After a 1 week break from workouts, I finally felt like I had enough energy to get back into exercise yesterday. My body was literally craving a run! It was also a good excuse to take a much needed break from unpacking.
For some pre-run fuel, I tried out a Vega snack bar that I had in my purse since…well, that would be anyone’s guess.
I really enjoyed the Vega Vibrancy Chocolate Bar (top), but I didn’t care much for the chocolate Whole Food Energy bar. Somehow I managed to polish it off over the past week though.
This is the Vega Chocolate Vibrancy Bar below. It was quite good with a nice chocolate flavour and sprouted buckwheat groats for crunch. It tasted like dessert which is always a plus in my books.
I headed over to the beautiful Lakeshore for my run. This was my first official training run in Oakville. The only other time I think I’ve run in Oakville was the Oakville Labour Day 10km race that I ran in 2010.
It’s such a gorgeous trail, I felt like I was on vacation.
Do I have any readers who run around Lakeshore? I was thinking about starting up a running group at some point. Let me know if that would interest any of you!
I was quite delighted to see a bunch of long staircases throughout my run. That sounds so sick and twisted, I know.
Back in 2007-2008 when we lived in a condo in Toronto, I used to walk 28 flights of stairs every day (it took me about 4 minutes if I remember correctly) as a way to sneak in exercise since my job was so sedentary. I’m a big fan of stairs and will walk them whenever I get a chance.
This one just screams run up me!
I’m seeing some interval stair workouts in my future… :)
This little guy may seem innocent, but he tried to chase me when I got too close.
Some speed training ensued…bahah.
With all the craziness that’s been going on with the move, I completely forgot about all the races I have coming up back to back- and two of which are 10k’s:
- April 15th: Mercedes-Benz Oakville 10K
- April 22nd: Toronto Yonge Street 10k
- April 28th: 5k Ford Race to end Diabetes in Oakville
I guess I’m going to have to start getting back into a consistent training mode. I haven’t run over 6km in a dog’s age.
For my post-run breakfast, I had a rather GREEN bowl of vegan overnight oats. Much like Green Monsters, you don’t taste the greens in vegan overnight oats (when made with a banana or other sweetener).
A couple years ago, a few blog readers told me to try combining a Green Monster and vegan overnight oats. I thought they were crazy (in a good way, obviously) and finally got the nerve to try it…oh, two years later!
All you do is blend a Green Monster before bed and pour it into a bowl of rolled oats and stir it all up. In the morning you will have a Green Monster/vegan overnight oat hybrid waiting for you in the fridge. I’ve made it with spinach and also with kale and both were delicious. I’m telling you, I was kicking myself for waiting so long to try it out!
Just trust me on this one. Did the Green Monster ever steer you wrong?
I rest my case.
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Green Monster Vegan Overnight Oats
Yield
1 serving
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Ingredients
- 1 large handful fresh spinach or small handful of kale
- 1 large ripe banana
- 1.5 tbsp chia seeds (necessary for thickening)
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/3 cup regular, rolled oats
Directions
- In a blender, blend together the spinach, banana, chia seeds, and almond milk until smooth.
- In a cereal bowl, add the oats and then pour the smoothie on top. Stir well until combined.
- Place in fridge (uncovered is fine) overnight. Give it a good stir in the morning and then enjoy it cold, straight from the fridge. Add desired toppings as you wish such as nut butter, granola, coconut, fruit, etc.
Angela, I don’t know if anyone’s told you this, but I THINK YOU ARE A FOOD GENIUS! overnight oats+ green monster? I am SO excited to make that in my dorm room!
That looks gorgeous! Never had the chance to run in Oakville but if you like running along lakeshore I can suggest running the Mississauga Marathon (they have a 10km distance too). It starts around Cooksville which is super close to Oakville and goes until somewhere around Cawthra Road. :P The track goes around lakeshore and should be quite pretty in May ^^
I’m a fan of stairs too. Even if the escalator is the only option I will walk down the escalator instead of ridding it. Beautiful lake view. I guess I should use the beach in my area more often to run on. I guess you get used to your surroundings and forget how beautiful they can be.
Hi Angela,
That looks like such a gorgeous running route, jealous! I’m glad to hear that the vibrancy bar was good, I tried the whole food bar too and didn’t like it all. The good thing is that it has mung beans in it, the bad part is that. . .it tastes like it has mung beans in it, haha.
yea maybe that’s what I was tasting?
Love those stairs – a few weeks on those will get you in shape quick! :) Best of luck with getting back into running and mastering those stairs!! Love it – I’ll stay tuned for your progress…I’ve just started checking into your blog recently now that I’ve got all my bookmarks organized :) I’ll be stopping by more often – so many great blogs so little time!
Angela, you have inspired me to try my first taste of VOO! I made them plain the first time – just the oats, chia, almond milk and a squirt of agave. Delish! I see many other flavors and parfaits in my future. I think I can even get my daughters to try them – now that would be a breakfast I would love to start their day with!
this reminded me that the other day i made your orange-cream VOO, only i used grapefruit instead. a few posts ago you mentioned you were going through a grapefruit craze…im going through one now and i loved it in VOO. i’d try it out :)
Wow! The best of both worlds – I can’t wait to try this!
The VOO do look fantastic! I love how green they are. Could you use steel-cut oats instead of rolled oats?
I’m not sure Allison, I don’t think they would get as creamy and soft? might be worth a shot!
i have to agree with the other bloggers, the scenery is breathtaking! since I’m a student, I can definitely relate to the sedentary lifestyle. i actually enjoy using the stairs as well, I take advantage of them any time that I can-somehow I feel more energized just from the small incline. also, those oats look are no joke- that’s what I call a breakfast of champions!
Green Monser Vegan OverNight Oats are amazing. I have been looking for ways to incorporate veggies in the AM, I have found my answer. Love Love Love Love Love, made them last night and am enjoying now!
I’m a bit scared to try the Green Monster VOO, but it’s true – you were totally right about the smoothie so I have to trust you. I’ve converted so many people to Green Monsters from your website. Thanks again for all the inspiration!
Hi there!
I’m a new reader from Spain. I just wanted to stop and say hello and thank you. Your blog has inspired me to start again on a healthy way. I’ve started to do some exercise and I’m vegan now! :)
I would like to ask you: how often do you drink your vega protein milkshake? I’m afraid I’m not eating protein enough, so I’m thinking of trying some vegan protein milkshake.
Thank you again! :)
I probably have 3-4 smoothies a week, but I try to get most of my protein from lentils/beans/grains and tofu.
Glad to hear you enjoy the blog…thank you!
Hello! Long time reader, first time commenter! I live in Mississauga but close to the Oakville “border” and would love to join a running group! I just ran Hamilton’s Around the Bay 5km race this morning but definitely need more motivation to run consistently!
Definitely need to try these oats! So healthy!
I have been craving overnight oats but couldnt figure out how to do it Vegan Style. I am so excited to try this recipe.
Congratulations on your new move, the place looks great and it will be nice to be in the town of Oakville, a great place…close to whole foods now too!
I love the idea of green monster oats…I think it would take me a while to get the past that my oats are green, but I would love to try this out :)
That’s it, I’m convinced of it now, green food is the way forward! I love that you are so enamoured with stairs, I agree, there’s nothing like sneaking a bit of exercise in, everyone at work looks at me like I’m a bit crazy when I’m jogging up the stairs while they all walk but I love it, it keeps the blood pumping :-D.
Both the trail and your breakfast look beautiful!!!
This is so crazy, I am just moving away from gorgeous Lakeshore to Milton! I think we are switching locations (I get the feeling your old house was near Milton?) Being near the lake is wonderful, and the having the GO line right there makes it so easy to go downtown, I think you’ll really enjoy it.
Any packing tips? This is my first big (whole apartment, not school related) move and I am not quite sure what to expect, you have lots of experience, you must have some great tips!