buckwheat breakfast bowl and new addictions

January 14, 2013 by

Another marvelous Monday morning is upon us.

I’m kind of not looking forward to getting up early tomorrow, but such is life.

I woke up this morning ready to eat. For some reason, I was feeling super ravenous this morning; good thing I had some breakfast that I prepped the night before.

protein buckwheat bowl

A few people asked about my buckwheat bowl I made on Wednesday. It’s super simple.

Vegan Buckwheat Bowl

  • 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
  • 1 tablespoon hemp protein powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon stevia
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin or mashed banana
  • 1/2  cup water/milk (you may need a bit extra-just go by texture)

Mix the dry ingredients (including chia seeds) together, add the pumpkin and milk and lightly spray a microwaveable bowl. Microwave for about 5 minutes.

You could also make this in the oven and bake at 350 for about 35 minutes. Depending on your oven.

I prefer the microwave version, since it’s done a lot faster, but whatever works for you!

Of course, finish off with toppings of your choice! My favorite will always be peanut flour!

This weekend ended up being a nice change of pace for once, since it was pretty relaxing. A much appreciated switch up every now and again, especially since the holidays were pretty eventful.

lunch

For lunch I’ve been enjoying my roasted veggie bowls, since it is SO cold here! Although not cold enough for snow, which I’ve been dreaming about. I seriously want those white flakes to come visit so bad. I’m odd. It’s just that whenever there’s a tiny bit of snow over here, basically everything gets cancelled. So that would be kind of cool.

Got a little off track there…this bowl had roasted broccoli slaw, zucchini, turkey burger, quinoa (I’m getting a little sick of quinoa now), nutritional yeast, coconut oil, and a little dill. Avocado on the side.

My parents ended up having a low key weekend too, so I decided it would be a good opportunity to spend some more family time together. It just so happens that my Mom shares the same coffee addiction I have (I guess we know where I get that trait from).

DSC03688

We of course had to make a trip to our favorite coffee place over the weekend. I feel like I haven’t been in so long, since I typically will only go there on the weekends now that I have my handy dandy Verismo. Love that thing.

Coffee is my saving grace. Especially since I’m the worst sleeper ever. I’ll learn eventually.

cinnamon and spice tea

Amanda also made sure I got hooked on her favorite tea, which means I managed to order some online since I can’t buy any in stores here.

Dang, it’s not like I need another thing to be obsessed with, but alas I have. It’s okay Amanda I’ll forgive you.

Now, I have plans to catch up on Downton Abbey. Well I guess not catch up, but start it up.

Downton Abbey

I’ve been hearing nothing but great things about this show, I thought it would be appropriate to start since it’s at my house right now. Might as well take advantage of having that DVD and watch it.

Confession; I totally thought it was called Downtown Abbey, but then was embarrassed when someone laughed and informed me it’s called Downton Abbey.

I must have been too lazy to correctly read the title all this time.

thehealthydiva

With that, I hope you have a marvelous Monday!

Do you like spending weekends low key or out and about?

Any shows you’re obsessed with right now?

Coffee or tea?

Make today an amazing one!

{55 Comments }

Bodies and Beliefs

January 8, 2013 by

Our body may not be able to learn all the information possible about nutrition, I mean that’s what our brains are for; that doesn’t mean that our minds know what’s best for us though.

Our mind contains thoughts, beliefs, memories, and more. Did you ever think your body is actually the thing we should consult, since it really is the vehicle that knows what we need most in the moment.

Instead of having trust in our bodies, we often fear the very thing they are trying to tell us. Our bodies are able to tell us when we’re hungry, tired, hurt, thirsty, etc.

dinner

{ For Dinner, last night I had a homemade zucchini turkey burger with roasted cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, an avocado sauce, and nutritional yeast }

In the past, I’ve been the victim of trusting beliefs my mind had, instead of what my body wanted. If I was tired or hurt, I couldn’t rest because I had false beliefs imprinted on my mind; rest was for lazy people and being hurt wasn’t an option if I want to be skinny.

Even worse was being hungry. My mind would try to tell my body it’s not hungry, I don’t need food or calories because I have all the self control in the world and don’t need food to be satisfied.

It was always a constant struggle of mind versus body.

Even though I constantly tried to outsmart my body, it was able to put up a strong fight.

Sometimes, we may be tempted to listen to other peoples beliefs and try and accept them as our own.

strawberries + coconut

{ I picked up some strawberries at the store and had them with coconut milk. So good }

People say carbs are bad? Well then, my body has [insert make believe issue] so I can’t digest carbs because others are saying they’re bad to eat. Silly and untrue statements.

With all these new studies, we likely try and go against our bodies by telling them what we think is best for it.

Often, I look in the past where I knew nothing about nutrition, calories, carbs, fats, protein, and wonder if I was actually smarter as a child.

When I was tired, I took a nap. Hungry? I ate. I didn’t restrict, eat too much, over exercise to compensate. I just lived and acted as my body asked for what it wanted.

Never questioning my hunger because I trusted my body to tell me what it needed.

Many beliefs I once had as a child are long gone since I’ve adopted other peoples beliefs as my own, as well as trying to adapt to a type of lifestyle other people preach.

teas

{ My two favorite teas right now. }

Instead of living life freely, it has changed so that I constantly question, control, and manipulate my body. Somewhere in my life I stopped listening to my bodies needs, instead telling it what it needs.

Which obviously didn’t end well, since it developed into a horrible eating disorder. Even though my body tried to tell me otherwise, my mind wouldn’t let it.

Denying our bodies is a very strong belief stemmed from others, so that we can have an “ideal body”. It’s hard to not listen to those beliefs when they are all around us.

It’s sad how hard it is for many of us to truly listen to our bodies. My mind really believed that by controlling my body, I would be content in life.

People would finally like me, I’d be prettier, have more confidence, and could do whatever I put my mind to.

oranges
{ still obsessed with Christmas oranges. I’ll be sad when they go out of stock }

In reality, I ended up losing control and gave that control to the disorder instead.

Eventually my mind couldn’t keep up, I was on the verge of death and I had to finally listen to what my body was asking for. Now I’m living with the constant nagging of two voices.

My healthy voice and the eating disorder voice. Sometimes, I don’t know which one is which. It is a constant fight, but I know I just need to keep pushing through to reach a point of living a life that is best for me.

Remember that your body is smart, it may be tempting to listen to others beliefs, but your body knows what’s best for your health.

Do you have a hard time listening to your own body?

Have you ever fallen victim to fad diets?

What’s the last positive thing you did for your body?

Sending lots of love your way today! Have a great one!

{25 Comments }

Happiness

October 25, 2012 by

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” – Mahatma Gandhi

How true is this quote?

Happiness is something I struggled with in the past. I used to feel that I was getting pushed and pulled in so many directions on how I needed to look to be happy with my life and myself.

* Happiness is making perfect pancakes for breakfast in the morning. *

True happiness comes from within.

Instead of putting the focus into everything I’m not able to do, I now appreciate all that I’m able to do.

I don’t eat healthy to look like a celebrity, I don’t exercise hard to look like someone else. I do these things to benefit my body and mind.

Focusing on trying to be someone else is false happiness. How can you truly be happy with yourself, if you are striving to be someone else?

* Happiness is a pumpkin frosty for snacking on. *

It won’t make a different in your happiness if you feel you “need to lose 10 pounds” and lose it.

In the end you are still the same person, minus a few pounds.

This is where my eating disorder really took over, I just kept on going.

“In 15 pounds I’ll be happy…wait, I’m still not happy, just another 10 pounds. Oh hey, still not happy. Another 5 pounds”…until you can’t go on anymore.

* Happiness is being okay that I prefer peanut flour over peanut butter! Yep, it’s true. *

The only thing I was changing was my weight.

Not my thoughts or actions, which made me remain in this constant state of unhappiness.

Happiness is fulfilling myself with positive affirmations, and being present and appreciating the good moments that happen everyday. Big or small they are happening daily, we just need to sit back and realize it.

* Happiness is making coconut and almond crusted turkey burgers to enjoy with Dinner. *

Create happiness from within yourself.

It takes patience and time, but it is worth it. You are worth it.

We don’t obtain happiness from others, we create our own happiness. First in our mind and then in our actions.

What makes me happy may not be the thing that makes you happy.

* Happiness is having the ability to workout at home and get fit without a gym. *

Don’t take on other peoples thoughts, be aware of your own thoughts and don’t judge them. Appreciate your version of happiness.

Be happy that you have the ability to eat healthy and exercise to nourish your body, not to manipulate the way your body looks.

* Happiness is drinking my favorite green juice daily. *

We may suffer from false beliefs in what happiness means, but we have the ability to change those thoughts and create our happiness based on where we are now and what we want our lives to look like.

If we aren’t happy in our minds, our overall happiness will be absent.

You’re only a thought away from happiness.

What makes you happy?

What is making you smile today?

Have a great Thursday!

{39 Comments }

Coconut Milk Goodness and Marinara

August 29, 2012 by

Happy Wednesday all! How is your day going?

Thanks to Jenn for hosting another WIAW.

My morning started off with a spin class, modified of course, because I’m still not able to push too hard. Frustrating at times, but I realize its needed right now.

After stretching and showering it was time to eat.

Breakfast was overnight oat bran.

Breakfast – 8:

This batch had:

  • 1/2 cup oat bran
  • 1/2 cup egg whites
  • 1/2 tablespoon of both chia and hemp seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • stevia
  • 1/2 banana
  • 1/4 cup pumpkin
  • topped with peanut flour paste made with 2 tablespoons peanut flour, 1 teaspoon coconut oil, and about 1.5 tablespoons almond milk

I love the coconut oil and peanut flour combination together. Tastes more flavourful!

Things this morning have been productive, and filled with things I’ve had on my to-do list for a while now.

Shortly after breakfast, I made a morning run to Starbucks and went home to enjoy my coffee with a side of book reading. I’m really enjoying Gone Girl. It takes me a really good book to truly get lost in it, and this book is managing to do just that.

I’m going to need to be on the lookout for a new book soon, because I have a feeling this one will be finished within the next day or two.

Lunch – 12:

I quickly made up a lunch to consume before heading to the mall. I didn’t picture it, since I was in a rush, but it was essentially a brown rice tortilla, with goat cheese, spinach, zucchini, and an egg/egg white mixture for protein.

No exciting finds at the mall to share, unfortunately. Sad times when that happens.

Snack – 3:30:

I returned home and made Kristin’s Low Calorie Ice Cream, but mine was made with a mixture of protein powder, and coconut milk (so much better than the almond milk version I made before).

Love. Topped with the rest of the strawberries I had on hand.

Um, next time I’ll actually manage to photograph a picture of the “ice cream”. I’m really smart sometimes.

A quick trip to the grocery store was followed, since I ran out of broccoli slaw, bananas, and eggs. All necessities around here!

Dinner – 5:

When I got home for dinner, I wasn’t feeling all that inspired so I just threw together some extra marinara sauce I had on hand from the other night, along with a coconut crusted turkey burger, zucchini, roasted broccoli slaw, and a little quinoa. Side of avocado for dipping purposes.

Easy Marinara

  • 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato paste
  • 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
  • fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast

Melt coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat, add in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste and stir until combined together. Lower the heat to the low setting and add in the nutritional yeast. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the heat and add in the seasonings. Let sit for 5 minutes, until thickened.

And serve!

This is so simple and the nutritional yeast adds a nice nutritional punch as well as great flavour!

I’m quite positive the rest of the night will include some trashy TV viewing, in the form of the Bachelor Pad. Classy action over here.

Snack – 8:

Followed by leftover roasted kabocha squash with coconut butter. This squash will never get old. I just love this stuff.

I have a lot on my mind right now, so winding down with some mindless TV sounds pretty good right about now.

Make sure to come back later for that fun giveaway I told you about on Monday:)

What books are you currently reading? Recommendations?

Hope you all have a happy Wednesday!

*Also just wanted to mention I’ve become a FitKit Ambassador and have my first article posted. Check it out!

{44 Comments }

Protein-y Eats and Easy Dinners

July 23, 2012 by

Good morning Monday!

Hope your weekend was pleasant!

As much fun as the weekends are, I enjoy Mondays because they are a fresh start to the new week. Tuesdays on the other hand are not my favourite.

The weekend was filled with gorgeous weather (well on Saturday), fantastic friends, and delicious coffees. Things fun times are made of.

Craving something with a little crunch, I went with toast this morning.

And had this masterpiece to eat.

Ezekiel toast topped with protein frosting and the easiest homemade blueberry jam.

Just mix frozen blueberries in a microwave safe bowl, heat for 1 minute, allow to cool a little before mixing with stevia and a tad of lemon juice.

Who watched the Bachelorette last night?! I was happy with her choice, but felt so bad for her and Arie when they went through that super duper awkward breakup.

I also got my package filled with marvelous coconut butter. There is nothing more divine than this stuff. I highly recommend you pick some up if you see it in the store. Its heavenly, truly! Especially since its the type of butter that doesn’t get stuck to the roof of your mouth when you eat it. If you know what I mean? No, maybe…well this is awkward.

The weather looked like it would be okay, and I wanted to do some light activity, a walk seemed to be fitting. Wouldn’t it be likely that as soon as I stepped out the door it started raining. If you know anything about me, I don’t do rain. Not my thing…so back inside I went.

Before my attempted walk , I had made a snack of yogurt, berries, and raw cashew butter. The strawberry obsession is still going strong.

I came back and caught up on Big Brother, this season hasn’t been too great so far, but I have high hopes considering I usually love that show every year. Dang, I wish Rachel was back. That girl is just hysterical.

To warm my soul for dinner, I ate a serving of broccoli slaw, spaghetti squash, turkey burger, and marinara. I ate it along side 1/2 an avocado.

I have an abundance of spaghetti squash right now, I bought a few and then my parents brought me home a few, so now I’ve got to use them up. At least they last for a while!

P.S. Remember to order your fitfluential shirts here!! Aren’t they cute?!

I felt the need to represent, so have my pre-ordered shirt all ready. I’m pretty excited about the pink colour! If you didn’t notice I like pink.

 

And make sure to check out Katie’s marvelous in my Monday posts!

What’s something special about your Monday? Do you like or dislike most Mondays?

***Let’s remember to live life to the fullest today; for being blessed that life has given us another day on this earth, for those others who can’t. I am praying and thinking for all the people effected by the shooting in Colorado. And anywhere or anyone else in the world who are suffering from an awful event or loss in their lives.

{44 Comments }

WIAW #11

June 6, 2012 by

Good morning loves! And happy Wednesday to you!

I’m so glad to get such positive reinforcement and encouragement from yesterdays post! You all are so sweet and kind! I’m extremely happy I put my thoughts and feelings out there and that a lot of people can relate. I know that this whole process is not easy, but I will never overcome it if I don’t challenge myself.

Enough of my cheesy thank you’s for y’all (I think I’m watching too much bachelorette), it’s time to have a party. A WIAW party, that is.

Breakfast was nothing new, I hope you are all not sick of seeing my breakfast, but you probably are…I don’t see myself getting tired of it anytime soon, especially with the sun heading this way for summer, so you’ll just have to get used to it ;)

7:30 – Breakfast:

Overnight oat bran with egg whites, hemp seeds, chia applesauce, cinnamon, blueberries, and peanut flour ball to top it off.

I was struggling a bit after this meal with wanting to get active and was feeling quite antsy, so I decided to take a few minutes aside and set a timer and just “meditate”, I’m going to put that in quotations, because I’m not sure if what I did qualified as meditation. I get quite distracted so even the 5 minutes was tough. I’m not quite sure if this helped too much, maybe a bit. I guess its something I need to get used to. I did feel more relaxed, I suppose.

I then realized I needed coffee, so I scrambled out the door and headed to Starbucks. Shocked? Well, you shouldn’t be. I came home got my drank on, stocked a few blogs, painted my nails, and realized it was time for lunch.

11:30 – Lunch:

I roasted a HUGE (seriously like almost the whole squash) amount of roasted Kabocha Squash with an egg white omelette on the side, again no picture because it was pretty messy and quite ugly. No need to embarrass myself by posting my sub-par omelette making abilities. And a side of coconut butter for dipping the squash in. Best combo ever.

I had some hodge podge, random, but essential errands to run so off I went. I came home and decided to get a good foam roll in since I never do it when I’m active, so why not do it when I’m doing nothing. Makes sense to me.

3 – Snack:

I had one of my pumpkin coconut bars, so good after its been refrigerated! And I served it with a little protein frosting.

I was tempted to skip dinner honestly, with feeling lame from not working out and having a bad body image day, but realized that would be letting the disorder win, so I sucked it up, realized I could have far worse problems, and that I still need to eat to function in everyday activities. Duh…this is the point to my challenge!

Dinner ended up being another favourite of mine. I had just gone out and got a huge spaghetti squash, so decided to cook that up and make a meal based from that.

5 – Dinner:

I used the usual method for making spaghetti squash, added marinara, turkey burger, spinach, red pepper, and goat cheese. Most buried underneath, so you can’t see it.

And now I’m relaxing with a cup of tea, getting ready to watch the return of Pretty Little Liars. I feel slightly embarrassed admitting I like this show, but I don’t care, It’s a goody.

8ish – Snack: will be pumpkin protein cookie dough or this pumpkin cookie dough.

I definitely didn’t eat enough through out the day, so will have to beef up my evening snack a bit, I guess today was just a day where I struggled mentally with what I was consuming. It’s normal for me to have days like this, but expressing myself makes me feel a bit more accountable for these struggles and realize there is something emotionally going on that is making me want to restrict. I definitely feel a lot more relief that I gave myself this restriction to not exercising, which is kind of weird for me.

I strive for perfection, but it is just not attainable. There is no such thing as the perfect anything, so I need to stop with this black and white thinking and move past this way my mind and thoughts have learned to function.

It’s great to feel myself getting more honest with my family, friends, and myself about how things are going in recovery. This was a huge realization for me that the most important part of recovery in honesty with myself. No more denial or excuses about how things are going.

Anyways, that is all for today!

What’s the best thing you ate today? I ask this everytime, but it makes sense to ask this on WIAW day I believe.

xox,
Lisa

{37 Comments }

Italian turkey burgers + hangover toast

May 29, 2012 by

Good Morning beauties and happy Tuesday to everyone!

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend, and your long weekends for all the American’s out there!

I spent the weekend celebrating a couple of friends’ birthdays, so it was a busier one for me. It was a lot of fun actually, and am so glad I went out to celebrate their special day.

I didn’t get many pictures in because I was having too much fun, but let’s just say it included a few of these.

Yah, not feeling the best the next day, but it was well worth it ;)

And is that not the most fun cup ever? It’s a huge margarita glass with an awesome pink boa wreath around it with a sparkly bottom. Love.

Since I wasn’t feeling the best the next day, baking was about the productive thing I did.

I made some turkey burgers inspired by this recipe from Courtney.

Italian Turkey Burgers (makes 5 burgers)

  • 454 grams extra lean ground turkey breast (1 lb.)
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon italian seasonings
  • 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (if you like spice)

Combine all ingredients together in a bowl and mix until combined. Refrigerate the turkey mixture for about 20 minutes (or longer). Separate into 5 equal sized patties. Cook on a stove or grill about 8 minutes per side (depends on stove). Top with desired toppings and eat! These are really good and perfectly healthy! I cooked these in a little coconut oil, and it gave them a nice crisp side. So scrumptious.

I enjoyed one of these with some spaghetti squash, asparagus, marinara, and goat cheese.

Besides baking and spending time with friends, my Sunday was treated with some hangover toast and a side of starbucks.

I toasted 2 pieces ezekiel bread and topped it with coconut oil, stevia, cinnamon and a little sea salt. It’s a beautiful tasting thing.

Get ready for more of my baking adventures coming up in future posts.

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the day!

What did you do this weekend?

xox,
Lisa

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