She Says: Couldn’t Do It.
Good Morning Everyone!
Last night Mark and I went to Whole Foods for dinner. I was in the mood for little tastes of lots of things (maybe because I just read the “Taste Everything, Eat Nothing” chapter from Naturally Thin). Usually, I am completely 110% satisfied with my Whole Foods experience, but this time it was just … meh.
I started with my favorite cranberry roll. It did not let me down!
Once my mom got some sort of salad at a WF bar and it had gone bad – it tasted like nail polish remover. My WF sources tell me that many of the vegan items sit out for awhile because they are less popular and do not need to be refilled as often. I always remember this, but try to ignore it because I usually love everything so much. But tonight, everything in my container tasted like nail polish remover.
I got some new things – seaweed salad, which I thought was disgusting and some sort of hominy dish. I have never tried hominy and I liked the texture (kind of like gnocchi), but the sauce/spices/flavors were bad.
I appreciated the flowers in a sundae glass on the tables.
I was not satisfied physically or mentally with this, but luckily I knew what to do. I headed to the bulk bins and got 3 prunes ($.21) and yogurt covered raisins ($.50). I ate these items immediately and was happy and pleased.
An unknown man tried to remain anonymous while I whipped out my camera in the aisle. It’s against the WF rules to take pictures ya know.
And just what couldn’t I do? Buy this Kombucha. I almost did, but then I realized it’s expensive and probably doesn’t taste good. Apparently Mark has been secretly drinking Kombuca and Synergy and advised that I save up and invest for when I “really need it,” whatever that means.
Today is going to be a crazy traveling day for me. I am heading up to Massachusetts to see my niece in her Hip Hop Dance recital and coming back when it’s over. I’ll make a pit stop to meet up with one of my sisters in Connecticut so I won’t have to drive the whole way. Even though I live in N.J. I don’t like to miss out on family functions, so I don’t mind traveling 8+ hours in one day to get it done!
Eating breakfast before driving for hours is always interesting. I don’t exactly need a whole lot to get me through the morning, but on the other hand, I don’t know when or what I’ll be able to eat next. So, last night I prepared and packed:
- A Strawberry Sorbet Smoothie
- Banana
- 1/2 a PB sandwich
I need my Travel Mug for my coffee, so please excuse the used Vitamin Water bottle that houses my smoothie.
The smoothie is the Strawberry Sorbet I made combined with flax seed and plain yogurt.
Good luck to Allison who is running her v. first half marathon today!
Tags: banana, dates, peanut butter, smoothie, Whole Foods, yogurt covered raisins
May 17th, 2009 at 12:29 am
I haven’t tried the hot bar at our WF yet, I’m kinda skeptical since I always worry about fitting sitting out. Bulk bins are much more appealing!
May 17th, 2009 at 4:30 am
I’m glad someone else is with me on the Kombucha! I want to at least try it – but it’s SO expensive (and I’m pretty positive I’m going to gag when I try it!) – love Mark’s face in that pic!
Thanks for the shout out and the support – it means so much!!
May 17th, 2009 at 9:00 am
Have fun at the recital!
Too bad your WF meal was a bust! That place is too expensive to have their food go bad!
May 17th, 2009 at 9:20 am
O0o Massachusetts! You should step by my house
May 17th, 2009 at 9:22 am
aw sorry WF wasn’t up to par.. bummeeeeeer
May 17th, 2009 at 9:33 am
That totally stinks! At least the binned items were good (love the WFs bins). Hope you have a nice Sunday
May 17th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Have a safe trip!! Sorry your Whole Foods bar was kinda yucky
.
~Justine
May 17th, 2009 at 10:08 am
sorry to hear about the wf meal! i wondered why some of the stuff tasted rank occasionally… good to know
hahah i can’t believe mark likes kombucha, too. my husband loves it and i DESPISE it!
have a safe trip and enjoy your sunday!
May 17th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Awh sorry to hear about the WF meals
May 17th, 2009 at 10:59 am
So sweet of you to go all that way for the dance receital!! So sorry about the Whole Foods bar
My last experience wasn’t super overwhelming either!
May 17th, 2009 at 11:19 am
That brand of Kombucha is delicious. THe synergy is the best – Don’t knock it until you try it. I have one on days before a long run. They are 3.50 here, it is like going to starbucks.
May 17th, 2009 at 11:43 am
oh no, i don’t frequent the wf prepared foods all that much, but good to know about the vegan options… :/ maybe it’s a bit better in different locations? anywho, i enjoy kombucha although the first time i tried it i wasn’t thriled. i treated myself to one this weekend b/c i wasn’t feeling well… hopefully it’ll help!
May 17th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
God, I miss those cranberry walnut rolls!
May 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I happen to know a lot about kombucha because my yoga instructor “grows” it. (You know what I mean if you know how it’s made.) While it definitely sounds like a natural, healing miracle, please do your research on it before drinking it. It is NOT ok for everyone to drink. For example, if you take hormone replacement medication you shouldn’t drink it. I should know, as I am a freak in the hormone department. I wish it was healthy for me to drink as it totally sounds like a wonderful, natural “medication.” PS- DON”T BUY IT!! IT”S SO EXPENSIVE! You can EASILY grow it in your home for pennys a batch.
May 17th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
what WF do you go to?? thats HORRIBLE!! i cant believe you had a bad experience with the prepared foods. what a bummer. i almost always see them replacing the dishes when im there, so maybe its all about the time and location. as annoying as it is, im there during the mega rush hour times (7-8 pm after work days)…its the worst because of the lines, but maybe you should go then for a fresher serving. at least there would be a higher turnover, right?
May 17th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Im so surprised as well!
come here to AUSTIN we have the big ole flagship (did Mark go?) love it.
and my tattoo artist SWEARS by those drinks….Im going to get a bunch I think (mortgage the house
) and do a video taste test.
they look a little nasty
May 17th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
I love kombucha, but, the one featured in the pic is nasty!!! you should of taken your nailpolish back for a refund, they are usually very understanding.
May 17th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I hope you had a great trip today. Bummer that the salad wasn’t good … I hate when I look forward to something and it doesn’t meet my expectations
Good thing the bins redeemed WF! Can’t wait for a recap of your day.
May 17th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
such a shame you ended up with a lousy wf salad meal … esp since that salad bar is so effing expensive! they should have gold nuggets in there for what they charge.
and i’m so proud of your photos-in-wf skills! these situations require some craftiness.
i hope you had fun with the fam today (and had a safe trip). i think i’m going to head up next weekend to get in a visit before class starts again!
May 17th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Sorry about the crappy meal!!! nail polish remover taste would be nasty! What the heck?
By the way I LOVE your stoplight bowls…they are super cute and perfect for summer
May 17th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
great wf sneaking photography!
May 17th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Sad day at WF! It has happened to me once or twice.. I get too much stuff and all of it just don’t taste good together/is probably kinda old. But ANYTHING from their bakery is da bomb!!
May 17th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Re: Whole Foods
About the business of a Whole Foods and the quality of the food. I used to go to the one in Columbus Circle in NYC and it was always excellent. Now that I am in NJ, they are less packed and therefore, the food sits there longer I guess, especially some of the more “different items.” ALso, I have a problem with salad bars in general … But anyway, yeah I definitely agree that a busier whole foods is probably a better whole foods in terms of freshness of prepared foods!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Since you haven’t tried Kombucha yet, let me just warn you about the “Botanic” flavors. I love the regular flavors but the Botanics aren’t the same. I’m sure some people love them, but maybe it shouldn’t be your first Kombucha experience!
Interesting info about the salad bar. I didn’t know that. I rarely get the vegan items anyway but it is good to know!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Blech! I can’t imagine anything worse than salad bar food that tastes like nail polish. Love those cranberry rolls, too! You know, for the kombucha fans out there, it’s a LOT cheaper to make your own. It takes a little patience to wait for it to brew (7-10 days), but it’s super simple. Each batch results in a “baby mama” that you can pass on to another kombucha brewer. I’ve been supplying my whole neighborhood. Google kombucha mother to find one free or cheap. Recipes and more info are also on HOMEGROWN.org >> http://www.homegrown.org/group/kombucha
May 18th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
From what I understand, the WF bar ain’t cheap, so that totally sucks that your whole meal tasted like crap. I guess it’s definitely one of those things you only want to get in a WF that you know has high turnover of their dishes.