Banana & Oats

So we really like breakfast at our house. I know a lot of people who say they don't like breakfast and usually skip it, but I have NO IDEA how they can do that! I go crazy unless I get food in my belly, I guess that goes to show how much I like to eat! In the long run though I am really glad I like breakfast, it starts off my day on a positive note. 

In my under grad I used to help people in the "University Wellness Center" on campus, with their daily nutrition and found that lot of people don't know the importance of breakfast. 

Here are a few things that skipping breakfast will do....

1. Make your energy levels go down, so even though you may have gotten a great nights sleep you will still be tired throughout the day.

2. Your body will be lacking in the nutrients and vitamins it needs to have proper and peak function. Leaving your body more hungry throughout the day making you want more substantial food like carbs and protein, and eating big portions of that can cause weight can and other health issues, and if you think about it your body will still be lacking in the nutrients it gets from fruit and veggies because those aren't as filling, well in some instances.

3. Decrease cognitive function! Everyone needs ALL the help they can get with that one ;)

Source(s): "Choose Your Foods" Healthy Management book from the American Dietetic Association

A 2005 Journal of the American Dietetic Association review of 47 breakfast-related studies

I know I sound all nerdy saying this but really everyone needs a yummy and quick breakfast that will taste good in their belly! Here are a few of our favorites with

Bananas & Oats

both filled with a good source of fiber which helps you stay full longer & gets you going for the day.

Breakfast Fruit Pizza

Ingredients:

3/4 cup dry oatmeal
1 mashed banana (1 medium banana)
1 tsp raw honey, or any other sweetener
Add-ins: Flax or chia seeds seed, cocoa powder, cinnamon, peanut butter


If it seems really mushy you can add more oatmeal. If it seems too thick you can add a little bit of applesauce or smash up more bananas.

Combine ingredients and make two 6 in oatmeal pizza. Place in oven at 350 and bake for 8 min. Flip it over and cook for an additional 6-8 min till browned at the top. Let it cool down and top with a few Tbsp of yogurt, I like Fage, plain greek yogurt and then top with berries and nuts!

** Rachel Maser has made something similar, I just adjusted it to what we had :)

Banana Cookie Ball 

(This is more of a snack)Thanks to my good friend Rebecca Tong for sharing this with me

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas
11/2 cups of oatmeal
1/4 cup of any toppings, chocolate chips, dried fruit,etc.
Dash of pumpkin spice and cinnamon...you could get really creative here

Bake at 350 for 15 min. 

Banana Pancakes
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1/2tsp. vanilla
4 egg whites

Mix all ingredients in blender. The best way to do it is have your griddle on low, and make them
smaller cakes. This will help them cook more evenly and not break as easily.

Top with berries and Pure Maple Syrup
I really like doing 2tsp syrup and 1 Tbsp of plain Greek yogurt, mix till runny and drizzle on top with
your berries

Healthy Hearty Homemade Granola

This one is lengthy in time but it sure makes the apartment smell good and makes a lot!

Ingredients:

7 c. rolled oats

1 c. wheat germ

1 c. shredded coconut

1 tsp. Salt

1 . tsp vanilla

1/3 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. honey

3/4 c. Coconut oil

1 Tbsp water

Pre-heat to 225 degrees. Mix ingredients well and spread on 2 cookie sheets. Bake for 1

hour stirring occasionally. I have a gas oven and I just made it recently and it took about 2 to get it

the crunchiness I wanted. Just eye ball it till it looks like what you prefer for granola ☺

When its down and cooled I eat mine with a little almond milk and chopped bananas and chia seeds

Just a little of Noelle

Hi!! Thanks for reading more about me and my blog! I definitely have a passion for 

my Family, Faith and Health and Wellness and just doing and being yourself.

 I hope that through my post(s) I can help, inspire, make you laugh, cry and give you motivation to be the best you! 

In the previous post, just below you can read more about me, and my story and the purpose behind this blog.

     In a nutshell,  I am just a silly stay at home mom and wifey who likes to have fun, I run my own Health and Fitness business from my lovely coach & laptop at home, I love helping and serving others with whatever journey and goals they are pursuing, and I am a Strong believer in God and his Son Jesus Christ. 

I cant wait to get to know you more :)

Hello Spring

You know that feeling when you get that urge to clean your house...like DEEP clean your house, and the temperature is just right you can open your windows at let the fresh air in  and you start listening..or blaring, Rascal Flatts because "summer time" is coming...eventually.  Well its been about 85 degrees here, and I know all you with "actual" winters hate me right now, but don't worry your time is coming, I see the sun in your future ;) Well earlier this week that happened to me, I woke up, did my morning routine, then Tanner and I went out on a walk and I kept thinking about what a beautiful day it was and when we got home it hit me...that "Spring Cleaning" I used to hid from growing up was all I wanted to do all day.  ( i feel like this was me and my siblings )

I feel like a lot of us now as we are older have that similar feeling of just wanting to scrub every little thing and de-junk our homes.

Well I had a thought as I was doing my spring cleaning, "what else do I need to de-junk in my life, and deep clean?".

I know it may sound weird but it got me thinking,  what am I doing daily that is just adding clutter and mess to my life? What unnecessary task am I putting on my list of "to-do's" that may be getting in my way of the important things.

I made 2  list. The first was of activities I do everyday and week in the order I usually do them. Some of them were, going to the library, the store, work, making meals for the family, watching my shows, taking tanner to the park,  working out, etc.  The second was of daily activities that I knew I needed to be doing more of or  needed to add.  Some of these were, scripture study, listening to more uplifting music when working out, don't always multi task and play with tanner--set time aside for just me and him, prayer, make sure Ryan knows you appreciate him, get ready for the day, etc.


Nothing I was doing on the first list was bad,  but some of it really wasn't adding much value to my life.

As spring time comes closer for most of us and we get that urge to clear out all the old winter junk, get outside and soak up the sun,  and make some yummy marinated bbq chicken...maybe we should also clear out things that maybe preventing us from bettering our marriage, time with our kids or self. Throwing things out that maybe prohibiting our happiness. Soak up all the time and moments we have with those close relationships. Letting ourselves absorb and marinate in the things that really will make us happy.

My life wasn't uneventful, awful, and didn't need a whole lot of changes but because I did throw out a fews things, re- prioritized to what I knew would be the best for my family, for my personal growth, and for true happiness, I get way more out of my day and what I am doing during it than I was before.  So heres to your "Spring Cleaning"