Some thoughts and discussions from me.
Pumpkin Coconut Hot Breakfast Cereal + Favorite Brussels Sprouts Salad
Hi guys! I hope your week is going well.
Yesterday turned out to be a fantastic day, weather-wise, despite the forecast of possible rain. After teaching my morning core class, I was able to sneak in a walk with my walking buddy/neighbor (with all of our dogs – 3 total!) and then another walk with Niko and my Kindle.
an older picture, but ya get the idea.
Yes, I walk outdoors and read at the same time. Yes, I did trip, but only once (the curb totally jumped out at me 
) Yes, I’m still reading The Stand. It really is a beast of a book – luckily I’m super into it, so I don’t mind that I’m only half way through it so far.
I was also able to sit outside at the coffee shop in the neighborhood to get a little work done.
But then I had to go back inside to get ready for an appointment, and it was almost getting too hot, anyway.
Oh, I also trained my first client last night at the new gym I’m working at! 
The way this gym works is much more like the gym I came from in Normal, which is much more my style. I really do miss that gym – and all of my clients there, by the way!
Eats lately have been pretty delicious.
Aside from having lots of eggs for breakfast and hardboiled eggs for snacks, I’ve relied on a couple other veg-friendly snacks like some of my favorite bars:
I have a new-found love for these Zing bars, which I received in my Kona Kase! Through Fitfluential, Kona Case offered me a free box of their all-natural goodies. It works so that you pay ____ a month, and each month you get shipped a box of snacks. Here’s what my box contained:
Pretty cool, eh? Kona Kase gave me a discount code to share for you guys – FF2 – to get your first box for $10 (normally $15.)
As for meals, I’ve been eating a couple that I’m just obsessed with-
pumpkin coconut hot breakfast cereal! I’ve mentioned this on the blog before, but I’ve never actually written out the (super easy) recipe in much detail.
I use the following ingredients:
Add all of them in a microwave-safe bowl.
If I add some brown rice protein powder, then I add a little more liquid.
Then just stir, stir, stir! It should be about the consistency of pancake batter. Then I microwave it for 1 minute, top it with coconut butter, and microwave for another 30-60 seconds. Voila! And I suppose this could qualify as a strange but good recipe?
Pumpkin Coconut Hot Breakfast Cereal
1/3 c. pumpkin puree
1/3 c. coconut milk (or whatever liquid you choose) – add a few more tbsp. if you’re adding protein powder
1/4 c. shredded coconut
2 tbsp. almond butter
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
coconut butter – optional for topping
1/2 scoop protein powder – optional
Combine all of the ingredients except the coconut butter ina microwave-safe dish. Microwave for 1 minute. Stir and add toppings. Microwave for another 30-60 seconds.
And for lunches this week, I made a huge batch of my favorite brussels sprouts salad, since I scored a bag of pre-shredded sprouts at WF for the same price as the same amount of whole sprouts.
Sometimes I just have it like this – with pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, and avocado, but I’ve also been putting sardines on it every now and then.
1 bag or about 16 ounces of shredded brussels sprouts (or you could buy whole sprouts, and shred them with a food processor)
1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
1/8 c. mustard
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts, or other nut/seed of choice
1/4 c. dried fruit
Place the sprouts in a large bowl and set aside. In a container with a lid, add the oil, mustard, salt, and pepper. Put the lid on and shake it up! Pour over the sprouts, add the rest of the ingredients, and toss.
Ok, that’s enough chit chat for today! Have a fab one, friends
How often do you eat vegetarian meals?
I’m loving the looks of that brussels salad!
My vegetarian days used to be at least 5 days out of the week. Now that I hang out more with the bf, and with a roomie who also enjoys meat, I’d say they’re now at just 2-3. Which is totally fine.
Amy B @ Second City Randomness recently posted…New Year, New Chapter
I inadvertently planned out a lot of meat-free meals this week! Last night I told the hubs that black bean burgers were in the menu for tonight and he goes ‘they’re made with meat…right?’ Haha it just made me laugh 🙂
I can’t believe you can walk and read at the same time! Haha, I can’t even text and walk. Way too clutzy for that. And that hot breakfast cereal looks really good! I love “strange but good” recipes, it’s one of my favorite things about being part of the blog world, to get inspired by them to try different and totally random food combinations!
Meghan @ After the Ivy League recently posted…WIAW #31: Feeling Snacky
I LOVE brussels sprouts and that salad looks DELICIOUS!!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted…Variety is the Spice of Life
Pumpkin + coconut + nut butter is a total WIN in my book also! And the brussel sprouts salad looks amazing. Happy Wednesday!
Katie @ KatieEnPursuit recently posted…Heineken & Chobani for Breakfast…WIAW NoLa
Discount code is not working for me 🙁 … LOVE the idea of the Kona Box!!
I love Zing bars too! I usually try to eat vegetarian meals a few days a week for supper, then for lunch I’d say 75% of my meals are vegetarian.
Lindsey recently posted…Target is here!
That brussels sprouts salad looks amazing! I could eat them for every meal if my body would let me. Mmm…
I also can’t believe you can walk and read at the same time. I can walk and talk. That is about the only combo I can do. I even have a hard time concentrating when I have my ear buds in for my phone. Apparently multitasking while walking is not one of my skills. Are you one of those people that can read a magazine while walking too?!
Almost all of my breakfasts are vegetarian, and many of my lunches. Since moving in with Tom, my dinners have been more meaty than they used to be, but we ate vegetarian last night and I’ve been trying to have a couple of non-meat dinners a week.
Those salads look great!
Kacy recently posted…Just a reason to eat and drink
Wow you breakfast cereal sounds delicious. I am going to try it; I already have all the ingredients. Thank you!!
I eat vegetarian at least once a day. I definitely eat more vegetarian when my hubby is not around. 🙂
Renee @ Fit For Motherhood recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday # 25
Shut the front door! The pumpkin coconut bowl is like my dream meal! Almond butter, pumpkin, and coconut milk! All my favorite foods!
And it has no eggs, yay for that! Need to try this asap.
Looks like a great day of eats!
I’m also impressed you can walk and read at the same time. I’m pretty sure I would fall in a gutter if I even look at my phone I’m too clumsy.
Lisa recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday
The only meal I ever have meat at is dinner. I try to make vegetarian dinners once or twice a week. However, I’m married to a non-vegetable lover so sometimes it’s a bit difficult! Those eggs are so pretty 🙂
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted…Challenge Accepted!
omg yum — that salad looks SO GOOD!! I’ve been obsessed with brussels lastely! I bet you could make this as a warm salad too pretty easily huh? YUM!
Jess recently posted…A dark thirty rundate
That’s a pretty reasonable price for the Kona Kase! Some boxes are priced upwards of $30 which I think is kind of steep.
I don’t ever eat vegetarian meals. Always meat for me because of food allergies 🙂
Both recipes look super simple, but really delicious! I’m bookmarking this post and will definitely be back to whip up both meals.
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl recently posted…Temptations
I definitely walk and read, too. I get made fun of, but it’s the best! It makes my walk to work go by soooo much quicker. Just gotta be careful of those traffic lights 😉
I have a hard time reading on the elliptical let alone while walking outside, that must take talent! I’m excited to see the pumpkin coconut breakfast cereal, it looks so easy and tasty.
Nicole @ FruitnFitness recently posted…WIAW #17
I actually never eat vegetarian meals… I eat vegetarian snacks, like spinach or spaghetti squash, but I always need animal protein in order to digest the veggie carbs – That’s just what works for my body! 🙂
GiGi Eats Celebrities recently posted…On The Rocks
Your salad looks amazing! I never would have thought to put brussel sprouts in my salad! Can’t wait to try!
Walking and reading outside simultaneously = talent. I can do it on the treadmill daily, but I stick to the audio books outside!
Are those brussel sprouts raw? I have never thought about eating them raw??? Looks good and I would love to try it.
loveeeeeeeeeeee this recipe!! AND i’ve been wanting to try that brussel sprouts & parm cheese recipe that you posted a while back too! i love shredded sprouts <33 i can't believe you can walk & read – that's super impressive girl!
Hi Paige! I’m scrolling through your “protein” recipes and came across this one, and it looks delish! One quick question: I see the yogurt in the picture but not included in the recipe. Do you use the yogurt for a topping or ?? thanks, and I’m LOVING your posts! -Amanda
For the cereal? You don’t have to use it, but it makes it a little creamier 🙂