Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healthy. Show all posts

Monday, October 23, 2017

Breakfast You Make While You Sleep

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you skip breakfast, you ruin your entire day. That's why my healthy, homemade breakfasts are a must for me and I wake up extra early to make them. But when I really have no time, overnight oats are my go-to breakfast on mornings when I'm in a rush. You just dunk the ingredients in a mason jar and place these in the ref and in the morning, you have a healthy, delicious meal waiting for you with minimal or no time to prepare.

This is practically one of the easiest breakfasts to make and there's no culinary skill required. I just need a mason jar, some basic kitchen equipment, and ingredients. I prefer using a wide-mouthed mason jar for this but a regular mason jar works as fine. Just be sure there's a cover.

For your basic ingredient formula you need:

1. Rolled oats. Not the instant one and not the steel-cut (that one you use for regular, slow-cooking oatmeal). Use old fashioned rolled oats. Have these with you because these are very versatile.
2. Milk - I use almond milk or soy milk for my milk but if you're not lactose intolerant like I am, then go ahead and use dairy milk. My ratio of rolled oats to milk is 1 part oats to 1 part and some more milk (like 1/3 cup oats to 1/3 cup plus a little less than 1/4 cup milk) , and you will see why.
3. Chia seeds - you can purchase chia seeds at a health food store like Healthy Options, S&R, or The Superfood Grocer. Chia seeds when soaked have this gelatinous coating that give the oats a nice, thick, creamy texture. That is why my ratio of milk is 1 part and then some more, so our chia has enough room to expand. I do this trial and error. If I see my oats look too thick and crowded, I just add a splash or two of liquid and give it a good stir and I'm good to go
4. Yogurt - Yogurt has all these yummy probiotics that are good for you. They also contribute to the creamy consistency. Use coconut yogurt if you're vegan. The best yogurt though to use for me is low fat Greek yogurt because of the protein content (for muscle!). There are also some recipes that use coconut milk or coconut cream instead of Greek Yogurt or a combination of both.

That's your base. Then you add in sweeteners, spices, toppings, or whatever. Sometimes, fruit is added already during the prep time. For the toppings, I usually place them before I eat them, especially nuts, so they stay crunchy. If I have time, I take photos and upload in Instagram.

Look online and there are so many recipes of overnight oats to choose from. Even restaurants and health food stores have their own versions





I have here in this post a few overnight oats recipes for you to try so you literally wake up to a yummy, effortless, and healthy breakfast every single day.

Banana Bread Oats

You can make your overnight oats as a snack.
If you want nuts, place them in a separate container.
This is like a warm hug to wake you up in the morning. Great for pre-workout energy food

You will need:
  • Banana
  • a sprinkle of cinnamon
  • a sprinkle of nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • Almond milk/soy milk
  • maple syrup
  • sea salt
  • vanilla
  • rolled oats
  • yogurt.
Procedure:
  • Place the banana in a blender and blend with soymilk until you get a smooth consistency. Allow the froth to settle a bit.
  • In a mason jar, dunk the oats, chia, a sprinkle of nutmeg, cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt. Mix all the dry ingredients together.
  • Dunk a big dollop of yogurt, a splash of vanilla, and drizzle with maple syrup. 
  • Add your banana milk. remember the ratio (1 part oats to 1 part and some more milk).
  • Mix the whole thing up. Close the mason jar and place this in the fridge. Go to bed.
  • In the morning, get your mason jar and give the contents a good stir. If it's a bit too thick, splash some almond milk until you reach a desired consistency. 
  • Top with some more sliced banana and pecans and cinnamon if you wish and eat with tea.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oats


Chocolate. Peanut Butter. No explanation needed.

You will need:
  • Rolled Oats
  • Vanilla Yogurt
  • 1 tbsp Chia seeds
  • Almond milk/soy milk
  • vanilla
  • 1 tbsp peanut butter
  • maple syrup or coconut sugar
  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder
Procedure:
  • Mix the milk, peanut butter, syrup/sugar, and cocoa powder until you get a chocolate milk like consistency
  • In a mason jar, combine well the oats and chia seeds.
  • Pour in the chocolate milk and give it a good stir. sprinkle a bit of seasalt and add a splash of vanilla. Mix Well. Cover your jar and store in fridge. Go to bed and dream pleasant dreams.
  • Eat as is in the morning or top with desired toppings. I like using banana, nuts (cashews and walnuts), cacao nibs, flax, maca powder, and shredded coconut. 
  • Optional: before eating, I take out the contents out of the mason jar and pulse it on the food processor for like 20 seconds until I get a porridge like consistency, like champorado.

Good Morning, Sunshine


This one I added a bit of turmeric powder. Don't get scared. The flavor of turmeric blends well with cinnamon. It also has a lot of nutritional benefits and gives your breakfast a sunny yellow color.

You will need:
  • Rolled Oats
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • Soy/Almond Milk
  • Cinnamon
  • Turmeric
  • Vanilla
  • Maple Syrup or coconut sugar
  • Yogurt
  • Dried Blueberries
Procedure:

Dunk them all  in a mason jar. Since this is the third recipe, you pretty much know the drill already.
In the morning, eat with nuts, bananas, mangoes, and cacao nibs. Add a dollop of coconut cream and a sprinkle of more coconut sugar for sweetness.


Ube Overnight Oats

Love local and lilac with this sweet treat
If you purchased a jar of ube jam from your recent Baguio trip, add a scoop of this to your oats for a pretty, lilac breakfast. If your ube is already sweet, you may skip the sweetener because that and the fruit is gonna make this breakfast so sweet. Since ube is like the new salted caramel or salted egg, I thought if I made ube waffles and ube pancakes, why not make ube overnight oats as well?

You will need:
  • Rolled oats
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • Soy/Almond/Cashew milk
  • A scoop of ube jam
  • Coconut milk/Coconut cream
Procedure:

Place oats and chia in a mason jar and combine well. Add some coconut cream or coconut milk. Coconut cream makes it so much thicker and richer but milk will do fine. Add your ube jam and top with milk. Stir so the ube jam is well distributed onto the mixture. Alternatively, you can blend the ube and the milk in the blender for a more homogenous consistency of ube milk. Stir well and place in the fridge overnight. Top with fruits of the season. #Lovelocal with bananas, mangoes, cashews, and coconut flakes. For added sweetness, sprinkle with coconut sugar.

Have healthy, happy mornings with your overnight oats! Never skip breakfast and stay healthy!

Thursday, July 20, 2017

My Superfood Grocer Haul

Since I make my own food most of the time, I try to get the most out of what I eat. I let food be my medicine by eating good-quality food. I'm on the lookout for weekend markets that sell local produce at a fraction of the cost, bonus too for organic finds (I'm not super strict on the organic food, but I know and recognize that there are food that as much as possible we get organic such as greens, eggs, etc.). It makes meal prepping so much more fun because I'm working with a rainbow of high-quality ingredients.

I've been adding superfood to what I make.  Superfoods are food that will not turn me to a superhero but it is a fun (marketing) term used to describe food with health benefits that our body needs. I would like to think of it as getting nutrients from other food sources or to up the nutritional value of my food by sneaking in some other food sources. Popular superfood include chia seeds, quinoa, flax, etc. Since most superfoods are plant-based, it makes those with a plant-based diet or those with seafood allergy to still get nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids other than fish or seafood.

I already have food like chia seeds, flax, and quinoa in my stock so I thought I'd add more to my stash. Doing more research led me to the Superfood Grocer website, and I purchased a few products from their list which I would like to show you.

Superfood staples (L-R): Spirulina, Maca Power, Raw Cacao Nibs, and Chia Seeds

I purchased these items in separate days, since I purchased them through their dealer stores such as Rustan's Supermarket and The Green Company. For this time, I decided to go to the physical stores since I like seeing what I buy. Also, it's like making a little trip and discovering new places too where I can source out materials.

Chia Seeds, Php350 (1/2 lb)  and  Php625 (1 lb)
 I really use chia seeds  and they are practically in almost all of  my breakfasts. Chia contains fiber, protein, and omega-3. They are fun to work with. When you soak them, they form a jelly-like coating that thickens up smoothies.


Use chia seeds to make coconut-chia pudding. Just add some mangoes and you have a dessert that reminds you of a popular Thai dessert. Added to overnight oats, it gives you that thick, creamy consistency.  One bag of chia seeds last really long for me (unless you make chia pudding everytime), since a tablespoon is more than enough for topping for my granola or oatmeal already.



You can take a cue from my friend Jinky, where she placed chia seeds on her Bayani Brew drink. It adds an interesting texture and keeps you fuller so you don't go mindlessly snacking throughout the day.

Raw Cacao Nibs, Php 225 (1/2 lb) and Php 395 (1 lb)

Cacao nibs are quite interesting because they look and taste like dark chocolate. These bits that look (and taste) like chocolate-covered raisins contain magnesium and manganese as well as iron. They also contain antioxidants that the body needs to fight free radicals.


Mix these in oatmeal or your granola and yogurt or have a few when you're craving for chocolate. I purchased a small packet of cacao nibs from a different brand a while back, but they were a bit too nutty and bitter for me. This one, since they are coated with raw sugar are a bit yummier and sweeter. You can actually include them in homemade trail mixes you can take when you want a snack wherever.


Maca Power, Php 850 (1/2 lb), and Php 1,600 (1 lb)
I'm actually curious about Maca Power because it practically contains everything I needed in my life right now plus there were so much good reviews about it. Sleep is important. It's the body's natural way of repairing itself.  I've actually planned my day and my life that I should get proper amount of sleep every single day. Since working out is practically my job and my life right now, I need faster recovery so I don't run on empty batteries and an injured body. All you need is 1/2 teaspoon blended into your smoothies, juices, oatmeal, etc. It also doesn't interfere with the taste of my smoothies. Actually, with life so busy and running on instant and fast paced and all these Facebook statuses that I read of people running on coffee, 2 hours of sleep and ready to beast mode at work, we should have this all the time. It's been a week of taking my Maca Powder (I add it to my smoothies and oatmeal). I haven't had coffee the entire week and I have this steady energy like I supercharged my fire meridians. I don't have broken sleep (like being interrupted midway). My sleep is steady and I constantly wake up at 5:00 a.m. every single day. It's like being a car getting VIP tune-up service every single time.

Spirulina, Php 400 (1/4 lb), Php 700 (1/2 lb), and Php 1,300
What actually got me wanting to purchase a packet of spirulina was because it gives a pretty blue color for my smoothies and colored pasta. This spirulina however, is more a deep blue-green color rather than navy blue. However, even though it didn't color my pasta or smoothie to a blue color, it's still worth it to have some spirulina present. Spirulina in the highest known natural protein source.  It has the highest concentration of protein per gram compared to any food on the planet. Any food, yes, that includes protein from animal sources and the yucky monggo. It contains powerful antioxidants, aids in quick recovery and for breastfeeding mommies who are getting umay with eating 25,745 malunggay (moringa) leaves in all forms (including in yucky monggo soup). I have this in smoothies and smoothie bowls. I even made fresh pasta with spirulina.

I do have to warn you though, that spirulina, since it comes from algae, may have an initial fishy smell. However, those who tasted it says it tastes like seaweed or nori. I'm thinking of adding this to my vegan puttanesca sauce next time as an alternative for anchovies.

The Superfood Grocer website has the most complete listing of food we could include to stock up our pantries. I'm eyeing on the camu camu berry on my smoothie next time as well as chlorella. They also have starter packs for those who want to get started on including superfood in their system. The website has all their products but if you are like me and like looking at the actual product before buying, they also have partner stores listed in their site. The groceries though like Landmark, Rustan's, and Robinsons contain just the quinoa, chia seeds, flax, coconut sugar, and cacao nibs. For the maca power and spirulina, you may have to go to organic food stores. Next time, I shall try ordering online. If you're at a loss on how to incorporate them in food, the website also has (plant-based) recipes for you to try.

I've got so much ideas now on my smoothie bowls and juices and I always look forward to making breakfast and meals supercharged with superfood. If you have an idea, let me know how to use them.


Store Directory

The Superfood Grocer
www.thesuperfoodgrocer.com; facebook.com/TheSuperfoodGrocer; instagram.com/thesuperfoodgrocer

The Green Company
San Juan: 17-D DPL Bldg, M. Paterno St., San Juan. (02) 5315201;
QC: 920 Banawe St. Brgy Manresa, QC (02) 3512982
Pasig: Ground Floor, Ace Plaza Hotel and Suites, United St. cor. Brixton St., Kapitolyo, Pasig (02) 9416165
facebook.com/thegreencompanyorganic; instagram.com/thegreencompany

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Smoothie Bowl Recipes

Smoothie bowls are like yummy inspirations in the morning. They're super fun to make, pretty to look at and take photos of, and they're full of things that are good for you. If you find consuming a bowl of fruit too hardcore, give all those fruits a new look by turning them to a smoothie bowl, and add a few nutritious ingredients too for more texture and crunch.

Basically, a smoothie bowl is a bowl of a really thick smoothie topped with delicious ingredients (fruit, nuts, seeds, etc). The smoothie in this bowl is very thick, almost like melted or soft ice cream or soft sherbet, with a more scoopable consistency than your regular smoothie. They're perfect not just for breakfast but for snack on a hot day, and with us living in a tropical country and having an abundance of fruits, take advantage of this awesomeness because I have here three smoothie bowl recipes you would surely love. As you get more creative, you can create your own combos and flavors, depending on what you feel like and the fruits that are in season. This is even so much cheaper than eating the ones in health food stores! DIY is the way to go.

For my smoothie base, I start with mostly frozen fruit. I freeze bananas ahead of time (they're usually the main ingredient having that nice, creamy texture and natural sweetness). I prefer the regular lakatan bananas since they're much sweeter and less starchier. I buy frozen berries, especially if they're not in season. I also like doing my smoothie bowls in a chilled, frosty bowl so chill your bowl for around 30 minutes, I usually stick my bowl in the freezer as I do my workout before breakfast and while preparing food. That will get my bowl nice and cold so the smoothie stays cold longer. Also, work with less fluid (usually soy milk, fruit juice, or coconut water), half (or a bit less) than what you would use for regular smoothie.

So let's make these smoothie bowls:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sweetness

Smoothie:
Frozen bananas
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 tsp cacao powder
1 tbsp coconut sugar
soymilk (you can substitute with any other nut milk like hazelnut, cashew, or almond)
1 scoop of vanilla protein powder (optional)

Toppings:
sliced bananas
sliced strawberries
coconut flakes
chia seeds
granola
chopped chocolate (I used 70% dark chocolate)

Blend the ingredients for the smoothie until scoopable consistency. Pour in a chilled bowl and decorate with your toppings.

Tropical Gorgeousness


Smoothie:
Frozen bananas
Frozen mangoes
Passionfruit
Frozen peaches
1 tbsp coconut sugar
soymilk

Toppings:
mangoes
nectarines
strawberry
granola
toasted coconut
chia seeds
a few mint leaves for color contrast and garnish

Blend smoothie ingredients and place in a chilled bowl. Decorate with toppings and serve!

Strawberry Sweet




Smoothie:
Frozen bananas
Frozen mangoes
Frozen strawberries
A packet of stevia or 1 tsp coconut sugar
Soymilk or coconut water (soymilk just makes it creamier)

Toppings:
strawberries
mangoes
chopped dark chocolate
chia seeds

Blend smoothie ingredients and place in a chilled bowl. Decorate with toppings and serve!

I personally prefer starting off with the chocolate smoothie bowl. It's so gorgeous and sweet it's hard to believe it's breakfast when it tastes like dessert, Then you can graduate to the more fruity bowls with a bit more tart and sweet taste, Then eventually, you can work on green smoothie bowls, getting more veggies in the system.

Show me your smoothie bowl by tagging me in your photos @bambikitty. Let me know your favorites!