Yes, I really do crave veggies

It's Friday, Friday! It's also the start of 2 weeks of holidays for me! If you can't already tell I'm extremely excited!
I started my lazy, not rushed Friday morning with a big almost empty jar of peanut butter filled with whipped banana cinnamon steel cut oats, with a side of mandarin slices and dates. Why? Because that's what my body really felt like today:)

This is exactly what I wanted to talk about today- cravings that may not make sense, but taste so amazing when fulfilled.

People often look at what I eat and think I'm on a crazy vegetable diet of some kind or that I'm torturing my body by stuffing it with steamed unmentionables (hello brussels sprouts)

I'm not crazy (entirely), I'm definitely not on a diet and I don't find eating brussel sprouts torturous.. I actually enjoy them (have for as long as I can remember)

Why have I all of a sudden started thinking of this? Last night I was craving veggies. Last night I ate a lot of veggies:

Baked sweet potato with coconut butter, some organic blue maize tortilla chips and half a plate of steamed greens (broccoli, brussels sprouts, beans, peas and corn (ok, corns yellow)

It was what I really wanted to eat so it all tasted absolutely amazing- especially the steamed greens.

I  also generally have more thanone craving at a time so the sweet potato and coconut butter satisfied my sweet/rich tooth..

And the tortilla chips satisfied my crunchy/salty tooth..

 On days when I don't eat many veggies, (I'm not gonna lie- these are very few. I just love my veggies so much!) I simply roll with it, because I know it's my body's way of telling me to ease up a bit, or focus on different nutrients it requires.

Some days I crave chocolate:

Overnight oats in an almost empty jar of almond butter with a side of chocolate-banana ice cream

This was my breakfast from a few days ago made by putting a chopped frozen banana, a few spoonfuls of greek yoghurt and some raw cacao into a food processor and whazzing until smooth. (scarping down the sides a few times)

It's what my body was telling me to have and it had never tasted better.

As you all know I also eat a lot of pizza. I won't ever say no to that craving:

You can find some of my favourite pizza recipes here, here and here

In conclusion (I had to write an essay yesterday if you hadn't guessed by my original concluding statement- yes they gave us an essay on the last day of school!) I have cravings, I satisfy them I'm happy. Most importantly I CRAVE veggies! I don't make myself eat them- I make myself cook them (or not) so I can eat them because I want to. Don't give me that look ;)
 

 

Sometimes a bowl/ plate/ glass full of veggies just hits the spot!

Make sure you satisfy your cravings not only for your tummy but your general well being! Happiness comes from listening to your body.

P.s. this is not a post giving you permission to eat that whole bag of chips or tub of ice cream. Satisfy your craving- don't over-do it because you never get to eat that kind of stuff. Moderation in any-thing is key... even my beloved vegetables :)

What are you craving right now?
Veggies. Love em or hate em?
Are you part of the minority loving brussles sprouts?

Catch ya later! :D

Athletic eating.

Hello, hello friends.
No don't worry I haven't started eating competitions or stuffing my face in an athletic manner, or taken up sprinting and javelin whilst eating. What I meant by athletic eating was what I ate on the day of my school's athletic carnival :)

You might remember from this post and this post me mentioning that I couldn't run because I did something to my ITB band/ muscle thingy down my leg.

Well, I had signed up for 4 different running events and long jump before this happened, so with the help of my wonderful physio's remedial massage (I have bruises to prove how wonderful) and some acupuncture and some taping... I could compete!

Good to go!

I went equipped with a little chemist in my bag. Voltaren gel, snap ice packs and extra tape. 

The real way I prepared myself for today? A good hearty- DELICIOUS- breakfast:

 Chocolate steel cut oats and berry froyo (frozen berries whazzed up with greek yoghurt)

 Using this method, I heated up 1 tablespoon of cashew butter and spread it round!

Full of protein, complex carbs and good fats- I was ready to start the day!

Chocolate not up your alley?

How does overnight oats mixed with mango fro-yo sound:

 With some bananas split in half and smothered in peanut butter?

 Stirry-stir:

 YUM!

 In relation to how I did in the carnival... not great to be honest :D

I sort of expected it... I didn't lose anything (second last isn't losing!) and I did come 4th in the 800m (out of like 25 girls) so I guess I'm sort of happy, it just means no inter-school this year. I was pushing it competing anyway!

But there you have some great brekky's for a busy/ tiring/ energy requiring day!

What did you have for brekky?

Are you a sprinter or long distance runner?

How do you feel about acupuncture? (I might talk about this in a later post :)

See ya later! :D

WIAW #11

Yay! It be Wednesday already? That's cool, it means I get to share with you my crazy-delicious-colourful-veggie-filled-delicious-savoury-sweet-delicious eats!
Shall we began? (Thanks Peas and Crayons for hosting!)
Breakfasts : (I'm sharing- What I ate Wednesday & all week!)
At the beginning of the week, I wanted oatmeal.. and sort of inspired by this recipe, I made some of this:

It was simply rolled oats + sliced banana + chia seeds + coconut butter + vegan vanilla protein powder, heated on stove with some oat milk until thick (but not dry!)
With a side of..

Mango fro-yo!
And of course, this:

Plus this:

Equals this..

Seriously guys- I have dessert for breakfast everyday!
Next up was an all-time favourite- yep you know what it is...

 A peanut butter and banana toastie!
With blueberry frozen yoghurt this time:

1/2 cup plain greek yoghurt + 1 cup thawed blueberries (I had to thaw my frozen ones) whazzed up in a mini food processor :)

You had to see this coming!
Lastly today's brekky- what I actually ate Wednesday!

Overnight oats in a jar
plus a side of sliced apples and some banana cream (greek yoghurt and banana whazzed together!)
Yes, people- I am obsessed with greek yoghurt at the minute- it's the only dairy I can eat that doesn't anger my tum tum and it's awesome!

Now follow these steps very carefully!
Spread some of the 'cream' onto an apple slice:

 Keep going, layer after layer:

Then realise you have to much and plop it all on!

Yum yum!

Lunches:
Both of the lunches I happen to have photos of are sandwiches.. that are exactly the same excpet for the bread :)

 This one was on a cape-seed roll from Bakers Delight
Grilled veggies, hommus, spinach, veggie patty and salsa- put in a sandwich press :)
That was on the weekend. Today, I woke up at this awesome time and made it again on my home-made wholemeal spelt bread!

 Twas good.. but seriously guys, I do eat more than sandwiches! Yesterday I had a millet salad and the day before a big rice veggie bowl!
Snacks:
Yesterday, I wasn't overly hungry, but wanted something to hold me over til' dinner. Maybe some proetin powder and soy milk? But I have no protein shaker thing! Not to fear!

Works just as well! Simply add stuff, screw on lid and shake!
Today I had..

A pear and a tomarillo. Then I took one bite of the tomarillo and proceeded to feed it to my compost bin- blech! It sour and hard to eat- not good!
Dinners:
One night, my tummy was feeling well, so I had an easy dinner of tin tomatoes + beans topped with steamed greens topped with roasted potatoes:

Zumba night was cold roast veggies, quinoa and spinach:

Last night's pasta, chilli pesto, steamed veggies, spinach, peas and mixed four beans:

 Topped with vegan cheese :)

 And... that's it!
I hope everyone else had fabulous Wednesday eats and don't forget to head on over to Peas and Crayons to check out what everyone else has been nom-ing on! :D