Morning!
Check out the new, coral colored pashmina I picked up at Younkers this weekend (for 60% off, no less!)
Doesn’t it scream Spring break to you?! Makes me want to go to the Caribbean… I’ve become obsessed with Spring lately. Did you know there’s less than two months to go before daylight savings time begins?! In the meantime, check out my 9 Ways to Kick the Winter Blues. We’ll be basking in the sunshine soon enough!
![106487039_63e9324cdc[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/106487039_63e9324cdc1.jpg "106487039_63e9324cdc[1]")
This morning I woke up with a fierce hunger…I think it’s because I had chocolate before I went to bed. Anytime I have sugar late at night, I wake up wanting to eat my bedspread. 
I whipped out a new find at the grocery store and made Almond Butter Banana Stars for breakfast!
The base was a Pepperidge Farm 7 Grain Deli Flat.
With 100 calories, 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber – I was super pleased with this find! Usually “100 calorie” items are stripped of all nutritional value, but the stats on these babies were impressive. Plus – they are free of high fructose corn syrup.
I’m finding more and more products these days, specifically breads, that are being made without using high fructose corn syrup. Chemically, HFCS is virtually the same as table sugar, but I still don’t like added sugars/preservatives in my foods!
Coupled with my never-fail Trader Joe’s Almond Butter and a banana, this was truly Heaven on a plate!!
The deli flat was like a dense English muffin/toast hybrid. I liked it a lot!
I channeled my inner 11 year old and had my Mom pack me lunch today. That’s right, Mumsy dearest sent me home yesterday with a Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowl in tow!
All the same fixins’ as yesterday, with an added splash of green Tabasco sauce. If you think you don’t like hot sauce – give this a try. It’s made with jalapenos instead of red chili peppers, so it’s not as hot and has a great tang. Oh yeah.
Dynamic duo!
I’m off to start my week. If you have today off for Martin Luther King Jr. – enjoy it! 
~~~~~
What are some of your “deal breaker” ingredients or nutritional stats?
Like I mentioned, I don’t like products to have a ton of added sugar (I eat anough of it already to satisfy my sweet tooth!!) and I reeeally don’t like to see HFCS on the ingredient list. I know, in moderation, it won’t kill me – but it’s just the thought of something so processed in my body that gets me.
Products that contain trans fats are usually deal breakers for me, as well as anything with a ton of saturated fat! Blech!
I love pashiminas!
Mine is usually too much sure, white flour, too little protein, too much junk I can’t understand in the ingredients list.
I avoid trans fats and long ingredient lists…MOST of the time. Sometimes I do enjoy my processed food!
I’m the same way about added sugar. I usually won’t by bread that has HFCS in it.
I just try to make sure the ingredient list isn’t too long.
Have a great day
Coral is one of my new fave colors right now. Can’t wait for spring! Deal-breakers for me are any ingredients ending in -ose.
Hm, maybe that is why I’m STARVING this morning.. I had ice cream aka pure sugar before bed. Off to eat! Gorgeous pashmina, too!
awh that breakfast looks scrummy! I try and avoid stuff which has artifical anythings in it, especially sweetners. Basically I like my food to be as clean as possible!! Less added, the better IMHO
Your pashmina is gorgeous
. I am obsessed with spring too! Every year around mid-Jaunary, I just decided I’m completely over winter….and want to start buying spring blothes ASAP!
I eat all sorts of crap (apparently food dyes are my best friend) and I guzzle more diet soda than anyone I know but I WILL NOT EVER eat trans fat. Scientists are still unsure about how trans fats affect our fertility, which makes me pretty disgusted that the ingredient is used even in small doses. Besides the fact that it adds nothing for the consumer – no better taste or texture – but extends the shelf life of the product. Yuck!
TBHQ (its a preservative made from RAT POISON!)!!!!!!!!!!!
LOVE the pashmina…i have about 50 of those and love them so! have a great day at work – i am one of the lucky ones
Love that breakfast combo! It’s one of my faves! Glad you like the sandwich thins, I eat them instead of bread now!! The scarf is gorg! Love the color!! As for food deal breakers, I’m with you on trans fats and HFCS! I steer clear!
Love that colour on you! Your leftovers look SO good, I have still yet to try Chipotle!
Thats my favorite color…LOVE IT!
and whats better than chipotle in a bowl for lunch!? um NOTHING!
Have a wonderful Monday
xo- Molly
http://www.givinganythingbutup.wordpress.com
Can’t wait for daylight savings! These days are way too short!
Aspartame is a deal breaker for me. Ever since I found out that it chemically turns to formaldehyde in your system, I just can’t do it!
Anything with artificial sweetners in it. Too much of it tends to give me a head ache.
Added extra sugar or caffeine is too much for me. I have problems with them with my stomach so I have to be careful with them. And anything high in sodium is a deal breaker. High blood pressure runs in my family so I try to keep my sodium intake low.
I’m so glad to hear those deli thins are good! I’ve seen them a number of places, but hesitated because the Arnold’s ones are so good! My deal breaker is sodium. If it has too much (more than about 10% DV) I find another option. I hate being bloated!
Your lunch looks fantastic, perfect for work! I will have to try that.
Anything artificial and it’s a deal breaker for me–hydrogenated oils, HFCS, sucralose, aspartame, red #40, I won’t even do things with vanillin. Beyond that, it’s all in moderation. Natural trans fats and a hefty does of sugar is fine with me once and a while
I agree, I try and avoid the artificially added ingredients, especially HFCS and partially hydrogenated oils (aka trans fats). I’ll SOMETIMES do hfcs if necessary, but will never do partially hydrogenated oils. Blech!!
Oh, I miss shopping at Younkers!!
I thought I was the only one! Whenever I snack at night, especially on sweets, I’m starving all day the next day….ie today, I’ve eaten a ton today already (its noon here) after going out for a drink with my boyfriend last night. Its insanity…..I was starting to wonder if it’s all in my head, so I’m glad to hear I’m not alone!
HFCS is not “chemically the same” as sugar! Don’t fall for the corn lobby hype. Your body does not process them the same, even if they are NUTRITIONALLY similar.
Studies are finding that HFCS may be a cause of increasing obesity levels and I expect more news like this as the funding to study it becomes more plentiful.
Corn Syrup, artificial sweeteners, and MSG. Those are all headache inducers in me, besides a plethora of other reasons to avoid them! Funny thing about hydrogenated oils–I’m a soap maker and hydrogenated oils make wonderful soaps because they make the soap so hard. Good reason to not ingest them–hard arteries anyone?
I have the same exact Scarf on today..
Love your burrito in a bowl. I am now craving mexican food.
Your scarf is soo pretty!!
Love me some Mexican Food!
When it’s labeled “organic” and it really isn’t!
I try to stay away from HFCS and partially hydrogenated oils. I think I’ll pick up the green tobasco the next time I’m at the store.
I really, really, really LOVE green tobasco!
I’m with everyone else with the HFCS and trans fats. I also try to stay away from maltiol and sugar alcohols.
I’ve been looking for those Pepperidge Farm deli flats! They sounds great.
Love the pictures on your blog. The meal your mom packed you looks great.
My deal breaker ingredients: white flour, HFCS, too much sugar, too much salt, hydrogenated oil/trans fat and soy.
Love that pashmina- it’s beautiful!
That Chipotle salad is making me drool- yum!
1) you’re beautiful
2) you’re genius for the homemade chipotle bowls!
[...] deli thins are awesome too – super soft, dense and absolutely NOT “100 calorie” tasting. Even [...]