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Getting Fit #5 + Orange Marmalade and Almond Oatmeal
For the first time in several weeks, I have a recipe to share with you on a Saturday! Woohoo!
But first, let’s check in with Crystal.
This is the fourth segment of my Getting Fit series. This series features my friend Crystal, a rockstar figure skater and fellow oatmeal lover. You can her blog, Confessions of Crystal, and check out her Instagram,@crystalchilcott.
TOA: Hi Crystal! How is your summer going?
Crystal: Hi Lauren! It finally feels like summer here in Colorado. I unfortunately sustained a concussion on Saturday so I haven’t been able to skate, but I’ve enjoyed having time to read a copious amount! How are you?
TOA: I’m okay. I’ve been feeling chronically fatigued lately; I experienced the same thing around this time last year. It seems like no matter what time I go to bed, I wake up exhausted. It makes staying active difficult!
Crystal: Does exercise give you an energy boost?
TOA: Not particularly. On weekends and Mondays, kind of. Once I get further into the week, I just trudge through my routine and feel dead from beginning to end.
Crystal: Hmm, do you think a change in routine might help?
TOA: Maybe. What are you thinking?
Crystal: Perhaps you could try doing strength before running to change it up a bit or doing intervals. If you did intervals you would lightly jog for a minute and then sprint for thirty seconds. Sometimes that makes my cardio a bit more interesting.
TOA: Hmm that could work. I like how it’s less monotonous than just plain long-distance jogging. However, I’m pleased to report that I’ve completed a 2.6 mile run a few times since we talked last!
Crystal: That’s great! It is awesome that you’re making progress even when you’re not feeling your best energy-wise. Would you be willing to try the intervals at least once next week to see how you like them?
TOA: Definitely. Besides that, should I follow the same routine?
Crystal: Is your strength routine still challenging but not impossible?
TOA: That’s the perfect way to describe it. Usually during the second set, I feel like there’s no way I’ll be able to complete all three, but then I can do it and it doesn’t kill me—ha!
Crystal: Great! I see no reason to change it then.
TOA: Thanks! Say, I have a question for you. When you’re doing hardcore training, what do you eat for breakfast?
Crystal:I almost always have oatmeal and matcha green tea, sometimes together! I almost never repeat bowls of oatmeal and either use one of your recipes or top it with whatever fruits, nuts, or nut butters I have on hand.
TOA: Do you eat before working out, or after?
Crystal: Always before. If I don’t eat beforehand I don’t think I could make it through a workout or skating session!
TOA: I’m the same way! However, I know many people that wait until after working out because they complain it makes them sick to eat before. That’s crazy to me! I’m ravenous in the morning. Similar to me, you’re a vegetarian. Do you use any “protein shakes” or anything of that nature?
Crystal: I don’t understand breakfast-skippers either! I’m a believer in getting all my nutrients through whole foods and using as little supplements as possible. On exceptionally hard workout days or on days when I feel I need more protein, I sometimes use SunWarrior protein and add it to a smoothie in my NutriBullet. I like that brand because it is from all plant-based sources and has none of the sketchy additives like most protein powders. I also sometimes eat Luna protein bars or Lara Alt bars.
TOA: YAY! I agree. I see no reason to buy protein powders myself. That’s what peanut butter is for.
Crystal: Oh, yes, peanut butter is definitely my favorite protein source! It is much more fun to eat peanut butter than drink an unappealing, chemical-ridden, pre-packaged protein shake!
TOA: I agree! Do you eat any differently on days that you work out vs. days that you don’t? (Or do you work out every day, haha?)
Crystal: Sunday is my only off day. I’m hungrier on days that I work out so I usually have an extra snack. I like to eat smaller meals five to six times a day, balanced with protein, grains, and fruits and veggies. I find I have the most energy this way whether I work out or not.
Like Crystal, I can handle eating breakfast before a workout. Often, I will eat something somewhat lighter, go for a run, and then come home for round two…because two breakfasts are better than one.
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POSTED IN: 5 ingredients or less, almond, citrus, fitness, hidden banana, jams and jellies
POSTED IN: 5 ingredients or less, almond, citrus, fitness, hidden banana, jams and jellies
Carrot Halwa Steel Cut Oatmeal
I sometimes receive requests from readers for a particular recipe. Many times, they are ideas that I have already considered but just haven’t figured out how to make yet. Sometimes, they are recipes that I immediately set off to create and appear on the blog within days. And then there are ideas like this one, for which I only have one response: “I don’t know what that is and have no idea how I would make it.”
Considering I’ve only eaten Indian food four times in my life, my knowledge of Indian cuisine is minimal. I have never eaten “Indian dessert” and have absolutely zero concept of what it’s like or what it should taste like. Thus, when a reader begged me to create a halwa recipe, I had to reject her, claiming that I had no idea what it was or what it should taste like.
Peach Tea Oatmeal
I can’t believe I have less than a month of school left! That means summer is right around the corner. I know it has already started for many of you, but here in grand ol’ New York City, the school year stretches on and on and on until the end of June (madness!!).
This recipe oozes with summer vibes. It reminds me of sitting on some back porch, sipping iced tea. I’ve been wanting to make this for a while, and as soon as the peaches showed up at my produce market (far too early to truly be in season, but whatever), I hopped to it.
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Blueberry Lime Basil Oatmeal
I was with a friend last weekend who asked me, “If they came up with a synthetic food–like a shake–that was proven to be safe and contained all the necessary nutrients for survival, would you eat it?”
Of course, I repeatedly argued that it couldn’t possibly be better or even on par with REAL food, which we were designed to eat and gain our nutrients from. Still, he responded each time, “But what if it were proven? Just pretend. Would you eat it?”
Finally, I said, “I think it would be great for feeding populations who are malnourished or food insecure, but I am neither of those things. I enjoy the process of chopping vegetables and cooking recipes and creating nourishing meals on my own. I feel spiritually fulfilled by it.”
That’s how I feel when I make recipes like this one. Whenever I make oatmeal with herbs, I feel so gourmet and fancy. Each of the three main flavors in this recipe blend together so beautifully. Once combined, they each become subtle and complement each other with perfect harmony.
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Tropical Oatmeal
This recipe is so obvious that it’s almost embarrassing that I haven’t posted it yet. I have so many tropical-themed recipes, but why not combine them all into one fabulous breakfast?
Mango, pineapple, and coconut were obvious choices, but my decision to include banana was a last-minute addition. I don’t know about you, but I always forget bananas are a tropical fruit.
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POSTED IN: 5 ingredients or less, bananas, coconut, kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, tropical
POSTED IN: 5 ingredients or less, bananas, coconut, kiwi, mango, papaya, pineapple, tropical
How to Make 4 Different Oatmeal Recipes with One Pot
Every weekend, I prepare several servings of oatmeal to heat up throughout the week for breakfast. This either requires me to make a big batch and eat the same oatmeal every day of the week, OR spend half an hour making multiple different recipes and cleaning an annoying amount of pans.
As it turns out, you can make FOUR kinds of oatmeal from one batch, and you’ll only have ONE pan to clean afterwards! This is valuable if you prepare your oatmeal for the week like I do, or if you are preparing for a group of people who all want different kinds of oatmeal.
The easiest way to do this is to pick a main ingredient or “theme” that the oatmeal recipes in common. For me, it was (surprise, surprise…) banana. My four bowls below are Banana Chai, PB&J, Lemon Poppy Seed, and Banana Bread.
Can you believe Lemon Poppy Seed and Banana Chai can come out of the same pan??
Here’s what to do:
- Start by preparing your oatmeal according to the directions. I used steel-cut oatmeal, so I used 4 cups liquid and 1 cup oatmeal.
- Let cook for at least ten minutes on medium or medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
- If you have any ingredients that all recipes will have in common, add now (I added mashed banana). Don’t forget a couple pinches of salt!
- Once the oatmeal reaches the right consistency, scoop it out into the tupperware container you’re going to store it in one serving at a time. (If you’re serving a group, you can just put them into bowls instead of tupperware.)
- Add the ingredients for a specific recipe into one of the containers of oatmeal and stir it in with a spoon or fork. Repeat with other three containers.
- Done! Do not add special toppings (nuts, coconut, etc.) until serving.
**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account! You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!
Bananas Foster Oatmeal
Where are my banana lovers? Let’s celebrate.
Let’s celebrate this fantastic fruit that makes our oatmeal creamy and our bodies regular. 😉
Let’s make this humble fruit feel special and all dressed up. Let’s caramelize it and make it a little boozy. (Well…this is breakfast time, so maybe we’ll just use rum extract instead.) (more…)
Salted Mango Coconut Oatmeal
I may crave peanut butter and bananas hardcore during the fall and winter months, but during the spring and summer, I definitely crave a different flavor. I’ve noticed that everyone’s cravings change with the seasons*, and my oatmeal is no exception. These tropical, fruity, and citrusy porridge recipes I’ve been craving are lighter and more refreshing than my usual cozy bowls.
*But let’s be honest, peanut butter is appropriate 365 days a year.
For this recipe, I was inspired by these popsicles. I never would have considered salting a tropical recipe like this, but these popsicles were so visually appealing that I wanted to grab one from the screen and try it out. However, I’m perpetually cold (just ask the students who sweat to death in my classroom), so I had no desire to make popsicles. Then I thought, why not try it as oatmeal? So I did.
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Lemon White Chocolate Oatmeal
Is it spring? I thought it was, but then I went to Philadelphia with my spring coat and basically froze to death. As soon as I returned to my apartment in New York, I switched back to my heavy winter coat. Ugh!
To fool myself into thinking it is, in fact, spring, I returned to my beloved lemon-flavored oats. Every spring, I just can’t get enough lemon in my oatmeal! This time, I combined it with white chocolate chips. The tang of the lemon and the sweet white chocolate are definitely a winning combination!
Another fun way to make this oatmeal would be with a blob of Peanut Butter & Co.’s White Chocolate Wonderful. It’s definitely not my favorite (tastes like Butterfingers or something), but I know a lot of people who love it, so…
How’s the weather in your neck of the woods? I hope for your sake that you’re having a better spring season than I am! 🙂
Lemon White Chocolate Oatmeal
by The Oatmeal Artist
Prep Time: 2 min
Cook Time: 5 min
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 3/4 cup milk of choice, or water
- 1/4 cup quick cook steel-cut oats (I use Country Choice Organic)
- 1 ripe banana
- 2 tbsp lemon juice (the juice of one lemon) or 1 tsp lemon extract
- pinch of salt
- handful of white chocolate chips (I use the King David brand)
Instructions
- Bring milk (I use 1/2 c almond milk and 1/4 c water) to a boil, add oats, and reduce heat to medium. (If you’d like to add a teaspoon of flax or chia seeds, do so now.)
- Mash banana thoroughly and stir into oatmeal.
- Once more of the liquid has absorbed, add lemon juice, lemon extract, and salt. Stir.
- When you’re pleased with the consistency of the oatmeal, transfer to a bowl. Add a splash of your milk of choice, white chocolate chips, and any other additional toppings (pomegranate seeds, shredded coconut, nuts, etc.).
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**You can also find hundreds of other oatmeal recipes (as well as tons of other meatless recipes) on my Pinterest account! You can also like The Oatmeal Artist on Facebook. Thanks!
Cinnamon Fig Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Do not fear cinnamon! I often add just enough in my recipes to give it a warm, cozy taste, but whenever I add more, I never regret it. For this particular recipe, I took a deep breath and added a full 1/2 teaspoon. It looked like too much for a moment: it even turned the oatmeal! However, after one bite, I knew I had made the correct choice.
I highly recommend going with the full 1/2 teaspoon. You’ll never know unless you try. If you must, you could always start with a 1/4 teaspoon and slowly add more until you think you have enough…but that would make you a wimp. 🙂
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