Day 17 - Extra Chocolate Pt. 2

I had my fair share of chocolate again today. Although, I’m not going to blame mother nature. I read somewhere in the past that women need extra calories during this time, but I don’t know how much I buy it. Maybe? But I just had a bad day eating overall...


BREAKFAST (8:30 am)

Pesto Breakfast Pita:

1 cup red seedless grapes
½ whole grain pita
1 hard-boiled egg, sliced
1 TBSP sun-dried tomato pesto
Dash pepper

This pita was just OK. It might have been better with a scrambled egg. Not sure I will make this one again. There wasn’t much to this pita; it was rather flat considering the rest of the pitas I’ve been eating lately have been overflowing.

I had about 50 calories of dark chocolate around 11 am.

LUNCH (1:00 pm)

Tomato, Basil, and Walnut Salad with Cannellini Beans:

1 medium chopped plum tomato (recipe calls for 2, but I only used 1)
½ cup cooked wild rice
½ cup cannellini beans
2 TBSP chopped walnuts
1 TBSP balsamic vinegar and dash dried basil leaves

I love this meal! I’ve had it once before, and it’s another recipe that I could eat over and over again. No picture this time since I’ve snapped its photo once before.

I had another 150 calories of dark chocolate after lunch. What has happened to my will power? So, in honor of all the dark chocolate I have eaten, here is what remains in my house...



The chocolate chips are only 60% cocoa, but I couldn't find 70% or greater at the grocery store (70%+ is recommended in the book).

I was supposed to have the Pineapple Almond Peppercorn Parfait for a snack, but I wasn't very hungry around my usual snack time. So, I left my snack in the fridge at work for tomorrow. And then, wouldn't you know? -- As soon as I got home from work, I was hungry. I ended up having some almond butter on whole grain Dr. Kracker brand crackers. I should have eaten my balanced snack instead.

DINNER (7:30 pm)

Black and Blue Salad:

1 cup field greens and 1 medium chopped plum tomato
1 serving Trader Joe’s whole grain crackers
¼ cup crumbled bleu cheese (but I used feta cheese instead)
10 Kalamatta olives, sliced
1 TBSP red wine vinegar and dashes each dried basil and oregano

This salad was OK. I might have overdone the vinegar because my salad was too tangy. And I managed to sneak a bite of my son's mac & cheese as well. :(



I wasn't too impressed with my meals for the day. Maybe my taste buds are off. This is the first time this has happened since I started the Cinch! eating plan. I'm also feeling a bit disappointed in my "lack of structure" over the past few days. These are the exact eating habits that I've been trying to break. I am so much more confident and proud of myself when I stick to the plan. It's time to change my attitude tomorrow.

I felt so guilty about today that I hopped on my elliptical in the basement for 35 minutes tonight (even after I cancelled gym plans because of my cramps – So sorry Holly!! Please forgive me.)

Tomorrow, I am planning to have my favorite breakfast (Banana Ricotta Hazelnut Toast), the Zesty Bean and Summer Slaw Pita for lunch, the Pineapple Almond Peppercorn Parfait that I didn't have today for my snack, and the Mediterranean Pasta Salad for dinner (unless my avocados miraculously ripen overnight). I don't know what is taking them so long. They are organic. I wonder if that has anything to do with it?