pineapple

Tropical Quinoa Smoothie

Happy Friday!

Last night I made another batch of Mediterranean Lentils and refrigerated them overnight for a quick pre-made lunch for my busy day today, and it was sooo good cold! It tasted like a completely different dish. I’m never a huge fan of refrigerated leftovers or meals, they just never taste the same to me… but this one was perfect.

This morning a threw a smoothie together with what I had on hand in the refrigerator and freezer and it turned out pretty good! I had some leftover cooked quinoa that needed to be eaten, along with some miscellaneous frozen fruit, so into the blender it went. I have been loving putting cooked quinoa in my smoothies (a nice break from rolled oats) because it gives a slightly nutty flavor and is also a complete protein. With the addition of some milk and coconut, a filling tropical morning smoothie was born!


Tropical Quinoa Smoothie

Serves 1

1 cup milk of your choice
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup mango
1/2 cup cooked quinoa
2 Tbsp shredded coconut
1/2 tsp vanilla

Precook and chill quinoa. Combine all ingredients in a high powered blender and blend thoroughly. Enjoy chilled.
Note: If your blender is not very powerful, blend the milk and quinoa first until it is completely smooth and then add the other ingredients.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: pineapple and mango
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: milk
Plant Based Fat: coconut

Avo Fruit Smoothie

I am still hooked on fresh juice since participating in my Juice Challenge. I made a Rainbow Sherbet juice this past Monday, and I was craving it the instant I woke up yesterday. I wanted to try making it into a smoothie, so I combined the fresh juice with some avocado and ice cubes and blended it up in my Vitamix. It turned out rich, and creamy, and kept me full and energized until lunch!

I love throwing avocados in my smoothies because it adds a dose of healthy fats, fiber, tons of  nutrients, and adds thickness. I’m a huge fan of thick smoothies, so avocados are always my go to when I want to get a creamy consistency.


Avo Fruit Smoothie
serves 1

2 fuji apples
½ lime
¼ pineapple
¼ large cucumber
1/4 Hass avocado
5 ice cubes

Juice the apples, lime, pineapple, and cucumber. Combine fresh juice with avocado and ice cubes in a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy cold.

Snack Attack

AHHH snack attack! We all get them. I can eat clean all day, but once nighttime comes around, I get the craziest cravings for sweets and junk food. Cravings will usually pass within 15 minutes if your body is not truly hungry.

Try going for a walk around the block to distract yourself from thinking about food and try drinking a glass of water to determine if you are just thirsty. If 15 minutes go by and you are still craving something to snack on, I have some tricks for you!

Kick those cravings in the hiney with these simple treats that will satisfy without derailing your day of healthy eating!

Frozen Fruit: I like to buy bags of frozen fruit from Trader Joe’s and keep them in my freezer. Fruit is great for a sweet tooth, but frozen fruit is even better because it will slow down the rate at which it is consumed so you become fuller faster. My favorite fruit to freeze are green grapes. These bite-sized sweet snacks are an awesome alternative when you are craving candy or sugar. Frozen grapes take longer to eat since they are cold, which will help you to eat less compared to grapes at a normal temperature.
Tip: wash and dry grapes and remove them from the vine before freezing.

Shelled Pistachios: When I want something salty I will eat a small serving of shelled pistachios. De-shelling each nut takes more time and effort than grabbing a handful of unshelled nuts, which will make you more aware of how many you are eating.

La Croix: If you ever crave soda, this is a great alternative for you. I love this pure sparkling water because it is flavorful and bubbly and does not contain any added sugars, artificial flavors, or chemicals that other popular soft drinks have. It only contains carbonated water and natural flavors. Lemon is my favorite! La Croix can be purchased at Whole Foods and most Target locations.

Swiss Miss Diet Hot Chocolate: If you ever crave chocolate, this is the answer to your prayers! For only 25 calories and 2g of sugar, you can have your chocolate without throwing off your day of healthy eating! Works like a charm.

As with any snack, don’t forget to measure out a serving and watch your portion size to prevent eating too much of a good thing!

Question: What do you do when you get a late night snack attack?