Hello, friends!
It feels as if I have not done a What I Ate Wednesday post in ages! That just means I’ve been accumulating way too many food photos on my phone, and I need to finally share them with the world. All my friends who witness me taking photos of my food ask the ever-famous question: “Is it going on the blog?!”
Yes. Right now.
I’ll be the first to admit that I self-stalk on Instagram. I look back at my feed and reminisce on memories of high school, home-cooked meals, and how bad of an Instagrammer I was three years ago (pointless selfies for dayzzz). The thing that really got me though was how much my eating has changed in the past two years. If you were not aware, I struggled with disordered eating habits just a couple years ago, and I started this blog in the midst of my recovery.
When I was scrolling through my own Instagram feed, I realized how much the quantity and substance of my meals has increased over time:
Two years ago, my dinner would be a salad with some peppers, berries, and cheese. That’s it. I’m not saying that having only a salad for dinner is bad, but I knew that I was hungry for more, and I didn’t honor that.
One year ago, my dinner was usually a bowl of whole grains, one piece of protein, and a vegetable. I was satisfied with that. I ate desserts more often, but sometimes with guilt.
Half a year ago, I would add some more healthy fats like avocado and cheese into my meals. Maybe a little more peanut butter in that oatmeal. I was satisfied, but still cautious with the new additions. I did eat dessert without much guilt at all though.
Today, I don’t always have whole grains, but I try my best to eat them more often than not. I eat red meat. I make my desserts a la mode. I eat *gasp* TWO tablespoons of peanut butter at breakfast on most days.
And you know what else about today? I’ve never felt better in my life. It’s taken me a lot of time to truly internalize that food=fuel. I could have said it all day long in the past, but I would still keep the general thought of calories in the back of my mind. Here in college I have no idea how many calories I’ve been eating, but whatever the average number is, it seems to be working out for the best!
Linking up to Jenn‘s weekly food fiesta!
With that, why don’t we get to the food, eh? 🙂 Here are just some of the things I’ve been enjoying this past month:
Bringing more peanut butter to the table…
Clockwise from top right:
scrambled eggs + potatoes + ketchup + apple + unpictured bowl of granola with milk // whole wheat French toast with pb + my favorite cottage cheese concoction + glass o’ milk // whole grain blueberry pancake with pb + the usual + glass o’ milk // oatmeal with jam and pb + the usual
Dorm breakfasts: Greek yogurt with banana, honey and cinnamon // oatmeal with vanilla protein powder, banana, cinnamon, and pb
Non-meat options…
whole wheat roasted vegetable calzone + salad with hard boiled eggs // fish with sweet potatoes and summer squash // bean stew with polenta + salad // crispy baked fish with veggies + salad
Meaty options…
“Shepherd’s pie” with mashed sweet potato // grilled chicken over a kale panzanella // bone-in, skin-on chicken + mashed potatoes + collard greens // Asian salisbury steak with soba noodles
Comfort food…
whole wheat sesame chicken pizza // whole wheat spaghetti bolognese // eggplant caprese stack // brisket + mashed potatoes + roasted root veggies
ALL the plants…
salads (which are often accompaniments to a main dish) // moroccan veggie stew over couscous
Desserts of course…
“brownstone” chocolate cake (best chocolate cake EVER) // bananas foster crisp a la mode (holymolyamazing) // free chocolate chip cookie a la Catholic Center missionaries // gingerbread cake a la mode
I’m eating more than I ever have, but I only feel better when I am nourishing myself properly, despite temptations to eat like the girl next to me. Have I thrown nutrition out the window? Absolutely not. Do I stress about whole grains and squeaky “clean” eats at every meal. Heck no. I feel like I am finally balanced.
Well that was a long WIAW. I guess I just wanted to make up for the lack of WIAW’s these past several weeks. 😉
Hope you all have a lovely Wednesday!
So tell me:
Has your eating evolved at all?
What is your idea of a balanced diet?
What is the best dessert you’ve had recently?
P.S. Have you entered the Arctic Zero giveaway?
Daily Moves and Grooves 
It can be hard to get to a place of balance (and it’s hard to stay there sometimes!) but it looks like you’re doing great! It must be a wonderful feeling to see how far you’ve come! 🙂
Indeed, it’s quite remarkable to see how much my mindset has changed. For the better I believe! 🙂 Thanks so much, Liz!
We can be solid best friends over our idea of balanced eating alone 🙂 . How fabulous to look back and marvel at the gradual yet profound change – to the happy place you’re at today! I almost wish I was an instagrammar right now 😉 . Because yes I know that I have evolved tremendously; with eating and beyond..but that’s a story for another day hah! So “the usual” is still going strong 😀 ..we need a more concrete original name for it though, don’t you think?!
I’m so happy to hear that you’ve evolved in your eating as well, girl. It’s a wonderful feeling, eh? 🙂
My friend actually calls it “Yeung potion” since I have it all the time and everyone thinks it’s nasty haha!
Everything looks tasty! Have a great day!
I guess you never notice a change until you look back, right? 🙂
What does your kitchen look like? Has your physique changed since you changed? How about athletic performance?
Indeed!
I don’t have a kitchen right now, but I’m more muscular now that in feeding and resting myself enough between workouts! I’m also finding that I perform better in my workouts because of this 🙂
My diet has evolved immensely! I grew up eating fairly heathy, then when I got into highschool I started eating all the food we never were aloud to have as kids (read: frozen dinners, take-out pizza, and bagged popcorn). After that phase I returned to the kitchen, happy to have the nutrition knowledge I gained growing up and it’s been love in the kitchen ever since haha
You’re my hero…just throwing it out there!:)
When I think back on what I used to eat I want to kick myself and ask “why was a i denying myself?”😭 I still have some work to do but whenever I’m afraid of moving forward I remember that when I do I always feel so glad I did!
Skimping on food=skimping on life and I want a full life so give me all the food🙋😜
I’d say my idea of a balanced diet is yours!!
Keep it up alison! 😘😘😘
That’s the attitude, Katie! I still have random times when I feel like restricting if I feel like I’m losing control somehow, but it’s been a journey of learning to trust myself and to listen to my body. And giving in to that extra cookie sometimes 😉
You’re awesome, Katie!
so proud to see how far you have come along!!! go girl 🙂
Thanks, Dixya! ♥
Wow your eats look fantastic! I wish my dining hall was that good!
I love the diversity in your plates. Yum.
My eating changes a lot, but I think the important thing is that you listen to yourself in the process. It’s hard sometimes because my boyfriend and I have such different eating patterns, sometimes I feel like I’m obligated to eat a certain way. But I find I work best when I follow my routine. 🙂
Sometimes I do feel “peer pressure” to eat a certain way (healthily or unhealthily) based on the social situation, but you’re right– just gotta follow what you know is best for yourself!
You are epic my friend. I actually have a similar post coming up but it’s so amazing to look back on our eating evolution!
I hope your college bans peanut butter.
Thanks, dude. So looking forward to your post!
If they did, I’d drop out of college.
Note to self – Do not read this girl’s blog when hungry….
Food looks so good! Keep it up.
Haha thanks, Kang!
Yummy food. How exciting to have progressed so much within just a couple of years. I still struggle with food guilt from time to time but I’m getting better. One day at a time!
Thanks, Di! It’ll always be a work in progress for all of us, I believe.
Girl, I have been having these exact same thoughts lately! I’m eating so much more than in the past and I feel SO much better! I’ve been wanting to do a comparison post like this (along with finally writing my story… #procrastination) and pretty sure I put at least 3 tbsp of nut butter on my oats everyday, haha! All of this food is fantastic! BU knows what’s up!
SO happy to hear you’ve been feeling great thanks to proper fuel! #procrastination = #storyofmylife = #cueOneDirection
Pingback: The 2014 Blogger Survey
Pingback: The Great and Small Things I Learned {College Semester I} | Daily Moves and Grooves
Pingback: Dear Alison… {A Look Back at 2014} | Daily Moves and Grooves