Fuel Cookies + REAL TALK

Have you ever looked at one of those lists on health websites called "100 Surprising Snacks Under 100 Calories"? Let me tell you: there is NEVER anything surprising on there.

1 fig newton with 1 teaspoon of peanut butter? Girl, please. Shoot me now.

BUT, I promise these easy to make, homemade, power-fueling cookies will surprise you. Check it out.

[Phenomenal] Fuel Cookies

1 c. pumpkin
2 medium carrots, grated
2/3 c. applesauce
1/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 c. whole grain oats
1 tsp. baking powder
4 tbsp. powdered peanut butter
1 scoop protein powder (I used Plant Fusion Vanilla)
8 drops liquid stevia (or 2 packets dry stevia)
1 tsp. cinnamon
dash nutmeg

Optional:
1/2 c. vegan chocolate chips
1/4 c. goji berries

Preheat over to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, grate carrots and add applesauce, pumpkin, and liquid stevia. Stir together. In separate medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients. Whisk or sift dry ingredients to make sure there are no clumps. Mix in wet ingredients. Batter will be thick, similar to cookie dough. Spoon balls of dough onto cookie sheet and press out, since batter will not naturally spread. (I placed mine in the oven and then pressed down after about 15 minutes). Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and quickly remove from pan. Let cool and enjoy!

Check out this baking pan - if you don't have one, get one now. New French manufacturer - cookie pan comes with this gel-like cover, and NOTHING sticks to it. No cooking spray needed. Never have to wash the pan. http://goo.gl/LXONP

Makes 16 cookies without add-ins, 18 cookies with add-ins.

Nutrition facts [without add-ins]:
48 calories
3 grams protein

Nutrition facts [with add-ins]:
85 calories
4 grams protein

I made half without add-ins and half with add-ins. My husband honestly thought the ones with chocolate chips and goji berries were just homemade cookies! Little did he know: 85 calories, 4 grams protein, no added sugar. Unreal.

You are going to love these. So healthy, so tasty. I had one of these along with handful of raspberries before my morning workout - talk about power fuel! Perfect combo of carbs and protein. 

#proof

Honoring my progress!

Although I am now one of those people I used to hate, I can honestly say that weight loss is no longer my goal. Then again, when my jeans get looser and my muscles get stronger, it's nice to have the scale agree with me. I'm back below by pre-Thanksgiving weight, just one week post-holiday! Lowest weight since March 2012. More importantly, I went up in almost all my weights today! Squats, dead lifts, leg curls, and lunges. BRING IT. #getafterit

And do you know what? I didn't do it by restricting my intake, or by punishing myself with workouts. I did it with hard work on things I love - exercises I enjoy - and with CLEAN EATS. And on those days when it gets tough? I did it with love - love for my body, love for my mind, and love for my spirit. 

Heather at For the Love of Kale said something that totally inspired me. It was something along the lines of: we have all these layers of hatred, anxiety, depression, self-loathing, anger, and jealousy, BUT when we peel back all the layers, all that's left is love, baby! And LOVE ALWAYS WINS! As I've sat and meditated the past couple days, repeating to myself "I forgive my past, I forgive my present, and I forgive my future, because God has already forgiven them," I have released so much of myself in exchange for something better. SO CLEANSING.

As I embrace this spiritual reality, my physical reality becomes more cleansed every day. It's a beautiful thing. In honor of this, I made a fantastic salad the other day. If I may say so, most all of my salads are fantastic, but this one hit a special spot.

If you've ever had Trader Joes' Eggplant Garlic Spread, you'll like this even better.

I've added this to salad, spread it on toast with guacamole, dipped raw veggies in it, mixed it with hummus, and used it as a chip dip. So versatile and so delicious. It has some sugar in it, but not much, and all other ingredients are WHOLE FOODS. 

Collard greens, spring mix, roasted butternut squash, sweet potatoes, grape tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, red lentils, avocado. Topped with Trader Joes' Red Pepper Spread and a drizzle of Trader Joes' Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette.

Unbelievably tantalizing. And yes, I do sometimes eat my HUGE salads out of serving bowls. So sue me.

Cheers,
Avocado Athlete

For those of you who have been reading, I am in the process of revamping this blog, as it has gotten a lot bigger and more public than I had anticipated. Thank you all for the wonderful support and keep on reading!