana says
Yeah, am against buying a kindle but I would totally use the app 🙂
Cait's Plate says
I’m sweating in my sweater today too! I CANNOT believe how warm it is out!!
Lindzjane115 says
Treating myself to the Whole Foods Salad bar before or after a grocery shopping trip is absolutely one of my favorite indulgences!
I agree, it’s not really feeling like Christmas yet… I’m still enjoying fall!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
I do the same perimeter shopping in the grocery store. Only things I venture into the aisles for are beans, seltzer and pasta.
Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles says
Those chickpeas look mighty delicious! 🙂 ….You really got after it today- busy, busy!
Kaitlyn says
haha i **love** christmas and could not justify getting a tree yesterday either! too warm in raleigh!
[email protected] says
Interesting~it was pretty warm here too, yesterday. Actually, a lot! haha. And I love grocery shopping too! It’s so odd to me when people actually hate it 😛
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
Yay for the new front door! I also go for the perimeter strategy when I grocery shop… except it doesn’t save me much in Whole Foods because the salad bar IS on the perimeter! Looks like you got a great haul!
Jen says
I am just not in the Christmas mood either – but it IS cold here! (trade temp’s?) Just not feelin’ it and it’s (usually) my fave time of year. I think it’s because where I live it’s fairly secluded, so I don’t get to be near houses with lights and bustle!
What book are you reading?
KathEats says
Same book as I was a few weeks ago..I’m slow
Jen says
Oh..okay. To be fair though, I really don’t know what you were reading 3 weeks ago either…. I don’t read every post and certainly don’t remember every detail. ? I do have my own things going on and wouldn’t even know what my friends were reading either so definitely not what’s on a blog! (Also, that’s not slow; it usually takes me months to read a book. I just squeeze it in when I can).
D says
LOL I know, why couldn’t she respond with the title?!
Maria @ Sinfully Nutritious says
I made soup today, I live in PA and it’s almost 70 degrees. So crazy. I can’t believe I am listening to Christmas music and have the doors and windows open.
Enjoy the day. Your door is beautiful.
Rebecca @ Naturally Healthy and Gorgeous says
I can never leave Whole Foods without spending my entire paycheck!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
The rain came and while it’s not freezing in Atlanta…it’s gross out. I either want cold weather and soup or I want it to be warm and pretty!
Paige says
ahhh so jealous. of both the front door and the weather! I’ve wanted a storm door for quite a while now, but it never seems to make the “need” list each spring. Enjoy 🙂
KathEats says
You don’t want shal storm door! They just get in the way!
Kate says
It’s way too hot here in California! You’d think I’d be used to it, having grown up here, but I hate listening to Christmas music when it’s over 80 degrees outside.
TeenyLittleSuperChef says
Oh man I wish we lived closer to a Whole Foods. Although it’s probably better on my wallet that we don’t. I’m pretty sure I’d be there everyday stocking up at their salad bar.
Just wanted to mention, I finally got my hands on some Chia Peanut Butter and holy mamacita, that stuff is awesome. Thanks so much for talking so much about it on your blog or I may never had gotten around to trying it. I’m hooked!
Have a great Monday 🙂
Amanda says
I’m loving all of your vibrant food photography today. 🙂 And lunch looks great! Nine times out of ten, I would rather eat Whole Foods salad bar and drink a bottle of kombucha than go out to eat at a restaurant. It’s just so good!
Lu says
What book are you reading? It looks interesting.
KathEats says
Still reading Nicholas Sparks…not loving it
Katie @ Plates and Paste says
I just discovered the Kindle app myself! I’m still a big fan of an actual physical book, but my iPhone continues to amaze me 🙂
[email protected] says
I don’t live close to a Whole Foods but their selection of chocolate is always tempting.
Maia says
Your salad looks SO good, you inspired me to go out and get a nice, big, healthy salad for my own lunch!! Thanks 🙂
Angel7 says
I am sure your upgraded front door will look great!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
Kati Mora, MS, RD, Kellogg's FiberPlus(R) Wellness Advocate says
There are so many great fiber-licious foods in your perimeter plan. And I love chickpeas! When I go shopping they are usually on my list of must haves for the week.
Marissa @ Apples of My Eye says
im so jealous that you have a Whole Foods right around the corner! Add that ontop of your gorgeous weather AND your Great Harvest Bread store… you’re making me wish I chose UVA over UPenn 🙂
Anna @ On Anna's Plate says
I need to download that app– what a great thing!!
Grocery shopping is always more fun at WF 😉
Hope says
It is quite warm out today. The temperature is supposed to drop and get very chilly here the rest of the week. I’m looking forward to it. Looks like you got some great things at Whole Foods. 🙂
Katie @ Peace Love and Oats says
I haven’t had Whole Foods salad bar in ages! It’s always so good!
Candice @ Sailing on Paper says
I have a Kindle and I still use the app on my phone! It’s so nice to be able to read wherever you go.
Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife says
Very fun new door!
I like your strategy of tackling the aisles–that sounds similar to what I do too 🙂 I can’t wait to get back to teaching BodyPUMP tomorrow–I’ve missed it while on vacay!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
I still haven’t justified a purchase at the hot foods bar.
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Perimeter shopping is KEY! I say that but I’m still one who finds herself in the aisles splurging a bit…. 😉
Hillary says
How bizarre. I do pretty much the exact same grocery shopping method. Never steers me wrong! (Except when I take a detour in the ice cream aisle. It happens. Often).
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
My love of grocery shopping is the entire reason I don’t join a CSA. Sometimes I’ll go to the farmer’s market or Whole Foods just because I’m bored!
Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather says
Great strategy! I try to avoid the middle aisles as much as possible too!
Meaghann says
I learned the “perimeter shopping” trick too when I did my DI-I do think it’s a good idea though to give credit where credit is due (in that this is not a novel concept and most dietitians are taught this)
KathEats says
I think perimeter shopping is comment knowledge – I knew about this long before I was an RD
Meaghann says
Oh, ok! It just sounded in the comments that readers thought it was yours and I’m a huge advocate for intellectual property.
KathEats says
I think they are just agreeing 🙂 I hope my post didn’t make it sound like I invented it. It was written with the tone: “Here’s how I apply this technique to my life” not “Here’s a technique I invented”
Christina @ Just Running says
Kath’s post doesn’t define perimeter shopping, so it’s a safe bet that every commenter who praised perimeter shopping already knows what it is. All Kath did was mention perimeter shopping and list what she bought.
Whose intellectual property do you think perimeter shopping is?
Heather @ Run Eat Play says
I never knew that there was a Kindle app! Awesome!
I love the Whole Foods salad bar – your salad looks yummy!
carla says
Your chickpeas come out perfectly! Do you use the crock pot to cook them?
KathEats says
No, I just simmered them this morning. Sometimes I find that’s easier that lugging the ole crockpot from the basement! I soaked them overnight and then brought to a boil and simmered for about 40 minutes
carla says
I hear you on that one! I have a love/hate relationship with my crockpot. Love the results, but I hate all the lugging!
elle @ nutritionella says
I’m in love with the color of that room! Can you share what shade/brand it is?
KathEats says
It’s a copycat of Benjamin Moore Bird’s Egg
you can see more in the living room tour!
https://www.katheats.com/cottage-kerf-living-room
Anna says
I can’t believe this VA weather either! I went for a run this morning and was sweating to death in my pants (pushed up to capris) and long sleeve shirt…I can’t believe a month ago I was braving the snow for a run! I want to put up my Christmas tree but just cant get motivated yet.
Zesty Cook says
I think that’s a great little list for all shoppers to have on hand for a basic grocery shop trip! I might add bread, but of course you already have a special source for that 😉 Hope you’re well, Kath.
Anne Marie says
The kindle app rocks my socks. Although, sometimes it can be REALLY tricky to read on an iPhone screen. PS, I totally understand the excitement of completing projects in the house. Every step makes a huge difference–congrats!!
Rachel says
ahhh I love whole foods salad bar. You can really make a great meal! I love it because you can get a little bit of this and a little bit of that!!
Khushboo says
Good call on the WF salad- they’re almost necessary when I walk in!
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning says
I got my WF salad bar fix the other day. Funny that when I think of “going out to lunch” the WF salad bar is the first place that comes to mind… yet I would never choose if for dinner. Wonder why that is?
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
I wish we had a Whole Foods closer. I’ve never tried their salad bar but I hear it’s wonderful!
Jules @ La Petite Maison Verte says
Haha – “will venture into an aisle if I need it” – agreed! It’s waaaaay too easy to pick up random items when you venture into the aisles :-\
Wow, that salad looks good! I haven’t had the WF Salad Bar in ages, I may need to pay it a visit some time in the near future!
~Christy @ wonderofallthings says
Love seeing your grocery shopping process — so fun to see how people do things differently! My biggest christmas tree deterrent is that there’s no snow on the ground 😉
Kate says
I’ve lived in Florida for 6 years (originally from NC) and you NEVER get used to a warm Christmas. NEVER. Vacationing to the Caribbean (or Florida) for the holidays is always a fun treat of warmth, but living here in the humidity, waking up on Christmas for yet another 85 degree day is an entirely different story. I dream of snow. Heck, I dream of anything below 60 degrees.
Heather says
I’ve been a perimeter shopper for years, but I found this SO helpful the way you broke down your general “produce plan”. I buy what looks good, but never have the foresight to break the produce down into types. Now maybe I won’t have salad envy every time I read your blog! 🙂 Thanks!
Lindsay says
There are so many great touches to finishing a home, like curtains…and now DOORS! what a lovely change and I laughed aloud to “biting my heels”!
Julia H. @ The Petite Spiel says
I’m quite loving the warm weather…it gets FRIGID where I go to school (in fact, it’s often snowing already by now), so I say bring the warmth as long as possible!