FOK challenge part 7

We visited my parents for a bit over a week and so I didn't get a good chance to post. However, I did get a number of recipes tried the week before we left and my mom made a brownie recipe from the Forks over Knives website that was ok, but not as good as we would have hoped. 

I made Sweet Potato Pie oatmeal from page 49 for breakfast one morning. It was pretty good. I’m going to try it again. I didn't use enough sweetener last time, and used fresh ginger instead of ground because thats what I have on hand. I also didn't nave allspice, since I forgot to get some, but I used Nutmeg instead and that was ok. All in all definitely a good change from just plain old oatmeal. One of the main problems with this recipe though was I was afraid I would stick because it was thicker than regular oatmeal and so it ended up a bit sticky from over stirring. I’ll try not to do that next time. 

The next day I made some more Banana Almond Granola from page 44, and later in the week did a batch of Basic Baked Granola from page 43, making sure to follow the recipe this time. Turned out very good. I prefer more ingredients like some nuts or something, but the sweetening in both recipes was quite good, so those recipes are keepers as far as how they are sweetened. 

I made two of the smoothies. Very Berry Smoothie from page 38 was so yummy! I’m so glad I ordered dates in my last bulkfoods.com order. I used fresh strawberries as we had just bought a bunch. The Banana Cranberry Snoothie from page 39 tastes more like banana then cranberrie but it was good too. I had some frozen cranberries left over from Thanksgiving, so I used some of them. I think I will make that one again if I have enough cranberries left. 

The recipe my mom used for brownies is here. https://www.forksoverknives.com/recipes/outrageously-healthy-brownies/#gs.6yond6

She added some date sugar, I think it was, because it wasn't sweet enough, and she used walnuts for the nuts. She put them on top but said she thought she should have mixed them in because they kept falling off. The brownies were also slightly crumbly but thats ok. She said she preferred another recipe made with avocado instead of this one with black beans. They were plenty sweet in my opinion, but it was a different sweet than regular refined sugar so it was easier to eat more without overloading and yet because they were made with oats and black beans they were more filling than regular brownies. 

Anyway, thats all for this post. Till next food adventures! 

Food problems!

I have a problem with food! Well, at least certain types of food. Like ice cream, pizza and anything with sugar or dairy in it, I think. I didn't do very well this week in staying away from these foods.

On Friday I had ice cream, because I got some as a treat for the boys. I hadn't intended to eat any, so I had gotten a small container, enough for a bowl for each of the kids. Well, John, precious boy, was ahead in the health department and has more self control in that area than I do apparently. He served up everyone a bowl, including me. He was trying not to eat a lot, so all he left for himself was a smallish spoonful. He brought me my bowl, and I took it thinking he had served himself already and I didn't want to have him put it back (excuses, excuses!). Oh well.

Sabbath we ate lunch at home, so I was ok there. Sunday however was an outing that included pizza. Here again, John, I guess wasn't very hungry so he only at a couple pieces of fruit, and the other boys only ate a few slices of pizza which is not normal. I'm sure I had more than my share of pizza.

Then we had lunch out yesterday since we had to get little Victor a chest X-ray for followup. Which was totally clear, by the way.  Anyway, I ate too much Chinese food and had desert on top of it.

So, today is a new day! I had made some smoothies and had granola for breakfast. I did lose a pound over the last week, though, so there is progress and I managed to exercise 4 times with the boys using Biggest Loser Boot Camp and a lot of walking around when we went to the park on Sunday.

I'm planning on a lot more self control and praising God for lots of yummy veggies and fruits to satisfy my tastebuds, and the strength to stay away from those things that aren't good for me!