Fuel from a Busy Week! {Full in a Number of Ways 😊💓}

Happy Sunday my friends! Boy did March end on a busy note, but many good things are going on in the @plantstoplanks world! First off, thank you all for the many birthday wishes! My heart is full after all of the kind words I received both from my "virtual" friends and in person. My actual birthday was on Tuesday, but I felt the love all week long. After not really celebrating last year, I more than made up for it this time around!

The other thing I did this year more than any other time recently was enjoy meals out with loved ones. On a regular week, I rarely eat out since I enjoy cooking so much at home. Atlanta is growing in the availability of delicious vegan meal options, though, so it was fun to actually check out some of the local fare for a change! I'll take you through some of the highlights of the celebratory meals...

First up was a Saturday evening out with a few of my close girlfriends. We donned our heels to hit the town for food and fun! Dinner was served at True Food Kitchen. Though it is not a fully vegan restaurant, they have many plant-based options and use high quality ingredients. I didn't snap a picture, but we enjoyed some delicious sesame Brussels sprouts and hummus to start out the meal. I order a ramen bowl for my main meal that was good, but not particularly show-stopping in the flavor. The dessert made up for that however...

Fully vegan squash pie! The crust tasted like a crispy gingerbread cookie, then the filling was a creamy variation of a traditional pumpkin pie. Of course the coconut cream on top finished it off perfectly! The waitress was sweet to put a candle on top for me to blow out. I very much enjoyed the whole evening out with my girls!

On my actual birthday I finally got to try out a new restaurant that also has a vast amount of vegan options, and they use fresh, whole food ingredients. Flower Child popped up a location that is not too far from my part of town. I drive by it at least once a week and have been drooling over their Instagram feed ever since I first saw the sign. My good work pal and running buddy, Julie, treated me to lunch here. Wow, it was excellent! I had the Vietnamese Crunch salad that was packed with veggies, cashews, pineapple and a vibrant lemongrass dressing. She enjoyed her meal, as well. The vibe of the restaurant is really cute!

Luckily I have plans to come back in about a month with another set of friends, so I will get to try some more items off of the menu next time around!

One of my clients has a birthday the day before mine, so we also had plans to grab a bite to celebrate after she came in to workout on Thursday. The gym where I work is within walking distance to a number of great eating spots. I was surprised when I initially viewed the menu at El Super Pan to see how many items I could enjoy. My absolute favorite is the chayote squash slaw. I think the sauce on top is coconut-based as it is vegan. It is so bright and delicious. I have a Brazilian friend who has told me her mom can teach me how to make it, so I need to go get my lessons soon. I also grabbed a bowl of the red beans and rice, while my client got the maduros (plantains). One of the trainers I have known since we first got our personal training certificates walked down with us and treated us to the meal. Such a nice gesture from an old pal!

Just one more unexpected meal out that I can't forget to share for my pal @puravidaville...

Falafel! I just started using the same accountant as my parents, so since he had all of our paperwork complete we decided to meet up yesterday. Finished off the tax requirements, then enjoyed some really yummy food at a small local Mediterranean Bistro. I haven't had falafel in a long time, and the hummus and tabbouleh looked like fantastic accompaniments. It's a toss up what my favorite meal of the week was, but this is definitely up there! The service was really great, as well. Any place that makes you feel very warm and welcome is a winner in my book, especially when the food matches. My parents and @dksart all enjoyed what they ordered, too!

All of this food has more than filled my stomach up this week, but time spent with my favorite people filled my heart, as well! I don't think I'll be eating out this much again any time soon, however no regrets after a great week! Don't worry, I still whipped up plenty of goodies in my own kitchen even in between all of these other meals. I have some big plans coming up for this season on sharing my love of healthy meals with others, too. Stay tuned to see what I've got up my sleeve to ramp up my nutrition coaching business...

Banners by @zord189, @woman-onthe-wing, @dksart and @bearone for @steemusa