leanKitchen

What to do when you can’t eat

leanKitchen — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:33:05 +0000

An integral part of supportive nutrition is to consistently and regularly eat every 2.5-3 hours, 5-6 times per day. I know that for me, as I’m days from hitting my third trimester, I have had a very hard time eating supportively throughout these last 6 months. As I approach the 7th month, I realize, much of what I have been eating hasn’t necessarily been BAD, but for certain, the frequency and amounts I’ve eaten hasn’t been right up there in the “perfect compliance” department.. Factor in food aversions, cravings, and my notorious morning sickness (that came in the form of all-day or afternoon sickness), and, well..let’s just say my food hasn’t been perfect.

In the past few weeks, I’ve heard from some friends who are also unable to eat for certain reasons (getting over stomach bugs and other illnesses, going through hard things in their lives, and haven’t got much of an appetite, etc.). So what do you do when you can’t eat? Here are some things that I’ve been doing:

Taking my calories/nutrients in in liquid form. Yes, the same thing that can “overdo” it for you when you’re on strict fat-loss mode can truly help a LOT when you’re trying to get in more calories. For me, I would near get sick if you’d asked me to eat a banana four months ago, but a half a frozen banana in my smoothie gave it a rich sweetness that helped it go down a lot easier.

You can take in your extra nutritious calories in the forms of smoothies, juices, and other “mixed drink” forms, but try to keep it to fruits and veggies, yogurt, and skim milk/almond milk/coconut milk. If you’re trying to stay compliant, DON’T drink milkshakes! I hear this advice given constantly, and I just don’t understand it. I just can’t wrap my brain around why you would want to take in empty, sugar-filled calories. Pack your smoothies with frozen berries, bananas, mangoes, avocados (I know that sounds weird…trust me, it makes the smoothest, richest, most delicious smoothies ever!), even some veggies like spinach, and you’ll have a nutrient-dense meal in a glass.

And don’t forget that adding protein powder, Greek yogurt, or cottage cheese (sounds gross, take my word for it, it’s AWESOME) is a FANTASTIC way to get some more protein in with your sips.

What is YOUR favorite smoothie concoction?? Here’s my all-time fav:

1 C. unsweetened vanilla coconut or almond milk
1/4 mixed berries (frozen)
1/2 frozen banana (bought when they’re on clearance and black- the “banana bread” kind! TIP: peel and halve them, them freeze)
1/4 frozen ripe avocado (again, freeze when they’re black and super ripe, sliced into quarters)

Creamy, smooth, DELICIOUS!!

Other drinks that are blended for you:

These types of juices are excellent in my opinion for getting calories and nutrients in on days where you just can’t get a meal in. They are high in natural carbs, with no added sugar, and packed with nutrients. Just be sure if you’re looking at the back that there is no added actual sugar in the ingredients list. They’re really good on the go, as long as you stay within the serving sizes.

Do what I can with what I can: While eating meat is just not working for me at ALL at the moment, I CAN and HAVE been able to eat eggs. With that being said, eggs every day tends to get a little…boring BUT, it helps me to know that I’m still taking in protein. I eat them every which way; scrambled, over easy/over medium, poached, omelet (with lots of veggies and some cheese), hard-boiled, etc. It may get boring, but it helps to get the protein I need. I can also do seafood, but because a prego’s got limitations, I can only do it once a week, but it definitely switches things up.

SO folks, I ask you these questions:

How do YOU get food in and stay compliant when you’re not feeling 100%?

What is YOUR favorite smoothie concoction??

I’d love to hear your answers below in the comments section!!

Quinoa and Curried Cauliflower Stirfry

leanKitchen — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:24:53 +0000

Even though I’m feeling much better in my mid-second trimester state, I have been dealing with a lot of sleepiness! With that being said, quick and easy is the name of the game when it comes to dinnertime!

Tonight, I decided it was stir-fry time! Quick, easy, versatile, and a great way to use up extra veggies in the fridge, it’s good for the pocketbook too!

I chopped up :

1/2 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic
2 carrots
1/2 red pepper
1/2 head of cauliflower, chopped
1/2-1 lb. Washed snow peas

In a heavy skillet pre-heated on medium heat, pour in some olive oil, and a little sesame oil. (If you don’t have sesame oil, that’s ok!)

In it, saute the garlic and onions, and add:

3-4 Tbsp. curry, 3 Tbsp. cumin, 1 Tbsp cinnamon, and stir well, being sure not to let the spices burn on the pan.

Once it’s going, and the onions are starting to become translucent, add the rest of the vegetables.

Once the peas are really green, and the cauliflower is tender-crisp, you’re done!!

On a bed of quinoa, or with a little added chicken or shrimp, this is a DELICIOUS, amazing supportive dinner.

Gender Reveal Results

leanKitchen — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 01:27:26 +0000

Well, here I am, more than halfway through my pregnancy (officially), and we had our gender reveal party this past Saturday. We invited our closest friends and family. Given the fact that so many people were coming from many hours out of state, we had our anatomy scan Wednesday at our doctor’s office, and, just for confirmation, or a second option- we also had a 3d/4d scheduled later the same day.

The gender reveal works like this: we get the doctor/tech to write the gender on a peice of paper, slip it in an envelope, and then we gave the envelope to our friend and cake baker. She in turn baked us a cake that was frosted on the outside, and either blue or pink on the inside. We didnt know the sex until we cut into the cake and saw the inside!!

Here’s our pretty cake:

Here’s the moment of truth:

See the inside of the cake?

It’s a BOY!!!!!!

Apple-tastic 15 weeks!

leanKitchen — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 01:34:08 +0000

Weeks: 15

Total weight gain: And it’s begun!! 4.5 pounds gained (per my Dr’s office scale)! Not bad for almost 5 months pregnant!

Cravings: Like last week, my cravings have chilled out. I am always 100% in love with apples, oranges, watermelon, and berries. Another thing, I’ve had hot cocoa every day this week. It’s nice and warm, and sweet, and chocolatey- something I’m ordinarily not a big fan of. What’s your favorite way to have hot cocoa?? At the Farmer’s Market, a vendor makes hot cocoa with fresh, homemade marshmallows (in the shape of snowmen, peppermint flavored), or with shortbread cookies drizzled with a cardamom chocolate on a stick, he is so creative. I blame him for my cocoa kick!

Aversions: Red meat and chicken, still.

Wish I could: Put a few “glugs” of Bailey’s in that hot cocoa

Emotions: Feeling pretty good!

Notes: Exciting news- we find out the sex of Baby W in a couple of weeks!!! I think GIRL, Daddy thinks Boy. The three kids also think they’re having a little sister, so we will find out for sure! We’re having a reveal party with our closest friends and family. If you’ve never heard of a Gender Reveal, they’re so fun. First, we have our Ultrasound in the normal fashion. Instead of the tech telling us “boy” or “girl,” we’re going to have him put a picture of the baby’s “anatomy” in an envelope, and write on the picture the sex. Then, we’re going to hand the envelope to our talented friend and baker, who will bake us a cake. The cake will be frosted white, with some pink and blue decor on the outside, stacked like baby blocks. The inside will be dyed bright blue or bright pink. NO ONE will know the sex of the baby except her. Not even Ben or I! When we slice into the cake at our party, we will learn the gender of our baby right along with our closest friends and family!!

Baby is the size of a: Red Delicious Apple!

Blog themes for this week:

My FAVORITE Apple recipes:

Check out what I put in my kiddo’s lunchboxes- (apples included of course!)
Applesauce makes these Pumpkin Donuts DELISH!!!
Apple-orange cranberry muffins (YUM)
Awesome Apple Pork Chops (so good!)
Apple Butter

ONE LAST THING—TEAM BLUE OR TEAM PINK?? What do you think Baby W will be? Answer in the “Comments” section below!!

Lovin’ lemon, lovin’ life!

leanKitchen — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:34:04 +0000

Weeks: 14

Total weight gain: None still- odd!!! I look much bigger, but zero on the weight gain.

Cravings: Had a VERY strange craving for something from my childhood tonight- my mother used to make Swedish Meatballs over rice from the McCormack packets when I was younger. I’m still having aversions to meat, but I made the sauce from the packet, and had that over rice. Kids LOVED it! Aside from that, my cravings have chilled out.

Aversions: Red meat and chicken.

Wish I could: Eat raw stuff I have been in the mood for some seared Ahi tuna or sushi, alas– it’s a no-can-do !

Emotions: Feeling pretty good.

Notes: Nothing too big or exciting this week! Celebrated Valentine’s and Daddy’s birthday, baby loved the birthday cake

Baby is the size of a: Lemon!

Someone else wanted in on the action today

Lemony goodness- my favorite!! Here are some lemon leanKitchen favorites:

MY FAVORITE (something I had to have daily the first couple of months of this pregnancy)- Carrot Lemon Salad
Now that I’m expecting and cocktails are out, these yummy MOCKTAILS are perfect, especially when I’m in the mood for something bubbly!
Yummy, delicious, household (in my house!) staple- PESTO
Lemon Baked Cod- needs no explanation…one of my favorite recipes!
Rosemary Lemon salad dressing, when Jasmine is in a video (like she is here!), you know it’s going to be funny!
DELISH, NUTRISH- my recipe for Baba Ganoush with white eggplant. This dip is SO irresistible!!!!!

Decadent Chocolate Mousse Cups

leanKitchen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:55:04 +0000

Wanted to share a super quick, super delicious, and SUPPORTIVE dessert with you all. REMEMBER: If you use dark chocolate, with the highest possible Cacao %, you are not only lowering possible sugar intake, but increasing your antioxidant intake as well! And, the fact that they’re itty-bitty (smaller than a cupcake) means you’re getting all the yummy, but not the tummy

First, to make the chocolate cups, melt dark chocolate chips (using a double boiler, or by microwaving in 1 minute increments, stirring in between), and, using the back of a spoon, spread a small circle of chocolate onto a cut out square of plastic wrap. The circle of chocolate should be about 2-3 inches in diameter, and the chocolate should be thick enough to form a cup (unable to see through) , large enough to fully cover the inside of a muffin pan cup. I put my circles carefully inside the cups, and then put the entire muffin pan (with the entire thing filled with chocolate cups, into the refrigerator. It only takes about 5-10 minutes to set. I’m sorry I didn’t take pictures of this part, but if you need a better visual, I’ve also seen people dip the bottom of small balloons in chocolate, put them on a plate to give them a sturdy base, stick them in the fridge, and then popping the balloons once the chocolate has set, which gives the same shape. I only made 6 of these, which took about 1/2 C. chocolate chips.

Next, I put 1 C. Cottage cheese, about 8-10 drops plain stevia (I’m sure packets would work too), 1 Tbsp. cocoa powder, and coconut extract (about 1/2-1 tsp. to taste). Puree ’till smooth, and top with berries and mint (or anything else you have to adorn). Taste it, and adjust stevia and flavorings to suit your tastes (I’m not a “sweet” person, so what’s sweet for me may not be sweet enough for you!).

These could also be done with the addition of your favorite protein powder, any fruit topping, any extract, and any flavor combination you want, so enjoy playing! Let me know how yours turn out!

Lastly, this can be used in it’s “mousse” form alone, if you want to have it as a delicious dessert ANY night of the week!!

Happy Valentines Day

13: Peaches, Shrimp, and Valentine’s Day, oh my!

leanKitchen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:33:52 +0000

Weeks: 13

Total weight gain: None. Still! Growing in the midsection, but shrinking every other place!

Cravings: The good news is, I’m loving veggies again!! I am in the mood for cauliflower, carrots, lettuce (which was a HUGE aversion for me in the early days. Couldn’t even SMELL lettuce!), and cherry tomatoes especially, with Italian dressing. Yummy! Fruit, as always, and, not so good, Root Beer Floats! Fresh Mozzarella!

Aversions: Meat still :/

Wish I could: Drink coffee. I miss it! I know it’s repetitious from last week, but I really do miss it. Instead of coffee, I’ve been doing steamed milk (“steamers”) with maple syrup or cheesecake flavoring. It’s so yummy! It’s like a latte without the espresso. On Sunday, Ben and I went out for a yummy brunch, and with it I had a decaf mocha latte which was my first attempt at coffee in 4 months. AMAZING. Oh, and I wouldn’t mind a glass of champagne on Valentines eve, either!!

Emotions: Feeling pretty good.

Notes: Had an ultrasound this past Monday, baby was so much bigger than the last time, s/he was moving all over the place, and s/he looks SO much like Dad. Heartbeat was 161 Beats Per Minute. Baby is so adorable.

Big news: I can feel lil’ baby move! The baby flip flops right around my belly button, and I LOVE it.

Baby is the size of a: Peach! Some sites say baby is the size of a large shrimp in length, so I decided to mix and match my favorite lK stuff that incorporates both!

Blog themes for this week:

Peaches, Shrimp, and Valentines!

Some of my favorite peach-centric lK stuff

Peach Yumminess:

Peaches n’ Cream- a yummy, creamy fruit snack
Z Pops- a frozen fruit treat that I made to trick my stepson into eating more fruit!
Love-you-long-time Fruit Parfaits- Yumminess that’s pretty enough to be served up for your Valentine, too!
Peach Mint Salad- A unique, delicious, fresh salad
Grilled Peaches with Yogurt and Berries- Yummy, summer-like, and AMAZING

Shrimp-tastic:

Perfect Garlic Shrimp- My son’s FAVORITE WAY to eat shrimp!!!
Pesto Pizza Bites- Top these with chunks of shrimp for some amazing texture and flavor
Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Sauce- An Island-themed, coconutty and yummy recipe (One of my fav’s!)
Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry- Stir Fry is one of my go-to dinners on a busy weeknight
Lobster, Shrimp, and Scallop Scampi: a delectable, decadent, and delicious chocked-full-of-seafood dish. Ben’s favorite lK dish ever!!

Valentines Day:

I want to hear from YOU! What are you all doing with your loved ones? Do you celebrate? This year given my morning sickness in the afternoon that currently comes and goes, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to eat or go out for dinner, but we have been doing brunch or breakfasts to spend “romantic” or “date” times together. I’m sending my kiddos to school with awesome cupcakes that I found online- Heart centered Cupcakes with Strawberry Laffy Taffy Buttercream Frosting (doesn’t that sound delicious??)

Let me know what you guys will be eating/doing in the comments section below!!

Plum-centric Superbowl Pregnancy Post

leanKitchen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:42:43 +0000

Alright guys, I promised a fun surprise, so hear me out while I explain, and give a lil’ background.

Right now, as I mentioned before, I am having a VERY hard time stomaching food of any kind. Supportive or otherwise! And 5-6 small meals a day?? Yeah, right. I feel full or nauseous after very little food, and while I can eat pretty much any fruit, meat is a NO WAY, and vegetables are slowly becoming re-incorporated. As I’m entering my 2nd Trimester, I’m hoping most of that goes away. Fingers Crossed!!!

So with that being said, whenever my husband gets new clients to train with him or join his program, the first question he always asks is:

“What’s your goal?”

See, until you ask yourself that, you’re not really sure what’s important to you, or why it’s important. What you’re working to achieve, and why. Obviously, for me, “a healthy baby and safe delivery” tops the list, but you need to go into deeper specifics.

With that being said, my main goals (that don’t involve my husband or the other children) specific to this pregnancy are:

To be able to eat supportively again (click here if you need a Supportive Nutrition brush up!), and soon- heck, being able to EAT would be great! I TRULY believe that Supportive Nutrition is the way to eat to assure the best possible health, super duper important for me AND this baby.
Gain the most minimal, healthy weight possible for the health of this little one, and myself. Massive amounts of weight gain not only SUCKS to try to lose, but it also doesn’t do lots of great things for the baby, as there are more risks in gaining too much weight during pregnancy
Get and maintain Chiropractic care for the duration of the pregnancy, as the hormone Relaxin is 10x stronger during pregnancy, and really takes a toll on my hips and back. Relaxin makes your joints and such all become looser; one of Mother Nature’s ways of helping Mama deliver with a bit more ease. I had my first appointment last week, and am LOVING Chiropractic care. I feel so much better on days I’ve been adjusted!
Really focus on my personal emotional wellness this pregnancy. As it stands, I get frequent massages, and I’m strongly considering having our friend and masseuse in the delivery room with me.
Start focusing REALLY hard on my water/fluid intake. I had a really hard time with water at the beginning. It made me feel sick, so I did a lot of coconut water, which I still drink a lot of. I can do peppermint tea, any herbal teas, really. So, upping water for the well being of the 2 of us!

First of all, for everyone who may be wondering, I am (drumroll, please!):

That’s right!! 12 weeks pregnant!! Welcome to my BELLY BOARD!! My lK “posting plan” now is to take a picture of myself AND the fun notes on a weekly basis so that you can see me grow, see what fun things I’m craving/missing/eating/doing while trying to maintain a supportive diet when with child. I do hope to post more than once per week, of course, but at least one per week will be that. And I KNOW I forgot myself in that picture , but I haven’t gotten someone to take one of me yet. But to see what I look like, here’s what was up in 11 weeks:

Don’t worry, I’ll take side shots, when I start really getting a baby belly. Yup, Baby W was the size of a lime last week, my “afternoon sickness” (I only get it at night, strangely) went away, but came back with a vengeance this week. Mega cravings for citrus!

So 12 weeks already. 1st Trimester has FLOWN by. Depending on which pregnancy calendar or widget I’m looking at, I’m either DONE my first trimester, or about to end it. Regardless, 12 weeks is where I’m at. I’ve already let you all in on some of my pregnancy “secrets”/ woes/ facts, but plan to keep you all much more in the loop. I have a fun little application on my phone that tells me each week how big the baby is using FOOD to gauge it, so that’s what I’m going to use as my inspiration for posting when I am feeling far too ill to post about food. If there are any special holidays or events going on, I’ll post about those, too.

So here we go with my first pregnancy post!

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Weeks: 12

Total weight gain: None. Yup! Here I am entering my 4th month, and I’ve not gained an ounce. At my last appointment my doc said not to worry, because many women don’t in their first trimester, given morning (for me, afternoon) sickness and food aversions. Sounds familiar I had gained weight in both my previous pregnancies by this point, even if it was just a couple pounds, but I’m certainly not complaining. I did, however, need to start wearing maternity clothing WAY earlier in this pregnancy, as I was simply not fitting into clothes right away. At this point, I can fit back into my regular clothes, but am far more comfortable in maternity ones. What’s up with that?

Cravings: Cereal with milk! Organic raisin bran types, and blueberry granola’s top the list, with organic ice cold milk. Mmm. And scalloped potatoes. Homemade. Milkshakes made with mint chocolate chip ice cream. None of the three are supportive. Bummer.

Aversions: Meat of any kind except BACON (??), most vegetables

Wish I could: There is a never-ending list of things I can and cannot do while pregnant. Most people know the biggies: Shouldn’t eat sushi, drink too much caffeine, drink alcohol, etc. And, I’m fine with all that. But the offhand ones not everyone who hasn’t been pregnant doesn’t know? You also aren’t supposed to eat deli meats, certain cheeses (you could get listeria),or clean a cat box (definitely don’t miss that chore!) for fear of contracting toxoplasmosis, but the thing I miss the most? Taking a hot, hot bath. See, when you’re pregnant, you’re not supposed to get into baths, showers or Jacuzzi’s that are over 100 degrees F. You can apparently do some damage while the bun is in the oven by raising your body temperature. But…your NORMAL body temperature is 98.6, and stays a bit more elevated than that when you’re pregnant, so an 100 degree bath feels lukewarm. Sucky! I wouldn’t mind a glass of wine with that hot relaxing bath either. And coffee. Man, I miss WANTING it, but right now the thought of it turns my previously-caffeinated stomach, so for now, I make do with steamed milk.

Emotions: Feeling pretty good. At first I had some issues with maintaining patience, and got really weepy at Folgers commercials, but that was around Christmas time, so it’s been a while. Otherwise, I’ve been really happy and feel “normal,” in an emotional sense.

Notes: Had a baby doc appt. last week (11 weeks), where it was confirmed that I’d gained no weight, and the little heartbeat was 160 BPM. Healthy and strong! And, as you can see, it’s been one year since Ben and I got engaged, and 7 months since we got married! Boy, how time flies!

Baby is the size of a: PLUM!!

Blog themes for this week:

Plums (week 12) , Limes (for week 11!) & the Superbowl (Go Pats!) !!!

Plum-centric lK favorites:

My fruity delicious Plum Marinaded Haddock

Lime-y lK fav’s:

Lime in the Coconut Cheesecake- YUM! Get your Prograde protein powder for this recipe by clicking here
Trish’s Delicious Fishes Fish Taco’s. ‘Nuff said.
The Bee’s Knees Fresh Fruit Bruschetta. Delish recipe from my friend and fellow food blogger Carla!
Jazzed Up Fruit Salad. My special tip on that special something in a traditional fruit salad

Superbowl Fav’s:

Nothing says the big game like Guacamole! Click for a great Guac Tip!
Steeler’s Dip: One of my FAVORITE yummy dips (with peppers, and black beans, and corn oh my!)
Cheese balls. AH-MAY-ZING. These are so delicious, and made with cottage cheese, totally supportive!

Party time!

leanKitchen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:40:50 +0000

So what happens when a girl who blogs about food decides to have a baby with her husband…

and loses her ability to cook?

It’s true! Not only can I not eat, look at, or smell food cooking, I am battling a horrid case of afternoon sickness. Yep, sometime between 2-4 in the afternoon, that sick-to-my-stomach feeling comes creepin’ in. But, it’s starting to get better! I’m slowly starting to feel human again, and eating things other than fruit and soups!

I had a little bit of a “baby scare” (don’t worry s/he’s ok!) a few weeks ago, so not only can I not EAT supportively, I was on bed rest for a weekend, and currently on a limited-activity restriction. So, aside from walking, I can’t exercise, either. I have literally been thrown into an unfamiliar world. I feel out of control, as I’m unable to eat the things I’m used to and want to, and unable to keep on top of my exercise (the way I like to/am used to), either. I haven’t gained a pound, but I can already see my body changing (or, losing) shape.

So what do I have to talk about in my non-cooking, barely eating state? Why, food of course!

This weekend, we threw a party for my stepson. He had a great time, and we had lots of food there (par for the course in my house, come Hell or high water!), but part of my “restriction” also includes trying desperately, under all circumstances, to not get sick. Ugh. So I can’t eat, can’t exercise, and have to pray that the kids don’t come home with any bugs, either. Damn near impossible with three little ones, all in school and daycare, but so far so good (*fingers, toes, eyes, and every other cross-able part crossed!).

So here’s a couple of cold and flu season party tips I found helpful:

1. Don’t have the party at your house. We had ours at another location, making sure the kids were frequently hand washing, and it helped that as soon as we got home it was bed time, so we tossed their clothes right into the washer, and showered them basically as soon as they walked through the door.

2. Instead of big platters, serve Individual portions as much as possible. I cut up red peppers, carrots, and cucumbers, and stuck them in cute little clear cups with ranch dip. That way, each person has their own grab-n-go serving, instead of having to touch all the other veggies. Cute, easy, and much more sanitary.

As I truly believe that I’m on the pregnancy upswing, I have a very special idea I want to put in place, and I can’t wait to share it with all of you! I have a little more prep to do for that, so stay tuned! You’ll love it

New Years: Lentils and Milkshakes!

leanKitchen — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:06:46 +0000

Happy New Year, everyone!!!!

This year, my husband and I are currently curled up in bed watching Football. Our kids are all out doing their own fun things, and given my pregnancy, I’m not quite sure I’ll even SEE the ball drop.

My “late nights” consist of quite literally falling into bed right after the kids around 7:30 pm. So the ball dropping, probably not going to happen! We’ll see!

This time last year, I’d probably have chosen a yummy, bubbly Prosecco cocktail, as champagne was one of my favorite pre-pregnancy cocktail treats, but this year, it’s obviously not an option! But, stomaching anything even solid has been trying for me for the past couple of months!! Soups, ice creams, and the random craving are the only things I can do, and meat is simply non-existent in my current condition. I can’t cook it, eat it, or look at it!

So what’s a girl to do to get protein and other supportive nutrition?

“Milkshakes!”

The cool, creamy feeling really soothes my belly, and I feel good about the nutrition I’m getting.

I say “milkshake” in quotes above, because in order to keep myself from going overboard, I can’t be eating ice cream all day, every day. So I’ve been making them with coconut milk and frozen fruits so that I still get that ice cream consistency, and a delicious, rich shake!

My favorite at the moment:

1 cup coconut milk (in a carton, not the kind in the can)
a handful of organic frozen strawberries
1/2 banana (frozen)
1/2 scoop Prograde Vanilla Protein Powder (my doc says it’s ok during my pregnancy)
1/2 an organic apple

Blend, and enjoy the deliciousness!!!

And, on another note, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

This year, instead of the New Years Black Eyed Peas (a tradition said to bring in prosperity in the New Year) I made last year, I’ve got lentils soaking this year! Some other good luck foods in other countries and cultures are grapes, greens, any legume, pork, fish, and cakes!

I hope 2012 is amazing for you!