Soul searching and apple chutney

I spent the afternoon soul searching, job searching and making my phenomenal, spicy apple chutney. After some trial and error, I have come to the conclusion that MacIntosh apples are by far the best choice for chutney, spreads and apple sauce. Other ingredients include red and green bell peppers, raisins, minced garlic, minced ginger, cayenne pepper, curry, agave.... are you feeling hungry yet?

Nutritional stats for about 100 g of chutney: 119 calories, 1 g protein, close to 0 g fat, 3 g fiber, 23 g sugar, 3 mg sodium.

Quick and yummy lunch: Salmon-Lentil Salad with Soy Dressing

I think every time I have Chinese food for dinner (yes, even though I love to brag about how I always cook my own meals from scratch, I slip up now and then), my scale indicates a weight gain of a whopping 5 lbs the following morning. Yikes! Probably just water weight, but still! That's what you get for soaking your steamed veggies in soy sauce....

But what's a girl to do? I love soy sauce! I'm having a busy day today, so instead of figuring out a new recipe for lunch, I made this lentil/salmon salad with low-sodium soy dressing (yes!) from SELF Magazine. I had to make some modifications to make the dish more waist line friendly, and I also subbed quinoa for their brown rice and used fresh instead of canned salmon. It came out delicious - will definitely make this again.

Nutritional stats: 418 calories, 53 g carbs, 32 g protein, 9 g fat, 9 g fiber, 8 g sugar, 563 mg sodium.

Summer soup: chilled spicy avocado-corn chowder with grilled chicken

Time for lunch! Fortunately, warmer temperatures do not mean you have to give up your favorite soups - just eat them chilled! Today, I am having a chilled spicy avocado-corn chowder with grilled chicken (238 calories) and a herbed feta / butternut squash sandwich (214 calories). Filling and delicious!

Nutritional stats for both dishes: 452 calories, 51 g carbs, 25 g protein, 18 g fat, 9 g fiber, 11 g sugar, 583 mg sodium.

Meatless Monday Dinner: Poached Egg Sandwich with Apple Slices and Hazelnut Vinaigrette

I might have cheated on Meatless Monday for lunch, but at least I'm making a proper vegetarian meal for dinner! On the menu tonight is a poached egg sandwich with apple slices and hazelnut vinaigrette - hopefully it will be filling enough for the long night of work that's awaiting me....

Nutritional facts: 413 calories, 50 g carbs, 15 g protein, 19 g fat, 6 g fiber, 19 g sugar, 520 mg sodium.

A pretty Monday lunch: vanilla carrot mousse and shredded chicken soy tacos

Just because you're eating your lunch alone at home, it doesn't mean you shouldn't do your best to make it look beautiful! Today, I am having a vanilla-carrot mousse with celery and crushed walnuts (175 calories) and shredded chicken "tacos" on soy wrappers, with roasted corn and avocado (220 calories).

Nutritional stats for both dishes: 395 calories, 44 g carbs, 23 g protein, 13 g fat, 12 g fiber, 13 g sugar, 261 mg sodium.

The perfect Sunday dinner: curried butternut squash soup and chicken/guac sandwich

It takes a lot of discipline to break out your pots and pans and cook your own dinner when you're starving and tired after a steamy ashtanga yoga class and your boyfriend is ordering pizza.... but I'd say it definitely worth it! Also, I think whipping this up actually took less time than dialing the pizza place and waiting for the delivery guy! I'm having a curried butternut squash soup with scallions and pepitas (236 calories) and a grilled chicken sandwich with homemade guac (250 calories).

Nutritional stats for both dishes: 496 calories, 64 g carbs, 26 g protein, 18 g fat, 9 g fiber, 12 g sugar, 302 mg sodium.

Coconut-curry soup with turkey fricadelles & lemon marinated pear/apple/fennel salad

Sundays are when I recharge, plan my recipes for the upcoming week and write my grocery shopping list for Monday morning (which is arguably the best time to hit Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and our local Farmers' Market). No new recipe for lunch today - instead I decided to go with an old favorite: Coconut-curry soup with turkey fricadelles (300 calories) and a lemon marinated pear/apple/fennel salad (175 calories) on the side. Perfect for this chilly, damp weather!

Nutritional stats for both dishes: 475 calories, 60 g carbs, 35 g protein, 13 g fat, 13 g fiber, 27 g sugar, 209 mg sodium.