Pumpkin Pie Protein Waffles!

Today is a happy a day! Fall is upon us soon! All things pumpkin are coming our way! If you know me, you know I am a sucker for ALL things pumpkin. Plus, Fall is my birthday season, so it's kind of a win-win for me!

It's a crazy week for A Fat Kid At Heart; a lot of big things are happening! I am so excited to share them with you when the time is right, but for now I will keep you anticipating!

In honor of Fall starting soon, I thought I would share with you my pumpkin pie protein waffles! So easy, so delicious (as usual), and healthy! Also, for those of you that love pumpkin creations as much as I do, I scored organic cans of pumpkin purée that are BPA Free too at Costco last year! (I'm hoping they'll have them again!)

Here's What You'll Need:

1/3 cup egg whites or two eggs

1/4 cup pumpkin purée

1 scoop protein powder (I use Sunwarrior Classic Vanilla!) 

1/2 TBLSP almond milk

1-2 tsp pumpkin spice or cinnamon if you don't have pumpkin spice

Almond butter

Pure maple syrup

A waffle maker (duh! :)

Nonstick spray

Method:

1. Plug in the waffle maker to heat it up.

2. Mix together eggs, pumpkin, protein powder, milk and pumpkin spice.

3. Pour it into the waffle maker, but make sure you don't pour too much or it will overflow! 

4. Cook for about 6-7 minutes, or until golden brown and firm.

5. Top with a little almond butter and maple syrup.

So good! Enjoy!

Power Packed Oatmeal!

Power packed oatmeal bowl is what's for breakfast! 

What You'll Need:

1/3 cup oatmeal

2/3 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)

1/3 cup raspberries

1/3 cup blueberries

1/2 tablespoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut shreds

1 1/2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (optional)

Method:

1. Cook your oatmeal in the almond milk until you reach your desired consistency.

2. If using maple syrup, stir the syrup into your oatmeal and pour into a bowl.

3. Add toppings, stir, and enjoy!

So simple, so filling, so delicious! Packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats that will keep you fuller longer.

Oh, and kids will love it too!

Apples and Bananas... Banana Bread

Good morning gorgeous humans! I woke up this morning with a craving for banana bread; it must be the cool windy morning we are having here in Sacramento. I am definitely gearing up for Fall recipe wise. It is my favorite time of year, with both my favorite holidays Halloween and Thanksgiving! (Every fat kid at heart loves Thanksgiving!!) I grew up in Southern California, and they don't really have a Fall season where leaves change, weather changes, etc. So when I moved up to Nor Cal, experiencing my first Fall here was amazing! 

So anyway, back to my cravings... I wanted banana bread, but I didn't want to feel extremely guilt for it. I had also picked up some spelt flours and I wanted to try them out. Spelt flour is a wheat flour, but it has less gluten than whole wheat flour, which is what I typically use. It is NOT 100% gluten free, so if you are celiac, don't use it as an alternative. However, for those who are not, it is a great alternative to whole wheat flour. It is light, nutty, but a little sweet too. I used both whole spelt flour and white spelt flour in this recipe because mixing them makes for a better baking batter, but if you wanted to use all whole spelt flour it would work too! Spelt flour has a great amount of protein and fiber, and essential nutrients! 

So now, you are probably wondering how to make this amazing bread right?! Well let me share with you the recipe that will have your family and friends loving you forever! ;) 

What You'll Need:

(Makes 1 loaf of bread)

1 1/4 cup white spelt flour

1 1/4 cup whole spelt flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 cup overly ripe mashed bananas (about 2-3 bananas, and not too overly ripe)

3 TBLSP of egg whites

3/4 cup date purée 

1/4 cup honey or pure maple syrup

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 tsp vanilla

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan.

2. With a fork, mash the bananas into a purée. It is okay to leave some chunks of banana!

3. Combine all the dry ingredients together, and combine all the wet ingredients together.

4. Pour all the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix with a wooden spoon until there are no clumps.

5. Pour into the greased loaf pan and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean when stuck in the middle of the bread.

That taste of Fall is upon you! Enjoy!

#eatyourheartout 

Green Smoothie & Light But Filling Summer Salad

My whole life I haven't been a coffee fan. Most people think I'm crazy when I say that, but the smell, taste, look, everything is unappealing to me. A few years ago in 2011, I did the raw food diet for about 30 days. It was one of the most excruciating things I've ever done. At times it would be really easy, and at other times it wasn't. One of the things I did really enjoy from the raw food diet was green smoothies. Now, green smoothies are like my coffee. I drink them pretty much everyday. I have a variety that I have come up with throughout the years, but today I am going to share with you my tropical green smoothie.

Green smoothies are super easy to make, a great way to get essential vitamins and minerals in a raw form, and when you make them well, you can't even taste the greens you put in. 

What You'll Need:

2 cups organic power green mix 

1 cup organic tropical fruit mix

16oz coconut water

1 frozen banana

1 scoop brown rice protein powder (or any other protein powder your prefer)

How To Prepare:

1. Pour coconut water and power green mix in blend, and blend until all the leaves are completely blended.

2. Add a frozen banana and blend until it has been completely blended as well.

3. Add one scoop protein powder and 1 cup tropical fruit. 

4. Drink & Enjoy! (Serves 2)

For my protein powder, I use Sunwarrior brown rice protein powder. Sometimes I use Perfect Fit Protein but it is a little stevia heavy for me. 

I can get all this stuff at Trader Joes, but you can find it at the supermarket as well. 

**TIP: Don't ever get rid of bananas because you don't think you can eat them all. Always put them Ina freezer bag and freeze them. 

Looking for something that is filling but also light? Look no more! This grain salad is amazing and perfect for summer! Can be eaten as a main meal or a side dish. This recipe is also really simple which always helps! 

What You'll Need:

1 cup brown rice 

2 cups water

1 can black beans

Trader Joes (or any store's) tropical mango, pineapple salsa

1 avocado (or 2 if you LOVE avocado like I do!)

How To Prepare:

1. Cook your rice as instructed on the bag or box. All rice varies so it is better to go based off the instructions own bag or box.

2. When the rice has about 7-8 minutes left to cook, put the can of beans in a small sauce pan and cook until the juice of the beans starts to simmer. 

3. Once the beans and rice are both done, add the rice to a big bowl. Drain the beans and rinse them and then add them to the bowl of rice. Give them a good mix.

4. Add 3/4 cup of the salsa to the bowl and mix until fully incorporated.

5. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and let it cool in the fridge for at least an hour and a half. 

6. Once it is cooled, serve chilled with avocado on top. Sprinkle the avocado with just a touch of sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

7. Eat & Enjoy!!! (Serves 4)

**Notes: If you or your family aren't a big fan of beans, you can add cubes of chicken, or cubes of tofu to replace the beans. 

Also, other types of rice, jasmine, white, etc. would work in this dish, brown rice just had the best overall nutrition value.

PS - Did you know beans and rice are a complete protein when consumed together or consumed within a short period of time from each other??? It's true!

Taking Risks To Make Dreams Come True

If you asked me three years ago what my goal in life would be, it would be to become a Direct of Human Resources. Sure, there is nothing wrong with that goal, it was very corporate of me. (To say the least...) As time went on, my goals and dreams changed. I am still the same person as I was then, I just see self worth and happiness in a different way.

When I set out to lose weight a little over two years ago, I would have never guessed it would have the impact on my life that it has. Not only have I become happier, healthier, and more self confident, I have also become aware. Through research and trial and error, I have gained awareness of a healthy lifestyle and balance. 

My goal now is to spread this awareness to families, to give women confidence again, to help eliminate childhood obesity, to help those who suffer with eating disorders, and most of all to create a balanced lifestyle for all. 

There's a saying, "you can't have your cake and eat it too." But I am standing here saying why not? You only get one life to live, so have your cake and eat it too. Learn what it is like to experience balance, and achieve overall happiness, while looking and feeling your best!

For a long time I lived for everyone else. I let everything and everyone affect me. I was miserable in so many ways. I could never see the silver lining, the cloud was always entirely black and pouring down on me. I had a lot of self pity, and I wasted a lot of my life in that mindset. 

I decided to start living my life for me, and only worrying about what I thought about myself. I felt that if I was pleased with myself, than I would be happy. I've realized I'm never going to be perfect, but if I was perfect my life would be boring because I would have nothing to improve on. I am my own DIY project that never ends, and I am PROUD of that! 

As I was sitting at my desk at work about to cry, I decided it was time to make a bold move. I took a risk and resigned from my job a few weeks ago. July 11 will be my last day. I've never taken a risk like this, I've always lived by the book, but I can tell you that since I made the decision to leave and chase my dreams, I've never been happier. I am ready to spread awareness and happiness to all, and not through rainbows and butterflies, but through hard life changing work. It's up to you to choose happy. It's up to you to choose healthy. I am hoping you choose both for yourself and let me help you get there. Live for today, for tomorrow, and for many more days to come. 

I've already begun having my cake and eating it too. It's your turn to join me.

~ without risk, there is no reward ~