Packs a Punch
A nutritional punch, that is!
Hey guys! How has your Monday been so far? Has it been a Monday fun day? Or a leave me the eff alone, it’s effin’ Monday day?
Mine is somewhere in the middle. 
This morning, I woke up, made breakfast (Oh, millet toast, almond butter and banana…how I heart thee), and then got to work, for realsies. I’m going home on Wednesday for my sister’s baby shower (YAY!!!), and I want to get as much work done as possible before then. I got a round of papers from one of my online classes this morning, so I spent ALLLLL morning grading, which left my brain feeling like a puddle of mush. BUT, I did finish grading all of them, so I’m one step closer to a relaxing trip home! Unfortunately, I get a round of papers from all three of my Penn State comp classes tomorrow (75 papers in all), so the fun is really just beginning. Oh well…that’s what plane rides are for, right?
I would also like to note that when I did a Google image search for “tired brain,” this picture came up:
Huh?
Moving on.
I pushed through the essays and wrapped up around 12:45, just in time for lunch. I headed downstairs for some much needed brain food!
This lunch was easy and delicious…and it packs a major nutritional punch!
In a sautee pan, I heated 1/2 tsp. olive oil and cooked some kale for about 5 minutes, adding a spoonful of water to push along the cooking process. I topped the kale with fresh orange slices, halved, crumbled walnuts, and a drizzle of fig balsamic vinegar. Served alongside Mary’s Sticks and Twigs (sea salt flavor—it’s good, but I prefer the curry flavor).
Simple, yummy…and nutritious! Kale is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, not to mention calcium, iron, fiber, and magnesium. Add to that the vitamins A and C from the orange and the omega 3’s from the walnuts, and I’d call this lunch brain food indeed!
Plus it was pretty:
Big bite on a tiny fork:
Not to be confused with fat guy in a little coat:
I was going to do an indoor workout on the treadmill, but I think I might wander outside for a nice long walk with the dogs. I’ve been feeling a little down lately, and I think that spending so much time indoors is partly to blame. I’m excited to head down South for a few days to see my mom and my sister and hopefully get a little dose of warm(er) weather. I can’t believe my sister is due in only a month!!! Crazy, crazy!
Have a great afternoon. I’ll see y’all for dinner!
Those Sticks and Twigs look good. Are they pretzels? I’ve never heard of them.
I would say they’re kind of like a pretzel, but much crisper and crunchier. With a different flavor too. So I guess the only thing “pretzel” about them is their shape
LOL even though that picture didn’t really match, that baby is so cute. I love millet bread. Brown rice bread is really good too!!!
I love kale too. Have you try massaging it? I know it sounds funny, but Diana from Soap&chocolate turned me on to it from her blog. You basically just put a little salt and oil (coconut, olive, sesame), put your greens in, and massage ‘em for a few minutes. They become so nice and tender and yummy, and best of all, retain so much nutritional value!
Congrats on the marriage
My big day is fast approaching (april 17th!)
I keep seeing the “massaged kale” and meaning to try it. Mainly just because it sounds so funny
How exciting about your big day!!! Enjoy every minute of it, and don’t get too stressed out (easier said than done)
That picture is too funny!
Your salad looks delicious! So colorful!
That lunch DOES sound really simple and yummy
Where are you when my lunchtime rolls around?
“Faaaat guy in a litttleee coat” – hehe, makes me laugh every time!
Haha how funny/cute is that picture!!
Still dying to try this millet bread everyone talks about! Where did you find it??
It’s just at our regular grocery store, with the sprouted grain breads and the like!
Oh! And definitely in the freezer!
Funny pic! Good looking salad.
Yum. I’ve been adding mandarin oranges and walnuts to salads of red leaf lettuce and spinach and just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. So tasty.
HAHA, what IS that picture?! I love kale! I’m so addicted to oranges lately, too… this is my kind of meal!
That was a pretty lunch! But then again…your eats are ALWAYS pretty!!
For some reason my tired brain thinks that baby in a laundry basket is the funniest thing ever!
Oh yum.. that sounds good and so creative!
The picture of the baby in a basket… whaaaat? But it’s funny haha
And I’d say my monday was somewhere in the middle. I’m trying real hard to be positive but it’s been one of those days. Yeah.. those days.
Good luck with your papers!
And it looks so pretty too!!
Where down South are you going? It’s still cold in GA, but hopefully you’ll be somewhere warmer. Or your definition of warm is quite possibly very different from mine!
I can’t believe you had never seen Say Anything! Well, I guess I can since I first saw it only two years ago. Kale? How is it possible that everyone loves it so? I must give it another shot. Sorry you’re feeling down. Good thing you have a trip home to get some family lovin’.
That is pretty! I love the colors
What a beautiful salad! Isn’t pretty food fun to eat?
Mary’s Twigs look so good! I’ve only ever tried the crackers. Jealous you’re escaping to the warmth, though…I get down during the winter too! Have a great trip!
your dinner is so colorful! I think colors make the meal so much better!
I’m with you on feeling the winter blues. I have total spring fever and need to spend more time outside. It’s too cold right now to do so, but I’m hoping for a 50 degree day in the next few weeks.
How random is that tired brain picture?
Never know what might pop up in a search I guess.
Your salad is very pretty and healthy looking! Mary’s Twigs look really yummy!