Far too often, I fall into a food rut. Meals haven’t been extremely exciting around here, and we always tend to eat the same things, week after week.

Sometimes, though, eating similar meals week after week (or even day after day) is a welcome “problem.”

For this week’s What I Ate Wednesday, I’m sharing some of my favorites that we’ve been enjoying in some form or another lately.

Grain Bowls

It’s no secret that I love my carbs. Luckily, there are numerous healthy grains out there to satisfy my cravings (quinoa, millet, etc.)

I gravitate toward meals that can be thrown together without much thought, and grain bowls topped with roasted vegetables and a flavorful homemade dressing fit that bill.

Last night while I was at yoga, Mark whipped up a barley bowl. I know barley is fairly standard fare in many kitchens, but this is the first time we’ve cooked with it. I have to say, I’m a fan! Though not as delightfully chewy as farro, the barley had a nice bite to it and held up nicely. Roasted sweet potato, sautéed green beans, mushrooms, and leeks, some sun-dried tomatoes, and a red wine vinegar-olive oil-sriracha dressing were added to the mix. It was filling and comforting—perfect for my post-yoga insatiability!

Fritattas

I’ve always loved eggs, but I’d never given them much consideration outside of breakfast. The truth is, eggs are a perfect inexpensive protein to bulk up—or be the star of—any meal.

Monday night, we made a variation of this frittata. Ours didn’t contain any crème fraîche or chicken, but we did use ricotta, orzo, sautéed mushrooms, green pepper, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh parsley. I loved the addition of the pasta! Sometimes eggs aren’t filling enough on their own, but the orzo added great texture and volume to the frittata.

Leftovers were perfect for lunch today, too.

Homemade Lärabars/Energy Bites

I have quite the sweet tooth, and it calls to me at the most inopportune times. Luckily, it’s quite easy (even if it requires cleaning the food processor) to whip up healthy sweets.

Last week I made these brownie bites and also some oatmeal-raisin cookie bites (recipe to come), and they’re perfect to keep in the mini-fridge at work.

I still love Lärabars and find the chocolate versions are as satisfying as any candy bar, but it’s just as easy (and probably much less expensive) to make my own. No matter what kind of nut, seed, or add-ins I use, they’re pretty much fool-proof.

Questions for you:

What foods are you loving lately?
Do you have a recipe for a homemade version of your favorite store-bought snack?