Goodness gracious. My weeks just keep getting busier and busier, and I'm starting to be forced to find quicker ways to eat healthy vegan meals and snacks. As much as I love spending hours cooking and preparing food, and as much as I think that should be a beautiful part of every person's life and community, some days I just can't swing it.
Peanut butter and jelly is everyone's favorite quick lunch or snack, but it's actually not all that "healthy," depending what you mean by that word. The jam is usually packed with high fructose corn syrup, and although peanut butter is natural [IF you even eat natural peanut butter], it is high in calories, which is tough for some of us who cannot control our urge to eat the entire jar with a spoon. My solution? Quick homemade chia jam and reconstituted peanut butter.
Shout out to Kasey at http://powercakes.net/ for this awesome recipe!
Mixed Berry Chia Jam
1/2 c. frozen strawberries
1/2 c. frozen blueberries
2 tbsp. chia seeds
1 packet stevia
1/4 c. water
Heat everything in the microwave for 2 minutes. Chill for 30 minutes or until gelled.
*In case you haven't heard, chia seeds have a magical gelling property that makes awesome chewy oatmeal, homemade jam, and can thicken just about anything you like.
Makes 4 servings. Use any kind of berries you like!
Nutrition facts:
53 calories
2 grams protein
Not only is this recipe ridiculously easy, but it's also packed with all natural ingredients, healthy fats, and....PROTEIN. In jam? Yes, in jam. I usually make mine and throw it in the fridge right before a workout. When I'm done, I get to come home to an awesome post-workout snack. PB&J rice cakes!! I use my homemade chia jam and then whip up some "peanut butter" using my peanut butter powder mixed with water. The result?
 |
| Trader Joes' brown rice cake, "peanut butter," and homemade mixed berry chia jam. |
160 calories
8 grams protein
*Chomp. chomp. chomp. So yummy and power packed with whole natural ingredients.
Not only was I blessed with this awesome snack today, but I was blessed by an amazing husband who brought me a beautiful arrangement of fall-themed flowers on this gorgeous 50 degree sunny day. I usually cannot bring myself to care about things like flowers and chocolates, but I have an unexplainable love affair with anything related to autumn, so these did just fine :)
Sitting down with a few gingersnaps and a glass of this stuff was enough to make me not even care about the sleeting/slush/snow/rain/wind that froze me to the bone just hours before. Also, can you say vegan coffee creamer? My oh my. Good stuff. Although I've significantly reduced my coffee intake (I drink it about twice per week now), I just look for excuses to have a cup of coffee so I can drizzle this stuff in there. Products like this is why Whole Foods is known as "Whole Paycheck," but I can't tell you how grateful I am for these amazing healthy vegan options for when those holiday cravings come a knockin'. There's also a recipe on the side of the container for vegan pumpkin spice pancakes...yeah, that's happening this weekend.
Until next time,
Vegan [Wanna-Be] Housewife
(ps) Reviews are in on the pumpkin hummus I mentioned in an earlier post: PHENOM. If you like the combination of sweet and salty, this hummus on whole grain tortilla chips or pretzels is just perfection.
No comments:
Post a Comment