Top of the mornin’ to ya!
The other night when I made the Coconut Red Lentil Soup, I reserved 1/3 cup of the coconut milk so I could use it in my Vegan Overnight Oats. I love coconut milk because it is basically like a vegan form of cream. It makes anything it touches rich and creamy tasting.
I tried light coconut milk instead of the usual regular full-fat stuff I usually buy. I wanted to compare the two and see how different they were. The light version was more watery, but I had high hopes that it would still be fabulous in my VOO. It has 35 calories for 1/4 cup vs. 140 calories per 1/4 cup in the non-light stuff. A good alternative when you want to use a larger quantity of it, however I still think I prefer the regular coconut milk for soups, stews, etc.
I also added another exciting ingredient to this mix…
Carob powder = love.
Carob facts:
- 1 tbsp has around 20 calories and 2 grams of fibre
- Up to 8% protein
- Vitamins A, B, B2, B3 and D
- High in calcium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium
- Contains Iron, manganese, barium, copper and nickel
[Canadians- you can purchase carob powder at Bulk Barn!]
The key to mixing the VOO is to use a whisk! Makes the wet + dry blend so much faster and gets the clumps out.
Carob Banana Soft Serve Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup regular oats
- 1/3 cup light coconut milk
- 1/3 cup + 1/4 cup almond milk
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp Amazing Grass Amazing Meal Chocolate Protein Powder
- 1 tbsp carob powder
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
Directions: Mix dry ingredients together and then pour wet ingredients over top. Whisk and place in fridge overnight. In the morning, make the banana soft serve in the food processor. Layer in a small glass and use any topping that tickles your fancy!
I like cacao nibs because they give it a nice crunch.
Ahhhhh-mazing. I really liked the carob in this mix!!
My mother in law is here today and she saw it and exclaimed, ‘WOW what is that!? :biggrin: I told her about the vegan overnight oats, and I don’t think she was sold.
Are you kinder to yourself as you age?
“I think most of us become nicer as we get older, less judgmental, less full of certitude; life tends to knock a few corners of us as we go through. Cancer, divorce, teenagers, and other plagues make us give up on expecting ourselves – or life – to be perfect, which is a real relief.” ~Molly Ivins, writer
I have found that as I get older I realize that perfection is not only something that is not attainable, but it isn’t even something I want in my life anymore. I am learning to embrace the non-perfect aspects of my life. Beating my eating disorder was a huge part in allowing myself to mess up and take risks…to fail…to go against what others expected of me…and to realize that my life would be much happier if I did not expect perfection.
When we lost our family friend Chris to cancer (who was the same age as Eric), it made me realize how precious life is and how much I had been taking each day for granted. I vowed to create happiness in my life, no matter how difficult it might be. I will be turning 27 on Sunday, and I can say that I look forward to each year and discovering a bit more about myself and the world around me.
Today’s question- Do you find that you are easier on yourself now as compared to 5 years ago? have you had any life experiences that have taught you to be better to yourself?
My birthday is coming up in a couple weeks, and as I enter the mid twenties (24) I feel myself looking at life a bit differently. I am still young, but I am at such a different place than I was through each of my last five years. Yet from here on out, it kind of feels like the rest of my life, my real life, is starting. There are a lot of insecurities that come with that and I am just trying to be the best friend to myself that I can be.
I do find that I’m easier on myself as I get older. It just seems much less important to be the perfect weight, to wear the perfect close, or to be the perfect girl, and much more important to focus on happiness and staying in the moment.
I am most certainly a better person to myself these days. :) My new words to live by for myself:
Balance, nourishment, energy, compassion, understanding.
I’m only 20 and I am much easier on myself than I was even 3 years ago.
My Boyfriend and I were just talking last night about how we stopped doing some of the things we enjoyed doing in high school because they weren’t considered “cool”. Now, we both realize it doesn’t matter if we are cool (we are admittedly, not) because we are happy :)
Having turned 40 last year I have finally come to a point where I just don’t sweat the small stuff as much anymore. There just isn’t the need to stress over things that you have no control of, what can you do? I have also really started getting in tune with my health. I cut out meat, working on running a 5k AND walking SIXTY miles in three days for the 3-Day For The Cure this November! So far being 40 isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. :)
Congrats!!
Oh yes, much easier on myself now than 5 years ago. I think this comes from maturity and just plain old experience.
I think a lot of it for us 20-somethings has to do with gaining confidence as a grown woman.
The more I learn about living healthfully, the happier I am and the better I treat myself. I’ve learned to accept myself, flaws and all, and be comfortable in my own skin.
Funny, my first impulse when I read your question was “yes! I am definitely easier on myself!”, but then I read the comments and Therese’s answer hit home with me. Just like her, yes and no, and exactly for the same reasons. I take more risks now than 10 even 5 years ago (easy, I was not the one to take risks, failure was not an option so why risk failing?), try new things, am sloooowly changing my whole life, but I know that if I fail, at least I am trying. I know what I want, I know myself better, and I listen to my inner voice :-)
I think I am kinder to myself. I make sure to learn from my mistakes and most importantly forgive myself.
I’m only 20 years old, so OF COURSE I’m easier on myself now that I was 5 years ago. What 15 year old is self-confident? However, I still do tend to beat myself up a bit, and I’m hoping that I’ll be even better in 5 more years!
Hi Angela, your new design is amazing and your photo is so beautiful, well you are making it beautiful! I;ve been following your blog for more than a year, and I am a big fan of Adore glow bar! holly yum!!!! Yesterday I have created my blog, and today I have published my first post! a Green Monster for breakfast!! I am a certified nutritionist, hope you will stop by and with time will find interesting vegan and vegetarian recipes that I will publish also gourmet meals for Eric!! have a nice day! And don’t work to hard!!! Get out from your bakery and enjoy a relaxing walk!! :) see you later!
One thing I have gained in the last 5 years is a huge amount of compassion. Everything I have gone through has helped me to relate to other people’s struggles. I am a better listener and a great advice giver because of it. I am a bit nicer to myself, but there are times when I get frustrated that I am not perfect. I even try to be perfect at being imperfect, which really defeats the point of embracing all of me! I used to think that if something wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t worth it. If I wasn’t really good at something, I wouldn’t do it. And if I didn’t have something brilliant to say, I wouldn’t say it. Now I know that I am not a perfect girlfriend, daughter, teaching assistant, blogger, cook, painter, or friend. But that doesn’t mean I will quit any of those roles!
I have to disagree. I’m in my 40’s and there is a great pressure to look younger than I am. In this age of botox, plastic surgery, microdermabrasion, teeth whitening, not to mention having tight abs and low body weight, it is hard not put pressure on yourself to look your best. It is great that there are so many options for self improvement but when is enough enough???
Happy Birthday Angela….I look you new heading ? of your blog….what a beautiful pix of you…you are GLOWING…I don’t know you accept via the blog that I have been following faithfully for the last 2 months….seeing your new heading gives me a great sense of “WOW” you did it. Way to Go!
That is a really good point Jane. There is so much pressure for women of all ages in different forms I guess. It is a shame, but that doesn’t mean we have to buy into it!
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately! I mentor several high school students, and they all tend towards this very fatalistic view of life and of themselves. I *know* I was like that when I was sixteen too – I wanted to punish myself for everything I did wrong. When I heard on eof my sixteen year olds talk about wanting to “punish” herself for procrastinating on a paper, I had to ask her if that made any sense. She said it didn’t really, but I understand that in that moment, it felt to her like the logical next step because she had messed up and didn’t know how to deal with it. I once was like that, too. Now I’m a lot more careful with myself – no one else is going to take care of me if I don’t take care of myself.
What is your obsession with chia seeds?! I want to try them, but can’t find them at my grocery store… can you give us a post, or a quick blurb about all the benefits of them? i’m so curious about them!! I wanna start doing some overnight oats with them. THANKS :)
Wow, your breakfasts always amaze me!
I love carob, I could try this tomorrow…
I am still hard on myself with some things, but I am trying to get better each day. I am a new runner, and the other day I beat my personal distance record (for an outdoor run). I ran 2.75 hilly miles and it was really hard. When I was finished, I was happy, but then slightly disappointed for not pushing myself for 3.00 miles. I fought the voice in my head, and was able to be proud of myself for giving it my all and sticking to my training plan.
ps– how do you get the overnight oats out of the very bottom of that glass? is it as narrow as it looks? they look so delicious that i think i would try to stretch my tongue all the way down there to get every last drop haha :)
hehe The banana soft serve melts and travels down the glass. Its fun :)
I feel that in some ways I am easier on myself and in others I am harder. But I should definitely be treating myself better, today! Today is my birthday, so I am now older anyway. =)
How do you eat the oats out of that skinny cup? Once you get down to the bottom how does the spoon reach? I’m really going to have to try it one of these days.
I had to tip the glass like a drink so the last bit of the banana soft serves trickles out!
I wish I was kinder to myself. I beat myself up for stupid things. My BF says I am too hard on myself and he’s right. I wish I could learn the skill to let things go.
i AM easier on myself in some ways since i was a teenager (16 years old)… i view things less pessimistically, i know that there will be happiness for me no matter what i’m going through right now. at 16 all i was a big cynic. since then i’ve had to go through depression, eating disorders, and now a myriad of health issues i currently deal with, not to mention doctor after doctor!… i also experienced my first relationship and break-up. man, i’ve been through a lot the last five years! i feel so much older than i really am.