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Category: Free Inquiry

Healthy Easter Desserts!

If you are like me this long weekend, I would love some tasty treats but I am so tired of all the sugar and fat I have been eating over quarantine! Well I got some great news for you. Why not make some healthier treats that still satisfy your sugary needs for Easter? Some of there are even great to share with your bubble (if there’s any left!)

Ok first and foremost, I absolutely love Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. They are my absolute favourite chocolate all year round! These chocolates are great every once in a while but they definitely are not the greatest for you to have a bunch of. Here I found a recipe for Reese Peanut Butter Egg dupes!

(photo from the website below)

https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/copycat-recipe-reeses-peanut-butter-eggs/

Next up we have one of the only cakes I really like (and an Easter staple) carrot cake! Now I think some of us choose carrot cake because it has carrots in it, so it must be healthier right? Well… I will not ruin it for you all. Although, here is a great healthier carrot cake recipe with greek yogurt icing instead of cream cheese icing!

Lastly we have a great, super fast and easy recipe for those who may not have the pleasure of settling down this weekend (aka those of us university students finishing up the semester)! I present to you a 3 ingredient no bake healthy brownie! Yes, three ingredients. Yes, healthy! I was amazed when I came across this recipe to say the least. All you need for this one is cocoa powder, dates, and walnuts. There is also a recipe for a chocolate frosting in there if you are feeling a little wild.

(Photo from website below)

https://kirbiecravings.com/no-bake-healthy-brownies/

The Mindset for Healthy Eating

In this informative Tedx Talk, Gillian Riley talks about the mindset for healthy eating. She opens up talking about how when people want to eat healthier, they are often denying their freedom of choice. An example of this is restrictive diets, although it is not limited to this. People give themselves rules with food all the time.

Gillian talks about “The Minnesota Starvation Experiment” which put men on low calorie diets. These men became obsessed with food among other psychological issues. After this experiment, the men ate a lot more food and ended up gaining more weight. Gillian compares this to modern diets by stating this is due to the lack of freedom to choose. Prohibiting food makes it more attractive.

Gillian suggests instead of prohibiting food, give yourself permission without necessarily eating the things you give yourself permission to eat. Instead of thinking of restrictions, is to choose to eat less. Gillian talks about studies that show brain activities reflecting the habitual mindset, and this can be changed. The way to get around this is to embrace freedom completely. We are all free to eat whatever we want, however, we can make choices to consider our options.

“The more freedom you include, the more self-control you can develop” is a quote stated by Gillian that I really love. What I love about this statement is that it sets eating into a more positive light rather than a negative one. This is because when we decide what to eat without feeling guilty, we are allowing ourselves to be in more control of our choices. For example, I can tell myself that I can eat a tub of ice cream if I want to. That is giving me freedom. Now, say instead of eating the full tub of ice cream I decide to eat a small bowl. I do not feel as guilty about eating the ice cream because I realize that I have freedom to eat what I want, and my choice is to make a healthier decision.

Black Bean Burgers!

Ok, so burgers are my absolute favourite food in the universe. There is just so much you can do with them!

Some of my favourite toppings are:

  1. Fried mushroom
  2. Tomato (simple yet so good)
  3. Avocado
  4. Legendary burger sauce (ketchup, relish, mustard, vinegar, and diced onion/garlic mixed together)
  5. Gruyere
  6. Olive tapenade

Here I have a recipe for a fabulous black bean burger. Now I don’t know if you have ever had a black bean burger. I had not and I had very high standards, but this recipe succeded. I usually go for a greasy bbq burger (the classic) so I am always wary of trying out new kinds of burgers. Let me tell you, even if you’re a carnivore you will love this burger.

https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-black-bean-burgers/ 

Let me know what you think!

Vegan Blueberry Banana Protein-Packed Baked Oatmeal

If you are Tik Tok, you might know that baked oats are all the rave this week (and rightfully so). I eat oatmeal every single morning but if you want to treat yourself a little bit, baked oats are PHENOMENAL. What is the appeal? It is super easy to make. You just throw everything together and then bake it, boom you have an easy breakfast!

Now there are many variations of baked oats. Blueberry, chocolate chip cookie, raspberry coconut, the possibilities are endless. Today we will look at a protein-packed baked oatmeal recipe as a great way to start the day. This recipe is by Alyssa Rimmer is gluten-free and vegan, and overall just a great source of plant-based protein.

https://www.simplyquinoa.com/protein-baked-oatmeal/

For this recipe you will need the following ingredients:

  • 2 cups oats
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 2 large bananas
  • 1 flax egg
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
  • 1/4 cup protein powder
  • 1/4 cup hemp seeds
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups plant-based milk (I love oat milk)
  1. The first step is to add oats and boiling water together and let it sit for 10-15 minutes
  2. Mash bananas in a bowl and then stir in the flax egg, syrup or honey, and protein powder. Then pour this mixture into the oats and stir until combined.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl
  4. Pour the whole mixture into a 9×13 baking pan and top with bananas and blueberries
  5. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes
  6. Allow the oatmeal to rest until it has cooled a bit and then enjoy!

Now some of you may have read this recipe and thought to yourself… what the heck is a flax egg?! Well, I have pleasant news for you, it is quite easy to make. All you need to do it ground flax seeds and then add water to them letting it rest for 5 minutes. This recipe calls for 1 flax egg so you will need 1 Tbsp of ground flaxseed as well as 2 1/2 Tbsp of water.

Let me know what you guys think, and enjoy!

Baked oatmeal recipe: https://www.simplyquinoa.com/protein-baked-oatmeal/?jwsource=cl

Flax egg recipe: https://minimalistbaker.com/how-to-make-a-flax-egg/

That’s it… I am Not Eating Anymore Today.

Do you ever just not want to eat anything for dinner? Maybe you had some foods that are unhealthier during the day or the day before and you do not want to “hurt” your body anymore for the day? Well it is still important to get all the nutrients you need throughout the day and you should not deprive your body of these nutrients. We all need food to keep us going. Sometimes this can be very difficult because even if we are hungry, we do not want to eat because of the number of calories we have already consumed, the number of fats we have consumed, etc. Even if we have had a lot of calories, when our body is hungry it is important to listen to it and feed ourselves. According to Dr. Mehmet, skipping hunger cues causes our body to slow down and conserve the calories we already have, eventually storing more fat for our next meals in an attempt to store calories for tough times ahead (Why Should I Eat Healthy Food When I Am Hungry?, n.d.).

I follow an influencer on TikTok who posts amazing recipes. The one I have attached below is a recipe for summer rolls, which are a very light food. This recipe is specifically great because you can add whatever you want to it and wrap it in rice paper. This video includes lettuce, carrot, edamame, avocado, onion, cabbage, and pineapple. There is also a peanut sauce dip to go with it which tastes AMAZING. So, if you are ever feeling bad about what you have been eating lately and your body needs something light and healthy, this is the recipe for you! Remember to always eat when your body needs it!

@scheckeats

what do you guys like to put in yours? #springroll #freshspringrolls #vietnamesespringrolls #vegan #summerrolls

♬ Sedona – Houndmouth

https://www.sharecare.com/health/healthy-eating-guidelines/why-eat-healthy-food-hungry

Healthier Banana Muffins!

Over the weekend I decided to bake something, and normally I do not like baking at all because my oven is terrible and does not seal properly. Although, I was craving something sweet and decided to try it out anyways with my over set a bit higher than normal and they turned out great! Here is the video:

 

Here is the link to the recipe:

Skinny Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

P.S.  I do not like the name “skinny” but these muffins are definitely healthier than normal muffins. Like I have said, eat whatever you want but if you want a recipe with a bit less fat, sugar, and calories… This is the recipe for you!

Eating is Good for the Soul!

I am a big believer in eating whatever you want. Candy? Yum. Carbs? I love eating carbs. Gluten? Pasta and bread are my two true loves. Part of having a healthy diet is enjoying the food you are eating and having a good relationship with food. The important thing to note about food that may not be necessarily good for you is that moderation is key. If you love pasta you should eat pasta! Well unless you are allergic to gluten of course. Although, even if you are allergic to gluten, there are tons of gluten free options. Pasta can be made into many yummy and healthy recipes.

I personally love the new Canada’s Food Guide and I think it is a great way to think about the different types of food you should be eating in a day. Protein, fruits and vegetables, and grains. My rule of thumb is to have each of these food types in all of my meals throughout the day so that I can ensure I am getting enough vitamins and minerals that my body needs.

https://gymnasticscoaching.com/2020/06/30/canadas-food-guide/

I have really been obsessed with nutritional yeast on popcorn lately. If you are not concerned about the amount of fat you have been eating, treat yourself to some garlic butter on your popcorn as well to help the nutritional yeast stick. If you want a healthier option, I absolutely love coconut oil on my popcorn.

Healthy eating needs to be appreciated more and not just a boring iceberg lettuce salad with carrot and cabbage. There are so many better options! I am looking forward to diving into recipes, tips, and research on what healthy eating really means.

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