Please enjoy a guest post from blog reader Rachel, describing what I sent her for January’s foodie pen pal exchange!
Hi Cait Plus Ate Readers!
I am not a blogger, but I AM a blog stalker. In the last year, I have begun reading a number of healthy living blogs in an effort to strengthen my own healthy living habits. So…I jumped at the chance to interact with some of my favorite bloggers and other foodie fanatics by participating as a Foodie Pen Pal.
I’m a vegetarian who lives in the Midwest, where veg-friendly fare is sparse. I’m always looking for ways to spruce up my menus so that I avoid my own fruit and vegetable overkill, which happens more than I care to admit. The problem is, I never get tired of fruits and vegetables. Finding a balance by incorporating sources of healthy protein and whole grains is my weakness.
I let Caitlin know ahead of time that I was a vegetarian but that I had virtually no other food aversions. She didn’t miss a beat and completely hit the nail on the head with my pen pal package. Here’s a look at the wonderful foodie bliss as it arrived.
But don’t let the picture fool you – none of those items stayed in the box for moment longer than it took to say, “Cheese!”
The Chocolove Peppermint in Dark Chocolate bar was immediately deposited in my lunch box, and I have devoured a small piece (only with great restraint and in an effort to make it last longer) each day after my lunch at work.
Ahhh..peppermint and chocolate!
The Pumpkin Seed-Snack also went with me to work. I’m keeping them in my snack drawer for when hunger pains strike mid-afternoon. They’re full of protein, iron, and other essentials that vegetarians often lack.
The lentil chips accompanied me to a Trivia Night fundraiser the following evening, and I have to agree with Caitlin. These may be a new “obsession” of mine as well. My fellow trivia team members agreed.
The coffee – oh, the coffee. First, let me tell you that I am not a regular coffee drinker. I grab a cup at work only if I’m cold and need some warming up. I might occasionally sneak in a pumpkin latte when out with my girlfriends. It’s not that I don’t like the taste, obviously, it’s more that I’m afraid of establishing what so many people seem to refer to as “an addiction.” I don’t want to start something I can’t stop. Well, thanks to Caitlin, IT HAS BEGUN.
I borrowed a coffee-maker from my mom. She doesn’t drink coffee either but keeps it on hand for guests. Even though it’s 30 degrees in the St. Louisarea at the moment, iced coffee sounded good. I used Tina’s tutorial, and this morning, I downed two glasses of iced almond milk-stevia-coconut coffee goodness. Whoa. This could be bad. For someone who features virtually no caffeine in her diet, two glasses had my heart aflutter for the entire day. But it was totally worth it. I’ve just got to remember that whole moderation thing. 
As for the chocolate-covered pretzels and coconut water – well, I have big plans for both of them. The pretzels will either find their way into my belly as an after-dinner snack or possibly in some variation of Jessica’s Peanut Butter Fudge Pretzel Brownies. Since summer can’t get here fast enough, the coconut water will make an appearance in a smoothie I’ve been lusting for over at Mama Pea‘s.
See…told you I was a blog stalker.
Thanks again to Caitlin for the delicious goodies and the opportunity to blab incessantly about food to people who might actually give a darn and appreciate my food-appreciative tangents (unlike the hubs – who tends to stare at me blankly, albeit lovingly during an episode).
And thank you to Rachel for being kind enough to put this guest post together for me! How cute is she?
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