We fixed the glitch, with a fabulous green smoothie.

We fixed the glitch. 

One of my favorite lines from office space. My husband and I quote that movie all the time.



In this post, I'm not referring to a glitch in the payroll system; I'm referring to a glitch in our kids' diets. You see, half of them (sometimes 75% of them) aren't down with the veggies. They get pushed to the side, covered up or tossed on an unsuspecting sibling's plate.

The other day, as I was taking a leisurely stroll through Costco with only two children in tow, I saw that the Zico coconut water was $4 off. I've tried coconut water before, and honestly, not impressed. However, I have heard how glorious it is in smoothies and wanted to give it a fair assessment. So, as you do at Costco, you make a commitment when you buy one of their ginormous bargains.

I was really happy to see that one serving of coconut water has as much potassium as a banana. I have super restless legs during pregnancy (annoying) and supposedly, potassium helps alleviate that. Win win. I ran some test projects through our Blend Tec and was VERY HAPPY that three of our children (one wouldn't try) LOVED the result. So, here it is...

(This makes a few decent servings)

• 1.5 c Zico coconut water
• 2 bananas
• 1-2 cups frozen pineapple
• 2-3 cups raw organic spinach
• 1/2 cup raw oats (optional)

Combine all and blend until totally smooth! 

I like smoothies with oats, but some people may not prefer that flavor or consistency. To me, that makes it a meal as opposed to a snack.

I have been making green smoothies for about four years now, but nothing has set them off as much as adding coconut water! Also? Our eight, four and two years olds approve and ask for more! That makes this mama's whole foods heart happy! I love it and it will be a staple on our shopping list from now on.  

Here's to all the breakfast sandwich lovers!!!!

Okay, I realize that I just told you about my dinner a few hours ago - but I really can't wait until later this evening to tell you about breakfast! I absolutely love breakfast sandwiches. We don't usually get breakfast out; whenever we go on a road trip, though, getting a breakfast sandwich (preferably something McNasty) is one of the highlights. Is that sad? I don't think that's sad.

My glorious waffle egg sandwich.

A month or so I was cruising the aisles of Target and made one of the best impulse-buys of all time. The Hamilton Beach 25475A Breakfast Sandwich Maker (which is cheaper on Amazon than at Target) has been my breakfast go-to almost every morning since.

Here's how it works - the sandwich maker has a few different layers. You add in half of your bread/muffin and the cheese; then add egg and salt or other seasonings in the next layer and top with the rest of the bread/muffin. It cooks it all together and is ready in about 5 minutes!

At first I started with standard breakfast sandwiches (one of my favorites is the egg-white breakfast sandwich from Tim Hortons). I just used an english muffin, egg, cheddar and some salt and pepper to re-create. It was super tasty, but pretty basic. I started imagining all the possibilities...

Egg sandwich on Ezekiel muffins with spicy cheese

Variations

Hubby's double fried egg experiment

• I bought a spicy shredded cheese from the grocery. Basically once that happened, I haven't gone back to a normal cheddar since. I LOVE spicy cheese.
• Using *special edition* english muffins. I tried the apple and my husband tried pumpkin - both were very good!!!
• Yesterday and the day before, I used Ezekiel 4:9 Cinnamon Raisin english muffins (with said spicy cheese), egg, and salt. That was tasty, but my husband wasn't a fan. He claimed too many flavors. We'll just agree to disagree. I thought it was great. 
• This morning, I attempted my ultimate sandwich...I wasn't sure this was going to work because of the size of the waffles, but it totally did. Two blueberry waffles; 1 egg with salt; 1 slice of colby jack cheese. I could eat this sammie EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Omgosh. I may even try to incorporate syrup somehow. It was SO good and I didn't feel that fast food breakfast guilt. Eggo makes a similar frozen breakfast sandwich, but they are like $6 for 4 sandwiches and not as good. I bought them one time and got one - our oldest daughter got the other three over a couple day time period. 
• Also this morning, my husband used the sandwich maker to create a double fried? egg. It came out beautifully. He's so sensible. 

So, those are just a few of things you can do with this amazing device. Now, can I get my own informercial? 

Time to be healthy - starting with breakfast!

Strawberries and bananas were my add-ins here. 

Ok, you guys, winter-boredom-eating has caught up with me. Our family is beyond ready to get back to healthier meal plans and we're starting with breakfast! I just remembered one of my old favorites from our early days in clean eating - overnight oats! I learned about the overnight oats phenomenon a year or so ago. This is such a quick and easy breakfast and it's incredibly filling, too.

I'm all about grab and go breakfasts - I always have been. The bad thing about that is, portable quick foods aren't always the best for you. I've been known to grab a.) a sugary granola bar; b.) a stack of cookies; c.) a high-calorie fast food breakfast sandwich, d.) a cup of coffee, etc. Those breakfasts aren't really sustainable (meaning my blood sugar rage-o-meter is cranking up, starting about 10:30 a.m. until I get some real food in my belly at lunch).

Overnight Oats really give you that energy you need to get from breakfast to lunch (thank you oats and chia seeds!), especially if there's no time for a mid-morning snack.

Here's what you need to know: 

1:1 Oats and Milk ratio (I use 1/2 cup of old-fashioned oats and 1/2 cup of almond milk). You can use any milk you like, but I prefer almond as a general rule. That's just me, though.

1 TB Chia Seeds (here's your protein and fiber!)
1 TB Sweetener (maybe, if you want). This will depend on what else you add in. If you add a super ripe banana and some strawberries or other sweet fruit, you may  not need it. I have used maple syrup, honey and agave. You may choose Stevia, too, but I'd use much less than 1TB because a little goes a long way.
1 TB Greek Yogurt (optional, makes it a little creamier).

Mix-up optional extras (what makes this meal delicious)
-Sliced Fresh Fruit
-Coconut
-Nuts
-Chocolate Chips (perhaps :) ? )
-Spices (cinnamon)
-Peanut butter, PB2, hazelnut butter
-Coconut oil
-Flaxseed
-Vanilla, almond, other flavorings

Preparation:
Mix it all in a jar (mason jar or corning ware mug with lid, etc) and store in the fridge overnight. When you wake up, stir and enjoy!! :)

If you have a favorite overnight oats combo, share in the comments below. :) I've already prepared tomorrow's batch (chia seeds, agave, milk, oats, Justin's hazelnut spread, and strawberries - can't wait). :)