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Appetites and Adventures

Things That Make You Go Hmmmm…

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Strange, but good.

 

That’s going to be my new tagline.

Training for a figure competition means my diet is a little odd.  It may make you go hmmmm.

I need certain combos of food and certain times.  Rather than view these parameters and restrictions, I try to turn them into opportunities to create.

I love trying new flavors.  Adding sweetness to things that are traditionally savory and vice versa.  Using spices that are not-so-common to give the ordinary a little something extra.  Sometimes it doesn’t work… but when it does it WORKS.

 

Today I want to share a few that I’ve tried recently, and a couple of “proof” shots from others:

1. Recovery Sweet Potatoes

This was born of a craving.  It was early in the morning and post-workout.  I wanted something breakfast-sweet, but also had a craving for sweet potato.  Then there was the matter of getting my protein to feed muscles growth and aid recovery.  This vanilla-cinnamon concoction fit the bill!

 

 

Recovery Sweet Potatoes

  • 1 small sweet potato, pre-cooked and cubed
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
  • 3 T unsweetened vanilla almond milk
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • Pinch of cardamom
  • 2 T raw rolled oats

 

Place sweet potato cubes in a bowl.  

In a small bowl, mix protein powder and spices.  

Pour sauce over sweet potatoes and top with oats.  Devour.

 

 

2. Tequila Lime Tilapia and Kiwi

 

 

For meal 2 I get a fruit, a protein, and a tablespoon of seeds.  It was close to noon before I was able to eat, so I wanted something more savory as my protein.  With this leftover Tequila-Lime Tilapia, I made a sort of fruit salad by adding golden kiwi and peptias (pumpkin seeds).

 

 

3. Salmon and Peach Salad

This pre-workout meal was eaten in the car on the way to the gym (hence the blurry-in-a-hurry pic).  Again, it was a late Meal 2, so I  needed my fruit and protein.  I had some leftover grilled salmon in the fridge that needed to be eaten.  Salmon is slightly sweet to begin with, so I paired my leftover  it with a late-season peach.  I mixed in a little Greek yogurt (maybe 2-3 T?) to add moisture.  With the slight smoky-char flavor from the grilled fish, the sweet peaches were absolutely fantastic.

 

 

For those of you who are short on time, this is an easy, fun meal that can be thrown together 5 mins before walking out the door and eaten on the go!

 

 

4. Greek Chocolate-Orange Protein Yogurt

Chocolate and orange probably isn’t a strange combination to many of you.  I haven’t been a big fan of the combo in the past.  I like my chocolate served with a side of chocolate!  Keeping an open mind (and in need of a quick meal 2), I eyed the half eaten orange in my fridge.

I wanted Greek yogurt, but I try to limit my diary as I find it makes my face break out.  Often my solution is to eat just half a serving and combine it with 1/2 a scoop of protein powder to get at least 20g of protein (my minimum at each meal)., which is exactly what I did here.

 

 

Greek Chocolate-Orange Protein Yogurt

  • 1/2 c Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 scoop chocolate protein powder
  • 3-4 drops of chocolate flavoring (I use these Capella drops)
  • 5 drops of orange liquid Stevia.  
  • 1/2 segmented orange

 

Mix together yogurt, protein, chocolate flavor, and Stevia in a small bowl.  

Top with orange segements and (optional) sprinkle of cinnamon.

 

 

5. PB & Jeggs (and Aggs) Proof

I have a little PB & Jeggs (Aggs/Peggs/etc) addiction.  This egg white-peanut flour-fruit combo is a staple in my diet.  It’s the perfect high protein fuel, and suitable for breakfast, snack, or dessert.

Sounds weird, taste good.  But I’m not the only one who thinks so!  My friends Eiren and Meg agree:

 

Meg’s PB & Jeggs (with oats):

 

Eiren’s PB & Jeggs (isn’t this the coolest graphic?!  So sweet of her to make it):

 

And Eiren’s awesome twist on the PB & Aggs… PB & Aggs in a Jar:

 

***

In other weird food news, I remain addicted to Carrot Cake Protein Batter.   I’m eating it as I draft this post.  Pretty sure this will never get old.

Have you tried PB & Jeggs?  Just trust me on this one.

What is your favorite strange food combo?

 

Comments

  1. I always look at your instagrams in awe that you actually came up with the idea..such yummy-looking dishes, despite being unusual combos! The chocolate & orange protein yogurt especially takes my fancy- I’ve always been a fan of Terry’s Orange Chocolate! I’ve not tried PB & Jeggs yet but I already know I’d be a fan! Although it’s probably not strange in the blogosphere, I love replacing the yolk in hard-boiled eggs with peanut butter…mm!

    • I have always tried to like that orange chocolate… it looks so good! Replacing the egg yolk with PB is genius. That maybe me the only way I could eat a hard boiled egg. Thanks for the suggestion!

  2. Mmm recovery sweet potatoes. Actually mmm to anything sweet potato haha 😉
    I actually have tried your PB&Jeggs in sandwich form with Ezekiel bread! Talk about DELICIOUSSSSSS. I’m a sucker for eggs combined with nut butter!

  3. I love the recovery sweet potatoes! I always try to get sweet potato in after a hard workout and that is the perfect way too! Totally pinning that one!

  5. I like cottage cheese, pb (I’ve been using PB2 which works well, but so does regular), stevia, fruit and fiber one cereal mixed together. It’s very good but looks disgusting.

  6. Honestly, babe – EVERYTHING LOOKS AMAZING TO ME. I’m still needing to try a few that you listed (like the kiwi one!), but I’ve done quite a few already – even before you posting! Like the sweet potato one! I do that so often 🙂 YUM!

    I just had kabocha this morning. Can you get your hands on some? PLEASE do this:

    cube it. roast it (nothing on it, just plain please!). put it in a bowl (i had it straight out of a fridge, so it was chilled). pour a generous amount of peanut flour sauce on top. YUM. devour. LOVE. SAVOR. WOW.

    Please do it 🙂

    • This probably makes me a bad blogger… but I don’t like kabocha! I’ll totally do that with butternut though. Peanut flour… mmmmm… 🙂

  7. Good stuff girl. 🙂 I love everything sweet potato, so I hear ya’ on that first one. I can’t think of too many crazy combos that I eat on a regular basis, but I just finished up an egg with goat cheese. Yes – it was just as amazing as it sounds!

  9. I ran out of egg whites yesterday. I’m getting them today and PB&Jeggs is happening! So, you know I just recently got into running. Well, the carb cravings have now hit in full force on the days I run. I’m actually finding it incredibly fascinating to learn through practice how much your body asks for certain things when you change up your training. Being mindful of it and knowing what the proper fuel definitely makes me come up with some creative combos! I know I need the mix of protein carbs and fats to feed my muscles and refuel my glycogen storage. Nutrition and fitness is pretty darn fascinating and coming up with the right fuel is fun (and delicious)! I love that you’re finding some fun combos!

    Have a great weekend my friend!

    • Did you do it?! I’m so excited to see what you think. 🙂

      You are so right about listening to your body when you train. You can read every article out there, but everyone is unique and you have to fine the right balance for your needs.

  10. I WILL be trying PB&Jeggs! ASAP! I do love the weird combos that come up with a strict diet–I eat a lot of weird stuff, too. Breakfast this morning? An apple, sliced, with faux-italian-sausage rounds on top of each slice. It sounds so weird, but the textures/spicy/sweet combo was amazing.

    • I think that sounds awesome! People eat chicken-apple sausage all the time… why not just have the apple on the side? YUM!

  13. I can’t wait to try your PB&Jeggs, you’ve sold me on the idea 🙂 I love love love breakfast for dinner and this will be on the menu tonight! I think your “weird” flavor combinations sound incredible, especially that salmon and peach salad…there is something about peaches with fish that is always so tasty. For your carrot cake batter, do you use vanilla or plain greek yogurt?

    I think my weirdest combo at the moment is cold oatmeal mixed with yogurt and various spices and extracts. I cook 1/3 cup (27g) of oatmeal with 12 oz. water in my microwave for about 6 minutes the night before I want to eat it. I leave the oats in my fridge to absorb the excess water, and then the next morning I mix it with 6 oz of Dannon light and fit yogurt. My favorite combinations are vanilla yogurt, cinnamon, maple extract and a sweetener of your choice, all mixed together with the oatmeal. It tastes like a cinnamon roll! I also love using blueberry yogurt with the same combo of flavors. Today I just tried peach with almond extract and cinnamon, and that was pretty awesome too. It makes a huge serving and keeps me full for a very long time.

    • I always use plain Greek – the flavored stuff has way too much sugar added in. You can always add vanilla extract…. or maple extract! I love playing with the flavors.

  14. Not to sound like an a$$, but did you know that protein has nothing to do with your muscles actually “growing?” Yes- it helps repair/rebuild the tissue, but the actual “growth” (hypertrophy) is only from resistance training. (I actually did NOT know that- I thought that protein gave you big muscles).
    Your foods always make me go “MMMMMM” … not HMMMM. 🙂

    • I wouldn’t say it has nothing to do with growth. Adequate protein puts you in a positive nitrogen balance (anabolic state). that is actually what assists in building more muscle.

      • What I meant was just that protein “alone” doesn’t make your muscles grow- it has to be paired with resistance training. You may have already known that- but I did NOT. And if I’m incorrect in that, then my PFT handbook is incorrect (I got it right out of there!)
        Not that it even applies to you though- because you train like a MACHINE! 🙂

  15. i want that paleo bread! i’m heading over to find out where that’s from! i had quick pb&jeggs this AM when i was running out the door for work! it’s so good with sweet potato too & coconut oil mmmm 🙂 love the idea of salmon & peaches! i should have made that for lunch today!

  16. I LOVE peanut butter and jeggs! I’ve always loved making a bowl of oatmeal flavored with peanut butter, apricot no-sugar jam, topped with egg whites (with spinach usually) because I love the savory sweet combo. That’s my favorite, but I also love my eggs with any protein oats I make too. And you saw my Instagram’d “Speggs” last night… 🙂

  17. your eats are never strange to me. I just had egg white protein cake with vegemite, pb, banana, and raw honey. NO shame.

    p.s.
    Now that song is stuck in my head. sheesh

  19. I’m still afraid of the PB&Jeggs… I don’t know why but I feel like the texture would be weird! BUT I did put sweet relish into my andouille chicken sausage pasta the other night for the sweet&spicy combo. Jesse looked at me like I’d lost my damn mind. It was good though!

  20. Your protein comsumption is astounding. My Hubby is trying to bulk up (in a good way) and I can’t seem to get him enough protein. I may just send him your way. That would be alright with you, right. He’s a great prep chef…

    Truth time, your PB&Jeggs scare me. As a child, I used to be scared of my foods touching though so apparently I still have some of that weird phobia in me. The fitmixer amino combo fascinates me and I’m contemplating trying it (why do you do it again?). So, eggs and berries scare me, but apple cider vinegar is ok (yes even I know how weird that sounds).

    • Tell him to come on! 🙂

      It seems like a lot of kids are like that… it all gets mixed up in your stomach anyway though!

  22. It’s like you know what’s in my fridge. Going to have to try that salmon peach salad.

    Also, trying the Jeggs was the best thing I ever did. Lifechanging. I have BFD a few times a week now. Except right now because I need more peanut flour.

  23. I love all your combos, because I guess I like strange things as well;)
    My favourite weird combo is either eggs and PB or PB and avocado. I swear its delicious!

  24. thanks for the feature Laura!! 🙂 I was so excited to see my photo on your blog! I feel like ‘SUPERSTAR’ (PLEASE picture Molly Shannon/Mary Catherine Gallagher here! 😉 ) <3 your recipes, and i will continue to share photos!!

  25. Oooh those are really cool fish combinations!!! Salmon with greek yogurt and peach, definitely will try once I get my hands on some salmon. You also know how much I love your PB & Jeggs, so simple to make and stuffed between slices of bread makes a light lunch ^^

  26. My favorite strange food combo? That’s funny…especially since I didn’t see ANYTHING odd about your meals in this post! But I guess I did catch everyone off guard last summer when I had rye toast topped with creamed corn, tomato, pickles, and fresh basil… What? It was DELICIOUS! haha!

    • LOL! I actually couldn’t wait for you to comment since you have done wayyyy stranger (yet delish) things. 😉

      Is it weird that your creation sounds totally normal to me?

  28. My “strange” foods are usually the result of (1) the insane quantities of produce I grow/purchase and (2) the extreme sadness I feel when produce rots before it gets eaten. I’ve had a LOT of tomatoes this year — so they pretty much get combined with anything. Also, I really like sardines — especially in a spinach salad (with tomatoes). Nothing says “I love my co-workers” like a sardine lunch eaten in a communal work space. 🙂

  29. I love these “strange” foodcombos, I’m all about those 😉 Friends often times think I’ve lost it when they see me prep a meal, lol. The sweet potato recovery meal is so nice! I’ve done that before too, treating my sweet potato as if it was cereal 😉 So good right?! 😀 I’m incorporating more SP into my daily diet right now, I need some more carbs per day (I rely on fat for fuel too much) and sweet potato sits so much better in my stomach than rice or other grains… Ok enough with the ramble, I’m off to work 😉 Love your post as usual ~ Love, Leanne

  30. I love how “strange” food combos are totally normal to food bloggers haha. 😉 Everything here looks good to me! One strange food combo I recently tried was egg whites with cream cheese and cinnamon. It was actually so good!

  32. I am SO GLAD you posted this, Laura!! I need suggestions and different meal ideas. As you know, we are in the same boat, and it’s important to get more nutrition and even some calories. I am loving the sweet potato idea, and also greek yogurt + protein powder. Happy weekend!

  36. I eat sweet potatoes and protein powder almost everyday…never combined the two together! Why?!
    And yes, I have indeed tried pb &jeggs..lately, my bfast has been exactly the same.. pb&jeggs sandwich.
    I can def sense your love of sweet+savory combo!
    I like sweet potato fries and ice cream…

    • Min, let me know if you try it! It’s such a fun combo. 🙂

      I can’t believe everyone who’s making PB & Jeggs sammies. I have to get on board with that too!

  38. All of the above is making my mouth water this morning! I love the sweet potato mixed with protein and vanilla, looks like an easy and great way to get protein and sweet in 🙂 Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

  39. When I read “I like my chocolate with a side of chocolate” it just reiterated the fact that you’re awesome. Hmm, a strange combo…nothing as creative as yours but probably just a mix of veggies (broccoli, edamame, peppers, onions, tomatoes) with hard boiled egg whites and a dressing I make from olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard and saltless seasoning (not homemade like yours, but maybe one day). Haven’t tried you PB & Aggs but looks yummy!

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