November 12, 2013

Apple-Eggnog Baked Oatmeal

Hi guys! Tasty Tuesday here!

So, you have definitely noticed by now that I am a big fan of oatmeal 🙂 I love it and can think of 15 ways to eat my oats!

But I also keep coming up with new ways for you and me to enjoy oatmeal!

Last weekend I got inspired by the season and came up with a recipe of Apple-Eggnog baked oatmeal. It turned out so well my husband said it was the best yet! Give it a try while we still have fresh apples and eggnog on the store shelves at the same time.

For this recipe I didn’t use fresh apples, though – just because I still had leftover dehydrated apples that Noah sent me as part of the Foodie Penpals box exchange.

Print
Apple-Eggnog Baked Oatmeal

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 60 minutes

Yield: 9 servings

Serving Size: 1 serving

Calories per serving: 189

4 g

Apple-Eggnog Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients

  • 3 cups dry oats (I used Giant old fashioned oats)
  • 1 cup eggnog
  • 1 very ripe banana, mashed
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 cup dehydrated or fresh apples, cubed

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F
  2. Mix dry ingredients until well combined.
  3. Combine liquid ingredients in a separate bowl.
  4. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry.
  5. Mix well.
  6. Spray a pan with a non-stick spray.
  7. Pour the mix into the pan.
  8. Bake for 45-60 minutes.
  9. Enjoy!
https://leanlena.com/apple-eggnog-baked-oatmeal/

Have a great rest of your week, guys and eat healthy!

 

Filed Under: breakfast, healthy snack ideas, recipes, Tasty Tuesday Tagged With: , , , , , Leave a Comment
November 9, 2013

Peanut Butter-Banana Energy Bites

Hey, guys! Happy Saturday!

I am a snacking person, and snacks are a very important part of my daily meal plan. The only problem is – if I don’t watch it, my snacking gets out of control and I just eat all the unhealthy crap I can get my hands onto! To avoid this, I do a few things:

– I plan my snacks for the day.

– I ALWAYS have a snack with me when I leave the house.

– I make sure I have healthy snacks.

I wanted to share one of my go-to recipes for a healthy snack with you today. These guys come together in under half an hour and are very delicious!

Print
Peanut Butter-Banana Energy Bites

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 14 bites

Serving Size: 1 bite

Peanut Butter-Banana Energy Bites

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup of creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tbs honey
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed
  • 1 cup oats (quick or old-fashioned)
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds
  • 1/4 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • Cocoa powder for rolling

Instructions

  1. Melt peanut butter and honey in a microwave. It melts very quickly, so make sure you keep an eye on it.
  2. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.
  3. Add peanut butter and honey mix to the dry mix.
  4. Add mashed banana.
  5. Combine well.
  6. Roll into balls and roll them in cocoa powder.
  7. Refrigerate for minimum of 2 hours before eating.
https://leanlena.com/peanut-butter-banana-energy-bites/

 

Filed Under: breakfast, dessert, healthy snack ideas, recipes Tagged With: , , , , , Leave a Comment
November 2, 2013

Rice and Kale Frittata

Hey guys! Me again.

I hope you weekend is going great!

Just remembered that I promised you a recipe for my Rice and Kale Frittata and never posted it! Guilty…

So here you go! This is an excellent breakfast (make the night before, refrigerate, microwave in the morning, eat) or lunch!

You can bake it in the oven if you have some extra time, or fry it in a covered pan.

Print
Rice and Kale Frittata

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 2 servings

Rice and Kale Frittata

Ingredients

  • 1 cup jasmine rice, cooked
  • 1 cup kale leaves, chopped
  • 1/2 cup almond milk, unsweetened
  • 3 eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Cook rice according to package instruction and let it cool down.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 F
  3. Chop the kale
  4. Mix rice, kale, almond milk and eggs
  5. Spray a small dish with cooking spray
  6. Pour the mix into the dish and bake for 30 minutes or until baked through.
  7. Enjoy!
https://leanlena.com/rice-and-kale-frittata/

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and stay fit!

Filed Under: breakfast, lunch, recipes Tagged With: , , , , Leave a Comment
October 24, 2013

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Muffins Recipe

Hey, guys! How is your week going?

Mine is hectic and busy, but I live in the hope for Friday, which is right around the corner!

Anyway, just wanted to share a great recipe with you today.

I have found the original recipe over at My Whole Food Life and modified it a little. If you like simple healthy recipes, be sure to check out this blog. Melissa has a ton o those for you!

Now let’s take a look at how to make these super delicious and easy pumpkin muffin!

Print
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Muffins

Rating: 51

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 9 muffins

Serving Size: 1 muffin

Calories per serving: 125

4.1

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups quick oats
  • 1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or raw honey
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • 1/4 tsp cloves
  • 2 T apple sauce
  • 4 T almond milk
  • 1 ripe banana, mashed

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Mix all the dry ingredients in one bowl.
  3. Mix wet in another.
  4. Add wet to dry and mix until wel combined.
  5. Spoon batter into lined muffin pan.
  6. Bake for 20 minutes.
  7. Take out of the oven and let cool on a rack.
  8. Enjoy!
https://leanlena.com/pumpkin-pie-oatmeal-muffins-recipe/

Stay fit, friends!

 

 

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October 22, 2013

Tasty Tuesday – 15 Ways to Eat Your Oats

Hey guys! Happy Tasty Tuesday!

Did you have something yummy for breakfast today? I had oatmeal 🙂

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know that I LOVE oatmeal! I can have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner and then through some in as a snack, too 🙂

Anyway, I post a lot of pictures of oatmeal in my “What’s on my Plate Wednesday” posts, but I never really share the recipes for my “oatmeal adventures”. A lot of times you can see in the pictures what goes into my oatmeal, but I thought I’d share a more detailed post with you entirely dedicated to my oatmeal obsession 🙂

So, here are my 15 ways to eat my oats!

Bake it!

Baked Oatmeal

This is my all time favorite. Usually every Sunday I make a whole new batch of baked oatmeal, then heat it up in the morning and have it for breakfast with some fruit and yogurt.

Baked oatmeal with bananas, blueberries and yogurt

Baked oatmeal with bananas, blueberries, sliced almonds and yogurt

I also eat it as a snack in the afternoon with some coconut butter on it.

IMG_2460

The beauty of the baked oatmeal recipe is in the fact that you can add whatever you want to it! Swap the dried cranberries for dried apricots, add chocolate chips, nuts or whatever your heart desires.

Check out the recipe here.

Hot Oatmeal with Toppings

cherries, cinnamon and chocolate chips

cherries, cinnamon and chocolate chips

Cinnamon, chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds

Cinnamon, chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds

Banana, blueberries and cinnamon

Banana, blueberries and cinnamon

banana, cinnamon and apple-quinoa crunch

banana, cinnamon and apple-quinoa crunch

pomegranate, chocolate chips and cinnamon

pomegranate, chocolate chips and cinnamon

strawberries, chia seeds and cinnamon

strawberries, chia seeds and cinnamon

chocolate chips, cinnamon and chocolate chips

apple chips, cinnamon and chocolate chips

Overnight Oats

If you know you’re going to have a super busy week when every minute of sleep counts, this is a great way to save time on making breakfast and still eat right and healthy.

On the weekend before a week like that I make my overnight oats for the whole week. Just combine oats and milk (I use almond milk) put into jars and refrigerate. I like adding 1 tsp of chia seed per jar into mine.

IMG_2819

During the week – just heat it up or eat cold – however you like it.

strawberries, chocolate chips, sliced almonds

strawberries, chocolate chips, sliced almonds

dried cranberries, bananas and sliced almonds

dried cranberries, bananas and sliced almonds

Make Granola!

One of the ways to eat your oats is make granola! That is such a great snack or part of your breakfast, too. Here’s the recipe for the homemade granola I use.

mix it with fresh fruit

mix it with fresh fruit

 

add some Greek yogurt

add some Greek yogurt

have it on top of some cottage cheese

have it on top of some cottage cheese

have it on top of chia seed pudding

have it on top of chia seed pudding

And those are my ways of eating oats, friends!

What is your favorite way to eat oats?

Filed Under: breakfast, fitness, healthy snack ideas, lunch, recipes, Tasty Tuesday, Weight Watchers, WW Tagged With: , , , , , , 2 Comments
October 18, 2013

Five on Friday

Hello, my friends! How have you been this week?

Hope you’re doing well on this beautiful day!

Today I am sharing the things I’m loving lately/great things happening in my life/exciting news – Five on Friday.

Ready?

{{ONE}} Our 2nd Wedding Anniversary and Trip to NYC!

I will post the trip recap some time this week. This One of Five is about this awesome guy I met years ago and married 2 years ago – best “YES” I ever said!

wedding

He is my best friend, my one and only and I am SO lucky to have such a wonderful man by my side!

{{TWO}} Mantra Bands!

Aren’t they awesome?

IMG_2574

My Mantra Band

I found these online and I was obsessed ever since. Head over to the Mantra Band and order your own to help you stay motivated on your fitness or any other journey!

Sept 30 spinning

See how it motivated me? 🙂

{{THREE}} My latest kitchen gadget – crock pot!

My new crock pot

My new crock pot

Now this is a blessing for a family of 4 where both mom and dad work full time. I’m sure you know, but I just love saying it – throw the ingredients in, turn on, leave for work, come back to a delicious hot meal – that is what a crock pot is and I can’t believe it took me so long to get one.

Look at these wonderful things you can make in a crock pot:

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Home made crock pot chili

Home made crock pot chili

if you add too much water to it like I did - you get soup instead of the stew, which is not too bad either

if you add too much water to it like I did – you get soup instead of the stew, which is not too bad either

{{FOUR}} My upcoming trip to Russia in November!!!

Super excited about it! I haven’t seen my family and friends for 2 long years!!!!

11405522-cheap-airline-tickets

Got tickets in my pocket – leaving on November 27 and coming back on December 11. 2 weeks with my dearest ones! CAN’T WAIT!

{{FIVE}} Overnight Oats

Gotta love those! Easy and quick breakfast for week days. Just combine oats, almond milk and chia/flax seeds in a jar and refrigerate!

Take out of the fridge in the morning, heat up, add fruit, nuts, etc.. and your healthy breakfast is ready!

IMG_2702

IMG_2697

Your turn!

THE GOOD LIFE BLOG

 

Filed Under: breakfast, dinner, events, family events, fitness, gadget-head, new experiences, recipes, travel Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
October 11, 2013

Junk Food: 2, Lena: 1

Hey guys!

I finally got to my blog – second time in this busy week, which sucked for the most part 🙂

Let’s see….It’s Friday (YAY!), I am back to PT for an uncertain period of time (boooo), and heading to NYC this weekend to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary!!!

The past week healthy eating was challenged by:

lunch out with my husband on Monday

lunch out with my husband on Monday

 

Birthday celebration cupcakes at work

Birthday celebration cupcakes at work

Photo source – Catherine’s Cupcakery

movie night at home with my family

movie night at home with my family

Junk/Processed/Not-so-good-for-you food – 2, Lena – 1.

There were some good/not-so-bad food choices and decisions this week, as well.

Fruit and yogurt for breakfast last Thursday

Fruit and yogurt for breakfast last Thursday

 

Home made crock pot chili

Home made crock pot chili

IMG_2649

Mashed potatoes and chili on top

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Home made crock pot split pea soup

Whole grain orzo salad

Whole grain orzo salad

All in all, it wasn’t the best week food-wise.

On top of that, I pulled my left calf on Wednesday night,  went to my scheduled physical therapy session on Thursday and was immediately treated for the new disaster. And that’s right when I was going to start making my way out of PT some time after next week. No such luck. The pulled calf hurt like hell last night, but seems to be a little better today.

What I am most upset about is the rest days I have to take that I was not planning on. This injury once again messes up my entire exercise routine and I can’t ignore it because it hurts to move.

Erm…remind me – isn’t exercise supposed to make you fell better? 🙂

Anywho, before my fitness life was interrupted by the pulled muscle, I managed to fit some fine exercise in last week:

12 ml ride in Monday's spin class

12 ml ride in Monday’s spin class

Weights and strength training with Jim on Wednesday

Weights and strength training with Jim on Wednesday

 

Yoga class with Jim on Wednesday

Yoga class with Jim on Wednesday

Blogging news:

Did you guys noticed the new banner? What do you think?

Also, the former “Healthy Recipe” page of the blog is now called “Recipes” (the sole reason for the name change is that what’s healthy for me can be unhealthy for somebody else, so let’s go with the neutral name) and is powered by ReciPage!

I am still in the process of transferring the recipes from one to the other, but very happy with the way the new page looks! I think it is a lot easier to brows recipes now. You can also search by key ingredients, cooking methods and alphabetically.

I hope you like it and I would appreciate any feedback!

I will see you guys next week with the NYC trip recap!

Have a great weekend and stay fit!

Filed Under: breakfast, dessert, dinner, events, family events, fitness, lunch, recipes, spinning, Weight Lifting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
October 2, 2013

Foods of the Week – What’s on my Plate Wednesday

Hello and happy Wednesday to you, my friends!

Let’s talk healthy (and not so much) food, shall we? I am changing the format of my weekly “What’s on my Plate Wednesday” blog post today – just because I get bored if things don’t change for a while 🙂

Hope you like it!Continue Reading

Filed Under: breakfast, dessert, dinner, fitness, gadget-head, healthy snack ideas, lunch, recipes, Weight Watchers, what's on my plate wednesday, WW Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
September 30, 2013

Foodie Pen Pals – Reveal Day

 

Hey, my fitness friends!

Guess what? I did it again! I participated in Foodie Pen Pals program and today is the Reveal Day!

Curious what I got?

Continue Reading

Filed Under: breakfast, dessert, dinner, Foodie PenPals, healthy snack ideas, lunch, new experiences, recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 5 Comments
September 25, 2013

What’s on My Plate Wednesday

Happy hump day, my friends!

To me, it’s pretty much Friday, close enough anyway 🙂

It’s been a very hectic week so far (just like the one before) – lots of running around, exercising, PT sessions, etc. etc..

With all this I am honestly struggling with fitting simple things like getting gas and grocery shopping into my schedule….and fail a lot of times 🙂

You will see the signs of my busy schedule in today’s post – “What’s on My Plate Wednesday” is featuring not as many eats as usual – not because I am a lazy photographer, but because a lot of times I am eating “on the go” – still eating good stuff, though. No fast food for this body 🙂

Ok, here we go – eating highlights from the past week.Continue Reading

Filed Under: breakfast, dinner, lunch, recipes, Weight Watchers, what's on my plate wednesday, WW Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
September 19, 2013

Belated “What’s on my Plate Wednesday” and Weekly Exercise Recap

Hey hey, my fitness friends!

I bet you didn’t expect a “What’s on my Plate” Wednesday post from me on Thursday! Well, guess what? It is happening. And since I missed the exercise recap post this week, I am combining the two!

Here we go, eating highlights and exercise recap of the past week or so!Continue Reading

Filed Under: breakfast, dinner, fitness, healthy snack ideas, lunch, recipes, spinning, Weight Lifting, Weight Watchers, what's on my plate wednesday, WW Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
September 4, 2013

What’s on My Plate Wednesday – Eats of the Past Week

Good morning, my fit and getting fit friends!

I hope you are having a short and sweet work week 🙂

As usual, I am here today to tell you what I ate this past week – Wednesday to Wednesday 🙂

So here are the highlights of  what’s been on my plate lately.Continue Reading

Filed Under: breakfast, dessert, dinner, Girls Gone Sporty, healthy snack ideas, lunch, recipes, Weight Watchers, what's on my plate wednesday, WW Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
September 1, 2013

Share Recipe Sunday – Almond Butter and Jelly Muffins

Hey, my fitness gang!

Happy Sunday! Hope your weekend is going well!

Here’s a little joy to add to it. I just made these yesterday and here’s the recipe as I promised on Instagram!Continue Reading

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August 23, 2013

Fun Foods Friday: Baked Oatmeal Recipe

Hey, my fit friends! Happy Friday!

Hectic times here! Lots of good news and good things happening in my life, which I can’t wait to share with you later.

I will start with an awesome Baked Oatmeal recipe that one of my co-workers shared with me.

I made it yesterday and it was a BIG hit! So here we go:Continue Reading

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August 14, 2013

What’s New or What I Did in the Past Couple Weeks

Hello, my fit friends!

I have been totally neglecting my blog in the past 2 weeks, and I am very sorry about that. I missed writing so much!

I have had a couple weeks from hell at work, and with my exercise routine and family I had absolutely no time or energy for blogging. I did try to keep you up-to-date with other social media (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook), though. I hope you didn’t miss me too much and I will try not to take such long breaks from blogging any more 🙂

So, here I am with the highlights of the past 2 weeks or so.Continue Reading

Filed Under: breakfast, dinner, fitness, healthy snack ideas, lunch, plankaday, spinning, Uncategorized, Weight Watchers, what's on my plate wednesday, WW Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment
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