Vanilla Chai French Toast

French Toast is a great breakfast food, but lacks the high amounts of protein that keep you full until lunch, or morning coffee. This protein packed french toast offers a lot of flavour and can be enjoyed at anytime of the day! Just top it with your favourite fruit and enjoy!

This week has been crazy. When I get stressed I crave sweet foods, like waffles. Waffles seem to make everything better. I had a nap and woke up wanting breakfast for dinner. I did not have any bacon or sausages for protein, so I played around and found a way to add protein to my french toast! This tasted just as good as the original, and was probably a bit softer because of all the extra egg. This recipe has no waste, is packed with protein, and is delicious.

For me, cooking is all about experimenting. I do not follow recipes exactly, and I tend to omit items or add new items. That is what makes it exciting. Somethings work, and other things don't. Gluten free can be really gross, but other times it can be truly delicious and can taste like any other gluten filled food. Having celiac disease is no longer a burden, but an adventure that I look forward to most days (I really miss angel food cake! - That is an experiment for another day, and another post!)

Vanilla Chai French Toast
1 Egg
Cinnamon
1 Scoop Vega Vanilla Chai Protein Powder
Splash of Almond Milk
2 Pieces of Silver Hills Gluten Free Bread

Mix egg, protein powder, cinnamon, and almond milk in a bowl until well blended. If it is a little thick add some more milk. Put bread in the bowl one slice at a time to coat well. Place bread into frying pan and cook. Before flipping toast put more of the egg blend onto the toast. Alternate flipping and adding more until there is no more blend left and the toast is nice and brown.

Top with your favorite fruits and a tablespoon of maple syrup! Enjoy

This recipe is higher in points plus than I would prefer, but it is comparable to having a meal with meat and rice or pasta! It is filling, and sometimes you need to treat yourself! This was the perfect treat! It was healthy, filled me up, and satisfied my terrible waffle craving!

I hope everyone is having a great week!

k.

Dijon Garlic Marinade

This marinade is perfect on any meat and can be used on the grill, in the slow cooker, or substituted as a salad dressing! It has the perfect balance of garlic and mustard, without being over the top! It is soon to be a staple during BBQ season!

It is finally grilling season! I am definitely not a BBQ connoisseur, but last week I found myself at the meat market and decided to get some pork chops. I am not a huge fan of pork, but I thought I would give it a whirl and see how I could make something with great flavour and was seasonal. I am so happy I did! These pork chops turned out to be better than I imagined.

I covered the pork chops in a Dijon garlic marinade and grilled them! The marinade was the perfect mix of tangy and sweet. I was able to use it as a salad dressing as well! Even more exciting - It was zero weight watchers points!


Dijon Garlic Marinade
1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
2 Tbs Dijon Mustard
Fresh Dill
3 Cloves Garlic
1 tsp Olive Oil

Mix all ingredients together and cover over meat of choice. The longer it sits the better. However, 20 minutes is long enough if you are in a hurry! I also put this on the meat while it was on the grill, and after flipping the pork chops. 

This was perfect on top of a fresh green salad! Trying new things makes eating healthy exciting. When you can find guilt free ways to change things up, there is no reason not to eat healthy! It is about experimenting with what works for you, your lifestyle, and your body! No one is the same, but if you stay dedicated and motivated things will seem a lot easier!

Enjoy your day!
k.

Citrus Cinnamon Fruit Salad Dressing

This fruit salad has a citrus kick that keeps it fresh in the fridge for a few days! It is a great way to change the way you usually eat fruit, and it quick and easy to make! There are so many possibilities and combinations of fruit that you can enjoy it time and time again!

One of the hardest things about eating healthy is finding the time and energy to cook healthy. To make this easier I make a lot of my meals and snacks on Sunday so I am prepared for the week. I do not want to eat the same thing everyday for a week so I either make a variety, or I plan to cook again on Wednesday. On weekends I enjoy fresh meals and my favourite foods! One food that gets boring is fruit. I get tired of eating apples, bananas and kiwis day in and day out. I eat these because they are an easy grab and go snack. However, this week I made a fruit salad that stays fresh for a few days! Fruit salads tend to get soggy and brown fast. While covering them in lemon juice can fix this problem, it can overpower the flavour. Thankfully, any type of citrus juice can keep fruits fresh longer. The perfect fruit salad comes down to using the right fruits and dressings to keep things fresh.

It is finally spring and so many fresh fruits are available! I was so excited to see melons like honeydew, cantaloupe, and papaya in the produce section at the grocery store.  I stocked up on my favorite berries and melons and came home to make a salad. I used all my favorites - strawberries, blackberries, mango, kiwi, and papaya. These are what i find stay freshest in a fruit salad that you plan on eating for a few days. To keep it fresh I added a cinnamon citrus dressing for some punch!


Citrus Cinnamon Fruit Salad Dressing

The juice from one orange
1 Tbs Cinnamon
1 Tsp Honey

Pour over fruit salad and enjoy :)

Seems pretty simple right? Thats because it is! It tastes good, and gives some variety to snacks. Being healthy should be exciting and refreshing! That is one of the keys to staying motivated and excited about your success!

I hope everyone is having a good week!

k.

A Season to Reflect

Today I got the chance to take a walk around my neighborhood. It was great to get out. With all the rain this weekend everything smelled so fresh, all the trees were blooming, and the scenery that is usually brown and dead looking was green and gorgeous! I got a chance to see the city before the sunset, every time I look at the city I am blown away by the views. I guess that is what happens when you move from the flat land. I don't think looking at the view will ever get old. I noticed the trees in front of my complex were blooming. I didn't even know that there were trees in that spot! The walk gave me a chance to notice life, and reevaluate myself. It was short walk, but it gave me a chance to reflect on myself, where I am, and where I want to be.


I am trying to keep to my goal of getting in four workouts, and three yoga classes this week. With today being a holiday the gym was closed, and I missed the last yoga class because of work. Normally I would have called it a day and told myself that I will try again tomorrow. But, if I am going to commit to getting in shape I have to make it a priority to be active.  I am really happy that I decided to get off my behind and go for a walk. It gave me a chance to realize how out of shape I really am. Doing cardio in the gym is much different than walking up a mountain, or running the stairs up to the next street. Walking outside is something I am going to fit into my everyday routine. It does not take long and is refreshing.


My point here is that it does not matter how active you are, as long as you are active in some shape or form. Everything offers something different. I go to yoga to relax and refresh, I go to the gym to burn energy, release anger, or just take a break, and now I will go for walks to reflect. With the weight watchers system every thing counts. Something that seems like a big effort is an even bigger accomplishment. It may be the hardest ten minutes of your day, but eventually you will be able to do that activity for longer and longer. You can build up your strength and endurance. This will also increase your motivation because as you see your progress you wont want to go back to your old habits.

Happy Monday
k.

Chicken Cabbage Soup

Chicken Cabbage Soup is perfect for a cold day! It will warm you up from the inside out and fills the house with the coziest smells. It can be topped with your favourite Mexican toppings for a completely different experience, such as avocado, sour cream, corn chips, and salsa, or enjoyed on its own!

The weekend has been cold and rainy. However, I am not too upset about it because I have caught a bad virus and do not have the energy to do much besides lay around. To help with the rainy day blues, and to fight this virus, I made some chicken cabbage soup! The smells are wonderful and make me feel warm and fuzzy, and it is a great comfort food for those blue days.

While feeling under the weather it can be difficult to eat healthy, or eat at all. I have found it easiest to fill the body with comfort foods and smoothies for some substance. I have not been overly hungry so I have been focusing on eating small meals so my body has some fuel. Once this virus is gone I will get back to eating regular meals and snacks. 

Chicken Cabbage Soup

12oz Chicken Breast Cooked
1 Can Low Sodium Diced Tomatoes
1 Carton Low Sodium Chicken Broth (4 Cups)
1/4 Cup Chopped Onion
1/2 Cup Snow Peas
1/2 Cup Carrots
1/2 Cup Broccoli
2 Cloves Garlic
2 Cups Cabbage
Fresh Dill, Fresh Parsley, Cayenne Pepper, Chilli Powder, and Black Pepper

In a pot saute onions and garlic until clear, add chicken, broth, and the fresh dill and parsley. Bring to a boil.
In a separate pan fry cabbage with 1tsp oil (I used coconut oil) and the cayenne and chilli powder until light brown.
Add tomatoes and remaining vegetables to the soup pot. Once boiling again add cabbage and let simmer for 30 minutes.

This makes 10 cups of soup and is very low in weight watchers point values.

I topped my soup with a quarter of an avocado and some corn chips. It would also be delicious with grated cheese and a tablespoon of sour cream, but I am still avoiding dairy.

Happy Sunday!

k.

Summertime popsicles

These creamy and fruity popsicles have a splash of pomegranate juice, and are perfect for a hot day/ They are gluten, dairy, and guilt free! One will not be enough, and that is okay!

Summer is finally right around the corner! The weather is heating up and the sun is shining (or it should be. As always, the long weekend has brought rain with it)! Summer brings cravings for slurpees, ice cream, and other cold delights that aren't always healthy. I have a love for ice cream that is only satisfied by eating A LOT of it. To try and stop these cravings before they start I made fruity frozen snacks with a creamy twist. They are gluten free, dairy free, and healthy! They fit perfectly into the weight watchers points plus allowance and are great on a hot day.


Fruity Frozen Snacks with a Creamy Twist
1 Cup Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Cultured Coconut Milk
1 Cup POM pomegranate juice
1 Banana
1 Cup Strawberries
1 Cup Blackberries

In a blender combine milk, yogurt, and banana until creamy.

Divide strawberries and blackberries into popsicle trays (I used 2 trays with 8 molds. They were $3 at wal mart)

Pour pomegranate juice into trays until they are approx 1/4 full.

Fill with the cream in the blender.

This recipe makes 16 servings.

If eating healthy can be this yummy, I think reaching my goals will be easier AND enjoyable. You should not have to suffer in order to lose weight and get in shape. Its about making the right choices. Depriving yourself of the things you love will only lead to binging later on. Treat yourself and things will seem easier and worth it!

I hope everyone is having a great long weekend! Stay safe.
k.

The beginning.

This is my journey through life as a busy student. I am working hard to find the motivation to get healthy, be fit, and enjoy the simple things in life while going to school and working a part time job. This is common for many students and I hope that through the support of others people will be motivated to be the best that they can be! Life passes by so quickly and every moment should be enjoyed, the good and the bad.

In my late teens I was diagnosed with Celiac disease, it seemed like the worst thing that could ever happen. This meant no more perogies, cold beer and clamato, bread, or pasta. For the longest time I would cheat, only to regret it later. Now I live a gluten free lifestyle and feel better for it! I love cooking and baking. Being gluten free has allowed me to have fun in the kitchen and develop new and exciting meals that make me forget all about fluffy bread, and delicious potato filled perogies. My love to cook and try new ideas makes eating healthy much more enjoyable.

Recently I rejoined weight watchers. I have a nasty sugar addiction, and love quick meals and snacks. The items I chose may have been quick, but they were not overly healthy. However, the good feelings that I get from eating healthy make it so much easier to stick with it. I have been slacking off at the gym since summer classes started (I have only gone a few times, and keep cutting my workouts short). For the upcoming week I am setting my goal as attending yoga three times, and getting in 4 good workouts. Hopefully in the next few weeks my routine will be back to normal.

All goals can be reached with dedication. People never stop growing and changing. Life is not static, it is always moving. Every moment needs to be enjoyed because once it is gone, it is gone forever.

I hope that this blog will keep me motivated and on track to reach my goals. I invite everyone to join in with me on this journey. There may be failures, setbacks, and disappointments but overcoming these will only make the journey more exciting and I will be stronger for it!

k.