Happy What I Ate Wednesday, friendly faces! 😀
You know how they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder? That’s definitely been the case around these parts. Not only have I missed doing a WIAW post after taking a few weeks off, but I’ve also missed some of my favourite eats after spending a few days frolicking around in the desert.
Since I didn’t take a picture of virtually anything I ate on my trip, I’m going to use today’s WIAW as an opportunity to talk about the foods that I missed while I was gone and was happy to come home to…
Breakfast… I missed my oats.
Eggy bananfied oats layered with plain Greek yogurt and topped with blueberries, strawberries, and roasted cinnamon glaze almonds.
This may have just been the best bowl of oats that I’ve ever eaten; and not because there was anything overly special about it, but because it was the first bowl I had in 5.whole.days. See, even though I was back home on Monday morning, I woke up pretty late and was too tired and lazy to cook up a bowl of oats, so I had some cereal instead. Still tasty, but definitely not the same. I think it’s safe to say that my oatmeal addiction isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Morning snack… I missed my homemade bars.
A fruit and nut bar (recipe coming soon!)
I usually whip up a batch of homemade bars, cookies, muffins, or something to take with me when I travel, but I was feeling a bit like a scatterbrained chicken before I left so I didn’t get a chance to spend much time in the kitchen and had to rely on store-bought bars to get me through. Still tasty, but definitely not the same 😉 These are some fruit and nut bars that I made for Savory Style, and the recipe should be up in a few days so I’ll let you know when it gets posted!
Lunch… I missed my snack plates.
Dr.Kracker Seedlander crispbread, dried figs & dates, half an avocado, baby carrots, cocktail tomatoes, and The Good Bean’s sweet cinnamon crunchy chickpeas.
Even though most of the lunches I had while I was gone were snacky grab-and-go type deals, there’s something about actually being able to plate food and sitting down to eat it that makes all the difference. That and I really missed the combination of avocado, figs, and crackers. Try it and thank me later.
Afternoon snack… I missed my yogurt messes.
Plain Greek yogurt with a sliced banana, homemade applesauce, and Cascadian Farm Cinnamon Crunch.
Despite the fact that I had yogurt, fruit, and cereal on my trip, I did not have a bowl… which meant that I had to eat everything more-or-less individually at the same time… if that makes sense. Not horrible, but not ideal — yogurt messes really do taste better when all the elements have had a chance to mingle for a little while. Oh, that and I didn’t pack any cinnamon in my suitcase. Sad face.
Dinner… I missed… nothing, really.
Coconut basmati rice with oatmeal-breaded chicken and mixed veggies.
I think dinners have replaced lunches as my least favourite meal of the day. It’s not even that this one didn’t taste good — because it did — but I ate a tonne of Chipotle while I was in Vegas and, well… I’d take that over most home cooked meals, especially since I don’t know when I’ll be able to get my next fix. One of these days I’m really going to have to try coming up with a mock Chipotle bowl recipe… Either that or Chipotle needs to make its way up here, stat.
Evening snack… I missed my ice cream sandwiches.
A Chapman’s vanilla sandwich.
One of the things that has always bothered me the most about my peanut allergy is the fact that I can’t enjoy any sort of frozen treat while I’m out and about since most places can’t guarantee that their flavours haven’t been cross contaminated with nuts. This means no grabbing an ice cream cone on the beach and no going out for froyo dates. Sad face. But at least I can still enjoy my ice cream sandwiches [at home]! Chapman’s was one of the first peanut-free ice cream companies that I found, and I still love them to this day.
Home sweet home 😀 See you guys tomorrow for Thinking Out Loud!
Do you prefer eating out or eating at home?
What are some foods/meals you miss when you travel?
What are some things you always make sure to take with you?
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I'm Amanda - health coach, cookbook author, recipe developer, makeup junkie, oatmeal addict, and the author of Running with Spoons - a blog dedicated to healthy eating.
Winning. Grinning and…..salivating?
Eating Chipotle for all your meals is totally acceptable- something I would should I find one…. damn Australia. When travelling, I usually just miss eating at home..if that makes sense.
You leave me craving an ice cream sandwich on a consistent basis…..I envision one (or three) this weekend.
I would have missed those meals too!!! Can’t wait to try the homemade bars!
Yup I do miss my own homemade stuff when I’m away. I think this probably applies to most people who do a lot of cooking and spend time making their meals taste great. It’s just not the same anywhere else!
Like you, I like to bake a batch of granola bars/crackers to take with me. There’s nothing worse than being stuck on a plane, starving, and without food!
#truestory. Honestly, probably around half of my carry-on is packed with food… even if it’s only a 3 hour flight 😆
Wait – oatmeal-breaded chicken?? I sure hope you post that recipe! As always droolworthy eats, my friend!
I love eating in – while I will eat out occasionally – I just adore home made EVERYTHING – guess I was spoiled growing up because eating out then was a rare, rare occurrence! As much as I miss my oats, I don’t always take them with me when I travel – preferring some oat scones or bars instead. But one thing I have started taking with me always is a small bottle of chili flakes – I’ve been putting that shiz on everything – tried it on an avocado yesterday and meohmy!
While it’s nice getting to eat while on vacation; it also feels so good to be home and it your favorite foods out of your own dishes. Glad you’re back!
I actually love eating at home. Cooking is something that I enjoy, so I like to try new recipes and make dinner for friends. But with all of my cooking at home, going out is that much more enjoyable. I find that it is such a treat to go out and I only eat at great places, because why waste one time out on something junky?
Oatmeal breaded chicken? That’s a new one to me. I may have to try that!
I like it a whole lot more than using breadcrumbs!
That breakfast looks amazing! I totally craved healthy, homemade foods after traveling for two weeks. Stuff you normally take for granted tastes so much better when you get back from a trip!
I definitely love my homemade meals more than eating out – though there is something so nice to sit down and get served. More time, more wine, and new things to try.
But as you say, it’s always nice to come home and be back with the favorites – which is for me my oats too (sisters!), Almond Butter and Sweet Potato Wedges. Weird I know, but in Switzerland you can’t find any Sweet Potato dishes in restaurants.
I almost always prefer to eat at home. I’m super controlling about food prep so I always get a tad anxious when eating out.
When I travel, I always bring apples with me. I love apples!
I definitely prefer eating my homecooked meals!! I tend to like weird combinations and at home I can really satisfy my crazy cravings. Although I like eating out, I either end up leaving still hungry or really stuffed.
When I travel I tend to miss everything…it sounds crazy but I find that even simple ingredients taste different…maybe its the water or oil it is cooked with..or maybe its just me!!
By the way that fruit and nut bar looks OUT OF THIS WORLD!!
When I leave town I totally miss my foods. Even if I’m eating similar foods. I miss mine. MINE. 🙂
But technically they’re still yours if you’re eating them 😛
Looking forward to the fruit and nut bar recipe! I love eating out and at home. I am a creature of habit though. I miss my smoothies when I am away! I always take oats and snacks like Nakd bars and nuts away for when the hunger beast strikes!
I love your”yogurt messes”!
I love to eat at home because I can take my time and modify anything I want without feeling bad. But I’m on my way to Greece so there will be plenty of eating out this week!
Greece?! SO jealous! That’s been on my travel bucket list forever, and I really hope I can make it out there some day. You’re going to have the most amazing time!
Haha when I saw this post title, I thought the entire post was going to be about oats! I know that oats are to you what french fries are to me 😉
I don’t now what it is about your oats, but they ALWAYS leave me craving oats! They just look so fluffy and delicious. Do you use rolled oats or quick oats? Maybe it looks different texturally because of that? Regardless, they look yummy! 🙂
And girl that snack plate….holy freaking yummmm! My plates are never as festive as that! I better get on board that train!
I almost always use quick oats because I find them easier to digest, but I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I cook them for way longer than it says (~20 minutes?) and let them sit for a while before I eat them so that they have a chance to cool down and fluff up.
I love travelling, but I also love love love coming home and making my own food again. Especially with my body’s digestive issues, it can be so hard on it to have to process such rich food. I honestly love coming home to my usual oats, my own salads, and my ice cream ritual, made the way I like it. And eating it on my couch in comfy pants, lol. But I do miss the cocktails 😉
It’s rare for me to find a place “worthy” of eating at when I’m out, so I usually prefer eating at home. Once in a while though I do enjoy going out, I had Chipotle on Monday after a rough hike!! It was worth every last bite. SO GOOOOOD. It is weird I actually never want ice cream in the summer? The idea just makes me feel sick, the heaviness of the cream (coconut for me usually) is just too much in the heat.
I am drooling over your faves…especially that lunch/snack plate! Yum!
I agree about missing healthy eats. I just got back from vacay as well, and I could not wait to get back on track. It helps to actually enjoy eating healthy. I hope you are having a great week!
I prefer eating at home, honestly… then I know what I’m eating, I can eat whatever I’m craving and I can eat when I want. Is that lame?
I always miss oatmeal/yogurt/sweet potatoes/energy bites when I’m traveling. Also avocados. Good to know I’m not alone (of course I’m not, our tastes are the same haha)
What I miss most when i’m traveling is my morning cup of tea. I usually bring some with me (I only drink the one kind) but it’s just not the same – maybe the mugs are too small, the milk not creamy enough,… I always look forward to having a proper cuppa when I get back 🙂
Me too! I always, always, always start my day with my favourite cup of tea, and it can be super hard to do when I’m travelling… especially if there’s no in-room coffee maker. I totally agree about the mugs, though — WAY too small.
Summer is the perfect time to through some fresh fruit and veggies in for a snack. And who doesn’t like an ice-cream sandwich?
That snack plate looks freaking AWESOME.
So does the ice cream sandwich. I’m trying to wean myself off of sugar again…. sometimes I wonder why I do it. haha.
You know what they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it 😉 That’s my motto, anyway. I had a real yummy yogurt cyclone last night made with sno caps….. omg YUM. That was a good nightcap. I’m freaking out (not really freaking, only slightly nervous) that the hotel I’m staying at next week won’t have any oatmeal at their breakfast buffet, which my dad ordered for us every day. Might die if they don’t.
I totally understand your desire to eat your foods at home after a vacation. I LOVE eating out … but only can do so for so many meals and days and then I don’t like it anymore. Ideally, I’d eat at home for every meal except maybe 2-3 meals per week. Realistically, we only eat out maybe once per week though. Glad you are home enjoying your delicious foods again! 🙂
It is so odd to me that places are offering so much gluten free options, but nothing for peanut allergies. Peanut allergies have been around forever. I don’t understand how you can guarantee GF and not PF. Makes no sense to me at all!
I know! But GF has really gained popularity in the last couple of years, especially since a lot of people do it to try to lose weight. I guess peanut-free just isn’t that glamorous 🙁
Chipotle. Why can you not be within driving distance?
And I love eating out, but I can’t afford to do it too often sooo it only happens once or twice a week. When I travel, I always make sure I have some protein/snack bars with me, and usually request a grocery store trip for snacks like yogurt and fruit.
I love eating at home. Mainly because I love cooking, and I like being able to control if I get sick or not { lactose & gluten intolerant }. I always make sure to bring snacks, only because they seriously charge an arm and a leg for snacks haha.
Everything sounds wonderful, as usual! Love your WIAW posts. Glad to see one back!! Thanks for the great ideas.
I prefer eating at home but with foods I get out. Does this count ;o)? I’m not lying when I say I eat Chipotle for dinner 3 or 4 times a week. Oops? ALLTHEGUAC
When I travel, I usually take some bars with me and some sort of cracker or cereal to snack on while I’m in the room. Also, chocolate and little flavored water packets tend to make their way in my purse. And I always have lollipops with me :o)
When I went to Philly for a long weekend, the first thing I wanted when I got home was a raw carrot and oatmeal. SO much fried food, I just needed something hearty and whole.
I like eating out and away from home to a certain point. Then I start missing the simplicity of eating at home and like you I miss my breakfast from home. Also, I cannot wait for your fruit and nut bar recipe. I’m really interested in trying it out!
I am obsessed with The Good Bean’s crunchy chickpeas! And that oats recipe…already planning out tomorrow’s breakfast.
I’m the opposite in that I don’t usually miss too many of my at-home meals when I travel! New food places excite me and I’m pretty game to try anything :). I also don’t have any food allergies, though, which gives me the upperhand since I don’t need to worry about my eats.
Glad to have ya back!
I think it’d be a lot easier to get excited about eating out if the allergy aspect didn’t stress me out so much 🙁 What I wouldn’t give to outgrow the pesky buggers…
I do definitely think there is something nice about coming home from a vacation and getting back into my routines, including what I typically eat. I love my Kashi waffles at lunch 🙂
Okay so you’re going to love my post tomorrow..let’s just say that it involves mock Chipotle bowls! I definitely feel you about craving home food after holiday! I tend to miss my simple home fare even after too many meals out. I become THAT girl who craves greens & oats like no other. When I travel, I usually stock my hand carry with plenty of snacks- you can never trust airport food. Usual favorites include almonds, individual sachets of protein powder, granola bars & fruit!
It’s a tie for me between eating out and at home. I -do- eat the majority of my meals at home because vegan or even vegetarian options at restaurants are usually scarce. But when I get a chance to visit a vegetarian place I enjoy it a lot and choose dishes I wouldn’t prepare at home. Last week my mum and I ate at an all-vegan buffet – awesome.
Everything about your dinner brings back childhood memories for me. Peas and carrots = the classic vegetable mix for children, rice because, well, it’s rice 🙂 and the chicken would have more likely been a homemade hamburger patty but still.
It’s odd but I always pack fruit when I travel because a) I always need something “fresh” as a snack, b) never know where I’ll be able to get that next and c) at what exorbitantly high prices. If I know I’ll have access to a stove I’ll also pack a small bag of oat bran but if not I know it’ll taste extra amazing once I return. Sometimes I actually like the forced break to bring back excitement to everyday meals.
Very true! A little bit of a forced break is always a good way to get out of a routine; and ditto on packing fresh fruit! Except for apples because we’re not allowed to fly with those… I tried to once and I ended up getting stopped by a dog in airport security. Oops.
Oh, right, now that you mention it I recall once reading how you weren’t allowed to import fruit [and lots of other foods] into the US. But the fact that the dogs I’d assumed to only sniff for drugs stopped you made me laugh. Naughty you, smuggling in illegal fruit 😉 .
Hello Amanda,
Welcome back from your trip to Las Vegas! I loved reading your summary of your adventures. Sounds like you saw a lot of our desert Southwest here! Beautiful photos of the Grand Canyon. I need to get up there again myself. I haven’t seen it since the glass walkway was built.
Delicious looking WIAW “eats” today. Those granola bars look great, and I’m looking forward to the recipe. I wish I could try one of those Chapman’s ice-cream sandwiches, but the company is located only in Canada. However, I’ve been enjoying Skinny Cow and So Delicious 😉
Have a great day!
~Amy 🙂
Wowza now that I eat chicken again I need to try that oatmeal breaded chicken. Sounds way too good to be true!! And you know I am equally as obsessed with oats as you are… so that oat pic has me drooling!! It’s so fun to come home from vacation and settle back into your regular eats! Xox
For me, eating out always sounds better than it actually is. I get frustrated when a meal is just meh and super expensive. I’m not some chef-extraordinaire, but I can grill chicken or salmon that is edible and not $25.
I live in the middle of the city and I’m surrounded by tons of restaurants but I actually like cooking at home. Eating out is so expensive and I’d much rather know what ingredients I’m eating by cooking my own meals. Of course, I do enjoy eating out every now and then but I prefer homecooked meals.
I recently went on a two week trip to Europe and I couldn’t believe how much I missed my regular meals. I’ve never been so excited for Greek yogurt and almond butter in my life. Eating out not only took it’s toll on my wallet, but it wreaked havoc on my gut, too.
ugh I haven’t had an ice cream sandwich in so long. I need one now!
So, I really like Chipotle, but sometimes I find that it doesn’t leave my stomach in the best way. I also don’t like cilantro all that much, and the flavor is very pronounced in the salsa. Boo.
I actually don’t usually get the salsa because I find it a little too hot for my tastes. Yes, I’m a wimp 😆 But a salad with beans, chicken, and guac usually hits the spot juuuust right 😀
I just got back from a 10 day road trip with the family, so I totally understand your food cravings! While on the road, I most missed my homemade pancakes, our pizza and my leftovers quesedilla. I definitely agree with you on the Chipotle, too! Luckily, I have one close by cause I’m in LOVE with their burrito bowls! YUM!
I love eating out on vacation, but after a few days I’m usually ready for my routine and typical eats again.
I often miss fresh fruit! Depending where you go it can be difficult to find good fruit (don’t get me wrong, some places do have amazing fruit though!).
I always bring some almond packs, protein bars, and kind bars!
Ahh I’ve missed you and all this!! and i had forgotten how hungry your WIAW’s always make me. (ok actually how hungry your posts always make me, and i normally have to read them around some sort of meal time:) i want all the things! those bars look especially amazing.
I prefer dining out – with friends, of course. Preferably on a sunny patio in the mountains. Checking out new restaurants is one of my most favorite things!
I miss veggies when I’m traveling – I tend to live it up and just eat dessert and wine. It’s all part of vacation though! 🙂
Chipotle will ruin anyone’s dinner 😉 That place is amazing.
Wow, five days without oats? That’s almost a crisis Amanda! I bet that first bowl tasted incredible. Haha, I have yogurt messes too. Using up random cereal and trail mixes is kind of fun! 🙂
YES! I don’t think I ever just go for one cereal when I make a bowl — it’s always gotta be the perfect mix of flavours and textures 😀
I LOVE to eat at home and eat out, but I typically only eat out once a week, so it is a nice treat for me and I go BIG! I always take oatmeal, chia seeds, and Nut Butter with me when I travel. Since I still feed my nut butter addiction when I travel, I don’t miss it. LOL!
Chipotle is about as close to a home cooked meal as I can ever get when I’m on the go. It’s SO delicious and fresh. And that guac…there are no words. I don’t think I’ve ever known a blogger who is as obsessed with oats as you are! You are loyal to it, that’s for sure 🙂 I always have to go through breakfast rotations otherwise I get bored. And I can’t imagine going through life with a peanut allergy…that’s so tough 🙁 it probably gets you more in tune with food and what you’re putting in your body, though!
Okay…wow…you just described my perfect day of eats…can I come visit and/or could you send me a days worth of meals? (:
Of course 😀
No froyo?! That is a true travesty!
I always bring some chia, flax or hemp seeds with me to dress up oatmeal, yogurt and the like.
What’s so good about Chipotle bowls? Aren’t they just veggies and beans and guacamole. I feel like it’d be so simple to whip up for half the cost.
I think it’s mostly the sauces they use for their chicken, and their guacamole is kind of to die for.
Oh, man – I’m so sad you didn’t post your eats in Vegas! I might be going there soon and I was hoping for some recommendations, LOL. 🙂
Granted, I would have missed your normal delicious food, too…I don’t really take food with me. Especially after the time a bottle of jelly somehow got open in my suitcase one time. It was TRAGIC, LOL.
Throw a couple slices of cheese on that snack platter and I would happily run away with it. 🙂
Not being able to eat an ice cream on the beach is sucky. I’m sorry for you because it is just sucky.
I can’t wait to see the bar recipe on Savory. 🙂
Im making your homemade granola bars this weekend!! I tried the banana nut mug cake and not sure if I am in love, which i am really surprised about! All my favorite things………..I will give it another shot, something may have been “off”
I’d prefer to eat at home…but the occasional eating out is always fun for a foodie!
I miss things like sweet potatoes, protein pancakes, overnight oats, and green smoothies while i travel. It makes me so sad by like day 2…is that bad? Hahaha
😆 Nope, I think that’s pretty normal for us foodies. We get attached to our favourites 🙂
I always miss oatmeal when I travel too. Unless I have an epic breakfast out, like the time I had French toasted bagel with granola and yogurt with orange zest in Halifax last year – I could have cared less about oatmeal while eating that! 😛
Eating out because I get to try new flavor a and learn new things but eating at home because I can make whatever I want and add all the extras that I could only do for myself. (I have a hard time answering questions directly)
Check out my WIAW posts also on http://runwright.net
We finally moved into our new duplex (yay!), so I haven’t wanted to cook at all…but it is getting better! I think most nights we like to just stay in and make a dinner instead of going out. Because then when we do make date nights, it is a way bigger deal to get out of the house! When traveling, I think I primarily miss the routine of my eating at home – when you are away, no matter how long it is, it still makes it a little hard to get in BLD and your snacks!
Geebus, oatmeal breaded chicken nuggs? That’s kinda brilliant my friend. These are the times I miss eating meat. I was thinking of doing the same thing with coconut shreds and scrimps. My apologies for always bringing seafood into the mix!
BTW, your oatmeal shot is worthy of a Martha Stewart Living cover. I might need to invest in a light box for my food pics now. The lighting in my apartment is close to impossible to work with. It looks like a live in a doom and gloom hole.
I am starting to prefer eating out more to be social and not cooped up all alone in my little abode all 7 days of the week. But nothing beats a homemade meal, the couch, and little indie acoustic music in the background. Hermit.
All of it looks so YUM. The only thing is, was I the only one who had an anxiety attack when I saw the ice cream bar sitting opened atop your laptop?? 😮 ahh, living life on the edge 😉