Morning with an old buddy
Hey hey hey 😀 Hope you’re having a great morning!
This morning I tried something new for bast:
Vanilla Chia Pudding from Sarma’s new cookbook that I got yesterday
Holy deliciousness, this stuff was AMAZING. With hemp milk, chia seeds, vanilla Stevia and cinnamon it was absolute perfection. Since I went veg I’ve definitely missed out on eating pudding because it used to be one my favorite snacks. This is a perfect replacement and makes such a light and delicious bfast, especially topped with fresh fruit.
I was surprised how thick the pudding was, even though I significantly reduced the recipe to make a 1-portion serving.
So good!
I also spent my morning with an old buddy, Dave Farmar. I consider him a friend since he gives me pep talks on life, but it’s been wayyyyy too long since I’ve done one of his podcasts! I finished it out, even though it was quite challenging and felt glorious afterwards 😀
To rewind to last night, the pilot and I had a super fast but way delicious meal when I got home from work.
I baked some salmon that I marinated in Annie’s BBQ sauce and served it with roasted veggies.
Eggplant, onion, artichokes, tomatoes, zucchini, garlic cloves, EVOO, oregano, sea salt and pepper.
The pilot had some couscous with his meal (cooked in chicken broth and seasoned with S&P, chili powder and garlic):
The whole meal took less than 30 minutes to cook –I did the veggies at 475 degrees for 15 minutes and then reduced the temp to 425 and added the fish for 8 minutes after pan searing it- and it was ahhhhhmazin’ (if I say so myself) 😉
This morning, before the chia pudding of justice and joy, I had a new Cullen juice:
It had 2 kale leaves, 1 apple, 1 beet and 1/2 lemon. Tangy and slightly sour, just the way I like it 😀
I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on the bloggy yet, but I stopped drinking coffee about a month ago. I think coffee has a TON of benefits, and I really do love it, but it got to the point where I was dependent on it. I was groggy and out of it until I had my morning Joe and didn’t like feeling addicted to it. So I went cold turkey and have been drinking morning juice instead. I had headaches like the dickens and was a little cranky in the morning for a few days, but it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I’m still going to enjoy the occasional java joy, but I wanted to get myself away from *needing it* to survive the day. I have a loooong history with coffee (and it was my study elixir of choice when I was in undergrad and studying until 4am to wake up at 6…not healthy but way better than taking Adderall, which many of the students in my business school took) and am pretty stoked that I’ve decreased the need to have it every day. Juice has been doing the trick so far 😀
Another one of my addictions is gum, which I also went cold turkey with when I was chewing a piece of Orbit Mist and decided to randomly check out the ingredients. There was gelatin in there, so I chucked the piece out the window and didn’t have gum at all for about a month. That was a huge step for me because I ALWAYS have gum in my mouth –I just like to be minty fresh 😉 I came across this gum at Whole Foods which is sugarfree and has xylitol (which has oral health benefits) in there.
I have been HOOKED ever since! Has anyone else tried this gum??
Are you a gum and coffee kinda girl too? Are you trying to kick any habits??
Well it’s time for me to get the pilot’s dinner in the slow cooker, clean up around the casa, make a spin cd and off to work.
I’ll see ya tonight!
Much love,
G$
Summer Shape Up girls: The spreadsheet has been updated! Please get your points in there and I’ll post a point update on Monday with next week’s workout. Keep it up! 3 weeks—you can do it 😀
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Have you tried Teeccino Herbal coffee? It is non acidic and naturally caffeine free. I love it and so many flavors. My fav. are Vanilla Nut and Choc. Mint!
Pam
http://www.alovefornewrecipes.blogspot.com
I know!!! Sarma's new recipes are insanely divine. I don't think there's ONE bad recipe in there.
I've never been a gum chewer – sorry I can't help with tips!!
I love your new header, Gina! Cute… just like you 🙂
the pudding looks great!
i did a kind of "coffee detox" a while back too, just so I wouldn't need it anymore.
I still have it though, when I want it and when it's good coffee 🙂
I do not like coffee, but I'm sure that'll change as I get older 😀
I like gum, but am not addicted to it or have some everyday. I would if I had a pack available to me though. Haha! That gum from WF sounds fabulous. Yum! Love your salmon!
<3 jess
xoxo
I am definitely a gum girl. Coffee is just a treat, but gum? I chomp all day. 🙁
The chia pudding sounds delicious, thanks for the rec, I'll have to check it out…I've got a huge container of chia to use up :D. Salmon + roasted veggies do look fantastic, and only 30 minutes? A total winner!
I was a daily coffee drinker, but stopped cold turkey too. I now have the occasional coffee if I go with a group to a new cafe or am just craving one.
I also was an avid gum chewer (~5 pieces a day?), and found that brushing teeth after lunch, mints, and yes, xylitol gum helps. I have a different brand, and it doesn't last as long as the usual brands of sugar free gum I used to chew, but it's still good.
I love your new header!!
I used to drink coffee, but thought it was getting to be too much of a habit so I cut it out. I'll have a cappucino occassionally after dinner, but that's it now!
I don't chew gum b/c I'm super sensitive to artificial sweeteners (like xylitol), but I've heard Glee Gum is also very good!
gum has been the one chemically laden food that i have kept in my diet because i seriously NEED it haha. i feel like it gets me through my workouts sometimes. I am definitely going to buy some of that gum from whole foods though!
I had no idea that orbit had gelatin in it! Glad I am not a gum chewer
Love all the Chia seed action- your breakfast looks delish.
I liked coffee, but never got addicted. Not I drink it occasionally- Isaac uses a french press to make it at home now so I snag a cup every now and then.
I used to have a huge sugarfree gum addiction. I was usually unwrapping another piece as I was taking out one piece to throw away. It just got out of control and the artificial sweeteners did a number on my stomach. I gave it up cold-turkey and never buy it anymore, but I'll occasionally eat a piece when someone offers it.
Good for you for going cold turkey on the coffee and gum!
I am trying to give up diet sodas. Well, I'm trying to give up caffeine and artificial sweeteners but am having the most trouble with the sodas.
Hey! I've been reading your blog for a while and I LOVE it. I went vegan last year and lost a lot of weight, then fell off track when I started school. I'm back with it, though, and you've been a huge inspiration! Here's one question for you…
You work out way more than I do, so of course you need more calories than me. I go to the gym for only about an hour a day, and sporadically get more than that done. Since I read your blog I always want to eat the same kinds of meals, but I know I have to cut back somewhere if I'm not going to work out more. Any advice to stop my pigging out? (vegan pigging out, but still!)
I buy that gum in jars!!! My old roomie is a dentist and that is what she recommended!
Hey Gina! What proportions did you use to make the pudding? It sounds excellent!
I use to be hooked on Scottish mints…until I broke a tooth crunching one! :0
I love the Spry gum and chew it quite often. I do wish that it kept its flavor a bit longer because I go through a pack way too fast.
Well Damn Gina, lol, you just called me out on my two biggest bad habbits! Ahhhh 🙁 I literally have no vices except for coffee and sugar free gum. I've significantly cut down on gum chewing in the past year, then all of a sudden will buy like 8 packs of the yummy flavored orbit packs. I never looked at the ingredients! Aaah bummer 🙁 I guess that's what I needed to know. I do chew that natural xylotol gum though, I just find that I need two pieces instead of one. I do like the spearmint flavor though. About the coffee….same as you were I just "need" it in the morning. I'm not quite ready to give it up yet, but hoping some baby dust falls on me soon and I'll be cutting it out for necessity 🙂 I only have a few vices, and coffee is one I'm just not letting go of. It could be worse 🙂
I LOVE pudding. I eat a lot of pudding. You post things I have never heard of! keep it coming! love it! MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM..yum!
I love dave farmar yoga. It's the most difficult yoga I've done. I was wondering if you've ever worn a HRM during one of his sessions,because its burns. I'm curious as to how many calories it burns.
pam- no i haven't! i'm going to search for that riiiiight now 😀
diane- that's a huge reason why i don't post all of my meals- i'm a lot more active than necessary (but do it for the dollars!) and don't want people to get a weird idea of how much to eat. i think as long as you make sure to eat a lot of fruits and veggies -i know too many vegans/vegetarians who feast on bread and peanut butter- and eat 5 small meals a day, you'll be golden. not eating as often as you should could make you more hungry and eating more than you would like later in the day.
emily- good to know an actual dentist does recommend it! i'll keep chewing away 😀
krista- i can't give the proportions away because it's a published recipe. that's why i just list ingredients and not the actual recipe :/ sorry!
veganissexy- you're totally right- there are WAY worse things than coffee. i totally believe coffee is good for you, but i like to be able to function without it 😀
I want her cookbook so bad. Now that I see your pics I know I'll have to go pick it up! That pudding looks to die for!
I really need to checkout some chia seeds!!
Great post, girl! Your dinner looked amazing – love the veggies in EVOO – fab. I've never had coffee (I know!) or really been a big gum chewer – but i'm trying to cut the need to ALWAYS have a carb with EVERY meal. Like – my plate would have been like the pilot's because I would have HAD to have cous cous! Love the new look of the blog BTW!
For people that are trying to give up diet soda's, ZEVIA is a really good choice. It is made with stevia which is an herb.
Enjoy,
Pam
I quit coffee for veggie juice too! And I am so surprised by how much LESS tired I feel. I love the taste of coffee and if I am craving it I will have some, but there is NO need for me to have it every day. I used to daydream about laying down and down comforters and fluffy pillows all day and now I am fine!
I used to be a pack a day girl with my Orbit Wintermint. It was kind of a problem, and I found that I really became dependent on chewing the stuff and always wanting my mouth to be busy. Now I'm back to occasionally enjoying a piece, and I feel much better for breaking the habit!
Can you reveal your single serving recipe? I'm a dunce at math:)-monica
rideit4@comcast.net
That BBQ salmon looks delish! I gotta try using Chia seeds ASAP:)
I love the new header!! Why have I not tried chia yet?! That pudding sounds heavenly and I'm going through pudding withdrawals!
I kicked artificial sweeteners and have been headache/migraine free since!
i am so behind on your posts gina! but you have been having a blasty and eating well as always 🙂 do u watch army wives?? i love it! but didn't know if it'd be a little too close to home…
loev the new header 🙂 and i'm totally going to have to check out that book! i'm a gum chewer for sure, and really need to stop…
I used to be a hardcore gum addict, but then I learned about the icky side of artifical sweetners and switched to this natural gum. can't remember the name, but it was HORRIBLE. The flavor was gone in 10 seconds.
15 days without coffee for me, no diet coke, splenda or other crap either. But who's counting? 😉
That pudding looks amazing! Hope you didn't throw your gum literally out the window…
Ooo, chia makes everything so thick and creamy! Must get that book!
I gave up gum cold turkey one day too. Never gone back. I think its gross now.
I give up gum every other day- it's a serious habit (usually a pack a day. how terrible!!!). if it's not around, i don't chew it, but i really think it is an addiction because i crave it (how ridiculous does this sound that i am addicted to gum!!??). i am going to look for that one you recommend at WF. I have tried glee gum, but i think i chewed an entire pack in about 2 hours. not very long-lasting flavor.
I have kicked coffee for the most part with the addition of Amazing Grass into my life!
I've always been a coffee lover (starbucks vanilla latte, mmm)….but I never have it more than once or twice a week, if that! I just don't want to get dependent on it, like so many do! I loveee the taste though, so it's a nice way to start the morning every now and then, or a way to give me LOTS of energy when i'm in need! It works WONDERS, since I rarely drink it! I get so hyper….hahha
PS! That beautiful pudding-like bowl sounds delicious! 🙂
I used to chew gum non-stop as well, but I found that it made me bloated (and read about how it possibly makes you hungrier) so I stopped chewing it except for maybe a few after dinner pieces. It's hard!!
Coffee the other hand, I just switched to drinking mostly decaf in the morning. Got me from being dependent on so much caffeine, but allowed me to enjoy my morning Jo!
That chia pudding looks so good! I cant' wait to check out her recipe.
I was wondering if you consider yourself to be "high raw" – and do you strive to be – or do you just eat a lot of raw food and use raw cookbooks?
I am on the road now and was just wondering more about your experiences, but wasn't sure since I just recently found your blog 🙂
marathon val- i'm usually high raw, unless it's a day that i teach more often -mondays and wednesdays i do more than 2 hours of cardio- and need more food. on a regular day, i do the "raw until dinner" thing and it's worked wonderfully so far. it will be something i can keep doing over the long run (like when we have kids) and it has made me feel AMAZING
that chia pudding looks so good! I need to get some chia seeds too!
I love Dave farm too, but yes, you're right usually his podcasts are too long. I like the 75 min class, they're a little shorter and even greater workouts! 🙂
I love chia pudding, and that looks like a winner! I need that cookbook.
I'm a coffee and gum girl, too… when I was in high school, I had a Doublemint groove worked into every pair of my jeans!
Gum and coffee, yes! Although I don't *need* coffee, I just happen to like it a lot. 😀 But gum I love because I like being fresh too but I hate the ingredients. I'm definitely going to look for that gum at WF!
I can’t really chew gum because of jaw problems I have, but I used to be a dental assistant and that’s what we always recommended. When I DO break down and chew a piece, that’s always the kind I go for. =]