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*Amy* - 1st Round all the way over in Sydney [Australia]


_Amy

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Ahoy - after waiting many months for wild times in personal life and medical issues to be past - I have finally landed on a solid month to focus on pulling off a Whole30. I've done all the reading, slowly stocked up my supplies of wacky compliant ingredients [shout out to iHerb!], practised a few compliant breakfasts along the way and I'm as ready as I'll ever be. My partner is on his own sort of regime with his trainer so will be eating whatever I cook but adding brown rice, cereal, his protein shakes and other such delicacies.

 

Yesterday was...

 

Day 1:

 

B - 2x hard boiled eggs, chunk of avocado, small tub of fruits [banana, strawbs, melon]

L - leftover rump steak and salad of iceberg, mushroom, walnuts and avocado with a quick dijon vinaigrette [dijon, evoo, bals]

D - pork and fennel meatballs in a tomato sauce [garlic, onion, passata] and a zuchini/sweet potato fritter

S - nuts [pistachio, cashew]

 

The day went well. I snacked on far too many nuts in wild-eyed terror that I would ever feel hungry and cave to workplace temptations. I rejected icecream cake and fundraiser chocolates. Feelin' superior. Did some prep into containers for all meals the next few days when I got home. Still feelin' superior'.

 

Dreamt I was at a party eating jelly. I don't even eat jelly - what does this mean?!

 

 

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Day 2:

Woke up feeling pretty fresh. Maybe 'doom hangover' vibe is going to come at me on Day 3 instead. 

 

B - 2x hard boiled eggs, sweet pot/zuchini fritters, half an avo, baby spinach 

L - chicken tray bake [thighs, masses of veg, smoked paprika, balso, evoo]

D - pork and fennel meatballs in a tomato sauce [garlic, onion, passata] and a roast sweet potato with coconut milk & cinnamon

S - cashews, melons & banana

 

I am in an office based job at the moment - the sandwich press in the communal kitchen will be my saviour. Reheated my steak on it yesterday and crisped my fritters up this morning - it's like a double sided frying pan! Pic of brekkie attached for your visual enjoyment.

 

Heading to Costco tonight to stock up - going through 'the weeks' worth of veg and meat at an alarming pace when you're prepping every single bit of food you eat. Don't realise how often you pop out for toast or a snack!

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Good for you Amy! Seems like you have some awesome meal choices figured out. Started my first Whole30 yesterday; cravings are rough today. If you need support from the other side of the world, let me know! Good luck!

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Day 3:

 

Hmm. Why am I not feeling horrendous? I'm staying super attuned to my body to monitor for the 'first week doom signs'. I did wake up this morning after a solid 7.5hr sleep with puffy eyelids and a swollen upper lip. Which is odd. But that is all so far that I am sensing. I'm also not very hungry today. Had to force my way through breakfast at about 8am, and now 1pm has rolled around I am not in any rush to get to the fridge. Usually I'd have snacked twice by now and be busting to get lunch. I'm not craving anything at all. Who am I?! The weekend will be the real test I suppose, it's easy right now with the structure of a workday.

 

B - 2x hard boiled eggs, sweet pot/zuchini fritters, half an avo, 4x strawbs 

L - leftover meatballs, quarter avo, 2x strawbs

D - will be having rump steak and roast tomatos & sweet potato

S - none so far. alarming.

 

PS - how gosh darn amazing is roast sweet 'tato with cinnamon and coconut milk? Unbelievable, I might try that combo for breakfast, so soothing!

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Day 4:


 


Woke up this morning still feeling completely normal. I'm vaguely distracted and a little spacey this afternoon but it is a Friday afternoon in the office so probably no spacier than I would usually get! I could go a nap. Definitely hungrier today, so that's good.


 


B - hard boiled egg, half sweet potato with coconut milk, quarter avo, spinach, 2x strawbs 


L - leftover steak slices, roasted fennel/potato/mushroom/onion, spinach leaves, quarter avo


D - heading to the cinema tonight, hoping to head to a Japanese restaurant prior and have some sashimi with loads of veg side garnish and BYO aminos.


S - almonds/pistachios


 


I went to Costco the other night, Australian Costco carries a few of the same products as the US one . If anyone else is in Aus and wondering what you can get that's compliant, I got:


  • 1kg baby spinach, 3kg sweet potato, 1kg medley tomatos, 4x leeks, 500g strawbs, 900g org medjool dates, giant org pumpkin, mushrooms 
  • 1kg org beef mince
  • Dozen org eggs
  • 1L bottle garlic olive oil [finally in a bigger bottle!]
  • 900g org coconut oil jar [they also had a 4kg tub..]
  • Huge bag of org desiccated coconut
  • 3x huge jars of compliant Kirkland brand napoletana sauce for when I'm lazy [woohoo!]
  • Compliant prosciutto/parma ham [just pork and salt, yeeha!]

I spent about $140 which is pretty good, some staples there that will last ages. 


 


Wish me luck resisting buttery popcorn & peanut M&M's at the movies tonight! My first true outside work test.


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Day 5:

 

So I did go pretty loopy yesterday afternoon. Was so fatigued for about 4 hours I almost had to pull over on the drive home and have a nap. A bit of a lay down fixed me up and I completely survived the first dinner/movie challenge. Took a coconut water, strawberries and some nuts in with me and was quite satisfied with that. Today was the second great hurdle - brunch in Bowral with friends. The Southern Highlands are a delicious food mecca, I was scared. Luckily they are also very on trend and I looked ahead and chose a place that was fresh produce centric and catered for a whole heap of dietary requirements. They cobbled me up a delicious meal and made it pretty so you couldn't even tell it was off menu! Pic attached, yum yum. 

 

B - 2x poached eggs, roasted carrot/onion/beet/pumpkin/sweet tato and a pot of earl grey

L - brunch was late so just had a larabar and a few almonds on the drive home to tide me over to mega dinner

D - roast chicken, crispy prosciutto, leftover roast veg from brunch with dipping mayo, wilted baby spinach and garlic.

S - strawbs

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Day 6:


 


Lazy Sunday home day today, although I still woke up at like 7am. Very unlike me, on weekends I can go to 10am easy. Brunch with my partner before he headed off to play golf [a local place that kindly cobbled together the compliant menu items for me] and then a few hours stuck into cleaning out the spare room before some solid meal prep. My kind of Sunday.


 


B - 2x poached eggs, mushrooms, avo, roast pumpkin and a pot of earl grey


L - wasn't hungry so grazed while meal prepping - carrots, a bit of frittata, nuts


D - smokey chuck steak casserole with mashed white potato with coconut milk & ghee. So tender. So yum. 4 lunches out of the leftovers.


S - kale chips [not a fan]


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Day 7:


 


Today was fine, feeling a bit sniffly this afternoon, not sure if immune system side effect or if I've caught my partners cold. 


 


B - fritatta [tomato, mushroom, spinach, garlic, onion] and avocado


L - leftover beef casserole and mash


D - nachos! thinly sliced potato crisped in oven as dipping tools, fresh chunky salsa and beef mince with my own spice mix and veg.


S - nuts & dehydrated apple


 


Probably my favourite dinner creation so far. Seriously yummy, and didn't even notice the absence of corn chips or toasted lebanese bread which is what I would normally use.


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Day 8:


 


Still sniffly and sneezy but doesn't look like it will go full blown. So I think it's just the ol' immune system adjusting itself.


 


I've discovered two 'food with no brakes' for me, pistachios and roasted crispy white potato slices. I've truly perfected oven baked imitation chips now, and I don't think I'll ever go back to those awful things frozen in a bag! I should have a few days off them. Dammit. 


 


B - fritatta [tomato, mushroom, spinach, garlic, onion] and avocado with a bit of leftover nacho meat [amazing combo]


L - leftover beef casserole and mash


D - all the good bits of a burger - organic beef mince made into pattie, caramelised some onions in a little ghee, crisped some prosciutto and smoked paprika'd my mayo. Oh boy. Add lots of side veg to ease the weird guilt of this thing tasting so amazing.


S - pistachio


 


My chiro commented tonight that I was so energetic that I bounced down the hallway, as opposed to usually being slumped and half asleep by the time I see him at 6pm at night every 10 days or so. And I hadn't told him about being on Whole30 yet! Also had the best adjustment I've had in a long time. Perhaps coincidence, or maybe I'm just now SUPERWOMAN.


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well done so far!  looks like you're well on track.

 

someone might pick up on the number of eggs if that's your only protein source - should be as many as you can hold, which is usually 3 or 4.

also make sure you're drinking enough water.

 

good on ya cobber!  put another shrimp on the barbie!

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well done so far!  looks like you're well on track.

 

someone might pick up on the number of eggs if that's your only protein source - should be as many as you can hold, which is usually 3 or 4.

also make sure you're drinking enough water.

 

good on ya cobber!  put another shrimp on the barbie!

 

Cheers mate! Goodness me, I've never even heard the word 'cobber' used in my life, but Google tells me it's an Aussie colloquialism, it must be very 70's haha. 

 

I've been having a crapload of meat, every lunch and dinner. 2 eggs is the amount per serve in the Whole30 book recipes so I'm ok with 2 as my protein in breakfast, I think I'd die if I had to eat 4 per sitting!

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Day 9:


 


Darn it, still sick and now my glands are sore. Cruel world!


 


I slayed a personal challenge today, monthly at work we have a birthday afternoon tea with giant gourmet cake for everyone who's birthday it was that month, most of the company attends. This month was a ridiculous amazing selection of treats, chocolate mousse tarts, mini cupcakes, macarons, lemon curd tartlets, tiramisu slices. I attended the tea, snatched up all the strawberries that were used as garnish on the platter, indulged in some small talk and then fled the scene. Success! I've never had this kind of willpower before, ever. I would have snuck a bit and just not told anyone. Something about this program just makes so much sense, and still allows delicious food so I don't feel the need to cheat myself, it's great for one's self belief.


 


B - frittata [tomato, mushroom, spinach, garlic, onion] and avocado with a bit of leftover nacho meat 


L - leftover burger patty with accompaniments and side salad


D - chicken breast strips crumbed in almond meal and spices [winner!], guacamole, cucumber and tomato salad


S - strawberries


 


I've been having so much red meat the last week or so, I'm going to give it a rest for a few days and do some chicken dishes. Also bought some turkey mince for the first time, it was so cheap! It's not widely used here in Australia, it's a bit of an alternative meat. Also am laying off the nuts for a few days so they don't become a crutch.


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Cheers mate! Goodness me, I've never even heard the word 'cobber' used in my life, but Google tells me it's an Aussie colloquialism, it must be very 70's haha. 

 

I've been having a crapload of meat, every lunch and dinner. 2 eggs is the amount per serve in the Whole30 book recipes so I'm ok with 2 as my protein in breakfast, I think I'd die if I had to eat 4 per sitting!

I think cobber is a Crocodile Dundee hangover - Paul Hogan has a lot to answer for!

 

If you haven't already discovered them, About Life and Thrive cafes both have really good Whole 30 compatible menu items (Thrive pretty much everything is safe, About Life you have to be a bit more picky), and there's a couple of other paleo cafes around where you can safely eat (for when you get sick of cooking every single meal, and turning down every meal invite).

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I think cobber is a Crocodile Dundee hangover - Paul Hogan has a lot to answer for!

 

If you haven't already discovered them, About Life and Thrive cafes both have really good Whole 30 compatible menu items (Thrive pretty much everything is safe, About Life you have to be a bit more picky), and there's a couple of other paleo cafes around where you can safely eat (for when you get sick of cooking every single meal, and turning down every meal invite).

 

Ahh yes, a generation before me that one was haha.

 

I don't get to the city and surrounds much but will keep those suggestions in mind, thanks! I turned down my first social invite today, because it was to a work lunch at a brewery which only has crappy fried food  and not even a steamed veg option so I could nibble socially. I have another brunch tomorrow - I always suggest brunches for catchups now as poached eggs and random vege sides are completely acceptable meal options  :D

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Day 10:

 

Still sick. left work early today because my brain is mush. I have a massage booked tonight as a 'you survived 10 days, treat yoself!' Will probably just fall asleep on the table.

 

B - last of the frittata that just keeps on giving and avo  

L - leftover chicken breast strips and a cucumber

D - leftover beef burger patty and a big sautee of kale, mushrooms, garlic, leek and lemon.

S - nil.

 

Thank the heavens for leftovers and speedy veg sides in times of illness.

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Day 11:


 


Still sick. Bit scattered today food wise as had important followup appointment with my specialist which I've been nervous about. It went very well though, hooray.


 


B - scrambled eggs, sauteed mushrooms and spinach


L - leftover sauteed kale, leek, mushroom, garlic.


D - turkey mince meatballs in tomato based sauce, roast fennel zucchini capsicum, half roast sweet potato 


S - boiled egg


 


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Day 12:


 


Saturday! Early morning trek out to the produce markets at Camden with the best friend and her little one in tow. Bloody freezing, but the bounty was excellent. Everything seemed to be $2, so much flourishing green veg and I got 30 local free range eggs for $12. The fridge is bursting. Lovely little cafe for a late brekky and some op shopping in the morning, and then a trip to the local club for dinner with my partner for some nice iced lime waters and a steak made for a nice relaxing Saturday. 


 


B - 2x poached eggs, smashed chat potatos, avocado  


L - leftover turkey meatballs


D - eye fillet steak with a plateful of steamed veg and salad and a side of balsamic vinegar.


S - a carrot.


 


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Day 13:


 


A jaunt out to the Southern Highlands today to check out some properties and get a feel for pricing in the different areas as we're looking to maybe relocate at the end of the year. This is the third weekend in a row I've been in foodie mecca's and had to restrict myself. Such a challenge. I've got a pretty solid plan of attack when eating out now though - eyeball the glass cases for potential salad options, scan breakfast menu for components on different dishes that I can have, and scan the 'extras' section for any contenders. Then explain I've got some dietary requirements and can I please throw my own meal together. Seems to work well, although I usually end up with toast under my eggs even when I ask for no toast because it's such a foreign concept to have eggs without bread haha.


 


B - 2x poached eggs, avo, fresh salsa, spinach 


L - 2x poached eggs on a bed of steamed green veg [asparagus, brocolli, buk choy, zucchini]


D - chunky cottage pie and broccoli


S - larabar


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G'day Amy, greetings from Canberra! Looks like you're well and truly on the way to killing it. I too have a bursting fridge but I keep working through it every day to make sure I'm turning over the oldest stuff first. Don't tend to throw out a lot at the end of the week - just some last bits of celery, perhaps a bit of dead pumpkin. Good luck!!

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Day 14:


 


Monday, bloody Monday.


 


B - half sweet potato, compliant ham, avo, roast fennel/zuch


L - leftover turkey meatballs


D - baked chicken drumsticks and mushroom/leek/kale sauteed


S - dried mango


 


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Day 15:


 


Tuesday, bloody Tuesday. I'm pretty unimpressed, my cold got better over the weekend and I thought I was in the clear, but now I've got this croupy cough and a sore throat going on. I thought my immune system would be strengthened, not destroyed! I haven't had this sort of cough in a good 5 or 6 years. Will head to the doctor tomorrow I think.


 


B - half sweet potato, compliant ham, avo, roast fennel/zuch


L - leftover chunky cottage pie


D - roast lamb and baked veg with broccoli


S - 2x scrambled eggs


 


Had dinner at the in-laws tonight. Thankfully it was a delicious roast so I could pull bits of lamb from the middle that wasn't in the marinade and all the veg were just roasted in olive oil. I noticed near the end that the baked potatoes looked a little too perfect, turned out they were the frozen 'roasties' type, which I'm sure now must have contained some kind of floury coating to get them so crispy, but I wasn't about to make a fuss about my delicious lovingly home cooked meal.


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It's been a really rough few days. Fighting off this suspected chest infection, the 'monthly' headaches and 3 days flat out at work of running scone making classes for kids. 3 solid days of being around flour, butter, milk, sugar, jam and cream. I bloody love scones. I wasn't even tempted to have a single bite though, was very proud. I did absent mindedly lick at a blob of jam off the back of my hand as I was cleaning up though - it was like a lightning bolt to the brain and I ran to spit it out when I realised, so strong in flavour, did not enjoy! I made sure I packed my lunchbox with lots of tasty things those days so I wouldn't feel sorry for myself at lunch when my colleagues were feasting on sandwich platters and scones I made them. There were times over the last few days that, as can be seen by some of my 'meals', I was scraping out the fridge and dragging myself to the couch.

 

But I have prevailed, and I have 21 days under my belt. My definitely loosened proverbial belt. It was unseasonably warm in Sydney one day last week so I had a summer top on which used to be quite tight around the arms and hips. It was loose like a tshirt, yippee!! Felt grand that day. 9 days to go. Got this.

 

 

Day 16:

B - 2x devilled eggs, avo and sweet potato

L - chicken veg salad with avo/mayo dressing

D - can't remember, compliant though

S - sundried tomatos & marinated mushrooms, dates

 

Day 17:

B - 2x devilled eggs, avo and sweet potato

L - chicken veg salad with avo/mayo dressing

D - roast lamb shoulder and veg

S - sundried tomatos & marinated mushrooms, dates

 

Day 18:

 

B - 2x boiled eggs

L - roast lamb shoulder and veg

D - burger pattie, caramelised onions, crispy prosciutto, roast sweet potato 'chips' and veg

S - 2x scrambled eggs

 

Day 19:

 

B - 2x scrambled eggs, leftover veg hash

L - fruit 

D - leftover roast lamb and caramelised onions with mashed potato, broccoli and roast fennel

S - nuts.

 

Day 20:

 

B - 2x scrambled eggs with leftover mash and roast fennel

L - compliant bits off a Mexican menu - sweet potato, guacamole, salad items

D - scotch fillet steak, potato salad with mayo/avo dressing and veg

S - 2x scrambled eggs

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Day 21:


 


Monday again already! Feeling better now, and did a few solid hours of food prep Sunday evening so I don't have to labour too hard in the kitchen when I get home from work for at least the first few days of the week. Have an excellent stash of fresh foods from a trip down to the markets at Bulli. Sugar free bacon has been sourced!


 


B - veg frittata and avo


L - leftover burger pattie and potato salad


D - almond meal & spice crusted chicken breast chunks with veg


S - pistachios and an apple


 


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Day 22:


I sat and had a think today for some less obvious positives of this Whole30 jazz. I haven't had any heartburn or reflux the whole time. Have had zero episodes of bloating or gas. The recurring nightmares I'd been having for a few months have also gone away and have only had one headache. I definitely have that odd inexplicable warming vibe of happiness going on too. Partner said I am definitely less grumpy when I've had a crap day, and I definitely feel on more of an even keel mentally. It's easy for me to wake up early on weekend days now, and I jive around the house full of energy. My skin by now has not got a single blemish, and texturally it's really smooth, I can feel it when applying my foundation, it glides on and stays. I feel leaner, and not just in the weight loss sense, but like less bits stick out, more streamlined. Or something. Hard to explain.


 


I don't want these feels to go away. I'm now very comfortable with the idea of continuing a mostly paleo diet after this, something I would have scoffed at a few months ago. Very much looking forward to making some of the paleo sweet treats I started dabbling in before Whole30 [Wholefoods Simply, I'm coming for you] to take for social occasions but continuing to cook Whole30 style at home and prep most of my breakfasts and lunches for workdays. I will loosen when out with friends or at family affairs with things like avoiding stuff cooked in butter etc. And if I feel like pasta or bread I'll have it, but make it count. No bowl of packet dried pasta under my bolognaise at home, but beautiful handmade ravioli at a fine restaurant? Yes. A bottle of cheap wine at the local Thai place? No. A custom crafted cocktail on my next cruise? Yes. That is where I will indulge if I feel the need - by making it count. 


 


B - veg frittata and avo


L - leftover almond crumbed chicken and potato salad


D - steak and roast veg


S - pistachios and an apple


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Day 23:


Getting a bit tired of frittata, think I'll just make a small one for a couple of days next time. Or never again. It's just so nice to have zero breakfast prep all week. Might whip out some devilled eggs next week.


 


B - veg frittata and avo


L - leftover almond crumbed chicken and potato salad


D - my fave nachos. mince & mushroom mix, salsa of radish, capsicum, tomato, spring onion, lime. sliced avo and oven baked potato slices as the vehicle for scooping.


S - pistachios and strawberries


 


These nachos make me so happy. So much flavour. I will forever make nachos like this. Who needs corn chips or baked tortillas?!


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Day 24:


Curse you, evil frittata.


 


B - veg frittata and avo


L - leftover almond crumbed chicken and roast veg mix


D - spice rubbed pork tenderloin oven baked in chicken stock topped with diced apple and onion + a baked sweet potato


S - pistachios and oven baked potato


 


Whipped up a thing for dinner and oh goodness it was lovely. Spice mix of cumin, cinnamon, paprika and turmeric rubbed onto a pork tenderloin sliced into 2 equal lengths. Brown in pan for a couple minutes and then into a glass baker. Half cup chicken stock around it and top with a finely diced apple and onion. Into the oven for 20 mins covered in foil, then another 10 foil off. Absolutely delish, tender and tasty!


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Day 25:

I faced the last slice of frittata this morning at my desk. I just couldn't do it. I hate food waste, but I threw it forcefully away. We are done. As such, breakfast was a pared back affair.

 

B - strawberries and avo

L - leftover nacho mince, fresh salsa and avo

D - bologanaise which I layered with roast eggplant and capsicum slices into a poor mans lasagna.

S - oven baked sliced sweet potato

 

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Day 26:

B - leftover spice rubbed pork tenderloin

L - fruit kebabs and pickled onions

D - steak and steamed veg

S - larabar

 

Today was all over the shop, had a late breakfast so was going to have lunch after I got home from visiting relatives - said visit panned into 5 hours argh. Luckily I had taken oven fruit kebabs for a contribution to morning tea so I could eat something [as well as picking pickled onion off a cheese platter ha!], so I subsisted on those until I could get to the larabar in my car at 4pm. Then as soon as possible we nipped into somewhere for dinner that I could get a steak. Phew.

 

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Day 27:

B - fruit salad

L - chicken poached in coconut milk on a salad

D - leftover 'poor mans lasagna' with crispy prosciutto and roast zucchini 

S - couple of dates while walking through the supermarket

 

Grabbed some fruit on my way to brunch with friends, then had to do the food shopping afterwards so was pretty hungry all day. The serving size of chicken breast at brunch was so meagre, give me a whole breast, not 4 dainty slices! Survived though.

 

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