BREAKFAST
Weekends are all about brunching for me, and since I'll probably indulge in something egg-based around noon, today's breakfast was egg-free and sweet.
Puffed Millet with Strained Greek Yoghurt and Blueberries .... and a cup of Green Tea.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: 1/2 cup puffed millet, 1/2 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries, 1 tub 2% Fage, 5 chopped raw cashews. Sprinkle with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
I had actually planned on adding 1 tsp chia seeds to the mix, but totally forgot. So I ate the 5 cashews as an alternative fat substitute. A small amount of good fat is so important in every meal. It fills me up and satiates me.
Puffed Millet with Strained Greek Yoghurt and Blueberries .... and a cup of Green Tea.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: 1/2 cup puffed millet, 1/2 cup 1% milk, 1/2 cup frozen organic blueberries, 1 tub 2% Fage, 5 chopped raw cashews. Sprinkle with cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg.
I had actually planned on adding 1 tsp chia seeds to the mix, but totally forgot. So I ate the 5 cashews as an alternative fat substitute. A small amount of good fat is so important in every meal. It fills me up and satiates me.
MORNING SNACK
My fiance, his name is Dave, by the way, and I decided to walk to brunch today to get a bit of exercise in. It took us 2 hours of fast walking to get there! By 11am I was starving. Thankfully I had a healthy snack stashed in my bag, (I've learnt from past experiences).
Half an Organic Pear and a String Cheese Stick.
Half an Organic Pear and a String Cheese Stick.
LUNCH
We did brunch at Hundred Acres in SoHo today. I love this place! It was so cozy and bustling, and it began snowing outside as we languished over our herbal teas.
Mine was a mix of camomile, ginger, peppermint and a bunch of flowers.
Mine was a mix of camomile, ginger, peppermint and a bunch of flowers.
I had one bite of Dave's appetizer: Grapefruit with Candied Pistachios, Honey and Mint. (It was a little to sweet for my liking, although it was definitely a taste sensation).
I also had a tiny bite of the inside (minus the bread) of his Grilled Cheese Sandwich with White Cheddar, Pears, Pecans and Honey Mustard. Yummmmm. I am such a cheese head.
I also had a tiny bite of the inside (minus the bread) of his Grilled Cheese Sandwich with White Cheddar, Pears, Pecans and Honey Mustard. Yummmmm. I am such a cheese head.
My main was Roast Chicken with Fennel and Orange Salad.
The serve of chicken was pretty generous, so I ate a portion the size of the palm of my hand and left the rest. The salad didn't provide enough carbs for a balanced meal, and I probably should have asked for the dressing on the side, but it seemed to be quite light as it was. A bit of olive oil is good for me anyway.
The serve of chicken was pretty generous, so I ate a portion the size of the palm of my hand and left the rest. The salad didn't provide enough carbs for a balanced meal, and I probably should have asked for the dressing on the side, but it seemed to be quite light as it was. A bit of olive oil is good for me anyway.
We walked out of the restaurant and headed to a brand new healthfood store nearby. I grabbed a bag of Gluten Free Pretzels and stuck to one serving of 24 twists.
We then walked halfway home again. So much for a day off exercise. We burnt nearly 1000 calories today without stepping foot in a gym. It was pretty much just transportation. Doing it beside a mate as you rabbit on about nothing makes the time fly. I can feel it in my mangled feet and aching glutes now though!
We then walked halfway home again. So much for a day off exercise. We burnt nearly 1000 calories today without stepping foot in a gym. It was pretty much just transportation. Doing it beside a mate as you rabbit on about nothing makes the time fly. I can feel it in my mangled feet and aching glutes now though!
AFTERNOON SNACK
By 4pm I was hungry again. And The PMS Rat was on a rampage. Every month he has me craving chocolate and dealing with a hugely increased appetite. My challenge during the next 12 weeks is to cram in as much healthy low-calorie food as I can to fill up, whilst allowing him small healthier-version treats.
I whipped up this scrumptious Choc Carob Raspberry Pudding to get me through till dinner, and coupled it with a piece of Chocolate Fudge. Both recipes are below:
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Choc Carob Raspberry Pudding - 1 tub 2% Fage, 2 tsp chia seeds, 1 Tbs peach butter (pureed peaches sweetened with grape juice concentrate), 1 Tbs carob powder, 2 tsp dutch cocoa, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice. Mix and freeze for 30 mins. Top with frozen raspberries warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Chocolate Fudge - (adapted from a recipe by Certified Nutrition Specialist Mike Geary) - Melt 3 oz extra dark unsweetened chocolate in a double saucepan. Add 1 cup coconut milk and 4 Tbs all natural peanut butter. In a blender chop 1/4 cup raw pecans + 1/2 cup raw almonds + 3 Tbs chia seeds + 4 Tbs oatbran. Stir into chocolate mixture along with 3 Tbs peach butter. Spread mixture into a wax-paper lined baking tray and toss in the fridge until set, (3-4 hours). Cover with foil to prevent drying out. Cut into 32 rectangles (4 x 8 rows). 100 calories of superfood chocolatey goodness in each fudge bite. How good is that?!
I whipped up this scrumptious Choc Carob Raspberry Pudding to get me through till dinner, and coupled it with a piece of Chocolate Fudge. Both recipes are below:
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Choc Carob Raspberry Pudding - 1 tub 2% Fage, 2 tsp chia seeds, 1 Tbs peach butter (pureed peaches sweetened with grape juice concentrate), 1 Tbs carob powder, 2 tsp dutch cocoa, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice. Mix and freeze for 30 mins. Top with frozen raspberries warmed in the microwave for 30 seconds.
Skinny Bride Mission Recipe: Chocolate Fudge - (adapted from a recipe by Certified Nutrition Specialist Mike Geary) - Melt 3 oz extra dark unsweetened chocolate in a double saucepan. Add 1 cup coconut milk and 4 Tbs all natural peanut butter. In a blender chop 1/4 cup raw pecans + 1/2 cup raw almonds + 3 Tbs chia seeds + 4 Tbs oatbran. Stir into chocolate mixture along with 3 Tbs peach butter. Spread mixture into a wax-paper lined baking tray and toss in the fridge until set, (3-4 hours). Cover with foil to prevent drying out. Cut into 32 rectangles (4 x 8 rows). 100 calories of superfood chocolatey goodness in each fudge bite. How good is that?!
My PMS-Rat appetite is insane today. I had another String Cheese to fill up on protein and fat. I'm making sure I drink lots and lots of water too. Uuugghhh, I just want this week to be over. (I think Dave is wishing for that even more than more .... the poor guy has to put up with my crazy mood swings and indecision).
DINNER
Ravenous. I couldn't wait for dinner, so I snacked on a handful of Organic Baby Carrots....
.... and a few Organic Mushrooms.
We had a mate over for dinner tonight. Dave cooked up a huge wok-full of Beef Bolognaise with Extra Veggies and Adzuki Beans. He usually cooks with Organic Grass-Fed 85% Lean Beef, but tonight was a last-minute arrangement and he didn't have time to get to Fairway or WholeFoods. He ended up using Prime Angus Sirloin that looked pretty lean to me, even if it didn't say so on the label.
I ended up having 2 bowls of the stuff, it was so good! I felt guilty all night for going back for seconds, (diet rule #1), but my obviously my body needed extra fuel. It was so veggie-heavy though, I'm rationalizing that I really just ate 2 smallish salads with a bit of meat sauce as dressing.
I ended up having 2 bowls of the stuff, it was so good! I felt guilty all night for going back for seconds, (diet rule #1), but my obviously my body needed extra fuel. It was so veggie-heavy though, I'm rationalizing that I really just ate 2 smallish salads with a bit of meat sauce as dressing.
Afterwards I had 2 x Coconut Water Icypops for dessert.
STATS
TOTAL CALORIES: 1664
CALORIE DEFICIT: 635
EXERCISE: Brisk Walk 170 mins
CALORIE DEFICIT: 635
EXERCISE: Brisk Walk 170 mins