Surprisingly, it wasn’t Waffle Wednesday around here. It was OIAJ Day. An empty almond butter jar is just too hard too resist, don’t you agree? It was screaming for some oat lovin’.
Into the oatmeal pan [you know you have a designated pot for oats too]:
- 1 c. water
- 1/3 c. rolled oats
- 1 itty bitty banana
- later [to avoid browning]… a dash of cinnamon
Bubble. Whip. Bubble. Fluff.
Into the empty jar it went with ~1T of creamy salted almond buttah remnants. I’m so glad I acquired a taste for oats + nut butter – what was I thinking?
This 160z. jar of nut butter disappeared rather quickly – oopsie.
Decreased Weight of Oats = Increased Creaminess of Oatmeal
* * *
Rewind to yesterday, Tuesday 5.25.10: I had a lot of fun with Molly and her boyfriend. It was awesome to catch up with her while having no other responsibilities – school, work, etc. Even though the wet weather put a bit of a damper on our day, but we still had a great time together… strolling around town, watching movies, and EATING! Although somewhat alike, Molly and I do not have the same appetite/diet – never have, never will. Nor do I have the metabolism of her 6’4” boyfriend; that being said, by the night’s end, I was less than happy about my day’s eats. It didn’t help that I had the Case of the Mondays the day before, resulting in two days of zero exercise.
What do you do when you can’t completely control what you eat? Do your friends’ unhealthy appetites affect you?
Today was a new day though, a new day to gobble up my greens. For lunch, leftover roasted potatoes and a colorful salad.
Organic Lettuce, Strawberries, BIG Blueberries +
A Drizzle of Honey, Olive Oil, Balsamic & Fresh Black Pepper
I was in the mood to bake this afternoon – oh, the freedom of summer – so I decided to finally cross Mama Pea’s KIND Bars off my To-Bake List.
VS.
There’s no competition whatsoever. Mama P’s recipe has the win in the bag! Have you had a KIND Bar? Don’t bother… instead, make these!
Be KIND [to your body] Bars
- 1 c. organic almonds
- 1 c. unsweetened coconut
- 1/2 c. chopped dried apricots
- 1/4 c. agave-honey blend
- 1/4 c. brown rice syrup
- 2T ground flax
- salt
Preheat oven to 350*. Toast almonds until fragrant, about 10 minutes. Then coarsely chop. Add to a medium bowl with coconut and chopped apricots. In a smaller bowl, mix together sweetener, flax and salt. Pour over fruit ‘n’ nut mixture – combine thoroughly. Pat into an 8×8 in. square pat that’s been coated with [chlorofluorocarbon-free] canola oil spray. Bake for ~18 minutes, or until golden brown and edges are slightly crisp. Let cool before digging in with hungry hands cutting into bars.
Goodness, Mama Pea – these aren’t going to be so kind to my waistline after eating the entire batch.
They may be a bit crumbly, but I promise that won’t phase ya. Crumble over 2% Fage and you’ll be one happy snacker. Then nibble on one after dinner as a dessert. I didn’t do this; it’s just a suggestion ; )
After my kind high-fat snack, I finally got in much-needed movement at the g.y.m.
60 minutes elliptical
- 10 min. @ 10 [resistance: 3/6]
- 10 min. @ 15 [resistance: 6]
- 10 min. @ 5 [resistance: 6] – reverse stride
repeat set.
20 minutes treadmill [1.0 incline]
- 5 min.@ 4.2mph
- 10 min. @ 6.2mph
- 5 min. @ 4.2mph
It was either an 80-minute workout, or 8 more KIND Bars.
I would write about my protein-packed dinner of quinoa – it’s love – and edamame , but my word bank is almost spent for the day, and the pictures aren’t so pretty. Here are a couple bonus items in lue of my abrupt closure.
1. My first post as a CL intern is UP: Spring Clean Your College Lifestyle Diet
2. … as is my Profile of a Healthy Eater interview @ YourNutritionista.com
Night, friends!
Hillary
Thursday Thoughts
Almond Butter Banana Coconut Pancakes
Morning Joy
Morning Obsession
on the bright side.
Oh those bars look delicious! They are so much better homemade than shop bought. I often let my friends unhealthy habits rub off on me as I don’t want to look weird in front of them. I know I should be stronger and stick to my way of life, but I’m sure one day of that wouldn’t hurt!
The bars look really good! And congrats on your first College Lifestyles post – very well done and informative!
I could eat oats & nut butter for every meal. I wish I was joking… :)
Those bars look heavenly. I need to get the ingredients so I can whip some up!
Those bars look really good!
I don’t worry about eating unhealthy things in moderation. I’m all about balance, not perfection. I don’t freak out about fast food or a serving of HFCS now and then. As long as I’m eating wholesome, real foods at least 80% of the time, I’m cool. I believe in the 80/20 rule. :D
Jenn
Ok, I’m going to HAVE to make those bars! I love all of the KIND bars, but I’m also a little skeptical of the preservatives that they put in them… this is a perfect solution! And they look delish!
Aww, I understand how tough it can be to stick to your routine when friends come in town… my friends all think I’m a little weird with the way (and how often) I eat. I try to tell them that I’m actually more of a ‘normal’ health nut! Haha, oh well :)
When I was training for a half last year, people hated eating with me cause I would just eat everything. This habit was only reinforced when I ate with another distance runner!
I also get stressed when I don’t feel like I have control over the type of food I’m eating. But I do give myself a break if it’s only for a day or two. I definitely don’t eat perfect all the time…I try to keep things balanced as much as possible and have been trying to accept that stressing about what I ate yesterday or last week isn’t going to change it! Like you said — every day is a new day! :)
And those KIND bars look amazing! I’ve been wanting to try them since I saw Mama Pea post the recipe!
My husband looooves kind bars! As do I…I saw these on Mama Pea’s blog and definitely need to make them. They look awesome!
mmmm i have been eying that recipe of mama pea’s since she made them! yours look like they turned out epic. what a great workout. i admire your endurance!
Yup, it does bother me sometimes when I’m around friends and all they eat is junk food! If we go out to dinner, I usually order a healthy option, but if it’s unavoidable, you just have to accept it and realize what you’re there for – time with your friends, which is far greater than food.
& those overnight oats look delicious – with a banana is my fav kind!
mmm… we love TJ’s nut butter and those bars look delish! I’ve never tried a KIND Bar.
Those bars look phenomenal to say the least!
Hi! I have never commented before, but I just had to today at your mention of the Almond Coconut Kind Bar. I am addicted. I eat 1 every day. But now that you have given me a recipe to make the same crack at home, I am definitely going to try it out soon! Thanks!
Thanks for finally commenting : )
Those bars look STELLAR! This recipe will be made soon (:
Those bars look really good, just what I need.
Oh my, homemade KIND bars? And the almond-coconut variety? Those are my favesies.
They are so decadently delicious!