Dare I tell you the crazy thing that happened to me last night? The thing that I find so hard to fathom and still cannot understand. The thing that left my stomach in knots and made me question the very essence of my being?

I forgot to do something of utmost importance. Somehow…someway…I forgot to eat dinner!!!

THE HORROR!!!!

Okay. I know I’m acting totally over the top, but it’s Friday. Have a sense of humor!

I did seriously forget to eat dinner, though. Peter had some prior obligations, so I had to go dinner and kid bedtime routines solo. I frantically got the kids bathed, fed, and settled with the million step process of bedtime…then immediately came downstairs and plopped on my comfy chair with some NASM study materials out of habit.

We usually eat dinner as a family, but I went the easy route and prepped some Annie’s Mac N Cheese for M with plans to make an egg, spinach, and mushroom scramble with a sweet potato on the side for me after the kiddos went to bed. An easy, filling, and delicious dinner in solitude. But I honestly forgot as I got sucked into studying…and then Bachelor Pad.

I had a pretty filling snack in the afternoon (a large green smoothie and a mint chocolate Luna Protein bar). I also have been adjusting to my much lessened hunger levels after stopping nursing. It’s insane! I used to have a bottomless pit for a stomach while nursing and suddenly I find myself needing to remind myself to eat. It’s not that I don’t get hungry – I just don’t get as noticeably hungry as I did while nursing. Unless it’s a long run day, of course.  

I will just have to get used to my new hunger signals. Don’t worry. If there is one thing I don’t do…it’s skimp on food. I love eating too much!

Which is why when my stomach woke me up growling (duh!) at 5:30 am and I realized the error of my ways, I obliged and gave it breakfast much earlier than normal.

Oats with peanut butter, banana, raisins, and NuNaturals vanilla stevia liquid drops. Fill me up with happiness. I will likely be having lots of “fill me up” moments today. My hunger usually skyrockets if I don’t eat enough one day. I’m down with that!

• Have you ever forgotten to eat a meal?
• Be sure to enter the NuNaturals giveaway if you haven’t yet!

Another small group meeting at church meant another dinner of combined forces…aka (mostly) free food.

Our group has started doing a salad bar dinner when we meet for our “Grow Group” study mid-week. It fits perfectly because everyone brings different salad toppings, dressings, etc to contribute to the salad bar, so it ends up being a good spread of items without breaking the bank. Or making anyone cook. Both of which I greatly appreciate.

I loaded up my plate with some mixed lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives, and garbanzo beans. Then, I topped it all off with a light, yet creamy, Sweet Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette. That’s what I’m talking about, baby.

I went back to pile my veggie mountain with a bit more olives, cucumbers, and garbanzo beans mid-way through digging in. So delicious. I can certainly get used to this! And we’re even thinking of starting a different themed salad every week we meet – Santa Fe, Fruit & Nuts, Goat Cheese & Beets! Okay, I threw that last one in there. I don’t know how well that combo would go over. Sadly. Either way, I love that our group has come together to make sharing a meal not only cheap and easy, but healthy too!

In addition to our salad bar, my friend Danielle brought a small glazed chocolate cake she picked up to share.

kind of like this one [source]

Despite my friend’s kindness in bringing a dessert, I had to pass. You all know I only love cake if it includes gobs of frosting, so I knew I wouldn’t feel this cake. Sometimes it’s hard because I want to extend the courtesy of eating what someone contributed at a meal, but I also stand by eating what satisfies me and not eating just because something is there. Luckily Danielle and I are *likethis* so I knew she wouldn’t take offense when I politely declined a slice. And even though she knows I would go grab myself a serving of ice cream when I got home instead.

• Any good salad theme recommendations you have for our group?
• Do you ever feel the pressure to be polite with food? How do you handle it?