Some people eat chocolate for a treat. Others do cake. I do ice-cream, and CHINESE BAKERY BUNS!!!! (P.s. a free meal awaits you at Kashi!)
Trust me, I’ve become a bakery connoisseur! Let me now show you my love for Chinese bakeries and how buns fit into my day! Here’s is the collection – minus an egg tart and a sponge cake.
The Bakery Bun Assemblage minus what I ate
Introducing from the left, clockwise: Paper-wrapped sponge cakes (x3), Traditional Egg tarts (x2), Hot dog bun (x1), Taro-filled bun (x1)
Brekkie
Can’t escape that usual bowl of oatmeal, though for some reason I wasn’t hungry on Monday morning at all! (Which is rare.)
Includes a pack of Quaker original oats, light & fit strawberry banana yogurt, frozen blackberries & grapes, and a banana with a splash of skim milk.
Worked super hard all morning after that getting updated with more work stuff while snacking on some nuts. BORING. Suddenly, lunch rolled around and…I wasn’t famished (surprise! again!).
Lunch-Time
My Main course consisted of a toasted english muffin spread with honey mustard, deli turkey meat, a bed of romaine (which were bitter 
), and TONNES of baby carrots (cuz I love them!) but dessert was ever more FANTABULOUS!!!! My paper-wrapped sponge cake awaits me! muahahahah.
Paper-Wrapped Sponge Cake!
My favorite Cantonese bun/cake of all time, this guy is a fluffy, moist, almost chiffon cake-like bakery good that tastes like nothing but sweet vanilla! Chinese bakeries in Chicago (in general) usually make them about 100% larger than what you would find in Hong Kong. The “traditional” sized buns have ~150 calories, but since this was double the size, I’m guessing more around 300.
Snack
I was super pumped for my workout yesterday after a long day of meetings (I’m ALWAYS missing my usual class “Sexy bodies” now!! I think it’s the name. muahhaha) I was also psyched to try a new bar – as I always am! This is the Balance Bare in Trail Mix Cinnamon Oats & Honey.
This 210 calorie bar had a good 15g of protein and AMAZING flavor. I really have to say, this is my favorite Balance Bar ever, reminding me slightly of a luna bar crossed with a kashi bar, but without the chemical after-taste!! Verdict: 9/10!! I will totally buy this again!
Taste: If you close your eyes, I want to say this was just like a nuttier, chewier version of an iced oatmeal cookie. Lots of cinnamon, lots of almonds, airing on the side of being a little too sweet, but it was like a “healthy” treat! Oooh and it smelled so good…
Texture: Chewy, the top was sticky, I liked the yogurt coating on the base, and very nutty! There were almonds wedged all throughout the bar and gave a great crunch to the bar!!
Dinnahh
My tummy was growling by the end of my workout and was super excited to eat. The kind boyfriend made turkey chili using a whole box of ground turkey, canned tomatoes, onions, and HOT chili seasoning. (YUM, I love spicy things)
I ate my share of chili with 2 slices of Arnold WW bread, and ended up going back for 4 more spoonfuls. I’m estimating I had about 2 cups of chili? (in my opinion, this bread is too dense and relatively low in fiber for the # of calories you get in a slice.)
Dessert!
What is dinner without bakery goods??? I had a Chinese egg tart, which I ONLY like if it doesn’t taste yolky. This bakery has the recipe down.
The crust was super flaky and so crumbly it would have fallen apart if you didn’t eat it in the tin shell. The filling was cold, silky, and creme brulee-like (without the crunchy top). It had a sweet and slightly eggy taste, blended with a hint of vanilla. Read here for more info. on the egg tart – they usually run around ~200 calories apiece, so it’s a good occasional treat. 
That ended my indulgent day of bakery treats. If you’re EVER in Chicago and need a recommendation on buns, give me a holler! PLEASE! I insist!! Now, there is only one question remaining…
What are the healthiest foods (meals and snacks!) you eat pre & post workout???
Ooo, thanks for the kashi tip!
Yumm all those baked goods look so good
I love eating a Better N PB and banana sammie preworkout in the morning. And usually after I’ll eat a good meal with lots of protein like oatmeal or a protein shake!
oh…chinese bakery!!! I prefer them over western bakery because they’re less sweet and more fluffy!!!!
Love “Dinnah”~~~~~
The Chinese pastries look amazing and thanks for the bar review! I’m always on the look out for a good bar to try!
I usually try to full with half a Clif bar before I workout. They do a good job of tiding me over!
Oh – I’m liking the new layout! I just bought that bar the other day so I’m glad you liked it!!
I’m beginning to think I need some Chinese buns in my life – I’ve never had them!
wow, those desserts look (and sound) fantastic! to answer your question, i’d say my favorite “healthy” pre/post-workout snack would be yogurt and fruit/granola or any kind of nutrition bar! i love everything “clif”… lunas, z-bars, clif bars, ect. gotta have that fuel!
loveeee those egg custards! they are my favorite dessert after dim sum! once i tried to make them though and i completely messed up and they tasted like mini quiche’s
Those bakery items look delish!
Thanks for the congrats!
Yeah, the hummus isn’t very photogenic. I use salsa and black beans in addition to chickpeas, so it gets pretty dark.
Wow – I’ve never heard of anything you mentioned! Chinese Bakery? Huh? I’ll have to investigate, I’m curious now!
I would love to try a bakery bun! Looks great!
Pre-workout I usually eat a pear or apple and a Z-Bar.
Post-workout I have a big dinner because it is 9:00 by the time I get home from the gym!
OOO that spongecake looks really good!
thanks for the recommendation! im going to get it this weekend!
Yummy yummy en tats! (I don’t know about the spelling but that’s what I grew up calling those custards)
I read once that yogurt is the best post-workout snack because it has the best balance of carbs and protein. I had it today after my run and it was great
I live about 55 miles NW of Chicago, but Chinatown is hands down the best food I have ever had. Their grocery stores (even with live fish!) were amazing too.
Now I want those buns now!
chinese bakeries are the best. question though. is it still cool to drink bubble tea? probably not, right?
AHHHH, those chinatown goodies look SO good. i just realized i haven’t been to the ny chinatown in years — i’m taking so much for granted, i know! — i need to get there asap to refuel on some treats. i love those egg tarts!
i usually don’t snack pre-workout bc i do it so early (though, if i’m truly hungry, i’ll have a bite of peanut butter or an apple). i try to time workouts so they end just in time for a real meal — that way, i can feast to my heart’s content without having to deal with extra snacks or worry i’m killing my appetite (mostly an unfounded worry, though, since my appetite never goes far, haha).
i usually eat lunch or dinner after my workouts, but pre-workout, i love larabars, banana w/pb, or one of my low cal/high protein & fiber bagels with hummus!!
Yum, I wish I lived right by a bakery! Thanks for the Kashi tip – those look good. I didn’t know they made dinners.
Thanks for the comment on my blog. I’m getting over some type of flu or something that has had me down for the count since last Wednesday, so that’s why I disappeared. I haven’t been able to cook or eat anything, just toast and oatmeal – that kind of stuff – so no reason to update the blog!
Mmmm I love Chinese baked goods!
That little egg tart is adorable, and looks incredibly delicious…
Your buns look awesome! (hahaha, I made a dirty joke!)
I’ve never had Chinese pastries, so I think I’ll have to come to Chicago and have you school me in the various buns. Kay?
I love the Chinese bakery!!!!! Yummy!! And delicious choices!!!
I enjoyed browsing through your blog!
I am a chinese living in singapore, and sometimes its kinda a culture shock kind of thing to look through food blogs in the us (though i enjoy them alot!) because its just not chinese yknw?
anyhow continue writing!
That sponge cake would be right up my alley! I like chocolate things, but I like vanilla ones better. Yum! The egg tart looks yummy too!
YAY!! Asian baked goods are the best! I want that taro-filled bun, please!
We had turkey chili on sunday! I had mine with Ezekiel bread
Those baked treats look so good. Especially the tart you compared to creme brulee…I can imagine how delicious!
Hope you are having a great day!
Fabulous eats!!
Thank you so much for your incredibly kind comment on my blog – you’re far too generous!!
I’ve never had any of those baked goods before, BUT I want them ALL!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I’m so glad you did because now I’ve been introduced to yours, too, which seems bangin’!
Chinese bakery tour of Chicago sounds like a lot of fun. The egg tart looks the best to me, nothing beats really well done pie crust.
omgggg egg tarts! i used to be addicted to those- i cannot eat them in moderation at all- i just had to STOP!
Those bakery buns sound awesome! I’ve never been to Chinatown before – I know, I’m crazy! It is definitely on my list of must-sees in Chicago! Paper-wrapped sponge cake? Count me in! Can you give me that list of recommendations?
Favorite pre- and post-workout snacks: Clif ZBars, fruit, cheese + crackers, and sometimes just a spoonful of nut butter!