Oil-Free Roasted Chickpeas

This recipe is so wasy and so versitile, there is no reason why you should ever grab a bag of chips again. I had some spare cans of chickpeas in my pantry so I decided to make a batch of these for work. I have a "snack drawer" in my desk that holds a variety of foods for when hunger strikes. And this is my new favorite in the drawer!!

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Grab a can or two of chickpeas; drain and rinse.
Lay flat on a paper towel and blot or roll too remove the water.
Place on a baking sheet. This is where you can get creative. You can make your chickpeas sweet, salty or savory. It all depends on what you are in the mood for. I always enjoy a salty snack so I sprinkled mine with salt, pepper and paprika.
Place your chickpeas in the over for 30 minutes or until most are nice and crispy. Remember to stir them around a few times through the cooking process so they get evenly cooked and crispy.
Disclaimer: Some may turn dark brown....don't worry they taste amazing too.
Remove from the oven and let them cool. After they are cooled Store in a ziploc bag or storage container and enjoy!!

If you try this recipe, please comment on your toppings! I would love some ideas for my next batch :)

Product Review and A New Snack Obsession

Today was my first day in the office at 7. Schedule changes, however slight, may put your body in a whirl. Unless you are healthy, fit and eat natural, then your body will happily readjust with no problem. This is exactly how I felt today, amazing! Before my salad lunch, I walked a mile outside. I worked my 8.5 hours then fixed dinner and even hit the gym for a mile run! Today was chest day, I killed it! 45 minutes and sweat pouring later, I felt refreshed. :)














As for my product review, there's a story behind it! I have become hooked on Silk Soy yogurt (the best being the Mango flavor.) The past 2 times I have went to HyVee to get some, the only flavor they have is Strawberry and Blueberry. So on the last visit I see another brand of soy yogurt and think "Why Not." The new brand was Stonyfield O'Soy. WOW was that a bad decision. As I get more comfortable with grocery shopping and making good, healthy decisions, I can usually tell when something is "good" healthy and when something is "bad" healthy. (I's sure you know what I'm talking about!) This was one of the times I should have read the label! As soon as I opened it I could tell something was off. It was way too runny to be yogurt. The first bite indicated another problem...it was grainy!! What?! Why?! THEN I read the label, it contains soy protein AND probiotics that are derived from milk! This is a vegans most annoying and worst nightmare! Why why why make something advertised as "soy" and then add milk to it?! Grrr...very frustrating! So whether you are vegan or not and looking for a milk alternative for yogurt, choose Silk if you have that option. I have not been asked to write these reviews and they are my own personal opinions. :) Just something I felt like sharing to keep others from having to spend $1.19 on one container of yogurt only to throw it away!
As for my new favorite obsession snack, oil-free roasted chickpeas! They are PHENOMENAL! I made 2 cans of them and I am almost done with the whole bag, after only 6 days at work. They are a great substitution to chips and they taste a heck of a lot better!! I will post my recipe tomorrow. Just wanted to share an alternative to unhealthy snacks! I ate about 4 handfuls today and I didn't feel bad at all. (I will be posting a after picture of the fruit bars I posted in my recipe page the other day today too.)

 

 

After workout snack: Chocolate soy protein shake, a rice cake with all natural peanut butter and a handful of Bear Naked protein granola.

Question for today: What are some of your favorite post workout foods?



5Ks and Parks

Do you remember how fun parks were as a kid? I got to relive that today. We packed a sandwich and fresh fruit picnic and headed out to the park. I got my cardio in today...running around chasing my kids and playing basketball with my daughter! I'm glad the snow has stopped and it was in the low 70's today.
I did my food prep for this week too. I made my fruit "larabars" today and they turned out perfect! I didn't get the 6 bars the recipe says; it made 4. Also, it took a few more minutes than I thought in the food processor...just keep whirring away until it's forms the right consistency!!
We have finally decided on the 5K schedule we are going to participate in (and one 10K at the end of the year.)
The 1st race is going to be the My Waterloo Days 5K on June 1st. I'll have a few weeks to train up for it but it won't be for a record setter. Just a way of getting back into the swing of things.
The 2nd race will be The Color Run in Des Moines on July 13th. I have always wanted to do one and now I have the chance!!!
The 3rd race will be the Warrior Dash on August 24th. This will be the toughest race (I'll post more details in a later post.)
My last race of the season will be the Park To Park 10K.
I am so excited for this race season and for running along beside my man!! Remember the couple that runs, lifts and laughs together stays together!!! :)
****ignore my 3 fat rolls in the family photo, it's the best one I could get!!****

I have attached links to all of the race details if you are in the area and want to check it out! :)

The Love of Running!

I am in love with running....like most runners it is my therapy and my only alone time during the day! And today just happened to be the first run of the season for me. As much as I love running, I don't love running in the freezing Iowa winters. So I had a 4 month leave, you could say. Stationary running isn't my style either. The first run is always the greatest, and this time both the kids and the man joined me!! Although that slows my mile time, I don't care. That family time is way more important. We had some movies to return so we heading out after supper and raced a little. Now it's back to 5:30am runs for me...that's the only free time I have during the week so I'll take it. :) this run/walk was a total of 1.44 miles and we did it in 22 minutes....which is a bad mile time but HEY I think that's pretty great for the kids!

Some more great news...we booked our trip back to NC for my birthday!! It's only a few weeks away. (The big 2-1 will be spent working and with the kids.) I am more than excited to get down south and see my family but especially my beautiful baby nephew! He is the cutest thing in the world. I am in need of a vacation after the month I've been through! In honor of my vacation, I have started self tanning. I have a weird icky skin condition that freaks out if I lay in the sun or in the tanning bed. Time to get a little "sun" on me!

Good wise, today has been a lot of snacking! Healthy snacking but still snacking. And I am ok with that...a few pita chips and an extra bite of granola never killed anyone or gained a pound. I love food, I just know what food to love an what food to leave alone. Also, because I love food I love where the food comes from. In order for me to feel good, I have to know the food I'm eating wasn't tortured. That's just the vegan in me. Run and rest over, gym time now! Got to knock out shoulders and back.

Winter in the Spring and A Day Off

So yesterday's weather is another mark in history here in Iowa. It was snowing....yes snowing here all day yesterday. The weather this year is bizarre to say the least. Fires in California, tornados in Florida, and snow in the Midwest in May? I wonder what all this could mean.
Since there was snow on the ground, I decided to do an at home yoga session! Yoga with movement is an amazing way to stretch out, relax and get some cardio in. Worked up a nice sweat and it was a nice way to turn a negative into a positive.

On a happy note, I posted my first recipe on my recipe page! Feel free to check it out and let me know what you think or if you have any other suggestions please feel free to let me know...any and all suggestions are welcome. :)

Lunch today was interesting to say the least. I had a full bag of broccoli! After eating that much broccoli, I actually felt closer to nature. As weird as that sounds! I even made a post on my Twitter and asked a funny and theological question: Does broccoli scream when you rip it out of the ground? I think not. (A little vegan humor, feel free to follow me on Twitter @Justaskinnybtch)
Today's fitness was non-existing (unless you count grocery shopping.) and I splurged a little on my diet and had some Cracker Jacks...I seen the bag at the store and it brought back all kinds of memories!
I am posting some snow pics from the bizarre weather and some other randoms!
Question: what food do you see or eat that has memories attached? Also, leave your twitter names in the comment for a follow!

Temptation and Reward

So yesterday for lunch I was told HyVee (our local grocery store here in Iowa) was bringing lunch! This is usually exciting because they have the worlds greatest salads. I was thinking I'll get a salad and eat my mixed vegetables that I brought from home. When I walk in I see the biggest temptation; mini cupcakes! They were so cute and looked so amazing, my mouth started watering.
My victory was walking right past all those cupcakes with my big bowl of salad and enjoying that tiny moment. Sometimes that's what fitness is about, the tiny steps. It's never going to be easy and you will give in but as long as you have those tiny victories, you're doing it right!

So after 9 hours of boring and slow work, I rush home to shower and make supper. The stir fry turned out amazing and I heard no complaints (which is rare in my house.) I relaxed for all of 30 minutes before I was up again and hustling the kids, myself and the man out the door for the gym. From 6:30 to 7:20 I put my legs through torture! Leg day is not my favorite....feels too much like cardio sometimes. Then home, wash up and bed!
A new thought has entered my mind: CrossFit. J (my man) is completely against it...claims it's a waste of money and time but I see things differently (which happens quite a bit with us.) I see CrossFit as a way to improve, bust through plateaus and a way to meet a whole new community of people who love the sane thing that I do! The only CrossFit place within reasonable distance is a place appropriately names The Gym. Short, sweet and to the point, I already like it. J has reluctantly agreed to come try it out with me (your 1st time is free.) The plan is to go the 1st Saturday in June so I will do a review for anyone who is thinking if trying CrossFit!
As for today, it's raining and crappy with a chance of snow tomorrow. Snow...in May?! Only in Iowa (sure makes me miss North Carolina.) For breakfast, the usual brown sugar oatmeal was what I had. I really like the regular routine and eating the same thing repeatedly does not bother me. For lunch we have veggies from last night and potato abs onion perogies. I love these things....even though they aren't the healthiest of lunches. Dinner is...I have no idea! I'm thinking spaghetti for them and veggie pasta with tomato and soy crumbles for me. That does sound really good. After supper it's off to the gym for shoulders. I love shoulder day...more than most because my shoulders grow so easily. Then rest...that's one of the most important things on fitness.REST!! Your body needs it after all the hard work it does all day! :)

My Life; Usually!

My arms are going to fall off (that's what it feels like anyways.) Even as I type this, they don't
seem to want to work. With chest day on Monday and arms last night, its safe to say I am
ready for legs tonight!! It's an obsession, the need to lift heavy things and put them back down
repeatedly.

Ok, so lets review my normal routine. With 2 children, my morning routine is hectic. It's up at
6:30, they eat, I pack my food for work and then dressed and out the door. It's generally a rush
and there are always things forgotten.
As for my food, I don't count calories! I have tried that and food became an obseesion rather than
nutrients in which I fed my body. Obssessing over food is likely going to lead to choices that
aren't healthy or binges due to restrictions. Neither of those are what I want or need!
So my breakfast is small (I know I know it's supposed to be the biggest meal of
the day but I eat it in front of my computer at work) and always a pack of sugar-free brown sugar
oatmeal. I have yet to find an oatmeal recipe that I like or can stick to making (If you have any
suggestions let me know please!)

 

 

 

For lunch today, I am having leftovers. I make meals every night and I am always excited

when there is extra for me to take to work. Today's leftovers is basil and olive oil couscous

and a healthy helping of mixed vegetable (lima beans, corn, broccoli, green beans.) Very

simple and filling!

 

 

For supper, I am planning on making stir fry veggies and sauteing some chicken on the side.

During the week, that's usually about as hard as it gets. By the time I leave work, I have 3.5

hours to do homework, make supper, take showers and of course go to the gym! That's a lot

of activity in a few hours. I am running non-stop until my head hits the pillow and that's ok

with me. Being busy and being a mom is all that matters to me :)