The Colourful Diet

Hi everyone! IT'S SATURDAY! WOOHOO! Ok, caps lock away Steph! Also I'm not too sure why I am excited because I'm still on holidays.. everyday is pretty much Saturday;) And on Saturdays we all have a little bit of extra time to just relaaaxxx.

However I have never been one to simply relaaaxxx. So instead of relaxing, I decided to think.

I think a lot you know! Well, some people might mistake my thinking for day dreaming... but still- there are thoughts running through my noggin as I stare off blankly into space.

Thoughts like diets. Fad diets, well-known diets, ridiculous diets and of course my diet- where I fit into the grand scheme of diets.

 2 soft boiled eggs, with 2 slices of rye bread on top of spinach, with a side of peas and steamed carrots, swede, parsnip and beetroot

Looking through the past few days of my eats in search of what diet I fit into presented some interesting findings:

1. There were lots of wholegrains= not paleo
2. There were a couple of eggs= not vegan
3. There was plenty of fat= not low fat
4. There was bread and hommus and wraps from a packet= not raw

Mashed veggie wrap (mashed pumpkin, swede, parsnip and carrot) with pumpkin falafel and a sun dried tomato veggie sausage with spinach and spread with hommus- then grilled in sandwich press.

And on and on a list similar to this went. I didn't really fit any type of diet. Or so I thought... duh, duh DUH!

Every meal I looked at from the memory card on my camera (which is every meal I've eaten pretty much) revealed one common component, consistent each time.

No, I'm not vegan, or raw or paleo, or low fat, or no fat, or carb free,no.

I faithfully believe in and follow... the colourful diet!

 Grilled veggie sammy

Never heard of that one? No, neither had I until I made it up just then. It's the diet I apparently live by day in day out and I swear by it! People can feed you all kinds of things about eating x amount of calories one day and xy the next, leaving you happy and healthy and a brand new person! But I don't buy it. What I do buy? Eating a big variety of foods filled with bright vibrant colours will leave you happy, healthy and pretty much a super human! (pretty much ;)

 Veggie bowl with roasted sweet potato, potato and beetroot, with roasted tomatoes, spinach, lentils and grilled tempeh

Now, when I simply saying bright, vibrant, colourful foods that does not mean artificial, processed junk. Yep, put down those skittles right now! (I don't care if you can taste the rainbow!) I mean munching on the beautiful vibrant freshness of mother nature.

From vibrant green spinach, to rich ruby red tomatoes, to intense deep purple beetroot and bright pink popping berries!

Now, you can call me crazy and that this diet isn't sustainable for the long run... but you wouldn't, because it is. :D

I do have one confession though...

Today's breakfast- probably the most boring colour known to man! However don't be fooled. It was filled with all the good stuff!

Frozen banana + frozen avocado + greek yoghurt + chia seeds + spinach + kale + raw cacao powder + hazelnut and cacao butter + psyllum husks + splash of almond milk- all whazzed up until smooth! Based off this recipe.

Everyone knows that smoothies should be thick enough to eat with a spoon, right?

Good!

So that's my diet!

How about you?
What diet(s) do you follow?
Do you believe in the colourful diet?
Ever made a smoothie that looks worse than my one above? ;)

Bye for now folks! Enjoy your weekend... RELAAAAXXX! :D



 

Spaghetti Squash... NACHOS!

Hi everyone! Happy Friday!
As you may remember, just recently I stumbled -ever so... ecstatically- over the last spaghetti squash (and first spaghetti squash I've ever seen in Aus) on my super markets shelf! 

So that night for dinner I split it in half (seriously I must have super human strength now or something.. because that was hard!) and roasted it up, wrapping the other half in glad wrap for another day.

Yesterday was another day!

Into an oven set at 180 degrees celsius, on a tray lined with baking paper, rubbed with a bit of olive oil....

Went the other half of my spaghetti squash! Roasted up until nice and tender (around 5-50 minutes)

Then gently broken up into strands with a fork.
I made some 'taco mince' to go in my squash boat with 125g mixed four bean tin, 2 scoops of drained lentils, small handful chopped capsicum, 3-4 chopped cherry tomatoes, a couple of shakes of reduced salt taco seasoning and about 1/3- 1/2 cup water, all stirred together in a fry pan over medium heat until most of the liquid is absorbed. Then I threw in some shredded spinach and coriander:

And topped off my spaghetti squash with it!

Then sort of mushed it into the spaghetti a bit.
The next layer was some vegan cheese that I heated for 30 seconds in the microwave prior to drizzling on my squash.

To finish it all of in typical Mexican flavour style:

Avocado!

Guys, if I could somehow trap the smell from this meal and send it to you all... gaahhh!

Lunch was ready!!

I seriously love the taste of the 'spaghetti from the squash just as is- plain and simple, but I knew I had to make the most of my last half as I'm not sure when/ if I'll ever see one of these spectacular things again!

Of course a Mexican flavoured spaghetti squash is pretty good too ;)

Yes, I would add this to the other 42796 reasons I want to move to America when I'm older. It's just too good!

It's meals like these that make me question how I ever managed to hate avocado. How Steph? How? It adds so much flavour and creaminess and coolness to the spicy beans and is the perfect accompaniment with the flavourful vegan cheese.

Ahh, well I'll just have to make up for lost time by eating ALL of the avocados. And dates. And pesto :)

Now just a second to appreciate the awesome-ness that is spaghetti squash. In all of it's glory:

Well done nature. Well done.:D

Your turn:
Do you like spaghetti squash?
Favourite way to eat it?
Avocados- yay or nay?

That's it from me today! See ya later everyone! Have a great day! Give someone you haven't hugged in a while a hug! :D

Thinking Out Loud- Running, resting and riding a bike!

Happy Thursday to everyone who reads this sentence! (And all those who don't too, I guess ;) I am in a particularly random and chatty mood right at the minute and this is actually quite acceptable for once, as it is Thinking Out Loud Thursday. So prepare for my thoughts. Out loud. On Thursday! 

As always thanks to the awesomely awesome Amanda from Running with Spoons for this fun weekly link-up (also Happy Birthday!)

1. Now speaking of running (Running with Spoons? See= relevant) this is a topic that seems to be of quite high focus in my life right now...
Running.
It has been just over a year since I began my long (and some times quite painful) journey into the enlivening experience that is running.

Never before have I been so stiff, so limpy (sure that's a word!) and so tired at the end of the day than when I started running. But never before have I been more happy.

Seriously! When you find that one special thing that just makes you feel alive... do it often! Unless your legs feel sore and jelly-like and extremely tired (as mine do at the moment)... then you should probably take a few days rest (as I am doing at the moment)

So that's one of the main things that has been on my mind this past week. Only recently I've started seeing myself as a 'runner'. Not because I've upped my distances or whatever but because I can finally see how much running has changed my life and how much it continues to do so. I'm a runner because I love it- all of it, good and bad.

2. This is where my second point of interest comes into it.
Resting.
Yes, I fall into the category of those who hate rest days. Yes I have those ridiculous worries of losing everything I've gained from a day or two or three of rest. Silly, illogical and just plain irrational... Just try telling that to my brain!

Recently though, my legs have been feeling it. As I mentioned before I have been upping my distances and I think all those extra k's are started to weigh down on my little legs. I've been feeling tight and sore and just plain tired, so had to take the (extremely hard) executive decision to take a few days rest. I''m keeping sane by telling myself that it's for my body and I love my body and my body deserves love.

Although this is basically me:

 3. To regenerate and replenish my tired body on these restful days I can't think of a better breakfast than a nice big green smoothie!

1 frozen banana+ a handful of frozen green grapes+ big handful of kale + a big handful of spinach + 3 scoops of greek yoghurt+ sprinkle of chia seeds+ splash of almond milk- whazzed!

I love, love, LOVE frozen grape smoothies- the sweetness and taste the grapes add is soo yummy!

Eaten here along side some choc truffles because you know... chocolate!

So I was taking my pictures of this brekky and noticed a sneaky little shadow in the corner of my lens.

Yep, I cheers-ed myself to breakfast! CHEERS!

3. On the topic of breakfast- Here is a look at today's.
You see I am on the firm belief that ugly meals always seem to taste better, even though they are more ugly. And so when I stirred my 3/4 cup muesli, 1/2 cup greek yoghurt and 1/2 cup almond milk in a bowl with some chia seeds to soak overnight.. I knew this brekky wasn't going to be pretty- but it sure was going to taste good!

To go with my overnight oats I decided I wanted to stir in some banana cashew butter ice cream; you know, for extra prettiness! So into the food processor went 1 chopped frozen banana and about 1-2 tablespoons of cashew butter, whazzed (and scraped down a few times) until smooth and creamy:

Stirred into the overnight oats. See I told you it looked great ;)

Placed in the freezer for 20 mins to harden a bit.
I don't even care that it was ugly... it was delicious!

 4. I haven't been completely honest with you about my resting though (yes we are back on that topic)
I have been doing some Purely Twin's workouts each morning and also...
RIDING MY NEW BIKE!!

^^This is so true! ^^

I like really close to the beach so I love riding on the bike trails that span right across the coast line and look out to the gorgeous blue sea (remember it is Summer here in Aus) so everyday I've been trying to get out for a ride on my beloved bike

This is sort of what my baby looks like, however mine is cream:

If running is my number one outlet to relieve stress and help me think, then riding my bike is a close second- it is so relaxing and leaves me so happy. Thank you endorphins!

Aaand I feel like I've rambled on enough about all the random stuff happening in my life right at the moment!

Be sure to check out what everyone else is thinking about over at Spoons.

Tell me:
Do you like/ hate rest days?
Do believe ugly meals taste better?
Bike? Do you love to ride a bike?

Bye for now folks! Have a fantabulous day! :D

WIAW #39

Hi everyone! How are we all today?

Me? I'm slightly dying over here in Aus as we have had a few, shall we say, bordering on oven-like days... the highest one being about 44 degrees Celsius (111.20 degrees Fahrenheit)! T'was pretty sizzling.

As a result my eats... haven't changed at all! If I want warm soup, I'll have warm soup (goes the same way for smoothies in winter.)

Speaking of eats- it's Wednesday, I have been eating foods and here I am to share them with you!

Here is What I Ate Wednesday Tuesday! Thanks as usual to Peas and Crayons for this awesome weekly link-up!

Pre-breakfast:
I had two medjool dates to give me a bit of energy for my run this morning before returning back home after an hour ready for brekky!!

Breakfast: 8:00am

 My perfect bowl of oats along with a restore apple and acai super nudie juice.

 Topped with lots of cashew butter and inhaled!

I rarely drink juice now-a-days (boy, did I used to drink a lot of juice!) but I do enjoy the odd nudie juice every now and then seeing as all the ingredients are written on the front = only fresh fruit and veg.

Lunch: 12:45am
Breakfast did a good job of feeling me up for ages, however I knew I should probably eat some lunch a few hours later to keep my metabolism up and energy stores fueled.


So I baked a sweet potato in the oven topped it with hommus and a veggie burger with some nutritional yeast, popped some pop corn, created a pot of frozen peas, cherry tomatoes and capsicum with a side of spinach.

 I do prefer sweet baked sweet potatoes (topped with nut butter or coconut butter) but I do also like a good savoury one!
If you've read this blog for a while you would probably know about my obsession with frozen peas- so yummy!

 And popcorn. I. LOVE. POPCORN.

 Upon starting my lunch, I did in fact realise I was hungry :)
So I nom-ed

Snack: 4:00pm

 For an afternoon snack I had a chopped pear with grapes and a glass of soy milk:

 Dinner: 6:45pm

 Dinner featured one of my favourite meals- roasted veg with whole wheat pasta, spinach and garlic tofu:

 The veg was pumpkin, carrot, beetroot, swede and parsnip, roasted with a drizzle of olive oil at 180 degrees celsius for 45 mins.
I know there's no sauce or anything but I seriously love the flavours of this dish without adding any more to confuse the buds.

After dinner snack included a small handful of brazil nuts because brazil nuts are probably in my top 3 for favourite nuts. With peanuts and cashews up there too.

And that's that!

What did you eat Wednesday?
Do you drink juice?
Have any food obsessions?

Still hungry for more? Head on over to Peas and Crayons to see what everyone else is nom-ing on!

Bye for now folks! :D