Rocky Road Berry Coconut Bites

June 17, 2013 By Laura

It’s no secret that I like balls.

“Girls have got balls. They’re just a little higher up that’s all.” ~Joan Jett

I’ve made several balls in the past. Vegan “Meat” Balls, Champagne Cake Balls, Biscoff Dough Balls… ball jokes… ~~I’m a 12-year-old boy at heart.~~

But the BEST balls ever are made by my kindred-blogger spirit, Lindsay. She is more mature than I am, so she gracefully calls them Bites.

Heather, Me, and Lindsay

In case you haven’t figured it out, today’s guest post is from this lovely lady… and she’s sharing her ~~balls~~ bites with all of you!!!

Thank you, Lindsay, for sharing your Rocky Road ~~Balls~~ Healthy Bites and making everyone’s Monday more Marvelous! Read on for the recipe, and check out Katie’s link up to see what else is marvelous on this Monday!

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Hi there friends. My name is Lindsay Cotter and I blog over at Cotter Crunch.

I’m a pro triathlete’s wife, nutrition manager/fitness consultant, kombucha lover & wanna-be wino who has a joyous passion for GLUTEN FREE cooking!

It’s funny, this is my blog title and sub-title and yes, it really does describe my life. No lie. I also make a lot of Strange but Good Cotter Creations, which is why Laura and I get along so well. Plus she is my brother from another mother. Am I right Laura? (Editor’s note: Ummm… YES!)

OK OK, enough of my rambling intro. Let’s get this post started, shall we?

So, the main reason I blog is support my husband. We’ve created this dream together. A dream to pursue HIS professional triathlon career and I get to play wing man woman, or is it wing wife? Either way, I’m by his side.

I’d say my best support comes through food and fueling. I’m good at feeding that man, or so I like to think. 🙂

In an effort to help James (aka the hubs) fuel properly for pre and post workout, I started making him healthy bites. What are Healthy Bites? Glad you asked.

Healthy Bites are my take on functional gluten-free bite sized “ball” snacks. Each bite is made with natural, gluten-free, and mostly organic ingredients.

What started off as a little healthy snack option for me and my husband has now turned into my own little business.

I am passionate about it and want to share these bites with others…kids, athletes, on the go mom’s, food allergy folks, and more!

My mission is to make gluten-free and process free food that actually tastes really good.

Sheesh, do I sound like an infomercial or what? Haha. (Editor’s note: But they really are that good!!!)

Anyway, today I wanted to share with you one of my STRANGE but GOOD Healthy Bites recipes. It might not be strange to some of you, but it is a rather ODD mix of ingredients.

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Rocky Road Berry Coconut Bites

1 heaping cup of Vegan Marshmallows (I use the ones at Whole Foods chicago Vegan Foods Brand)
2 tbsp. 100% cocoa
2 heaping tbsp peanut flour (can also use coconut flour, ground up peanuts, etc.)
1 serving Berry Protein (Vega Smoothie blend is good here)
2 tbsp. Food for Life Vegan Chocolate chip Minis (Can also use carob chips or 100% dark chocolate chips)
1-2 tbsp. unsweetened coconut (shredded)
3-4 tbsp. of preferred nut butter
¼ cup honey
2-4 tbsp crushed nuts (optional)
Optional: cocoa or coconut extract

Grind up your marshmallows in a blender or food processor first. If you have large chocolate chips, go ahead and blend them up with the marshmallows as well. If you are using minis, there is no need, just mix in. Make sure you grind up the rest of your dry ingredients as well.

Transfer into a large bowl and add in nut butter, flours, protein, coconut, and agave. Mix well, and then roll into balls/bites.

Makes around 10-12 bites.

I then like to roll each of them in some extra coconut and/or cocoa. Freeze right away then store in fridge or freezer to maintain freshness. Store for up to 6 weeks. YUM!!

Well folks, that’s all I got for now. I hope you get to make these. If so, please let me know how they turn out.

You can see more recipes in my BOOK of BITES eBook, which is on the side bar of my site. Or if just feel like spending $, cause let’s face it, we all like to at times, feel free to order some yourself from me. I ship!

Pretty BALLER, eh? (pun intended)

Cheers,

***

If I felt better I’d make inapporpriate jokes about my “procedure” and balls.

If you could have any flavor Healthy Bite, what would it be? Lindsay custom made me Reese’s balls!

What is making your Monday marvelous?

Strange But Good: Strawberry-Tomato Salsa

June 14, 2013 By Laura

I will never refer to this surgery as #strangebutgood.

The results, yes. Surgery, no.

I am very grateful to Amalia for picking up the strange torch this week while I eat food that is strange to me – plain (“normal”) foods. Thanks to Momma for keeping me fed!

This wasn’t planned, but Amalia even jumped on my strawberry obsession with this creation! I can’t wait to try her Strawberry Salsa out when I’m back in the kitchen. Maybe over a salad? With bacon… 😉

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Hi everyone! My name is Amalia and I blog over at Live, Travel, Eat, and Run.

Today I’m excited to be contributing to Laura’s Strange But Good series. This idea came to me on my run this morning. I had strawberries, tomatoes, an onion, and an avocado left in the house and needed to do something with them for lunch!

I love all of those foods; I just would never think to put them all together. As soon as I did, my salsa creation was born.

I am not a cook, and usually can’t pull dinner together in time. However, this was an exception to the rule and I’m proud of how it turned out!

Strawberry-Tomato Salsa with Avocado & Mint

1 container baby or grape tomatoes
1 pint strawberries
1/2 C red onion
1/4 C fresh mint leaves
1 lime
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 avocado

Chop up the tomatoes and strawberries as fine as you want for your salsa (I like ‘em chunky) and toss them in a big bowl. Then, dice the red onion and add it to the pile.

Gracefully (or not so gracefully on my part) rip or tear or cut your mint leaves until they’re tiny and throw them in as well.

Cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice over your mix and add the 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar. Stir and you have your salsa! It keeps well in the fridge for a few days.

When you’re ready to eat it, chop up an avocado and place on top or stir in. I don’t mix in the avocado right away since it doesn’t keep as well in the fridge and gets all mushy.

I just love the sweetness of the strawberries mixed with the tang of the mint and the acidity of the tomatoes and onion! Enjoy with tortilla chips or on a salad.

Modify: Like it spicy? Add a jalapeno (I hate spicy).

Modify: Like cilantro? Throw it in! I’m sure it would be a great addition. I just dislike the taste of cilantro so furiously.

Modify: Not a vegan? Melt some cheese on top. Strawberries and cheese are just another strange but good combination you can try!

Enjoy! And feel free to come visit me on my website , Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest!

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week?

The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends!

Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

***

Thanks to everyone again for all the support (get it? bra… support… 😉 ). Come back for a marvelous ball-related post on Monday!

Do you like a fruity salsa?

What is your favorite plain food when you’re not feeling well?

Strange But Good: Butternut, Collard & Tomato Wrap (BCT)

June 7, 2013 By Laura

Get excited. The mystery breakfast is about to be revealed.

You were holding your breath, I know… 😉

I loved seeing all of the guesses on Instagram and in Wednesday’s post comments. They gave me a ton of ideas for new iterations! It wasn’t quinoa, TVP, chickpeas, or tofu… however, you can easily make it vegan with any of those subs.

This creation was two days in the imagining process. It started as a BLT in a collard wrap and by the time I actually got into the kitchen it had become a Butternut, Collard & Tomato Wrap. Thinking of my Sweet Potato Pan-lette from my very first #strangebugood post, it further evolved into an egg-laced scramble.

Mashed butternut squash creates quite the voluminous scramble when combined with egg! That subtly sweet squash with a few fun spices provides you with a fluffy flavor explosion, all ~~neatly~~ wrapped in a giant, raw collard leaf.

The nutritional yeast adds the “cheese” factor, while the tomato adds to the Indi-Mex (that my new food style – Indian and Mexican fusion) flavor profile. Now that we all know that sesame seeds, garlic, and basil are detoxifying, I was sure not to leave those out of the mix.

I couldn’t help myself – I added some turkey to the scramble for even more protein. Like I said above, any of the guesses would make excellent subs to keep this dish meat-less.

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Butternut, Collard & Tomato Wrap (BCT)

1/2 tsp sesame seeds
1/2 C butternut squash, mashed
1 egg white
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp black pepper
Pinch of cinnamon
Juice of 1/4 lime
1 small tomato, diced
1/4 C basil, chopped

Optional: turkey or other protein
Raw collard greens

In a pan, lightly toast sesame seeds until golden. Set aside.

Meanwhile, mash butternut squash in a bowl. Add egg while and scramble together. Add garlic, nutritional yeast, and spices, stirring to combine.

Place mixture in a coated or non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Scramble as you would an egg, cooking until mixture begins to fluff (this indicated the egg white is cooked).

Add lime juice, tomato, basil, and any desired proteins. Cook 2-3 mins more, until warmed through.

Remove from heat and scoop butternut mixture into collards. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

Enjoy!

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How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week?

Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

Loading InLinkz …

***

I know my site has had some issues loading, and I apologize for that! It will come up eventually… I’m working to get it sorted out ASAP. Technical stuff isn’t my specialty. #strangebutnotgood

Do you ever go to bed thinking about a breakfast idea? It’s my version of counting sheep.

Have you ever had squash or sweet potato for breakfast?

Work it Out: 15 Detox Foods

June 4, 2013 By Laura

Working out detox-style is sometimes necessary.

I don’t regret my gluttony but my body is rejecting pig meat after this.

I’m not a fan of diets, as you know from my No Shit Diet. What I’m talking about here is NOT a diet. It’s being gentle with myself after putting my body through… well… one delicious weekend. You see, I was feeling a big tired, run down, and downright sluggish after 3 days of throwing my normal way of eating out the window. It was fun and I am thrilled I got to try all of the foods that I did, but I was excited by the thought of getting back to reality this week!

Today’s Work It Out is in the kitchen, with a detox spin.

Many detox “diets” eliminate dairy, meat, sugars, caffeine, beans, grains… the list goes on and on. Never a fan of cutting out foods, I decided to focus on what I needed to ADD to my diet to boost energy and help my body get back on track after last weekend’s Food & Wine Festival.

I consulted with my favorite resource – Google. There are a million sites claiming to know the foods you should eat or special juices to drink. I’m sure they are all fine, but I settled on the list of foods below for two reasons: they are seasonally appropriate and they all sounded appealing as I was making my list for the farmer’s market.

Here are some of the foods I’m making sure to add to my diet this week to reset:

Detox Foods

Basil – It turns out that my favorite herb has anti-bacterial properties, and is full of antioxidants which protect the liver.
Beets – Beets are full of magnesium, iron, zinc and calcium, and help by making sure that toxins actually flush all the way out of your body. They are also a great source of betacyanin, which has cancer-fighting properties.
Blueberries – The berries I’ve had this season are some of the most flavorful in recent memory. A handful of blueberries are a low-calorie way to curb a sweet tooth, while providing you with fiber and vitamin C. They are consistently ranked at the top when it comes to antioxidant capacity!
Cabbage – This beautiful cruciferous helps your liver and aids in… errr… going to the bathroom (if you know what I mean). Going #2 expels toxins, leaving you feeling fresh.
Cinnamon – I use cinnamon like most of America uses salt. It goes on everything in my house because I like everything to taste like cookies. In addition to making everything taste better, it revs your metabolism and is full of iron, calcium and manganese. Manganese is great for helping your body process fatty acids and keep blood sugar levels stable.
Cucumber – Cucumbers are 95% water, help flush out toxins and alkalize the body. I love to snack on slices with a little rice vinegar ans freshly ground pepper.
Garlic – It keeps vampires away, but did you know it also boosts up the immune system as well as helps out the liver? It also helps to add flavor to all you other toxin-eliminating veggies!
Ginger – Like cinnamon, ginger spikes metabolism and flushes out waste. It’s also a tummy soother and may help keep your appetite in check. I like to add fresh ginger to smoothies (like this Cherry-Ginger), or just toss a piece in hot water with lemon and a cinnamon stick ~~and Irish whiskey~~.
Goji berries – These chewy teats boost vitamin C and beta-carotene intake. This is important because vitamin C help remove waste from your body, and beta-carotene improves liver performance.
Hemp Seeds – These chewy, nutty nutritional bombs are an excellent source of omega 3 & 6 fatty acids, are an easily digestible protein, are anti-inflammatories, and aid in elimination. Try sprinkling them on salads, yogurt, or smoothie bowls!
Lemon – You probably all know that lemon flushes toxins from your body. See the Ginger note for a great drink, or just squeeze a bunch in water first thing get your digestive system ready for the day.
Onions – Onions have sulfur-containing amino acids, which efficiently detox the liver. the are best eaten raw to get the most of their health benefits, so I’ve been tossing them on salads!
Parsley – It’s not just a plate garnish! Parsley is rich in beta-carotene and vitamins A, C, and K which protect your kidneys and bladder.
Sesame Seeds – This one shocked me! Did you know sesame seeds help protect your liver from alcohol and other toxins?
Spinach – Popeye was on to something. Spinach (and other greens) is high in fiber and contains high amounts of vitamins A, C,E, iron, beta carotene and calcium. These are all essential nutrients that aid in the body’s natural detoxification process.

Bonus: Don’t underestimate the importance of water! It is important for organ health, and for flushing toxins out of your body. Especially in these sweaty, exercise-filled summer months it’s important to stay hydrated.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve seen a lot of the salad creations I’ve been eating. I’m still adding protein (duh), but I’ve been focusing on getting these veggies and seeds in too!

This Ultimate Detox Salad couldn’t be healthier if it tried. It also tastes good. I’d have eaten it at the Food & Wine Festival! 😉

Ultimate Detox Salad

Spinach
Parsley, chopped
Basil, chopped
Red onion, diced
Cucumber, diced
Raw beet, shredded
Sesame seeds
Shredded cabbage
1-2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Juice from 1/2 lemon

Combine first 6 ingredients in salad bowl.

Toast sesame seeds in a non-stick pan over medium heat, stirring occassionally. Add remaining ingredients and saute until tender.

Add cabbage sautee to salad bowl and enjoy!

Note: This is more of a “guideline” recipe. Salads make it easy to add or remove ingredients, and exact measurements really aren’t necessary.

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I’m actually feeling more normal today. I’m SO thankful that exercise and a (mostly) healthy diet has left my body fairly resiliant.

Do you ever feel sluggish after eating heavy?

What are your favorite detoxifying/refreshing foods?

Tempeh Mole Muffins

May 20, 2013 By Laura

Deciding on food is hard.

There are so many tasty options!

I saw 2 recipes I wanted to try (well, 3 really)… so I just made them all into 1 for an over-achieving Meatless Monday recipe!

This week we are supposed to choose a recipe someone else linked up using last week’s secret ingredient, dark chocolate. Hopefully Heather will forgive me for bending the rules a little. Especially since the first recipe I was inspired by was her own Tempeh Protein Muffins!

My version of the Tempeh Muffins

Inspiration recipe #2 was from the link up – Sarah’s Cinnamon Cocoa Mole with TVP Chorizo. She used her mole as a sauce for her chorizo… but I decided to mix it all in one, and use tempeh. And make muffins. Don’t you love the creative process?!

I’d made Seiten Chorizo in the past, so here I used that recipe and Sarah’s to inform my mix of spices. If you try this recipe, feel free to play around and change it up to suit your palate. My combo was a smokey, savory mole with a fun swirl of sweetness throughout thanks to the sweet potato.

I ate my mole muffins with a Mexican-inspired salad. Local arugula with red bell pepper, raw zucchini, and a drizzle of lime juice.

Lastly, I chopped up a few plantain slices I broiled with coconut oil, cayenne, and cinnamon.

Don’t forget to check out Heather’s link up to see what everyone else made this week. I wonder if anyone braved my Chocolate Avocado Cookies???

I think this ia all pretty marvelous… and I know my Diva girl, Katie would agree, so I’m joining her link up again this week! Check out all the Monday marvelousness:

Katie… we missed you this weekend at Blend!!!

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Tempeh Mole Muffins

8 ounces tempeh
1/4 C egg whites (or 1 flax egg)
Juice from 1/2 lime
1 T nutritional yeast
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 C mashed sweet potato

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat muffin tin with cooking spray & set aside.

place tempeh, egg, and lime juice in a food processor and pulse (I used my Vitamix). Add all remaining ingredients and pulse until mixed. Manually stir in sweet potato, leaving chunks throughout mixture.

Divide batter evenly between 6 muffin containers. Bake for 15 minutes, or until browned and set. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Using a knife, loosen the muffin edges from the pan and transfer to wire rack or plate.

Approximate nutritionals (per muffin): 108 calories, 3.4g fat, 29.7g sodium, 11g carbohydrates, 4.8g fiber, 1g sugar, 8.7g protein

***

I’m still smiling from the marvelous Blend Retreat this weekend! I can’t wait to recap it all for you!!! 🙂

Have you ever made your own mole? Chorizo?

Do you make an effort to go meatless on Mondays?

Embrace Your Inner Child

May 16, 2013 By Laura

Change is a good thing.

And it’s inevitable (except from vending machines), so you might as well embrace it.

I’ve been changing up my workouts post-competition, doing things like kickboxing, “real” boxing, and spinning. Yesterday I got back in the weight room for a chest and bicep day. I wrote my own workout, as I haven’t gotten my new plan from my trainer yet. That felt surprisingly intimidating, but I kicked my own arse!

The best part? Even after not lifting as often as I was, I hit 3 PRs!!! Change can be a booster, friends.

After that routine, I was in serious need of recovery. I (like the day before) weren’t for an old favorite: my (vegan) Carrot Cake Batter Shake. I did change it up a bit – this time I used my Growing Naturals Vanilla Rice Protein. I swear this stuff is amazing. I actually forgot to add Stevia until the end, but when I tasted it I realized I didn’t need it. The Growing Naturals has added just the right amount of sweetness – enough to be batter-ish, but not so much that it was nauseating after a hard (and HOT) workout.

Also, check out Laura’s smoothie round up for 34 other fun ideas!

This weekend I am SO excited to get to share Growing Naturals with some of my best blogger-friends at the Blend Retreat in Park City, Utah! Growing Naturals is sponsoring my trip and has sent samples of both their rice and pea protein powders, and their new rice drink!

What I love about these is that they:

Taste good (most important, right?)
Blends well (none of the chalky ick-factor)
Are super-clean (vegan, soy-free, dairy-free, and sprouted, and enzymatically processed)
Have 24g of protein per serving
Have very little sodium and sugar
Offer a 96% correlation to whey protein’s amino acid profile… but without the dairy so there is NO bloat

I wish I could share them with everyone!!! You should all come to Blend! 🙂 If you won’t be there, be sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram for the live ~~tequila shots with Lindsay~~ weekend action.

Speaking of… I also with the fabulous Kat could come to Blend (I did ask), but she is GRADUATING FROM LAW SCHOOL this weekend!!!

Read on for her fabulously fearless post, and a great vegan recipe. And be sure to tell her congrats in the comments!! 🙂

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Embrace Your Inner Child with TVP Sloppy Joes

(By Kat)

2012, was a year of healing, mending, and replanting my seeds on so many levels. I began trail running (and became addicted). I was healing from injuries and a number of other personal obstacles. I was healing from life. I learned to accept things, I learned to become centered, and this whole year really has already followed the change.

I started my year with a yoga class, and I am truly living my philosophy.

It’s easy to walk the walk, but to be authentic and fearless is often another story.

Do the rest of you have that same internal dialogue that I have? I’m ready for change… no I’m not… yes I am… no I’m not. Then you realize you just have to let yourself be fearless. In an effort to really keep this in the forefront of my mind… and to really remember daily to embrace my commitment to living fearlessly, I got a new tattoo! Like?! (Editor’s note: I LOVE!!!)

In the spirit of embodying fearlessness (and letting my inner adult-child out a little more)… some trail runs have lately taken me on… well, adventures! Saturday, I went on a run called “Janice’s Wheel of Misfortune,” where halfway through the 8.5-ish run, you meet Janice, spin her wheel and are dealt a “misfortune.”

These took place on some of my favorite trails. (Laura, you’ve totally been here, on a different route! – Editor’s note: YES! That was a great run and I want to do it again!)

Some of my favorite trails – The Tributary

Such an awesome idea! The two guys smiling in the picture below together… yeah, they had to run/walk/struggle to get through 4.5 miles with their ankles tied together. (No, they didn’t know each other before the run).

The girl I’m laughing at in the picture had to eat something. While she started off with a 6-count of Chocolate-Covered Krispy Kremes, she ended up with anchovies wrapped around capers (her other options included an entire can of spam, an entire bag of powdered doughnuts, or two cans of Vienna sausage… yeah….).

Others had to carry life-sized stuffed animals, drink warm beer, take a time out, do trivia, drink buttermilk, among other fun misfortunes. I know it’s not fair that I spun and had to do trail math trivia. (Editor’s note: Warm beer?! Whattt?!)

I would do this trail running event again any day! I embraced my inner fearlessness and my inner adult child.

Embracing a fearless spirit also makes me feel way more comfortable in my own skin… it’s going pretty well! 🙂

Speaking of comfort… I’ve got a great comfort food recipe for the gluten-free vegan that will help you to embrace your inner child! (Editor’s note: Seriously? Where am I when you’re making all this deliciousness?!)

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Vegan TVP Sloppy Joes

1 C TVP
1 C boiling water
1 16 oz can tomato paste
1 16 oz can garlic tomato sauce
½ C honey
2 T Tamari (or soy if you’re not GF)
1 tsp salt
1-2 tsp pepper
1 tsp cayenne
3-ish T seasoning/dried herbs (mine had some rosemary, basil, thyme, paprika, garlic, onion, and parsley)
Garlic powder, to taste (I don’t know… maybe about 1.5 tablespoons??)
½ large white onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
MAYBE extra ½ cup of water at the end (depending upon the TVP)

First add the boiling water to the TVP and let it sit. Then, sauté the onion & Garlic in some oil (and butter if you like), on medium/medium-low heat (~7-10 minutes, let them get pretty translucent).

Then I like to add the TVP to the pan where you are doing the sautéing and add ALL the dry seasonings. Sauté until the TVP looks like it’s drying out a bit, and is completely coated in all the beautiful seasonings (this is how you give the TVP a more “meaty” taste), which should take about 7-10 minutes.

Next, add your tomato paste, tomato sauce, honey and tamari (and I needed an extra ½ cup of water). Simmer for ~15-20 minutes. Then you can adjust the seasonings to taste as you like!

At the end, you know, serve the way you remember loving your Sloppy Joes!

I used Udi’s Gluten Free Buns, toasted, and served with Sea Salt Kettle Chips and roasted brussels sprouts.

I also topped them with the most delicious vegan, soy-free, gluten-free cheese I have ever had, Daiya .

If you haven’t tried their products yet, I highly recommend them, in fact, for these sloppy joes, I liked them better than regular cheese.

This cheese melted like regular cheddar, but seemed lighter and was a bit milder than regular cheddar cheese. A must try!

(Editor’s note: I second this – this is amazing cheeze, especially their pepper jack!!)

You’re welcome – I omitted a photo with my face covered in Sloppy Joe.

***

Again, and HUGE congrats to Kat on completing your law education!!! Kat – I’m so sorry to miss your graduation celebration, but I’ll be thinking of you all weekend! You are truly an inspiration.

What have you done to embrace your inner child? To be fearless?

What was your childhood comfort food?

The “No Shit” Diet

May 14, 2013 By Laura

But what do I eat?!

The eternal question.

I get this question almost daily. Today’s Work It Out addresses the questions. I won’t share my exact diet. I’m still learning what is best for me, and – like I ALWAYS say – diet is personal. Paleo, vegan, vegetarian, “intuitive” eating, carb-heavy, protein whores (guilty)… the list goes on forever.

What I WILL share are some of my staples for keeping (mostly) healthy.

There is a lot of talk about special diets. I don’t buy into any of them for one reason – I think diet is about common sense. It’s a lifestyle. A diet, as we most often refer to it, is a finite thing usually aimed at weight loss or some quick fix. I was just on a pretty strict competition diet. That is NOT sustainable. Your life-diet should be balanced and include a variety of foods. No shit, right?

Therefore, I’m starting a new movement:

Diet 101

Eat 5-6 meals per day – every 2-3 hours, with the last meal being fairly close to bed time (your body needs to fuel to heal overnight)
Don’t be afraid of carbs or fruit – they provide valuable nutrients. Everything in moderation!
Eat your veggies! They fill you up without adding ton of calories or fat, and are vitamin and nutrient rich
Avoid large amounts of processed foods, sugar, and sodium. In excess, they are bad for your health and you just won’t feel good the next day
If you want a “cheat” or “treat,” HAVE IT. Just don’t have it all day, every day. I like wine and dessert, so I have both

Weekly Buys

Veggies – asparagus, broccoli, broccoli slaw, brussels, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, dark leafy greens (like spinach and kale), mushrooms, onions, parsnips, red peppers
Fruits – apples, bananas (no more than 1x day), berries of any kind, cherries, grapefruit, pineapple, watermelon
Complex Carbs – barley, beans, Ezekiel bread, oatmeal, millet, multi-grain cereal (watch the sugar and sodium), sweet potato, quinoa, wild or brown rice, winter squash
Protein – bison, chicken, eggs (yolks in moderation), lean beef, salmon, tempeh, tofu, turkey, TVP, white fish (I love cod, sea bass, swordfish, tilapia, and trout)
Fats – avocados, chia seeds, coconut (oil and whole), flax, nuts/nut butters (almonds and walnuts are the best), olive oil, seeds (pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower)
Dairy – almond milk (unsweetened), cottage cheese (no salt added), plain non-fat greek yogurt

Cheese-less Cauliflower Crust Pizza

Flavor Adds

Extracts – almond, butter, butterscotch, coconut, coffee, maple, peppermint, vanilla
Spices – black pepper, cardamom, cayenne, cinnamon, cocoa powder, coriander, cumin, curry powder, garam masala, garlic, ginger, nutmeg, red pepper flakes
Acids – apple cider vinegar, lemon, lime, rice vinegar, white balsamic
Herbs – basil, cilantro, dill, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme
Sauces/Toppings – BBQ sauce,hot sauce (I love Cholula and Sriracha), hummus, mustard, salsa, tomato sauce (note: make your own when possible – read the labels and you’ll be shocked at the sodium and sugars added!)

Healthy BBQ Sauce on Tempeh

Stuff Most People Think is Foreign

Liquid Smoke (the Colgin brand I buy is all-natural and vegan)
Nutritional Yeast (high in B-12 and protein, has a cheesy/nutty flavor)
Peanut Flour (defatted peanuts; I like this better than PB2 because it has no added sodium or sugar. I order mine here; use discount code USO924 for $5-10 off)
Stevia (the NuNatruals vanilla and chocolate liquid drops are my favorite)

Blueberry Protein Tart (with peanut flour cream)

Shopping

Most of my shopping is done at to following places:

The local farmer’s market,
Whole Foods
Fresh Market
Publix (big box grocer)
iHerb.com (use discount code USO924 for $5-10 off)
Tip: ask your grocer if they can order items for you – Whole Foods is especially good about this!

PLEASE do not take the this as the be-all, end-all list of foods to eat. This is a sampling of my staples. I eat a massive variety of food – it helps me not get bored, which make it easier to keep it clean. I definitely indulge as well. Like tonight – I know I’m going to have an awesome dinner out. Rather than worry about salty, fatty, yummy food, I make more of an effort to keep it clean throughout the day today!

This is life, not heaven. You don’t have to be perfect. Live life, eat good food, and share it with those you love.

***

I don’t mean to poo-poo people’s belief systems. In the name of balance, next week there will be a guest post from Calee with a different perspective. I don’t say vegan, for example, as a bad thing. If it’s tied to a belief or you know that’s the way your body functions, more power to you! What I am against are people jumping of whatever is popular at the moment in hopes of finding the magic fountain for youth and weight-loss. There is no magic, y’all.

What is the craziest diet you’ve ever tried? In college I ate nothing but grapefruit. It lasted 2 days.

Have you found a lifestyle that works for you?

Strange But Good Vegan Bacon Bits

April 26, 2013 By Laura

Bacon is good.

And a huge part of why I didn’t make it as a vegetarian.

Long ago Heather hipped me to the fact that Bacon Bits are vegan… but I have never cared for them. They taste like what I imagine dog food to be.

When Kat posted a recipe for vegan TVP Bacon Bits, I couldn’t WAIT to try my own recipe. Since I can’t have bacon this close to my competition (too much fat and sodium), this was the perfect time to make my own bits! I took Kat’s idea to use nutritional yeast and cumin, but I cut the sodium, sugar, and the oil. That does NOT mean I cut the taste though!

These smokey, spicy little bites are crunchy and packed with flavor. For the longest time I had only regular paprika in my cabinet… let me be the first to admit that was WRONG. Smoked paprika is the way to go. It makes a massive difference; I was shocked at the amount of smoke it lends to dishes.

I used stevia for a hint of sweetness and I added maple extract because… who doesn’t like maple bacon? I also like my bacon peppered, so that went into this mix as well.

In case none of this is strange to you, I created a #strangebutgood breakfast salad using these Smoked TVP Bacon Bits. It’s a simple mix of heirloom tomato, pear, cilantro…. and raspberries. Don’t be scared – tomatoes pair really well with fruit! The coolness of the fruit and the smokey, slightly spicy Bits are a fantastic contrast party in your mouth.

Eaten with cinnamon oatmeal and turkey “sausages” (that recipe is coming next week).

Smoked TVP Bacon Bits

1/4 C Texturized Vegetable Protein (TVP)
1/4 C hot water
1 T nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp maple extract
5-6 drops liquid smoke
3-4 drops liquid Stevia

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Stir the TVP into the water and allow to soak. Meanwhile, mix the dry ingredients together in a small bowl.

Once TVP has (mostly) absorbed the water, stir in the dry ingredients and add extract, smoke, and sweetener.

Squeeze out excess moisture and spread mixture across a lined baking sheet. This is important – you need to really spread it out so that moisture doesn’t gather.

Place in oven and bake for 20 mins, stirring half way through. When crispy and golden, remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week?

Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.

Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂

***

This time next week I’ll be with my trainer on the road to my 2nd figure competition to check in and get spray tanned!!!

Do you like bacon bits?

What one thing would you find most difficult to cut out of your diet? Healthy fats are the hardest for me right now!

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What I love about these is that they:

Embrace Your Inner Child with TVP Sloppy Joes

Vegan TVP Sloppy Joes

The “No Shit” Diet

Diet 101

Weekly Buys

Flavor Adds

Stuff Most People Think is Foreign

Shopping

Strange But Good Vegan Bacon Bits

Smoked TVP Bacon Bits

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