Grapefruit mimosas

You've seen the forecast, girls. It's going to be a beautiful weekend! You know what that calls for... day drinking! What is my day drinking pick? Mimosas.

But this weekend, I demand a change. Ditch the orange, and bring in the GRAPEFRUIT! Here's why:

We've been told since childhood how healthy orange juice is. Every cereal commercial features orange juice alongside its O's or flakes. But while orange juice may contain amply Vitamin C, it's also pure sugar. I avoid it completely... except when it comes to mimosas (there's always an exception to the rule, right?).

Recently during a trip to San Francisco, however, my friend and I ordered a carafe of mimosas only to be asked if we would like it with orange juice or grapefruit juice. I let my friend do the ordering, as it was her neighborhood breakfast joint, and she went for the classic orange, but grapefruit juice in my mimosa was something new to me. Cool, I thought. I want to try.

While grapefruit juice, like orange, is still full of sugar, at least it is something different, and grapefruit is now talked up in the diet world because it speeds up the metabolism. I would never start chugging grapefruit juice to lose weight due to its staggering sugar content, but I will still welcome the occasional glass with open arms.

So I encourage you to switch it up next time you find yourself awaking to a mimosa type of morning, which may just be this weekend.

Cheers, and enjoy the sunshine, healthy chicks!

Pear, Honey & Ricotta Oatmeal Pancakes

Pancakes aren't exactly a weakness of mine, but who doesn't enjoy them? For some reason I've been on a quest to make delicious healthy pancakes the past few months. Perhaps my pure love of breakfast sparked this quest, but I think my mom could also be to blame. 

My mom makes killer chocolate chip pancakes, and consuming endless amounts of them was something I enjoyed each time I went home on breaks from college. These heavenly chocolate chip pancakes are something I think about when I think about the old me, when I was a healthy chick in the bar, but not the Healthiest. I would eat these free of guilt, using eating healthy for the remainder of the day as well as a trip to the gym as an excuse to indulge. But now when I think back to how many of those I used to eat without feeling badly, it sickens me. 

I haven't been back to my parents' house since June, but when I return this Christmas, I don't plan on scarfing down any chocolate chip pancakes. Instead, I might offer to make this new creation that I'll share with you now. 

My quest to find an alternative to Mom's classic began with trying different flours. I experimented with coconut flour pancakes, but I found they left me feeling almost as stuffed as regular old pancakes. 

Recently, however, I stumbled across a recipe for oatmeal pancakes and tweaked it to my liking. Because I like to eat seasonally, I wanted to use pears instead of summery blueberries. And instead of using egg whites, I used real eggs. I am big on egg whites for omelettes and such, but these are pancakes, afterall. Why not throw in the yolk. 

I apologize that there isn't a picture of the finished pancake. The truth is that they're not the prettiest pancakes I've ever seen. It's kind of like making a cupcake healthy. It's the ones that are usually rotten for you that look the most delicious.   

But looks aren't everything. Pick up some fresh pears and try this recipe this weekend. 

Pear, Honey & Ricotta Oatmeal Pancakes 

Serves 2 

1/2 cup dry rolled oats 

3 eggs 

dollop of fresh ricotta 

drizzle of Nature's Hollow Sugar-Free Honey (find out more about this product here)
1 packet stevia
1/2 pear, chopped
butter, for serving

1. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Spray a skillet with cooking spray. Pour small amount of batter into pan. Flip when pancake is lightly brown. Remove from heat and repeat with rest of batter.
3. Serve with butter and an additional drizzle of honey. 

If you try it:

382.5 calories
19 g protein
4.25 g sugar
38.5 g carb

Not-so-Ordinary Oatmeal

There was a time not too long ago when I shied away from oatmeal.  Too many carbs, I thought!  Now I’m back to enjoying it in the right amounts with nutrient-packed mix-ins. 

Oatmeal is good for you; you just can’t overdo it.  I think back to a time when I would make 2 packets of the flavored instant oatmeal at a time... as a snack!  This is the WRONG way to do it.  There are 2 important things to remember when choosing to eat oatmeal: 

1.  Stick to a reasonable portion size.  This probably means about 1/2 cup.  Or else you are consuming a lot of carbs. 

2.  Never buy the flavored kind!  It contains a TON of sugar.  Example: 1 packet of Quaker Instant Oatmeal Strawberries and Cream – 12 grams!  Instead, flavor it yourself (I show you many different options below). 

I love coming up with new combos for my morning bowl of oatmeal.  You will soon learn breakfast is my favorite meal of the day.  I know not too many others feel this way.  But I personally NEED breakfast to get going in the morning, and knowing that I’m starting my day out on the right foot with something that is good for me and something will keep me full until my lunch break is a wonderful feeling. 

Here are my favorite recent combos: 

1/4 cup walnuts 

1/2 banana 

1/4 cup sliced almonds 

1/4 cup blueberries

1 Tbsp. chia seeds 

1/2 scoops Jay Robb protein (chocolate flavor) 

3 spoonfuls coconut oil 

A note about your favorite on-the-go oatmeal option:  I used to get Starbucks’ Perfect Oatmeal on an almost daily basis.  I added all 3 available toppings – brown sugar, dried fruit and nuts - and was in heaven...  boy, have I learned a lot since then.  Now when I do get the oatmeal from Starbucks – which is rarely, since I now love to make my own – I only ask for the nut topping.  The dried fruit is loaded in sugar... and that tiny but dangerous brown sugar pouch speaks for itself.  I add cinnamon instead of the brown sugar (you can find it next to the half & half at the condiments bar).   

Enough about oatmeal.  Time to start the day!