Today, I failed to plan well, but I didn’t let that deter me from my overall mission of making it through this Whole 30 with everyone else who started August 1st.

This morning, I hit the snooze button too many times for an omelet to be a food choice. Honestly, I wasn’t that hungry thanks to my missing all forms of caffeine yesterday and the headache that started behind my eyes and threatened to derail my entire day. Luckily, my husband was awake for work at 5:30 a.m. and I had the chance to drink some water and take a pain reliever. I still didn’t feel 100%, but I solved that as best I could with a big cup of Dunkin’ Donuts black coffee. I’m addicted. I admit that.

Although I know I need to limit my intake of fruit [especially in the morning because I see it as more of a “breakfast” food than vegetables], I ate a perfectly ripened peach on the way to work and it hit the spot.

I had grabbed a bag that had two long carrots and one red pepper in it. I enjoyed those during the day at work and I was not truly hungry until I arrived at home.

My plans had included balsamic chicken drumsticks in the crockpot. However, because those little duded didn’t make it into the slow cooker prior to my jetting to work, I knew I’d have to be a little creative when I came home.

I liked the idea of the balsamic vinegar on chicken, so I thought a balsamic reduction would work. I put some olive oil and sprinkle of salt on the chicken drumsticks for my oldest and me. The youngest like corn flakes on hers, so we did that for her. While I baked the chicken drumsticks in the oven [450 degrees for 35 minutes in my oven], I kept a saucepan with balsamic vinegar simmering on the stove. I kept an eye so it wouldn’t boil or completely reduce into oblivion.

As it reduced, I found myself wondering what I would do to coat the chicken with it. I decided rather than brushing it on the chicken, I would remove the chicken from the bone, put it on a big bed of romaine lettuce and use the balsamic reduction as a dressing. Then, I realized I had a ripe avocado and some cherry tomatoes from our little volunteer plants in our yard.

I built a pretty delicious salad and my daughter made one for herself, adding goat cheese crumbles to hers. It was incredibly tasty. The balsamic vinegar becomes so much milder when it’s reduced and a little drizzle goes a long way.

We agreed this was definitely a recipe that will be repeated during my remaining days of the Whole 30. I’m thinking the turkey breast I plan to make in the slow cooker would also be delicious on this salad. Strips of steak, grilled salmon and any number of veggie combos would be so good! And, this is completely portable, so lunch at work is also a possibility for this meal.

We went school shopping tonight at Staples. We swapped out our empty SodaStream cartridge for a new one. I immediately made sparkling water when we came home.

I buzzed it three times which gives you the highest concentration of fizz. With some fresh fruit slices in my glass, I know I will more than acquire my required amount of water for the days ahead. I may even get jiggy with it and try cucumber slices, mint leaves or other things I’ve seen on Pinterest.

For now, I’m just marveling at the sheer masses of bubbles in this water. You can practically hear them fizzing by looking at them in the picture, can’t you?

Day 2 down and tomorrow will be a challenge. Going to visit a friend who makes THE yummiest snacks and treats…all of which I will need to avoid. She usually has a veggie or fruit tray too, though, so that should work. I will also take some of my own fun things so I can crunch while others are munching.

I can do anything for 30 days, right?