I went home on my lunch to check on dinner. I was making Spanish Rice in the crockpot for the first time and wanted to make sure that I put enough water in it so it didn’t burn. When I checked on it 3 hours later – it was already done! I could have had dinner at noon 🙂
I put brown rice, diced tomatoes, water, garlic and spices and some frozen veggies in the crockpot this morning and “Wa-La!” Spanish Rice!
I ate it for dinner with black beans and topped with Tapatio.
Then, I realized this dinner was too healthy/needed something so I added some shredded cheese – now it’s perfect! 
Since I was home for lunch I figured I would eat there 🙂 This reminded me of my old job where I worked from how a few days a week and would eat lunch on normal plates like a lady (kinda).
I had a veggie burger, apple and pickle…
And a BIG salad for volume. Hummus is seriously the new black.
The thing is, after eating all of this I was overly full, but I don’t think it was because I ate too much. Calorie-wise this lunch was good. But, I think I overdid it with the volume.
I had the best trail-mix for an afternoon snack. I mixed up a bunch of goodies from my cupboards – all my new faves.
After dinner I started snacking on cereal and decided to make it my dessert :)This is my new, tragic sugar cereal…As a food blogger, I should be embarrassed, but f-that I’m keeping it real. The good thing is that a serving is 1 1/2 cups 🙂
I also finished off some bars that were open “cereal style”
I also took a quick walk after work. I get antsy and need to walk after sitting for so long! Ben says I should get a job as a Park Ranger because I would be in Heaven if I could just walk around all day 🙂 I say I should get a job as a mail-woman!
I’m putting together an Excel spreadsheet with the cost of our usual shopping list items to see where is the best place to buy them, how often I get them, etc…I’m hoping this will help budget for food 🙂
Budget questions: Do you have a food budget? How do you keep track of food spending? How often do you go to the store?
Hey chica! Matt and I budget our food by planning out our meals a week at a time. It’s kind of boring b/c there’s not much spontaneity but it def helps. That way we’re only going to the store once a week and I end up spending within a certain range each time. Also saves time by having to make less trips!
Wow, a food budget is pretty organized. I should do that since I’m sure my bill is huge, but food is basically all I splurge on(not a clothes buyer or anything) so I don’t feel too bad spending the money on the good stuff
MMM pickles!
YOu know what is weird – I work with excel all day, every day for my job (and I LOVE IT!) – but I’ve never thought to watch my budget with it! I dont have any tips/tricks but I’m sure you’ll do well!
Your Spanish rice looks awesome!!! We definitely need to find ourselves a crockpot!
Yum, that Spanish rice dish looks great! I should really invest in a slow coooker.
I love your comment that “hummus is the new black”, haha:)
Like Amanda, I make my own hummus, but the only reason for that is that we don’t get Sabras in Germany (boohoo) and I haven’t found one I really like here…
as for the budget, I started on it last year.
But I have up on comparing prices of different stores – if I end up having to drive out of my way to buy something that’s only a little cheaper, it’s just not worth the money in my eyes, as I already have a crazy schedule…
Be proud of your cereal snacks! I eat cereal all the time 🙂
… and honeycombs is my favorite of all… I will be checking out this cinna-gram one !!!! Oh, I am so excited right now I wish I had it
1 1/2 cups per serving? Hell yeah!!! I just started budgeting, my favorite trade in has been making my own almond butter and hummus. Then I tend to shop in bulk for things I use the fastest (frozen fruit & bell peppers).