I’ve been all over the easy meals of food tossed between two pieces of carby goodness. Last night’s dinner featured a fabulous quesadilla and today’s lunch featured one of the best sandwiches ever.

As you know, I have wanted to branch out in trying new things for our dinners. I easily get into ruts where we will make the same things over and over. However, I don’t have the creative mind for the kitchen to come up with completely new and different styles and recipes each week. To simplify, I try to have "themed” dinners for various nights, then switch up what I make. It makes it easier for my limited cooking brain to handle. One of those “themes” is sandwich night.

Recently, I have branched out from the classic sandwiches and tried new things, like my roasted eggplant panini. It still makes for an easy meal, but at least its different  too. Last night I went for goat cheese and veggie quesadilla. Yes, it tasted as good as it sounds. And it was super easy to prepare!

I sautéed up some onions and mushrooms. After they softened, I added a couple handfuls of spinach to wilt down.

While the spinach was cooking down, I spread a couple tablespoons of a herbed olive goat cheese on a whole wheat tortilla.

I topped another tortilla with the veggie mixture and then placed it back in the pan.

Topped it with the goat cheese tortilla and cooked it up a bit to get melty on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside. Served up for a simple, healthy dinner.

As much as I enjoyed that quesadilla dinner, it didn’t quite compare to my sandwich for lunch today. A classic BLT with avocado is mighty tasty. And the fact that it came as part of a lunch date with a good friend and her little man made it even better.

Some of you may remember Em from her old blog HomeCookedEm. We became good friends over the past year and bonded over our pregnancies together. She welcomed her boy to the world 3 weeks before baby B made his grand ice-storm appearance. We finally managed to get out with the wee ones and have some bonding time today. We hit up an old favorite – the sandwich shop Which ‘Wich.

I love how you can custom build your sandwich with so many different toppings and combos! Just look at that board of options. I originally thought to try a hummus + pesto combo, but I recently saw someone feature a BLT with avocado. YUM! That combo sounded perfect today. And it was.

That beauty would be a BLT with avocado, olives, pepperoncinis, mushrooms, deli mustard, and onions. I want another, but I guess my stir-fry dinner will have to do.

Question of the Evening – What type of meal can you never get sick of because of its endless possibilities? Salads? Stir-fries? Oats? Frozen yogurt? 😉

Sticking with the plan isn’t the only thing that took up some of my thoughts while at the gym last night. I also found myself in a moment of weakness sucked into that dangerous black hole: comparison.

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I was going about my Couch to 5K workout happily – feeling strong, healthy, and fit. I had a fantastic day earlier, thanks to B sleeping better and over the last week getting into a solid routine that makes juggling two much easier. [Side note: he even slept from 8 to 1 and then from 2 to 6 last night. Heaven!] I had confidence in what I have already accomplished fitness wise oozing from my pores. I love my body and it amazes me in all it can do. Then, it happened. She showed up.

So, there’s this chick at my gym. A lot of her fitness persona reminds me of myself 1.5 years ago when I felt at my personal best physically. Her body is very comparable to the physique I call my “happy place”. The workouts she completes resemble my favorite types of workouts and the way I love to challenge myself. Her energy and vibe appear so natural as she smiles and happily connects with other members over their workouts. And I found myself very bothered by this.

I caught myself saying things of annoyance about her in my head. Critiquing what she was wearing or calling her a flirt for chatting with some of the guys. Then it dawned on me. I was only doing these things out of jealousy caused by comparing myself. I had no need to think such things. She looked good. One of the guys she chatted with is her husband and his friends! They were talking about workouts – not flirting! Evidently my thoughts were completely jealousy related.

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The comparison trap and jealousy caused by it lead me to momentarily lose the satisfaction and appreciation of my body and achievements right now. Once I recognized that, I forced myself to stop. I don’t like to think negatively. I was happy just moments before and shouldn’t forget those great feelings so easily.

Then, I turned that jealousy into a positive. I remember I am working back to that goal and I have full faith that I can achieve those things again with ample time. I have the dedication and the love of fitness to do so. I also remembered that treating myself with respect and being happy with the journey were a key part to that success after Makenzie. I can’t lose that same mindset for this journey. And I won’t. I finished out my workout yet again feeling healthy and confident. Yet again believing in myself and loving my body for the amazing things it has done (creating beautiful children) and that it continues to do (getting back in shape so easily). Black hole averted.

Question of the Day – What do you do when you find yourself in the comparison trap or feeling jealous?