Mother's Market Success!

I have been going to mother's market for early morning breakfasts lately, I'm obsessed! They are a little expensive, but I don't buy produce there, and the quality of their packaged food or ready to eat food is really good!

While I was exploring, I came across some vegan pre-workout and post workout supplements.

In the past, I have not been a fan of pre-workout supplements because they make me crash hard after working out. I bought 1 of the sample packets of this pre-workout energizer to see if this would work for me! I will let you know.

Also, I found a powdered greens supplement I used to take. I really like adding powdered greens to shakes or even just stirring in a spoon full with orange juice. This brand also had a powdered super food berries which would probably taste better! I feel many people don't get the amount of greens they need in one day, including myself some days, so drinking a powdered greens drink can benefit anyone a lot in that way.

While waiting for my fresh juice at the juice bar, I browsed the ready-food deli section and found this POWER pancake! I had seen this before, along with the date flavored (Yum i love dates!), but had never tried it. After looking at the 9g of protein and 10g of fiber and craving something sweet for breakfast I thought I might as well try it! 

I was trying to think of a good combination with this power pancake. I walked past the dairy, and eggs, and thought "Oh yes! Greek yogurt!"When I walked over to the greek yogurt section in mother's market, it was Chobani overload!!

The middle row of the yogurt case, is ALL CHOBANI! I love it! Chobani is a sponsor for the USA Olympic team too!

They even had my favorite flavor; raspberry! I can't recall ever having seen a raspberry flavored non-fat Chobani Greek yogurt; but I can't say I was complaining!

Once I had picked up the Greek yogurt, an epiphany came into my head.... BREAKFAST PIZZA! I ran over to the deli and got a bowl of fresh fruit. 

After paying, I sat outside at one of the nice tables outside of Mother's Market. It was time to get to work on this breakfast creation. 

With a spoon in hand... I made this breakfast pizza to perfect.

And there we have it! Breakfast Pizza, protein style ;) 

I had also picked up a fresh juice from the juice bar; cucumber, pineapple, and kale! It was so good, and a lot better the the juice I had the previous day which was apple, beat, celery, parsley and wheat grass (I could barely drink it! haha).

For a workout, since I had done a hard legs day, I came up with an ARMS and ABS workout.

My friends and I were headed to the Olympic qualifier for Men's Volleyball in Long Beach today! The games were Puerto Rico vs. Canada and USA vs. Cuba.

Before we left, I had to make sure to fuel up so I wouldn't make too many bad choices while I was there.

For myself, I made a salad with mixed baby greens, cucumber, carrots, green onions, turkey, raw sunflower seeds, and raw pumpkin seeds; with a side of eggplant hummus and bell pepper slices, cucumbers, and carrots! Quite a delicious lunch if you ask me! And a paleo lunch at that!

Not sure if I have mentioned, but tomorrow, May 12, I will begin the paleo diet. I am hoping to be able to do it for 2 weeks and after that period see how I feel. I have no doubt it will be hard, but I am excited to be able to eat a lot of meat, eggs, and veggies! I will definitely be posting any recipes, or how I feel throughout the next two weeks.

I also made for my friend, an ezekial tortilla "sandwich". It is easy! Take an ezekial tortilla, if needed add a sauce you like (I prefer the Basil-Kale Pesto recipe I made), turkey slices, mixed baby greens, cucumbers, and tomatoes; roll it up and there you have it! 

The games were very fun that evening, Canada beat Puerto Rico in the first match and USA beat Cuba in the second.

Turkey & 3 Bean Chili

It's chili time! I have been craving chili ever since I saw a very simple, single serving chili recipe in Women's Health and it made me so hungry! I used that recipe to get an idea, but mostly just started adding vegetables, turkey, water and spices to a big pot!

Turkey & 3 Bean Chili
(Serves about 5, 1 cup servings)

1 Can Chili Beans (Kidney, Pinto, Black), drained & rinsed
1 Can Black Beans, drained & rinsed

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 green bell pepper, rough chop
1/2 large white onion, rough chop
3 Roma tomatoes, rough chop
2 ears of corn, cooked & corn cut off husks

In a large pot, add a drizzle of olive oil, and cook the onions on medium-low heat until translucent, then add green bell peppers. Cook on medium-low heat until bell peppers are sweating.

While the onions and bell peppers are cooking, cook 1-1.5 lb turkey breast seasoned with a drizzle of olive oil, pepper & red pepper flakes. Drain any excess fluids once finished cooking.

Once turkey and onion-bell pepper mixture are finished cooking, add turkey, beans, corn, and tomatoes to the pot with onions and green peppers. Keep the heat over medium-low heat.

In a serperate bowl, mix together 2-3 cups warm water, 1 packet chili seasoning , and 4-6 tablespoons ground flax seed. Mix until everything has dissolved, then add to the pot. It will look very watery at first, but after some of the water cooks off, it will become thicker.

Add the chili seasoning mixture to the big pot. Let this simmer for 20-30 minutes, until it is a thicker consistency.

After 20-30 minutes you're all set! Let the chili cool a little before serving because it will be very hot!

Green onions, rough chop, for topping
(Optional topping: nonfat plain green yogurt, in place of sour cream)

Final Product!

This was my first time making chili from scratch (except for the seasoning). And it turned out very well! I would love any suggestions for ways to make this chili even better or healthier then it was.

I will be having chili left overs for the next few days, and I am very excited. I have a feeling it will make even better left overs with letting the flavors marinate longer!

Enjoy! :)

Chicken Pesto "Taco"

Basil Kale Pesto

1 cup fresh basil leaves, quick chop
1 cup fresh kale leaves, quick chop
3 garlic cloves
1/2 lemon, juice
1/4 cup raw walnuts
1/2 cup water

Put the above ingredients in a food processor or blender.

Pulse on low speed, and slowly add 1/4-1/2 cup olive oil as all ingredients start to blend together to desired consistency

Chicken Pesto "Taco"

1 small sprouted Ezekiel tortilla
1-2 Tbsp Basil Kale Pesto
1/2 grilled chicken breast, sliced
1/2 Roma tomato, sliced
handful of fresh arugula

To assemble "Taco"

Spread pesto all over tortilla, add chicken breast slices, then tomato slices and finally top with arugula.
Fold like a Taco & Enjoy!
It was too stuffed for me to call it a wrap, I really like arugula and tomatoes :)

Had this for lunch today with a mango, peeled & sliced. It was amazingly refreshing and easy to make! 

New Books & Bars

This morning my 2 new books came in the mail! I am so excited to read them as soon as school lets out. Thank you to my Uncle for getting them for me.

The first one is Bright Side Up by Amy Spencer. I read reviews about this book in fitness magazines and thought it sounded like a perfect book for me. It gives an inspiring and optimistic perspective while showing you to not take for granted what is right in front of you.

The second book is Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran. My uncle and I were watching TV and the author was on the show talking about her book. I don't plan on being a full vegan, but I do find it compelling to eat clean and she writes about the practical "baby steps" to becoming a vegan. The author has lost 60 pounds and has been successful in keeping it off. The book also includes 40 vegan recipes! I didn't know this until I got the book, I am very excited to try some more vegan meals.

Yesterday I went to Mother's Market and found some fun bars to try! I had heard a recommendation for the Skout Chocolate & Coconut bar, but when I got to Mother's they had so many choices!

I ended up getting one of the Skout Apple Cinnamon food bar (middle in picture). The ingredients looked promising (which is what I was drawn to at first with the recommendation): Organic Dates, Whole Grain Organic Oats, Organix Dried Apples, Organic Almonds, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Cinnamon, & Sea Salt. Total 190 calories, good fats (1g poly unsaturated fat, 2g monounsat fat, 0g trans & sat fat), 6g fiber, 4g protein, 0mg Choleserol. 

I also got a Raw Crunch Energy Bar with Blueberries (bottom in picture). It is handmade, uncooked, and unprocessed, which doesn't sound too bad! Now let's look at the ingredients; Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Cashews, Organic Blueberries, Organic Flaxseeds, Organic Pecans, Raw Honey, Organic Macadamia Nuts, Celtic Sea Salt. I can not think of one ingredient in this bar that is bad for you! With 150 calories, 10g Fat (1.5g sat, 0g trans), 0g Cholesterol, 10g Carbohydrates (5g sugar, 3g fiber), and 5g Protein. I am excited to try this one!

The top RAW bar pictured, was also blueberry, but unfortunately I ate it after my Coed Rec softball game and forgot to keep the packaging! My bad, I know; it was delicious though so I will just buy it again and update you!

Yes, I did just start in a Coed Rec softball team, with some girls I played with in high school. I played inter-murals in college also, so I have kept some skill. I just need to get use to slow pitch softball, since I played fast pitch for 13 years, I need to be patient (HA!). 

Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes

New Protein Pancake Recipe! I adjusted it from other protein pancake recipes I had seen, used whatever I had around the house, and it turned out great!

Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

1 Tablespoon ground flaxseed

2 Tablespoon vanilla protein powder

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 apple, peeled and diced

6 Tablespoon egg whites

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-1 1/2 Tablespoon unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Combined all the above ingredients in a blender or food processor, blend until ingredients have been

After the ingredients have been combined, put a small amount of coconut oil on a pan, add 1/4 of mixture per pancake onto the greased pan over medium heat. Cook until there is a light golden crust, flip and repeat. This recipe made me 4 medium sized pancakes.

In a small microwave safe bowl put1-2 Tablespoon organic pure maple syrup and microwave 15 seconds. I prefer my maple syrup warm. 

Once all the pancakes are done cooking, drizzle the warmed maple syrup over them and top with 1 Tablespoon chopped walnuts and 1-2 Tablespoon peeled and chopped apples

Final Product!

The kitchen  is a great place to be creative and think of new ideas.

Put Your Lunch Face On

After work yesterday, I made myself an open faced sandwich!

I have never mixed avocado and hummus but I saw a recipe for an appetizer that did it, so I thought why not try it in a sandwich!

1• I began by roasting a thick tomato slice and toasting a piece of whole wheat bread.
2• After my bread was toasted, I added 1/4 mashed avocado in top, and then added 1 tbsp of Trader Joes eggplant hummus.
3• I like mesquite turkey, but any lean meat will work (or no meat at all too!). I used 4 slices of turkey breast, adding some good lean protein.
4• Top the turkey with a small amount of arugula, the roasted tomato slice ad a sprinkle of black pepper.

A fresh tomato will work well also, but roasting it for a couple minutes adds a little sweetness and warmth that I really enjoy on this sandwich.

That's it! How easy was that?

This open faced sandwich has good protein, whole grains, healthy fat, and fiber!

Mmmmm

Italian Inspired Frittata

On Tuesday morning before class, I did an intense an workout I got from April Oxygen Magazine! (I am obviously late posting this one haha)

After an intense ab workout and a 4 mile run, I was hungry!

I made a Tomato, Spinach, Feta Frittata with toast and a glass of unsweetened vanilla almond milk.

To make the frittata:

1• Spray Trader Joe's Olive oil spray (or any other cooking spray) in a small sautée pan, add 2 cups fresh spinach, once wilted, transfer to a separate plate
2• Spray a little more cooking spray so eggs don't stick. Then add 1/2 roma tomato, sliced (4 slices), then add the spinach back into pan, and pour 6 tbsp egg whites into pan, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes
3• Put top on the pan, cook until bottom is cooked (I like mine a little browned) (~4 min over medium heat)
4• Flip over carefully (!!!) and cook another 2 min-3 min over medium heat.
5• Top with 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (can add more if u like it spicer) & 1-2 tbsp nonfat feta, put top on pan to let cheese get warm (~1 min)

****Serve!

For the toast:
• Toast 1 slice whole wheat bread, add 1/4 mashed avocado on top with a sprinkle of black pepper

Nom nom nom! :)

Roasting Up!

I wasn't very hungry for dinner last night since I had been munching on raw walnuts all day, so I made a small plate of roasted veggies for dinner! I have never cooked brussels sprouts nor sweet potatoes, but I know I like them!

4 brussels sprouts, quartered
4 asparagus spears
5 cauliflower florets, halved if too large
1/2 sweet potato, peeled & cubed

Preheated oven 375

 

I first boiled water in a pot and added in the sweet potato chunks for 3-4 minutes, so they softened. (This was to ensure that all the vegetables would cook in the same amount of time)

Once I had arranged vegetables on the baking sheet, I sprayed olive oil cooking spray on each, and sprinkled lightly with sea salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. I put the baking sheet in the oven for ~10 minutes, and broiled them for the last 30 seconds to 1 minute!

Served immediately!

Delicious

Back to the Tropics!

I actually got up this morning before 8AM work and did a 2 mile walk with my dog. I was impressed with myself. Work today is short luckily so I will be able to do some legs and a light run after work!

I made a tropic breakfast shake this morning!

1 small banana
1 container Trader Joe's nonfat mango Greek yogurt
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 small orange, peel removed
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
1/2-3/4 cup water
Ice!

Blend until smooth, you can change up the water and ice amounts depending on how thick you prefer your shakes!

Greek, Chinese, and Dessert!

Yesterday, before work, I had prepared my chicken greek salad for lunch! Work was so slow, so I also finished reading April Oxygen magazine and finally starting doing my math hw! I picked up the may edition of Clean Eating and Oxygen magazine so I will have something to do Friday at work!

Greek salad with grilled chicken:
3 cups fresh spinach
1/2 tomato, chopped
1/4 cucumber, chopped
1/4 red onion, chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped

1/4 cup cubed grilled chicken
1-2 tbsp nonfat feta
2 tbsp Trader Joes Nonfat Balsamic Viniagrette

Once I got home from work, I was so hungry! I had left overs from the Sweet & Sour Chicken recipe so I decided to make it into a "fried" quinoa with green beans and broccoli. I was hoping that by mixing the left overs with the quinoa and veggies it would mellow the spice. It worked! It was still spicy, but not nearly as bad.

I mixed the left over chicken & bell pepper and sautéed it with 1/4 cup cooked quinoa and a lot steamed broccoli and green beans! I used Trader Joes Olive Oil Spray which has no calories! So it was a healthy "fried" quinoa.

After dinner, I was craving an apple crisp so I decided to experiment! I was determined to make a "healthy" apple crisp, so I used no butter nor oil, and added ground flaxseed, wheat germ and fresh blueberries!

Before:

After:

Final Product:

Recipe will be up soon! Putting the final touches together :)