Skip to main content

What's cooking?

#nextchaptervietnam

It's really no secret, but for those that didn't know, I seriously just LOVE food.
That's why I've decided to dedicate this whole post to...FOOD! ;)

GROCERIES
I've been checking out new grocery stores nearly every week and I've really enjoyed seeing the variety of products in each location. With that said, I've often had just one thing in mind: "Hmm...I wonder if they have almond milk?" Now, let's be honest, it's not like almond milk is a complete necessity, but I just really do enjoy using it in my cereal, oatmeal and smoothies every once in a while. I discovered early on that for the most part, almond milk can't be found in the bigger grocery stores, only in specialty markets for a pretty hefty price. However, this past week I was over the moon when I finally found almond milk in one of the more "modern" local grocery stores. The fact that they also had gluten free cereal made for a really exciting (and slightly more expensive) shopping experience!

Almond milk, gluten free cereal, fresh juice, fruits, coconut water and new kitchen tools! 

BREAKFAST
For the most part, during the work week, I have really been enjoying making homemade smoothies every morning, with coconut water, banana, chia seeds, flaxseeds, muesli and whatever other fruits I may have available. Paired up with about 10 minutes of tv, it makes for a good start to my day. This weekend however, I stepped it up a notch and made myself some of my very special banana-oatmeal pancakes which were absolutely DELICIOUS!
Yummy workday morning smoothie!
Banana-oatmeal pancakes with a side of fruits for my Sunday breakfast! 

LUNCH
My school provides lunch for us teachers every day and though the items don't always seem like the healthiest (e.g. rice, noodles, fried foods), I've been making a much bigger effort to pick and choose, rather than take everything on display. For the most part, I go strictly for the meat and the veggies, with fruit for dessert whenever that's available.
A little bit of fish and a little bit of pork, with LOTS of veggies!


 DINNER
Cooking has been somewhat of a challenge for me since arriving in Vietnam, but this week I decided that enough was enough and that it was time to get back into the groove of things. This past week marked the first week that I really tried cooking since moving into my new apartment. Until now, cooking has been difficult mostly since I just haven't had many kitchen tools, but I've finally started equipping myself with some of the necessities and there is no turning back now. Salads are usually my go to dinner as I like to opt for something lighter in the evenings, but I've also made soup, sandwiches and eggs to complete my meals. Nothing special I know, but still very tasty.
Grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup, chicken and vegetables salad, scrambled eggs with veggies, salad and tuna melt.

WEEKENDS
Friday evenings and weekends are generally reserved for ordering in or eating out. Some of my favorites so far have been spring rolls, Indian food, Thai food, Turkish food and of course, salads, smoothies and fresh juices, but I still have a long list of restaurants I want to try!
Ordering in and eating out options!
I'm sure you'll hear lots more about the food here in Vietnam over the next few months.
I might be a little obsessed.

GOOD FOOD, GOOD MOOD! :)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In a World Full of Noise, Let’s Show Understanding

“Not everyone processes uncertainty the same way, and that’s okay.” The past few days have been unexpected. What started as a normal Saturday - coaching at the gym, breakfast with a friend, catching up on work with the TV on in the background - quickly changed when I heard a loud “boom” coming from outside my apartment. At first, many of us in the community assumed it came from one of the many nearby construction sites. But, within the next few hours, the loud sounds came again and again, and word spread that these were missiles and drones being intercepted in the sky. I’ve always felt safe here in the UAE, and believe it or not, to a certain extent, I still do. Like many other residents here, I have a lot of trust in the country I’ve chosen to call home for over 11 years. I’ve seen it overcome challenges in the past, such as COVID and floods, and I’ve witnessed how much the leadership cares for the residents, particularly over the last few days.  That said, it’s no secret that I a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Momentum Reset

"Momentum doesn’t just return; you rebuild it, one choice at a time." Before summer began, I was feeling a little low. The tipping point came when I found out my HYROX competition partner’s visa had been denied, meaning we wouldn’t be able to compete at the HYROX World Championships in Chicago. Deep down, I knew it wasn’t the end of the world, but I was still pretty bummed. I thrive when I have a goal, something to work toward, and for nearly two months, I’d been all-in. That training gave me momentum, purpose and energy. When that goal disappeared, so did my drive. Suddenly, my energy shifted in the wrong direction. I slipped into autopilot, stuck in the routine of daily life, work, and thought patterns that were becoming more and more negative. Social media didn’t help. It felt like everyone else was out there doing so much, and I had nothing exciting happening. I would catch myself comparing and as my thoughts spiraled, my body started responding, and not in a good way. Th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Living Out a Dream

 “Have you ever stopped and thought: “Wow. I prayed for this. It’s here. It’s happening.”? I recently received a message from an  old student from my very first school in Canada. It was a simple note, but it sparked reflection in me about where I’ve come from and everything that’s happened over the last 15–20 years. At my age, I often look around and see many of the people ( my age ) settling down; getting married, having kids, buying homes ( A dream for many, especially women. ). And sometimes, I can’t help but  ask myself: what am I doing with my life? However, that message from my former student reminded me of something I often forget: I’ve already been living a dream. When I left my first teaching job in Canada, it was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made. I absolutely loved my students, and together we had built a really special bond. But at that time, I had a dream to travel the world; to immerse myself in different cultures and to learn from people whose li...
Post a Comment
Read more