Apple + Peanut Butter + Cacao Powder = Yum

The title basically says it all.  I went for simple this morning.  I had to head to the office while most of the world slept in their beds.  Boo hoo.  Okay, so I had time off last week, and I’m off tomorrow for New Years Day, so I can’t really complain.

Anyways, just to spice things up a bit I added a few pinches of cacao powder (which may or may not be the same as cocoa powder…the debate rages on).  From the package, and my own investigation it’s a pretty healthy and delicious way to add a little chocolate-y touch.

What I ate: An apple with organic peanut butter (it’s just ground up roasted peanuts) and some cacao powder (contains no added sugars).  It was good and kept me surprisingly full for a few hours.  Plus it satisfied my sweet tooth.  #Winning.  Sorry, I had to.

Surprisingly Delicious

When I read through Tosca’s book (yes, we’re obviously on a first name basis even though she has no clue I exist! hah), “The Eat Clean Diet (R) Recharged!” I saw that lentils were referenced as a lean protein source.  That kind of surprised me because I had always mentally categorized them as more of a complex carbohydrate.  But, needless to say, I’ve tried them and liked them, so I was pleasantly surprised that they were on the protein list!

I picked up a pack of ready made lentils at the store recently.  The only thing added (or at least listed on the ingredients list) was salt, so I was happy that they seemed “clean” and dropped them into my basket while I continued my shopping trip.  Can I just stop right here and say that there are a RIDICULOUS amount of chemicals/artificial ingredients added to virtually EVERY.freaking.item. in the grocery store!  Before reading Tosca’s book, I was a fairly healthy eater, but never took a lot of time to look at the ingredients in the “healthy” things (I thought) I was buying.  Good Lord, there are so many unrecognizable, and unpronounceable things added to nearly every item that comes in a package.  Steering clear of those chemicals and man made things, even if it’s just one meal a day, has to be a good thing.  So now that I’m more aware of these ‘sneaky’ ingredients, I’m forced (internally) to stand on the side of the aisles looking like a weirdo trying to decipher what’s actually IN the item I’m thinking of buying.  I’m sure it will get easier once I have a ‘base list’ of products that are “clean,” I’m just quite shocked in the meantime.  Okay, detour complete.  Back to what I ate.

What I ate: Steamed lentils and beets, with salt and pepper.  I’ve included a picture of the packages to save myself (and anyone else who is reading here) some time standing in the grocery store reading the ingredients panel.  These brands seemed “clean” to me.

A Bit of a Fail

I knew my hubs and I would be running around today, and wanted to get my/our “clean” meal in before we left the house.  So I checked the fridge and the pantry, and came up with some frozen mango chunks (thanks Trader Joe!) and some Jay Robb vanilla protein powder.  I read that Jay Robb was one of the “cleanest” protein powders out there, and I’ve tried it before and liked it.  If, like me, you don’t eat land cruisers (aka are a ovo-lacto vegetarian or a pescatarian), sometimes you have to resort to alternate protein sources…enter protein powder.

Anywho… I threw those mango chunks into the food processor with some water and blended them into a fairly thick mango mush.  It was good.  Then I added some additional water and some protein powder (about half of the individual sized sample pack) to each cup.  It was….interesting.  I don’t think I would make that combo again without adding some sort of milk (we like unsweetened Blue Diamond Almond Milk, but were out today).  My hubs made a funny face after his first sip, and I laughed in agreement that this wasn’t my finest culinary moment.  We both finished our cups though, proving that it was wasn’t THAT bad.

What I ate: Frozen mango blended with water and Jay Robb vanilla protein powder.

Starting Small

For my first “clean” meal, I started small.  Probably too small- because I was hungry again about an hour later, and I’m pretty sure that’s the exact opposite of the “clean eating” goals.  Oh well.  My meal was “clean” and I learned a lesson.

What I ate: One hard-boiled egg (with salt and pepper) and an apple.  It was as good as you can imagine a hard-boiled egg and an apple would be.  Probably would have been better if I had eaten another egg and more fruit.  Next time!

Getting Started

During 2012 I tried a variety of healthy eating tricks and tactics, but after being “gung ho” for a few days or weeks, I found myself right back in the same spot.  Not wanting to count calories, points, or keep track of every little thing I put in my mouth.

After hearing about “Clean Eating,” I picked up a copy of Tosca Reno’s book “The Eat-Clean Diet (R) Recharged!”  What she had to say made sense to me.  I liked that it wasn’t a quick-fix, and that pretty much anyone could follow the plan (even someone like me- who doesn’t eat what I call “land cruisers”- chicken, pork, beef…or any other land animal- or a bird for that matter)!

I tried to implement it all immediately, and of course, after a few days- I blew it.  But this time, I realized that with “clean eating” it doesn’t have to be an ‘all or nothing’ type of lifestyle.  I could start small, with a resolution to eat one “clean” meal a day, and go from there.  So that’s my plan, and I’m recording it both for myself, and with the hope that  I might inspire others to make some changes (big or small) for their own health!