Weekly Eats {More from Atlanta}

Let’s hear it for short weeks!  I guess today is technically like a Wednesday since my last day of work for the week is tomorrow?  Who knows, but I’ll take it.  All I know is that I’m excited for my return to Two A Day Tuesday tonight.  Liz and I have been separated for far too long.  If you are around, come for a double before celebrating for the fourth.  I promise it will be worth your while.

Weekly Eats

As you guys know, last week I was on the road for work.  Typically that means a LOT of meals out, which can definitely add up to a lot of extra calories.  Typically I try to abide by my one out of three rule (bread, drink, or a dessert… but not all three); however this week it was more like two out of three.  Not every single night, but most nights I did eat either some type of bread product AND get a drink.  Since I was able to get some solid workouts in, I was okay with my decision and had fun with Patrice, but I definitely don’t want to get into this habit.  I was happy for that “clean Monday feeling” yesterday and for a week where I won’t be having an alcoholic beverage every single night!  Although with the holiday this week, we shall see.

Here’s the rundown of my food highlights:

Lunches

Sandwiches galore!  Rising Roll did not disappoint:

California turkey… turkey, pear, and goat cheese… and a grilled chicken and portobello panini.  All on multi-grain.  Looks like by the end of the week I got bored of photographing my lunches, but they were both grilled chicken.

Dinners were definitely the highlight though.

Monday
A group go to for Atlanta travel, Seasons 52.  We ordered the double hummus for an appetizer, which came with mint edamame hummus and roasted red pepper hummus.

For my entrée, I ordered the lemongrass salmon on top of organic field lettuce, pineapple, mango, jicama, and toasted sesame dressing.  SO good.  Unpictured I did make a good dessert decision and ordered a little fruit cup.

Tuesday
We tried a new place called Park Tavern in Piedmont Park.  We got to sit outside, and there were some bootcamp classes going on right near us.  I was trying to sneak some peeks for some new moves!  Anyways, I ordered the pan roasted crab cakes over a salad and topped with pico de gallo.

I also ordered a side corn and black bean salad and added that into the mix.  Topped with fresh avocado cilantro vinaigrette, this was right up my alley!  After dinner, we strolled through the park, which was perfect.

Wednesday
Wednesday was our longest day and the one that didn’t get off to such a great start.  Perfect night for Mexican and margaritas, if you ask me.  Tin Lizzy’s had an hour wait, so we ended up trying a new Mexican place instead, Nuevo Laredo.  I ordered shrimp fajitas on wheat tortillas after chowing down on chips and salsa.

And margs were a given!  This prickly pear flavor was to die for.  That is, if you can even see it in this picture next to Patrice’s drink the size of her head!  How funny is that?!

Thursday
Another excellent meal, this time at Brio Tuscan Grille.  I loved this place when Sheila and I went in March, and I really wanted to go back.  I had my second favorite drink of the week, the white peach sangria.  Loved.

And for my meal, the salmon griglia.

The rest of the week I ate the healthier snacks that I stocked up on at Trader Joe’s when we arrived.  Basically bananas, Greek yogurts, unsalted cashews, Clif bars, and apples.

I also housed these on the plane ride home:

Nom. Nom. Nom.

Friday
Tim was also traveling last week, so by the time we both got in from our trips, there was no way we felt like anything homecooked.  On Friday night we ended up going out to eat.  I wasn’t exactly in the mood to go out again since I went out all week, but it beat having to make something myself.  We grabbed a pizza and a salad at Za in Arlington.  I’ve always wanted to try it there since my girlfriends and I joke about za all the time instead of saying pizza.

For our salad, we ordered a little tower of avocado, black bean, tomato, red onion, cheddar cheese, pickled jalapeño (yes I could eat this!), red pepper and cilantro with cumin lime vinaigrette and tortilla crunch on the top.

And for our pizza – grilled chicken, broccoli, caramelized onion, fresh garlic, diced tomato, EVOO, and four cheeses.  Yum.  Hit the spot.

Saturday
On Saturday we went over to Joe and Cate’s house for a BBQ, but I didn’t take a picture of a single thing!  There were cheese and crackers, guac, burgers, a few salads, and more.  We brought a caprese salad over.  It was nice to see them because we never do anymore!  Sadface.

For this week, our rough meal plan for dinner includes:

• Sunday: Shrimp and veggie skewers
• Monday:  Eggplant and chickpea salad
• Tuesday:  Salmon and swiss chard
• Wednesday:  Bok choy veggie wraps
• Thursday:  4th of July BBQ
• Friday:  Leftovers of some kind
• Saturday:  TBD!

All right, friends, I think that’s enough food talk.  Time to tackle the day!

Anyone making anything fun for the 4th of July this weekend?

If you are looking for any red, white, and blue recipe ideas, check out my Holiday Eats page.  I have a few posted there!

Atlanta Eats

One thing is for certain in Atlanta.  There is certainly not a shortage of good food!  I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how awesome all of my Buckhead meals have been this week.  I don’t normally blog everything I eat (snooze alert), but I thought since this was a travel week it would be fun to keep track of.

Here’s a little peek at what I’ve eaten while on the road:

Breakfasts

• Monday:  Multi-grain toast with almond butter and sliced banana at home before my flight
• Tuesday:  Oatmeal at the restaurant in the hotel, with raspberry yogurt, walnuts, and raisins mixed in.  Does anyone else love hotel oatmeal or is it just me?
• Wednesday:  Vanilla bean Greek yogurt from Trader Joe’s, with sliced banana.  I met Sheila downstairs for breakfast, only to find her eating the exact same thing.  I had to snap a picture.

• Thursday:  Wasn’t very hungry first thing in the morning, just ate a mango yogurt from Trader Joe’s.
• Friday:  Another bowl of oatmeal this morning!

Lunches

This was the week of the turkey sandwich!  Monday was an airport day, so I grabbed a turkey & swiss whole wheat wrap from Gourmet On the Go.  I anticipate doing the same later today for the flight home.  Tuesday and Thursday I enjoyed the most amazing California Turkey sandwich from a gourmet sandwich shop called Rising Roll.  It had provolone, lettuce, tomato and guacamole on a multi-grain bulkie roll and I’m still thinking about it.  Since I didn’t eat a huge breakfast on Thursday, I also got a cup of white bean chicken chili to go with my sandwich.  Wednesday we tried a different sandwich shop nearby, and it was actually disgusting.  I will pay the extra $3 any day for better turkey.

Snacks

On Monday we stopped in at Trader Joe’s to pick up some extras for the week.  I love stocking up on healthy snacks!

Dinners

The fun part!  I’m just realizing I ordered seafood all week.  I just love it so much.

Monday
Everyone in my group had been RAVING about Seasons 52, and it did not disappoint.  A fresh grill and wine bar, everything on the menu is seasonally inspired and under 475 calories.  Love, love, love!  Sheila and I split the ripe plum tomato flat bread with fresh basil, roasted garlic essence and melted Parmesan cheese to start.  We both ordered the cedar plank roasted salmon with fingerling potatoes, vegetables, and fresh dill sauce.  For dessert I ate a little fruit cup.  The best part? I read online there is one opening in Chestnut Hill in fall of this year.

Tuesday
Mexican at Tin Lizzy’s Cantina, another group favorite.  I splurged a bit on chips and salsa and raspberry margaritas.  How could I not?  I must say that Sheila and I did a good job limiting our chip intake though – and these were some good chips!  For my salad, I built my own and loaded it right up with mixed greens, corn, black beans, diced red peppers, pumpkin seeds, tortilla strips, grilled shrimp, avocado, tomatoes, and feta.

Wednesday
We checked out The Atlantic Fish Market.  I couldn’t decide whether to try a fish I had never tried before, or go with a tried and true.  I decided on tried and true!  Sheila and I split a jumbo crab cake for an appetizer, and for my entrée I went with the broiled sea scallops with a fresh veggie medley and whipped sweet potatoes.

Thursday
Finally, last night we decided to try a new place that the others in the group hadn’t mentioned before.  On our drive to work every day, we passed a Tuscan Grille called Brio so we looked up the menu and decided it looked awesome.  Awesome it was! Since I worked out every day Sunday – Thursday, I decided that I deserved this awesome glass of white peach sangria and some of that amazing looking bread.  Also ate lots of feta!  I got the Shrimp Mediterranean which was grilled jumbo shrimp on a bed of orzo and farro pilaf, broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach, feta and pesto vinaigrette.  And a side salad.

I better start planning some awesome meals for when I’m back home next week so I don’t go into withdrawals!

Have you ever traveled to a place where you enjoyed mostly every single meal you had?

If you are celebrating Easter this weekend, and need an idea for a recipe, check out my Birds Nest Cupcakes.  They are so cute and perfect for an Easter dessert!