Granola, Chocolate and Hummus, oh my!

Helloooo! As with most Sundays, I have a ton of food photos to share! And I?ve got a ton more food to prepare for my day tomorrow ? so let?s get to it, shall we?

Woke up this morning and made my mom and I a waffle feast. 

For three waffles:

3/4 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup plain yogurt
3/4 cup egg whites
3 tbsp ground flax
1 tsp vanilla extract
cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking powder

For the topping I heated frozen strawberries in the microwave, then stirred in 1 tbsp maple syrup and a couple spoonfuls of plain yogurt. I think the pictures speak for themselves ? major yums!

I spent the morning lazing around. Sundays are meant to be lazy! By the time I?d gathered the energy to go to the gym, it was time for another snack.

Almond butter + banana. Basically the same thing I eat everyday before I go to the gym. Never fails.

Then it was off to the gym for treadmill, upper body and abs.

Treadmill

Minutes
Speed – MPH
Incline


0-5
3.5
0.0


5-6
5.5
0.0


6-7
6.0
0.0


7-8
6.5
0.0


8-9
7.0
0.0


9-10
5.5
0.5


10–11
6.0
0.5


11-12
6.5
0.5


12-13
7.0
0.5


13-14
5.5
1.0


14-15
6.0
1.0


15-16
6.5
1.0


16-17
7.0
1.0


17-18
5.5
1.5


18-19
6.0
1.5


19-20
6.5
1.5


20-21
7.0
1.5


21-22
5.5
2.0


22-23
6.0
2.0


23-24
6.5
2.0


24-25
7.0
2.0

 

Exercise
Weight
Reps
Sets


Romanian deadlift to row 
50 lbs
8-12
3

 

Exercise
Weight
Reps
Sets


Dumbbell incline bench press
20 lbs ea
8-12
2


Underhand grip lat pulldown
55 lbs
8-12
2


Dumbbell bench press 
20 lbs ea
8-12
2


Wide-grip lat pulldown 
55 lbs
8-12
2

 

Exercise
Weight
Reps
Sets


Barbell upright row 
20 lbs
15
2


Barbell curl 
20 lbs
15
2


Skull crusher 
20 lbs
15
2

 

Exercise
Weight
Reps
Sets


Cable horizontal woodchop 
35 lbs
12
2


Plank 
bw
60 sec
2

Treadmill

Minutes
Speed – MPH
Incline


0-1
3.0
0.0


1-3
3.5
0.0


3-4
8.5
0.0


4-6
3.5
1.0


6-7
8.5
1.0


7-9
3.5
0.0


9-10
9.0
0.0


10-12
3.5
1.0


12-13
9.0
1.0


13-15
3.5
0.0

I wore my new running shoes today and they were awesome :) Amazing how much the cushioning wears down in just six months, I could notice a huge difference!

I went straight to the grocery store after the gym, so I picked up a Bolthouse Farms vanilla chai tea and drank it right in the store as I shopped. I was ravenous!

It was way sweeter than I was expecting! Not bad for 20g protein, but awful at 42g sugar in 450 mL. Blech.

Came home and had some real food, including a new (to me) food!

 Armstrong garden herbs cheddar cheese.

I guess I can?t really call this a ?cheesestring? as it?s not stringy. Cheese stick perhaps? Regardless, it was creamy, full-fat, treat :)

Then it was on to my weekly food prep!

First up: some of Deb?s Puffy Pimped Protein Faux-nola.

It?s a lower-cal, higher protein version of regular granola. Subbing out puffed rice for some of the oatmeal. I followed the directions almost exactly and it turned out amazing. Seriously. Cooking down the maple syrup first, and then stirring in protein powder, gave it such an awesome flavour!! Once you?re done making coconut chia granola, go make this :)

In between stirring the granola, I got to work on Averie?s Vegan White Chocolate Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cups. 

Except I used totally non vegan ingredients ;) As with most of Averies? recipes, this one is super simple. Just stir up some peanut butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and agave nectar for the filling. Pour a little white chocolate into the cup, plop in your filling, then top it off!! Keep reading to hear the results of these bad boys.

Theeeen it was some Olive & Feta Hummus a la me ;)

1 can chickpeas
3.5 oz feta cheese
1/2 cup sliced black olives
2 small cloves garlic
salt and pepper

All blended up in my food processor. This turned out great. I can?t wait to make tomorrow’s turkey sandwich with it.

Oh yes, and while all this was going on, I also roasted a chicken.

With some roasted brussels sprouts and parsnips. One of my fave dinners!

And the best part ? dessert!

 
Ohheckyes, it was good. I was scared I didn?t sweeten the filling enough, but the white chocolate is so sweet it goes perfectly. The rest of these will be pawned off on my coworkers tomorrow, muhaha ;)

Okee doke, I hate to blog and run, but I have to go get ready if I intend to get up for spin class tomorrow! Have a great start to your week!!

 

Question of the Day: White, milk or dark chocolate? I?m dark chocolate all the way, but I lovelovelove white chocolate too :)