Week In Review

Since my schedule doesn't seem to allow me to blog daily, I haven't been keeping myself as accountable (which was part of the goal of blogging in the first place). I've decided to post a recap of what I have done or haven't done towards reaching my goals each week. Yes, I want to share my nutrition knowledge and I want to inspire others...but my priority right now is getting myself healthy and I want my posts to reflect that.

Vegetarian week in review:

Feelings: I was extremely tired all week. I don't know if this was diet related or something else, but my energy levels were very low. I have had a lot of allergy symptoms, which could also be contributing to the fatigue. I still don't miss meat. In fact, the thought of it makes me feel queasy at times. I've received a lot of good feedback from comments about books and other advice about vegetarianism. I really appreciate it and plan to look into the suggestions!

Obstacles: My brother's birthday dinner with the family (he requested rotisserie chicken) and lunch out with my co-workers. That's all. Not bad I'd say. I ended up bringing an Amy's California Burger to the birthday dinner, eating the veggie sides and enjoying the time with my family. (I may or may not have jokingly mentioned they were eating decaying animal carcass).  My co-workers graciously agreed to a restaurant with vegetarian options and we all had a good meal. Not once this week did I feel deprived of anything, which surprised me a little.

New things tried: I tried a beet. I don't think I've ever had one before. I didn't hate it...It was sweet and kinda crunchy.  I put one little piece in my salad at Whole Foods. It's a good way to try knew things. I also tried nutritional yeast for the first time. It's tasty. Speaking of the salad bar at Whole Foods, I love it! Its not new to me, necessarily, but in the past I would compose a salad of all the things I liked. I didn't give much consideration to whether the components would actually taste good together. With a little forthought, its become an excellent "fast food" option.

Mmm...box o' goodness!!

Calorie King:

I logged my foods on the Calorie King website one full day this week, which is unacceptable. I know myself pretty well and if I do not keep track of my calories at this point in my weight loss journey, I go over the limit. By not logging my calories I am blatantly avoiding facing up to what I am eating.  I was very hungry this week and had a little bit of trouble controlling myself.

Exercise:

This week was actually pretty laughable considering my day didn't used to feel complete without exercise. I went to two Zumba classes and took two 20 minute walks on my lunch break in total this week. It's better than nothing, but I know from experience I feel better and am more successful with weight loss when I exercise consistently.

New Recipe:

This weekend, I spent some time in the kitchen. I whipped up a few things and I will be posting them throughout this week.

First up, I have been anxious to try my hand at homemade hummus for awhile. I've always liked hummus, but I'm picky about the texture. I recently discover that hummus is amazing on sandwiches, wraps and even salads. This stuff rocks!

I started off with plain hummus because I've never made it before. Now that I know the basics, I can start playing around with the recipe and perfect it for my tastes.

Here's what you need to get started:

Put it all in the food processor and....well, process it.

Presto! You've got fresh hummus made with quality ingredients and no additives.  

Garnished it with some fresh parsley and pine nuts and served it up with a Dr Kracker Klassic 3 Seed Flatbread (I love those things). It was very tasty, and so easy!

Basic Hummus

(from Simply Recipes)

Ingredients:
4 garlic cloves, minced and then mashed
2 15-oz cans of garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
2/3 cup of tahini (roasted, not raw)
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
Pine nuts (toasted) and parsley (chopped) for garnish

Directions:
1. In a food processor, combine the mashed garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, 1/2 cup water, and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add salt, starting at a half a teaspoon, to taste.

2. Spoon into serving dish and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts and chopped parsley.

3. Serve with crackers, raw vegetables such as carrots or celery, or with pita bread.

Makes about 3 cups.

Confessions...

This is normal, right??

Everyone keeps 6 jars of nut butter in their house at all times, RIGHT?

I have a love/hate relationship with nut buttah. It's healthy, filled with monounsaturated fats (the good ones), protein and vitamins. It's tasty (probably one of my favorite foods ever, in case you can't tell).

It's also a highly concentrated source of calories. For those of us trying to lose weight, portion control is pretty important. A 2 tbsp serving contains approximately 180 calories and 16 grams of fat. That adds up fast.

I may or may not have been eating peanut butter out of the jar by the spoonful this week...

I may need to cut myself off until I can demonstrate some self control.

In all honesty, it's been a rough week. I've been tired and seriously lacking motivation. I'm not logging my calories, and (big surprise!), I'm not losing any weight. I finally decided that I need to share the good and the bad on my blog, because its all part of the process. I want to act like this is easy peasy and I'm loving every minute of my weight loss journey, but that would be a big, fat lie (pun intended).

This is not my first attempt to lose weight, nor my second or even fifth. Let me tell you, it does not get any easier. If anything, it gets harder. Failing at something time and time again makes it much harder to convince yourself that you can actually be successful.  Then I remind myself that I have to keep trying. What other choice do I have? So I trudge on....

Anyhow, it is appropriate to put a spoonful (read: 1 tbsp) of White Chocolate Wonderful peanut butter on your oats:

In the mix:
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup UVAB (or milk of choice)
1/2 cup water
1/2 banana, mashed
1 tbsp chia seeds

These oats were cooked on the stovetop. I am feeling ready for fall and hot oats are sounding good again (if only the weather would cooperate and cool down). I am loving the mashed banana in the oats. Try it.

I forgot my lunch one day this week, but fortunately I had the foresight to keep a frozen meal or two in the freezer at work (this is not my first time, my friend).

I pulled out a  Kashi Tuscan Veggie Bake.

It was dee-lish! Much tastier than I expected. The description states, "Yellow squash, roasted eggplant, red onion, and sweet potato. Zesty basil tomato sauce with sun dried tomatoes served inside Kashi seven whole grain noodles."  Its definitely going to be a keeper.

I paired it with a Chobani Greek yogurt.

Crisis averted. The moral of the story is, always be prepared...then have a back-up.

What are your tips and tricks for weight loss success?

The Fresh Market

I would like to start by saying how much I would have rather been blogging last night instead of sitting in class...

That is where I spend two nights a week. My cohort has officially reached the halfway point of our MBA program; one more year to go!

Veg Update:

As you may or may not be aware, I am in the process of a 30 day trial as a vegetarian. If you missed that post, you can catch up here. My personal thoughts so far...

PROS: This experience has already exceeded my expectations. It has turned into something that is much more than a "meat-free" diet. I am enjoying trying new foods and really tasting them. I have started to savor the flavors of vegetables like never before. Meat is often the focal point of our meals and the other foods are just "sides". When I eliminated meat from the picture, the veggies, grains and beans stepped into the spotlight. I have gained a new perspective on food, to say the least. Also, I don't miss meat AT ALL.

CONS: Sometimes finding a decent veg-friendly option when eating out is a challenge. You don't quite realize meat is everywhere until you are trying to avoid it. Many restaurants around here do have amazing meat-free dishes, but eating out can be a complication. I have also had some social conflict. I am not comfortable inconveniencing my friends or family because of my choices. I don't want people to feel like they have to only eat places with vegetarian options or cook a meat-free dish when I come over for dinner. Everyone has been super accomodating so far...but is that because they think this will be over in a month??

Next up...

I walked into a new (to me) store this past weekend.

It was beautiful.

I just love shopping for food. :)

I bought these....

Green bean 'chips'.

They are yummy! Crispy, salty and a little sweet.

Have you tried any new foods lately?

Quinoa with Chickpeas and Tomatoes

Shhhhh....they are trying to sleep.

Lazy kitties.

Although being lazy is tempting, on Sunday I like to prepare for the week ahead. I try to make one or two dishes that will serve as quick meals when I don't have time (or energy) to cook. This week my lunch bag will include Quinoa with Chickpeas and Tomatoes. It keeps well in the refrigerator and actually becomes more tasty after the flavors are able to marinate for awhile.

Some of you might be thinking, "What is so great about quinoa"? Well, I will tell you.

Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is an ancient seed that is high in protein, calcium and iron, a relatively good source of vitamin E and several of the B vitamins. It contains an almost perfect balance of all eight essential amino acids needed for tissue development in humans and is therefore considered a "complete protein". Although it is technically a seed, it is used as a grain and substituted for grains because of it's cooking characteristics. The fat content of quinoa is relatively high when compared to other grains, but it is low in sodium and also provides valuable starch and fiber.  Quinoa is a tasty and versitile, supplying variety as well as good nutrition. If you haven't tried Quinoa...do it.

Check out the nutritionals.

Quinoa with Chickpeas and Tomatoes
(from allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups water
1 cup canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
1 tomato, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons lime juice
4 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 pinch salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
1.Place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer, and rinse under cold, running water until the water no longer foams. Bring the quinoa, salt, and water to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

2.Once done, stir in the garbanzo beans, tomatoes, garlic, lime juice, and olive oil. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley to serve.
 
Makes 6 servings.
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
This dish is now individually portioned in the fridge so all I have to do when I need a quick meal during the week is pull it out, add some veggies or a salad and EAT.
 
Question: What are your favorite "make-ahead" dishes?

Goin' VEG!

I am so glad it is Saturday and I finally have a minute to sit down and blog! I have a lot to catch up on. This week was pretty much a mess of no planning. I didn't have any meals prepped nor any ideas about what I was going to eat. I don't recommend this strategy :).

First things first. I forgot to prep my overnight oats one day this week so I took the opportunity to whip up something new. I may just have yet another breakfast favorite (in case you can't tell, breakfast rocks my world). I made this again this morning because it was just that good.

Banana Almond Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal

What's inside:
1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/2 banana, mashed

Bring all ingredients to boil over high heat. Reduce to low heat, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

The mashed banana makes this recipe, I think. It adds an amazing creaminess and just enough sweetness to the mix. I am sure this would work wonderfully with oats, too.

What's on top:
1 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tbsp toasted, slivered almonds

Mmmm...yum!

A short note about my toppings:

Slivered almonds are a pantry staple for me. They are fantastic sprinkled on salads, cereals, yogurt and more. I buy the plain, raw, slivered almonds found in the baking aisle at the grocery store. I spread them out on a baking sheet and stick into a 350 degree oven. I know they are ready when they smell toasty delicious and are lightly browned. I then store them in a mason jar so they are ready when I need them.

100% pure maple syrup has recently become a favorite sweetener of mine (this is NOT the same as Aunt Jemima...this is the real stuff). First of all, I think it has the most flavor and sweetness per tablespoon (and per calorie). Second, it is not refined and stripped of nutrients like cane sugar. It contains traces of the minerals potassium, calcium, manganese and zinc. Yes, it is still sugar and should be used in moderation, but I like the idea that it provides some nutrition.

I also treated myself to a Starbuck's breakfast this week. I had a dentist appointment Thursday, and for some reason, I feel like any doctor's appointment deserves to be followed with a special treat.

Iced soy latte and Perfect Oatmeal....the perfect pair.

It comes with dried fruit, mixed nuts and brown sugar. I used about 1/2 of each package (used the rest in my own oats the next day).

Vegetarian Carolyn??

Moving on from my breakfast obsession, I have news! On a whim I picked up the book, Skinny Bitch, and skimmed it while browsing in Border's. In the past I pretty much told myself I wanted nothing to do with this book, and nothing to do with veganism. My curiosity got the best of me...

While I'm not sure I agree with everything said in this book, it did get me thinking. What if I gave it a shot? Would I notice a difference in my energy levels and my health? Why not try it out? After some thought, I decided to become lacto-ovo vegetarian for 30 days. "Lacto-ovo" meaning I will still eat eggs and dairy (no sense in trying to do too much too fast), but no meat, poultry or fish. Although I am not banning eggs and dairy, my goal is to try out as many vegan recipes and products as possible.

I technically started my meat-free diet on Monday of this week, but I have decided to officially start it today, with this blog post. For the next 30 days, I'm goin' veg! I will track how I am feeling as well as triumphs, trials and fails during the course of this experiment.

Also, check out my new Contact Me page. Feel free to email me any comments, suggestions, requests, etc. I welcome all feedback!

Perfectly imperfect...

Over the past few days I have been reminded why I named my blog "Perfectly Imperfect". My goal was to blog daily, and here it is over a week since my last post. What happened? Well, life happened I suppose. I have a full time job and am working on my MBA at UofL in the evenings. I am also trying to exercise, eat right and try new recipes. Recently, I got swept up in the blog world and desperately wanted to be a part of it. So I started this blog. All was going well until a couple of late-nights and homework assignments pushed me over the edge. I was soo tired and irritable, I didn't feel like doing anything at all! Something had to give...

I realized that I was putting too much pressure on the blog. After all, I wanted it to be PERFECT, right? Turns out, blogging is not as easy as it looks. Snapping pictures and writing about my life is the least of it. Lets just say I am not a big fan of website design right now...mostly because I have no clue what I am doing. I've given a lot of thought to whether I should keep blogging or put it on hold. I decided it is something I want to do and something I enjoy. So I'm not perfect...so what?? I have to start somewhere. I am going to continue blogging, but try not to stress myself out about it. As I go along, I am sure it will get easier and my blogging skillz will improve.

At this point, I haven't divulged too much of my history, but I am one of those people who tends to see everything as "all or nothing". If something isn't exactly right, I want to start over or quit. It has taken years for me to learn be okay with mistakes and slip-ups, especially where food is involved. I still remember the first time I ate a piece of cake and still went to the gym (prior to that,  if I ate one "bad" thing, the whole day was ruined). I occasionally find myself searching for that level of perfection that I will never be able to attain, but now I am able to reason with myself. It feels good to find that middle ground, I believe that is where happiness is.

So this is me...perfectly imperfect :)

Overnight Oats

I simply cannot get enough overnight oats! I have them for breakfast almost every weekday. The combinations of ingredients to add in are endless, so I have yet to get tired of this delicious, healthy, portable breakfast.

Overnight Oats

Base:
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup milk (I like almond or soy milk)
1 tbsp chia seeds or ground flax seed

Cover and stash in refrigerator overnight. The oats soak up the liquid and become a creamy mixture. In the morning, get creative with toppings and mix-ins! No cooking or heating required.

In this mix:
1/2 banana
1 tbsp of FitNutz
1 tbsp maple sugar (or brown sugar)

I'm not gonna lie, I dug into this bowl before I remembered to take a picture :)

Question: What is your "go-to" breakfast?

(Don't feel obligated to answer the question. I welcome any comments or questions you have!)

Sunday Night Dinner

Last night I headed out to my parents' house for dinner. It's somewhat of a Sunday routine we have. I also bring the latest season of Bones (the TV show) on dvd and we watch an episode together. Tonight's meal was hot off the grill and fresh!

Chicken breasts and boneless pork chops! My dad was the grill master :).

I had chicken with broccoli and fingerling potatoes. Yum!

And check out this fresh salad!

Lettuce, tomato, baby corn and chocolate peppers! My parents have their own garden, plus a CSA share from Field 51 (a local farm in Goshen, KY).

There are plenty of fresh veggies around!

Lucky for me -- they share. :)

Check out the pretty centerpiece...

Charming country kitchen.

I even had a bowl of ice cream for dessert and came in under my calorie limit for the day. Hooray for fresh food!

Question: What are some of your family traditions?

Enter the Green Monster

Happy Sunday! I stayed up a little too late reading my new book last night and ended up oversleeping. This morning I went to the baptism of  Karla and Aaron's first baby boy, James. Karla and Aaron have been friends of mine since the college years. James was precious and didn't make a peep during the service!

I, however, missed breakfast so when I got home I was hungry! It was already noon, so I had a hearty brunch. Scrambled eggs and toast again...but this time the toast was sprouted whole grain cinnamon raisin bread that I picked up at Whole Foods a few days ago (topped with some Brummel Brown). 

Then I had a yogurt parfait, which is pretty much a staple of my diet.

(Sorry about the blurry picture. My camera is a tad temperamental.)

In the mix:
1/2 cup Fage 0% Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup frozen mixed berries, thawed
1/2 cup Kashi GoLean Crisp
1 tbsp (approx) raw honey

I also mixed in some chunks of fresh cantaloupe, which I ultimately picked out. I just don't like cantaloupe. I think I'll have to use it in a smoothie!

Speaking of smoothies....

Yes, it is GREEN!

My first ever Green Monster smoothie! I've wanted to try a green smoothie for quite a while but I'm not gonna lie, I was a little scared. Then I found out about The Green Monster Movement and I REALLY wanted to try one. Since I had "brunch" today instead of breakfast and lunch, I had some calories for an afternoon snack. I whipped up this bad boy:

My First Green Monster

Ingredients:
2 cups raw spinach
1 cup unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze (or milk of choice)
1 banana, frozen and sliced
1/2 scoop Amazing Meal Chocolate Infusion (or protein powder of choice)

Blend until smooth and enjoy!

It was ah-mazing! You can see the spinach, but you can't taste it. It was the perfect delicious (healthy) treat and I will definitely be trying more of these!


Question: What are some of your favorite snacks?

Women, Food and God

Today has been a little odd for me. I haven't been hungry for the most part. That is very unusual. I finally decided to have some lunch and went with what sounded good. Almond butter is one of my very favorite foods...so good. I am almost always in the mood for it.

I spread some on whole grain bread, sliced up a banana, drizzled on local raw honey and added a sprinkle of ground flaxseeds (for a little omega-3).

Made myself a yummy sandwich.

BBQ Popchips on the side.

It was a pretty substantial lunch and kept me full for quite awhile.

Later on I went to Border's to browse the books. I could spend hours in a bookstore! I ended up getting the new book by Geneen Roth called "Women, Food and God".  Geneen Roth has written several books about compulsive eating and unhealthy food relationships. I have read a few of them and it always seems as though she is inside my head. She discusses the exact thoughts and feelings I have struggled with for much of my life.

                                  

"Your relationship to food is an unexpected path to almost everything. It is doorway, not a wall, an opening, not a closing. All that you believe about love, change, joy and possibility is revealed in how, when and what you eat"

Pretty interesting, huh? That definitely makes me think...and makes me curious to read this new book.

After walking around Border's for awhile, it was time for dinner. I simply could not think of a single thing at home that I wanted to eat. Right next door was Taco Bueno Mexican Grill, advertised as "premium quality Tex-Mex food". I had been wanting to try it out for awhile.

I ordered the fajita platter.

                                 

It was not good. It was very salty (and I usually like salt) and the fajitas consisted of chicken, cheese and a tortilla. I had expected some veggies in this "premium quality" food.  I definitely wish I had opted to cook something myself, plus it would've been healthier. Oh well, lesson learned :).

I did discover a benefit to blogging today. In the past I would have ripped into my food on the car ride home. I wanted to snap a picture so I waited until I got home and even plated it up. I have been much more mindful of what I am eating already. I think it helps me feel more satisfied after a meal, too. 

 Today I posted a full day of eats. I won't have the opportunity to do this everyday with a full time job and grad school, but I think it is helpful when I get the chance.

Question: Have you read any good books lately?

Leisurely Saturday

Today is one of those rare days where I don't have anywhere I need to be. I can slow down and relax. Love that! This morning I woke up naturally, without my alarm clock, and so far I've been taking it easy. I made myself a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast.

I like to use 100% whole grain breads. Otherwise the flour is processed and stripped of vitamins and nutrients as well as fiber. I aim for 25-35 grams of fiber each day. It has multiple health benefits, plus it slows digestion and helps me stay full longer. This bread has 4 grams of fiber per slice (although  I noticed added chicory root fiber in the ingredients).

Make sure to check the ingredients when chosing a whole grain product. Whole wheat flour should be the first ingredient! Unfortunately, sometimes labels can be misleading...

I scrambled up 1 whole egg and 1 egg white. I sprayed the pan with some cooking spray and added a sprinkle of sea salt -- just in the mood for simple eggs this morning. A tip for cooking eggs is to keep the heat medium low, cook slowly, and remove from heat when they still appear slightly undercooked. The eggs will finish cooking on your plate and end up perfectly done!

Then I poured myself a tall glass of iced coffee with a few splashes of unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze. Mmmmm. I ♥ iced coffee! I keep some in the fridge at all times.

I like to drink it with a straw!

I didn't end up eating the banana. I think I'll save it for a post-gym snack. I smeared my toast with Brummel & Brown and Cascadian Farm Blueberry Fruit Spread. Yum!

This is my favorite margarine spread! I've been using it for years. It tastes great and has 50 calories, 5 grams fat and 0 grams trans fat per serving (1 tbsp).

This fruit spread is a new product I tried. It is a classic example of why reading the ingredients is so important! I assumed since I bought this in the health food section and it is called "fruit spread" that it would be sweetened with fruit juice instead of added sugars (like used in jams and jellies). At least, this has been my experience in the past...

When I tasted it I found it to be suspiciously super sweet. Upon reading the ingredients, sure enough, the first ingredient was SUGAR. Don't get me wrong, its tasty, but I prefer to save my sugar calories for cookies and ice cream ;).

Next up, I'm off to Zumba class at the gym. Zumba is AWESOME and currently my favorite way to get my cardio on! More about that later.

Question: What is your favorite way to spend a Saturday?

My Food Philosophy

We all want a quick fix, don't we? What is that special diet or pill or food that will melt the fat away? The answer may be disappointing to some, but there is no magic solution. Weight loss is a simple equation of calories in and calories out. If you burn more calories than you consume, weight loss will result. Does this mean you can lose weight by eating only ice cream every day? Yes. Does this mean I recommend it? NO.

I have been on every diet imaginable so I have a little bit of experience in this area....Want to eliminate carbs? Surprise, you are cutting calories. Going low-fat? Automatically cuts calories. Some fad diets will help you shed some pounds quickly, its true. Think about it...have you ever met someone who lost weight on the Atkin's diet and is still maintaining that weight loss? Me neither!

My ideal diet includes all foods and limits calories. Mostly, this is because I LOVE food. I like cooking it, shopping for it, reading about it and most of all eating it. Trust me, I love decadent, calorie laden foods as much as anyone (maybe more). The truth is, though,  I don't feel good when I fuel my body with those low nutrient foods all of the time. I've decided they taste even more delicious when saved for occasional treats anyway :).

 Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and healthy fats are the foundation of my healthy diet. They give me energy and improve my mood. Plus, they are lower in calories than most processed foods so I can enjoy larger quantities! I am trying to "clean up" my diet, meaning I want to enjoy more natural foods and limit artificial colorings, flavorings, preservatives, chemicals, etc. I'm not exactly sure what impact those additives have on the body, but it can't be good, right?

How do I know how many calories I am consuming? Two things.
1. Weigh and measure foods
2. Write it ALL down

I hope to someday abandon calorie counting and eat intuitively (that is, eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full) but for right now, calorie counting is where its at. To do this, I use the Calorie King online food and exercise diary. I am a huge fan! I enter the food and the quantity and this website does the rest. I can track protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, sodium and other nutritients to make sure I am keeping it balanced.

Enough about that for now. On to the fun part: Healthy Carrot Cake Power Scuffins! I will typically share recipes as I make them, but I discovered this one about a week ago (before starting my blog).

A scuffin is a hybrid between a cookie, scone and muffin. Sounds good, right? I thought so. I followed the recipe exactly and I'm glad I did!

Healthy Carrot Cake Power Scuffins
(by Angela, Oh She Glows)

Ingredients:
1 cup whole grain spelt flour
1/2 tsp baking power
1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt
1.5 tsp pumpkin pie spice 
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Chia/flax egg: 1 tbsp ground chia seeds + 3 tbsp water OR 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water, mixed and set aside for 5 mins
1/2 cup regular oats
1 cup shredded or grated carrots (approx 2 medium)
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup toasted, chopped walnuts
Coconut, for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. In a small bowl, mix the chia/flax egg and set aside. In a large bowl whisk together all of the dry ingredients. Using a food processor or grater, process/grate the carrots. In a medium bowl mix together the wet ingredients (carrots, vanilla, oil, maple syrup, chia/flax egg). Add wet to dry and mix until just incorporated. Stir in the walnuts and raisins. Scoop mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or greased with oil. Scoop about 1/4 cup each to make 6 large scuffins. Wet hands and shape into a circle if desired. Sprinkle with coconut. Bake for 25 minutes at 350F.

Ohh so good. It was hard to stop at just one...

...but I did. :)

Question: What's your food philosophy?