Monday, July 13, 2015

Homemade Larabars

Good evening cupcakes!

I decidicated this evening to trying out some new larabar recipes... and let me tell you what, EVERY SINGLE ONE WAS SOOOO GOOD! I like to keep these handy when I am traveling or on the go. According to the Whole30 rules, they are not to be used to curb sugar cravings. They are only to be used when you need food on the go. Sometimes I used them for breakfast on the road or as a snack when I know I won't be able to eat a meal for awhile. They are also good for before a workout if you haven't eaten in a while or need something before a morning workout. I tried out four different recipes. 

The basic Larabar recipe I use is 1 cup of pitted whole dates and 1 cup of nuts (whatever kind you choose). Blend dates in a food processor until it is a paste. Scoop out of processor and into a mixing bowl. Add the nuts to the food processor and blend just until there are little nut pieces (you do not want to blend so much that it looks like almond flour). Next, dump the nuts into the date paste and combine with your hands. Shape into 4-5 bars. (I used almonds and cashews)

The rest of these are the basic recipe with extra add ins. 

The first recipe was pumpkin pie Larabars. I used 3 T of pumpkin, a few dashes of cinnamon, 1/3 c coconut, & a dash of pink Himalayan salt. I added the extra ingredients to the food processor once the date paste was formed and blended then dump the updated date paste to a mixing bowl so you can add the nuts after they are ground. (I used almonds and cashews)
The next one I made was a brownie Larabar. I used 3 T dark cocoa powder, 1/3 c coconut, 1-3 T water & pink Himalayan salt combined with the basic Larabar recipe above. Add these ingredients to the date paste in the processor. (Add as much water as needed due to the cocoa powder. You do not want to add too much water or the bars will be too sticky and not form correctly- you can always add more water so start off on the lower end)
The next one I made was a Key Lime Pie Larabar. For this one I added a little zest of a lime, juice of a whole lime, 1/3 c. coconut, and a dash of pink Himalayan salt. 
Lastly, I made another Brownie sunflower seed Larabar. This one had 1/2 c almonds/ cashew mix, 1/2 c unsalted sunflower seeds, 3 T. dark cocoa, a dash of pink Himalyan salt, 1/3 c coconut, 1-3 T water, and of course the dates that are in every recipe. This picture was before I formed them. 

I think I am fully stocked up for now! I put them in the freezer until I am ready to eat them!
Later Taters! Let me know if you have any favorite recipes!

Whole30

Good morning cupcakes!

This morning I had a banana, eggs, and cashew butter pre-workout.

Here is my workout for today:

After my workout and a shower, I had 2 of my mini egg cups and some cherries.

Lunch is chicken salad and roasted vegetables

Snack: larabar

Dinner: flounder and roasted vegetables.

My goal for tomorrow is to not have any snacks between my meals! I like to set daily goals for myself because I think small goals help people work towards larger goals. :)

For those of you who may have not saw my first blog post about Whole30 here they are again:

The Whole30 Program Rules (found here:WHOLE30

Yes: Eat real food.
Eat meat, seafood, eggs, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds. Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re totally natural and unprocessed. Don’t worry… these guidelines are outlined in extensive detail in our free shopping list.
No: Avoid for 30 days.
More importantly, here’s what NOT to eat during the duration of your Whole30 program. Omitting all of these foods and beverages will help you regain your healthy metabolism, reduce systemic inflammation, and help you discover how these foods are truly impacting your health, fitness and quality of life.

  • Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, stevia, etc. Read your labels, because companies sneak sugar into products in ways you might not recognize.
  • Do not consume alcohol in any form, not even for cooking. (And it should go without saying, but no tobacco products of any sort, either.)
  • Do not eat grains. This includes (but is not limited to) wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, rice, millet, bulgur, sorghum, amaranth, buckwheat, sprouted grains and all of those gluten-free pseudo-grains like quinoa. This also includes all the ways we add wheat, corn and rice into our foods in the form of bran, germ, starch and so on. Again, read your labels.
  • Do not eat legumes. This includes beans of all kinds (black, red, pinto, navy, white, kidney, lima, fava, etc.), peas, chickpeas, lentils, and peanuts. No peanut butter, either. This also includes all forms of soy – soy sauce, miso, tofu, tempeh, edamame, and all the ways we sneak soy into foods (like lecithin).
  • Do not eat dairy. This includes cow, goat or sheep’s milk products such as cream, cheese (hard or soft), kefir, yogurt (even Greek), and sour cream… with the exception of clarified butter or ghee. (See below for details.)
  • Do not consume carrageenan, MSG or sulfites. If these ingredients appear in any form on the label of your processed food or beverage, it’s out for the Whole30.
  • Do not try to re-create baked goods, junk foods, or treats* with “approved” ingredients. Continuing to eat your old, unhealthy foods made with Whole30 ingredients is totally missing the point, and will tank your results faster than you can say “Paleo Pop-Tarts.” Remember, these are the same foods that got you into health-trouble in the first place—and a pancake is still a pancake, regardless of the ingredients. 

One last and final rule: You are not allowed to step on the scale or take any body measurements for the duration of the program. This is about so much more than just weight loss, and to focus on your body composition means you’ll miss out on the most dramatic and lifelong benefits this plan has to offer. So, no weighing yourself, analyzing body fat or taking comparative measurements during your Whole30. (We do encourage you to weigh yourself before and after, however, so you can see one of the more tangible results of your efforts when your program is over.)
*A few off-limits foods that fall under this rule include pancakes, bread, tortillas, biscuits, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, pizza crust, waffles, cereal, potato chips, French fries, and this one recipe where eggs, date paste, and coconut milk are combined with prayers to create a thick, creamy concoction that can once again transform your undrinkable black coffee into sweet, dreamy caffeine. However, this list is not limited to these items—there may be other foods that you find are not psychologically healthy for your Whole30. Use your best judgment with those foods that aren’t on this list, but that you suspect are not helping you change your habits or break those cravings.
Your only job during the Whole30 is to focus on making good food choices. You don’t need to weigh or measure, you don’t need to count calories, you don’t need to stress about organic, grass-fed, pastured or free range. Just figure out how to stick to the Whole30 in any setting, around every special circumstance, under any amount of stress… for 30 straight days. Your only job? Eat. Good. Food.
The only way this will work is if you give it the full thirty days: no cheats, slips, or “special occasions.” This isn’t us playing the tough guy. This is a fact, born of education and experience. You need such a small amount of any of these inflammatory foods to break the healing cycle—one bite of pizza, one splash of milk in your coffee, one lick of the spoon mixing the batter within the 30 day period and you’ve broken the “reset” button, requiring you to start over again on Day 1.
You must commit to the full program, exactly as written. Anything less and we make no claims as to your results, or the chances of your success. Anything less and you are selling yourself—and your potential results—short.
It’s only 30 days.


Happy Monday everyone!

Later Taters!

Friday, July 10, 2015

Food and fun

Hello cupcakes! 

I have a lot to post! So let's get right to it! Here are a few more pictures from my trip to North Carolina to see my boyfriend Cory. I think these pictures sum up our relationship pretty well! 
Thursday I went to a Tin Caps game with my family for my Dad's company outing. He owns a plumbing and heating business in my hometown. They had a taco bar and some other baseball food! Here is my plate: chicken, lettuce, corn, salsa, olives, a few tortilla chips, tomatoes, and a mini burger with mustard. 
The Tin Caps ended up winning! Whoo! 
I put some sliced lemons and blueberries into a cute cup at my parents house! I added some ice and a can of la croix cran-raspberry. It hit the spot! 
I made some gluten free/dairy free brownies for a family reunion I have this weekend. They were super easy to make and I made up the recipe so I don't have exact measurements. All that's in them is coconut oil, coconut sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, vanilla, and eggs. The lighter ones I replaced the coconut oil with homemade pecan butter. 
My mother, youngest sister, and I went and saw Magic Mike XXL! I tried to sneak some pictures in the theatre, but they didn't turn out so well! The movie was so good! I think I want to buy it when it comes out! Haha! I even liked it more than the first one.
After the movie, I went grocery shopping. I got some stuff to make egg cups. All that's in them is eggs, green peppers, & green onions. 
I will be eating two of these for breakfast this week! 
I also made some banana pancakes! These are so easy to make. The ratio is 2 eggs to one banana and blend in a food processor or blender. I used three bananas and 6 eggs. 
When I eat the pancakes I will top them with a little homemade cashew butter. 
I made some whole 30 approve mayo! I spiced it up a bit with garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, and oregano. 
I used the mayo to make some chicken salad that consisted of shredded chicken breasts, homemade mayo, green grapes, green peppers, and green onion. 
Saturday: every year my family puts together a golf outing to raise money for a scholarship we give out in honor of my mom's brother who passed away. This was the sixteenth annual Todd Jagger Memorial Golf Outing. I had some delicious pulled pork, carrots, and some nuts throughout the day! 
Here is the start to my meal prep for next week. This is whole 30 mayo, peppers, grapes and red onion. I am going to mix in some shredded chicken when it is done cooking. 
This is flounder that I cooked in coconut oil with mrs dash garlic and herb seasoning. I'm going to have this with some roasted veggies that are currently baking in the oven! 
I hope you all had a fantastic weekend! I know a few people who have told me they are going to start a Whole30 on Monday! I cannot wait to hear from everyone! Hopefully I can help you out with some Whole30 meal ideas! Let me know if there is something you would like to see more of! 

Later taters! 
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