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Healthy Five Minute Chai Oatmeal

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Good morning from cookie central. My mom and I have spent more than twelve hours in the kitchen together baking cookies. One of our family traditions is to for my mom and I to decorate the Christmas tree and bake cookies together each year. Even though this means that the first few days home are jam-packed, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Instead of limiting our cookies to one or two types, we do our best to please everyone by baking each person’s favorite cookie or treat. So far, we’ve baked eight different types of desserts ranging from peanut butter blossoms, toffee bars and sugar cookies.

When you’re tempted to eat cookies for breakfast, the easiest solution is putting the flavors in your oatmeal. Yesterday morning’s breakfast was a delicious, five-minute chai cookie oatmeal.

IMG_7663Chai Cookie Oatmeal

Servings: 2

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quick cooking oats
  • 1 1/2 cup hot water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon flax seed oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons honey, plus more to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
  • 1/8 cup chopped pecans
  • Optional 1 teaspoon brown sugar or sugar in the raw to sweeten

Instructions

Combine all ingredients together, stirring well. Once combined, either put in oven on 350 degrees for 5 minutes to warm and bake or put in microwave to bake. Divide into two servings and enjoy!

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Whole Wheat Protein Pancakes

What do you do when you wake up at 7:30 on a Saturday, long before your jet-lagged husband? Head out for a peaceful run along the lake!

Nike Run

The weather is perfect here today – 38 degrees and sunny! I didn’t wear my Garmin on this run, instead using Nike +. This allowed me to keep track of the run but only hear my pace each mile. Since I’m still working my way back after my cold and stomach illness, I didn’t want to stress over the pace. My average pace was 9:39 and I was smiling ear to ear by the end. The blue sky, sunshine and lake views were definitely the perfect way to start the day! Even better is the fact that I didn’t have to stop once during the run and felt really strong!

I headed directly into the kitchen when I got home, ready to whip up a breakfast of coffee, fruit and healthy pancakes. Inspired by a few different Pinterest recipes, I combined them to develop delicious, fluffy pancakes which were even better when paired with syrup and fresh fruit!  Thanks to the protein in the egg whites and Greek yogurt, these packed 18 grams of protein per serving and the healthy fat helped keep us full all morning! Be careful, since these are thick, yogurt based pancakes they need to be cooked at a lower temperature for longer period of time. But, if you take your time, they will turn out perfectly!

Whole Wheat Protein Pancakes

Whole Wheat Protein Pancakes (2 servings)

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 6 oz Fage Total Greek yogurt
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Optional: Syrup & fresh fruit

Directions

  • Combine whole wheat flour and baking soda in a medium mixing bowl until combined
  • Add yogurt, egg whites, vanilla and cinnamon to dry mixture, stirring until well combined.
  • Let batter rest while you coat skillet with non-stick cooking spray, butter or oil and bring it to heat on stove over a medium-low to medium heat.
  • Pour batter into pan, making 5-6 small pancakes.
  • Allow batter to cook slowly, waiting a few minutes until you flip.
  • Cook for another few minutes, until golden brown and remove from heat.
  • Top with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Whole wheat protein pancakes 

What’s your favorite way to top your pancakes?

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Reset

Greetings from New York City where the current time is 9:51pm. My body feels and thinks it is 3:51am however since I’m still very much on Europe time after spending 13 days on that time zone. You know what’s really fun though? Flying out to the Pacific Northwest tomorrow at 6am so my body can be really, really confused.

Yup, by the time I land in New York City Friday evening, I will have logged 21,000 miles in less than a week. That is insane and hard to fathom. What’s even harder to fathom is having a super, strong PR worthy 10k race on Saturday morning during the New York Road Runner’s Oakley 10K.

Instead of throwing in the towel on this race, I’m doing the opposite and revving up my system for a great race by focusing on myself this week even though I’ll be traveling. This means plenty of sleep, back on the vitamin and supplement wagon, strong but efficient workouts, stretching, and smart eating and drinking choices. It won’t always be easy but I know that a PR will feel sweeter than any late nights or 3rd glasses of wine. You see that? I’m not being silly and saying no wine, I’m saying moderation.

Here’s how I started the reset process today in between a long work day and an evening filled with both fun and tedious errands including another shellac manicure, long line at the post office, dry cleaning, and meeting with the movers (!!!?!).

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From top:

Peach Protein Oats including 1/2 c rolled oats, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp almond extract, 1 scoop Designer Whey vanilla protein powder, water, and 2/3 c peaches.

Salad #1 for lunch including mixed greens, beets, red onions, grilled chicken, egg whites, apples, tomatoes, salt & pepper, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

Speed workout on the treadmill is the perfect way to end a long day when torrential rains force me inside. Today I did 1/2 mile pick ups (6.2, 6.4, 6.2, 6.5, 6.2, 6.7) for a speedy 5k while jamming to Justin Timberlake, Usher, Ludacris, and Icona Pop.

Salad #2 for dinner including a large bowl of mixed greens, walnuts, tomatoes, grapes, strawberries, beets, red onions, egg, tomatoes, salt & pepper, 1/2 portion blue cheese, and light balsamic vinaigrette.

I also stuck guzzled over 64 ounces of water today and limited my caffeine to one cup of coffee around 3pm when my body and mind were both hitting a jet lag slump.

We’ll see if I can keep this up beginning tomorrow morning when I hope on a plane out west. Goal #1 is to drink at least 3 bottles of water during flight and baby my calf muscles with compression socks.

If you could fly anywhere tomorrow, free of charge, what would be your destination of choice? Mine would be New Zealand or Australia! Both countries have been top of our list for ages but are such a trek and quite expensive!

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