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Contests & Giveaways, Desserts, Recipes, Reviews, Vegan, Vegetarian

Healthy Halloween: Reese’s Redo + MaraNatha Giveaway (CLOSED)

This past weekend I took to my Facebook page to ask what your favorite Halloween candy is. Not just because I couldn’t stop thinking about candy, but because I wanted to do a Healthy Halloween recipe for you guys! Winning by a landslide was your favorite chocolate pb treat, Reese’s!

Today I have vegan-ified those little chocolate cups of heaven and traded in the peanut butter for nutritious MaraNatha Maple Almond Butter!

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Warning: This product is highly addictive! I literally ate spoonfuls of this straight out of the jar! As a product that is completely raw with no preservatives, no additives, and no artificial flavors or colors I have to give this 5 stars. It’s smooth yet still has that authentic gritty almond texture mixed in and spreads nicely. The taste is absolutely on par. You get a hint of the maple without it being too overpowering or too sweet. The “no stir” addition makes it soooo easy to use, especially when you keep it in the refrigerator. No more chunks of hardened almond butter stuck in the bottom of the jar!

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Here is why my Reese’s Redo is a part of Healthy Halloween!
Learn why this sweet treat isn’t just delicious, but nutritious too:

5 Fast Facts About Almonds:

  • contains calcium, zinc, magnesium, and iron
  • packed with protein
  • loaded with fiber
  • contains many important B-complex groups of vitamins
  • filled with heart-healthy monounsaturated fat

5 Fast Facts About Coconut Oil:

  • super high in lauric acid
  • rich in antioxidants
  • contains natural microbial and anti-bacterial agents
  • improves metabolism
  • can help improve cholesterol

5 Fast Facts About Maple Syrup:

  • contains manganese and zinc
  • high levels of antioxidants
  • helps with inflammation
  • 1/4 cup contains more calcium as the same amount of  milk
  • 1/4 cup contains more potassium than a banana

5 Fast Facts About Raw Cacao Powder:

  • contains over 300 compounds including protein, copper, calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron
  • super high in anti-oxidants
  • contains 4 different neuro-transmitters that act as anti-depressants
  • contains essential fatty acids
  • can help to lower blood pressure

Make sure to read all the way through the post for your chance to win some MaraNatha goodies to make your own Vegan Reese’s Almond Butter Cups!

Vegan-Reese's-1 mix the chocolate

Vegan-Reese'spour evenly

Vegan-Reese's-2freeze for 15 minutes

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Vegan-Reese's-4drop 1/2 Tbsp of MaraNatha Raw No Stir Maple Almond Butter in each chocolate cup

Vegan-Reese's-5cover and fill to the rim with remaining chocolate

Vegan-Reese's-6freeze for 15 minues

Vegan-Reese's-9enjoy!

Vegan Almond Butter Cups
Makes 12

1/2 cup Maranatha Coconut Butter
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
2 Tbsp grade b pure maple syrup
3 oz of Maranatha Raw No Stir Maple Almond Butter
12 mini cupcake liners

Line a mini cupcake tin with mini cupcake liners. Melt coconut butter/oil and combine with the raw cacao, and maple syrup in a medium size bowl and stir until well combined. Divide the chocolate liquid in half and reserve one half for the “top layer” of the almond butter cups. Pour the chocolate evenly in each liner and freeze for at least 15 minutes or until hardened. Remove the tin from the freezer. Drop 1/2 tablespoon of Maranatha Maple Almond Butter at a time on top of each frozen/hardened chocolate cup. After almond butter has been dropped into each cup, pour the remaining half of the chocolate until filled to the top and almond butter is covered. Carefully place them into the freezer (to expedite the process) for at least 15 minutes or until hardened. Keep almond butter cups in the refrigerator until served because they will melt and lose their shape at room temperature if the coconut butter/oil begins to melt.

Maranatha-Giveaway
It’s your chance to win some goodies from MaraNatha!
One lucky RFFMBT reader will win 1 jar of MaraNatha Coconut Butter, 1 jar of MaraNatha No Stir Raw Maple Almond Butter, 1 jar of MaraNatha No Stir Coconut Almond Butter (brand spanking new product!)!

For your chance to win:
1. Comment on this post telling me your favorite way to eat almond/nut butter.

2. Instagram a photo of how you enjoy almond or nut butter with the handles @RabbitFoodForMyBunnyTeeth @MaraNatha and hashtag #RFFMBTmaranatha
– Leave a separate comment with the URL to your Instagram photo.

This means you can earn up to two entries!
Giveaway ends on Thursday, October 24th at 11:59pm PST.
Winner will be announced on Friday, October 25th! Must use a valid email address when entering. Open to U.S. residents only.

| 115 Comments
Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetarian

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Sorry for the lack of posts this week! I just arrived home from a wonderful wedding weekend in Kansas. I had the best time celebrating Jocelyn & Ryan and eating my way through Kansas and Missouri with new friends!

Jocelyn-&-RyanCongratulations to the blushing bride and groom! (Photo credit: Farfum)

Jocelyn-&-Ryan-WeddingWith Jocelyn and her gorgeous bridesmaids! Ashley, Nicole, Jocelyn, & me!

Jocelyn-&-Ryan-Wedding1Highlight of the night before the wedding: getting photo-bombed by the camo convention at the bar! I want need a ghillie suit!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed one of my fav lunch spots: Zinc Cafe. My best friend Taryn and I ALWAYS get the roasted brussels sprouts when we’re there. We are completely hooked! The last time I was at Zinc I asked the chef what the Brussels sprouts were prepared with and he said “just a little olive oil, salt, and pepper!” I actually couldn’t believe it because they’re so flavorful, so I had to take to my own kitchen to recreate my fav lunch for you guys. The roasted Brussels Sprouts at Zinc are always chilled and tossed with cannellini beans, which is totally to die for. I decided to serve my roasted Brussels and beans over some fluffy quinoa to make this a perfectly portioned lunch or dinner for anyone following the Rabbit Food Pyramid guidelines for weight loss or maintenance!
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Roasted Brussels Sprouts
Serves 1

2 cups Brussels sprouts, halved
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp ground sea salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut brussels sprouts in half and coat with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place the Brussels sprouts cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes stirring occasionally (2-3 times) until browned and crispy. Remove from oven and serve immediately

Make it a Rabbit Food approved meal:
Serve Roasted Brussels Sprouts over
1/2 cup cooked cannellini beans
1/2 cup cooked quinoa

The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: Brussels sprouts
Whole Grain: quinoa
Protein: cannellini beans
Plant Based Fat: olive oil

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| 6 Comments
Recipes, Tips

Rabbit Food Pyramid Refresher

Today’s post is a little different than the norm. After reading a comment from a reacher: Stephanie, I noticed that I haven’t talked about the Rabbit Food Pyramid since I started my blog in 2012! Since I often have new readers, I think now would be a great time to re-introduce the rabbit food pyramid and how it works!

How it started:
After being on Nutrisystem for a few months and not liking the groggy lethargic feeling that overly processed shelf stable foods gave me, I branched out on my own to continue my weight loss journey. After reading numerous health and fitness magazines and articles by registered dietitians and nutrition experts, I experimented with different styles of eating and found what works for me. I quickly realized that drastic diets and cutting out food groups following “no-carb” or “fat-free” fads were not for me. It left me hangry (hungry and angry) all the time, which led to uncontrollable binging and even worse, a severe eating disorder of restrictive eating, and eventually bulimia and a brief stint with anorexia. As you can tell, food rules were a terrible idea for someone like me who has OCD perfectionist qualities.

Determined to lose weight the proper way this time, I educated myself on how to portion meals properly with balance. That meant carbs, fat, produce, and protein to keep my body nurtured and healthy. This is when the Rabbit Food Pyramid was born. I gathered the proper recommended* serving sizes of each food/food group into a huge list and divided them into four categories.

Weight loss using the Rabbit Food Pyramid: 4 small meals per day!

Breakfast:
1 serving of fruit
1 serving of whole grain
1 serving of protein
1 serving of plant based fat

Lunch:
2 servings of vegetables
1 serving of whole grain
1 serving of protein
1 serving of plant based fat

Dinner:
2 servings of vegetables
1 serving of whole grain
1 serving of protein
1 serving of plant based fat

Snack Meal:
1 serving of fruit
1 serving of whole grain
1 serving of protein
1 serving of plant based fat

Free Extras:
Spices! Anything from cinnamon to chipotle or even zero calorie natural sweeteners like Stevia.

Now that you know the formula for each meal, all you have to do is pick your food for each category! I’ve provided ideas and sample servings for each category here.
If you aren’t sure what the proper measurement is for a certain food, refer to the Rabbit Food Pyramid page to double check!

LET’S START WITH AN EASY BREAKFAST:
PB & Banana Toast

Breakfast:
Produce/Fruit: 1/2 sliced banana
Whole Grain: 1 slice whole wheat bread
Protein: 1 cup (8oz) of soy milk
Plant Based Fat: 1 Tbsp unsalted peanut butter
Free Extras: Sprinkle of cinnamon

Easy peasy! No calories, points, carbs, or macros required! Just balance from each food group!
NOW LETS GET TRICKY WITH A BREAKFAST RECIPE:

Whole Wheat French Toast

Breakfast Recipe: French Toast
Produce/Fruit: 1 cup fresh raspberries
Whole Grain: 1 slice of whole wheat bread
Protein: 1/4 cup egg whites
Plant Based Fat: 2 Tbsp sliced almonds
Free Extras: 1/8 tsp cinnamon & 3 drops liquid stevia

Combine egg whites, cinnamon, and stevia in a bowl.  Soak the slice of bread in the egg mixture until it is absorbed. Place the bread in a pan lightly coated in cooking spray over medium heat. Pour excess egg mixture on top of the bread. Flip and cook both sides until the egg is no longer runny. Transfer to a plate and top with fresh raspberries and sliced almonds.

Maintenance:
To maintain my weight, I learned that adding one additional snack meal or protein shake per day worked perfectly for me. Of course it took some trial and error to figure out what worked for me!

I hope that this breakdown of the Rabbit Food Pyramid helps you to better understand the way that I portion my meals and create recipes!
Health & Happiness xo
Catherine

Let me know if this was helpful or if you have any questions about the Rabbit Food Pyramid!

*What works for me, might not work for everyone. The suggested serving sized are based on my own personal experience. Everyone is built differently, so if you are taller or heavier than my starting weight, you may need another small meal in your diet to fit your nutrition needs. Please consult a doctor before making any changes to your diet. This is only a suggestion based on my personal experience.

| 17 Comments
Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Vegetarian

Portobello Pizza

Hoppy Monday all!
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Date Summit in yuma, AZ! I had incredible time learning about the harvesting process and taste testing delectable recipes that I MUST share with you guys! I also met some new friends that I already miss since departing on Friday! Wahhhh. I’ll be giving you guys a full rundown of the blogger summit later this week. I cannot wait to tell you about my trip!

Today’s recipe is a Portobello Mushroom Pizza!
Loaded with veggies, this pizza is low-carb, gluten-free, and super filling!
Bon Appétit!
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Portobello Pizza
Serves 1

2 large portobello mushrooms
1 tomato
1/4 cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp minced garlic
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Chop onion and mince garlic. Pour olive oil into a saucepan over medium high heat and add onions and garlic. Cook onions and garlic until they are slightly browned. Dice tomato and add to the saucepan along with salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes. Remove gills from the portobello mushrooms by scraping with a spoon. Place portobellos on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Pour the sauce into each portobello and top with cheese. Bake for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, set oven to broil for 30 seconds to 1 minute to brown the cheese. Remove from the oven and enjoy!
Tip: I suggest lining your baking sheet with foil and coating the foil with nonstick cooking spray for an easier cleanup. The portobello mushrooms tend to get pretty juicy will cooking!

In a hurry? You can always use organic tomato sauce in place of the homemade sauce! I would recommend about 2 Tbps of store-bought sauce per portobello pizza.

Vegan? Use a vegan cheese substitute such as Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds!

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The Rabbit Food Pyramid Breakdown
Produce: portobello mushrooms, tomato, onion, garlic
Whole Grain: none
Protein: reduced fat mozzarella cheese
Plant Based Fat: olive oil

| 15 Comments
Dinner, Lunch, Recipes, Snacks, Vegetarian

Baked Eggplant Fries

I’ve never been a fan of potato french fries. I’m actually not a fan of potatoes in general, with the exception of the occasional sweet potato. I decided that I wanted to make a healthy french fry alternative with a purpose. No oils, frying, or heavy starchy ingredients here!  These healthy eggplant fries are baked to perfection in a crispy golden flax-almond breading. Now I know what half of you are thinking. “Ewwwww eggplant!” I think a lot of my friends are turned off by the mushy texture of cooked eggplant, but trust me this is totally different! Even if you HATE eggplant, I am almost positive you will love these fries! You have to give them a try, pretty pretty please! Of course if you’re super anti-eggplant, zucchini would be a great alternative as well.

They’re perfectly crispy, delicious, and nutritious!
Made from flaxseed, almond, whole wheat flour, and spices, these oil-free baked fries deliver tons of micronutrients, healthy plant-based fats, and fiber. So good for you, you can eat them alllll without any worry!

Baked Eggplant Fries
Baked Eggplant Fries
Baked Eggplant Fries
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Baked Eggplant Fries
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Baked Eggplant Fries
Baked Eggplant Fries
Baked Eggplant Fries

Ingredients:
1 small eggplant
1/4 cup egg whites

Breading:
1 Tbsp ground flaxseed
1 Tbsp almond meal/flour
1 Tbsp whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine all of the breading ingredients in a bowl and mix together. In a separate bowl, beat 1/4 cup of egg whites and set aside. Cut eggplant into 1/2 inch thick fries (I removed the skin but you don’t have to). Transfer the breading mixture to a plate. Dip each piece of eggplant individually into the egg whites, and then roll in the breading mixture. Place the breaded fries onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes, flip fries, then bake for an additional 10 minutes until golden and crispy.

Excellent when dipped in fresh marinara!

| 11 Comments

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