Happy Thursday! How’s your week going? Lots of stuff going on over here, so I’m just going to jump right into the weekly randomness-themed (is that an oxymoron?) link-up. Some stuff from the past week:

*Anyone else dealing with pre-fall allergies or is this maybe a sneaky late-summer cold thing? Either way, I woke up Tuesday morning barely able to talk. A cold smoothie for breakfast was nice and soothing. At least my energy has been pretty good. Fingers crossed my immune system gets back on track ASAP.

(what went into said smoothie: water, ice, spinach, protein powder, PB2, frozen riced cauliflower, and half a frozen  banana—full recipe here)

*I was recently quoted in this Self article about how allowing yourself to eat what you want rather than setting strict limits can actually help you avoid weight gain. It may not be the right approach for everyone, but I encourage clients to take those “forbidden foods” off the pedestal. More often than not, I find it helps them establish a more balanced relationship with food and keeps them from feeling deprived—key factors for longterm positive lifestyle changes.

*So I went to the beach last weekend and I saw this bike leaning up against a fence. It was so instagrammy, I just had to snap a photo:

*I love when people ask if I’m a vegetarian.

A tablespoon of this contains 120 calories, 13 grams fat, but only 4 of those grams are saturated. Plus, the flavor is so rich, a very small amount goes a long way. I used 1 teaspoon for a whole batch of sautéed shredded brussels sprouts. I wouldn’t make this my go-to cooking fat, but it’s an enjoyable way to add variety. I appreciate that it’s not for everyone, but it fits into my personal overall diet.

*One source of fat that is a staple in my diet, though, is ground flax. This nutritious seed is packed with fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, and I use it in all kinds of foods. Last year, I actually wrote a continuing education course for Today’s Dietitian, and it’s now live on their site for all my RD friends!

*This Splendid Table podcast episode I ended up on the other day totally blew my mind.

This post has been part of another Running with Spoons Thinking Out Loud link party, where randomness is the name of the game. Thanks to Amanda for hosting.