What is it about a bright, colorful lunch that just really gets me and my appetite super pumped up?
After spending the latter part of the morning making a few impromptu purchases at Old Navy (I’ll fill ya’ll in on the goods tomorrow for Fashion Friday ), I arrived home pretty darn ravenous. This meant lunch needed to be quick and fuss-free.
Enter: Two big ‘ol carrot sticks with hommus
A yogurt bowl made with a vanilla Chobani, honeydew, some strawberries that are on their last leg, and granola.
Kinda Christmas-y, right?
And to satisfy my sweet tooth, I enjoyed two Original Almondina Cookies.
I received a package in the mail yesterday from Almondina, filled with seven different varieties of their crispy almond cookies to sample. You guys already know I’m a sucker for anything almond-flavored, so I was ecstatic to dig right in.
At the risk of going overboard, I only have one package opened right now, which is the Original. The Original is not only filled with almonds, but raisins as well. The almond flavor definitely did not disappoint, and the delicate, crisp and crunchy texture was delicious.
I’m loving these little guys!
And the nutrition stats aren’t half bad either!
I’m already trying to decide which flavor to dig into next…hopefully they’re all just as good. Should I go for Cinnaroma?
Chocolate Cherry? Choconut?
Oh boy…I think I ought to pop some of these in the freezer before I end up having all seven varieties opened at once.
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I am doing some major damage on my to-do list today. Now…time to tackle my inbox and mayyyyyybe a little baking, despite the soaring temps in our kitchen.
Question for the Afternoon:
Fill in the blank: My ideal lunch would be: __________________.
Jordan P @ food, sweat, and beers says
My ideal lunch would be…. sushi! If I could have it prepared fresh for me every day, that would be a dream come true.
Bethany says
My ideal lunch would be….pancakes :) or waffles
Jamie aka "Sometimes Healthy" Girl says
My ideal lunch would be….a giant bag of pretzels with a side of chocolate fro yo. Ever dipped pretzels in fro yo? Mmmmm, so good.
I know it’s not healthy but at least I’m actually eating a salad right now :-) What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants.
Courtney says
I started reading this comment without even looking at who wrote it and I already had a feeling it was you! ;)
I’ve never tried fro yo with pretzels, but I love salty + sweet, so I’m sure it’s delish!
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
I’m obsessed with the pumpkin Almondinas… I used them as the crust for a pumpkin cheesecake that was to die for!
Michelle (The Runner's Plate) says
My lunches are always fuss-free. I love a good sandwich, Food Should Taste Good chips, and veggies on the side. I especially love a good sandwich from a cafe or Great Harvest.
Leanne (Bride to Mrs.) says
My ideal lunch would be: my future hubby surprising me at work and us having a picnic in the middle of my workday.
*a girl can dream* ;)
Courtney says
Awwwww! (Jay if you’re reading this…take note…) ;)
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles says
Too many choices! :)
My ideal lunch would be…the best veggie sandwich from a place called Ike’s – it was featured on Food Network. It has pesto, cream cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes – oh, I’m craving one now!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
My ideal lunch would be veggie stirfry with quinoa and salsa for sauce. Oh and a chiramoya for dessert.
Courtney says
Call me crazy, but you just mentioned a dessert I have never heard of…what is a chiramoya?
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
It’s a fruit…my favorite fruit. I can’t find it up north. I had it in Spain. Like a cross between a pear and banana with big black seeds that are poisonous if you break them.
Courtney says
Yikes!! :-O
Jen M. says
Ideal lunch for me is usually a sandwich! I loooooove sandwiches! Turkey, havarti, basil, tomato, spinach, red onion, on bakery fresh sourdough is like a little slice of heaven… yum!
Courtney says
That sandwich sounds AMAZING!!
allison says
The chocolate-cherry ones are absolutely the best. mmmmmmm.
Ideal lunch? Artisano, a gourmet sandwich shop in Southern Ontario (very much like Panera)
Kayleigh says
My ideal lunch is actually just a toasted turkey sandwich, although your lunch today looks amazing. I love colorful food as well..I might have to switch from the sandwich to your lunch tomorrow…it just looks sooo good!
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
Today my ideal lunch would have been a smoothie cause it’s so freaking hot, but I didn’t want to get yet another kitchen item dirty and I settled for a sandwich instead!
caitlin says
My ideal lunch would be sushi! I can’t get enough of it, I just wish it wasn’t so expensive! My second choice would be panera :) YUM
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
Anything I don’ thave to make. Seriously, I had cooking lunch – which is why I went out by myself to the Vegan Cafe for lunch today!
Jessica @ brighteyesandbushytales says
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup! Yummm :)
Amanda (Eating Up) says
My ideal lunch would be…a quinoa, avocado and chicken bowl. It’s not what I had though.
Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews says
I just got those Almondinas too! They are so good.
Kim says
Mmmm… I love ALMOND anything. I actually just found almond oil furniture polish at target and I was so ecstatic (pathetic, I know). I read though that the smell of almond is supposed to make you remember things better…
ANYWHO… I’ll have to try out those almond cookies you got. How do you get so many fun things sent to you? I want samples to come to me in the mail!
Sarah says
Ohhh my!!! It’s like a Biscotti Christmas!! Such a rainbow. Major biscotti envy… And I had just about the same thing for lunch except strawbs and nanners! My idea lunch would probably be a grilled PB & J. Or maybe a grilled cheese… any kind of kid food grilled is fine by me.
Jill says
Totally off-topic, but have you ever made cake balls? Jut wondering how easy or hard they are to make. Plus, you’re such a talented baker that I think you would come up with lots of fun flavor creations and make them look very cute. I love when you show pics of your latest baking creations.
Courtney says
Thanks, Jill! I actually haven’t attempted cake balls. I know, crazy, right? I’ll have to change that soon though. ;)
Colleen @ The Lunchbox Diaries says
My ideal lunch would be…paid for by someone else! ;)
Courtney says
Hahaha…love it! ;)
April @ Grits and Granola Bars says
My idea lunch would be sushi! Light, filling, and delicious. :)
Love how colorful this post is, by the way! Your photos are gorgeous.
Courtney says
Thank you! :)
Alexa @ Simple Eats says
My ideal lunch would be a snack plate: cheese, crackers, hummus, olives, veggies, fruit and nuts. I love snacky plates!
ellalinea says
Ideal lunch would be a snack plate of the following:
brocolli, smoked salmon, prawns, nuts and cheeses
Mandee says
My ideal lunch would be either a slice of Brooklyn style pizza or this seared yellow fin tuna with granny apple Cole slaw that I had at a restaurant… Best meal I ever ate! And then they never had it on the menu again, so I’m left to dream about it! Haha
Can’t wait to see your old navy buys!
Mac says
… a taco salad! That is my all-time favorite salad and I’ve been craving it like crazy lately!
Liv @ The Salty n' Sweet says
My perfect lunch would include a giant salad with feta, hummus and falafel, with tzatziki on the side :)
The cookies look delicious! I’d open the coconut one next :)
Claire says
My ideal lunch would be…a chopped salad consisting of:
* antibiotic free range chicken
* spinach and butter lettuces
* cranberries
* walnuts/pecans (roasted preferably)
* light feta cheese
* balsalmic dressing
* slice of gluten-free bread
…this sounds amazing…I think I shall make it ASAP
Shana Powell says
My favorite lunch deprends on the season. Right now I’ve been craving a lot of fresh veggies or fruit with yogurt dip. In the winter I love butternut squash with cinnamon!
Laura @ LauraLikesDesign says
I get really excited about different colored foods, too. Makes lunch so much cheerier! My perfect lunch would be a huge salad with fruit and grilled chicken and some delicious frozen yogurt with toppings for dessert!
Khushboo says
Sushi or a turkey and houmous sandwich on seeded bread followed by fro yo! Simple yet classic!
Alexis says
my ideal lunch would be one of your delicious looking cupcakes! or a big slice of pizza :)
Holly says
I’m so curious as to what you got from Old Navy. I was just in there the other day & had no luck finding anything! I know we have some similar Old Navy outfits, so maybe I just missed ’em! :) You always look so cute with your outfits!
Courtney says
Thanks girly! That’s right…we DO share some similar Old Navy cardigans, don’t we? ;)
Lauren (Healthy Delicious) says
OMG those almondina cookies are so good! I love the chocolate cherry… especially crumbles over vanilla yogurt. yum!
Eric Moran says
My ideal lunch would be…………..
made by a professional chef & free of charge