Whole foods only.
Only olive oil. (no one was using coconut then lol)
& working out like a beast.
Time just doesn't permit like it use to. I don't go to a class or two and head home. The flexibility I had with cooking and what I ate just isn't as easy these days, I'd have to cook ahead...not just plan ahead. After work the last thing I want to do is cook something other than dinner. I barely iron, why on earth would I grill at 9pm?
Let's face it though, work isn't the only culprit on the road to "not as clean eating Emily." Jeremy also played a big part. He can eat like he is about to be executed and not gain an ounce, then again the man can not run for months and just go out and run 6 miles like it's nothing. He is an odd one.
My body on the other hand would be screaming, "Hey! Wait! This isn't the TV!"
And then I would die shortly thereafter.
I will say though that I have kept to a certain level of clean eating over the years that has managed to make me sick as a dog every time I eat out. My tummy just isn't a fan of anything that touched a fryer. Within an hour or two I am feeling it big time.
So this week, after a heavy out to eat Sunday that lead to a miserable Monday, I decided that was the moment to enact my "eating like college Emily" mindset. Lucky for me I ran out of Splenda a week ago, so that is out. No processed sugar if I can help it.
I read a few articles recently that talked about how all these sugared up coffee drinks we down just spikes our insulin and makes us crave more sugar, and I have to admit-they nailed it on the head for me. I've been drinking 2 cups of coffee a day at work and craving chocolate and sugar like a crack head looking for a coke fix. So this week, I've had zero coffee (I don't drink caffeine otherwise anyway, except for the occasional hot tea). Those sugar cravings? I wanted a piece of chocolate last night, so I had one Hershey's kiss, and I was good to go. Normally I would have 11. I'd have to say that so far, cutting out coffee has helped.
Now for the little gem that crawled out of a need to not eat that Bluebell Mardi Gras ice cream staring me down in the fridge (if only it were possible to convince your husband to be just as much of a food Nazi). I have been on quite the pear kick for some time and realized after dinner Monday that I hadn't eaten it yet, and thanks to My Fitness Pal I also knew I had calories to spare. After scrolling through Pinterest in search of a dessert for one option I got a hankering for a crisp and went to town. When my need for such an item was not met I just made one myself. It's good alone, but I'm sure it would be fabulous with some ice cream...that that is between you and your crisp.
Ingredients-
1 bartlett pear (or apple)
3 tbsp old fashioned rolled oats (not the instant)
2 tbsp whole wheat flour
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp Smart Balance Light Buttery Spread with Flax Oil
1 tbsp natural pure raw honey ( I use Fischer's)
Directions-
Cut the pear into cubes and place in a ramekin or microwave safe bowl. In a separate bowl combine the next 4 ingredients. Spoon the oat mixture over the pears and drizzle with 1 tbsp of honey. Place pear crisp in the microwave and cook on high for 2 1/2 minutes.
Nutrition Information:
Calories 339, Carbs 58, Fat 12, Protein 4, Sugar 32, Fiber 7
*Instead of Smart Balance you could also use regular from the cow butter, or Earth Balance. Smart & Earth are both vegan, diary butter is just a much healthier alternative to margarine. You could even test it out with coconut oil if you prefer it.
What is your favorite healthy sweet snack?
