Begrudingly Leaving My Comfort Zone and Learning to Play with Others

As a child, the first words used to describe me were always "outgoing" or "talkative". I loved being known as the funny friend, even when it got me in trouble. It was nice to be known as someone who could make other people smile.

When I took the Myers-Briggs test my sophomore year in college, I scored as an Extrovert. No surprises there; I loved talking to new people, going to parties, etc. Making friends in new environments was never something that scared me. Years of theatre performances and experience on improv teams made me feel confident speaking in public and thinking on my feet.

As my sophomore year continued, my eating patterns took a turn for the worse. Not only did I distance myself from friends, family, and social situations altogether, but I lost my outgoing personality. If you've experienced any type of disordered eating past, you can probably relate. I ate most meals alone because it was comfortable, and giving the excuses of being too tired or having too much homework were all too easy to spew out. Who cares if I don't have any friends so long as I can eat my "safe" foods?

This past summer, I had an internship away from home for the first time. Living alone didn't scare me in the slightest; I had the freedom to cook my food to my liking, to eat when I wanted, to go about my life in whatever routine I pleased. It was safe and it was easy. I didn't keep food in the apartment that would stress me out and no one could question my eating habits. I was constantly alone yet I was never lonely. This was the dream...right?

I moved into an apartment on campus this year with three of my teammates. Despite my excitement to live with my closest friends, and to have a kitchen to cook all the meals I could never make in a dorm room, I was terrified. This would be the first time that I would have to challenge myself and to let other people into such a private part of my life. I've never been someone to advocate stepping outside of your comfort zone. Why would I step out of it? It's comfortable here, duh.

In the last month I have realized how much I missed out on over the last few years. Having a social atmosphere at my fingertips has reminded me how much I enjoy spending time with others. Instead of fighting with myself and forcing myself to enjoy being introverted, I am slowly remembering who I was before the disorder. Sure, I still love to have my alone time, but it feels wonderful to know that spending time with others isn't as scary as I thought, and that it can be much more special to have an unplanned or "scary" meal with them than it is to eat safer foods in solitude. I wouldn't say that I'm welcoming this new territory yet with outstretched arms, but uncrossing my arms and loosening a fist is good enough for now.

MyProtein: Double Chocolate Chip Protein Cookie

Recently I was able to get my hands on the Protein Cookies from MyProtein and was way too excited. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a major sweet tooth, especially one for chocolate. Needless to say, I was beyond stoked to dig into this cookie.

When I took my first bite, I was amazed by how many chocolate chunks there were. (I'm allllll about that chunk factor being turned all the way up). I liked how the cookie tasted by itself, not too crispy or chewy, but perfectly soft. However, I decided that no harm could be done by warming it up. I popped it in the microwave for about 15 seconds and yeah, it turned out to be an excellent decision. The chocolate chips got all melty and the cookie was soft and warm....the only problem was that I got some chocolate on my fingers but um, let's just say that this was not an issue for long.

Overall, I was extremely impressed with this product. Great taste and quality in general.

Macros for one cookie are: 320 calories, 10g fat, 20g carb, 37.5 protein

I Gave My Friend an Eating Disorder

I have had an eating disorder for long enough now to still not be surprised with the amount of filth I can dig up on myself every time I look in a mirror. But yet every morning I’m able to come up with new insults and new body parts to hate; it’s amazing how much my mind can wander and how many new hateful words it can think of. I guess all the SAT prep wasn’t for nothing.

My battle with orthorexia nervosa (an eating disorder or mental disorder characterized by an extreme or excessive preoccupation with avoiding foods perceived to be unhealthy) began almost two years ago. It started as an innocent interest in losing weight and getting healthy and in shape enough to compete on my college’s crew team and maybe along the way look better in a swimsuit. The summer after my freshman year I successfully lost thirty pounds and left for school feeling more confident than ever. I had no idea that maintaining my new weight would be the hardest challenge I would have to face.

What no one tells you when you finish losing weight is that your problems don’t just disappear once you see a certain number on your scale. I spent the majority of the fall semester of my sophomore year thinking of ways in which I could make myself look even better. My eating disorder spiraled out of control as I pushed myself to look as perfect as possible. I mastered the art of avoiding meals and invitations to any event where I would have to be confronted with an unplanned meal or an unsafe food. There were moments that I reveled in it. I loved being the girl that people looked up to. Every day people would tell me that they were in awe of my dedication and will power. Little did they know they were simply pumping the gas into my car and filling the air in my tires.

Unlike some other people with eating disorders, my goal was never to be skinny. I wanted to have bulging biceps and defined obliques and rock hard quads. I thought that nothing was wrong with me because I knew that thigh gaps and visible ribcages weren’t my goal. I thought I was better than everyone else because I had outsmarted them.

It didn’t matter because I still had the same paralyzing fear of gaining weight, something you need to do in order to gain muscle. Losing weight left me smaller and without much muscle on me and while this was not a look I was content with, I was not willing to gain weight in order to give it up. So instead, I was stuck in a limbo of hating everything I saw in a mirror but without the courage and strength to make a change. Rather than take a step out of my comfort zone and eat spontaneously at the dining hall with my friends, I sat alone in my room eating the same handful of almonds because carbs after 5 p.m. were unthinkable to me.

After months of torture, I realized that I’d had enough. While this realization came in waves (anyone who’s had an eating disorder knows how comfortable they are and despite being harmful can be terrifying to let go of), there was one day that I knew that I couldn’t continue to live like this. I sat at a table with my friends as they made comments about their appearance and what they wanted to change. A teammate of mine commented on her stomach and how it was too large. I was instantly irritated. “What the hell is she talking about? She looks great. Yeah she doesn’t have a six-pack but who cares.” I thought about how mad I was that she would think so negatively of herself when she had no right to. It took a minute but it finally clicked: if I’m so disgusted with someone making negative comments about their own body, why do I do it to myself every day?

Recovering isn’t easy, but learning to take a step outside of myself and my disorder helped me and projecting it onto others helped me realize how flawed my behavior was. I would never let someone else sit in their room and miss out on a meal with their friends or Thanksgiving dinner with their family just because they were obsessed with looking a certain way. And now I do my best to make sure that I don’t miss out on any more memories either.

It's What's On the Inside That Counts

 

It sounds weird, I know. But adding zucchini (yes, zucchini) to my oats was quite possibly the greatest thing to ever happen to me. First off, it packs your oats with an added serving of veggies (all the micros, all the fiber). Second, it pumps up your oats with a ton volume. Like triple the size. And lastly, because of the super mild taste, it's like you aren't even eating a vegetable.

I used to be a huge fan of adding "riced" cauliflower to my oats but the prep for that, as well as the smell, was just becoming a pain in the ass after a while. I prefer zoats because it takes no time to prepare and it's a lot milder of a taste than cauliflower. Here's how I make mine!

Ingredients:
1/2 small or 1 large zucchini
1/2 cup oats
1 1/4 cup water 
1/4 cup egg whites
1 T chia seeds
Protein powder, nut butter, fruit, etc. (optional)

1. Grate your zucchini onto a paper towel and then squeeze out the excess water (I used to omit this step and still do if I'm pressed for time but it really helps!)
2. Add zucchini to a bowl with your oats and water.
3. Microwave until the oats are pretty well cooked.
4. Stir in your egg whites and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until the oats have fluffed up.
5. Add 1T chia seeds and after the oats have cooled a bit, stir in desired amount of protein powder (I typically do anything from 1/4-1/2 scoop).
6. Top and devour!

My One Year Transformation

One year ago I decided to make an Instagram account to hold myself accountable to staying on top of working out, eating right, and to hopefully learn how to make a pretty bowl of oatmeal. I had no idea what the next 365 days would hold in store for me. I refrained from making a post at the beginning of the month so bear with me as this might be kinda lengthy but I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this past year.
 
2014 was by far the toughest year of my life. This time last year I was in the absolute depths of orthorexia and was digging myself into a deeper hole every day. I spent the majority of my spring semester last year being terrified of everything, every situation that would force me to deal with an unplanned meal or possibly missing a workout. It still makes me depressed thinking about how much I missed out on and how many times I gave up making memories with friends in exchange for eating my "safe" foods alone in my room.
 
About halfway through the summer, I took a huge step and gave up counting macros which is by far the best decision I made for myself in the whole process. Looking back, I can see that I was still eating basically the same things every day but nonetheless, it was a step in the right direction. 

Towards the end of my fall semester, I fell back into some destructive habits (obsessive macro counting, restricting, etc.). Sometimes, and I feel like I'm not the only one who feels this way, I feel like the only way to achieve goals is to become obsessive about them and mask it as "dedication". This works for some people but all in all, it can just take over your life. 

It has taken time but eventually I just decided that enough was enough. I no longer count calories, I eat a wide variety of foods, and I am getting better at having less anxiety about skipped workouts/unplanned meals. Sure it's nerve wracking sometimes. I won't lie and say that I feel 100% free from my disorder. I believe I'll always be a work in progress. But over the past year I've really thought about the person I want to be when I'm older and I know that I'll never get there if I waste my 20s being obsessed calories and my body fat percentage. I am so unbelievably happy to have made this account because I've made some amazing friends and have gotten so much support from some pretty amazing people. I have big goals for this upcoming year and it's thanks to a lot of you guys that I feel confident in my abilities to achieve them.

Banana Bread Muffins

In the words of one of my teammates, "bananas shouldn't even be considered a fruit because they are basically on a dessert-level in terms of how delicious they are." I'd have to agree. I found myself with quite a few ripe bananas the other day and decided to give banana bread a go. Turned them into muffins though because it's just a lot easier to control the portion sizes and they look a little cuter. It was a highly scientific decision making process.

These were everything that banana bread muffins should be: moist, dense, sweet, and cakey. Give them a shot!

Recipe:

3 large bananas 
1.5 cups old fashioned oats
1 egg 
Vanilla extract 
Cinnamon 
Stevia to taste 
1 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp baking soda
 
Grind oats into a flour, then mix with the rest of your dry ingredients. Mash bananas in a separate bowl, mix with rest of wet ingredients, the combine with dry ingredients. Fold in chocolate chips if desired.
 
Pour into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
 
Macros (serves 9): 77 calories, 1.8g fat, 13g carb, 2.6g protein (macros will differ based on brand/amount of chocolate chips used)

Cinnamon Swirl Zucchini Waffles

If you follow me on Instagram, then you definitely know that I am obsessed with putting zucchini into any and all of my foods. It started as this weird need to eat something green in every meal of the day but now it's simply because zucchini is a great food for adding not only volume to recipes but also moisture for minimal calories (and yeah, yeah, yeah, it's good for you or whatever). It sounds weird but zucchini's taste is super mild and it can be masked relatively easily.

Once I acquired a waffle maker a few weeks ago (thanks mom) I knew that I could definitely figure out a way to make a zucchini waffle because, why not. It turned out amazingly and I've been having it almost every morning since I first made it! My recipe yields two almost full size waffles so bang for your buck + taste bud party = you should try this recipe (#DoIEvenMath)

Recipe:

 1/2 grated zucchini (squeeze excess water out with a paper towel)
40 g Kodiak Cakes mix
10 g whey (I used Cinnamon Swirl by Cellucor)
1/3 cup egg whites
1/2 tsp baking powder
Cinnamon and stevia to taste

Mix, cook, top, and devour!

Chocolate Peppermint Protein Brownies

Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean I still won't be baking all kinds of festive food.
Whipped up some Peppermint Chocolate Chip brownies a few weeks ago - they're not super fluffy but they are really dense and thick which is how I prefer my brownies anyway. I used pumpkin to make them a little more dense which sounds kind of funky but I promise you can't taste it; the peppermint extract does a good job at masking it. 


Peppermint Chocolate Chip Brownies: 

Dry ingredients:
1.5 cups old fashioned oats
1 T chocolate fudge SF hello mix
2 T cocoa powder
1 scoop whey (I used chocolate chip cookie dough by @cellucor)
1/2 tsp baking powder
Stevia to taste

Wet ingredients:
2 eggs
1 egg white
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
1/4 cup pumpkin purée
 
Mix both wet and dry ingredients individually and then add together. Fold in chocolate chips and pour into greased dish. Top with crushed candy cane pieces if you like.  

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes and cut into 9 slices. ✨Macros for 1 slice: 117 calories, 3.4g fat, 16g carbs (2.4 fiber), 7.2 protein✨
 
Macros will differ based on the chocolate chips/candy cane you use.

Tiramisu Egg White Proats

Like most fit foodies out there, I'm always looking to get the most volume I can get from my foods. Tricking myself into thinking I'm getting ginormous portion sizes is a great way to help me stay full longer, something that's pretty difficult to do. Egg white oats are something that I've always been skeptical of but have recently fallen madly in love with.

I recently took a trip to WalMart and picked up some rum extract which lead me to thinking this would be the perfect time to whip up some Tiramisu oats. These were amazing - the coffee, rum, vanilla, and cinnamon flavors all work together so perfectly. Definitely try these out and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup oats
• Rum extract
• Vanilla extract
• Stevia
• Cinnamon
• 1T Chia seeds
• 3T or 1 Egg white(s)
• 1/4 scoop Cinnamon Swirl whey (I used Cellucor)
• Toppings!

Directions:
Cook 1/2 cup of oats in 1 cup of water for about 3 minutes. Then, add in your extracts (the amount varies to your own personal preference), 1 stevia packet, and 3T egg whites. Microwave the oats in :30 second intervals, stirring vigorously each time, until the egg whites have cooked and the oats have fluffed up. This usually takes me about 3-4 intervals. Add 1T chia seeds and cinnamon to taste. I also took the time to add in a bit of my coffee I had made, just to get some flavor in, not too much though. Once the oats have cooled a bit, add in 1/4 scoop or 1T cinnamon swirl whey. Top and devour! I used some berries and a TBSP of all natural peanut butter for some classic perfection.

Life Without Numbers: Week 1 Update

I can't believe I'm saying this but I did it - a full week without logging a single macro or counting a single calorie or even stepping on the scale.

I had always thought that in order for me to fully transition to this kind of lifestyle that I would have to do it in stages; first, only track some meals of the day, then stop weighing food and just eyeball or maybe just track breakfast, etc. All of these rules made me scared to stop counting. I had no idea the easiest thing to do would be to just go cold turkey once and for all with numbers.

This past week, I expected to feel lost and preoccupied with food but instead I just felt free. It felt so, so good to just eat when I was hungry and exactly how much I wanted of that thing, not stuff myself crazy at certain times of day when I wasn't hungry to make up for later or some other excuse. It felt so good to give myself a snack after dinner just because I was hungry for one.

Part of the reason I think this transition was easier for me is the fact that along with stopping counting macros/calories, I focused on eating less processed foods and more wholesome, single ingredient foods (namely, a LOT more vegetables). While IIFYM did help me get over some fear foods and learn how to eat in moderation, I do believe that eating lots of fruits and veggies and single ingredient foods is the best thing you can do for your body. Meeting your macros with wholesome foods is undeniably better than to do so with Oreos and doughnuts. Again, not trashing IIFYM at all, but for me, IIFYM was causing me to lose sight of what it means to fuel my body properly. If you are able to track macros and treat yourself occasionally while keeping your mental health in check, then I see no problem with it.

I did losely keep track of my meals throughout the day and I will admit to sort of estimating each meal's macros, not because I was scared of gaining weight or anything but because I wanted to make sure I was eating enough. I find that a lot of people are scared to eat intuitively as it opens them up to sell themselves short. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't restricting myself in anyway and that I was listening to my body.

Thursday in particular was a great day as I got Chipotle with a friend and stayed over at her house for dinner and instead of obsessively trying to estimate macros, I went with the flow, made the healthiest decisions I could, and paid attention to how my body was feeling.

It hasn't been easy but it's felt way too good. On to week two!

Strawberry Hot Chocolate

It's that time of year again, the time of year when I start craving literally anything that has sugar in it. And by "year" I obviously mean day.

I have a MAJOR sweet tooth and can't go a day without some kind of chocolate in my lifestyle. One of my favorite ways to eat chocolate is when it's covered around a nice, juicy, strawberry. One of the all time best combos in my opinion is berries with chocolate (or pretty much anything with chocolate. Like even vegetables, I'm that much of a freak).

One of my mom and I's favorite things to do is watch cooking shows on the Food Network, specifically Barefoot Contessa and Giada at Home, and just completely heckle them while the show's going. I mean, I think Giada's cool and everything but for the love of God, just say "parmesean", not "parmagiano". We get it, you're Italian.

The other day, my mom and I watched Giada make a Strawberry Hot Chocolate and seeing how this recipe was easy enough that her toddler helped her to do the whole thing, I figured it was a recipe simple enough to where I couldn't mess it up. Here's my spin on it!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 TBSP cocoa powder (*tip - for an extra boost of protein, use chocolate whey instead!)
• 3-4 strawberries
• Chocolate chips (optional)
• Stevia to taste

Simply combine the almond milk and cocoa, heat it up until it reaches the desired temperature, blend it all up with the strawberries and chocolate chips, and enjoy!

Alternatively, to make this drink more summer appropriate, you could take this blended mixture, pour it into an ice tray, and blend it up once it's frozen for a frozen hot chocolate!

Hope you all enjoy!

Macros, Intuitive Eating, and Finding a Balance

Numbers. Who would have ever thought that I would let something as silly as numbers control my life so much?

In the beginning of my weight loss journey, numbers were a vital ingredient towards my success. I'm sure most weight loss beginners feel the same. Counting calories and tracking macros all made me feel in control. I knew that if I tinkered around on MyFitnessPal for long enough and was able to fit in 11g of peanut butter into my sixth meal of the day, then I would hit my calorie goals and I would wake up with a flatter stomach and a happier brain. This kind of thinking kept me on track, held me accountable, and led me to lose about 50 pounds.

However, I'm realizing that there needs to be an end game to all of this. Like so many people I follow on Instagram, I am realizing that the numbers game cannot be forever. I know that I can't be tracking calories for the rest of my life and staying home while my friends are out to dinner because I couldn't find the restaurants nutrition information is a total waste of my time. Even while I was away at school for this past year, I am saddened thinking about how many meals I missed out on with friends because I was worried about being able to count calories.

This obsessive behavior has led me to gain weight as well. Our bodies need varying amounts of fuel each day depending on our activity level and telling your body you're only going to allow if 2000 calories, 60g  of fat, 250g of carbs, and 150g of protein (for example, not my own macros), is ridiculous. Some days I would be ravenous but wouldn't eat because I had already met my macros and some days I wasn't hungry at all but I would try desperately to meet my macros for fear of my metabolism slowing down.

I'm also realizing that this behavior has led me to make some pretty unhealthy choices in my eating. Rather than eating a salad or a vegetable dish at a the dining hall because I couldn't find the macros, I would eat a bagel or something because I could track that. Yes, I would still eat my macros and everything in moderation blah blah blah, but overall, I believe that eating a bunch of bagels and missing out on some great and healthy alternatives is not good for you. Simple as that.

So yes, I do support counting macros if you're a figure competitor or something and I worry about intuitive eating not because I'm scared I'll gain weight but because sometimes I'm scared I'll sell myself too short, but you know what? I've spent a full year of my life playing around on MFP and the time has come for me to move on. I'm 20 years old and should be enjoying life, not stressing about having a 6.5 oz sweet potato instead of 6.2 oz one.

I hope by proclaiming all of this on my blog, I will be held more accountable. For the next two weeks I am hereby making a promise to all of you and myself to:
1. Not track a single macro
2. Not weigh myself (another obsessive and stupid habit)
3. To eat wholesome and nutritious foods
4. To be spontaneous with my eating

I'm hoping in two weeks I'll feel healthier, look better, and will really be able to be on the road to a macro-less lifestyle. And after the two weeks? I hope to continue on with this! I'm just saying two weeks to make this goal seem a little less daunting.

"If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you". Let's see how true this holds up to be!

Healthy Eating: Dining Hall Edition

This post goes out to all my fellow college students out there. Plain and simple: eating healthy is HARD. And it gets a million times harder when you have to eat food that you have no control over, all while having to stare at buffet lines filled with mashed potatoes, greasy pizzas, fried foods galore, and ice cream sundae bars at the same time. It's taken me a long time to try and figure out how to eat healthfully in the dining halls all while still keeping in mind that moderation is key and that treating myself from time to time is important.

Here I've decided to include some of what my meals look like when I'm in the dining hall. No they are not 100% "clean" but they balance a mix of foods I enjoy with foods that are good for me.

Breakfast: Unlike most college students, this isn't my first meal of the day since I'm on the crew team and we practice at 5:20 a.m. six days a week. So usually on my way to the boathouse, I'll have a piece of fruit or a granola or protein bar of some sort. Then I'll get breakfast with my team. I mix it up either by having some plain greek yogurt mixed with cinnamon and some fruit, usually an apple or a banana, and some good old peanut butter of course. Other times I'll have some oatmeal; sometimes it's made already and other times the dining hall puts out instant packets of it. Again, with peanut butter. Lastly, I'll have cereal with soymilk (not because I'm a vegan but because I just really like the taste of it!) I mix up a bunch of cereals since I love them and douse it in milk. I don't eat this too often since I have a tendency to go a little overboard but it's definitely a favorite. Unpictured favorite meals of mine also include a bagel with some peanut butter or some toast.

Lunch: I won't lie, this meal tends to be the one I rarely eat in the dining hall. I'm just always pretty busy during the middle of the day and it's kind of a hassle to leave my dorm to go get some food so I tend to stick to eating whatever I have in my room. However, when I do venture into public, I love to go to my school's vegan/vegetarian dining hall since I'm a vegetarian and they have the BEST stuff. The second picture shows a favorite meal from that dining hall which is a Gardein chik'n cutlet, penne with spinach, some broccoli, mushrooms, and a few thick cut fries. Super delicious. The first picture includes a meal from one of the traditional dining halls where I filled up my plate with spinach and swiss chard, then topped it with a bit of pasta and pink sauce, and a small square of spanikopita.

Dinner: My school tends to have a variety of dinner options which I love. This meal also tends to be my smallest of the day since I'm less hungry as I work out in the mornings. I try and stick to having a meal mostly comprised of veggies since that's something I don't have in my room, and a few other sources of some healthy carbohydrates and proteins. Pictured first is a plate of spinach topped with a marinated zucchini and squash mix, as well as some black bean chili. On the side is a huge sweet potato; it's a great day when the dining hall has these. The second picture is some barbecued tofu, brussell sprouts, and some pasta salad/cole slaw mix. Also had some tomato soup with chips on the side.

**Note: This is NOT all I eat, not even close. I am always snacking on fruit or Quest bars or other random things. And I always, always, always, make sure to drink plenty of water. I aim for four 32oz. bottles of water a day as well as some glasses of green tea along the way.

Let me know what other posts you'd like to see from me! I'll be heading back home in just two weeks so the food I eat will definitely be changing a bit; keep your eyes peeled!

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Alright, alright, alright (insert Matthew Mcconaughey joke here). If you had to know one thing about me then that would be that I am in LOVE with breakfast. It can be sweet, savory, or both, you can include all your veggies and fruits into one meal, and it's a meal that happens first thing in the morning which I love because I am an extreme early bird; that's right, I'm talking waking with the sunrise kind of early bird over here.

Now while I'm home I love to experiment with all types of breakfast ideas: pancakes, yogurt, waffles, omelettes, and oatmeal flavors galore but since I spend the majority of my time at school in a dorm room, I have to get a little more creative. I typically shift between two different types of breakfasts and I find that both of these pack a ton of carbs, fats, and proteins to keep me energized and ready for my whole day. *Shamless plug alert* - I typically post almost all of my breakfasts on my Instagram so follow me @theroadtobalance to see what I eat daily!

Greek yogurt - chock full of protein and low in carbohydrates, this is definitely a winner in my book. I love taking a cup of yogurt and mixing it with cinnamon and stevia as a base. Next, I'll top it with chia seeds, and go crazy with the fruit (my favorites are fresh and frozen berries as well as bananas). Then I'll usually add some type of cereal or granola for added crunch. Last but not least I'll add a tablespoon of nut butter to get those healthy fats in. Quick, easy, and crazy delicious.

Oatmeal, by far the most underrated breakfast dish. I remember growing up absolutely dreading oatmeal. It was one of those bland and mushy substances my parents would throw into a bowl from a packet, microwave with too much water, and make me eat it before "imporant" events like the SAT. Ugh. Once I got to college I started to appreciate the warm and comforting taste of oatmeal though. It was a pleasant and relaxing way to start the day and once I discovered all the ways to change oatmeal with various protein powders, pudding mixes, extracts, and flavorings, the rest was history. I typically make overnight oats and take them to go or quickly scarf them down in the mornings since it's so quick and easy but when I have a little extra time, I love to make new concoctions.

Lastly, my favorite yogurt + cottage cheese bowl. This keeps me so so full and packs a ton of volume for not a lot of calories. I take an individual greek yogurt container, my favorite being the Dannon Light and Fit greek tubs, and mix it with either a 1/3 or a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese. I then top it with fruit, granola/cereal, and nut butter and it is crazy delicious. Packs a ton of protein as well as some healthy carbs and fats.


And that's it! When I'm home in my own kitchen I love to experiment more but in terms of what's easy to cook up in a dorm, that's what I've got. Let me know if you also love any or all of these breakfast ideas or if you think there's some out there I should try!

Nut Butters Galore!

I, like many other health foodies, love, love, LOVE trying out new nut butters. They are a great source of fats and proteins and are absolutely delicious. I can't even imagine anymore how I went through so much of my life having only known of plain peanut butter, chunky or smooth, when there are so many out there now that I couldn't imagine living without. In the last year or so I have tried quite a variety of brands so I figured I would start documenting my opinions on them in order to help some newbies out with selecting brands. I'll be constantly updating this list since I try and refrain from buying the same brands over and over again so keep checking back for more!

Peanut Butter & Co. - Smooth Operator: Your classic smooth peanut butter; no complaints here.

Peanut Butter & Co.- Crunch Time: Again, a classic. Perfect amount of peanut crunch in every bite.

Peanut Butter & Co. - Dark Chocolate Dreams: Absolutely love this one. Really rich and dark chocolate flavor but the peanutty-ness still comes through. If you don't like dark chocolate this one wouldn't be for you as it's definitely has a dark and rich taste, not like a regular milk chocolate.

Peanut Butter & Co. - White Chocolate Wonderful: This is a staple in my nut butter collection. It's just like a regular smooth peanut butter but it has these sweet notes in it that make the nut butter even more rich and delicious. Very sweet, very tasty.

Peanut Butter & Co.- Cinnamon Raisin Swirl: This nut butter is a favorite of mine as I love all things cinnamon. Unlike DCD and WCW, this one tastes very sugary. It kind of has a little crunch in it because of all the cinnamon sugar. If you're concerned about raisins for any reason, I actually don't see too many of them in this nut butter; definitely not overwhelming.

Peanut Butter & Co.- Mighty Maple: Sweeter than a regular PB but also has that sugary crunch like Cinnamon Raisin Swirl. The maple flavor isn't too prominent in my opinion, but it's definitely sweet in a different way than WCW is.

Justin's - Almond Butter: Smooth and rich and a little gritty. Definitely not liquid-y like some other almonds can be. I really like the consistency of this brand in general.

Justin's - Vanilla Almond Butter: GOLD. LITERAL GOLD IN A JAR. I am such a huge fan of this stuff; so so sweet and the vanilla complements the almond butter perfectly without overwhelming it. A little on the pricey side but I will definitely continue to repurchase.

Justin's - Maple Almond Butter: I've only had this in the squeeze/sample packs but it's been great every time. I love pairing this with graham crackers and apples. Sweet but not as much as the Vanilla AB. Still lovely though.

Justin's - Chocolate Hazelnut Butter: Rich and warm and very smooth. Beats Nutella every time in my book. The chocolate flavor is milkier and smoother than the PB&Co. Dark Chocolate Dreams in case that was too much for you.

PB Crave - Cookie Nookie: Great peanut butter. Smooth and sweet and the little chocolate chips in it make it so delicious and creamy. Not a healthier brand by any means but it's really great.

MaraNatha All Natural Creamy Almond Butter: A classic. Not as gritty as Justin's and definitely much more liquid-y but the almond taste is phenomenal and it pairs well with everything.

MaraNatha All Natual Crunchy Almond Butter: Gritter than the creamy version but delicious; the little chunks of almonds add an extra pop. This brand has more of a roasted flavor in my opinion as well.

Barney Butter - Creamy Almond Butter: This brand is definitely something different in terms of almond butters. It has the great taste of a classic almond butter but with the consistency of a regular peanut butter; no grit, just smooth and creamy. I am a huge fan. Even though it's just a regular almond butter, it's almost like a different flavor because of how different the consistency is compared to most.

Earth Balance - Coconut Peanut Butter: Absolutely NAILED the coconut flavor. A nice and smooth peanut butter but with sweet coconut notes that really kick it up a notch. 

Wild Friends - Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter: Not a huge favorite in my book. The chocolate flavor is great but I find it hard to taste the coconut. Sort of just like a regular Chocolate PB that's a little off.

Wild Friends - Chocolate Almond Butter with Sunflower Seeds: This one really nailed the pairing of chocolate with almond butter. The sunflower seeds also add a pleasant crunch that isn't too overwhelming and adds the perfect amount of savory taste to the sweet nut butter.The chocolate almost tastes fudge-y, it's amazing.

Barney Butter - Crunchy Almond Butter: Same great smooth texture as the creamy version but with almond chunks. Instead of MaraNatha's crunchy almond butter though, where the chunks are almonds with the skin on them, these chunks are just the inside of the almond. Resembles a crunchy peanut butter a lot.

Wild Friends - Vanilla Espresso Almond Butter: This was so exciting to try since I'd heard so much about it. The espresso taste was a lot stronger than I imagined it to be. Perfectly gritty, I really loved it.

Kolat Superfoods - Cherry Vanilla Almond Butter: The texture of this almond butter is out of control! Perfect balance of creaminess matched with grit. You don't get the vanilla taste as much as you do with Justin's Vanilla Almond Butter but it's still there, just a tad more mild. Little chewy cherry chunks are dispersed throughout the jar too; the combination of tart cherry with sweet vanilla is absolutely awesome.

PB Crave - Razzle Dazzle Peanut Butter: The texture of these brand's nut butters is great, really smooth and creamy. The raspberry flavor is definitely strong. It's surprising because unlike other nut butters with fruit where the fruit is just in chunks throughout, this one has the raspberry taste infused in. It's awesome. The white chocolate chunks are also a great addition as they add a perfect amount of sweet.

Wild Friends - Honey Pretzel Peanut Buter: Absolutely love. Perfect amount of salty, crunchy, pretzel chunks to complement the nut butter. It's like a regular crunchy peanut butter but better.

PB Crave - Choco Choco: Least favorite out of the PB Crave nut butter's that I've tried so far. Not bad, just nothing to write home about. Same as Cookie Nookie in terms of consistency but doesn't have that extra punch. Higher carbs than most nut butter's as well (11g for 2 TBSP) so overall not so worth the buy.

Trader Joe's - Crunchy Peanut Butter with Chia and Flax Seeds: Phenomenal. Texture is great, nut butter doesn't have too many peanut chunks but just the right amount as well as a good amount of chia seeds as well. Have already re-purchased.

Nuts N More - Toffee Crunch: OUT OF THIS WORLD. Everyone needs to bow down to this nut butter. Fantastic macros and tastes almost sugary, like it has that extra crunch to it. Sweet and creamy and melts wonderfully. Only downside is it's kind of hard to track down and fairly expensive but totally worth it.

Jif Whips - Maple & Brown Sugar: Amazing. Sweet without being overpowering and warm. Love the texture of the whips brand and how creamy they are.

Jif Whips - Pumpkin Spice: Same as the Maple Brown Sugar, but I think I like this one a little bit more. Has a great warmth similar to the maple flavor but a little more spice which I love. 

Trader Joe's - Creamy Cashew Butter: Literally liquid sex in a jar. Melty and salty and creamy and perfect. Have already repurchased and will do so time and time again. Best cashew butter I've ever had, wayyyy better than the Artinisa (?) brand IMO.