^ Say that 10 times fast. 
This morning I made a big batch of creamy oatmeal with the plan to make his & hers oatmeal bowls.
I started off by cooking the oats in a combination of:
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of coconut milk
- 2 T. Chia Seeds
His were easy:
Cinnamon Apple Oats
In the bowl:
- Local Honey
- Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
Topped with:
- 1/2 apple microwaved with apple pie spice
- More Brown Sugar
- Crushed Walnuts
Now as for my oats? Things got a little experimental.
After I had made the the oatmeal, I decided that a green monster sounded pretty good.
But I couldn’t waste the oats, could I? Oh, the dilemmas I have to face in life.
The logical step? Well, I suppose some would simply say: have both, separately.
The logical step for me? Combine the two to make:
Green Monster Pumpkin Oats
A view from the top is deceiving.
There’s the oatmeal!
In the Green Monster:
- 1/2 Frozen Banana
- 2 huge handfuls of spinach
- Coconut Milk
- Maca
In the oats:
- 1/2 C. Pumpkin
- Stevia
All layered up.
Topped with an almond butter swirl and cacao nibs.
And devoured like this:
I love that neon green color! That color from natural foods equals nutrition in my book!
The verdict? Experimental success!
Although next time I would probably scale down the portions because I am FULL.
Something to talk about: lately when I run into people who I have not seen since my weight loss, their first comment is: “how did you do it?”
So of course I say “well I started running, watching what I eat…blah, work-out, blah…”
“What types of food do you eat?”
“Well I’m a vegetarian, so…”
“Ohhhh, so that’s how you lost the weight then! You stopped eating meat!”
No, actually that is not how I lost weight! In fact, becoming a vegetarian often can cause weight gain.
In general, there are two roads a meatless diet can lead to:
- Carb-city. This is where the new-vegetarian becomes a sort of carbotarian and replaces the meat in their diet with starchy foods. You can see how this would lead to weight gain.
- Veggie Town. This is the healthier route, and consequently the route I chose. This is where the vegetarian replaces the meat in their diet with fresh fruits and vegetables that contain the most nutrients.
That’s not to say you can’t find a happy-medium between Carb-City and Veggie Town, but the point is: cutting meat from you diet alone will not make you lose weight.
It's not about what you don’t eat, it’s about what you do eat.
What are your thoughts on this topic?
Have a great day guys!
<3 Stefanie
18 comments:
Those oat photos just made me SO hungry! I think maintaining weight loss and being healthier is about everything in moderation - like you said, there are those 2 roads that vegetarianism can lead to, but both are extremes. Somewhere down the middle is about right! It's the same way for me with meat-based and plant-based protein. I try to incorporate a mix of veggie-friendly and regular meat-centered meals.
I am with you 100%! While I'm not a vegetarian, I am often asked if I am because I do admittedly eat like one at times simply b/c I just like a lot of vegetarian and vegan dishes. You are dead on when you say that some vegetarians often gain weight as a result of giving up meat. Not only for the reasons you pointed out, but I pay a lot of attention to calories and one thing I've noticed is that a lot of vegan and vegetarian items can actually be very calorie dense if you're not careful. I was reading an article in a local publication recently about a girl who experimentally became a vegetarian for a month. She said she was chowing down on some Chik'n Nuggets from Earth Fare thinking that if they're vegetarian, they must be ok to indulge in, only to discover after scarfing them down that she'd eaten a whopping 500 calories in only a few bites! What people need to understand is there is no catch-all to weight loss. You can rarely do just one thing and lose a significant amount of weight. It comes down to what you put in your mouth and what you burn off. Period. Unfortunately, that's just not the answer people like to hear.
Just bookmarked this recipe! Can't wait to try it out tomorrow morning. I've been looking for a good GM/oats combo :) Thanks chica!!!
I am loving coconut EVERYTHING lately...so I need to try it in my oats!
Love the thoughts on the veggie issue, and totally agree with some misconceptions about it. I think finding a balance that suits YOUR body and mind is best, amen sister!
xox Meg
@eatspinrunrepeat Exactly! There is a middle road for any style of eating--vegetarian to carnivore--and finding a balance between the two is the best bet! :)
@Andrea Yes!! People are often looking for the easy answer, rather then the right answer. Calories do play a huge role. And often when people see the label vegetarian/vegan/organic, they immediately think it is healthy and ignore the actual nutritional stats! Just like you said: it comes down to what goes in and what's burned off! :)
@Biochemista Yay! I hope you like it! Let me know what you think. :)
@Meg Try the coconut in oats, it's so good! :)
Ok, I need to do that. It's been soooo chilly here in the mornings that drinking a green monster doesn't appeal to me, and therefore my energy is lagging. I'm going to try this tomorrow morning!!! Lately I've been considering going vegetarian. I've noticed I make better food choices when I'm not eating meat and my body feels better. Plus, it seems legumes and frozen veggies are cheaper than meat, and on a student's budget, means a lot!
Love the bright green color of those oats! They look and sound super tasty. I have yet to try a green monster. I definitely think it's time for me to change that :)
I hate when people ask "how did you do it" and then immediately negate how you did it and come up with excuses on why its impossible for them. Or the whole "oh, well that's why" and boil it down to one thing. Like you eating vegetarian. The style of eating doesn't matter. It boils down to the quality of food and the amount eaten. Why is that so hard for some to understand? LOL
Mmm, looks delicious!
I get the "how'd you do it" question all the time... and I always feel like people want to hear a one-sentence universal secret to weight loss rather than the truth (hard work, dedication and motivation). What's even cooler, for me, though, is that most of my high school classmates don't even recognize me! =)
Hey Doll! Love this blog post!!
I always get asked the opposite...how I got my healthy weight on as I was SOOOO freaking skinny from all my food allergies, long story, anywho, I just stay proud to my eating habits and tell them how it is with me. I think a lot of the people I chat with think I am "snooty" for not eating meat...but whatever, we look good ;)
xxoo
@eatontherun Even when it's cold I still drink green monsters (and iced coffee)! I just make sure the heat's cranked and I'm wearing warm clothes. ;)
Even going meatless a few days a week is beneficial and def. good for the wallet! :)
@Jessica@tastyandtrim I can't believe you've never had a green monster! Get on it girl! ;) Watch out though, you may find you have a new obsession! But at least it's a healthy one, right? :)
@Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun I know! I think sometimes people don't understand that I worked my booty off (literally and figuratively) to get where I am and I continue to do so each day! Chalking it up to one reason makes it seem like "pshh, how easy is that!" Oh well! haha :)
@Haley Thanks for stopping by girl! I'm going to check out your blog right now! You are so right a one-sentence 'secret' to weight loss simply does not exist! Sometimes the truth hurts, I guess! ;)
@Kris | iheartwellness.com Hi Kris! Thanks so much for stopping by!
The misconceptions of weight really hit both ends of the spectrum! Weight loss AND weight gain!
Staying proud is all we can do! Well and continue looking good, but that's another story. ;)
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