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When it doubt, eat the rainbow

January 13, 2016 By Ashley 54 Comments

Talking about food today, my friends. I don’t know about you, but for me, during the weekends, deciding where to go out to dinner or lunch can be some of the toughest decisions I make. (Real-world issues here, people.) So when it comes to the weekdays, I try to eliminate that problem by making my meals at home and sticking to a few regular staples in my rotation. I hate standing in front of the fridge with no idea what to pull out. That’s why I have a few fail-safe items I keep on hand and can put together.

And how do I put a plate together? I think about colors. Because when you’re wondering what to eat, it’s always a good rule of thumb to think about consuming a variety of colors. Some greens, some yellows, maybe some reds, purples and even healthy browns. Clearly, that’s not going to be achievable every single time you eat, but at least a few meals a day should have those valuable vegetables and fruits included. 

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it’s time for my weekly “What I Ate Wednesday” post, in which I’ve mostly tried to stick to the rainbow rule.

This week’s “What I Ate Wednesday” recap

Whether you use these posts as inspiration or judgment, almost every week, I like to share a full day of all of my meals to give you a glimpse into what’s on my plate. It’s nothing more than an opportunity for you curious eaters to see some real food in action.

What I Ate Wednesday via A Lady Goes

I’m sharing a look at all of my meals from this past Tuesday, which was a healthy weekday featuring lots of colorful food.

Pre-breakfast at 5:30 a.m.

Early morning date bite by A Lady Goes West

One coconut-covered date, along with a to-go mug of hot green tea is all I needed when I first woke up to power me through teaching a super early class at Orangetheory. Yes, Rudy was right there waiting to see what I pulled out of the fridge.

Breakfast at 7:30 a.m.

Oats and tea for breakfast by A Lady Goes West

I came home for a real breakfast before heading back out to teach two more classes. I dined on overnight oats, which are back on the regular in my neck of the woods. This mixture includes plain Greek yogurt (2 percent), rolled oats, vanilla coconut milk, chia seeds, veggie powder and cinnamon. In the morning, I pulled the container out, topped it with a banana and ate it with some hot green tea, sweetened with vanilla coconut milk and stevia.

Lunch at 12 p.m.   

Veggie lunch by A Lady Goes West

Talk about beauty right here. You’re looking at some broccoli roasted in coconut oil (I roast my veggies at 450 degrees in the oven to give them a little brown burnt crisp, which is how I enjoy them), one runny egg, a California veggie burger and half of an avocado. I could eat this meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and never get sick of it. Carbs, protein and healthy fat, all on one colorful plate. Amen.

Afternoon snack at 5 p.m.

Apple and nut butter snack by A Lady Goes West

I usually buy organic Fuji apples from Safeway, but because I did my latest round of grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s, I ended up with a bag of small Gala apples. Truth be told, they are too small for my liking. I had the apple with a couple tablespoons of crunchy almond butter, and it hit the spot, although I would’ve enjoyed a bit more fruit with each bite.

Dinner at 8:30 p.m.

HelloFresh dinner via A Lady Goes West

This plate consists of panko-crusted chicken, crispy yukon potatoes, mixed greens and creamy chive dressing. A friend of mine sent me a code for a free week of meals from HelloFresh. While the first meal I made was a bit of a fail (tasteless, hard to prepare and not what it was supposed to be), this meal was better. The instructions aren’t as clear as some of the other services I’ve tried, but the packaging is the best, and the meals look and smell great. We’ve got one more to make tomorrow, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out. By the way, if you’re into the convenience of having fresh ingredients sent to you in one handy box each week making meal-time easier, HelloFresh is worth a shot. Use the code F8QC64 for $40 off your first order.

Dessert at 9 p.m.

Small date bite for dessert by A Lady Goes West

For a little sweet treat, I had this chocolate-covered date, as well as some vanilla coconut milk to end the night. Wasn’t part of my plan to eat the rainbow, but was still a good bite. Always complemented by a little white dog looking on. And that’s it. Hope you have a great day, friends!

Eat the rainbow for #WhatIAteWednesday #food #eeeeeats ... Click To Tweet

Check out more food posts

Why the food pictures? Each week, “What I Ate Wednesday” is a chance for bloggers to showcase their eats to their readers. If you want to see more food recaps to get some meal inspiration, check out some of my posts from the past here. Eat up!

Questions of the day

What’s the best thing you’ve eaten lately?

How’s your week going so far?

Filed Under: Food, What I Ate Wednesday Tagged With: food, healthy meals, What I Ate Wednesday

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About Ashley

I'm a mom and fitness instructor in Charlotte, North Carolina. And A Lady Goes West is where I share fitness, wellness and clean beauty tips, as well as stories from my life.
 
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Comments

  1. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says

    January 13, 2016 at 3:19 am

    Such good advice! I think we often forget the basics in our busy lives and those chocolate covered dates…yum!
    Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious recently posted…WIAW…Why I Wake-Up Early To WorkoutMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:08 am

      Coming to a “Friday Favorites” near you soon … 🙂

      Reply
  2. Susie @ SuzLyfe says

    January 13, 2016 at 4:19 am

    We always know that I am not feeling well (or that we are REALLY low on ingredients!) if everything that I eat is the same color! I say that #idontdoquiet and neither does my food 😀
    Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Protecting My Healthy Body Image During Time OffMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:08 am

      I bet you’re finding great colors in Cabo! JEALOUS!!! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Amanda @ .running with spoons. says

    January 13, 2016 at 5:14 am

    Boo for small apples! But heck.to.the.YES for anything-covered dates <3 I try to make sure that I'm eating a variety of different colours on a daily basis, but I'm thinking I need to ease up on the orange foods because between carrots, kabocha, oranges, and papaya, I think I'm going to end up turning orange soon 😆
    Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…healthy chocolate lover’s blender browniesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:05 am

      Hi Amanda! I like orange foods too — mostly sweet potatoes, but yes, more colors the better. 🙂 hahah I think I’m overdoing the greens lately … oh well! Happy eating!

      Reply
  4. Gretchen | Gretchruns says

    January 13, 2016 at 5:21 am

    I’ve been loving dates lately! I never tried them before, but I finally did and can’t stop eating them. SO delicious!
    Gretchen | Gretchruns recently posted…Pantone Color Of the YearMy Profile

    Reply
    • Susan says

      January 13, 2016 at 6:00 am

      Me too Gretchen! I really have to practice portion control when it comes to dates.

      Reply
      • Ashley says

        January 13, 2016 at 8:03 am

        I have to put the container away after I take one out before I eat it, otherwise I’m having four to five each time hehe!!

        Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:04 am

      Yes, oh yes, Gretchen! They are addicting!! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Hilary says

    January 13, 2016 at 5:25 am

    I love your overnight oats, I am just curious how the chia seeds make a difference, I just ordered my first bag and can’t wait to play around with chia pudding but I’m interested in what they do as far as texture/volume etc for oats!
    Hilary recently posted…Lemon Raspberry Protein WafflesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Heather @ Life In Leggings says

      January 13, 2016 at 7:22 am

      Oh man, I can’t make overnight oats without them! They really hold everything together 🙂
      Heather @ Life In Leggings recently posted…The Best (Vegan) Chocolate Chip CookiesMy Profile

      Reply
      • Ashley says

        January 13, 2016 at 8:02 am

        Ditto!

        Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:04 am

      Hi Hilary! YES! They add a little volume. Once they are wet they expand and you can’t taste them, but they make the oats a little more thick. LOVE THEM! SO full of nutrients too. Enjoy!

      Reply
  6. Jen @ Pretty Little Grub says

    January 13, 2016 at 6:41 am

    I love my broccoli the same way, or any vegetable really. The more crispy and crunchy the better.
    Jen @ Pretty Little Grub recently posted…How to Make a Healthy Power BowlMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:11 am

      I found your comment in spam, so weird. And I LOVE crispy veggies!! 🙂 Glad you do too. Smells up the house though.

      Reply
  7. Heather @ Life In Leggings says

    January 13, 2016 at 7:21 am

    Isn’t it funny that our furry friends just KNOW when we’re pulling out a treat (for us, not them)? Without fail, all three of ours show up any time I’m heading into the kitchen. It’s so hard not to pull out something for them, too! Looks like a great day of eats. Happy Hump Day!
    Heather @ Life In Leggings recently posted…The Best (Vegan) Chocolate Chip CookiesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:02 am

      Rudy is basically two inches from me all day, so especially when I’m in the kitchen heheh! Glad to know your pets do the same.

      Reply
  8. Jessie R says

    January 13, 2016 at 7:34 am

    Looks like a yummy dinner! I made Juli Bauer (PaleOMG) buffalo chicken casserole (http://paleomg.com/sneak-peek-recipe-from-juli-bauers-paleo-cookbook-buffalo-chicken-casserole/) on Sunday … YUM! A little too time consuming to be a week-night meal, but great for the weekends.

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:02 am

      I will check it out, Jessie. Thank you!! Sunday is a good time to do those more intensive recipes for sure.

      Reply
  9. Carly @ Fine Fit Day says

    January 13, 2016 at 8:22 am

    I love that you use the rainbow approach for your meals! I made date, almond and coconut balls for treats this week and they’re amazing. And your lunch looks like something I would totally have on repeat. 🙂
    Carly @ Fine Fit Day recently posted…Your Support Network – An A-Team for Your A-GameMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:31 am

      Ohhh YUMMY, Carly! Those balls sound good. I love dates alone or in basically any recipe.

      Reply
  10. The Food Hunter says

    January 13, 2016 at 8:27 am

    great advice

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:31 am

      Thanks, Theresa. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Anna says

    January 13, 2016 at 8:30 am

    Coconut and chocolate covered dates… Amazing! I need to find these 🙂
    Anna recently posted…WIAW: Citrus Sick DayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:32 am

      They’re pretty easy to make, too! I’ll toss the recipe on my blog soon, but I’d just google one, which might work just as well. Might be worth a shot. 🙂
      Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth recently posted…At Home Cardio Workout & Mom’s BirthdayMy Profile

      Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:32 am

      I’ll have them on “Friday Favorites” this week! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth says

    January 13, 2016 at 8:31 am

    GENIUS rule of thumb. I remember my mother saying something similar years ago (she had a workout show on television, so we were stuck with the healthy stuff as a kid, ha.) Something great to think about as I plan my meals for the day/week. Especially as they make for much better pictures, too. 🙂

    XO, Jessica
    Jessica @ Semi-Sweet Tooth recently posted…At Home Cardio Workout & Mom’s BirthdayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:32 am

      Ha, so true, Jessica. Never thought about that until you were a blogger, right?

      Reply
  13. Emily says

    January 13, 2016 at 8:36 am

    It’s super cute to see Rudy just standing there faithfully waiting for an anticipated handout. Our dogs always do that to me, because they know that I’m a softie. 🙂
    Emily recently posted…Nourish Don’t Punish (WIAW)My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:30 am

      I don’t give Rudy people food, but I do love to give him dog treats. He gets SO excited hehehe

      Reply
  14. Liz says

    January 13, 2016 at 9:05 am

    I LOVE gala apples! Sometimes I’ll get other ones if there aren’t organic galas available (which my Whole Foods always has, but some other stores don’t!) and I never enjoy them as much. Also, I noticed your broccoli there. I will sautee broccoli in coconut oil and coconut aminos and let me just tell you, it is SO good! I don’t know if you’ve ever tried it, but it’s still pretty plain and not weirdly overpowering or anything, so it may be worth trying to mix up roasted broccoli sometimes 🙂 It’s how I stir fry veggies too, but I’m usually too lazy to cut up a ton of stuff and I prep my broccoli for work that way. Way quicker than roasting if I’m feeling lazy.
    Liz recently posted…Pregnancy Ramblings & Life ComplaintsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:29 am

      Thanks Liz! I appreciate the tip. I ALWAYS roast, but I know that sauteeing can be much faster. Haven’t tried coconut aminos yet, so I know I’m late to the party on that one.

      Reply
  15. Alyssa says

    January 13, 2016 at 10:14 am

    My dog is the exact same way haha! Anytime I’m in the kitchen, there’s a good chance she’s right at my feet 🙂 those dates sound delicious-I’ve actually never tried one, but it’s on my list of foods to buy!
    Alyssa recently posted…Blackberry Chia JamMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:29 am

      Yes, Alyssa! Beware, you can get addicted to the dates … 🙂

      Reply
  16. Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says

    January 13, 2016 at 10:44 am

    My mom always told us to eat the rainbow growing up. I think colorful food is more fun anyway!

    When are you going to Tahoe? We’ll be there the first week in Feb!
    Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Skiing, Snowboarding, and Brusing [WIAW]My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 11:24 am

      No way! We are thinking end of February, but don’t have the weekend set yet. I’m nervous to try my hand at skiing!

      Reply
  17. Marina @ Snackie Bird says

    January 13, 2016 at 11:56 am

    Dates are my favorites! Does it sound weird, if I say that my WIAW includes some dates as well? 😀
    Marina @ Snackie Bird recently posted…Что съесть в день перед экзаменомMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 12:58 pm

      Not at all! Dates are delicious, Marina. 🙂

      Reply
  18. Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says

    January 13, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    I eat my broccoli the same why – when we were little my mom would make it that way, where they get crispy crunchy, but with garlic and lemon, and added parm after. SO GOOD.
    Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday: The Cravings Are RealMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 12:57 pm

      Your Momma taught you well, Morgan. 🙂

      Reply
  19. Rachel @ RachelMcMichael.com says

    January 13, 2016 at 1:11 pm

    Yum! Everything looks so amazing – and definitely colorful!!!
    Rachel @ RachelMcMichael.com recently posted…How to Keep Your Family Healthy This YearMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:32 pm

      Thanks, Rachel! It tasted good too! Hope you’re having some good eats this week. 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…When it doubt, eat the rainbowMy Profile

      Reply
  20. Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

    January 13, 2016 at 1:35 pm

    Such pretty meals! And I’m with you on the apples- I’m not a fan of the tiny ones. (They feel like too much work to cut up for the amount of food you get haha) but I do LOVE dunking my apples in almond butter!
    Liz @ I Heart Vegetables recently posted…Tone It Up Meals: Week 2My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 13, 2016 at 8:33 pm

      HI Liz! I know! I LOVE eating apples, so it’s sad when it is over too quickly with the small ones hahha! 🙂
      Ashley recently posted…When it doubt, eat the rainbowMy Profile

      Reply
  21. Khushboo says

    January 13, 2016 at 8:48 pm

    The struggle is SO real- small apples are anything but bueno! Your meals are looking yum nonetheless- glad to see that I’m not the only one who enjoys eating the same handful of meals on rpeeat. I’m just rolling with the whole ‘If it aint broke, don’t fix it’ mindset ;)! The best thing I’ve eaten lately is the sesame-sriracha chicken I made for lunch yesterday- recipe will be on the blog soon!
    Khushboo recently posted…Dining at The TableMy Profile

    Reply
  22. Faith VanderMolen says

    January 14, 2016 at 4:54 am

    I feel like the different flavored dates are popping up everywhere! They look so good. I hope I can try them sometime…but living in China makes that a liiiitle tricky:)
    Faith VanderMolen recently posted…WIAW: A Day in my Life Living in ChinaMy Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 14, 2016 at 8:16 am

      Hi Faith! I’ve been eating covered dates for a couple years, but the variety is definitely starting to show! LOVE THEM! Hope you can find some. 🙂 If not, make your own!
      Ashley recently posted…When it doubt, eat the rainbowMy Profile

      Reply
  23. Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple says

    January 14, 2016 at 11:05 am

    Oooh those dates look yummy! And I’m totally with ya on ‘eating the rainbow’ I always feel so good when I eat lots of fruits and veggies!
    Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple recently posted…What’s the Hype about Hemp?My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 14, 2016 at 3:40 pm

      Me too, Liz!! 🙂 Happy eating to you!
      Ashley recently posted…When it doubt, eat the rainbowMy Profile

      Reply
  24. Jen @ Chase the Red Grape says

    January 14, 2016 at 10:46 pm

    Gotta love some roasted broccoli with a little char, that’s my favourite too – even more so when it’s broccolini!
    The date rolls we have here are double the size… Great in some ways but just more tempting!
    Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Currently… January 2016!My Profile

    Reply
    • Ashley says

      January 15, 2016 at 7:58 am

      Hi Jen! I like broccolini too, but I don’t seem to buy that as often. 🙂 And what brand are YOUR date roles??

      Reply
      • Jen @ Chase the Red Grape says

        January 18, 2016 at 11:40 pm

        Here in Australia the brand is ‘Golden Palm’ but I’m pretty sure they are just ones by Natures Harvest, just imported.
        No idea why we get big ones though – maybe its to compensate for the fact that we only have plain, almond, pistachio and coconut coated ones!
        Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…5 Top Tips on a Tuesday – How to stay calm when stressed!My Profile

        Reply
        • Ashley says

          January 19, 2016 at 7:21 am

          Those are still some pretty good flavors! 🙂

          Reply

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Hi, I'm Ashley. I'm a mom and fitness instructor living in Charlotte, North Carolina. I love to help you live a balanced life with no extremes, making sure you never skip a rest day. A Lady Goes West is where I share my workouts, simple meals, clean beauty tips and wellness insight with you. Find out more about me and stay awhile!

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Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on other Soulmates. ❤️ Whether you’re loving on others or just yourself today, my little crew is wishing you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplify Good additions! Even though I'm all about simplifying life, I also like adding more good, if there's room for it. And the last year has given me ample opportunity to make some changes and add a lot of good. Here's my super-random list of things I've added to my life in the last year that I now love:
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-Using oat milk as my milk of choice (it's literally the creamiest, and I can’t go back to others now)
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-And more!
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I wrote a whole post about this topic on A Lady Goes West this week if this is of interest to you, and you can head on over and check it out. I'd love to know: What's something (random or not) that you've added to your life in the last year that you now love?
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