Good morning everyone! Today’s What I Ate Wednesday is going to be a review within a WIAW post since I incorporated the food I was sent into my meals on Monday. (I know – I finally mixed things up!). If you’re new to What I Ate Wednesday, head over to Peas and Crayons to see what it’s all about and see the other participating blogs!
I’ve read on some other blogs that it’s good to start your day with hot water and lemon, so I’ve been trying to do that this week:
Then I had an un-pictured healthy bite (see below) and headed off to workout at the gym).
A little later I had some coffee, and then some peppermint tea while I was working on an outline for a final:
For breakfast I had the usual, but since I was out of avocado, I used Chef Ear’s Chuncky guacamole! Definitely more delicious than plain avocado!
After breakfast I did some more work, and then I had to head to physical therapy. I knew it would be another couple of hours before I had lunch so I grabbed half a banana and a Healthy Bite for a snack. I ordered these healthy bites and got them right before I left for Charleston. They’ve been perfect to have one or two right before or after workouts, as quick snacks! Thanks Lindsay!
After my appointment and on my way downtown I stopped by David’s Tea because there are SO many flavors I want to try! This time I got Blueberry Jam, which is a black tea.
After I ‘d gotten to school and got the books I needed, I headed to the French Market to get lunch and get some work done. I thought I’d go to Chicago Raw, and there I picked out the Sprouted Living Salad. Its main ingredients were spinach, cucumber, shaved beats, red pepper, spring onions and then a dressing and some “onion crisps.”
The salad was really good, however it was TWELVE DOLLARS. I was shocked when she said that. I definitely wouldn’t consider that salad worth 12 dollars, it was mostly veggies!
By the time I got home I was ready for dinner. I steamed up some carrots, eggplant and kale and then smothered the whole thing a package of Chef Earl’s Hot Giardiniera Hummus. When they say this stuff is hot, they mean it!!! There were pieces of jalapeno in there, and I loved it!
For dessert I had some protein ice cream…
Along with some (un pictured) dark chocolate and a hearty handful of walnuts. Maybe two handfuls. It went well with the dark chocolate.
So more about Chef Earl’s! It’s a part of a Chicago-Based company called Good Foods. All Good Foods products are 100% all natural, with no artificial flavors or colors, no preservatives, no GMOs, and they use HPP for food safety and extended shelf life. HPP (High Pressure Processing) is an energy-saving process that uses cold water pressure to safely pasteurize food. I’d never heard of HPP but it sounds like a really interesting way to pasteurize food without using chemicals.
Good Foods sent me their new single servers, of Hot Giardiniera Hummus, Chunky Guacamole and Mild Salsa, all vegan and gluten free.
For those of you in Chicago, I actually saw these on Sunday in the Whole Foods near North Ave. in the hummus section! I LOVE that they are single serving. I actually left half with my brother, who is a huge fan of hummus, guacamole and salsa. They were just too perfect for him to throw in his bag and take to work. All three products were really good, tasted fresh and had a lot of flavor. If you can find Chef Earl’s products, I highly recommend giving them a try!
Other than the single servers, Chef Earl’s has dips, cream cheeses, guacamole, hummus, salsas and chicken salads. I definitely want to try out some more of their products.
Do you have a local company that you love?
Which do you like the most: hummus, guacamole or salsa? (I’d pick hummus!)
I love humus! I also love guacamole but it depends on Where its from Or who makes it i must say mine is da bomb!
You know, I’ve never made my own guacamole! I should do that!
I’d pick guacamole! Then salsa. I love them both!
Perfect for chips!
yum! i love single serving packs of things because any time i open a whole thing of guac it goes so brown before i can use it. i’ve been all over the wholly guacamole snack packs for my breakfasts and this guac looks awesome too!
I thought about getting the wholly guacamole packs too!
That’s crazy that the salad was $12! It’s ridiculous that you can get a hamburger, fries, and drink for like $4, but a salad costs you triple that!
Hummus is definitely my favourite out of those 3 – I could seriously eat it on everything! 😀
I agree, hummus goes with everything!
I’d never heard of Chef Earl’s, but I’m a huge fan of Guac and Hummus. Sounds good though! Raw is sooo yummy, and, yah, when I went there and saw prices, I opted for the sample platter over the salad because I figured I could make the salad at home and wanted to try something I couldn’t. They’re other stuff is really really good and very filling.
I’ve tried their red pepper corn chips before, those were delicious!
that salad looks so delicious! and i love those little containers..so cute and nice for on the go eats!
That’s what I love – you can take them to work or school, or on road trips!
The salad looks great, but $12!? Agree with you there, too much!
Those single serving packets are such a good idea! I love guacamole but can’t justify buying an entire container of it, because it goes bad before I can finish it!
WAY too much for a salad! Haha won’t be making that mistake again.
definitely hummus! It’s the most versatile and goes with EVERYTHING!
I agree! I wish I’d had a sweet potato left over or I’d have put it on that for part of dinner!
I can’t pick one of those!! I eat hummus, guac, and salsa almost everyday!
I know, it was hard to choose!
Guac hummus or salsa? Tough call…I’d probably say guacamole though. I could eat that stuff at every meal (when I was in Mexico, I’m pretty sure that I did)
Haha guac everyday sounds good to me!
I have to pick guac although I love my salsa too! I’ve actually never had hummus. I really want to try it!
omg you MUST try hummus!!!! MUST MUST MUST!
That salad does look delicious, but you’re right, 12 bucks is a little ridiculous! I would have to go with guac being my favorite among those three… All are great though!
haha definitely a bit much for a simple salad.
Question number 2 is tough! I would say guacamole comes first and hummus and salsa are tied!
Hummus, guac and salsa are like the 3 best things ever so which one I choose really depends on what I’m eating it on. If the answer is a spoon, then definitely hummus 🙂 I am also quite familiar with paying a hefty premium for healthy foods. I hate it! Why can’t they subsidize the good stuff and tax the junk??
I agree! It’s always the healthy food that’s the most expensive.
I love those little single servings. Those would go really well in my husband’s lunch! I will have to investigate at our local new Whole Foods. We are a big fan of the Chef Earl’s brand in general so I’m sure these will be a hit. Thanks for sharing!
Definitely check them out, they’re so easy for traveling with!
Lemon water is so good for you, I used to be in that routine too, but I need to start it back up !
I hope I can keep it up, I’m on day 4! haha
Eeeeeeeee so tough since I love them all, but guac is my favorite I think…put it on just about anything!
Yum all that looks soo good! Hummus & guac would have to be tied for me, there is no way I could choose.
I love Chicago Raw but you’re right, it is incredibly over priced!
Haha yea, it probably cost them all of $2 to make that salad… tops.
I certainly have to switch up between hummus, guac, and salsa. Our family has guacamole at pretty much EVERY function, so I’ve hit my limit. However, I could go for any of those with a spicy kick 🙂
The spice really added something to it! I loved it, just finished off my last bit!
Hummus is the best! I need some again 🙂
I hate overpriced salads–so lame that healthy food is more expensive. I try to not eat out too much b/c it makes me so mad. Hah. happy Wednesday!
I know, it would have barely cost a thing to make the same salad at home!
yay! so glad you are enjoying them. And about that hummus, i have a slight addiction. I fear i’d eat the whole pack in one sitting if its that good.
Haha I couldn’t buy a tub of the hummus, it would be gone too quickly!
I would have to say guacamole, but hummus is a close second!
Your dinner looks great! I love how your dinner is full of carbs and your “dessert” is where you get your protein. Haha. Backwards, but awesome 🙂
Hummus is awesome! My favorite hummus flavor is Sabra supremely spicy. My favorite local product at my grocery store is Mama Jess Pasta Sauce. They are based in St. Charles, IL (a suburb about 1 hour west of the city).
I have been wanting to try the Blueberry Jam tea… how was it?
I liked it, but mine tasted weak, I would have preferred it stronger so I could taste it better!
oh man that chef earl stuff looks amazing,
I definitely want to find those products- I love that they don’t have to be refrigerated and they would be amazing as take along snacks! All your eats looks fantastic as usual!
[…] when I reviewed Chef Earl’s products a couple weeks ago? Well, the lovely people at Good Foods would like one of my readers to receive […]