Woooooaahhhhhhh!!!
Who needs Florida?! 
It’s going to be a gorgeous week here (88 on Sunday?!), and they even updated today’s forecast to partly sunny – wheee!!
While I am going to continue to practice my yoga this week, I am dedicating these sunny days to getting back into running. I’ve been very sporadically logging my miles these past several weeks and it’s time to get back out there. Who’s with me?!
Well I tried out one of my new Trader Joe’s finds in breakfast today – Crunchy Roasted Flaxseed Almond Butter – and made Banana + AB Oats!
In the mix:
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 banana (half sliced in while cooking, half on top)
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Crunchy Flaxseed Almond Butter
Mmmkay, this stuff is the bomb!
It’s SUPER roasted tasting, very nutty and the flaxseeds kind of remind me of tiny pumpkin seeds in the way that they crunch. Very poppy/crunchy – it’s really cool!
It was fabulous drizzled over my hot banana oats.
Seeing many more spoonfuls of this in the near future.
I packed an enormous salad PACKED with veggies for lunch today – nothing like starting your week with 6 cups of ‘em.
In the mix:
- Mixed greens
- Spinach
- Dole Stir Fry Veggie Medley (carrots, broccoli, snap peas)
- Celery
- Turkey
- Dried cranberries
People always ask me what dressing I use on my salads, because I never show it on the blog, but I usually keep a bottle of Annie’s Lite Raspberry Vinaigrette right at work, so I don’t have to bring a container of it everyday. Today I’ll be using my new TJ’s Soy Ginger Dressing though!
And, um, MORE TJ’s goodies – Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels. Ben and I had to physically move them out of our site last night. Here’s how we eat ‘em… They are so addicting!
Looking forward to 12:00!! What time do you eat your lunch?
Alrighty friends, time to get this party started – have a great Monday!
p.s. don’t forget that you have until 5pm central tonight to enter to win the Cascadian Farm Snacky, Crunchy, Chewy Giveaway!
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Weigh in: crunchy or smooth peanut/almond/other butter?!
I say, other than that crunchy almond butter from TJ’s – SMOOTH!
Smooth! Occasionally I like crunchy, but it most cases I like smooth the best.
SMOOTH PEANUT BUTTER!! Fo’ sho’!! Crunchy just doesn’t do it for me, and I’ve majorly lost my taste for AB.
Lunch at 12? I have mine anywhere between 1 and 2…it depends
Have a good day!
I have salad envy!!
My Salads are very boring and always look the same.
It depends on what I’m having the pb with, but I think I like Smooth the best.
Hmmm… depends on the thing I’m eating. I like to cook with crunchy (for peanut noodles and my african peanut stew) but for eating I like smooth!
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So that’s what happened to our weather, Iowa stole it!!!!
Ha, we had the SAME exact breakfast!!! Except I didn’t use vanilla, but seriously – the same bowl of oatmeal
Crunchy, all the way!
I usually eat lunch around noon, but sometimes I just get too hungry and will eat a bit after 11:00. As far as nut butters — smooth! I don’t mind EATing the crunchy kind, but it’s just too hard to spread.
May I be lame and say I enjoy eat equally? Right now, I have a crunchy, but when I’m done with it I’ll go back to smooth.
I want to try THAT almond butter! I am currently rocking that TJ’s Soy Ginger Dressing by the way and it’s delicious – a little goes a long way!
Crunchy for me! BUT I won’t discriminate
Definitely smooth PB or AB. Yum. Had some in a green monster this morning! Hey, where did you get your polka dot bowl? That is the cutest thing ever!
Smooth for me
however, occasionally, I do like to stumble upon a crunchy part in it 
The bowl is so cute!
Crunchy!! That almond butter looks delish. I wish I had a Trader Joe’s near me.
For me it is definitely crunchy raw almond butter. I don’t like the roasted flavor because I think they overdo it and I don’t like the taste of all the salt. I have a bad palette I guess…because I don’t salt most of my food.
Definitely crunchy, salted and peanut!
I’ve never tried almond butter, but really want too, after all your posts.
I love creamy pb though… And I have to get to a TJs to get some of theirs!!
And today – I’m eating lunch at… oh, around 5 pm… The joys of working retail… Psht!
Crunchy! When I was a kid I hated crunchy because the peanuts would get stuck in between my teeth (I had four molars pulled). But after braces, I was all about the crunch! So glad you got the roasted flaxseed AB. Welcome to the club!
i love to make my own, so smooooooth all the way baby! but who doesnt love a spoonful of crunchy pb?? your salad looks great! i love celery, but i cant stand it in salads! whats my prob??
Definitely smooth PB/AB! Your Chicago weekend looked like lots of fun and delicious eats!
Crunchy almond butter, or smooth cashew butter! I can’t choose!!
xo
K
I just polished off the exact same breakfast…exact!
I am a crunchy nut butter girl, except creamy AB is alright by me : )
I prefer smooth, it’s true that the crunchy adds a certain je ne sais quoi to my sandwich but the smooth is delicious!
I’m creamy all the way- it’s the best for mixing!
So…this might sound like a stupid question, but are ya eating all 6 cups of salad at once? I’m guessing that is how much you prepare at once..then spread it out over a couple days? I buy creamy smooth PB, but I like the crunchy too! FYI…Apple Pie Lurabar is now the front runner in the taste test! HyVee was still out of PB ones…darn it!
Your salad looks delish!!
By the way, I know how much you LOVE Kashi—Target is having a sale on Kashi frozen meal, cereal & snacks. Not 100% sure if the sale is @ ALL Targets, but you should check your local Target out!
Oh! I forgot to mention the price: $2.88!!!!
Crunchy for sandwiches . . . creamy for smoothies, oats, etc.
Great tip I read in TJ’s Fearless Flyer–store the jar of PB upside down in the fridge so it’s easier to blend it back together when you’re ready to use it. I’m trying it!
Usually smooth, but sometimes crunchy hits the spot
Smoooooooth
I used to eat at 12 on the dot every day, but now I like to let my hunger guide me more rather than watching the clock, so sometimes earlier, sometimes later… I am LOVING being able to run and walk in the nicer weather. When I think back to dark, cold winter nights pounding the pavements I feel soooo grateful for sunny weather. I do want to give yoga a go too, though, as more and more people are singing its praises. The more dynamic version sounds right up my street – in the past it has just made me sleepy and a bit bored! x
I havent ever had anything but PB and I LOVE IT!!!
i just bought this version of the valencia this weekend too and cracked it open this morning! Very yummy and crunchy. Next time, you have to try the peanut butter version. It’s to die for and a little less crunchy. But so far, I’m pleased with both ab and pb w/ toasted flaxseed. Love Trader Joe’s!
Almond butter all the way — my husband and I typically grind our own at our local health food store. It has a ‘gritty texture to it — neither smooth nor chunky. LOVE IT!
peanut butter, almond butter, crunchy, creamy, cold, warm, on a spoon, or on a sandwich: I’ll take it however it comes
-k
(http://kalliemarie.wordpress.com/)
For the past year I have been a smooth pb girl….it changes yr to yr though
ha. I LOVE the bowl you have pictured here, where is that from!?
That’s my favortie almondbutter by far!!! I’m so excited you like it! They also have a flaxseed peanutbutter which is my favorite too! I’m definately a crunchy girl
[...] 2 of the running revitalization project I kicked off on Monday was a success! This afternoon I set out for a 3.75 mile run + .25 mile walk. [...]
OMG, the Crunchy Flaxseed Almond Butter looks so yummy!
I love both variations, smooth and crunchy, depending on how I’m eating them- in cooking recipes, straight from the jar or on top of the apple. 
. Since Trader Joe’s is way out of my way (I’m in Europe, so yes 
), I wonder if I can make the nut butter with flax seeds myself! I’ll give it a try soon! 