Green Smoothie Challenge + Chai Smoothie Recipe

Hi guys!  I completed the Green Smoothie Challenge!  Every day for 30 days, I drank a green smoothie (or once it was a green juice).  I loved it!  Green smoothie's will definitely be a part of my regular breakfast rotation from now on!  I'll definitely make some of the recipes I enjoyed during the month as well!  Here's a new one that I tried and LOVED today (again, by Mira):

 

Mira's Chai Banana Milkshake:
Vegan, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Soy Free
This smoothie is amazing.  It's so healthy and shocking to the taste buds.  The ingredients may seem weird, but trust me- it's delicious!

• 1 cup unsweetened original or vanilla almond (or soy) milk
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup of spinach (optional, but suggested because it's an easy way to sneak vegetables in!)
• 1/2 tsp stevia or truvia
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cardomom
• A pinch of freshly ground pepper (do it!)
• 1 tsp cacao nibs

Directions:  Add milk of choice and spices to blender.  Top with spinach, then banana, and blend until smooth.  Add cacao nibs and blend for about five more seconds so you'll get bites of chocolatey bliss as you drink your smoothie.  Serves: 1.

If drinking this for breakfast, I would suggest adding protein, fat, and fiber (like hemp, flax, or chia seeds, or nuts/nut butters) to make it more filling and stabilizing.

*If you add chia, then you could call it chia-chai smoothie :D  Too much fun.


Here are some more green smoothies from the challenge:

(Strawberries, spinach, water, ice, flax, and granola :)

 

(Frozen banana, strawberries, spinach, almond milk, cacao nibs, vanilla protein powder, cinnamon)

MY FAVORITE

(Water, ice, spinach, frozen banana, chocolate protein powder, PB2, cacao powder, cacao nibs, cinnamon)

 

Yum!

 

I love these smoothies!  They're so perfect first thing in the morning to get that chocolate fix while getting in at least one serving of both fruit and veggies!  Yay for smoothies!

 

 

You may notice that I used truvia/stevia in my recipe for the chai smoothie.  I'd suggest that vegans and vegetarians use these kind of sweeteners because some white sugars are made using animal products.  Coming from a leaf, it does not affect the blood sugar levels and is calorie free while possessing vitamins and minerals.  You also use half the amount of stevia/truvia per measured amount of sugar, so that's a bonus!

What's your favorite smoothie recipe?  How about your favorite sweetener?

Have a great day!

Thick Berry Shake

Hi guys!  Yesterday my brother, Alex, and I went for a great run on the Atlanta Beltline.  We took walking breaks as frequently as possible needed.  Alex hadn't run for two months, so this six mile run was harder for him than normal.  Anyway, by the time we got to our street, we were hungry and impatient so I made us a delicious smoothie!

Post Workout Berry Shake:
Vegan, Gluten Free
This shake is perfect for a snack after a long, hot run.  It has a great, thick consistency but is still nice and cold.  It has more than 20 grams of protein per serving and is packed full of antioxidants, healthy fats, and deliciousness! 

• 1 1/2 cups vanilla soy milk
• A handful of spinach (optional)
• 2 cups organic mixed frozen berries
• 2 scoops Vanilla Bean Plant Fusion Protein Powder
• 1/2 banana
• 2 Tbsp hemp hearts
• 1 1/2 Tbsp cacao nibs
• Sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:  Blend all ingredients together for the perfect post run smoothie!  Serves: 2

During that run, Alex and I talked about what colleges he wanted to go to, what he wanted to be, where people had gone to college, and so on, and the run went by very quickly.  It took us eighty minutes and I burned 1200+ calories x.x  But it was so fun and I love talking to my brother!  He was worried that he "held me back," but without him I wouldn't have run at all!  I would highly suggest running with a love one.  Remember: you are not running a race, you're spending time with your family/friend/'special' friend to grow closer.  Walking breaks happen at the drop of a hat; unplanned routes are explored; and stopping and staring at dogs in baby carriers is quite all right...

^That's just wrong.

Today, I was pretty sore and didn't know whether or not I should workout (see my Rest Day post, haha).  I did :)  I have a rest day coming up, don't worry!  I did Zwow #68, completing three rounds and 30 jump lunges in 12 minutes.  Then I held a plank...

A FIVE MINUTE PLANK!!!  That's the longest plank I've ever held and I'm so proud!  For the past couple of weeks I've been building up my planking endurance and it's so satisfying to see this number! 


By the way, I've been doing a green smoothie challenge.  This is a challenge where you drink a smoothie with spinach, kale, romaine, etc. every day for 30 days.  I'm on Day 25 :)  I love it!  I've gone through more spinach, naners, and protein powder (Plant Fusion is the BOMB!) than I ever have before.  Everyday it's so nice to wake up and know that my breakfast is going to be healthy, tasty, and prepared in less than five minutes!

Would you ever do a green smoothie or plank-a-day challenge?

Have a great day!

Happy Mother's Day! Happy Birthday, Sellers!

Hi guys!  I'm dedicating today's post to two beautiful, amazing women: my mother and Sellers Swann.  I love them both with my entire heart and soul and I want to show my appreciation for them.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!  I love you so much!  I miss you allll the time and I know you miss me too :) I am soooo proud of you for giving up gluten and I can notice the changes in not only your body, but your entire demeanor.  You're radiating happiness and energy and I can tell this is the right thing for you.  When you call me and brag about the 100 squats and chest presses you just did, a smile spreads across my face and my heart bursts with love and pride.  You're the strongest, funniest, LOUDEST woman I'll ever know, and I love you.  A lot.  To the moon and back with a kiss on your palm.  HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

And Sellers.  Oh, Sellers.  You're the craziest, weirdest, closest friend I've ever had and I wish I could pack you up in a change purse and take you to school with me.  I hate being this far from you!  You already have quite the reputation at Paideia and all of my friends here are dying to meet you!  I miss you when I read a good book; I miss you when I watch a lovey dovey movie; I miss you when I go running because I always think of how you close your eyes and hope for the best :D  I know it's been a couple of months since we've seen each other, but the next time we'll go right into it because I know you and you know me (and we can't stay normal around each other for long).  You need to come over this summer and meet my three dogs and cat and show me that "rock hard six pack" ;)

Who do you appreciate today?  Why are they so amazing?


Today I went on a run.  With Sellers and my Momma on my mind, I ran five and a half miles in about an hour.  It was a great refreshing, mind clearing, and energy boosting run!  It was the first run outside that I've done by myself since I moved to Atlanta (I stayed on the BeltLine and in Freedom Park the entire time to be safe) and it was amazing!  With music pumping through my body, I forgot I was running and moved myself to the beat.  I made sure to pay attention to my heart rate though, and whenever it got up to the mid 190s I took a 30-60 second walking break.  No workout is worth a heart attack!  Some of the great songs I listened to on my run were:

•  It's Getting Boring By The Sea
• Everything's Not Lost (by Coldplay)
• The End Has No End (by The Strokes)
• Three or four Beatles songs (they always make their way onto my playlists :)
• All I Really Want To Do (by Bob Dylan- I also love the song The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - brings a tear to my eye. Look up the lyrics as you listen to it, please!)
• Imagine (by John Lennon of course, by this was a beautiful cover by Avril Lavigne)

I love exercise!  I was feeling kind of cranky and snappy (sorry, Dad), but now I feel calm and happy!  Tea helps.  I also had a big ol' smoothie after my run.  It was a chocolate shake that I split with my Dad of Plant Fusion Chocolate Protein Powder, cacao powder, flax, spinach, cinnamon, a banana, a spoonful of peanut butta, ice, and cacao nibs.  Yum....  Perfect drink after a hot run!

We also went to Trader Joe's today and spent $180+!  I love Trader Joe's and we got a TON of food (plus Tea Tree Oil conditioner, facial scrub, TP, and dogfood) and should be good on that front for a while.  And finally, BERRIES ARE CHEAP AND DELICIOUS!!! Yay!

 

Ohhhhh, Ahhhhhh.

I have this deeply rooted love for all berries.  I love those raspberries that you can crush with your tongue; those blueberries that burst into your mouth; eating a blackberry one "drupelet" (I had to look that up) at a time; and dipping strawberries in vegan chocolate fondue.

 

I hope you are having a great Mother's Day!  And I hope your mother is too!

 

Have a great week!  I only have five days of regular classes left- then short term!

Rest Days For Me

Hi guys!  I realized the other day as I ran on tired legs (again) that I didn't remember the last time I had a rest day!  That's no good!  I usually do some (pretty intense) form of exercise everyday and I try to take rest days once a week (at least), but I have forgotten to take them recently.  Homework hasn't been as bad, I go to a Girl's Exercise Group at Paideia twice a week, the weather's been nice... I could give you a dozen reasons but the truth is that if I don't plan to not exercise it just happens.

I know you're probably thinking, "Boo Hoo Adair, you can't stop yourself from exercising everyday, your life is so hard," and I realize that people struggle to bring themselves to move it move it on a daily basis.  I don't have that problem because it's part of my daily routine: get ready, take care of dogs, eat breakfast, school, snack, homework, workout, shower, dinner, bed.  That's how my days go.  Five times a week.  On the weekends, I rarely skip a workout because I have so much more time (unless I'm travelling).  This causes me to be fatigued, and honestly my body hurts more if I don't remind myself to rest.  My hips hurt from the extra strain, my shoulder, neck, and back take a turn for the worst, and my blisters start to feel like dedicated mosquitoes are trapped in my Moccasins.  I walk up the stairs and feel a burn in my hammies and I sometimes even start to pant.  I am not out of shape: I am tired. 

So after I ran six miles on Tuesday, I took a rest day Wednesday.  The next day, I went to the exercise group I referred to earlier, and we ran for about 10-15 minutes before getting Bubble Tea, then today, Friday, I'm resting again!  My streak of intense exercise has reached it's peak and I'm letting my body relax...  I still feel my legs and my joints so I feel like this break is well needed!


I didn't post this recipe, but I made some falafel and they've been kicking booty in my lunches and dinners.

I packed it today for lunch... along with spring mix, carrots, snap peas, tomatoes, quinoa, pea shoots, and lemon (YUM):

And with dinner, stuffed in a toasted whole wheat pita with hummus and tomatoes, with a salad of spinach, snap peas, raisins, walnuts, hemp oil, and lemon, and a bit of tofu:

 

 I adore falafel and hummus!  Mediterranean foods are easy to incorporate into my diet (chickpeas, olive oil, garlic, tabbouleh, eggplant dip which I will never be able to spell correctly) and I love the flavors!  Definitely one of the easiest cultures to order vegan in (Indian restaurants are easy too :) 

I'm worried that people missed my post for Alli that I posted on her birthday because for some reason blogger decided to post it as if I had made it before my post for Julia, which wouldn't make any sense.  I don't know how to fix it because I'm not technologically savvy, but I don't want you guys to miss out on that amazing recipe for an amazing gal!

What's your favorite culture?  How is their culture related to the food they eat? 

Have a great weekend!

Quick Lunch For A Hungry Vegan: Tofu Stir Fry with Honey Mustard Sauce

Hi guys!  I was starving the other day around 12:30 (I got caught up in a good book... yay for My Sister's Keeper!) I decided to make lunch!  I found tofu, quinoa, and tons of veggies in our fridge, so I decided to just roll with it!

Tofu Veggie Stir Fry with Honey Mustard Sauce:
Vegan, Low Sugar, Nut Free, Gluten Free*
Adapted from: blogilates.com

Stir fry:

• 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, peeled (and SMASHED)
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled
• 1/4 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/4 cup mushrooms, chopped
• 3 asparagus steams, chopped
• 1/2 block Wildwood Teriaki Tofu (TJ's also has a good version)
• 2/3 cup cooked quinoa
• Salt and pepper to taste

Sauce:

• 1/2 lemon
• 1 tsp agave
• 1 tsp spicy brown mustard

Directions:  Add olive oil to a pan and heat.  Mince garlic and ginger, and saute for about three minutes.  Chop pepper, mushrooms, and asparagus and add them.  Cook for another five minutes (I added a little more olive oil at this point to help them cook) and turn off heat.  Transfer to a bowl with quinoa and chopped tofu.  Whisk lemon juice, agave, and mustard and pour over stir fry.  Season with salt and pepper.  Serves:  1.

*There's some controversy as to whether quinoa is GF or not.  If you're very sensitive to gluten, I would say switch it out for a safer grain.

In the pan:

 

With tofu:

 

Saucy-sauce:

In the bowl and dramatized:

So simple, fast, and healthy!  Not to mention delicious.  The perfect lunch for a rainy May Day :)  Don't be afraid to change up the veggie, protein, or grain!  Forever versatile!


Apparently Julia liked the post I made for her birthday:

 

Don't worry, I made that bread for Julia!

 

Today I went to a body pump class and it was so challenging!  We got to the gym a little early so I ran for 5 minutes, then set up and pumped that iron!  It was a great workout for my butt, quads, chest, biceps, triceps, hamstrings, back, shoulders, and abs.  I burned 730+ calories in about 1 hr and 20 minutes.  The instructor even threw in some plyometrics, which I loved.  I will be sore tomorrow (and probably the day after that as well.)

What's your favorite quick meal? 
Do you ever which Facebook would let you like posts more than once? ;)

Have a great weekend!  I'm curling up with another good book right now (On The Bright Side, I'm Now The Girlfriend Of A Sex God.  It's hilarious!)  Bye!