healthy

Breakfast, Contests & Giveaways, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Banana Bread Breakfast Quinoa + DOLE Bananas Giveaway

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from DOLE Bananas asking if I would like some coupons for free bananas. After the shock that DOLE Bananas (OMG!) emailed me, of course I immediately replied with a very enthusiastic YES! DOLE Bananas was sweet enough to send me a huge stack of coupons for bananas, and let me say, they were instantly put to good use! I have been going bananas in the kitchen, literally! I picked up tons of bananas and threw a bunch (no pun intended) in the freezer (peeled) for future smoothie use, and started crafting away on some new nana recipes for you guys!

Bananas have so many health benefits, they might as well be called “Nature’s Original Energy Bar!” DOLE sent me some awesome banana facts to show that they aren’t just delicious, but nutritious too!

  • Bananas are a good source of vitamins and nutrients – especially vitamins B6 and C, potassium, manganese and dietary fiber.
  • Bananas replenish necessary carbohydrates, glycogen and body fluids burned during exercise; contain electrolytes; and are the perfect alternative to processed sports drinks and bars packed with sodium and sugar.

Since I am a huge fan of bananas and breakfast, I wanted to try making a banana bread type of oatmeal… without the oats! I love quinoa for it’s amazing health benefits, so I decided to use it as a breakfast bowl/porridge type of meal. It turned out AWESOME, and I will be making this more often, especially when I need a break from oatmeal!



Banana Bread Breakfast Quinoa
Serves 1

1 very ripe banana – mashed
¼ cup dry quinoa
¼ cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
2 Tbsp walnuts
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp cinnamon

Cook the quinoa on the stove to package instructions. After the quinoa has finished cooking (while over low heat), stir in the almond milk, mashed banana, vanilla, and cinnamon. Mix the walnuts into the quinoa or add on top. Transfer to a bowl and enjoy warm.
Note: You could add additional milk until desired texture is reached.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: banana
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: milk
Plant Based Fat: walnuts

In collaboration with DOLE Bananas, I am hosting a giveaway of  “$1 off DOLE Bananas” coupons for 5 lucky winners! Each winner will receive 5 coupons! 

For your chance to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post “Banana Bread Breakfast Quinoa + DOLE Bananas Giveaway” with your favorite way to eat bananas!
  • All entries must use a valid email address.
  • Open to U.S. residents only.
  • All comments must be posted by Sunday, July 1st at 11:59pm (PST).
  • 5 winners will be randomly selected and announced on Monday, July 2.

Go Bananas Every Day™ and receive daily recipes, serving suggestions and tips by following DOLE Bananas on Twitter and Facebook!

I have complied a list of some RFFMBT recipes that include bananas:
Healthy Vegan Banana Bread
Banana Nicecream
Peanut Butter & Banana Toast
Banana Hazelnut Toast With Ricotta
Protein Pancakes
Chocolate Cake Batter Overnight Oats
Ch Ch Ch Chia Pudding
Carrot Cake Smoothie
Gargantuan Green Giant
It’s Easy Being Green Smoothie

* The giveaway has ended, and the winners will be announced on Monday, July 2.
** Congratulations to the winners: Killian from PA, Jessica from IL, Sara from VA, Elizabeth from TX, and Leanne from CA.

| 173 Comments
Breakfast, Desserts, Lunch, Treats, Vegetarian

Carrot Cake Smoothie

Hi little bunnies!
This week has been so busy! I have been working with a couple of different companies and have some really exciting giveaways coming up! This week I also had the chance to try a new barre class called Physique 57, which was sooo much fun! They gifted me with a 2 week challenge, and after the challenge I’ll give you guys a review and let you know how it went.

I wanted to say thank you to all of my loyal readers! I would not have half of the opportunities and success I have without you! Your emails, tweets, and comments make me so happy to blog every day. You have no idea how much you guys inspire me, and I am so thankful for all of your support!

I’ve been receiving tons of emails recently, and while most of them are somewhat specific and personal, I do get quite a few of the same questions. I am thinking about doing a little Q&A on my blog of popular questions that I receive. If you have any questions, feel free to Tweet or Facebook them followed by the hashtag #RFFMBTFAQ and I’ll compile a list of the most common frequently asked questions to answer and post them next week! It can be anything from health, fitness, and beauty, to fashion!

Now on to the wabbit food! Since I am still going through a carrot cake obsessed phase (such a bunny), I created a Carrot Cake Smoothie!



Carrot Cake Smoothie
Serves 1

1 cup chopped carrots
1 frozen banana
6oz Chobani Pineapple Greek Yogurt
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice – I love Almond Breeze by Blue Diamond!)
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 Tbsp chia seeds
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground ginger

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add almond milk as needed to acquire your desired thickness.
Note: For a vegan option, omit the Greek yogurt (and almond milk) and sub with 1 cup of coconut milk instead.

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: carrot and banana
Whole Grain: rolled oats
Protein: Greek yogurt
Plant Based Fat: chia seeds

| 63 Comments
Hurdles, Interviews

Get Fit With Kayleigh and Herbalife

Right after I launched my blog in March, my friend Kayleigh emailed me and shared a story about her health and struggles with her weight. Kayleigh has always been fit and healthy, but a couple of years ago struggled with a failing thyroid and adrenal glands which led to a 30lb weight gain. She was eating healthy and still exercising, and did not understand why she was gaining weight so rapidly. After finding out the root of her problem, she started looking for a way to get back on track. Instead of getting discouraged, Kayleigh turned to Herbalife as a solution to feel better and get back to her regular weight. After starting to use Herbalife shakes in her daily routine, she saw the weight melt off and noticed how much better she physically felt. She loved the results so much that she still uses Herbalife today to maintain her weight, and has become a distributor to help others feel great too!

I thought that sharing Kayleigh’s story and solution was appropriate, because I am struggling with some health issues as well. I have been feeling particularly off lately and have noticed severe changes in my mood and energy, as well as physical changes with my skin, hair, and weight. I went to my doctor and through a round of blood tests discovered that a precursor to my thyroid is elevated. My sister has Graves disease and had her thyroid removed due to its overactivity, and the process of her diagnose was long and very stressful. Some people choose to go for Delta 8 THC vape pens from OCN to deal with stress, It may take some time to get everything figured out and leveled, but I am so glad that I have my sister and Kayleigh who have both overcome their health hiccups. Like Kayleigh, I know how awful it is to be on your A game, and not see any results and just feel crappy overall. Our health has a huge impact in the way we feel, and I know I am not the only one who is dealing with these issues. I love that Kayleigh found a way to feel better and get back to her healthy self with Herbalife, and am so inspired by her positive attitude and story. I hope that Kayleigh’s story can help other’s who are struggling with health issues and are not feeling their absolute best.


I adore Kayleigh because she is honest with her health and weight struggles and always wants to help others to feel and be the best they possibly can. When I was frustrated with my weight back in April, Kayleigh sent me some samples of Herbalife to try. She was so excited to share Herbalife with me since it made such a positive impact on her health and weight loss. She is such a sincere and honest girl and wants everyone to reach their health & fitness goals whether it be with Herbalife or another regimen.

I know that like everything else in life, weight loss is not one size fits all. What works for me may not be what works for everyone else, but I want to inspire others to make healthier choices and provide motivation for others to reach their goals. This is exactly why I wanted to share Kayleigh’s story with you guys. Maybe you don’t have the time to make the meals I make every single day, and need something else to replace meals that fits into your daily routine. Or maybe you have the motivation, but need another option to help you lose weight or get healthy. I think that Herbalife is a great option for someone who is on the go and needs a portable option that still has excellent nutritional value.


I tried the chocolate and vanilla shakes, and was pleasantly surprised. Most nutritional/weight loss shakes taste like same watery fake flavors, but Herbalife did not. My favorite was the chocolate. It actually tasted like a malt from a diner! I mixed my shake with unsweetened almond milk, which gave it a super thick and creamy texture that I absolutely loved. I really enjoyed the natural cocoa flavor, but more than that, I loved how full it kept me until dinner. Call me crazy, but I would throw in some coffee and make it a protein mocha for breakfast! I just told Kayleigh that I want to order a tub of Chocolate Herbalife Nutritional Shake Mix. This is a great post workout shake for busy days when I am short on time. I can’t wait to make some chocolate Protein Pancakes too!

I asked Kayleigh a few questions to give you guys a glimpse inside her HerbaLIFE!

1. Why did you start using Herbalife?
I was struggling with weight gain from a failing thyroid and adrenal gland and my regular healthy lifestyle wasn’t working the way it used to. I needed a jumpstart

2. How did you hear Herbalife?
I actually heard about it on the radio. I listen to Dr. Laura obsessively and she is does advertisements for Herbalife. After she had multiple coworkers loose upwards of 40 pounds using the shake, I decided I had to give it a try.

3. How long have you been using Herbalife?
I have been using it on and off for the past 9 months.

4. How many Herbalife shakes do you have per day? What do you usually eat in a day?
I vary between one and two shakes a day. It depends on how quickly you want to loose the weight. For the quickest easiest results its two shakes a day, but sometimes it doesn’t fit it my schedule or I don’t feel like eating two shakes.

Breakfast:
I almost always have a shake (the green one on my blog). That shake is a banana, Herbalife Forumla 1 Weight Loss Chocolate Powder, chia seeds, spinach, and a scoop of peanut butter.

Lunch:
I’ll normally make something. Maybe a big salad with all my favorites, a soup, a sandwich, a wrap or even leftovers. Pretty much anything that I can scrounge up quickly on my way to work or the night before if I have time. When I do have time I love to try new recipes and check out different ideas – I love RFFMBT for that. It has given me some wonderful lunches that have kept me full till dinner time!

Dinner:
This is normally when I will have the second shake. I work out at night so this is my post workout shake. Either I’ll make the same shake I made in the morning (but nix the chia seeds – they give you a ton of energy that have the potential of keeping you up later than you want to be up) or I’ll get a juice (Naked Juice Superfood is great or if you have a juicer that is awesome also) and mix it in with my Herbalife Formula 1 Vanilla flavored shake with some Glutacor to help with muscle re-growth.

Snacks:
I generally pack and bring with me wherever I am going that day. I’ll bring veggies, fruit and a protein. Everything varies based on the day but for proteins I either bring a bag of mixed nuts or an Herbalife Snack Bar (the lemon one is my favorite) I suggest getting creative with your fruits and veggies. You can eat as many as you want a day because they are just great for your system and you are supposed to have 8 servings a day anyhow so mix and match and use the veggies fill up if your having a mid meal craving or need for a munch fest!

5. How is Herbalife different from other nutrition/diet shakes?
I find that other shakes are either extremely expensive to purchase, not very good tasting, or had to work into your daily life. For me Herbalife is simple. It tastes delicious, it works wonderfully and I can add it to pretty much anything. I go and buy single small bottles of Naked Superfood Juice in bulk and then will bring it with me for the day if I’m out and about. It’s easy to shake up and drink. It doesn’t need a blender, it doesn’t need its own can. Got a craving for something sweet? Throw the chocolate flavored one in milk and drink up and you have a full meal of chocolate milk that will keep you full and energized all morning or afternoon! Its so simple and their are so many options and flavors.

6. How do you make your shake?
Depends on what kind of time I have. I’ll make the chocolate one with milk or water if I’m in a hurry. Or the vanilla with natural juice. When I’m home and I have my Magic Bullet Blender I will blend with ice and other yummy mix-ins. Sometimes fruits and veggies, sometimes peanut butter. Depends on my mood and day of the week, but your options are endless.

7. What is your favorite shake flavor?
Well, I love the chocolate because it fills my sweet tooth, but the vanilla is wonderful for adding to anything. Can I say there is a tie?

8. What is the average price of Herbalife? Where can I get it?
The price of the Formula 1 shake with shipping and handling and tax comes out to just a little over $48. It varies slightly on where it is being shipped to. Depending on the supplements you add, or if you want a workout protein powder as well (Herbalife 24 which is also great) those things vary. You can find all that information as well as the full catalog on my Herbalife sales page.

If you’re interested in Herbalife, or want to connect with Kayleigh, you can follow her Twitter, Tumblr blog, and purchase Herbalife from her sales page!

| 21 Comments
Desserts, Recipes, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies

Remember that delicious bowl of healthy cookie dough dip that I posted yesterday? What if I told you that you could turn that fun vegan dip into actual ooey gooey chocolate chip cookies with the addition of some fairy dust (a.k.a. baking powder and baking soda)? Well, I’m about to make your wildest dreams come true. Get your ovens ready little bunnies. It’s cookie time.

Speaking of cookie time, whenever I hear that phrase I instantly think of the movie “Troop Beverly Hills!” OMG such a good movie. Definitely watching it this weekend with a Chocolate Chip Chickpea cookie… or two! Have you ever seen “Troop Beverly Hills?” Such a classic!

As usual, these cookies are healthy, but give regular fatty refined sugar cookies a run for their money! Here is yet another flour-less vegan recipe that doesn’t contain any oil, refined sugar, or butter for all of you healthy bunnies that want a little something to indulge in.

It’s cookie time, it’s cookie time, it’s cookie timeeeee!


Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
Makes 24 cookies

1 15oz can of chickpeas
1 + 1/4 cup pitted medjool dates
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup chocolate chips (of your choice, you could use carob chips for a vegan option)
3 Tbs almond butter
2 Tbsp rolled oats
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove pits from the dates and place in a bowl or jar with 1/2 cup of water. Cover the bowl or jar and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (or overnight). Strain and rinse the chickpeas. After dates have soaked, combine the chickpeas, dates (including their soaking liquid), almond butter, oats, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a food processor, excluding the chocolate chips. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides with a spatula as needed. Remove dough from the for processor and gently mix in the chocolate chips. Lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray, or line with parchment paper. Scoop the dough into 1 inch balls and place on the cookie sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cookies are firm in the center. Remove from oven and let cool.

Note: If you were hesitant about the Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip, this is a great recipe to test it out. The dough does have a different type of flavor than your average cookie dough, but the baked cookies taste like “regular” chocolate chip cookies, without a doubt. Make a batch of cookies and sample some dough to see if it’s dip worthy for your taste! If not, turn it into cookies. Simple!

Recipe adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie. 

| 73 Comments
Desserts, Recipes, Snacks, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian

Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip

I am always looking for the healthiest alternatives to my favorite foods. One of my favorite things to do with friends is bake. You know… typical girls! Most of my “girls baking nights” used to consist of Funfetti cake mix, a package of break and bake cookie dough, and more “sampling” than actually baking. I love doughs and batters, in fact I cannot get enough! When my sister and I used to make cookies and cakes with my mom, we would both argue over who got to lick the bowl and who got to lick the spoon. So glad we never ended up with salmonella! Yikes!

I have come to the conclusion that I love vegan baking because it’s challenging and fun, but really because you can eat all the batter you want without getting sick from raw eggs! On top of using only plant based products for baking (with the addition of natural salt), I try not to use any refined sugar, making my treats pretty much guilt-free.

While eating hummus the other day, something struck me. Why not use chickpeas as a base for a sweet treat? My friend and I made cupcakes from chickpeas before, so I thought it was worth a try to master another dessert. Not only is this a fun appetizer or dip for a party, but these fabulous little legumes are a great source of fiber and protein to keep you full and satisfied.

Now let’s talking about some dipping action!
Apple slices, whole-grain pretzels, graham crackers, toast, the possibilities are endless!
Question: What would you use to dip into your bowl of Chickpea Cookie Dough?

My recipe is an adapted version from Chocolate Covered Katie’s Cookie Dough Dip. To make the dip as healthy as it could possibly be, I made a few adjustments to the original recipe:

omit baking soda
only 3 Tbsp almond butter
2 Tbsp rolled oats
no extra milk

Chickpea Cookie Dough Dip
Makes about 2.5 cups of dough
keep servings to 2Tbsp per person/snack

1 15oz can of chickpeas
1 + 1/4 cup pitted medjool dates
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup chocolate chips (of your choice, you could use carob chips for a vegan option)
3 Tbs almond butter
2 Tbsp rolled oats
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda

Remove pits from the dates and place in a bowl or jar with 1/2 cup of water. Cover the bowl or jar and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours (or overnight). Strain and rinse the chickpeas. After dates have soaked, combine the chickpeas, dates (including their soaking liquid), almond butter, oats, vanilla, and salt in a food processor, excluding the chocolate chips. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides with a spatula as needed. Remove dough from the for processor and gently mix in the chocolate chips. Refrigerate and serve cold.

| 18 Comments

1 … 13 14 15 16 17 18