Matt and I always find ourselves awake by 6:30am no matter what.

Even on Sunday’s when sleeping in is almost an essential, our internal alarm clocks go off and we are ready to start the day.

Since the weather was beyond gorgeous, we decided to head to a local reservation to walk around and enjoy the sunshine with other Sunday runner’s and walkers.

It was the perfect start to a day filled with an abundance of family, food and desserts.

Dinner was served at 3pm, and would continued well into the evening.

For starters;

Pizza Chena, Antipasto, Tomatoes with Mozzarella, Basil and EVOO drizzle

Second Course;

Raviolis,Ziti, Meatballs and Sausages. With Bread for Dipping

Third Course;

Roast Beef, Ham, Crowned Lamb, Roasted Chicken Breast and Roasted Potatoes.

I am not a fan of Ham or Crowned Lamb, so I opted for a small taste of roast beef and a moist Chicken breast. I also picked out most of the sweet potatoes and onions from the pan .

Think we had enough meat?

Dessert;

Along with Nana’s anise and lemon cookies

Some other options included pastries, pies, fruit and candies.

My Favorite Chocolates!!

If you’re like me and love rich, creamy, chocolaty decadence, this is the perfect cake for you. My brother and Stef brought it from a local bakery, and I was in heaven after one bite.

Luckily Matt is not a lover of frosting, so I was more than happy to help him out with eating his .

What?

I am a firm believer that as long as you exercise regularly and eat well 80% of the time, indulgence days are perfectly normal and acceptable. I prefer to not use the phrase “Cheat days”, because that represents something bad which leads to negative feelings and guilt. You should never feel guilty when it comes to food. It is called a “treat” for a reason, and allowing yourself to eat foods that are not a part of your everyday menu is not only okay, but healthy as well. 

The key is to pay attention to your hunger cues, eat slowly, and give yourself a chance to digest before reaching for seconds.

Ask yourself, “Am I still hungry, or am I eating because it’s there? Go for walk after dinner, and take breaks in-between courses. Make sure to sip water throughout your meal to help fill you up, and not confuse your thirst for hunger. 

A bloated, distressed belly is not worth that extra piece of ham, serving of pasta, or in my case, chocolate cake.

Burp.

Bonus: Leftover’s= I don’t have to cook tonight