A preview of coming attractions...

I have some cool stuff coming up within the next few weeks!!!

Unfortunately, it's not quite ready yet, but I do have a sneak peek blooper video for your amusement.

I can't help but crack up every time I watch this. I especially like the beginning of the video because we had no idea it had started recording. Fail.

So anyway! To round out late night snack week, I thought it would be only fitting to conclude with one of my favorite snacks.

Banana soft serve. Don't let the name deceive you!! It tastes nothing like bananas. In fact, it tastes just like ice cream. My parents can vouch for me. I converted them to the dark side...if dark side is synonymous with healthy!!!

This particular bowl was just a frozen banana (peeled + chopped banana placed in a bag in the freezer) blended with a few frozen strawberries and a splash of milk. It is completely nutritious and is the best snack if you're craving ice cream late at night.

See you tomorrow with a deeelicious recipe!

Have your cake and eat it too!

This post is going to represent my entire life...

a.k.a. delicious dessert and working out.

I hope we don't have any McJudgersons around here. I know that you can empathize.

If not, I'm pretty sure I can justify posting a cake recipe and following it up with a fat-blasting interval workout.

Deal? Deal.

Last week, I baked not one, but two cakes: Mama Pea's Apple Spice Coffee Cake (a vegan cake recipe I highly recommend!) and a super moist Tres Leches cake.

Tres Leches cake is notoriously fatty. Fatty, but delicious. My version is less fatty, but still delicious. And it is incredibly easy.

First, using a cake mix, bake a regular yellow cake according to the box directions.

In a bowl, whisk together 1 can fat-free sweetened condensed milk, 1 can fat-free evaporated milk, and 2 cups 1% or skim milk.

When the cake has finished baking, allow it to cool. Then, using a fork, poke some holes in the cake. Pour some of the milk mixture over the cake and allow it to soak through. Repeat until the cake is very moist.

Top with ground cinnamon and enjoy! I would have taken an after picture, but a super moist cake does not a good picture make.

On to the workouts!

I realize that I harp on group fitness a lot. And yoga. And maybe the occasional run when my body allows it. However, people have told me they go to the gym and don't know what to do. Or, they want to lift weights but aren't sure which machines to use or where to begin.

So, yesterday, when I went to the gym and had no plan in mind, I came up with this easy interval workout using the treadmill/elliptical and several of the weights machines. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the names of the weight machines, I'll post some pictures at the end so you have a better idea.

Also-- on the weights, go heavy!!! And I mean so heavy that by the end of the last set, your arms feel like jello.

Upper Body Fat-Blaster Intervals:

• 10 minute warm-up: elliptical
• Chest press: 3 sets, 12 reps 
• Lateral raise: 3 sets, 10 reps
• 6 minute treadmill intervals: alternate between 4.5mph and 6.0mph every minute
• Tricep pushdown: 3 sets, 12 reps
• Vertical row: 3 sets, 15 reps
• 6 minute treadmill intervals: alternate between 5.0 and 6.5mph every minute
• Overhead press: 3 sets, 12 reps
• Seated row: 3 sets, 12 reps
• 6 minute treadmill intervals: alternate between 4.5 and 6.0 every minute
• Cool down: 2-3 minute treadmill walk
• Stretches of choice (make sure to definitely target the shoulders, back, and legs)

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Chest Press (Chest) 

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Lateral Raise (Shoulders)

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Tricep Pushdown (Triceps)

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Vertical Row (Upper back)

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Overhead Press (Shoulders/triceps)

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Seated Row (Upper back)

For anyone who isn't seasoned at weight lifting, starting with these machines is the best idea. Lifting free weights requires proper posture, and lifting heavy amounts of weights with improper posture leads to pulling muscles in the back, etc. Not good!! Weight machines are incredibly useful for ensuring your posture is correct and that you are using the muscles you should be using to lift the weights.

I hope this was helpful!! I've love to hear from you-- so don't be shy if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on other workout tutorials.

Late Night Snacking: Breakfast Edition.

Back to that late night snacking debacle. 

But I have stories. I don't know which to start with! Snacking? Stories? S....omething?

Oh and the fact that I feel like I'm the only person in the world not going to see the Harry Potter movie tonight. This in no way represents my social life. FYI.

If you are anything like me, you're in love with breakfast foods. It doesn't end there. You're in love with breakfast foods and can eat them at any time of day. 

Anyone? Anyone?

So today, I'm going to give you a couple of late night snacking suggestions that are breakfasty in nature. 

Exhibit A:

Toast. But this isn't just any toast. It's toasted rye bread + coconut oil + honey. I would eat this for actual breakfast since it's super healthy, but something like this doesn't keep me full. Actually, it makes me hungrier. (Does that ever happen to you? You eat a small portion and your appetite revs itself in full gear? Anyone?).

I am seriously digressing. This is a perfect late night snack. Each component is full of nutrients (yup, even the honey!) and if you ask me, it's delicious. Also, if you don't have rye bread, any whole grain bread is perfectly nutritious as well.

Funny story about that rye bread. 

I went to Fresh & Easy yesterday for the first time in three years. I was so excited to do some exploring! [Side note: I tend to meander when I grocery shop.] Even though I had a list in my bag, I was checking items off of my mental list because I was far too engrossed in the cool items at the store. I finally went to the self check-out with about five items. As I was scanning the fifth item, I realized I had forgotten to get tofu! I tried desperately to cancel all of the items I'd scanned to go and find the tofu. (It was important because apparently tofu there is super cheap). 

The computer wouldn't let me cancel the items without the store log-in. One of the cashiers came to my scanner and said the computer would get confused if I took all the items out, so he said he'd wait there while I get my one item.

Did I mention I like to meander? I went to find the tofu and in the process, came across 75 cent rye bread. I couldn't believe my eyes, so I checked and double-checked the price. And yes, it was a normal sized loaf!! In the process I also came across some well-priced whole wheat pizza dough. Even cheaper than TJ's! So...about 10 minutes later, I came back to the scanner with a lot more items in my hand, and the cashier was still waiting there. I'm pretty sure he thought I was psychotic. 

But in the end, I got delicious rye bread with which I made this snack! Cool.

Exhibit B:

Cereal. I have a soft spot for cereal. A pretty ridiculous soft spot, in fact, that I can eat a thousand bowls of cereal at a time. It's a huge problem. I finally stumbled across my perfect solution: puffed grains. The above picture is of kamut, but there are a bunch of others available, including brown rice, wheat, and millet. Pour these puffed grains in a bowl with some (skim or non-dairy) milk and you have yourself the healthiest bowl of cereal! These bags are available in the cereal section at stores like Sprouts and Sunflower Market or other health food stores. 

Well, there you have it-- a couple more ideas to keep that late night appetite under control!

Soul searching and stuff.

I've had a few realizations in the past couple of days.

Ya know, since I've been soul searching and stuff. Not. I've been so busy, it's ridiculous. Don't ask what I've been doing...I don't really know either. But somehow, time flies. I guess I can't complain.

Realization #1: I really like yoga.

There was once a time when I didn't enjoy it. But I've changed, and boy, is it a workout! (If you do the right kind of class, that is). Yesterday, I did a yoga class that was on the Veria tv channel. Ever heard of Veria? It's a health and wellness channel--I recommend checking it out if you get the chance! Anyway, yoga never fails to work up my appetite to the extreme. 

Remember my recent post about motivation? One reason I like yoga is because it really keeps my motivation going. Sure, I can do the above pose, and this one:

...but one thing I really need work in is the hamstring department. It's pretty bad.

They. are. so. tight. And the more I practice, the better it gets. No lie! There was a time I couldn't touch my toes. And after practicing yoga a few times a week, I was able to do it. So satisfying to see results, as small as they may be!!

Realization #2: Baking in the summer in AZ is a terrible idea. 

I still haven't decided if it's because turning on the oven makes it hot, or because mixing the batter is hard work. Either way, I think I sweat so much today that I worked up an equally as ravenous an appetite as I did after my yoga sesh. Huh.

Realization #3: Kale chips. Make them.

These are the healthiest snack ever. I have quite a few kale chip recipes if you are new to the kale chip world! And just a warning...once you enter, there's no turning back. I know, it seems weird, but I've converted many a skeptic into a kale chip lover!! Plus, if you eat these, late night snacking = late night nutrition. YEAH!

TFG recommends: Scary additives found in common foods <--this article completely freaked me out. 

I have a hankerin'...

If you haven't noticed, I am so very behind on my themed blog posts. But don't worry, I've got you covered this week.

Since I've been asked for awhile about this specific theme, late night snacks will be this week's focus.

You know you've been through it. 10:00 PM rolls around and all of a sudden that snack craving hits you hard. It could be because you're watching those Oreo commercials on tv, or maybe because you're studying hard for an exam. Either way, the easiest thing to do is to pick up a bag of chips and finish the entire bag. 

Sodium much? Unless you're like me and you'd rather eat an entire box of Great Grains cereal instead. (Honestly. That stuff is addicting to the max!).

Either way...does this sound familiar? And it seems like once you start the late night eating habit, it's near impossible to put a stop to it. So, in my opinion, the best thing to do is to make late night snacks healthier. 

Today, I have a savory snack and a sweet snack to share with you.

Nachos:

I made my own chips by heating up a tortilla on a cast iron skillet (a regular skillet would work, too) until slightly crispy. Then I broke it apart into bite-sized pieces, and left it to crisp up more on the skillet. Then I put the chips on a plate, topped them with some shredded cheese, and microwaved it until the cheese melted. For toppings, the options are endless!! For the above plate, I used refried pinto beans and my own cucumber mango salsa (with the addition of tomatoes). 

This snack comes together in less than 10 minutes--and I assure you, it should satisfy a late night hankering for something delicious.

But...if you have a sweet tooth, I'd recommend this:

Cherries dipped in dark chocolate. I'm usually not a fan of fruits dipped in chocolate, but this is so incredibly decadent tasting, you'll forget you're eating fruit altogether. The best part is that you are eating fruit, and dark chocolate has lots of health benefits. For this snack, I melted a couple of squares of dark chocolate in the microwave and just dipped fresh cherries into the chocolate. Cherries are on sale now, so I'd suggest making this snack ASAP!

Okay--I have a busy week ahead of me (it's almost like I'm back in school...what's that all about?!), but I hope to crank out more of these snack posts in the next few days. See you then!

Say this aloud 10 times.

It seems like you were fans of the one picture in my last post.

Noted.

Today, I have a pretty cool recipe for you. Half of the reason I blog is to (hopefully) inspire you to cook healthy meals. The other half is so I can experiment with stuff and tell myself that it's not a humongous waste of time.

Luckily for you, this post is a product of some successful experimentation! I love when that happens.

I don't know about you, but the only reason I even know about hoisin sauce is because I used to stare at the bottles at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant and repeatedly read the label aloud. "Hoisin." It's too hilarious not to say 10 times. Or more.

Bok Choy with Hoisin Sauce

[Hoisin sauce recipe lightly adapted from here]

Ingredients:

• 1 bok choy
• 1/2 block tempeh
• 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons virgin coconut oil
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
• 2 tablespoons sunflower seed butter (or peanut butter)
• 1/2 tablespoon honey
• 1 garlic clove
• 2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/6 cup water
• optional: chili paste

For the hoisin sauce, start by mashing up the clove of garlic. Anything that remotely resembles a mortar and pestle will work. I used the flat end of an ice cream scoop and a bowl. 

Don't judge. It worked! 

Then transfer the mashed garlic into a larger bowl and add the soy sauce, vinegar, coconut oil, honey, and chili paste. Stir. Then add the sunflower seed butter. Using a whisk, try to make the mixture as homogeneous as possible. It eventually does come out quite smooth! Finally, stir in the black pepper.

I don't suggest taking a spoon and eating it. This sauce is concentrated! Really tasty though.

To prepare the bok choy, first rinse it really well.

Then chop it up. Be warned, you will have a lot of cups of chopped bok choy.

While you're at it, chop the 1/2 block of tempeh into small cubes. 

In a large skillet or pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium. Throw in the tempeh cubes. Before they begin to stick to the skillet, add a few splashes of water and about 3 spoonfuls of the hoisin sauce. Stir the tempeh until it is all coated with the sauce.

Then add all of the bok choy. If it doesn't fit, add half and wait until it shrinks a bit to add the rest. I also added a small drizzle of vegetable oil.

Stir several times so that all of the bok choy gets cooked. Then add the remainder of the hoisin sauce (and more water if necessary). Stir another few times to ensure that the sauce is evenly distributed. At this point, the bok choy should have dramatically decreased in size.

Cover and let cook over low heat for just a few more minutes.

Serve with brown rice.

This is a filling meal!! With the combination of nut butter, greens, tempeh, and brown rice, this dish should keep you satiated for quite awhile. No snacking after dinner necessary!

Except if you need to complete your meals with dessert. I feel ya. Wholeheartedly. I will soon show you a super decadent yet nutritious dessert! Hold onto your seat belts! (Or should I say regular belts? Har har har).

What motivates you?

I hope you guys had a calmer morning than I did.

I woke up to my alarm after a mere 7 hours of sleep (which, these days, is sleep deprivation for me...I am so spoiled), rolled out of bed, drank a cup of water, and went to the gym. I then proceed to get my butt kicked in a strength training class. 

During the class, I was wondering what the heck was going through my mind when I decided to wake up at the crack of dawn (read: 8 AM) for this torture. And suddenly, when the end of class neared, I decided I would definitely go again next week. I don't really know why I make such rash decisions.

People often ask me how I muster up the motivation to workout every.single.day. Sure, it starts out with motivation. But after awhile, it becomes a normal daily activity. In fact, it even becomes an enjoyable daily activity. But why? It's not because I enjoy torturing myself (okay, sometimes I do). But really, it's because of personal goals. The best part about working out everyday is being able to see improvement and achieve those personal goals. For some people it might be to complete a half marathon. For others, it might be to be able to do that one really hard yoga pose. And for others, it might be to bench those last 10 more pounds. Whatever it is, it's what I've noticed that gets people going.

After that speech, you're probably wondering what my goal is.

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But really...didn't you know the person in the picture is actually me? Just kidding.

So what motivates you? Is it a goal or something else? Does anyone else have the not-so-lofty goal of getting a six pack?