Question and Answer

RFFMBT Q&A Part 3

Hello and welcome to part 3 of my Q&A! I hope you guys aren’t getting bored of this already because I still have a ton of questions to answer and stitches in my foot that are preventing me from cooking and photographing!

Foot Update: “Rabbit Foot for My Bunny Feet” ha.
I made it out of the house to dinner at Veggie Grill and Trader Joe’s with my mom last night. Needless to say, I got my cardio in, and my right quad is looking mighty fine. I have also passed my best time going up the stairs with crutches and set a new PR to just over 1 minute. I cut my previous 3 minute 17 second record down by more than half, go team! I’m really over the crutches & record high temperatures. It’s not a pretty combination. Stitches removal countdown: 9 more days… I’m still awaiting biopsy results and am hoping for the best. I’ll keep you guys posted, sorry my updates aren’t very exciting! Now for some more fun questions and answers!

How do you store kale chips? How long do they last?
I would like to know the same thing! My kale chips are usually gone by the end of the day since my friends and family love them, but when I do have leftovers they don’t store very well. I am still searching for the miracle solution to store home make kale chips, so any tips would be appreciated! I have tried different airtight containers and Ziploc bags, but once I open them up the next day, the humidity has already gotten the best of them and they are soggy. I have heard that storing them in a paper bag helps to keep the crunch, so that is next on my list to try. You could also pop them in the oven at 350 for 3-5 minutes to make them crispy again the next day.

Where does dairy fit into the Rabbit Food Pyramid?
Dairy products are considered protein. Nonfat/educed fat cheese, nonfat yogurt, and nonfat milk would all be part of the protein group.

What kind of blender do you have?
I have a Vitamix 5200, and I am beyond obsessed with it! Hands down, my favorite kitchen appliance that I own, thank you so much Grammy & Grandpa! It has so much power that it can blend an entire bunch of kale in seconds with no problem! Vitamix blenders are a bit pricey (around $450), but keep your eyes peeled at Costco, Amazon.com, and on QVC! I have seen them at Costco for $350, and when QVC has Vitamix blenders available, they usually offer payment plans that can be very helpful. I also have a Magic Bullet that I got my freshman year of college when I was in student housing! I still use it all the time for simple single serving fruit smoothies and protein shakes. It gets the job done and it’s super affordable. Check Target, Amazon.com, and Bed Bath & Beyond for competitive prices.

What kind of juicer do you have?
I have a Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus – 850-Watt Juicing Machine. I bought a certified refurbished juicer on Amazon.com from the official Breville store for only $99 (Usually $149) and it works wonders! The pulp comes out dry which makes me happy that I am getting the maximum amount of juice as possible from my produce. I used a friend’s $50 juicer before and we had to run the pulp through twice to actually get all of the juice, which was very time consuming. Investing in a high quality juicer is key to saving money on produce in the long run.

Do you have the calories or nutrition stats for your meals?
My blog is 100% calorie counting free. No counting calories, carbs, or points here, only measuring proper servings and portion sizes. During my weight loss journey I became obsessed with counting calories, which led to restrictive disordered eating. Now, I like to focus on the type of calories that I consume, not the amount. There is a huge difference between eating a 100 calorie snack pack versus 100 calories of fresh berries. I don’t think that calories should be disregarded altogether, but I don’t obsess over them anymore. I have found a better approach to losing weight and managing my intake, which is The Rabbit Food Pyramid. Each of my Rabbit Food meals total anywhere from about 300-400 calories, which adds up to a healthy amount for my frame, so I know that if I am following my portion guidelines, I don’t need to worry! This is based on my personal experience and research and I am aware that everyone is different and not everybody eats the same way that I do. The purpose of my blog is to show you what worked for me, and to inspire others to make healthy choices. All types of foodies are welcome here whether you eat meat, count calories, or are on a completely different diet plan! I love when I get a comment from a reader “This is only 2 WW points!” because it makes me so happy to see that my recipes can be used and altered to fit specific dietary needs. That makes my day!

What are you kitchen staples?
A few things that you can ALWAYS find in my kitchen are quinoa, almond butter, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, fresh greens, Greek yogurt, apple slices, frozen fruit, almond milk, Larabars, whole-grain crackers, whole-wheat flour, stevia, vanilla, and seasonings. These are my most used ingredients that I like to have on hand at all times. When I have these, I know that I can put together a quick meal in a jiffy! Of course I always stock up on different fresh fruits and veggies, but my selection varies per week!

Your recipes have so many different spices and seasonings, what ones should I get?
I LOVE seasonings, especially when they’re salt free. Mrs. Dash makes a great line of salt-free seasoning blends that are available in most grocery stores. Seasonings are an easy way to add flavor or spice to a dish without unnecessary calories, fat, etc. My most used spices and seasonings are probably cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, salt-free Italian herb, and black pepper. Seasonings can really add up when each jar is around $3-5, so instead of loading up on 10 spices and blowing your grocery budget all at once, I have a little tip on how to expand your spice cabinet. Every time you go to the grocery store, make it a goal to purchase 1 spice. Before you know it, you will have a collection of delicious spices to compliment your meals!

Since you only use ¼ an avocado as a serving, how do you keep the rest of your avocado from spoiling?
If I open an avocado, I usually get creative and try to use it within the next day or two in smoothies, smeared on toast, or cubed in salads. When I store my extra avocado in the fridge, I leave the pit and shell intact and keep it in a Ziploc bag (air removed) or saran wrap. By leaving the pit, it will help to keep the avocado from browning as quickly. An opened avocado should still remain fresh after one day in the fridge. If it does turn a bit brown, just remove the thin top layer that has browned due to oxidization. This is also a great tip to keep guacamole from turning brown at a party, just place the pit in the guac and you’re good to go!

Do you have any suggestions on what to bring to school or work that doesn’t need refrigeration?
Not everyone has a refrigerator available for home made meals during school or work hours, but I do have a few ideas for you. I wrote a post of my favorite travel snacks that include some shelf stable, preservative free foods such as Justin’s Nut Butter packets, whole-grain crackers, almonds, dried veggies, and Larabars. The key to eating healthy is being prepared. Portion and store healthy snacks like whole-grain crackers, trail mix, and nuts in Ziploc bags or reusable airtight containers at the beginning of the week so they are ready to go. You can make your own RFFMBT on the go lunch with these ideas:

Produce: Kale chips, sun dried tomatoes, apples, oranges, grapefruit, banana, dates, raisins, prunes, no sugar added dried fruit
Protein: Dried edamame, dried green peas, protein mocha: chocolate protein powder + coffee, Protein Latte: vanilla protein powder + coffee
Plant Based Fat: Mixed nuts, assorted nuts, seeds, trail mix, Justin’s Nut Butter packets
Whole-Grains: Whole-grain crackers, slice of whole-grain bread, brown rice rice cakes, air popped popcorn, whole corn tortillas, whole-grain tortilla, bran cereal

Natural Bars: Larabars, That’s It Bars, Pure Bars, Barre Bars

Examples of how to put together grab and go RFFMBT meal kits:
Example 1:
 Larabar (plant based fat & produce/fruit) with a side of whole-grain crackers (whole grain), and protein mocha: chocolate protein powder + coffee (protein) mixed in a Blender Bottle.
Example 2: 1 Packet of Justin’s Nut Butter (plant based fat) spread on one serving of brown rice rice cakes (whole-grain), with banana (produce/fruit), and side of freeze dried green peas (protein).
Example 3: 1 serving of mixed nuts (plant based fat) combined with dried peas or edamame (protein), with a side of kale chips (produce/veggies) and  whole-grain crackers, or air popped popcorn with salt-free seasonings (whole-grain).
Example 4: Almond butter (plant based fat), and a banana (produce/fruit) rolled into 2 soft taco sized whole corn tortillas (whole-grain), with a a protein latte: vanilla protein powder + coffee (Protein).

It can be tricky to find healthy shelf stable meal options, but it can be done! Larabars are one of my favorite go to items.

Brace yourself… Part 4 tomorrow! Contain your enthusiasm, bunnies! xo 

RFFMBT Q&A Part 2

Since I am not very mobile due to my surgery and my first Q&A went so well, I decided it was the perfect time to do another Q&A! I had so many questions that I decided to break the post into a few different parts, so stay tuned for more questions and answers tomorrow in Part 3! Tomorrow’s Q&A has a bunch of foodie related questions that I get quite often!


Since the Rabbit Food Pyramid lists 4 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack) do you eat your Snack meal as one meal with all 4 servings from each food group together? or separate as 4 small snacks throughout the day?

I usually keep my snack as one mini meal because it’s pretty routine to me now, and it keeps me really full! I have learned through research that by pairing a complex carb with protein, it helps to keep blood sugar levels stable to avoid an insulin spike. This is another reason why I like to eat my produce, whole grain, protein, and plant based fat together. Of course I have had days where I felt really snacky, so I spaced out my “snack” meal. Here is an example of one day of regular meals with the “snack meal” broken up into 3 mini snacks (spaced 2-3 hours apart to keep your metabolism going):

8:00am Breakfast
10:00am Midmorning Snack: apple (produce)
12:30m Lunch
3:00pm Afternoon Snack: one piece of Laughing Cow Light Baby Bell Cheese or Chobani Greek yogurt (protein)
6:00pm Dinner
8:30pm Dessert Snack: Tbsp of peanut butter on whole-wheat toast (plant based fat and whole-grain)

There are so many different theories about food pairing, but I just do what works for me. When it comes down to it, as long as you stay within the “snack” guideline and portions, you should be just fine!

What is your weakness or cheat food?
I LOVE gummy candy. I am a gummy candy-aholic! gummy bears, Swedish fish, cinnamon bears, lifesavers gummies, gummy coke bottles. It’s gummy, I’m obsessed haha. When I do buy candy (not too often), I will open the bag, fill one small Dixie cup (which is about a ¼ cup serving), put the bag away before eating, and then sit down and enjoy my little cup of gummies. This way I don’t have the uncontrollable hand that keeps mindlessly reaching into the bag for more.

Can you recommend any motivating books on health?
1. “The End of Overeating” by Dr. David Kessler,

“Dr. Kessler cracks the code of overeating by explaining how our bodies and minds are changed when we consume foods that contain sugar, fat, and salt. Food manufacturers create products by manipulating these ingredients to stimulate our appetites, setting in motion a cycle of desire and consumption that ends with a nation of overeaters.” –Source

There was an interesting part that really stuck with me: “Sugar itself is not the only reason we’re partial to sweet foods. If nothing else mattered, more of us would just open a packet of sugar and eat it.” He describes how the combination of sugar along with fat and salt is what our bodies start to crave. Interesting huh? Like Dr. Kessler said, when I’m “craving sugar,” it’s not just sugar. I crave something with sugar, fat, and salt like a baked good, or a candy bar, not a packet of sugar. Now I am very aware of it!

2. “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, FADA

For anyone who has ever struggled with disordered eating or yo-yo dieting, this is an excellent book to help free yourself from food prison. It provides a healthy approach towards food and teaches you how to listen to your body to find the weight you’re meant to be.

In “Intuitive Eating” you will learn:
How to reject diet mentality forever
How our three Eating Personalities define our eating difficulties
How to feel your feelings without using food
How to honor hunger and feel fullness
How to follow the ten principles of Intuitive Eating, step-by-step
How to achieve a new and safe relationship with food and, ultimately, your body –Source

Do you read any health related magazines?
I love Shape, Women’s Health, and Fitness. They are filled with great tips and feature healthy athletic women. Strong is the new skinny!

What is your facial cleansing routine? What do you use?
This is a great question. I actually don’t have the best skin in the world. I’ve struggled with acne and breakouts since my teens and have used all different prescription topical gels from Retin-A to Differin. My skin is super sensitive, so I have found that gentle products work best for me. I also have tons of allergies to certain fruits and berries that are often found in skin care products because of their powerful antioxidants, so I have to be extra careful with scented and “antioxidant rich” products.

Cleanser: I wash my face in the morning and before bed with Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser. It’s mild, but gets all of my makeup off and doesn’t irritate my skin.

Day-time Moisturizer: Aveeno Positively Raident Daily Moisturizer SPF 30. It contains a soy complex to naturally even out skin tone, while the SPF protects against sun damage.

Nighttime Moisturizer: Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream. It’s hypo-allergenic, fragrance-free, and keeps my skin nice and moisturized without any oily residue. If this product had sunscreen in it, I would use it during the day too!

Stay tuned for Part 3 of my Q&A tomorrow!

RFFMBT Q&A

Hi everybunny!
This weekend was super busy and aside from working/blogging, I managed to spend a lot of time outside! Yesterday started off with a walk through town to the local bagel joint with my mom, Sam, and my family’s two dogs Teddy (corgi), and Elin (Yellow Labrador). After we walked back home, Sam and I picked up my best friend Lauren and Trevor for some kayaking. We ended up kayaking around the bay for an hour and managed to survive, sunburn free! Great weekend!

Now it’s back to work on this hoppy Monday! I’m really excited to share my first ever Q&A! Last week, I mentioned that I have been flooded with amazing emails from readers and after getting quite a few repetitive questions, I decided to do a Q&A of frequently asked questions! Thanks for all of your questions on Facebook and Twitter, you guys came up with some great material for today’s post!

Where can I buy your “EAT MORE RABBIT FOOD” shirt?
I handmade the shirt that you see pictured on my blog! By popular demand, I am in the process of having shirts screen printed! I’ll let everybunny know when they are available!

How long did it take you to lose the weight?
It took me a total of 10 months to get from 192lbs to 112lbs (-80lbs). In the beginning of my weight loss journey, I was consistently losing 10lbs per month, but once I started to get closer to my goal, the weight started coming off slower and required more exercise. Remember that everybody loses weight at different paces, so don’t get discouraged if it comes off slower. Plateaus are a part of the process, and I am proof that they don’t last forever! If you stay focused on your goals and eat clean, it will happen! Remember that the way our bodies look are 80% diet, 10% exercise, and 10% genetics. Abs are created in the gym and revealed in the kitchen!

How do you stay motivated to eat healthy?
I eat healthy because I love the way it makes me feel. This always keeps me on track and helps me from binging on junk food because I remember how terrible junk food makes me feel afterwards. When I eat clean ‘n’ green like a little rabbit, I have more energy, am free of digestive issues, and just feel better overall.

Are you a vegetarian or vegan?
Neither. My diet is basically 95% vegetarian. I never cook meat at home, so I am what I would like to call a “kitchen vegetarian” because if it comes from my kitchen, it’s vegetarian! I like having a plant strong diet because of how healthy it makes me feel, and love the challenge of cooking vegan meals, but I will occasionally eat white meats such as turkey or chicken while dining out, but it is pretty rare. Any of my recipes can be altered to your liking. For instance if you are vegan, use ½ cup of beans and legumes for your protein serving, or if you eat meat, use 3oz of meat.

What is your favorite exercise?
As you know, I’m obsessed with The Bar Method! It’s a great full-body toning workout that is based on interval training and uses mostly your own body weight (except for arm weights). I’m not a huge fan of cardio, but when I feel like I need to get my heart racing even more, I will hit the elliptical for 30 minutes, or go out for a 30 minute run.

What motivates you to run?
This is usually how I de-stress. I run because I can get my frustration out and not be bothered by anything else at this time.

How do you get yourself out the door for a run on days where you are not motivated?
We all have those days. If I told you I didn’t have this problem… that would be a blatant lie. I usually throw on a cute running outfit that I feel confident it, and then I tell myself that I’m only running 15 minutes out. I turn on my iPod, and set an alarm for 15 minutes and once my alarm sounds, I run back (15 minutes). This way I can talk myself into “only running for 15 minutes away from my house” but in reality the entire run is 30 minutes because I have to get back!

What is the difference between juices and smoothies? Is one better than the other?
Blending fruits and vegetables keeps the fiber intact, which acts like a scrubbing mechanism to clean your digestive system. Since smoothies take out the “chewing aspect,” this makes it easier for your body to digest. Juices are stripped of the fruit and vegetables’ natural fiber, easily providing your body with a flood of nutrients without having to use the digestive process. Juices allow your digestive system to rest while using energy in other parts of the body. I don’t think that one is better than the other, and it really depends on the situation and the person. I personally like smoothies more since they keep me fuller, longer!

I want to do a juice cleanse, where do I start?
Joe Cross from the documentary “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” has a great website for juicing/juice cleanses. It’s called Join The Reboot, and has tons of tips, recipes, and a guide on how much juice you should drink for your specific needs. If you are worried you won’t like the taste of certain juices, build your own starting with a base of your favorite sweet/fruit juices and then add veggies form there. You probably won’t even taste them!

I don’t have a juicer, can I use a blender?
You could use a blender but I don’t recommend it because you do not get as much juice from the fruit/vegetables as you would with a juicer. To make a juice in a blender, you would have to blend all of your ingredients and then strain it very thoroughly with a nut milk bag or cheese cloth. I suggest investing in a juicer before trying to extract juices from a blender. Amazon, Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Costco have great deals so keep your eye out for sales!

How can I eat healthy on a budget?
For one, start cooking at home! Make your kitchen your new favorite restaurant and you will definitely start saving money. I shop at all different stores from regular grocery stores like Ralph’s, Vons, and Kroger to specialty food stores such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, and even places like Target, Walmart, and Costco. Yes, organic can be great, but if you don’t have the budget for it, that’s ok! When I buy fresh items at Costco, it challenges me to make as many meals as possible with the particular item before it goes bad. This way, if I buy a huge bag of spinach, I will make it a goal to include it in as many meals as possible so it doesn’t go to waste. I recommend using fresh fruits and vegetables, but canned (unsweetened, and no salt added) could be used in substitution in some recipes. Make sure to always choose whole-grain items, and don’t be afraid to buy non name-brand items. The ingredient list is the most important party about buying any type of processed or prepackaged food. Look for short ingredient lists, and words that you can actually pronounce!

How do you plan your meals?
I tend to get obsessed with certain meals, and I will eat them over and over again everyday for a couple of weeks until I get sick of them and want something else. Sometimes I will want something different every single morning of the week, you never know! I try to make Sundays my prep days. I like to wash and chop up veggies so that they are easily accesable and ready for cooking. This takes a lot of prep time out of meals when you are in a hurry or don’t feel like cooking. Then half of the work is already done and you have no excuse to not eat healthy!

Most Sundays, this is how I prep for the week!
Step 1: Select breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for Mon-Sun.
Step 2: Write the exact ingredients needed for each meal
Step 3: purchase the required ingredients on your list
Step 4: Pre-wash and chop veggies/produce (that don’t spoil) for the week
Step 5: Cook any type of grain (quinoa, rice, pasta, beans, or anything else that takes a while to cook) and store it in the fridge for the rest of the week

What is a normal day of meals for you?
I try as hard as I can to stick with my Rabbit Food Pyramid, but I’m not perfect and some days I just need a second snack or a slice of pizza. Some weeks I will eat the exact same things everyday, and some weeks I will get strange cravings and want a different meal every day of the week! For the most part, oats, quinoa, and greek yogurt are daily staples that remain the same!

Breakfast  – Cashew Butter Oatmeal + Apple Soy Smoothie
Produce: 1 apple
Whole Grain: ¼ cup rolled oats + ½ cup water
Protein: 1 cup soy milk
Plant Based Fat: 1 Tbsp cashew butter
Oatmeal: cook the oats with water on the stove. Stir in cashew butter.
Smoothie: blend the apple and soy milk together.

Lunch – Greek Stuffed Pita
Produce:
1 cup romaine, ½ cup chopped onion, ½ cup chopped tomatoes
Whole Grain: ½ slice whole-wheat pita bread (1 pita pocket)
Protein: ¼ cup nonfat feta cheese
Plant Based Fat: 10 olives
Directions: Toss all ingredients together with balsamic vinegar and stuff inside the pita. Add fresh black pepper if desired.

Dinner – Lemon Garlic Quinoa
Produce: 1 cup asparagus, 1 cup broccoli
Whole Grain: ½ cup cooked quinoa
Protein: 1/2 cup chickpeas
Plant Based Fat: 1 Tbsp olive oil
Directions: Cook quinoa to package instructions. Chop broccoli and asparagus into 1 inch sections. Place vegetables in a microwave safe bowl, cover, and let them steam in the microwave for roughly 2 minutes. In a blender combine ½ clove of garlic, olive oil, and 1 Tbsp of lemon juice, and blend until Smooth. In a separate bowl, combine quinoa, chickpeas and vegetables. Add the dressing to the bowl and mix until quinoa, chickpeas, and veggies are evenly coated.

Snack – Banana Almond Butter Roll-Ups
Produce: ½ banana
Whole Grain: 2 whole corn soft taco sized tortillas
Protein: 6oz cup of plain nonfat Greek yogurt
Plant Based Fat: 1 Tbsp almond butter
Directions: Spread the tortillas evenly with almond butter. Top with banana slices, sprinkle with cinnamon, and roll up into wraps. Enjoy with a side of Greek yogurt.

I had so much fun reading and answering all of your questions. You guys inspire me each and every day and I am so in love with my blog and followers! I cannot believe I only started blogging 3 short months ago! I have been so blessed and smothered with incredible opportunities!

What did you think about my first official Q&A? xo