Breakfast Cookies!

Cookies for Breakfast!

This was a pantry clean out experiment that worked out nicely.  They taste better than they look, I promise.

I needed to condense the contents of my overflowing pantry and decided using up some assorted nuts, oats and chia seeds was a good start.  I always have nuts on hand. Cashew, Almonds, Walnuts - I have them all.

They provide protein and healthy fat that keeps me full & happy. Who doesn't want to be happy at breakfast. Right?

• 2 mashed bananas 
• 2c gluten free oats (I Like Bob's Red Mill)
• 1/4c coconut flour
• 2 Tbs almond milk 
• 4 dates (soaked over night)
• 1/2 c walnuts
• roughly 2Tbs liquid egg whites
• chia seeds, shredded coconut flakes, dried cranberries (as many or few as you like)

Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 a 10 min or until the edges brown.

I made a little dent while they were warm for some leftover jelly that needed a home.  I was inspired  by a recipe I saw but I would only recommend that if you're eating them right away, otherwise they got a little soggy. Enjoy!

 

Easy As (Pizza) Pie

What's for dinner?

Good Enough to Eat :)

I had leftover spaghetti squash that I made into a "pizza crust" the other night.

I'm not trying to lie & say this is a legit replacement for delicious, gluten-y REAL pizza crust.
It was however, an alternative way to eat spaghetti squash, which I happen to love!

Recipe adapted from www.sharedappetite.com  

• 1 small to medium spaghetti squash (this was a personal pizza)
• 1 egg (beaten)
• 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella  
•  salt / pepper / garlic powder / dried basil (a dash of each)
  I roast my squash but you can microwave it, turning every 3 min until it's soft.

Cut and remove seeds. Make sure to strain, strain & strain again the stringy squash goodness! A cheesecloth or dish towel can help this process.

Mix the strained squash into the egg, add remaining ingredients & pop into the oven.
(I used a pie pan that I sprayed with Pam). 

I watched mine, about 15 minutes, at 350 degrees, until it looked brown.

I remove it from the oven & topped with my fav toppings.

Place it back it until the cheese melted.

Quick & delicious.

Diets All Over the Place

My local Starbucks barrista was very supportive when I decided to cut out coffee for a week. She'd send me an iced green tea sweetened with Splenda (gratis) back with my coffee drinking side-kick. I don't care for Splenda, but it's the thought that counts...Point being, she was a woman looking out for another health conscious woman. 

We've all been there and we've all tried our fair share of diets. The good, the bad, the crazy. Every week I read something that contradicts something I read the week before. "Eat dairy for fat loss, wait don't eat dairy!" Do I or don't I?!

The latest craze is macro counting or IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros).  Your "macros" being macro-nutrients; fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber and overall caloric intake. 
You're allowed so many of each based on your age, height, weight,
activity level and fitness goals. For example my daily Macros would be::

• 155.7g of Carbs, 

• 47g of Protein

• 58.8g of Fat

• between 29-37g of Fiber 

• and an overall caloric intake of 1740 cals

To put that in perspective, a typical *New York Bagel has 64g of carbs, 10g of protein, 1g fat, 3g of fiber  and is 290 calories

All of this is similar to the Weight Watchers Point System.  Again, you're allowed so many points a day based on the above criteria and instead of tracking each marco individually, you count points. For example, that same delicious NY bagel is 8 points. Significant if you consider this is a plain bagel with nothing on it. Breakfast can add up quick if you're total allotment is 25 points.  Regardless, both have positive feedback and teach balance and portion.

This is just one of many options out there. Paleo anyone?


I take it all with a grain of salt (iodized, Himalayan or Kosher - take your pick). 

It's taken me years, but I have an idea of what works for ME.
My body won't digest or process food the same way my best friend's does
and that is ok.

I still try to educate myself on nutrition and have learned enough to know that balance is the key to life. In food, work, love and everything in between - we need balance.

Check out one of my favorite bloggers, Kris. She has a similar vantage point on dieting in general.
Young Married Chic - Thoughts On Diet

*Bagel Stats from NYC Bagel Deli
Macros calculated with IIFYM 

Daily Motivation :: Kid President's Letter To A Person On Their First Day Here

If you haven't seen Kid President yet, get ready to fall in love!

Aside from being too adorable for words, he offers insight people three times his age don't have.

Here he is giving advice to someone on they're first day on Earth.
I think he recorded this for his new nephew.

It's so sweet and so real. I really hope he does become President one day.