Category Archives: Breakfast
Power Smoothie & Raquetball
All the spring break days are blurring together and I’m not ready for it to be over! Every day has included a trip to the gym to try out something new like the Boot Camp and Kickboxing classes. Yesterday: Raquetball.
Disclaimer: Aside from running and “workouts” I am not athletic. Throwing, catching, hitting, kicking, or dribbling? Weak. (Dodging? I can do that!)
Raquetball was purely for fun, and I think my abs got the most of the exercise from constant laughing. It’s just the natural instinct to AVOID anything that is rapidly approaching my face, so we didn’t get much of a rally going ;) Fetching the ball around the room counts as exercise too, right?
(Any Gilmore Girls fans out there? I couldn’t find the whole scene on Youtube but I am probably as terrible at Raquetball as Lorelai.)
*Edit: found the clip I was looking for. The last 15 seconds are really all you need :P Gilmore Girls Raquetball
Such an exhausting silly workout warrants an extra nutritious smoothie lunch. My strawberry banana smoothie had two extra ingredients to give it a healthy boost: Spinach leaves and Ground Flax Seed.
A.) Spinach in smoothies is totally undetectable. You can see tiny green specks but they have no flavor, just lots and lots of vitamins. It’s a freebie!
B.) Flax Seed has lots of Omega-3’s, and blends in perfectly with the fruity smoothie.
Other sneaky smoothie ingredients for added health benefits:
- cocoa powder
- cinnamon
- protein powder
- wheat germ
- Kale
- Oats
- Ginger
I can’t get over how perfect it is outside, so a run around the park is next on the agenda. With a recovery smoothie to follow (chocolate banana!)
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Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Protein Smoothie
We are combining chocolate and breakfast. Yes, it’s healthy. Just go with it.
After an especially-challenging workout, the body can use a little extra protein. I’m a huge fan of (homemade) smoothies and if you have a few extra minutes to blend up your post-workout breakfast, it will be totally worth it. For the past two mornings, I’ve made this dessert-y smoothie and it tastes too delicious to be healthy. But I promise it is!
- 1/2 cup Vanilla Almond Milk
- 6 oz. non-fat plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
- 1 heaping spoonful Whey Isolate Protein Powder (unflavored)
- 1 heaping spoonful unsweetened cocoa powder
- sprinkling of cinnamon
Chocolate and berry with all the nutritional benefits of low-fat, high protein for 180 calories. Stick the yogurt in the freezer for an hour to make the smoothie extra thick!
Why Whey?
I’m not too familiar with supplements or protein products. (I would eat my entire day’s value of protein from peanut butter if it weren’t so dang fattening ;) ) So when I was shopping at Sprout’s the other day and spotted “Whey Isolate Protein Powder” I thought I would try it out. The unflavored powder is only 35 calories per 2.5 Tablespoons, and can be easily added to oatmeal, smoothies, and protein pancakes.
Whey is a high-quality source of protein that comes from milk, and Isolates are processed to remove fat and lactose. Whey Isolate Protein Powder is virtually entirely protein, without fat, lactose or carbs. It’s generally the most expensive because of this. It’s fast-ingesting, supports a strong immune system by working as an antioxidant, and of course speeds up muscle recovery.
Chocolate Lovers:
According to this Runner’s World article, cocoa has a positive effect on endurance athletes. Enough said! ;) 1 tablespoon of cocoa a day adds nutritional value with antioxidants, fiber and magnesium. And also I believe it makes you happy!
I’ve got plenty of protein powder left, so more fun smoothies to come!
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
3 days left until Christmas, we better pack them with holiday festivities! Over-the-top Christmas sweaters, trips to Santa at the mall, baking for the neighbors, wrapping presents, watching The Santa Clause, last minute gift shopping, skinny peppermint mocha lattes, ice skating, lots and lots of Christmas tunes on the radio, and beautiful Christmas cards in the mail. Have I got you in the spirit yet?!
I’ve got a festive breakfast for you! Baked oatmeal is like eating a warm cookie for breakfast. Its sweet and cinnamony and perfect in a bowl with milk. Our house smelled delicious this morning when this apple and cinnamon-loaded dish was in the oven.
It’s also got dried cranberries and almond slivers (leftover from our awesome salad yesterday) for some crunch and color. This morning started with some errands, and by 9:30 we were starving. This oatmeal was perfect for 2 people!
Lots of baked oatmeal recipes include vegetable oil, melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar. All unnecessary ingredients! I’ve made several baked oatmeal with none of the above, all delicious and sweet on their own. All the more flavor from the fruit and spice when you take the junk out!
Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal:
1 1/4 cup oats
1 Tbs Cinnamon
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup skim milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 Tbs Vanilla Extract
1 Tsp Honey
3 Tbs dried cranberries
1/2 apple, diced
1/4 cup almond slivers
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13″ dish with non-stick spray
- Combine all ingredients in the order listed; spread out in dish.
- Top with almond slivers and additional cinnamon
- Bake for 25 minutes
- Serve warm; pour milk over if desired.
If you’re as addicted to Pinterest as I am, follow me & Pin this recipe here: 
