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Appetites and Adventures

Pumpkin Pie TVP “Oatmeal” + WIAW

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Just when you you’re getting used to a “special” diet…

…you have to go on a business trip.

I actually like travelling for work.  Airports and hotels don’t phase me one bit.  Unless I’m 17 days from a figure competition and have a diet more strict than I ever thought possible.  Between the protein, super-clean eating, and max of 500 mg of sodium per day the trip I’m taking today has been a lesson in food prep.

#sorryimnotsorry

I’m hoping to put all this together for a fun post… but that requires me remembering to take pics tomorrow!  In the meantime, my friend Kat is going to write guest post for me tomorrow!  She’s awesome – a rockstar endurance athlete, avid foodie, and law student.  I think she unlocked the secret to adding hours to a day.

Kat is going to be doing a bi-weekly feature, so please drop by and say hi to her tomorrow when she introduces herself!

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We’re still rolling with this month’s Halloween-themed  What I Ate Wednesday.  I did alright for breakfast and meal 7…. I’m not sure if the rest ties in, but it was delicious and seasonal!

Check out my “special” low sodium, high protein, super-clean eats below, and then click here to head over to Jenn @ Peas and Crayons to get to see how festive everyone else got this week!

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Meal 1:

After my morning cocktail (mix of Apple Cider Vinegar, Glutamine, and Fitmixer Aminos), I downed a grapefruit while I waited for some deliciousness to cook (not that the grapefruit wasn’t delicious… but it can’t compare).

TVP Protein “Oatmeal” has become a low-sodium staple, but I’ve had this particular version 2 days in a row so far.  It’s vegan, gluten-free, protein-filled, and involves pumpkin.  What’s not to love?

The fall spiced TVP “oats” with a creamy protein pumpkin pie mixture swirled in… I can’t even describe.  It’s the most decadent deliciouness!  Full recipe is at the bottom. 

Meal 2:

As much as I’ve been making salmon and fruit mixes lately, I don’t know if I can still call them #strangebutgood.  Strange or not, this was a good mix!

In my not-so-strange but good mix: curried salmon, pepitas, blackberries, and arugula.

Meal 3:

It’s the steak of the sea again!  Swordfish has become a weekly staple for me.  This one I grilled with onion, Herbs de Provence, pepper, and lemon juice.  Eaten with sautéed asparagus and shiitakes, and 1/2 a sweet potato.  On a hippo plate ’cause I was a hungry, hungry hippo yesterday.

Meal 4:

So I braved raw chicken again.  Last night I grilled a bunch to bring for lunch this week.  As much as I hate touching it, I do like the taste when it’s cooked to perfection (read: not dried out).

I always prepare it 1 or 2 different ways.  That way I don’t have  a pound of chicken that all tastes the same.  This piece had onion powder, pepper, oregano, cayenne, and lemon juice.  Eaten with cucumber and carrots. dipped in a quick sauce made of nutritional yeast, paprika, and cumin.  Yes, I recycled the plate.

Meal 5:

Apparently Tuesday night is pizza night.  I’ve become addicted to making a “crust” out of Kamut flour (no sodium, relatively high protein).  I make it just like socca crust, adding whatever flavors I’m in the mood for.  Lat night I added garlic, rosemary, and paprika.

My Indian-ish Pizza:

  • Curried chicken
  • Mint ricotta spread 
  • Red onion
  • Fennel
  • Zucchini
  • Arugula

The ricotta mixture  of the week was simply fat-free ricotta with fresh mint, paprika, and a little water to thin.  Like last week, I sautéed the veggies before topping the pizza and sticking it under broil for a few mins.  That mint in the ricotta was awesome with the curry chicken!

Meal 6:

For once I wasn’t in to mood for something sweet yet!  Probably because I was up prepping food for a business trip.  (Holy mother of planning – travel on a “special” diet is interesting.  More to come on this strategic extravaganza.)

I made one of my favorite simple salads.  Arugula with asparagus tossed with lemon juice and freshly ground pepper.  The protein on top is swordfish (the same pre-grilled batch from lunch).  Three cheers for food prep.

Meal 7:

Guess who’s still under her sodium for the day.  THIS girl.  Woo hoo!  Make that day 2 of successful sodium control.  My reward was a Butternut Squash Pudding.

I mixed no-salt cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, and mashed butternut squash with cinnamon, nutmeg, maple extract, and vanilla stevia.  Topped with melted cherries.  #strangebutgood

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Pumpkin Pie TVP “Oatmeal”

  • 1 serving TVP Protein “Oatmeal” (without the egg whites)
  • 2 T pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder (1T)
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger
  • Pinch of cloves
  • 5-6 drops liquid stevia
  • 1.5 T water (or other liquid)

Cook TVP oatmeal as instructed here.

Meanwhile, mix together remaining ingredients in a small bowl to make your pumpkin pie “filling.”

Once TVP is cooked, transfer to a bowl and swirl in the pumpkin filling.  Top as desired (I used cinnamon and cacao nibs).

Serves 1.

***

The protein count for the day: 166.1g.  The all-important sodium count: 535.7mg (a little over, but I get some allowance for naturally occurring sodium in veggies).

Quick shameless plug: in case you missed it, check out yesterday’s post for another way to vary your workout.  It’s the 2nd in my “Work It Out” series!

Has anyone started tracking or cutting back on sodium since last week?  Is it harder than you expected?

What is your favorite food to pack for the road?

Comments

  1. girl, you are doing GREAT with the sodium! I know that would be difficult… I haven’t tried to track mine 😉

    I really want to try the TVP oatmeal…

  3. Wow you are really making low sodium work for you, Laura! As weird as it sounds, I have been loving peanut butter on grilled chicken lately. I know PB is out of the question for you right now but what about making some kinda sauce out of peanut flour to jazz up your chicken? Unsurprisingly, sandwiches make for an easy on-the-road meal…maybe try replacing the bread with kamut crust folded in half? #desperatemeasures

    • That just reminded me I wanted to pack peanut flour! I would have forgotten – thank you!!! I roasted a butternut to bring for carbs, but I may do a kamut crust too. I’ve been wavering because I don’t know how it will keep.

  4. oh girl, you are doing awesome with your sodium!! I can’t get over how amazing that pumpkin pie tvp oatmeal looks!

    Happy Wednesday!

  9. I was JUST staring into my tub of soy yogurt wondering if I could get away with mixing in leftover roasted sweet potato and calling it a meal. Quite similar to your butternut ‘pudding’…so, maybe? [Tomorrow!]

    Thanks for all the veganized versions of things. You and Heather are rocking with the pumpkin faux-ts this morning, but you win in the vegan world. However, I commented that I’m pretty sure your PB + Egg tofu combo would work with her pumpkin paleo idea. Maybe? I get confused.

    • I have a SP Greek yogurt recipe somewhere on my blog… it will make it by the TSA, fyi. 🙂

      You could totally do a PB & Pegg-ofu thing! I’ll have to try that…

  10. I admire your will to follow through with this strict diet – way to go for your goals, girl!

    Haha, such a fun Hippo plate. I bet the food tasted even better eaten from it :).

    • No – I don’t think I could handle a big trip right now!

      Please let me know if you do try it; I’d love hear your take. 🙂

  12. Gahh I don’t even want to begin tracking my sodium intake, it’s likely way over the recommended amount! I can’t help it though (well I can but ya know 😉 ) I love it so very much!
    The oatmeal looks glorious, another one of your great recipes to try!

    • It shocked me when I first did it! Granted, “normal” people can have more than 500 mg a day, but I know I was above the recommend before I started training.

  14. UGH, I am hyper aware of sodium these days! I do believe that is my only weakness with food. I’ve cut back on adding salt to my foods quite as much. Meaning if I’m going to add hot sauce to something for the flavor, I don’t add salt too.

    I haven’t used kamut flour yet! I’ve been all over quinoa flour lately though. I need to get my hands on the kamut though! I want to try it.

    Have a safe trip!

    • You’re lucky that’s your weakness. The chocolate kills me.

      I’ve done quinoa flakes, but not flour. I need to check that out!

  15. That TVP oatmeal is such a neat idea!

    And you’re not the only one who loves salmon with fruit – I’m always pairing mine with oranges or mango. Something about the fattiness of the salmon with the sweetness of fruit pairs so well together.

  20. Too funny we both post a recipe for faux pumpkin oatmeal on the same day! Get out of my head woman! Actually, no…get back in…spread out, relax…let your creative cooking geniusness latch on to me! 😉

    And heck yeah! Way to go on the sodium (and protein)! AND you had pizza! Not many people can do THAT! I really need to make some pizza…I’ve been craving it for weeks now and haven’t gotten around to it yet!

    I’m boring, but I usually go with protein bars when I’m on the road…and carrots, I don’t know what it is, but I can’t go more than a couple of days without them! Lol

    • Haha! I love it. We’ll have to make a combo meal when you come visit!

      Also, when you come we’ll have to go get the best pizza ever. It’s honest-to-god better than than most I had in Italy! And they’re about to open a Gelateria. Mmmmm…

      Both of those are in my bag! The bar is just for an emergency though. I’m supposed to be getting protein in “real” form. *sigh*

  22. Wow, 500mg of sodium while traveling must be a huge challenge. Great job. I love reading about how you prepare for your competition. The structure and timing of your meals is so interesting. Good luck with the last 17 days, you’re going to do great!

    • It’s going to be interesting! Hope the people in my meeting don’t mind tuna… 😉

      Thank you!!!

  25. I’m still so incredibly amazed at your dedication to clean and healthy eating during this whole process. You’re awesome!

  26. You are killing me with those gorgeous berries! I hope there are still some around this weekend–or that we can grab some at the farmer’s market 😉 Also pretty excited to read this how-to-travel post. Have a great trip!

  29. Hang in there…there are lots of healthy options while traveling, they just arnt easy. It is frustrating I have been there too…I find that while I am traveling I am almost better than when I am at home, while traveling I dont have time to be lazy! Good luck on your trip…

    • The challenge for me is that I’ll be in meeting rooms all day… and I won’t have a car. You never know what to expect when they bring lunch in!

  32. Yes! I have not reached for the salt shaker or any seasoning mixes that contain salt for two days now, and it’s really tough! I used to not use salt at all, but then I started sprinkling Kosher on everything…it spun out of control. I have to re-learn how to taste the food at it’s most basic form…it’s very hard!
    Also, I’m loving the TVP too! I’ve been making it with my oatbran in the mornings and it adds a TON of volume to my breakfast, which I love (and the protein count is awesome!).

  33. That pudding looks AMAZING! I think I’m going to start adding cottage cheese back in my diet and see how it goes. I miss it too much. Plus this time of year I love adding pumpkin of apple butter to it. I die!

    • Let me know how it goes! Hopefully that will be easier on your tummy. I found Sheep’s milk Greek-style yogurt at YDFM last week and thought of you!

  34. Frozen cherries are fabulousss, I can’t get enough of them! When I traveled earlier in September for a week for work, I lucked out and had a mini fridge in my hotel room and found a TJ’s a few blocks away so I stocked up 🙂 Nothing too fancy but they have enough of a selection to choose from that you don’t have to eat the same thing every meal!

  35. AHH I wanna make that TVP so bad! I haven’t been able to hit up my local health food store to get some, so every time you post about it, I get oober jealous and excited haha! And as always, I adore your zoopal plates. When I come visit, can I steal an elephant one?? 😉
    Have a wonderful day, gorgeous!

  36. I cannot wait to hear what you pack for the road. You are so creative I’m already intrigued. I generally don’t pack for the road but have started to consider it. My stomach ALWAYS gets upset when I travel and I know it’s from eating over-processed stuff for the whole vacation.

    • I’m the same way! It always takes me a few days to keep human again after a longer vacation.

  38. Traveling with diet restriction can be so tough. Just being a vegetarian is rough enough for me; I can’t even image what it’s going to be like for you. Especially avoiding salt, which I pretty much ODed on this past weekend. By the way, your salads look great….arugula, pepitas and blackberries…oh my.

    • It was tough, but nothing a little planning couldn’t conquer. And sneaking food in the bathroom…

  40. I would be very curious to track my sodium… I’m pretty sure it’s higher than it should be. Traveling will definitely be a challenge, curious to hear your plans to handle it. I know you’ll find a way!

  44. Great looking food (especially the Pumpkin TVP Oats 😉 ) And way to go on managing your sodium intake well! I have to be honest, I never pay attention to my sodium intake…oops? Maybe I should be…

    And my favourite food for the road…I’m not even sure of. I suck big time at packing. I always end up taking too much everywhere!

  45. It seems such a shame that healthy eating has to be such work before you go anywhere…if only it could be more wide spread.

    It is on a way different level but where we take vacations is subjected to high standards for food…and if I can’t find plenty of options for us we make other selections.

    Hopefully the travel, planning of eating, and actual eating will go well for you as the fitness competition gets closer and closer.

  46. You are rocking with the low sodium! I’m super impressed! I guess that’s what comes with the final days of prep though! I can’t wait to see you rock it out in your competition. The kamut pizza crust sounds awesome! I love my socca, but may try that for some change!

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  1. […] use this month’s ingredient, nutmeg, in one of my go-to universally good breakfast foods: TVP oatmeal.   I still ate it on my “break” from my nutrition plan!  Translation: it’s […]

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