It’s been pretty cold lately, and with the change in weather comes several personal challenges.
Comfort food. Why is it called that? It certainly doesn’t leave you feeling comforted. For all intents and purposes, it should be called UNcomfortable food, because of how it leaves you feeling. But then, who doesn’t crave warm foods during the cold months? Sure, there are healthy hot dishes, but soup gets old, and suddenly I find myself drawing a blank on the meal creating front and resorting to some stereotypical (aka less than healthy) alternatives. Because of this, the entire winter season becomes my personal Top Chef challenge…four months!! Kinda makes those quick fire challenges seem like small potatoes.
The second issue I have during the winter months is getting motivated to leave my blanket fortress in my toasty warm apartment to exercise. Although I have never been one to live a sedentary life (I get completely stir crazy), I also prefer my bed and a book Bravo marathon to the brrr.
So, as November merges into December and January, I find it a REAL struggle to put my healthy lifestyle first. But guess what? This season I am vowing to make it different. I refuse to stay pent up on the UWS neglecting my cold salads and fresh fruit. And I’m making a point of declaring it here and now because I have just spent the past day in PJs with a jar of peanut butter and 365 wheat thins. NOT cute.
Who’s with me?
On that note, I leave you with a recent favorite.
Guess who finally decided to jump on the oat bran wagon?
I added pumpkin and an apple, and yes, it was so easy (even a caveman hippie can do it).
Deeee-lish. It was such a different texture than I was expecting. Not oatmeal like at all. I really liked it, and I think I may be making this a lot in the future. I love how just a little bit grows into a huge pot when it’s cooked on the stove. Plus, it’s warm, and healthy, so get used to it, because it will probably be reappearing often over the winter months 
I can’t say the same about this uninspired PB+carob chip sammie. Yeah, it was tasty, but original, not so much. Or this frozen pizza dinner…
This was my first time trying an Amy’s pizza, but since I love all the rest of the Amy’s products, I had no doubt about this one either. Popped it in the oven, and 10 minutes later, the most beautiful aroma filled the apartment.
I tried to green it up with a side salad.
Mmmm…nothing like a warm doughy crust. The sauce and cheese were ok, nothing especially amazing, but the crust! YUM. Love me some carbs.
I enjoyed it with a glass of vino, and yes, that’s a “Bitch” bottle of wine. One of my girlfriends called calls me bitches (as in “awww, bitches, did you finish off the entire loaf of bread”). That may or may not have been a phrase constantly uttered in our apartment. I digress…
I recently received this birthday gift in the mail from her. Classy, huh. Speaking of birthday packages (get your mind out of the gutter), my girl K sent me a lovely box of yummy munchies, too.
Score! You may have seen some of these sneak into my lunches already…
Oh, and before I forget, if you want to win a new appliance (bullet, spiralizer, the options are endless!), check out this site!
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been dying to try that pizza and totally chickened out. I will join you in your challenge. I slipped up bad this weekend and out of total laziness ate meat and I feel more guilty about that then the cupcakes I guzzled down!
ahhhhhhhhhhh that’s the SAME way I lurv my oatbran!!! pumpkin + an apple. its perfection. add some pb2 and your life will be complete.
winter is hard but you kin doo it gurl!
hahaha and I mean to tell you that I’ve been given that wine.
…several times..
Amy’s pizza crusts are especially amazing in my opinion!
I’m with ya! Once I kick this little headache, I’m dedicated to working out in spite of the cold weather! (My Precor’s in the garage – can’t make it much easier for myself)
I was a latecomer to the oat bran too and totally expected it to be mush. I love it with a zillion things added in: raisins while it’s cooking, nuts or AB (or both), tons of cinnamon, etc.
Amy’s also makes an awesome (or maybe I’m just used to it) Rice Crust pizza if you have any gluten intolerant bitches – know what I mean? The spinach one is especially good.
Have a great week!
When it’s cold, I want nothing but to stay in bed, watch Glee or Bravo and eat cookies and mashed potatoes. We’ll get through this!
Oooh I need me some oat bran! Thanks for the reminder.
Have a fab Sunday night and Monday!! Love youuuu.
You are not alone with the winter challenges. I want bread and cookies when it’s cold. Not so healthy. Good lookin’ oatbran, though – you may have just nudged me onto the bandwagon.
Please do not mention the dreaded “W” word.
I remember the first time I made oat bran … I think it grows inside you even more than it does in the pot / microwave!! I did not know this then. Not very comfortable. :p
<3 <3
I have yet to make the oat bran! But yours looks awesome:D
Welcome to the wonderful world of oat bran. I loves it.
I have tried only the roasted vegetable pizza from Amy…but you make that kind look so delicious I might just have to expand my horizons!
Bitch wine. There are so many plays on words I willl just leave it. Suffice to say, I think it’s fabulous! Not b/c you’re a bitch. But b/c you’re a winemaker! Bet you dont have that vintage at Di….Vineyards!
Nitey nite
Love the bitch wine!
I’m with you, I just don’t want healthy food right now! I want to stuff my face with warm, doughy food and never walk out of my house. But that’s winter for ya. I’ve just started working out after a 1 1/2 week hiatus, and it’s going pretty good. I’m proud of myself
Haha, bitch wine. Love it.
I’m not loving the winter weather- it’s freezing here and I have no heating! So yes, warm foods are a must. Oat bran is on my list for when I run out of oats…a newly opened 2kg bag of oats so may be a little while.
I cannot believe there is a wine called Bitch! That is too funny.
Strangely, despite it being November, it was sunny and nearly 70 here all weekend! Amazing fall weather, and I am loving it!
Courtney
I will definitely join you in that challenge as well. Just looking outside makes me depressed..
I can visualize your blanket fortress because I feel like I live in one as well. They are the saving grace of NYC winter.
I definitely need to jump aboard this challenge because I have the saaaame winter woes. My gym is only 5 blocks from my house–so you’d think it wouldn’t be an issue… but alas, the blanket fortress… Ay, dios.
I feel like if you and I were ever to meet, it might be bad news for our healthy lifestyles. As in, I envision us bundled in our respective fortresses, entranced by Bravo/Food Network marathons, tubs of Sabra in hand… Is it creepy that I “envision” us? Probs.
Oh, also. You NEEEED to try Amy’s no cheese Roasted Vegetable pizza. It will change your life. Promise.
i need that bottle of wine in my life…and the fact that bitch is repeating is marvelous.
i will join you on the challenge…besides winter sports, its hard for me to go workout too, so i am right with ya. here is to getting creative this winter!
Loved this post. The food looked great! yum yum yum!!
Isn’t oat bran great? I love how filling it is and it’s amazing how long it keeps me satisfied.
I’m not a fan of winter either, although I do have my workout gear and machines (treadmill, stationary bike, weights…) inside my house so that helps with my motivation.
oat bran is totally oatmeals prettier older sister.. though I symphasize with the oatmeal – considering I have two strikingly gorgeous older sisters. Sometimes when I eat oatmeal I feel a connection to it.
i’m really strange
Lovely bottle isn’t it? Actually, Sandra was uber excited when she first purchased it, but needless to say not the most bueno of flavors, but cutest of packaging, si? I’ve sent her a mensage to check out today’s blog…hehe
p.s. My boss today was talking about how he’s just been watching day time shows since being sick and discovered Dr. Oz. Apparently on the show there was a guy who was completely overweight and healthy and they put him on a 28 day strictly vegan diet and lost 30lbs! So for inspiration, I’m going to try and get my other boss on this same diet for 28 days and I will acompany him in the challenge in hopes of getting healthy. I shall be looking to your blog more so for food inspiration more than ever! I’m pretty excited! Oh, but I may have to take a break for Turkey day, I mean, I’m Filipino and I can’t deny the fam bam the opportunity to fatten me up one day out of the year, right? Besos!
Oh girl, I am WITH you! This will be my third Minnesota winter and I get the serious dreads as the cold approaches. Once that dial hits zero or below, I start hibernating like a bear.
It’s really hard to motivate yourself and eat healthy when all you want is a massive bowl of cheesy pasta every night for 4 months.
Here are some helpers:
one: yoga challenge. I dreamt it up to get back on track with working out. 3 times a week or die. I go straight from work so that I don’t have the chance to get cozy at home!
two: talking of not getting cozy, I’ve also just started running on my lunch break at work. I get to run while it’s still light out during the warmest part of the day and my evenings and lie-ins are still mine!
amazing bottle of vino
i think i need to jump on tthe oatbran bandwagon!! i do love oats but this oatbran has me intrigued and your bowl looks amazing
thanks for the review on amys pizza, i sawa that in WF the other day and wondered what it would taste like!
Wait didn’t you NEVER understand kids who didn’t eat the crusts of stuff when u were little!??..i was always liiike um i’ll take em ;D
AGREED! Working out when it’s cold is so difficult! Especially when it gets dark outside at 4 and all you want to do is huddle in comfy PJ’s and relax at home…trying not to reach for that tub of ice-cream. heheheh
There’s no shame in PB and carob sammies!! I’ve never had one myself! I do have to say though the pizza toppings look rather interesting! Are the cheese supposed be kinda….dotty? Glad you like it though!! Carbs always make my day brighter. *sigh*
Isn’t oat bran amaze? Top it with some PB and carob and you’ll be on cloud nine.
LOVE Bitch Wine! Have you heard of “Mommy’s Time Out”? My boss has that and I don’t know if it’s regional or not but the name alone just gets me.
I’m an echo (echo, echo) but Amy’s Roasted Veggie pizza is incredible. If you were Rachel Zoe, you’d die.
love those birthday packageS!!!
Excellent Article!
If I could write like this I would be well chuffed
The more I read articles of such quality as this (which is rare), the more I think there might be a future for the Web. Keep it up, as it were.
thanks for the sweet comment irma!