Starting Over.

As we near the end of the semester, it seems about time to write a short reflection on how things have been going recently. I'm afraid the results of the past three months have been nowhere near what I expected them to be. Nevertheless, for the sake of being real and honest, I'm going to tell you!

When I got here in September, I knew it was going to be challenging to stay healthy while back at school. I was right! And more than I thought! Being at school completely shook up my routine. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into. Healthy food and fitness had been my #1 priority all summer, but as time went on that just got more and more difficult here. I slowly stopped exercising as much and started eating more... a lot more, actually. And yes, I ended up gaining weight.

I was frustrated and disappointed in myself. The struggle between enjoying myself and being healthy was driving me a wee bit crazy, and as a result I developed some pretty unhealthy eating habits that I am still trying to beat. Health had become an obsession for me... an obligation, a cage, an expectation. My perspective changed from being happy about eating well to feeling guilty for eating things I felt I shouldn't have.

Then last week I went off my diet completely; I did not count a single Weight Watchers point. That may sound bad, but you know what? I think it was actually good for me. I spent the whole week enjoying myself. I hung out with my housemate and her family, ate a delicious thanksgiving meal, and didn't regret one second of it! It was refreshing to be carefree.

It's not that I don't want to be healthy anymore, because I do. In fact, I started counting points again today. I think I just needed to recenter myself and find the balance between health and happiness. Of course, that means I need to start over and yeah, that sucks a little bit. No, I didn't lose those last 5lbs like I was planning to at the beginning of the semester, and my body isn't quite as fit as it was when I first got here. But life is about more than a number on the scale, and being healthy on the inside matters just as much as the outside.

So here's to new beginnings. Cheers.
- Rebekah

P.S. I'm curious to know... if you are trying to lose weight or just be healthier in general, what motivates you to stay on track?

An Evening with Anna

Tonight, a good friend of mine came over for dinner... we hadn't gotten together in a while, so a date was long overdue! Naturally, good friends and good food go hand-in-hand. I'm always excited for an excuse to cook, so I eagerly pulled together a few different recipes and got to work!

On tonight's menu?

Mini Glazed Lentil Walnut Apple Loaves from Oh She Glows (9 WW points+ each, serves 8)

Feta-Walnut Beet Salad (recipe follows)

Steamed Green Beans

and for dessert...

Mango Sticky Rice from The Kitchn (5 WW points+ each, serves 6)

Yes, it was delicious and yes, you can make it too. 

This or That? You Choose!

New Weekly Post Yet to Be Named

Spontaneous decision of the day: every week I'm going to do a little progress report! Just something quick and simple... I'm going to have to think a little more about how exactly I want to do this, but for now I'll just throw some information out there. This will get more organized and polished with time!

About my weight loss...
Weekly Weigh-In: -0.6 lbs
Total: -23 lbs

About my exercise/fitness...
I actually stopped doing that 10K training schedule I wrote about last month. Lack of motivation really bit me in the butt. After fumbling around with my exercise schedule last week, I decided today to get back into the swing of things. Did you know that if you sign up for a free account on Runner's World you can create a personalized training plan? I just found this and am really excited about it! I made a 7-week 10K training plan which I'm going to start today (in about 10 minutes) with a 3-mile run. I think I'm especially interested in this plan because I got to customize it myself - how cool is that?

That's all for now! Seriously... all I wanted to do was just write something short and sweet to let you know about these ideas I have. :) So that's what I did and now I'm done! Gotta go get ready to meet my friend for our run!

Happy Sunday!
- Rebekah

Pinteresting Discovery: Oh She Glows!

Oh, Pinterest.... beautiful, wonderful Pinterest. How I love thee. It's hard for me to believe that when I first signed up for an account on this dandy little site I couldn't really get into it for some reason. Now... things have definitely changed. It is without a doubt my #1 go-to for recipes and fitness inspiration!

So. Much. Delicious. Food. Ahhhh!

It was through Pinterest that I found Oh She Glows, another lifestyle/health blog that focuses on fitness, food, and photography. Something unique about this particular blog, set up by Angela Liddon, is that it features vegan recipes. Although I'm not actually vegan, I definitely don't mind eating that way most of the time! So many of her recipes look delicious; I couldn't resist making one of them. 

Food: More than Just Fuel

Food is a bridge; it connects. 

Whether going out to dinner with a friend or trying out a new recipe from a different culture, food is a tool we use to learn about other people and places. It's probably the most delicious tool on the block too!

This is one of the reasons I love food... it is so diverse! Do any two countries make the same food? I mean, they might have things that are essentially the same, but you'll most likely still find small differences. With so many options, I find it so hard to choose a favorite cuisine. Indian? Mexican? Thai? Italian? Mmmmm... they are all SO delicious in their own way! Yes, even plain ol' "American food" has some tasty dishes. 

A project I've been working on recently is cooking Afghan cuisine. One of my classes this semester is about blogging; we have a team working on a blog that is promoting Weaving Life, a documentary made by Eastern Mennonite University students last year. My weekly feature on the blog, EMU Weaving Life, is making a Middle Eastern recipe to share with our followers. While I cook, one of my classmates takes pictures of the whole process so we can write a photoblog recipe. Some recipes have been healthier than others, but each and every one of them has been a delicious, cultural experience. I don't think I even had Afghan food before this project, but I'm glad that changed - it is pretty tasty! 

Maybe this week you should step outside your comfort zone a little bit. Find an adventurous new recipe to try and invite a few friends over! Seems to me that sometimes we get too caught up in life to really just sit and enjoy it for a little. If you're up for some Afghan food, I would recommend checking out the mantu recipe we made a couple weeks ago. It's a nice blend of savory and sweet, and don't worry - it's one of the healthier recipes we've made! :) Let me know what you think if you try it. We certainly enjoyed it! 

Enjoy your weekend!

- Rebekah

The Weight on My Shoulders

Ok, people. There's something I feel I should say. 

... woah. Is it just me or did the room get really quiet all of the sudden? Ahem. 

I'm all about keeping it real. I don't want you to think I'm some sort of weight-loss super hero, cause I'm not. Nor am I a fitness junkie. I'm just a normal girl with big ambitions, struggling with the same problems as everyone else who is trying to get healthy. 

So, here's the deal. 

Banana Dream Smoothie

Silky, sweet, and simple... take one sip of this little gem and you might have to stop and ask yourself, "Am I really allowed to drink this??" 

Believe me, you are.

Not only is this smoothie delicious and easy to make, it is also practically overflowing with good-for-you nutrients. A serving of dairy, a serving of fruit, and more than your recommended daily omega-3s (thanks to a healthy dose of flax seed!)... are you convinced yet?

The Heart of The Matter

Fitness. Ahhhh! It's an intimidating thought, isn't it? My goodness. Being "in shape" requires time, hard work, and motivation.... and I think we all know that those things are often hard to come by! There is something great about exercising though: it pays off. If you put effort into it, results will come out. Progress is what makes it all worth it.

My own progress has been coming along quite nicely. I recently had a health check-up and learned that my heart rate/blood pressure numbers were better than they ever have been. You should have seen my face when the doctor told me what they were... I was shocked! And so happy! Losing weight has been great and all, but knowing that my heart is healthier than ever before? Now that is just way cool. Changes are happening on the inside and out!

Actually, my weight loss has slowed considerably since being back at school. Well, to be honest it has pretty much stopped; I've just been maintaining. And that's ok for now. I'm definitely still working towards my goal weight - I've just accepted that it's going to take a while in this different setting!

Anyway, my focus lately has shifted more towards physical fitness. A few weeks ago I set a goal for myself: I wanted to be able to run a 10K. I didn't have an actual race in mind, I just wanted to be able to do it, period. So, after training slowly but surely, I finally ran my first 6.27 miles on October 1st. 10K?? Done! Buuut then I had a problem...

What next?

This Little Foodie Went to Market

There's just something about going to the Farmers' Market on Saturday morning. Is it the people? The produce? I'm not really sure... I think it's when you put everything together that it becomes the special place that it is. Every week I put on a comfy, lazy-Saturday-morning outfit and head out, usually with a friend or two. As we mosey through the aisles, we come across an abundance of things that delight our senses. You can see people smiling at one another, hear the bustling chatter surrounding the vendors' tables, taste little samples that are invitingly set out on display, and smell about 50,000 different kinds of mouth-watering, fresh baked bread.

Speaking of bread, there's one kind in particular that has recently caught my attention... sprouted!

Maple Pumpkin Butter

You know it's getting to be fall when each of your meals of the day has included some sort of squash. 

Do I mind? 

Absolutely not!

Potstickers, pasta, soup, pies, bread... there seems to be no end to what you can make with these miracle fruits. And there are all different kinds! Do you fancy the unique stringiness of spaghetti squash? Or how about the quirky look of crooked-neck squash? Butternut is always a good choice. And then, of course, there's pumpkin. 

Yummy, soothing pumpkin... what a classic.

The Facts on Flax

Good morning, world! As I sit here in the stillness of dawn, I can't help but think about fall. Outside my window I can see the sunshine beginning to slowly roll over the hills, accentuating the cool, morning mist. The leaves in my neighborhood are gradually beginning to show signs of vibrant color... reds and yellows are timidly peeking through. I can hear my housemate Hannah frying an egg in the kitchen, but other than that there is not much life in the house yet. I really can't think of a better thing to do right now than just sit and listen to a mix of some of my favorite musicians (Ingrid Michaelson, anyone?) while enjoying a bowl of warm, gooey pumpkin pie oatmeal. Mmm, is it ever good! Pumpkin, spice, vanilla, flax seed...

Wait, what? What is this flax seed business?

My Story, Part Four: Five Golden Rules

Previously:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three

So far in this series I have talked a bit about how I started my journey, what I did, and where I am now. Sheesh! That's a lot of info! Are you still with me? Ok. Let's try something a little different this time. In this closing post, I want to keep it simple. Here is a quick look at the general framework I used to skinny-fy my life. Ready, set, go!

My Story, Part Three: The Results

Previously:

Part One

Part Two

Ahh, yes. Today is my last day of complete freedom for quite a while. Classes start tomorrow! Which means from this point forward, my life will consist of a teetering balance between a social life and an 18-credit workload. Yikes. Before the madness starts, I want to kind of wrap up my story (though it isn't actually finished yet!). Here we go. 

A couple months after I started dieting, I decided to add exercise into my routine. The newest Weight Watchers magazine that came to our door had something intriguing in it: a triathalon training schedule. Hmm! Now, take note that I had no plans to actually compete in a real triathalon. Still don't at this point. However, right in front of me was a fully planned-out exercise schedule. Good deal? Yeah! That plan became the foundation for my fitness schedule for the next 8 weeks or so. I didn't follow it exactly, but instead used the exercises it had written out as well as some other things I wanted to do too. The finished product was a calendar full of running, biking, swimming, zumba, yoga, and weight training. I intended to work out 6 days a week, resting on Sunday. Yes, I know... I started full force. Kind of crazy. But you know what? It worked!! With the exception of a couple days, I completed every workout I had written out. My fitness calendar ended up being covered in happy little check marks.

My Story, Part Two: A Different Way of Living

Previously:

Part One

I've been feeling sort of down on myself lately so I thought now would be a good time to continue reflecting on what I've accomplished this past summer. 

What do I mean by down on myself? Well, I'm back at school now. Things are different! I'm completely in charge of feeding myself and I am once again outside of my comfort zone when it comes to exercising. I had finally gotten used to going to my local gym up in Cooperstown... now it's time to get used to a new one! New gyms are always intimidating. I don't know what's there, where things are, or how to use some of the machines. I could ask the staff for help of course, but I honestly don't even know what questions to ask! On top of all that, I accidentally left my workout cards in the gym at home, so I am waiting for my mom to mail those to me. Until then, I have to rely on the good ol' noodle in my head to remember everything I learned from my personal trainer this summer. Super. Also, the exercise schedule I had written out for myself for the summer came to an end, and I haven't gotten around to writing another one up yet. So instead of looking at my calendar and being able to see what exercise I am supposed to do each day, I am left thinking to myself, "Hmm... I could go to the gym. Or maybe go running? I wonder what time the pool is open..." Confusion! Disorder! Chaos! 

Movie Review - Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue

I was mindlessly browsing through Netflix this afternoon, trying to find something to entertain myself for a little while. After searching through various genres, I checked under our Instant Queue and found this documentary. My mom loaned Rip Esselstyn's book from the library after watching Forks Over Knives, and it looks like she found a movie that goes along with it! Interesting. I had flipped through Rip's book a little bit, so I was somewhat familiar with his ideas and opinions. I figured hey, why not give the documentary a try?

Good thing it was only 50 minutes long. I really don't know if I would have lasted much longer.

Layered Beet Salad

This nifty little dish was inspired by this recipe, which I found on Pinterest. The first time I made it, I literally gasped because of how beautiful it looked. And completely by accident too! Of course, when I tried making it with the intention of photographing and blogging about it... well... sigh. Not quite as pretty. Go figure. But it still tasted just as yummy! :)

Obviously, beets are the star of the show here. We have a few other important members of the cast as well! Hummus, feta, kale, red onion, and quinoa make this a delectable and wholesome meal. I found just one serving to be very filling, and I suspect it would make a nice side dish if split between two or three people. You just need to taste it and decide if you want to share or not!

First thing's first: roast your beets! This is really quite easy. Trim the beets, scrub them slightly, wrap them tightly in tinfoil and roast them at 425ºF for 45-60 minutes. When you can easily pierce them with a fork, they are ready to come out. Let them cool, then peel off the skin. 

I like to keep it simple and not add any oil, salt, or pepper. That way if you make more than you need for this recipe, you have a versatile, prepared ingredient for other dishes as well. 

Now, start up some quinoa. This should take a good 15 minutes or so, giving you time to work on your other ingredients.

Check out what else we have in store! Good stuff. 

When I went to the grocery store, they did not have any arugala! Living in a small town with a dinky grocery store definitely has its disadvantages sometimes. Anyway, I ended up subbing in kale and it worked quite well. 

Chop up the kale and red onion, then give it a little sprinkle of salt. Sea salt is tasty, but not necessary.

Oh yeah, and make yourself some green tea while you're in the kitchen. So good for you!

I like to pop my kale and onion in a saucepan with just a liiiiittle bit of water, then cover and cook over medium heat. They are done when they are wilted and soft and the water is evaporated. 

The quinoa is coming along nicely!

Now it's time to get your layering action going! 

This is actually where I messed up. I did beets, hummus, feta, kale/onion, and topped it off with my quinoa. The hummus ended up glueing the beets to the bottom of the bowl, making them impossible to shake out without destroying the form of everything else. Bummer. You might need to just mess around with it and find what works for you!

You can see the layers starting to form here. 

So pretty and smooth! Too bad it was an epic fail.

So here is the finished product, cleaned up as best as I could! Messy or not, the colors in this dish are simply outstanding. I love the presentation just about as much as I love the flavor! 

Soft, warm, and earthy - this definitely has comfort food potential. 

But did I mention it's also good cold?? Cause it is! Just prepare it ahead of time and let it chill in the fridge over night. Make sure your feta is ABOVE the beets so that the crisp, white color is protected from staining. Unless all you care about is getting this dish in your belly. In that case, put the layers in whatever order you want. Heck, you could just mash it all together in a bowl. 

Any way you have it, this meal is delicious and nutritious! 

~~~

Good for: lunch, dinner, side

Time to table: up to 1 hour

Serving size: around 1.5 cups

WeightWatchers PointsPlus® value: 8 (veggies not counted)

~~~

Layered Beet Salad with Hummus, Feta, Kale, Red Onion, and Quinoa

Makes one serving

1/3 c roasted, chopped beets*

1 c chopped kale
1 tbsp chopped red onion
1.5 oz feta cheese
2 tbsp hummus
1/4 c quinoa
Sprinkle of salt

1. Prepare quinoa as directed.

2. Add kale, red onion, and salt to a saucepan with about 2 tbsp of water. Cover and cook over medium heat until kale is wilted and red onion is soft. 

3. When all ingredients are prepared, layer as desired. Serve warm or refrigerate overnight for a cold variation. 

*To roast beets:

1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.

2. Trim and wash/scrub raw beets. 

3. Wrap beets tightly in tinfoil, and let roast for 45-60 minutes. 

4. Remove from oven when you can easily pierce the beets with a fork. Smaller beets take less time. 

5. Let cool, then peel off the skin.  

My Story, Part One: Making The Decision to Change

I don't know how it happened, but it did. One day I just... decided. And I changed. And it stuck. The past three and a half months have been filled with challenge, determination, learning, disappointment, excitement, and satisfaction. Today, my life is very different than it ever has been. 

I'm not sure I ever felt skinny before this summer. Actually, I'm pretty certain that I never did. Even when I was young I was the biggest of most, if not all, of my friends. It didn't bother me too much though; I wasn't overweight, I just wasn't as petite as they were. However, I should have taken a hint when they stopped growing and I didn't. 

While my buddies stayed active and slender, I slowly but steadily gained weight. I quit taking dance lessons when I was 16, eliminating pretty much the only form of exercise I had been doing. I went to college a couple years later, and although I didn't gain the "freshman 15" right away, it did begin to creep up on me. Late night Sheetz runs, unlimited access to the cafeteria, ice cream social events - and the list goes on! Then, during my junior year of college, I studied abroad in South Africa for a semester. It was the experience of a lifetime - filling my soul with joy, my heart with love, my mind with knowledge... and my stomach with food. Lots of it. I also had my first alcoholic drink in South Africa, which opened the door to a whole new way of socializing with friends.

Over the course of 5 years, I had gained around 20 pounds. Ouch.

I was used to a certain way of living. If I was hungry and something looked tasty, I would eat it. Even if I wasn't hungry and something yummy was in front of me, I would eat it. I had absolutely no concept of self-control, and I honestly didn't care how many calories something had as long as it was delicious. Oh, and I hated exercising. It was uncomfortable and hard! It made me hot, sweaty, and sore. Where was the fun in that? Being active was not my thing. I would much rather sit and eat a big bowl of extra-cheesy pasta with a tall glass of cold whole milk. Or german chocolate cake with buttercream icing. Or a BBQ bacon burger with french fries. 

Oh. My. Word. I'm just going to stop thinking about all that now, before I crawl to the closest restaurant for a chili-cheese dog. 

Moving on.

Sure, I had my ups and downs just like anyone else. Some days I would look in the mirror and think, "Curves! Me likey!"Other days, my best option was to slouch around in a hoodie, trying very hard to ignore how tight my jeans felt. I justified my weight by telling myself it's normal to be a little chunky. No big deal! Besides, if I lost weight I would just have to buy new clothes - that's expensive. If I tried dieting I wouldn't be able to eat the food I love - and I loved food (still do). If I started exercising I would have to endure miserable agony multiple times a week. Ugh.

Every now and then I would decide that I needed to "get fit." I didn't even want to call it "losing weight" because I didn't want to admit that I felt fat. Regardless of what I called it, my attempts never worked because I only stuck to them for maybe two weeks at the most. With no plan, no concrete goals, and no direction, I failed. Over and over again. Then, for whatever reason, inspiration hit me. "Today is the day," I told myself, "... this is it!" So I went downstairs and announced to my parents that I wanted to lose 30 pounds this summer. 

Accountability. That's the first building block.

With my mom as my guide, I began my journey towards a skinnier me. But since then, it's become about a lot more than that. 

read on...

Making Health a Priority

Read the blurb or just skip to the tips :)

Picture this. It's your schedule, and man alive! Is it full or what? Seriously, is there ANY space in your planner that isn't filled with pencil scrawl?

Step back. Breathe. It will be ok. 

It can be so hard to fit exercise and healthy meals into a busy lifestyle. Sometimes, it is just so much easier to hit the drive-through than to even think about spending the next hour making a meal from scratch. Who has time for that? I mean, do people think you're superwoman or something? Sheesh. So what's a girl to do? On the one hand, you're swamped. Or tired. Or just plain not feelin' it. It happens. On the other hand, you really need to fuel up on some food that is GOOD for you instead of snarfing the first thing you can get your hands on.

Or am I the only one who has that problem?

Planning ahead is so important when trying to lose weight or just be healthy in general. This past week is my personal testimony to that. I decided to be very intentional about having wholesome, nutritious food with me at all times. Basically what that meant for me was packing my lunches before going to work (instead of grabbing a microwavable diet-dinner), carrying fresh fruit to snack on, and always having my water bottle close by. It meant saying "no" to last-minute munchies.

It was especially hard this weekend. For example, on Friday I was working one job from 9-4, then another one in the evening. I wasn't sure if I would have time to come back home and make dinner for myself, so I had to plan out all of my meals ahead of time on Thursday... and it worked out really well! Because I took the extra time on Thursday night to make Friday's dinner, I was able to keep my eating on track. I did the same for today, and I'm really glad I did! What was waiting for me when I arrived at work? A fresh bourbon-cheesecake bundt cake.

I know, right? Tasty.

So instead of pigging out on sweets tonight, I stuck to the dinner I brought with me: vegan stuffed zucchini. Topped off with some fresh fruit, I can tell you right now that "stuffed" is definitely the right word. But, does this mean no cake for me? Um, no, actually. See, I decided that instead of having a big slice of cake tonight ("while I can"), I am going to take home a small sliver for tomorrow. That way, I can adjust tomorrow's meals accordingly and I don't have to worry about eating TOO much cake because I'm only taking a little bit home with me in the first place.

The moral of the story here is "Eating cake is ok. Go for it." Ok, it's more than that. Incorporate your cake-eating into your plan! Planning ahead is a must! Remember these words: Plan ahead or plan to fail.

Here are some tips to get you started.

- Prepare food ahead of time. A casserole you can throw in the oven, ingredients chopped for tomorrow morning's breakfast, or a veggie wrap and an apple that are ready to grab as you're headed out the door... know your needs and get creative. This can apply to groceries as well. Did you buy a head of lettuce? Wash, chop, and bag it so it's ready to be thrown in a salad at a moment's notice. You can also separate bulk snacks into little baggies (i.e. 1oz of almonds per baggie).
- Even it out. Big meal coming up for dinner tomorrow night? Eat a small breakfast and a light lunch. Save up calories during the day to eat more later. 

- Don't grocery shop when you're hungry. This is just setting yourself up for disaster, because your stomach will be making the decisions, instead of your brain. If you're very hungry, it is natural to crave fattier foods; your favorite temptations will be even harder to resist. Instead, write out a grocery list and stick to it.  

- Don't go to a restaurant when you're hungry. Another uh-oh situation. Restaurant menus are overloaded with options, ranging from Healthful to Heart Attack. Do you know anyone who shows up to Buffalo Wild Wings and says, "Wow, I'm starving! I think I'll have a grilled chicken salad." I sure don't. Have some fruit before going out for the evening. If your stomach is lightly satisfied with an apple or banana, you'll be able to think more clearly about what you should order.

- Know what you're up against. In addition to snacking beforehand, do some research on the restaurant you're going to. What's on their menu? Do they provide nutritional information? If so, look it over. Narrow down your options to a few of the healthier dishes the restaurant offers. See how many calories (or points) are in their complimentary rolls - do you still want one? Hey, you might even just want to skip the entree entirely and go for a dessert. Just make sure you're well informed about what you're thinking of eating.
- Learn how to say "no". Or, "Thanks for offering, that looks very good. I actually brought my own meal, so I am set!" You'll probably have to say "no" to yourself more often than to other people. Just remember to be more in tune with the big picture instead of the here and now. That foot-long chili dog might hit the spot for the moment, but will it help you reach your long-term goals?
- Don't find time to exercise, make time. Take a good look at your plans for tomorrow... heck, for the entire week. Make note of what you're going to do for exercise and when. You may need to wake up an hour earlier or take a walk over your lunch break. Fit. it. in. You'll be glad you did. 

Movie Review - Food, Inc.

Beware. This movie is EVERYTHING you NEVER wanted to know about the food you eat. It could potentially leave you with a troubling case of a little something I like to call PDAD... post-documentary anxiety disorder. "You'll never look at dinner the same way again"? They're not lying.

I waited what seems like a very long time to watch this movie. I remember when it was uber-popular on my college campus a couple years ago. I had 0% interest. A crazy hippy movie about the evils of how meat is processed? No, thank you. I'll have my McDonald's burger and enjoy it too! Recently though, my lifestyle has been turned completely inside-out. Woah, I actually care about what I put in my body and how it gets on my plate! Mind-blowing. You know, I think I just wasn't ready before. I wanted to live in denial, ignorance, pride - whatever you want to call it. I thought I had the right to have anything I fancied, however I wanted it. Well, I actually still have that right; I still get to choose what I want to eat. But now I make better choices. 

Unlike Forks Over Knives, this documentary doesn't push a no-meat ideal. In fact, right at the beginning of the movie one of the commentators acknowledges the fact that his favorite meal is a hamburger and french fries. Ok, I can relate to that! So far, so good. I was surprised that this film wasn't condemning me for eating meat.

It's when they get down to the root of things that the documentary becomes messy. And just downright scary. 

A lot of topics are covered: meat processing, government involvement in the food industry, seed production, human rights, and more. Eesh. No doubt about it, that's a lot to swallow in an hour and a half! I honestly had no idea what my food had to go through before it reached my grocery store shelves. In that respect, I loved this documentary. Food, Inc. is absolutely PACKED with information and is guaranteed to start some serious thinking. The film sets out to expose the truth behind the system, and that it does. 

One major complaint I have is that the filmmakers skimped on a very important part of the story, which is this: what do I do now?? Sure, they have an inspiring little blurb at the end of the movie before the credits roll; and yeah, there are clips about this one farmer dude who raises grass-fed beef and such. But really? That's it? Tell me more! How can I help things change? Well, beyond buying from my local farmers' market, of course. I think I've got that point down by now. 

Anyway, the bottom line here is: watch this movie. It's a good one! Even if it doesn't change your life, you will learn something. And that in itself is a plus. 

My Rating: 9 out of 10

Worth The Watch: Absolutely

The Oats Are In

Oh my goodness.

I researched.

 I cooked.

I learned, modified, and photographed.

I wrote. 

... and FINALLY I am ready to present to you: oatmeal.

It is a familar dish, simple and filling. Nearly everybody has their favorite way to eat it, and there are a gagillion recipes out there to sort through. Why? What is so special about oatmeal? 

Not only does oatmeal provide wonderful whole-grain goodness for you, it is a super versatile grain that almost begs to be experimented with. Just 1/4 cup of good, old-fashioned oats can take you in so many different and oh-so-satisfying directions. Here, I am giving you six recipes I put together to introduce you to the magical world of oats! My hope is that you get a small taste of the variety oats can bring to your breakfast, and that you are inspired to come up with some tasty creations of your own. Each title links to the photo how-to post. Explore, and enjoy!

Banana Bread Oatmeal

Baked Apple Spice Oatmeal

Garlic-Cheddar Oatmeal Patty with Poached Egg

Sweet Toasted Oats over Tropical Smoothie

Overnight Oats, Two Ways

Quick Mocha Oats

Quick Mocha Oatmeal

Running short on time in the morning? Want dessert for breakfast? This recipe is a good pick-me-up for a hair-frazzling sort of day! Or any day, really. Let's be honest. 

Oatmeal, instant coffe, hot chocolate mix, water. Done. It's that easy. 

Seriously though. All I did was zap 1/4 c of oatmeal with 1/2 c water in the microwave. After that was done I stirred in 1 tsp instant coffee with 2 tsp instant fat-free hot chocolate mix! 

OR if you have, say, one extra minute you could do it my preferred way. Brew yourself some morning joe, and use a 1/2 c of THAT in the microwave with your oatmeal instead of plain water. I just really prefer fresh coffee to instant mix!

Then, top with 2 tsp semi-sweet chocolate chips instead of hot chocolate mix. This variation gives the oatmeal a richer, more decadent flavor. If you're feeling extra special, you could even squirt a dollop of whipped cream on top. Mmm. I know you'll enjoy this quick, tasty treat!

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Provided nutritional info is for the version with fresh coffee and chocolate chips. Just because I get to choose and that one is my favorite.

Good for: breakfast, snack

Time to table: 3 min

Serving size: about 1/2 c of cooked oatmeal

WW PointsPlus® Value: 3

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Quick Mocha Oats

Makes one 1/2 cup serving

1/4 c uncooked oatmeal
1 tsp instant coffee OR 1/2 c fresh coffee
2 tsp instant fat-free hot cocoa OR 2 tsp semi-sweet chocolate chips


Version 1: Microwave oatmeal according to directions. Stir in instant coffee and instant hot cocoa. 
Version 2: Microwave oatmeal according to directions, using fresh coffee instead of water. Remove from microwave and add 2 tsp chocolate chips. 

Garlic-Cheddar Oatmeal Patty with Poached Egg

This may be one of my favorite ways to eat oatmeal. But then again, how does one choose? Oatmeal is delicious however you prepare it! Anyway, here is an example of a savory oatmeal dish... something you don't often come across. 

Behold! Fresh veggies from the farmers' market! Ahhhh... they look as though they were pulled from the garden right before we bought them. 

Don't worry, I DID wash them before chopping. Speaking of which, that's the first step. 

Chop up some pepper, onion, spinach, and two big garlic cloves. Yes, two. 

As you can see, there is a lot going on here! And I'm not just talking about the stove. Now, I'm going to ignore the mess in the background, and you can too. Ok? Ok. 

So here's what we're dealing with: we need to simmer the water for the poached egg, prepare 1/4 cup of uncooked oats, and sauté our veggies. Yes... it is quite a bit of multi-tasking... and I am really not the best at timing things so they all get done at the right time. Even so, everything turned out fine. Just do your best and laugh at yourself if necessary. 

By the way - I didn't use any oil for my veggies, and I let them cook until they were slightly charred. That's how I like 'em! 

Egg: in the process of poaching. More on this later. 

Combine the cooked oatmeal with your veggies, well-chopped spinach, and 2 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Stir over low heat until the spinach is wilted and the cheese is melted. It's best if your oatmeal is on the sticky side instead of being dry. This helps it mush together better.

Next, spray a measuring cup (or functional equivalent) with a wee bit of olive oil or cooking spray. Stick your oatmeal mixture in there and press it down. 

WHACK it upside-down on your cutting board and look! Ta-da! It's a pretty lil' patty!

Lightly brown each side of the oatmeal patty in a pan with some olive oil. This takes some serious TLC. Treat it like a crab cake... you need to be gentle, lest it fall apart. And we both know that would be unfortunate. 

When the patty is done, top it with your poached egg!

Wow. Do I hear your stomach rumbling? Oh, no... that would be mine. 

Pretty soon this....

turns into this...

which turns into this. 

The oatmeal patty has a nice, soft texture that goes really well with the poached egg. It's different than the usual toasted english muffin. And the flavor! Oh, the flavor! Garlic and cheddar make a yum-tastic combo.

Eating this dish really reminded me of breakfast in the Philippines, which is where I ate my first poached egg. The egg was served with a scoop of rice and a small side. Convinced that an undercooked egg could be nothing short of disgusting, I mashed everything together in a big, gooey pile and gulped it down. Turns out it really wasn't that bad, and I've even come to love my runny eggs. 

A trip down memory lane and a satisfied tummy make this recipe a hit in my book. How about yours? 

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Good for: breakfast, brunch

Time to table: 15 min

Serving Size: one patty, one egg

WW PointsPlus® value: 7

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Garlic-Cheddar Oatmeal Patty with Poached Egg

Makes one oatmeal patty and one poached egg

1 large egg
2 tsp vinegar
1/4 c uncooked oatmeal
1/4 c chopped onions
1/4 c chopped peppers
2 cloves garlic (diced)
1/2 c chopped spinach
2 tbsp shredded cheddar
1 tsp olive oil

Oatmeal Patty:
1. Chop up veggies into small pieces. Dice garlic. Sauté over medium heat until slightly browned.
2. Prepare 1/4 c uncooked oatmeal. Let oatmeal be moist, but not runny.
3. Combine oatmeal, cooked veggies, chopped spinach, and cheddar cheese, and cook over low heat until spinach is wilted and cheddar is melted.
4. Lightly spray measuring cup with oil or cooking spray. Press oatmeal mixture into a measuring cup. Whack cup upside-down to remove patty.
5. Add a little olive oil to pan and lightly brown both sides of oatmeal patty. Be sure to flip gently.

Poached Egg:
1. Crack fresh egg into small bowl or ramekin.
2. Fill non-stick pan with about 2 inches of water (enough to cover egg), lightly season with salt, and bring to a simmer.
3. Pour 2 tsp white vinegar into simmering water.
4. Use a spoon to gently swirl the water in a circular motion in the pan, and place the egg in the center of the slight whirlpool.
5. Cook for 3 minutes. Spoon water over egg to cook the top, if necessary.
6. Remove egg and gently blot with paper towel to remove excess moisture.

Place poached egg over browned oatmeal patty and enjoy!

Toasted Coconut Oats over Tropical Smoothie

These toasted oats are basically a skinny version of granola. They are light, sweet, and simple. If you don't use all of them on your smoothie, they would also go well with applesauce or yogurt!

Lightly toast one cup of oats in a non-stick pan over low to medium heat. Watch these carefully; they will taste burnt before they look it. 

Mix together your vanilla, brown sugar, and honey. Pile the oats in the middle of the pan, pour the wet ingredients over, and stir to combine. You'll need to stir it around kind of fast to make sure the mixture coats all of the oats evenly. 

And uh, that is kind of hard to do while holding a dSLR in one hand... but you probably don't have to worry about that. 

Next, add the coconut and walnuts. Toast these for just a couple of minutes. A good rule of thumb is when you can smell them, they are done!

I prepared my toasted oats the night before, let them cool, and stored them in a sealed container. The next morning, all I had to do was make the smoothie! 

Take your yummy tropical fruit and chop it up into big pieces. Skin on or off? That's up to you. If you read my fruit salad post, you know what I chose. :) 

Divide the chopped fruit into four equal portions. At this point, you could go ahead and make four smoothies OR put the other servings into plastic baggies to freeze for later. 

Combine one fourth of the fruit with 1/4 cup of yogurt. Hey! Waaaait a second... what's all that green stuff?! I like to throw a cup of spinach or kale into my smoothies. I don't think you can taste it, and it adds a nice punch of nutrition! Totally a win-win situation. 

If you're making this smoothie with frozen fruit, I would double the yogurt and gradually add a little milk (or almond milk, soy milk, water, fruit juice, etc) to achieve the consistency you want. That will mess with the points, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. Simply adjust accordingly. 

Why yes, I did use a tropical-looking plant as a prop in this picture. It was an act of inspiration, ok?

A sweet, simple smoothie with a satisfying crunch! Enjoy!

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Good for: breakfast, snack

Time to table: 10-15 min

Serving Size: A little more than 1 cup of smoothie and about 1/4 cup of toasted oats

WW PointsPlus® value: 5 (fresh fruit not counted towards points)

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Toasted Coconut Oats over Tropical Smoothie

Makes four smoothies with about 1/4 c of toasted oats each

Toasted Oats:
1 c. uncooked oats
1 tbsp chopped walnuts
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp honey
2 tb sweetened shredded coconut

Smoothie:
mango
banana
2 kiwis
pineapple
spinach or kale
1/4 c non-fat plain yogurt

1. Toast one cup of uncooked oats over low to medium heat for a few minutes. They should be lightly toasted, mind them carefully to make sure they do not burn.
2. Mix together vanilla, brown sugar, and honey. Pour over toasted oats and stir quickly to coat evenly.
3. Add coconut and walnuts. Toast until fragrant.
4. Chop all fruit into big chunks. Divide into four equal portions. You can freeze the portions you do not use.*
5. Place one-fourth of the fruit, one cup of greens, and 1/4 cup of yogurt in blender and blend until smooth.
6. Pour into glass, top with 1/4 cup of toasted oats and enjoy!
*For frozen smoothie, use 1/2 cup of yogurt and gradually add milk, water, or fruit juice to achieve your desired consistency.