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Goodbyes and Leftovers

I always knew it had to end, but when the time actually came to say goodbye, it hurt just the same. Oh gosh, you are probably all rolling your eyes at my mushy-gushiness! But I’m sad about a boy right now, and I don’t care who knows it!

Who can say if this is the end for Sports Store Hottie and me…

We’re certainly going to stay in touch, via email and facebook. Just another reason I’m grateful for technology. In any case, I’m getting all packed up and ready to leave, which means… muchos leftovers!

NYC2010 089

Brown rice, mushrooms with a new sauce (more on that later), and the favorite broccoli bowl

I’m such a good kid, I’m even helping to use up others’ leftovers! 😉 In this case, others refers to my cousins, who ordered Chinese food at 3AM. For the shroomies, I tried a new sauce from Whole Foods: Spectrum Organic Cajun Barbecue Sauce. Verdict? This is good stuff! It has a taste reminiscent to Indian masala sauce, with a definite spicy kick to it. Besides the mushrooms, I’ve also tried it on grilled tofu, brussels sprouts (below), and okra.  

caj 

My cousins were apparently given so much extra rice that there was even enough for me to eat the next night! Normally, rice isn’t my favorite thing. I prefer the taste of barley or bulgur. But I hate to see perfectly-good food go to waste (especially when I don’t have to prepare it). 

NYC2010 087 

Ok, so it’s not the prettiest mess. But I did warn you that—as part of my being real—I was going to start posting ugly meals, because my meals aren’t always “perfect”-looking. Also, both of the meals above are a bit smaller than usual for me, but that’s just because we really are running out of food! I’m supplementing with lots of nuts, nut butters, and other non-perishables we have lying around.

 

 

Question of the Day:

Have you ever been upset over a boy? I am a huge proponent of powerful women, and I balk at the idea of anyone who feels she “needs a man.” I don’t think I’ve ever cried over one, nor have I done the “ice cream pint-eating” thing. But if I’m being honest, I can’t say I’ve never let boys get to me.   

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Published on August 15, 2010

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55 Comments

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  1. Gina G says

    Katie i am in the same boat as you missy (a little shorter distance though). I started my new job about a month ago at this produce market and well….. their is this reallyyy cute and super nice guy that works there. The problem is, today is his last day working there because he is going away to college over 3 hours away. I am so disappointed and keep yelling at myself to snap out of it haha. The only good thing is that though my bestfriend is going there as well and he told me to let him know when I go and visit. So lets just say i am looking forward to my visits haha

    keep your head up and have a wonderful day Katie girl! 🙂

  2. Caitlin says

    Oh hugs to you! I don’t think it’s any slight against your stance as a strong woman to admit that you’ve been hurt by a boy before. I consider myself a feminist, and yet I have definitely cried over a breakup in the past!

  3. Jenny says

    Our quick meal is definitely pasta with sauce, throw some frozen broccoli in the cooking water, and sprinkle plenty of hempseeds over the final dish – and beans if we have some in the fridge.

    Aww…being sad over a boy stinks! I can’t believe you’ve never cried over one. I’ve been looking through my old diaries because I’ve been taking part in a blogging thing on my homeschool/family blog – every week we write about the next year of our lives. I think I was constantly crying over boys back in the day. :0 I’m trying to figure out how to keep my daughter from making boys the center of her life…I want her to do better than I did. Anybody have any suggestions?

  4. shesarunner says

    I think your food looks very appetizing! It’s very colorful actually. Maybe I’m weird haha.

    Anyway, yes I’ve been upset over relationships that have ended and things like that. How can we not be? I think it is fairly normal. Anytime you have to say good bye to someone you care about, or if things don’t work out the way you hoped they would…and even (in your case) if you knew the good bye was coming, it still is not easy. I don’t think that makes you any less of an empowered woman. I think it just makes you human!

  5. gaby says

    Aw, I love your chopsticks! You’re so cute 🙂 I’m going to Benihana today for lunch and am really excited to use some hehe.
    I have trouble leaving food to go to waste too so I eat leftovers of any kind, and everyone else’s too. My family has the most annoying habit of refusing to eat anything leftover. EVER. but they don’t throw it away either, it just sits in the fridge while they complain that there’s “nothing to eat!” so unless it’s meaty, I take care of it for them. I think your meals look wonderful! Probably because they look like mine!

    Oh gosh, I have shed far too many tears over boys! But you know, it’s not really about being a feminist or not, or for or against powerful women. Of course we can be powerful and independent, but we’re also human, and that means caring for others. I don’t date too much, but have had 2 extra long relationships and one shorter one last year but with perhaps the most compatible to me person I’ve ever found. The first one was my high school sweetheart. You can bet I probably could have accumulated buckets worth of tears ending a 4 year relationship. The second relationship lasted a year and he turned out to be a jerk. He didn’t deserve the tears, but they happened.
    And the guy I dated last year is now in Paris perfecting his French, modeling, and acting in movies and Shakespeare festivals in Prague…umm I kind of still want to cry when I see his modeling shots but know that he’s so far away! Ugh, oh well, more fish in the sea! (or veggies in the garden?)

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Hahaha our families might be related! Well, mine just says “Oh, I’ll eat that tomorrow.” Then, of course they forget what’s in the fridge, and perfectly good food gets thrown out! Me, I buy a lot, but I remember what I’ve bought, so I make sure to throw as little out as possible!

  6. Carbzilla says

    You’ve never cried over a boy? Oh lordy, I’ve been doing it since the boy I liked punched me in the stomach in 3rd grade (turns out he liked me!). Maybe even before that! Consider yourself spared many years of heartache.

    You have every right to be sad, but you have many ways to keep in touch and you truly never know what may happen. 🙂

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Perhaps I’ve just never LET myself cry over them, because I felt like a strong woman shouldn’t let a guy have that much power over her. But now that I’m older (and hopefully wiser hehe) I know that there’s no shame in crying! So I’m sure I’ll experience it in the future.

  7. Alisa - Frugal Foodie says

    AW, so sorry you had to say goodbye. Hopefully you will stay in touch and see him again soon.

    Thanks for the recommendation on the BBQ sauce. I’ve had a horrible time finding one without HFCS (have been making sauce from scratch at home instead). The only one our store carries that doesn’t have HFCS is Annie’s, and as much as I love Annie’s brand, that stuff is horrible!

  8. Katelyn says

    Yes, I have! Usually I’m tough as a nail and don’t ever let boys get to me, but when I got my first serious long-term boyfriend a couple years back, fights and breaking up always left me a total mess.

  9. Jessica @ Fit & Clean says

    Kudos to you for never letting them get to you! That falls under the “If I knew then what I know now” mantra. When I was 14, I was actually (and this is embarrassing!) so “in love” and absolutely obsessed with someone I developed an eating disorder…I just stopped eating! It evolved into a full blown mess, that had to be treated 🙁

    I’ve never seen that BBQ sauce! I try not to buy anything with HFCS in it…so I was using Organicville BBQ sauce, which wasn’t terrible. Did you see this article on HFCS? I never know how much stock to put in things, but still…

    http://all247news.com/have-you-heard-what-they-say-about-hfcs-fructose-promotes-pancreatic-cancer/3290/

  10. Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says

    Oh Katie, you’ll be all right! 🙂 are you going to keep contact?

    I’ve been upset many many times, but also very happy!

  11. Katie says

    Big hugs! You have EVERY right to be sad! Everyone wants companionship, whether you are a strong woman or not! And you ARE a strong woman. I’ve definitely been sad over a guy…definitely cried…definitely. Hopefully you guys can stay in touch – you never know what might happen! 😉

  12. Little Bookworm says

    I think your dinner looks lovely! 🙂 My go-to meals are often pasta with sauce and vegetables, or pasta/barley, pesto and vegetables.

  13. thedelicateplace says

    of course i’ve been upset over a guy before! i’m happily married now but sure in my early dating days, it’s perfectly normal…in fact it’s what makes us human! we are a relational species and to intentional detach for fear of being hurt would be unhealthy. whatever will be, will be! i hope you stay in touch, the future is only what you make of it!

  14. Tricia says

    My go-to food is rice :P. I lOVE rice lol. My whole family eats it maybe four or five times a week because we get this boil-in-a-bag rice from Krogers which takes like 10 minutes to make.
    Sorry about you having to part with the boy.
    I tend to cry over boys, but only if i’m really into them. Normally, i try not to get too invested though..

  15. erinsloves says

    Boys, boys, boys…I’ve definitely cried over a boy- so happy I now have one who doesn’t make me cry!

    I am a strong believer that everything that we do/or every person we meet, happens for a reason. Who knows maybe you met him just to show you that their is a different guy out their who can be equally as awesome as this one, or maybe you met him because he IS the one you should be with!

    The only advice I have is keep in touch with the boy, cause you never know what will happen!!

  16. Jenny says

    I’ve been upset over boys far too many times. Denver boys are jerks, I guess.. (even the vegan ones) ;(… I hope you and your boy keep in touch though, sounds like he’s one of the good’ns.

  17. Eleanor says

    I’ve definitely been there! But if it’s good and you can keep in touch it could be great because when you do see him, it’ll be a really special occasion each time, which makes it almost-worth not seeing him all the time (if that makes any sense at all 🙂 )

  18. Damjana says

    i cried A LOT over boys and i still do, sometimes for half an hour or more:o
    i also overeat a lot because of them. If i look back, i see it was totally not worth it
    cck+ssh that sounds a cute combination:)
    i agree, running and other sports is a good distraction

  19. Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says

    I think all of your plates look very pretty and appetizing!! 🙂

    Yeah, I’ve had my share of down-in-the-dumps over guys. Thankfully those days are over since meeting my hubby. <3

    Jenn

  20. Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) says

    Oh no, sorry Katie! Keep your chin up. No, I don’t think we need guys, but when you find the right one…you really feel complete. I know most women will think I am stupid for thinking that way, but I have been with some real stinkers and now I have been with my husband for almost 17 years and really, he is the best thing that ever happened to me! Just stay positive!

  21. Danielle says

    Aw, that’s sad! But I’m sure you guys will keep in contact via other forms of technology 🙂

    I don’t think I’ve ever been really, really upset over a boy. I’m extremely independent & although I’ve been sad, I can’t say I’ve ever cried! Some of my friends call me an emotional rock haha

  22. Sandi says

    In the past year I’ve spent a LONG time crying and moping over a guy an ocean away…serious time wasted!!! It was my first real relationship though, so hopefully next time I’ll be more resilient 🙂
    btw, I can’t believe I’ve never noticed your broccoli bowls…your meal with the broccoli, brown rice and mushrooms looks SOOO good right about now…or any time. I’ll have to make myself a broccoli bowl as soon as I get home!

  23. ruby red says

    I hope it’s not the end for you and SSH! But I will say it is hard hard hard to talk to someone you like when you’re far away from each other, when the future is ambiguous and you aren’t having regular real-world experiences together!! Saaaad. (Definitely tear-worthy.) It impresses me that people can put together a whole (un)cookbook of raw desserts. Such a delicacy seems so intuitive, like you wouldn’t need a recipe – just blend together different nuts, dried fruits, and the occasionally coconut ingredient to different ratios to produce different desserts! But alas, these raw gurus do impress me when original ideas are presented.

  24. Kiersten says

    I’m sorry you’re sad about the boy right now Katie. I know exactly what you’re going through. My first year of college was SO hard for me because my boyfriend was in NJ and I was in NC. I won’t lie, I cried all the time because I missed him so much. At least phone calls, visits, and the internet make things a little easier.

  25. Rachael says

    I think that you can be a strong, empowered woman and still feel a sense of loss or sadness over a guy. One doesn’t necessarily cancel out the other, so acknowledge any feelings you might have, and be grateful for the internet! Long distance is certainly hard, especially in the getting to know you phase, but you never know what the universe has in store!

  26. Sarah says

    Awww! You have every right to feel bummed out! You would feel a similar sad if it had been a new friend, or relative leaving right? Just wanted to let you know that I survived a long distance relationship – me in Ontario, Canada and him in New York City. It lasted 3 years, before the age of internet, texting and Skype! We owned the phone company and airlines by the end of it. We have been happily married for 15 years with 2 gorgeous (or so I think!) kids. It can be done, not easily, but ever so worth it, when and if you grow to appreciate each others great qualities. I say give it a shot–you never know!!!

  27. Tamar says

    katie, i am an everythingtarian, but the large majority of my diet is vegetarian, so i eat lots of fruits and vegetables- i’ve been making my own broccoli bowls for years! the thing is, there’s so much volume in veggies, and i usually eat a ton at once, and my stomach just feels (and looks) soo full- any advice on how to get your fill of veggies without the full feeling?

  28. Mary @ Bites and Bliss says

    Awwe it’s never fun saying goodbye! How far away are you two? And don’t worry- it’s not mushy stuff, if that’s how you feel then it’s perfect! 😀 I get upset everytime me and Michael have to leave each other but automatically look forward to the next time we’ll get together. Plus, it makes the time spent together so much more special.

    but yes, strong women unite! 😉 haha

  29. Mimi says

    Aww, poor dear! I’m actually getting back with my guy, since we go to the same college but live in different states. I’m looking forward to it, but honestly I’m kind of a lone wolf. Like, I enjoy people’s company, but it’s difficult for me to actively miss people.

    But hey, as for you, seperation makes the heart grow fonder!

  30. Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) says

    awww i’m sorry you guys had to say goodbye 🙁 but hey, thats what skype is for, right? i’ve cried over my first (and only) boyfriend. when he dumped me i didn’t see it coming at all! it’s tough, but i think everyone goes through saying goodbye, whether that’s for good or for just a little while.

  31. Olivia says

    oh i’m sorry about sports store hottie, but i’m sure there are plenty more guys out there 😉

    i try not to let boys get to me, but sometimes it happens!

  32. BroccoliHut says

    I’ve had one or two good cry sessions over boys, but the boy blues never lasted for long. I’m a hopeless romantic, but I realize that I gotta live in the real world too:)

  33. Larissa H says

    I used to be the same way about boys as you, i would laugh and say how weak. Then i met my boyfriend and it all went downhill. Oh well I am happy for it, now i am nicer and more sympaththic to people . i dont know why things work the way they do but i think i will just take it as it comes 🙂

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Thanks so much for your wise words hehe. You’re so right; we never know what’s in store. Although I can’t imagine it right now, maybe I HAVE to leave this guy in order to make room for a BETTER one coming into the picture in the (hopefully!!) near future.

  34. Becca says

    So long as you stay safe, self-respecting and don’t lend anyone any money, it’s all good 🙂 Trust me, I learnt that the hard way!

    The thing to always remember is that a boyfriend is just an amazingly good friend, whom you happen to fancy like mad. My mistake was always crying over boys who didn’t fulfill the friend role particularly well… Or indeed the other part! Oops. Crying over nice boys is totally justified.

    Anyway – I must champion MSN Messenger. My hubby and I chatted on MSN constantly for the 7 months we were just friends before we became a couple. Plus you get to keep the conversations, which make great reading after you’ve been together for four years 😉

    • Chocolate-Covered Katie says

      Thanks, Becca! We’re definitely lucky to live in an age where goodbye doesn’t have to mean goodbye! I mean, if I’d met my guy a few decades ago, I probably would’ve seen him only once! How awful… but then again, it might’ve saved some heartbreak! 😉

  35. Marianne says

    Just because you get upset over a guy doesn’t mean you aren’t a strong, powerful, independent woman – it means you are human. If you make an emotional attachment to someone, you’ll be upset when the situation changes. You may not need a man, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want that companionship.

    PS – love those mushrooms. I’m a sucker for sauteed ‘shrooms!

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