cherry

Breakfast, Recipes, Vegetarian

Valentine Toast

Happy Valentine’s Day my little love bunnies!
I hope everyone is having a lovely day!
Valentine Toast
Valentine Toast
Valentine Toast

Serves 1

1 egg
1 slice whole-grain bread

Using a cookie cutter or knife, cut a heart out of the center of the bread. Spray a pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the bread in pan over medium to low heat. Crack an egg and place it in the heart cutout. Cover the pan and allow to cook for a few minutes until whites are cooked through. Transfer the finished toast to a plate and adorn with Sriracha or Tabasco hearts. Top the remaining bread heart with homemade Cherry Chia Jam. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Note: I used a 2.5 inch heart shaped cookie cutter.
Cherry Chia Jam

Cherry Chia Jam
Makes about 1 cup of jam

1 cup cherries or berry of your choice (I used frozen pitted cherries)
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp water

Defrost the cherries under warm water until thawed and remove pits if necessary. Place the cherries and 1 Tbsp of water in a blender and pulse until cherries are mashed, but not completely pureéd. Transfer the mashed cherries to a jar and stir in the chia seeds. Refrigerate for about 60 minutes until chia seeds expand and turn the content into a thick jam.

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Desserts, Raw, Recipes, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Healthy Vegan Banana Split

Happy friday and congratulations to the winner of my Chobani Giveaway: Nicole B.!
“I love to use greek yogurt to make salmon salad with smoked salmon, capers, red onions, cucumbers and dill. YUMMY :)” -Nicole
Start making room in your refrigerator for that yogurt! haha

I wanted to say thank you to all of my readers for being so supportive during this roller coaster of a week or so. Between my surgery, thyroid acting up, possibility of PCOS, and countless blood tests I am absolutely exhausted and you guys have really cheered me up! I really wanted to post Part 4 of my Q&A yesterday but I was sidelined by another trip to the doctor and more blood work! I will definitely give you guys a more in depth description of what has been going on in the health department some time next week. For now, have a great weekend, make yummy healthy food, exercise outdoors, and enjoy a banana split! xo

Oh yes you read read the title right, HEALTHY VEGAN BANANA SPLIT! In honor of National Banana Split Day (August 25th) TasteSpotting will be featuring none other than banana splits on their home page this Friday, August 24th to celebrate. To make this holiday even sweeter, DOLE Bananas gave me a challenge to create a healthy banana split under 350 calories. You know that I am not into counting calories, but I couldn’t pass up this awesome challenge. I’m always excited to make healthy versions of often unhealthy favorites.

Right now you are probably thinking, ya right… good luck with that, but I have created an awesome Banana Split that won’t split your pants! This is my take on the old fashioned banana split. My b-split consists of a creamy raw vegan ice cream made with only three natural ingredients and no added sugar, topped with a fluffy vegan cashew cream and juicy bing cherry all for only 295 healthy calories! Now that’s some NICEcream!

Made of avocado, mango, and banana, this nicecream is filled with heart healthy fats and over 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. Plus it tastes oh so good! Helathy and tasty? Win win.


Healthy Vegan Banana Split
serves 1

Raw Vegan Nicecream
1/2 (63g) frozen banana
1/2 cup (70g) frozen mango
1/4 (50g) medium avocado

Cashew Cream
1/8 cup (14g) cashews + 1 1/2 Tbsp water
1/4 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp stevia

On Top
1 cherry
remaining 1/2 (63g) of the banana

Prep: Peel and cut the banana in half. Freeze one half (for ice cream) before hand. Also slice and pre-freeze mango and refrigerate the avocado. Combine cashews, water, vanilla extract, and stevia together in a jar and let it sit for at least 1-2 hours.
Directions: Combine the 1/2 frozen banana, frozen mango, and avocado in a food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer the ice cream to a bowl. Rinse the food processor and pour in the cashew mixture and blend for 2-3 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Top your ice cream with cashew cream and garnish with fresh banana slices (from the leftover banana half) and a cherry.
Note: If you eat the nicecream directly after blending, it will be similar to a soft serve consistency. For a more solid ice cream like treat, transfer the ice cream to a container and freeze for about 1 hour before eating.

Show me and DOLE Bananas your healthy banana split creations on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and hop over to TasteSpotting for more mouth watering banana splits!
RFFMBT Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram
DOLEBananas Twitter & Facebook

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Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes, Tips, Vegetarian

Cherry Almond Green Tea Smoothie Bowl

Hello lovelies!

If you follow RFFMBT on Twitter or Facebook you know that I always post a “Motivation Monday” quote to get the week started off right! I realized that I have never posted my Motivation Monday quotes on my blog, so today… that will change! I love starting my week feeling strong, positive, and optimistic and sometimes all you need are some motivating words to make it happen.

Motivation Monday: “Transformation is not a future event, it’s a present activity” -Jillian Michaels

Today started off with a scrumptious smoothie bowl and a dysfunctional computer! I took my computer into the Apple Store for a Genius Bar appointment in hopes of solving my wifi issue. My computer has not been able to detect, pickup, or stay connected to wifi for the past couple of weeks and it’s been super annoying. I’ve actually had to plug my computer straight into the ethernet cord! How old school… haha So anyways, my computer ended up having all sorts of problems, so I said bye bye to my computer while it goes to the Apple spa for 3-5 days! AHHHH! Bear with me as I attempt to post from my iPad, and public library computers while my lappy is away on vacation! I will try to continue posting everyday, but if I am slow or go MIA, this is why (hence the late post)! Cross your fingers my computer is only gone 3 days versus 5!

Enough depressing talk about my beloved laptop and back to that scrumptious smoothie bowl! Today’s smoothie was so thick that it turned into an awesome smoothie bowl. I’m one of those people that could not live on juice because I would miss chewing too much. I love a good smoothie, but I can drink those babies in under 30 seconds and then start scavenging the pantry for something to “eat.” If you just read that last sentence and said “me too,” I have a solution for you! Smoothies are an excellent way to combine fresh nutritious foods with little prep time and zero cooking, but they can often disappear just as fast leaving you wanting more. Most smoothies are a meal within themselves, so they should leave you feeling full and satisfied. I have found a simple way to slow down my smoothie drinking pace by eating them out of a bowl with a spoon. I find that I eat slower, I can really enjoy and experience the flavor and texture of the food while allowing my body to feel full. To make sure that I slow down and enjoy my smoothie bowls, sometimes I add some RFFMBT approved healthy topping!


Allgood Provisions sent me some yummy samples of their Sundried Organic Utah Cherries which I generously topped my smoothie bowl with. I’ve been going cherry crazy lately, so this awesome little resealable pack of dried cherries is just the cherry on top. Ha. Thanks Allgood, I am loving my healthy grab and go snackity snacks! I’m not sure if I am the only one that obsesses over certain foods for certain periods of time, but it has been happening a lot lately (remember the carrot cake?)! I bought a huge bag of cherries, so I’ve been on a cherry kick making as many healthy goodies as possible. Don’t worry, if you’re sick of cherries, I’m almost out! I felt like pairing an unusual ingredient/flavor to todays smoothie for some morning energy: Green Tea!

If you’re not a fan of drinking green tea plain, you can sneak it into your smoothie to make a healthy energizing breakfast with countless health benefits:

Weight Loss: The polyphenol found in green tea increase metabolism by intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.
Energizing: Has a stimulating effect from it’s caffeine content.
Anti aging: Can reduce wrinkles and signs of aging due to it’s rich antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Boosts immunity: The antioxidant polyphenol compounds called Catechins have been shown to boost your immune system. 
Anti Carcinogenic: Catechins present in green tea neutralize free radicals to reduce the chances of cancer.
Reduces Cholesterol: Reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad.


Cherry Almond Green Tea Smoothie Bowl
Serves 1

6oz plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1 cup frozen pitted cherries
2-3 Tbsp water
1 Tbsp almond butter
1 tsp green tea leafs
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

If you do not have loose leaf tea, open up a tea bag and measure out 1 teaspoon of green tea leafs. Combine the Greek yogurt, cherries, almond butter,  vanilla, and green tea in the blender. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time to get the blender moving. Blend until smooth. Transfer smoothie to a bowl, top with 1 tablespoon of almonds or dried cherries and enjoy with a spoon.


The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: cherries
Whole Grain: none, add 1/4 cup whole rolled oats if desired
Protein: plain nonfat Greek Yogurt
Plant Based Fat: almond butter

Warning: this is probably not the best idea for after dinner/dessert because of the caffeine from green tea… unless it’s finals week or you are working really really late that night!

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Breakfast, Desserts, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian

Cherry Chia Parfait

Sooo I’ve been super obsessed with my Cherry Chia Jam over the past few days. So obsessed that I have been eating it plain as a Jell-o-ish snack after my workout, on my toast, and now in a parfait! Since my one serving of fruit (1 cup of cherries), and one serving of plant based fat (1 Tbsp of chia seeds) have been taken care of, all I needed to complete my breakfast was a serving of whole-grain and protein, so I opted for some oats and plain Greek yogurt! I enjoyed the flavor combination of ripe cherries & tart Greek yogurt and the chewy texture of the oats. It was both refreshing and filling and just what I needed on this hot day! I will definitely be making this more often! Maybe with some mango Chia Jam? I’m sure that will be happening sometime soon!

As I was in the checkout line at Sprout’s Farmers Market the other day, a woman behind me was trying to convince her friend to buy chia seeds and I could’t help but eavesdrop and awkwardly join their conversation with some chia recipes haha She told me that she puts chia seeds in her tea as a tapioca/boba substitute! GENIUS! So happy I talk to strangers in grocery store lines! I need to try that!

I just love those little seeds! Aren’t they so much fun?


Cherry Chia Parfait
Serves 1

1 cup Cherry Chia Jam
1/4 cup rolled oats
6oz plain nonfat Greek yogurt

Prepare the Cherry Chia Jam to original instructions and refrigerate for at least one hour before adding to the parfait. In a glass jar or cup, layer half of the yogurt along the bottom, followed by half of the oats, and half of the Cherry Chia Jam. Repeat until all of your ingredients have been layered in the jar. Enjoy cold.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: cherries (from jam)
Whole Grain: rolled oats
Protein: plain nonfat Greek Yogurt
Plant Based Fat: chia seeds (from jam)

| 16 Comments
Raw, Recipes, Snacks, Toast Tuesdays, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Cherry Chia Jam

Happy Toast Tuesday!
I decided to change things up a weeee bit for this week’s Toast Tuesday by posting a toast related recipe! This recipe if from one of my favorite blogs: Eating Bird Food! Brittany has some really fantastic healthy recipes and she is basically a chia genius. She is super creative with her recipes & ingredients and gives the term “bird food” a whole need meaning!

Brittany’s Easy Chia Seed Jam used strawberries, but since I am allergic to berries (with the exception of raspberries), I decided to go for cherries. It can be really tricky to find yummy jams and jellies other than orange marmalade and grape, so once I saw Brittany’s super simple recipe I was pumped to make my own! You will not believe how easy this recipe is. Only three steps stand between you and some fresh homemade jam! It is so delish, you could actually enjoy this jam as a vegan Jello-O snack which counts as 1 serving of fruit, and one serving of plant based fat!


Cherry Chia Jam
Makes about 1 cup of jam

1 cup black cherries (I used frozen pitted)
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1 Tbsp water

Defrost the cherries under warm water until thawed and remove pits if necessary. Place the cherries and 1 Tbsp of water in a blender and pulse until cherries are mashed, but not completely pureéd. Transfer the mashed cherries to a jar and stir in the chia seeds. Refrigerate for about 60 minutes until chia seeds expand and turn the content into a thick jam.

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