For the past week, many of my meals have revolved around rice. Brown rice of course, specifically the brown rice medley from good ol’ Trader Joe’s.
The protein/fiber content is great, and the addition of the radish seeds gives a nice crunch to the mix. Of course I don’t pummel spoon fulls of just rice into my mouth, I make a rice pile and fill the sides with tree’s and bushes.
This meal happened a few times: Rice, asparagus, red bell pepper, vegan sausage, zucchini, Brussels, beets, and broccoli.
Another ricerific meal that was duuhh-lish-ous included this..
I really only bought this to have an excuse to say “punjab” multiple times in one hour, but this stuff was so good. I didn’t like the packaging, and I didn’t like the heating option. Instead of heating the foil like packet in water on the stove, I emptied the contents into a pot and then put it on the stove. Heating foil/using a microwave are two warming options I avoid. I need to get an invincible hamster to run hours on a wheel to produce heat for my food, that would be ideal.
The final product..
This time I made a rice mote, and filled the punjab in the center. Then surrounded the outside with trees and plants.
Moving forward. I have found a veggie (and vegan) friendly peanut sauce to make up for my oops moment, when I bought peanut sauce with anchovies in it. Unfortunately the sauce I bought this time lacked in flavor and punch.
Fortunately I had enough peanuts to make up for the sauce.
As you can see, I put my math studies to good use by using geometry on a daily basis to make a circle out of my meals. That’s really all it’s good for.
As for my vegan update, I have successfully completed one week eating a vegan diet, and I have to say the week FLEW by. I only thought about cheese once and that was the first day of being dairy free. Since then it’s been easy (given it’s only been a week) and I plan to continue eating vegan for a little while longer. I will write a post dedicated to my thoughts and physical state after a bit more time.
I’ve also completed one week cutting out sweets (except the extra jelly I’ve been adding to PB&J’s) and this was a bit more difficult. I thought about cake multiple times throughout the week, but I persevered. I deserve a medal for this I swear. I might even go longer than the week. I’m exuding God like strength with this task.
Running is great, Saturday I ran 5 miles at a 9:52 pace and each mile felt better than the one before it. Cycling is good, Thursday night spin classes are becoming my favorite. Monday nights not so much. Those are all the updates I have for now!
Q: How do you eat your brown rice?
Your meal presentations are always so pretty!
That’s awesome you conquered your vegan challenge and HUGE kudos for surviving cutting out extra sweets. You, my friend, have the strength of a million gorillas!
You have just made all of my dreams come true by confirming my gorilla like strength..and for that I love you.
I love all your veggie-rific meals! They’re so lovely
If you train that hamster how to run on the wheel to generate heat, please tell me how and YouTube him. Bonus points if you can teach him how to say “run” like the hamster that says “row” in the Geico commercial.
That Geico commercial kills me EVERY single time. I love it.
Congrats
I don’t think I ever could make it without dairy or meat, but I’m excited to see the impact it has!
I’m also cutting sweet, yay, let’s be together in that one ;]
Oh good, it’s easier when I’m not alone.
I eat my brown rice with an egg, peppers, broccoli, and grilled chicken bits. It’s like my own little chinese food I don’t have to feel so guilty about. :p
UM your food always looks so delicious and healthy. I will think I’m eating healthy and then come read your blog and feel ashamed at my own personal idea of healthy.
Ohhh yummmm home style Chinese food. I’m sure your meals are fine!! As long as they make you feel good! Rule of thumb: It’s NEVER too much when it comes to veggies. =)
hahah, laughed at that comment about the hamster – love that commercial too
”…such a simple word… row…” 
Good job on your vegan challenge! You are stronger than you probably even imagined! And love the circular meal pictures too – who says you can’t play with your food, right?
Thanks Kelly! I play with my food a lot, that’s what makes it fun!
Definitely deserve a medal. All these meals look fantastic! I love me some Punjab.
Brown rice… its really yummy with my salmon. Breakfast with an egg over easy all mixed in. with some kabobs. or with Indian food as you have hear. I just like the taste of brown rice better. its nuttier.
and I love me some roasted brussels sprouts, too!
I had rice with breakfast the other morning which was new for me and I liked it a lot!!
i love that rice medley! trader joes is the best
all your meals look amazing. brown rice + veggies are my two favorite things in the whole world haha
TJ’s is my soul mate.
It looks yummy….but I don’t eat brown rice….I’ll take all the veg though, please!
Yes yes I would take the veggies over the rice any day.
The last time I ate rice I was also eating dried pasta, butter by the stick, hamburger buns and frosting from the tub… vanilla with rainbow sprinkles please. What does this mean? I haven’t eaten rice in 11 years!!!!! I know right, WAY TO SHOW MY OLD ASS AGE!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot stomach it anymore – if you really want to hear a LONG RIDICULOUS story, then by all means, ASK FOR IT, but… for now I will keep you scratching your head! Oh and uh, “Final Product”… I couldn’t help it but my -11 year old self popped out and said, it looks like a dog had as LARGE accident on your meal. No worries though, I am a huge fan of Doggy DO-DO too! LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!
Butter by the stick!? You’re hard core woman. I can’t give up my pasta and rice..I’ll pass on the butter and frosting (OK maybe not the frosting either.) I do love long stories..did you get into a fight with an alien from starch space? Whatever happened, I’m sure you are much better off without the junk.
I’m glad you noticed my dog poo meal. It was sooo freaking good. The messy poopy looking meals usually are.
LMFAO!!!!!!!!!! Dude you should see my meals every night, they look like dog puke… and the best part is that I eat them wit my hands… yup, that’s right, no forks and knives in this JOINT!!! The best tools are… FINGERS! LOL!!!!!! Oh and my story: well lets make it short cause I don’t feel like typing too much – long day – I don’t have a large intestine so I can’t eat starch and such any longer! So you were kind of right I was abducted by aliens!
Well you successfully got ice ice baby stuck in my head… grrr haha
You definitely deserve major credit here, all of your meals look so perfect! I haven’t tried that rice medley but am planning a trip to TJs soon and shall look for it
Yes, pleasseee try it. I am in love with it.
I had actually never ever ever tried rice until I started law school. Now I absolutely love it. All of your food looks so yummy.
Sunny Days and Starry Nights
Ohh wow! Better late than never that’s for sure.
wow. those pictures could be in magazines. I eat my brown rice whenever I get Chipotle (which is all the time)
Aww shucks, you’re making me blush. Thank you. Chipotle = <3
Amazing presentation- finally all those years of math are paying off
! Your meals look super delicious, and this is coming from someone who isn’t normally much of a Punjab cuisine fan! I go through phases with rice, sometimes I love it and others I rather opt for other carbs- currently my relationship with it is the former 
! I made a delicious stir fry the other day with grilled chicken (easily substituted with tofu or vegan sausage) and tossed in a drizzle of truffle oil. I hate to blow my own trumpet but it tasted pretty freaking delicious 
!
Ohh that stir fry does sound delicious, I don’t know if I have ever had truffle oil. I will have to look for this next time I am at the store (which is nearly everyday.) Blow that horn baby, you deserve it!
Great job on the vegan diet/sweets free week!! Sounds like it was a success! I’ve really been considering going vegan for a week a month, just to see how my body reacts. I know I could never stay vegan because of my hubbys influence and my obsession with cheddar cheese, but I think adding a week in of a vegan diet would be a nice thing for my body
Start with a week! It’s totally obtainable. A week is safe, this way if you HATE it and it’s whoa difficult, you can quit when the week is over. HOWEVER if you LIKE it, there’s no where to go but UP and increase the time! Plus it’s never permanent. I am thinking about doing vegan on the weekdays, and back to vegetarian on the weekends to get some cheese and froyo in! WHO knows!! It’s fun though, and that’s what’s important.
You are amazing. AMAZING! You only thought about cheese once?? Good grief, you are my health sensei. Thank you, sensei. I will work harder, sensei!
Bahaha ohh you make me chuckle.
both of those plates look amazing! I loveeeeeeeee me some Indian! I love the medley of “brushes and trees” too!
Nothing beats the Indian spice.
We love our brown rice! Most commonly eaten with some sort of curry around here.
Rice goes perfectly with Indian spices!
YUM! All of these look so great gonna have to steal some ideas
I’ve been a huge quinoa fan lately, I should mix it up with some of this rice!
I’ve been slacking on my quinoa intake!! I need to start eating more!
I love the meals you have prepared. I’ve nevere tried the products you’ve used from Trader Joe’s, but you have made me curious and we have a store near by. I use brown rice in a paella. my family enjoys.I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Ohh TJ’s has a lot of fun items. Even if you just browse it’s a fun place.
What gorgeous plates you have! Roasted vegetables are the most beautiful things ever, aren’t they?
I always find the Thai sauces in jars are somewhat…lacking. Maybe it’s because I am a Thai food obsessee, but I think it’s just hard to recreate that authentic fresh flavor!
I want to make a huge photo shrine of roasted veggies to put on my living room wall..when I get my own living room. I tried ANOTHER peanut sauce, and it too was blah. I need to just make my own!
Ahhh this looks delicious! When I used to eat brown rice I would cover it with salsa and cheese. It was AWESOME! Congrats on the cutting out sweets…. it has not been going so well on my end. I figured I would just wait until after Easter to give them up
I have been obsessing over the rice/beans/salsa (no cheese right now) mixture!! SO GOOD!
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looks delish! and i love love brown rice! i used to purchase a medley package from this one asian store in austin… awesome taste!
The medleys really are the best.
I love how all of your photos of food, always are symetrical and artistic. All lined up and pretty. My plates are look piles of mush in every which way, the food violently colliding and humping eachother. I have no finese.
Brown rice is mightly tasty. Especially with a lot of pepper… but I like loads of pepper on everything. Even oatmeal. But not men.
Pepper on oats!? Girl you crazzzyyyy. Nothing beats humping food.
Your plate work is fantastic!!! mmm So veggie-licious!
Thanks love, my thoughts exactly!
I love those Indian food packages from TJ’s! I wouldn’t have survived college without them!
Congrats on making it one full week as a vegan – that’s freaking awesome. Keep up the veggie-palooza!