I find that food takes so much better when I “earn it.” I always like to earn my treats such as cupcakes, cookies, or cupcakes AND cookies, but getting a good sweat in before an actual meal is just as rewarding. Running is my go to when I want to earn something like this…
Local GF/Vegan chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes. Ohhh my swoon.
These were savored and swooned over after a morning run.
Another way I like to earn my meals is with a solid hike. I’ve been able to squeeze a good hike in every week lately, sometimes two in one week. My favorite local mountain is an easy default and after 9 miles on my feet and 3.5hrs in the heat/sun I head straight for food.
View from the top.
View from the restaurant.
Sunshine and open decks mean sunnies and lots of water.
I ordered a vegetable curry bowl, because for some reason I like hot foods even on hot days. I also always drink hot coffee, never iced.
Can’t say I claim to be normal.
Not a fan of the white rice, but I ate every last bit.
I didn’t even attempt to use those chopsticks on the side of my bowl, give me a fork STAT. I usually give chopsticks my best shot despite looking like a sloth trying to pick up a piece of rice, but I was much too hungry for that nonsense. This meal was devoured. Moving on…
I’ve been doing a lot of yoga lately. I start every morning with 10 minutes of sun salutations, and go to a class at least once a week-Ideally twice. I enjoy eating something light, but filling after a yoga class. Tofu spring rolls always hit the spot.
Last, but certainly not least refueling after spin class always varies. Early morning spin classes usually result in a cous cous veggie bowl, and evening spin classes result in something lighter like a snack bowl.
Early morning spin classes also earn me my coffee.
Starbucks reserve coffee is such a rare treat!
How I really feel.
The Starbucks I work at is not a Reserve Store, so I don’t get to have reserve coffee as often as I would like. Anytime I find myself near a reserve store I get myself a clover brewed reserve coffee.
I love coffee, I love to eat, and I love getting my sweat on. Life is good.
Q: Would you agree that meals taste better after a good workout?
Blissfulbritt 
62 thoughts on “Making my Meals Taste Better”
Nicole Marie Story
And I love to see your pictures! You look so pretty!
Brittany
Thank you my friend! ❤
karla @ finding my fit
You are so so beautiful! And those cupcakes…. omg. Can I please come hiking with you?! A girl can dream…
Brittany
STAAAPPP IT, but thank you. YES COME HIKE I am always looking for hiking partners!
kathy @ vodka and soda
i hike every sunday and near the end of the hike, all i can think about is my coffee and breakfast that i’ll be stuffing my face with. when i took my friends out, i told them: your coffee and breakfast will taste especially good after this hike; trust. and then they messaged me and was all OMFGGGGG! you were so right!! hahah
Britta
Food tastes SO much better once you’ve earned it! Last night I went to a spin class and then my friend Andy and I devoured a beautifully made pizza and wine at a local restaurant. DIED. SO good.
You always find the best looking cupcakes, I don’t know how you do it but they are absolutely amazing. Your hike looks brilliant!!! I love being able to stand on top of something and seeing views that you otherwise would never be able to see!
….errr now I want a cupcake for breakfast, thats ok right?
Brittany
Cupcakes for breakfast should be a weekly tradition….
Allie @ Everyday Adventures
It’s wonderful that you like to eat healthy and exercise, but I gotta disagree about the whole “earning” your food thing. We don’t have to justify consuming things that fuel our bodies! Just do what you do, no need to earn anything that makes the body do all the awesome stuff it does! 🙂
Brittany
I totally see your point, however I think you may have misunderstood mine. I would never sacrifice my body the nourishment it needs, but I don’t “need” a sugar laden cupcake therefor I like to “earn” them. Our bodies were designed to move and to eat whole, minimal ingredient foods so for me anything extra warrants some physical movement. Just my philosophy though! I wouldn’t go run 10 miles to justify eating quinoa and apples, they just happen to taste better if I do!
Amy @ A Desert Girl
Those hiking photos make me swoon.
I actually have very little appetite after a good workout. But within a few hours, I’m famished!
Food, Booze, & Baggage
Those cupcakes look so good! You are very active…I need to start earning my treats 🙂
kadeecramer
I almost always make a smoothie or something right after working out so that I’m not a ravenous monster. That way when I make my next meal I savor it; otherwise I’d inhale it and have put in the work cooking it for nothing!
I’ve said it before but I am forever jealous of your hiking spots! Not exactly what Oklahoma is known for =p
katalysthealth
AGREED. Meals do taste 100x better after a good sweat. I had a 5am workout this morning and my breakfast of pb toast never tasted better. Kidding, but that cake I’m demolishing tonight is going to be all sorts of delicious 😉
Lauren
Oh yes, meals absolutely taste better after a workout. I like a nice cold salad though, I don’t typically want any hot food right away. Love me some spinning, too!
Davida @The Healthy Maven
Sooooo I’m gonna disagree seeing as my activity has been limited to walking from the bedroom to the kitchen, but if that counts as activity then yeahhhh I totally like earning my food lol. Also you cray on the hot coffee but since you’re the coffee queen I’m going to attempt not to judge you for it. Love you loooooong time!
Brittany
Your activity is limited, and you still look like a babe. Not cool man…not cool.
Shawna
yes yes yes to meals aft working out being amazeeee. i want to go hiking with you — looks beautiful and i so need to get my hike on!
di @ life of di.
I totally agree with you. I still struggle with feeling guilty despite when I eat a food (though I’m much better than I used to be!) Maybe if I were doing longer runs and more intense workouts, it would feel more enjoyable. Also, I will say that I’ve started a ‘rule’ of never eating dessert alone. I think it’s much more enjoyable when eating it with family or friends!
Amy
Both those cupcakes and spring rolls look fab!! I’d probably eat them together (well, veggies first, chocolate second… Because I want the chocolate taste to linger in my mouth longer!). And I hate to say it, but I’m currently obsessed with iced coffee right now. It’s usually between 90-100° here, so I’m not exactly craving a steaming mug for my afternoon pick-me-up. 😉
Change of Pace
Looks like you’ve really been switching up your workouts- way to sweat! And those cupcakes 🙂 🙂 🙂 I think I’d hike/bike/run from Edmonton to you for them!
Alisha's Appetite
You’ve been killing it with your workouts, woman! I love that you’ve been starting your day with 10 sun salutations. The best way to start to the day. I’m with ya on eating hot food in hot weather but sometimes there’s just nothing better than iced coffee (NO ONE tops starbucks iced coffee. I can’t remember what blend they used for it but I know it was different than the others . Anyway, it’s good. But you know that. And those spring rolls. *swoon*
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch
I’m so frustrated with myself because I KNOW that if I started my day with 10 minutes of sun salutations or stretching my days would be infinitely better…but I never ever do it!
Also, HOW in the world do GF/Vegan bakeries make such amazing treats? It’s almost unbelievable that they don’t have those ingredients that you think are necessary to be in baked goods.
Missy
Who would ever want to claim to be normal? (0:
PS- Sometimes you EARN your food simply by having a crap day, having a crap boss, having a crap period, or …. having to crap. Period. LOL!
Brittany
Bahahaha, oh you have no idea…a good morning movement warrants so many possibilities for food intake..SO MANY!
P
Food definitely tastes better after a workout. I especially love my meals after long run days :)!
Amanda @ .running with spoons.
I think cupcakes taste good regardless of whether or not I got a workout in, buuuuuut I’m totally with you on hot coffee. I’ll always choose hot over cold… Unless I’m in Vegas and just spent the past 3 hours shopping at an outdoor mall… Then it’s cold all the way.
Brittany
I do agree, cupcakes ALWAYS taste good. That Vegas scenario sounds awful to me…..I hate heat! HA.
pickyrunner
These hiking pictures are AMAZING. I really need to get out there one of these days. I just need to find a hiking buddy. And yep, food definitely tastes better when you “earn” it although these days I am better about just eating regardless of whether or not I worked hard for it. Because let’s be real, cupcakes/ice cream/cookies/etc. taste good all the time. But they are EXTRA good when you work up a serious appetite soaking up some incredible views 🙂
PNWRunner
I completely agree that foods tastes ten times better after a good sweat session! I can’t wait to get out hiking for often!
brickhousechick
I just LOVE your gravatar pic, Brittany! Every time I see it pop up on my screen, I smile. Beautiful pics, especially of my beloved cilantro. How I love it!!! You and your coffee, I have never met anyone with such an intense love affair with coffee, than you. You go girl! 🙂
Brittany
You are too sweet my friend, thank you!
Melanie
Holy crap, those cupcakes look amazing! I completely agree with you about earning my indulgent treats. My husband says when he gets a good workout in, he wants to eat better though. Weird.
GiGi Eats Celebrities
WHY do you think I work out for 101 minutes on the damn elliptical trainer?!??!?!?!?!!??!?!?! I have crazy ass foodgasms all day ERRR DAY!
Arman @ thebigmansworld
So. effing. true.
Hence I always work out in the morning, fasted. Maybe I should do squat jumps or something before lunches and dinners too.
Khushboo Thadani (@KhushbooThadani)
Endorphins make the best sauce …which is partly why I try and sneak a workout right before a meal 😉
An Unrefined Vegan
Definitely all about earning treats – they taste SO much better!
The Vegan 8
Oh my gosh you and your cupcake photos woman! Those look to die for and so does your lunch with the rice. All the pics looks fantastic…all your adventures are always so much fun to see and read about 🙂
Melissa @ Al Forno Mementos
You make me feel so lazy! haha but I agree. Meals taste better when they’re earned! 🙂
lucie
You are so so beautiful Brittany! Im loving the look of those tofu spring rolls, I never even knew they existed?! So going to make them tomorrow for lunch (thank you!)
Brittany
Garshhhh, you’re makin me blush. Thank you. ❤
Please get some tofu spring rolls in your life! SO good.
Jordan @ The Blonde Vegan
Umm, chya food tastes better when you earn it! And then you feel fabulous after eating something indulgent and delicious rather than feeling sluggish and blah. And those tofu spring rolls… I need them right now! Same with the cupcake… but since I am laying in bed all day trying to recover from strep, not sure if I am really “earning” my treats. 😉
Amalia
Ohhh clover coffee… how amazing you are, and how incredible you are.
Sigh.
I live near like 80 reserve stores (okay, not really, but I could definitely find one or two downtown since I live in the Starbucks Capital of Canada).
That last picture, is just so gorgeous! Are you taking selfies with your DSLR? Or your phone? Also – you’re gorgeous!
I always have hot food and hot coffee on hot days – it just makes sense to me. Our bodies actually cool down more after it – because we sweat more (gross I know, but cooling).
Brittany
My boss is leaving (womp womp) to open a new store about 20 minutes from mine, BUT it’s a reserve store!! AKA I will probably work there once in a while because I want clover coffee AND to see some of my coworker that are leaving! Also maybe because that town has a bakery with a wicked awesome vegan cake…just sayin.
Aww thank you, those selfies were all iPhone haha.
Matt @ Runner Savvy
Food is always good after a hard workout!
Brittney
Ohh my goodness all this food looks delicious!
Choc Chip Uru
Because I can enjoy my eats, it is the only reason I exercise 😛
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
allieksmith
I know what ya mean about “earning” a treat after a tough workout… or even tough day haha. I love the first hiking picture of all the trees. It reminds me of one of the scenes from Twilight. Washington is so, so beautiful.
apartmentwife
i’ve been craving yoga lately too — is it something that comes with the summer? we should try and master the same pose at the same time and see what happens — might be fun, yes? and then the winner gets to eat those delicious cupcakes in your first pic:)
Brittany
I love this idea, I’m in!
ahellams
Seriously, when I have to buy new clothes because you keep posting these delicious things, I am sending you the bill!
And everything tastes better after running, it doesn’t immediately get followed by guilt (well not as much)!!
Christina Does It All
Haha. I just love you, friend. Also I WANT THOSE CUPCAKES. Also also, what is this reserve stuff?! I also want that. Also I do the same thing. ‘Earning’ my treats and what not. It feels oh so gooood.
Brittany
OHHH reserve coffee is the “rare” coffee of Starbucks. The blends that are not common, and often more difficult to combine and find. To an average coffee drinker this may not sound like much, but to someone with a passion for coffee it’s as exciting as Disneyland…almost.
Christina Does It All
cup-cakes? why did I do that? CUPCAKES
Ashley
I need to visit you so I can get my GF vegan cupcake fix! I haven’t had one in months and even though cake isn’t my favorite sweet treat, I can’t pass up a fun vegan cupcake.
Food is SO much better after earning it! Even if I end up devouring it in 2 seconds because I’m starving!
Mary @ Fit and Fed
Mmm, where are those cupcakes from Brittany? Both the snacks and the hikes are looking really good! Wasn’t the sunshine this weekend fabulous?
Brittany
I bought them at Central Market in Poulsbo, but the company name is Olivia Superfree and they are located in Everett! There are multiple locations where you can purchase though!
http://www.oliviasuperfree.com/home.html
The sunshine was so wonderful! ❤
jessielovestorun
To be honest, I don’t need to earn any food. If I want a cupcake, you better believe I’m gonna go get one. Which speaking of cupcakes, I wanna have a cupcake date with you!! They look INCREDIBLE!!
Brittany
AMEN girl, please meet me halfway for a cupcake and coffee date. Maybe somewhere in Spain, or the northwestern tip of Africa?! 😉
Life After Swimming
Your hiking has been making me uber jealous lately. Especially when paired with those cupcakes!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
On Saturday morning, I did an hour long yoga class in the park, overlooking the water. It was magical and I bought a 10 class pass so I can go all summer long. I’m almost disappointed I’ll be at Blend this week because I’ll miss the class. You would love it. The instructor had us close our eyes and sway like your trees. She kept saying not to feel self conscious and to move like no one was watching, and I was already swishing and swaying all over the place.
I think pretty food can taste better too. I loved that bowl of veggie deliciousness with the fresh cilantro. Sometimes I add food to my bowl (fresh greens, chopped colorful peppers, nuts, whatever) to make the picture prettier and more colorful and I always end up loving the additions.
You make me happy.
Rach @ This Italian Family
That last picture of you… oh my goodness… that is so me with a cup of good coffee, ha! I love it!
Also, I love a good hike! Christopher and I were just making plans with some of our friends last night to go on a hiking trip this summer! 🙂
Hannah
Working out all week earns me my weekend beer! Aka sandwiches in a bottle.