So I broke the rules. I caved! Gave in to temptation? Either way, I screwed up on Bobbi’s Simple Life Challenge. I’m still in the running, just 10 points behind. You’ll see my shame at lunch.
I woke up this morning to a delicious breakfast cookie before heading to the last day of my internship this semester.
1/2 cup oats, 1 TBS flax, 1/2 banana, 1 TBS Hemp protein, splash of soy milk & cinn. Topped with creamy PB chocolate chip icing: part-skim ricotta, ff Fage, smooth PB, chocolate chips
In the afternoon, I met up with my friend Tim so he could give me some books I’m going to need for a class I’m taking next semester…And then, we went out to eat! It was so good though 
We went to Fresh Side, and I tried justifying breaking the challenge rules by saying “I’m supporting the local economy!” I have to admit though, I felt progressively better as the food came. I’ve been going to school here for three years and have never been there. What’s wrong with me?!
Anyway, we started off with one of their specialty: tea rolls.
Shrimp Tea Roll: Cellophane noodle, crushed peanuts, crispy shallots, sesame seeds, shrimp, cucumber and fresh thai basil leaves, with house made fish sauce on the side.
This was so fresh, light and refreshing.
For my entree, I got the Thai Noodle Salad with Chicken: Cellophane Noodle on a bed of shredded cabbage, lots of fresh herbs: mint, cilantro, scallion, fresh spinach and crushed peanuts, with sweet carrot vinegar sauce on the side.
I loved this! It was unbelievable, the best salad I’ve had in a long time!
So although I lose 10 points on the challenge for going out to eat this month, that just gives me a reason to do more green living things, right? 
After lunch, I got home and took a glorious nap. I needed it and felt fab. After I got up, I got on the treadmill and did my run, which felt even better!
For dinner, I decided to make an easy BBQ black bean burger. I also had spinach, tomato, cucumber slices, some avocado & nuked butternut squash. There’s a piece of baby muenster cheese under that burger as well 
Wicked Easy BBQ Black Bean Burger
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and mashed (I used a fork)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- a dash of black pepper, chili powder, salt
- diced red onion
- 2 TBS oats
- 1 TBS BBQ sauce
1. Mix all the ingredients together except the onions, put in freezer to firm up.
2. Meanwhile, saute the red onion until brown for a few minutes.
3. Take out the mixture and mix with the red onion.
4. Form a pattie and put it back on the pan, flipping once until it is blackened on both sides.
5. Enjoy! Good with hot sauce/ketchup.
I followed up with a mandarin.
You should check out my HEALTHY LIVING RESOURCES page because it’s been updated! There are some interesting articles on nutritional research and lots of tips to become more green & save money!
In the news, the government is considering a national soda tax to help pay for healthcare costs.
What do you think about this tax? Yay or nay?
P.S. Head over to An Apple a Day for some awesome giveaways!
Check out Danica’s blog for another fun giveaway.
Dude, you had a bombin’ lunch, so yeah!
I’m so into paying taxes so I’d def support it!
Great “burger” recipe!
Soda Tax? Well Im not sure Soda is just the problem! What about a McDonald’s Tax? haha Why blame Diet Coke drinkers!
Wow – that salad actually made my mouth water! I am definitely going to have to try those black bean burgers too!
Thanks for the HG Snack Pack Contest Shout Out – good luck!
I’d be down with a soda tax. I would be down with taxing snacks/crap food in general to help pay for health care. They are the items that can lead to obesity…which leads to numerous disease that are taxing our health care system. So why not garner some of the income from those same products?
Happiness Awaits
i like the idea of the tax!
your lunch looks great, even if it cost you 10 points
Whoa, thanks for the burger recipe. I looove black bean burgers!
Also, that lunch is definitely worth 10 points.
Mm I love black bean burgers. Probably one of the best quick meals around!
I tried the Kashi U cereal by the way and loved it! Currants are yummy
Lovely breakfast! I wish my b-fast cookies turned out that decadent!
Ooo and I love making burgers like that, I used flour though. Now I’m going to try oats, how delicious.
YES! I think they should put a tax on soda. If you’re going to put something bad into your body, you should have to pay for health care.
I’m yay and nay for this possible soda taxing. It MAY help the problem, or health care….. but more likely than not it won’t make much of a significant difference between people and their health decisions.
That lunch looks FRESH, indeed!! And Olga, please stop making these ridiculously good looking breakfast cookies, they just tease me! I need to do the damn thing and just make one myself!
Beautiful eats, as always! I will def have to try that burger recipe–I always shy away from homemade veggie burger recipes because they seem so complicated, but yours seems pretty simple. Thanks!
If they put a tax on Diet Coke, I’m moving to Canada. Or robbing a bank. Or both.
Woah, that lunch looks incredible! I’d say it was worth it! That black bean burger recipe sounds so good, and super easy (which is a major plus in my book, haha!) I’ll have to try it
The shrimp tea roll looks fabulous! And so do the bean burgers.
I’m of two minds about that tax idea. I think it might help people eat better. But soda isn’t like cigarettes. There’s no such thing as second-hand soda. I don’t really want the government manipulating my food choices. On the other hand, the healthcare costs of obesity do hurt everyone…so there are arguments on both sides.
your lunch out looks fantastic, definitely worth the points lol
hey girl i would definitely say that lunch is definitely worth the 10 points? looks innnnnnnnncredible!