Saturday, June 28, 2014

Time for A Rant

One of the hardest and saddest things about recovery is seeing people who THINK they are in recovery/recovered...and knowing they're not (*cough cough* stupid people on Instagram). Here's my mini-rant- it's your life, do what you want. But if you're going to tag something as recovery-focused, please make sure it is. I've seen far too many things with the hashtag "recovery" or "anorexia recovery" or "edrecovery" etc etc there are SOOO not, and it bugs the hell out of me. Like, wow, thanks for posting your ABC diet plan on this page, because eating 300 calories a day is REALLY something people in recovery do. Thanks for the overly precise breakdown of EXACTLY what you're eating, because I needed to know that you only had 2 T. of greek yogurt and it made you feel like a whale...
At the risk of sounding cynical, especially since I have been there, more or less, people are far too explicit on social media, and it's sad that things supposedly geared towards recovery are becoming the exact opposite. I know, I'm probably perpetuating the problem by scrolling through my feed and making my own #recovery posts, but I think there's a difference... given that I am actually sharing recovery successes, not eating disorder things. I mean, I guess there is some room for disagreement on this point, because I can see how posting pictures of food would trigger comparisons for people, but let's be honest. I'm proud that I ate a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's, and joined in the #wholepintchallenge. That's something that has to do with freedom, with being REAL. But if you're going to join, a pint of Arctic Zero (for those who don't know, a 150-cal/pint fake ice cream) really doesn't count. Sorry, I'm not going to congratulate you on "how incredibly strong you are for pushing through!" You have only done the LEAST you could absolutely do while putting up a front of being recovery-oriented. And don't get me started on the people posting their fat free/sugar free versions of "healthy" things as recovery. NOOO. You are just developing a different eating disorder. And look at me, all "healthy not skinny" or "strong not skinny". You ate 1/2 a banana. I'm not going to congratulate you for it. Now you see why I felt at risk of being cynical. I've been there, where everything seemed like a huge obstacle, where 10 calories more WAS a big deal. And don't get me wrong, it's a step in the right direction. But it's hardly true recovery. You have to KEEP GOING. You can't just call it good there. It makes me want to punch someone in the face every time I see someone using some low-calorie, low-carb version of something and tagging it with 'recovery'. Like, "here's my new healthy muffin that I made (and it only has 60 calories!) Look how recovery focused I am!" No. You're not. Let me explain: real recovery is not giving a fuck how many calories your muffin has. Real recovery is not buying some cardboard low-calorie version of something as a substitute for the real thing. Real recovery is not measuring out your food. Real recovery is not restricting. Real recovery is not binging. Real recovery is not going out to exercise because you feel like you 'should'. Real recovery is not weighing yourself. Real recovery is throwing out the labels "good", "clean", and "healthy" (at least with respect to food). And yes, normal DOES have some wiggle room, because everyone's body IS different, but I do know for a fact that NO ONE (at least no grown person) should be eating some of the amounts that are listed, especially with the insane amounts of exercise being done.
Bottom line? Yea, I'm still going to be posting things on instagram. I'm still going to be progressing in my recovery, and I may still search some of the hashtags I mentioned. I'll almost certainly still get as furious as I am now. But I'm going to advise others: don't look to other people on social media to be your guides. They can inspire you, but they can also bring you down HARD. And I mean HARD. I mean, sometimes I feel like shit after I see all these "recovery focused" people who just go for their 10 mile runs and eat a packet of oatmeal as their entire breakfast. "Why can't I be like that?" I start thinking. "They can do it!" But I have to remind myself that they aren't really in recovery., They THINK they are, but you need to look with a discerning eye. Do what is right for you, not what is (quote unquote) right for someone else (because chances are it's WRONG for them too!)
I'm proud to say that I eat a lot, much of which I don't post on instagram. And I am no where near running a 6 minute mile, or even a 7 minute mile again. There's no way I can deadliest 100 pounds or run 5 miles. I can't. But being in recovery is a lot more important to me than that. You need to decide which is more important. One day, you may be able to have both, but that day will take some time to come. And you can't have it FIRST and recovery SECOND. I've tried that many many times, and unfortunately it doesn't work like that.
I don't even know what I was trying to accomplish with this rant. I don't. I guess, stop tagging things as what they AREN'T, stop taking the easy way out and convincing yourself that you've done what you should have, and stop idolizing those who do. Rant done.
Stay strong!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

An Open Letter to Those in Recovery from Eating Disorders

To Everyone Struggling to Recover-

You have heard that this journey is not going to be smooth. You have heard that there will be bumps on the way. You have heard that you will make mistakes, and that true recovery means being able to pick yourself up again. You know all these things, and yet you may not KNOW them.

Those of you who know me see me as- or at least I hope see me as- a relatively strong person. Someone capable of making the journey out of this hell hole into life. Someone who has faced a lot of tribulations in her short lifespan, and has taken them on. But I think that sometimes I put on a brave face, a face that says, "I am so over this disorder! I'd never consider going back in a million years!" And well, that's not true. I don't know if I speak for everyone, so I'm not going to say that I do, but I know crossroads come up many, many times, and it is our decisions at those times that really make or break us.

Today I chose not to be broken.

If what I am about to say next will trigger you in any way, then don't feel obligated to read it. But it has a happy end, I promise.

The story: I thought I'd been doing well. I'd been eating, enjoying food, cooking, starting to run again, and even getting over my fear of the gym to start lifting weights and regaining strength. I was excited for college, excited for summer, excited to move on. Then I went to the doctor, and got a shock. I'd lost 3 pounds. Not an earth shattering amount, mind you, not something that I even knew had happened (I took a baseball bat to my scale. Highly recommend this). I was shocked and even a little angry.

My doctor was not pleased, to say the least. I need a medical release form to go to college in the fall, and it is due in 2 weeks. She hasn't signed it yet. She told me that if I didn't gain back the weight by my next appointment (this coming Monday) she wouldn't sign it. And I wouldn't be going to college.

I left the office with a resolve to increase my meal plan, because there was no way I was not going to college in the fall. Nothing could stop me. But as the days started to pass, I hadn't done any increasing. Something always put me off- I wasn't hungry, an extra tablespoon of this or that wouldn't even matter... And then tonight it hit me. I had 4 days to get my butt into shape. And I was terrified.

I started to just eat, in absolute terror that I wouldn't get enough. "Do it for college, do it for college," my brain was saying. Part of it was healthy motivation, but I think some of it was ED driven as well, because by the time I stopped, it had been a binge.

I was mortified. There was my slip. I thought I had lost control of recovery again. I felt guilty, sad, ashamed- and no one was home with me. The self-hatred started, as did the walk on auto pilot to the bathroom.

I crouched down, flipped up the toilet seat...and stopped. I put my hand down and just sat there, the urges screaming at me so loudly, the stress and shame and anxiety building. But I forced myself to just sit and think about it.

What was this going to accomplish? Did I want to wake up tomorrow dizzy, with a sore throat and a headache? Sure I'd tell myself that this was a "one time thing" but what would happen the next time I felt guilty? The justification would only be too easy. Yes, I felt horrible in the moment. Yes, I had binged and that wasn't healthy, but two unhealthys don't add up to a healthy. This wasn't the right way to do things.

I sat in the bathroom for ten minutes, hand wavering in the air, wanting so badly to do what I had always done.

And I walked away.

In those five steps out of the bathroom, I felt like I had just run a marathon. But I did it. And it was important. My crossroads came, and I may have started to veer left, but ultimately I righted myself again. Yes, I made a mistake, but people do that. I'm not perfect. I am guilty sometimes of pretending to be, but I'm not.

I don't know how many of you have read all the way to the end of this. In fact, I don't know how many people will even read this to begin with. But you have the capability within you at this moment to say, "No." To do what is right. No matter how fucking hard that may be- you are stronger than it.

Today I walked away from a toilet. What's your small victory?

-Sarah

Thursday, June 12, 2014

The Fit Wishlist

Wishlist for a Fit-Girl

I've been a runner for years. YEARS. And that's not something that I want to give up any time soon... I still love the rush that I get from it, the clean air, the heart pounding, the knowing that I could (maybe) survive the Hunger Games/zombie attack/ T-Rex. Okay, maybe not, but still. Running has been too much a part of my life to just give up like that.

But, I am starting to find something else to love and live for. Weight lifting.

Yeah, if you knew me you'd probably laugh. Only a few months ago I couldn't do a single push up unless I did it on my knees... I have pretty much the worst upper body strength ever. It was something we frequently joked about in Cross Country (I also fail at crunchy-frogs. But that's another story).

But, since I've gotten an instagram (@grandsarahvan... not to be one of those annoying FOLLOW ME!! people or anything.) I've started to fall in love with the whole culture of bodybuilding. The power that comes from being able to move those weights around, to watch your body start to transform into a  SEXY MACHINE- that's what I want. I love the cheer, the ability to rejoice over healthy food, or embrace the 'fun' foods and know that they can fit into a healthy overall diet... that's what I want. I want muscles. Goodbye, twiggy me!

And, in typical Sarah fashion, I plunge into things head first, researching everything, learning as much as I can, and of course, searching for products to assist me in my goals. So, I'm compiling a list of all the amazing things that I need want (it will be whittled away VERY VERY slowly since I'm just a poor student and can't even find a summer job :(  ) Feel free to look up these products- they are all great and the companies behind them are as well. I am in no way affiliated, but maybe I could get a giveaway! Or if the companies sent me some to try, I'd love to do a review!

DA LIST

  • Cellucor Whey Protein Powder. From what I hear, it's the bomb in terms of flavor profiles. I have plain vanilla and chocolate already, but they just don't excite me that much... but the Cellucor flavors! These can be baked into waffles, pancakes, mug cakes, or made into ice cream and proyo! Oh, baby! I specifically want to try Cor-Fetti (funfetti flavor), Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Marshmallow (YESS), and S'mores.

  • KRAVE all natural protein bars. Low in carbs, high in flavor and protein, these are soft baked and sure to NOT disappoint. I'm interested in the Cookie Dough, Birthday Cake, Banana Chocolate, and Peanut Butter Chocolate. (Sensing a theme?)

  • PB Lean Custom Powdered Peanut Butter From myoatmeal.com, this is like PB2 except you can add whatever nuts/seeds/protein powder/fruit and flavor that you want! There are nearly ENDLESS possibilities, like chocolate brownie, banana bread, cookies and cream, and MORE! And since I could eat a jar of PB in one sitting, this would NOT go to waste.

  • MyOatmeal Custom Oatmeal Blend Like the PB Lean, you design your own oatmeal with flavors, fruits, sweeteners, as well as other healthy goodies like chia seeds and quinoa flakes! Nomalicious!!
  • Quest Bars I know, I know, it's almost inconceivable that I haven't yet hopped on this train. Quest bars pretty much have a cult following. If you don't believe me, just hop on instagram and see all the crazy things people do with these things. Like Krave, they are supposedly soft, full of protein, and low in carbs... as well as D-Licious. I think I could go for the Cookies and Cream, Chocolate Brownie, Cinnamon Roll, PB Chocolate, or PB Cravings.

  • Wink Frozen Desserts At only 100 calories per PINT (that's about 1/6 the calories of the average ice cream, or 1/10 of a premium kind such as Ben and Jerry's), this could smash cravings without killing a clean diet.  They are Vegan, Fat free, Sugar Free, Chemical Free, Gluten Free, but most certainly not flavor free. Plus, they have creative flavors like Cinnamon Bun, Cake Batter, and Cocoa Dough (cookie dough in chocolate ice cream!!) WANT!!

  • Arctic Zero So, I'm already officially on this band wagon. Addicted. It's 150 cal/pint, so a little steeper than Wink, as well as not vegan, BUT has more protein. And I've actually had it, so I can vouch. Holy YUMMERS. I'm putting it on here because they have some new flavors that I have to get my hands on- namely the SALTED CARAMEL
  • Nut's 'N More Nut Butters As I mentioned, nut butter is basically my boyfriend. And this nut butter has TWICE the protein and slightly less fat than average nut butters- plus some great flavors to boot! Can you say Cinnamon Raisin Peanut, Toffee Chunk, or Chocolate Almond Coconut? Maybe it's better that I stay away...

  • Monkey Butter More nut butter. What can I say? All-natural, and even a VEGETARIAN MAPLE BACON flavor. Also, White Chocolate Pretzel and Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana.

  • You Fresh Naturals. Nut butter. Again. These are paleo, and most are vegan/gluten free to boot. Flavors to watch out for include Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, White Chocolate Cake Batter, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie Batter (How can you stuff so much amazingness into one thing?)

  • Bare Butter Peanut free and vegan! Supposedly also great, with the consistency of the flavors it is trying to match. Brownie Batter, Cinnamon Raisin, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough are what I want to get my face in!


  • Mix-Ns  An easy, sugar-free way to add some flavor in pancakes/shakes, and the like. Great reviews from users! Cinnamon Swirl, Lemon Cake, Blueberry Muffin,

Friday, June 6, 2014

Insanely Easy Tortilla-less Enchilada Casserole/Soup

Confession: I totally thought this recipe would be paleo when I was throwing everything together. Ooops. Shows you just how much I know about paleo things...

It IS however grain, meat, soy, and nut free so that has to count for something, right? And it could easily be made vegan with a substitution for the cheese (I suggest nutritional yeast, because vegan cheese totally weirds me out. Like, it melts, but it's kind of rubbery... and people ask me why I don't go vegan :) )

Basically, I just now learned that people who are fully paleo do not eat any dairy or beans (though they do eat eggs). Now, for someone like me, who is vegetarian, that's pretty problematic. Yes, I suppose I could eat the world's supply of eggs for my protein, but honestly, eating half a dozen eggs daily is not my first choice. I'm happy sticking with my milk and cheese, because I know my diet works for ME and that's the important part. Plus, as a true animal lover, I don't think I could ever go back to meat, even humanely raised. But let's just stop there. On to the more interesting (and delicious!) things.

I was feeling really lazy today, but after whipping together quesadillas for dinner for the last four few nights, I knew I needed to put in slightly more effort in. Plus, there was a can of black beans in the pantry just calling my name. Enter...enchiladas!


This recipe essentially just asks you to chop, mix, and bake. No pre-sauteing, no complicated, tedious assembly. Plus, if someone WANTS tortillas, they can easily just scoop the mixture into some post-baking. Those who don't aren't obligated to have any. It's a win-win for everyone! And, it can also be eaten from a bowl as chili/soup!

Enchilada Soup- serves 2-4

1 can Enchilada Sauce (I used mild Old El Paso)
1 can low-sodium black beans (DO NOT DRAIN)
1 small white onion, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
Optional: other veggies or beans
Cheese (cheddar or American) to top

1. Pre heat oven to 350 F.
2. Combine all ingredients in a pan (9x9 or 9x13)
3. Bake 20-30 minutes until warm and melty.
4. Eat as soup or tortilla filling!



Linking to the HOST

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Samoa Cookie Smoothie/Shake

So, my last post was focused on the lovely birthday cake that I made for my lovely, Samoa loving sister (link there). Bottom line? I seem to have been swallowed in a caramelly, chocolatey, coconutty phase. With the cake neatly polished off and not a single crumb in sight, I knew I was going to have to return to square one to satisfy my cravings (our neighborhood seems oddly devoid of door-to-door girl scouts. Where are they when you need them?)

And, since I am completely in love with smoothies that basically taste like milkshakes (oh, the magic of frozen bananas!) I thought, "It's time food a protein smoothies...samoa style."*

*I don't think I actually literally thought this. My mind went something more along the lines of "Ahhh, Hungry!! FEED ME!!" I get grumpy without my snacks.

It looks a lot more chocolatey than it actually is (I didn't want the chocolate flavor to overpower the caramel and coconut), but trust me on this: it's a keeper in my long smoothie line up. Psst... it's only 120 calories, too! You could probably only eat about 2 actual samosa for that amount, and feel a lot less satisfied!

SAMOA COOKIE SMOOTHIE
(this recipe could easily be double for a more hearty post-workout snack)

1/2 frozen banana
2 T. fat free cottage cheese
1/3 scoop vanilla whey
1/3 cup almond milk (add more for thinner)
5-6 ice cubes (add more for thicker)
1 tsp. cocoa powder
1 drop butter extract (optional)
2-3 drops coconut extract
1.5 T. Torani sugar free salted caramel syrup
Pinch Xantham gum

Blend everything but the gum until smooth. Add the gum to thicken it up and blend again until you reach desired consistency. You can always add more banana/ice/cottage cheese to make a larger volume/ thicker shake.

I topped it with coconut to make it look pretty :)
Are you hungry thirsty now?

Monday, February 17, 2014

Healthier Samoas Cake

It was my sister's birthday this weekend, and I really wanted to make it special. So, what did I do? Cooked of course! I wanted to give her a beautiful, delectable cake that she would salivated over. Literally. Okay, maybe not, but still.
Ever since we were little girl scouts in our cute little brown vests, her favorite cookie has been the samoa. (Mine is a tagalong, in case anyone is curious, which you're probably not) Shortbread covered in caramel and toasted coconut, drizzled with chocolate...I'll admit, it's pretty yummy. (Still doesn't beat chocolate and peanut butter in my opinion thought!) So I decided I'd try and make a cake to rival that cookie!
It's not a super great picture, I know, but it truly doesn't do the cake justice. It is just an iPhone camera after all though, so be sure to reserve judgement until AFTER eating it.

And, bonus, you can eat more than one slice without feeling TOO guilty, because I decided to healthify it just a little!
Normally, a butter and sugar-laden cake dripping with dulce de leche, sweetened coconut, buttercream, and chocolate would certainly put a dent in your daily calories...I don't even want to know how many a single slice has. This, on the other hand, is in no way low calorie, but for a cake it's pretty darn good as well as having significantly less fat, calories and sugar than the traditional version.
Move over girl scouts, samoa cake is coming to town!

HEALTHIER SAMOAS CAKE
1 box sugar-free devil's food cake mix
1 can (12oz) diet coke

25-30 pitted dates, soaked in water
Pinch Salt
 2 T. Torani Sugar Free Caramel Syrup

1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1.5 ounces dark chocolate
1/2 T. Light Margarine or Butter

  1. Grease a Bundt or angel-food cake pan WELL and preheat oven according to package directions. You could also make it as a regular cake, but I think this looks more fun.
  2. Mix cake mix and diet coke in a medium sized bowl until all lumps are gone. Pour into greased pan and bake as directed (it may take a few extra minutes than 'normal')
  3. Meanwhile, put the dates, caramel syrup, a pinch of salt, and about 1-2 Tablespoons water in a food processor and blend well until there are no chunks and you get a thick, caramel-like paste. You may need just a bit more water, so adjust as necessary.
  4. When cake is done, spread coconut flakes on a cookie sheet and toast in oven, about 5-7 minutes. Check on them frequently and "stir" or move them around often because the coconut will burn easily! You want it to get lightly tan but not too crispy
  5. When cake has cooled, take it out of pan and frost using the date caramel you made. Then cover it with toasted coconut. Melt chocolate and butter in microwave 30 seconds, stir, and microwave in 10 second intervals until melted. Pour in stripes over cake, like on a samoa cookie.
That's it! The entire cake has about 2600 calories (like I said, it's not light by any standards), but compare that to this samoa cake, which has a whopping 7,850 calories for the entire cake!! That's a lot, so even a modest slice probably has 300-400 calories. My cake has only 1/3 the calories, so even with a pretty large slab you get about 200 calories and all the delicious flavor! Take that!

Monday, February 10, 2014

Hazelnut Mocha Frappacino Smoothie

In case you couldn't tell, I've been on kind of a smoothie kick. They're a great way to sneak in some extra fruit, protein, and, if you can handle it, veggies…Unfortunately, green smoothies just weird me out, so either I need to buy an opaque cup and blender to make them with, or I'm just sticking to the tried and true.

And since I'm a poor college student who is still using her iPhone as her blogging camera… well, I think you can probably guess which of those choices I'm opting for. But hey, I love salad, so I make up for it right?
Evidently, salad loves me right back. Pictured above is a nice little combo I got at a falafel place in Cambridge, MA- plain old green salad topped with enough hummus to make even ME happy (and it was AMAZING hummus. So creamy. I need a recipe) and 4 huge falafels! Plus, a smile, which is priceless in my book.

These past couple of days I have been craving Starbucks HARD. Despite the less-then-optimal weather conditions, this girl is in need of a nice cold frappacino. My dirty little secret… that's the only thing I ever order from Starbucks. Can I really call myself a coffee snob? I'm a fake ! *dramatic sob*

Well, on to the recipe. Coffee snob or no, it's delicious. It's so thick and creamy that I wanted to call it a shake, but it's also a candidate for a smoothie, AND a frappacino. I was going to make the title some ridiculously long thing, but that's neither her nor there (okay, it was going to be Smoothakacino. There. I said it.)


Hazelnut Mocha Protein Frappacino
1 packet instant coffee grounds 
6 large ice cubes (probably a cup?)
1/2 frozen ripe banana
2 T. cottage cheese
1/2 cup almond milk
1/2 scoop vanilla whey powder (or chocolate)
1/2 T. dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 T. Sugar-Free Torani Hazelnut Syrup
Pinch Xantham Gum (can omit, but will be icy)

Blend everything but the gum together until smooth. Add the gum and blend until thick. You can always adjust the amount of ice and milk to suit your preferences

Slurp that sucker up and enjoy! It's about 150 calories and 15 grams protein!

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Brownie Batter Shake (and shh, it's healthy!)

Do I even need an intro for this, with a title like that?
And pictures like this, even from my crappy iPhone camera:
Yeah, I think not.
This is super chocolatey while not being overly sweet (you could obviously change that pretty readily if you just added some stevia or sugar) and truly does taste like brownie batter in liquified form. And it's low-fat, full of vitamins and minerals from the almond milk and pumpkin, and has lots of protein (gotta have that in our shakes!) Give it a try and you'll slurp it right up!
So thick, it's basically ice cream!

BROWNIE BATTER SHAKE
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
6 ice cubes, or more to desired consistency
1 frozen banana
1/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder (optional)
1-2 stevia packets (optional)
1/4 tsp xantham gum (optional)

Topping: 37 calorie brownie (!)

You know the drill…blend it all up and slurp!
With the protein powder, it's all about 300 calories, 20 grams protein!

Drowning in Syrup

I have a confession to make:
I have a bit of a cool-unnecessary-food-item addiction.
I'm the person who, while grocery shopping, ends up with an extra 1/2 cart full of items I'll never use that I saw at the end of the aisles and thought "Oohh, that looks good!" And then it sits in the cupboard uneaten for three months until it goes bad.
But that won't happen here:
Torani sugar free syrups. Yes, five bottles of them. No, I'm not ashamed. After much deliberation, I purchased: Chocolate chip cookie dough, peanut butter, hazelnut, salted caramel, and s'mores. Wouldn't it be awesome to add just a bit of these to a smoothie or oatmeal and get a completely different flavor?

The verdict: thus far, I've tried peanut butter and cookie dough…and I'm not all that impressed. The flavor of the peanut butter is really weak, which is such a bummer because I would probably GUZZLE that thing in a heart beat if it did. Okay, maybe it is a good thing. And the cookie dough is… not very chocolatey. It's got a great smell, but really it just made things sweet, not cookie-doughy. The jury's still out on the other three flavors…

Still, I am determined to continue using them anyway. I bought them, I paid good money, and I will consume. Just let this be a warning: pick your flavors carefully, and don't get your expectations too high.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie

Some days, you just need a refreshing glass of… cookies?
I tend to hate making recipes that I claim taste "just like" something else, because I never want to disappoint someone who is really craving the real thing. But this time, I'm confident enough to say that this smoothie is basically COOKIE IN LIQUID FORM!
Doesn't that look good?
I have been trying to eat more protein shakes lately because I'm trying to boost up my protein intake, so I thought I'd do a little bit of experimentation with my beloved blender. I wanted something thick, creamy, sweet, and of course, not chalky. If you like oatmeal cookies, I think you will love this, too.

*Note: I didn't really measure things before tossing them in the blender today, so these ingredients are just estimates! You can tweak as you like!

OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE SHAKE
1 frozen banana, broken into chunks
2 T. rolled oats
2 tsp. raisins
1/3 cup low fat cottage cheese (you can't taste it, honest!)
1 scoop vanilla whey powder
1 packet stevia
Dash Cinnamon
1/2-1 cup almond milk
3 ice cubes (I used frozen almond milk so it doesn't dilute)
1/4 tsp. xantham gum (optional, for thicker shake)

Blend it all up until it's nice and thick and creamy! I topped mine with some more raisins and granola for a little bit of a crunch! Slurp it up and try not to get a brain freeze! This smoothie is full of muscle-building protein, healthy fiber, natural sweetness… and it's low-fat too!


Saturday, February 1, 2014

Pumpkin Chocolate Protein Pancakes

There are certain people who think that pumpkin is a seasonal flavor.

I am not one of them. And, hopefully after these pancakes, you will not be either.
I mean, let's just talk about how great pumpkin puree is. First, it has amazing flavor, second, it can be used as a lower-fat alternative in baking for oil or eggs, third, it makes things super moist, and fourth, it's actually pretty cheap! So stock up, people, because you will want to make these! (Bonus: they're good for you, too!)
And then make them again. And again. And again.
Oh, and did I mention that this HUGE stack, with the whipped cream and chocolate topping, is under 300 calories? With about 20 grams of protein?
I knew you would come around.

CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN PROTEIN PANCAKES
(Original recipe here)
1/3 cup rolled oats, ground into a flour
1/4 cup Pure Pumpkin
1/2 scoop Vanilla Whey Powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp Butter extract
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
1/3 cup Liquid Egg Whites
1-2 Tbsp Almond Milk
1 Stevia Packet

Chocolate Layer: (technically optional, but who are we kidding)
1 Tbsp PB2/Powdered Peanut Butter
1/2 Tbsp Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder
1 packet Stevia

2 Tablespoons Cool Whip Free (optional)


1. Combine all ingredients for pancakes and mix well until everything is incorporated.
2. Spoon batter onto heated griddle and cook as you would any other pancakes (I made four medium-sized)
3. Meanwhile, combine ingredients for the chocolate layer. When pancakes are done, spread chocolate layer between each pancake, then top with cool whip. Yummy!!

Nutritional breakdown:

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 202 g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 
255
Calories from Fat 
58
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 
6.4g
10%
Saturated Fat 
4.1g
21%
Trans Fat 
0.0g
Cholesterol 
22mg
7%
Sodium 
163mg
7%
Total Carbohydrates 
30.3g
10%
Dietary Fiber 
8.6g
34%
Sugars 
4.1g
Protein 
20.8g
Vitamin A 191%Vitamin C 5%
Calcium 18%Iron 17%
Nutrition Grade B
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

High Protein/Low Carb Chocolate Raspberry Crepes

I know what you're thinking: a low carb crepe recipe? Please… it must taste like rubber! Well, I'll let you be the judge of that:
Doesn't look (or taste!) like rubber to me! There are only 5 grams of carbs for BOTH crepes (filling not included) along with a whopping 18 grams of protein (filling still not included)!! Plus, the crepes themselves are pretty versatile, so the chocolate raspberry filling that I whipped up for them is only one of countless possibilities for them. Maybe I'll have to try some Nutella or peanut butter and banana (we all know that I'm a girl after Elvis' own heart!)
Practically OOZING with velvety chocolatey goodness!
So, without further ado, a crepe recipe from me to you! (I'm such a dork, but oh, well. I embrace it)

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CREPES

For Crepes:
2/3 cup egg whites
2 T. ground flax seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 packet stevia
dash vanilla extract

For Filling:
1/4 cup plain Greek Yogurt
1 T. dark chocolate cocoa powder
1-2 packets stevia
1/8 tsp. butter extract (optional)
Raspberries, for topping

1. Heat a nonstick skillet on medium heat (I always like to spray mine with some non-stick cooking spray just for extra assurance that I won't be left with a burned mess!)
2. Whisk together ingredients for crepes. When skillet is sufficiently heated, pour half the batter in and swirl it around the pan to coat evenly. Cook until you see bubbles start to form and you can turn it over easily. Flip and cook on other side. Repeat with other half of batter.
3. Combine your filling ingredients. You may want to take a taste and see if it is sweet enough or chocolatey enough for you before you spread it all over your breakfast! Top everything with raspberries and there you go!




Beet Crust Pizza

Basically, unless you've been living under a rock in the healthy living blogger world, you probably know or at least have heard of, the infamous Cauliflower Crust pizza. Since pale/low-carb/grain-free stuff is all the rage right now, it kind of makes sense why people are using this miracle veggie as a vehicle for the American staple of pizza… I bet we consume even more of this sauce and cheese laden flatbread than even the Italians!

Anyway, I love my cauli, don't get me wrong: it's great roasted, toasted, fried, shredded, steamed, mashed… even when I was a kid I would beg for steamed cauliflower for dinner! But let's talk about a different veggie that has stolen my heart - Beets.

They are such a beautiful deep red/purple color, full of fiber, potassium, and just the right hint of sweetness, especially when roasted and drizzle with some balsamic vinegar! Mmmm. Plus, there was a huge can of beets sitting on my shelf that needed to get used up, so I thought, "Why not try and make something interesting out of this?"

Behold: the beet crust pizza.
Topped with hummus, cucumber, nutritional yeast, and balsamic vinegar!


Okay, if you're looking for a greasy, saucy, cheesy pizza with a fair amount of crunch, this isn't it. Sorry. Really, it's a pizza in name only (and the fact that it's round and topped with random items). It tastes more like a soft, beety burger than a crusty bread, but that was fine with me. It's still full of great nutrients, fairly low in fat and calories, and delicious (or at least,  I think so.)

And let me be totally honest: it came about basically from me throwing a whole bunch of random ingredients in a blender, crossing my fingers, and hoping for the best. But then again, don't all the best recipes?


”Sprint


BEET CRUST "PIZZA"
1/4 cup uncooked TVP granules
1/3-1/2 (15oz) can beets
2 T. egg whites
2 T. rolled oats
1 T. ground flax
Garlic Powder
Basil
Minced Onion

To Top:
Balsamic Vinegar
Cucumber Slices
Hummus
Nutritional Yeast

1. Cook the TVP according to package directions.
2. Throw all the ingredients (minus the toppings) into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Adjust the amount of spices to your own personal preference. Note: the 'batter' may be a little bit liquid-y. 
3. Either spray a microwavable plate or pan and spread your batter on that and microwave for about 3 minutes on high, then flip and microwave an additional minute to desired consistency, or bake in the oven at 350F for about 20-30 minutes (I used the microwave method because I am an instant gratification type of person, and can't stand waiting for things to bake, so I can't personally vouch for the results.)
4. Top with whatever you like, mine are just suggestions!

Just look at that creamy patty!

Linking to the HOSThttp://www.sprint2thetable.com/2014/02/strange-but-cheesey/

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Peanut Butter Apple Cinnamon Oats

Basically, I've been using today as a catch-up day for this blog (and it's only day one!) I've been wanting to start it for a while, but either didn't have the time or just was in the mood to watch Dr. Who instead (I am obsessed with that show. I watch it pretty much without fail every day, and, in case you are a fan, I'll just go ahead and say: Ten's my doctor. He always will be. I love you David Tennant!)

Anyway, because I've written multiple posts in one day, there isn't a whole lot I feel like writing as an intro to this one. Plus, at least in my experience with food blogs, you just want to scroll down to the recipe anyway. Quit jabbering woman! So I'll stop talking and let you see this creation:

PEANUT BUTTER APPLE CINNAMON OATS

(I love peanut butter. And oatmeal. Could you tell?)

INGREDIENTS
1 gala apple (or a different flavor if you prefer)
Cinnamon
1 packet stevia
2 T. PB2
1 packet instant oatmeal
1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS
  1. Dice up your apple and lay it out on a plate. Sprinkle with cinnamon and stevia, and maybe just a little but of water. Microwave on high for 1 minute until semi-soft.
  2. In separate bowl, mix together oatmeal and PB2. Add water to your desired consistency (I used about 1/2 cup) and then microwave it on high for 1 minute or until water is all absorbed. 
  3. Add cooked apple to oatmeal and stir together. Voila! You're done!
**This creation counts for 1 starch, 1 fruit, 1 protein

Brownie Protein Waffles with Chocolate PB Sauce

Do you like Pinterest?
It seems that whenever I go on, I'm finding new things that I add to my mental checklist of "Must Try". Then when I look up, two hours have flown by and I have nothing to show for it! Anyway, in the past I've pinned probably hundreds of protein pancake recipes, but actually only made very few of them. I guess I'm just really picky about what goes into my foods (something I'm still working on freeing myself from). The pancakes would have tons of protein, but no whole grains. Or plenty of healthy carbohydrates, but only a measly amount of protein. Or they would just turn out gooey and tasteless when I made them.
So I decided to try my own thing. And I am beyond excited about it.
I can't say enough great things about this morning's creation. I couldn't stop smiling as I was eating them, and for a girl recovering from an eating disorder, that says quite a bit about their awesomeness. (Yes it's a word. Because I say it is.)
These have everything you want in a healthy, well-rounded breakfast: whole grains, protein, fruit…And all within a reasonable nutritional profile as well! Plus, they are fairly simple to make and are absolutely delicious!
Behold…

Chocolate Brownie Protein Waffles!

 Yes, siree, you get about 30 grams of high-quality protein in these babies, as well as 5 grams of fiber, and 25 grams of whole grain! And they're naturally gluten free! These are the perfect breakfast for anyone with a love of chocolate and healthy eating!


INGREDIENTS

For Waffles
1/4 cup oat flour (made by grinding up 1 packet instant oatmeal in a coffee grinder)
1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder (about 1/4 cup)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 packet stevia
1/4 cup almond milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp imitation butter extract

For PB Fudge Sauce
1 T. chocolate PB2 (powdered peanut butter)
1 packet stevia
1/2 T. dark chocolate cocoa powder
Water

DIRECTIONS
  1. Start heating up your waffle iron, and make sure to spray it well so the waffles don't stick
  2. Mix together dry ingredients (as I said, if you don't have oat flour on hand, just grind up a packet of oatmeal. That's what I did!). Then add wet, and mix well until all lumps are gone.
  3. Pour half the batter into your waffle iron and close the lid. Cook 3-4 minutes or until done (I didn't actually time it, so I'm not sure). DON'T OPEN THE LID UNTIL THE WAFFLE IS READY!
  4. While waffle is cooking, prepare your fudge sauce. Simply stir together dry ingredients, then add water, about 1/2 T. at a time, until you reach your desired consistency. I like mine pretty thick, but if you want the sauce to be more "saucy" instead of a spread, add more water. Alternatively, use almond milk instead of water.
  5. Top your waffles with fudge sauce and enjoy their amazingness!
**For meal plans, one whole recipe (YUP. THE WHOLE THING) is 1 starch, 1 fruit, and 3 proteins.
You can round it out by serving with a nice glass of milk, and if needed use regular peanut butter instead of the PB2 in the sauce, but you may need to adjust the amount of water.



Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Pudding

Some mornings, you just need chocolate.

Or maybe you need…. CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL PUDDING!


This breakfast was one of the first that I had when I started my current journey towards recovery. I think if I had to choose a favorite flavor combination, it would most definitely be chocolate/PB/banana. Elvis would be proud. The creamy, sweet banana mixed with the nutty saltiness of the peanut butter and the decadent, rich chocolate… can we say yum? Now, the decision to make (and eat!) this creation was a big step for me, because peanut butter is actually one of my biggest fear foods. In the old days, I used to dream about it and literally salivate all over my pillow, but I would not let myself consume it. But I came to a turning point where I realized that I depriving myself was only leading to misery. I was tired, cranky, depressed, and, at the root of it all, hungry. My body was starved, and my brain was shrinking. What did I need (and what do all humans need that we seem to be denying ourselves these days?) Fat! That's right. Our body needs fat to stay healthy, keep our skin nice and moist, our hair shiny, and our brains well fed! And often times, cravings are a sign that we are missing something… so listening to them will prevent a later binge and replenish our nutrients.

So yes. I am telling you that it is okay to have chocolate and peanut butter.
It was really hard for me. I was scared, I'll admit it. But this was just one step closer to my goal of recovery. And maybe it can be a step for you as well!
You know you want to try it. Go ahead, it's okay! Peanut butter is full of healthy fats, oatmeal is rich in fiber and whole grains, bananas are filled with potassium, and chocolate has lots of great antioxidants and mood boosting compounds. So this is HEALTHY. No, it's not that fake "diet crap" 100-calorie healthy… it's all-natural, delicious healthy. It's recovery food!
I adapted this from Katie's breakfast pudding here.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 medium sized ripe banana
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup milk (I used almond)
1-2 packets stevia to taste
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons PB+Co's Dark Chocolate Dreams
(Or, if you don't have any, 2 T. Peanut Butter and 1/2T. cocoa powder)

DIRECTIONS
  1. Heat water and milk in medium sized stove pot. (Alternatively, you could use all milk or all water, but I like a combination of the two.) Heat until boiling. Add oats and turn down the heat to medium, cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed.
  2. Remove oats from stovetop. Pour half into a bowl, and the other half into a blender. 
  3. Add remaining ingredients to the blender, except for 1/2 of the banana. This will be reserved for topping your pudding. Blend on high for a few seconds until well-combined.
  4. Add pudding mixture from blender into your bowl and mix with the unblended oats. This will give the pudding just a little bit of a chewy texture which I like.
  5. Top with slices of banana and dig in! Delicious!

*For those of you who are on meal plans, this whole recipe counts as: 2 starch, 1 fruit, 1 protein, and 2 fat. You can also get in a milk exchange if you use a whole cup of regular milk instead of the almond/water mixture.
*On weight gain and need to condense it a little bit more? Trust me, I know how that feels. Some easy ways to do this without adding too much more volume are: replace milk with half-and-half or heavy cream. You'll get super thick and creamy pudding this way! Also, you could increase the peanut butter to 3 Tablespoons, or add 1/2 scoop of your favorite protein powder for an added protein punch! I personally like chocolate whey!

***I am not posting calorie information because I don't believe it would really be beneficial to most of the people reading this. We need to stop obsessing over the numbers, or being afraid of them, and just enjoy our dang food for once.***