…and just like that it’s 2012 again and I’m downloading my fuzzy digital camera photos to join the blogger world link up for another What I Ate Wednesday. Good times, good times.

Sometimes back then I’d list macro and calorie counts, and sometimes not. I’ve gone through my fair share of counting things when it comes to food (macros, diabetic exchanges when I was a health coach, and even protein and fiber).

However, currently I am not counting anything. I am prioritizing protein and fiber, but l-i-v-i-n, too. I keep thinking I should do another CGM just to check in on my blood sugar (because these are the kinds of things I do “for fun”), but really don’t feel excited to pop one on during this current heat wave.

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Have you seen the memes of “I’d do anything for my health… but giving up coffee on an empty stomach first thing isn’t one of them” – same. The funny thing is I actually prefer tea, but since we brew a pot of 1/3 caffeinated, it’s just easier to add a splash of half and half and pour from the pot. It’s quite an enjoyable little routine.

In the summer breakfast comes later because morning chores take priority. I try to get to the garden and sometimes the chickens before the heat, so breakfast is served whenever I get to it. The girls make their own usually, but I still make David’s every day. It’s a little love you, boo gesture I enjoy getting to do.

Right now we’re eating a lot of garden zucchini and cucumbers. Breakfast is often zucchini and onion, eggs, cottage cheese or yogurt, and fruit. Plus fiber, cod liver oil, and vitamin D.

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Late morning two friends came over to workout. I was feeling snacky ahead of time so had a super normal and appropriate snack to fuel my workout – leftover beef stir fry. 😉

Then had my usual creatine and pre-workout combo in my stainless steel shaker bottle, followed by sipping on aminos during the workout. I don’t love my current pre-workout powder and think I’ll be going back to Just Ingredients. Their sampler pack is so good and convenient.

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The afternoon passed in summer fashion. H was playing with friends. K was in the kitchen with me baking cookies. I was trying yet another pickle recipe. This time straight from the Ball Food Preservation book. I shall report back at the end of summer what the perfect pickle recipe is or cry trying.

I made chicken salad (from the chicken I canned!), ate it with (no surprise here) cucumbers, and had a couple cookies, too, to help with quality control of course.

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We’re at the point in summer where I hide from the sun between the hours of noon and about 4:30, so when that window closed, I stuck my chicken in the fridge to marinate and took a golf cart load of kids to the pool and joined a lot of other neighbors that had a similar idea. Late afternoon/early evening pool time is my jam.

We got back home around 6:30 and quickly boiled pasta, grilled chicken, and cooked up (another) zucchini to enjoy some marinated chicken and noodles before the kids had friends over for a “late over” (all the fun of a sleepover but everyone sleeps in their own beds at home). I ate a few more bites of chicken salad while I cooked because I was hangry.

Side note: I use this 8c batter bowl with lid constantly. The difference? It has etched, not printed, measurement markings so they won’t wash off over time. I love the size (for marinating meats, storing cut veggies for supper prep, batter of course), the handle, and the fact that it has a lid.

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The gaggle of kids watched The Pink Panther and ate Kaitlyn’s cookies while we chatted with friends upstairs and watched some soccer. Twas a fun, summer-feeling kind of day.

What didn’t make the post but should? The BLTAs I’m planning on making today with homemade sourdough and my first TOMATOES FROM THE GARDEN. Just a little excited over here 😉