Thursday, February 5, 2015

How to Make Overnight Oatmeal- Apple Peanut Butter Oats




I honestly didn't know for sure if I would enjoy these oats. I like oatmeal, so I figured it would taste ok. But I am really lovin these oats and if my husband doesn't get home quick and eat his, I may have them for lunch too.

They are super easy to make. I don't think you can mess this one up and you can probably make it today with what you have at home. On top of all this, they are convenient. Make it at night in a portable container and walk out the door with breakfast. I don't have to leave out, but its still super convenient for me. And this recipe tastes almost like dessert. I'm anxious to try other recipes too.

Here is the recipe I tried last night.

Apple Peanut Butter Oats

1 cup oatmeal (I used Old Fashioned Whole Grain Oats)
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (You can use other milk or water)
1/4 cup Peanut Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Honey (You can add more to taste)
chopped apples and pecans (optional toppings)
1 Jar or container with lid


Peanut Butter, Cinnamon, Milk/Vanilla, Oatmeal



Mix the milk, Vanilla Extract and the Cinnamon in the jar.
Next, mix in the Oatmeal and the honey.
Lastly, mix in the peanut butter. Mix it in really well.




Then close the jar and refrigerate overnight.



In the morning, stir and add optional toppings. I added chopped apple and pecans.

Oats right out of the fridge
And Tada!!! Thats it!
Wake up and Enjoy! I did!
Have you tried Overnight Oats??


Overnight Oats with Apples and Pecans







Sunday, February 1, 2015

Going Raw- Raw Food Diet

I am running a 3 Day Raw Food Challenge on my Facebook page starting tomorrow Feb 2nd. As excited as I am to start this plan tomorrow, I have an even bigger challenge at hand.  I've decided to become completely focused on my health and fitness goals for the next 100 days. Documenting everything- weigh ins, food, family meal, exercise, and more.

3 Day Facebook Challenge


Here's the crazy part, My husband is in training mode too and he challenged me on top of my current challenge. He challenged me to 12 weeks of Raw Food. I froze in silence first. But of course, I wouldn't be me without a negotiation. 

So here's the Final Deal, 2 Weeks Raw and 1 Week off, 2 Weeks Raw and 1 week off.... Starting February 2nd.  Now the off week, doesn't mean, "Go crazy." It just means, I will eat animal products like eggs, seafood, cheese, steaks, poultry, etc. I enjoy eating those foods, so I didn't want to cut them out of my life completely for 12 weeks.

Going 12 weeks will also force me to try more foods and experiment with other recipes. I can handle 3 days of eating the same thing everyday but 3 months, Nah.

So.....
What is The Raw Food Diet?

In its most basic form its eating uncooked foods. It means loading up on uncooked and unprocessed....

Fruits
Veggies
Sprouted Grains
Seeds
Nuts
Beans

The idea behind this is that when we cook our foods, we kill a lot of the nutrients they contain. I am going raw until dinner because I enjoy warm food. There are actually some perks to cooking your foods but I will get into that later. For Raw foods, you can use blenders, food processors or dehydrators to prepare food as long as you don't cook it over 118 degrees.

When I look at my current diet, I realized that I do eat about 45-60% raw somedays. But, that is mainly because I prefer fruit for breakfast during the week and a shake at lunch. Snacks and dinner are another story so I know that I will have to get my skills up in the kitchen. I will be saving my meals and posting them this week.
This is all new to me but its a challenge that I've accepted! Tomorrow marks DAY 1!



Would love your support 

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

7 Reasons You Should Drink Lemon Water Daily

7 Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water Daily


1. Boosts your mood- Lemon water in the morning can give you an instant boost of energy and put you in a good mood to start your day.
2. Helps you to lose weight- Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight cravings.  The pectin fiber is also good for your the health of your colon. And the lemon helps balance your body's pH.

3. Aids Digestion-  Having warm lemon juice in the morning helps flush out toxins from the digestive tract. And encourages the live to produce digestive juices (bile). And when your digestive system is in check, you have less heartburn and constipation.

4. Boosts your immune system- Lemons are high in Vitamin C and
 potassium.  Great for fighting colds, the flu and sore throat. They 
also play a part in stimulating brain and nerve function.

5. Antibacterial- It works to prevent growth of pathogenic bacteria to reduce infections and diseases. It also freshens your breath by fighting the bacteria in your mouth.

6. Reduces pain and inflammationLemons have the ability to remove uric acid from your joints and knees. Uric acid built-ups are one of the major causes of inflammation

7. Hydrates your body and your skin- When your body is not hydrated, it cannot perform necessary functions properly. This can mean toxic buildup which damages your body and is no good for your skin. For many people, including myself, adding lemon to my water encourages me to drink enough all day long- preventing dehydration.

Thank you for reading!