Thoughts on "Thin" + Simple Truth Recipe Reveal: Part III

 The winner of the Roots hummus giveaway is Jordan D.! Email me your shipping info to hummusapien@hotmail.com. Congrats!

In honor of my trip down to Cinci last week to chat with Simple Truth about some fun stuff, I thought I'd share another roundup of yumtastic recipes from the ones I created for them back in December and January!

I actually wanted to steal this sign and hang it in my room, but I didn't. I have regrets about it.

Before we talk food, I wanted to take a quick second to address a couple comments (both hurtful and positive) that I've received recently about being thin and portion sizes. I wanted to clarify that 95% of the time, I do NOT measure portion sizes. That's not to say that measuring portions is wrong--it's simply not a technique that I use. While it may work for some, it may not work for others. Eating healthy is extremely individualized, as you all very well know. If we were all the same, life would be boring. I listed some portion examples in my recent Life Lessons: On Packing a Lunch post simply as a helpful guide for you. Oftentimes, I just list the measurements so you can go make the recipe! I was inspired by this recent post from Happy, Healthy Mama and wanted to add my two cents.

No, I don't use a tablespoon to measure out the almond butter that I slather on my toast.

Yes, I eat chocolate peanut butter dessert hummus directly out of the bowl with a spoon. And I usually consume it in about four servings, rather than the suggested six.

Yes, I measure out ¼ cup of steel-cut oats or ½ cup of old-fashioned oats per serving when I make my big batches of overnight oatmeal so I can easily portion them out and have breakfasts ready to go in the morning.

Some days, I am a human garbage disposal, eating anything and everything in sight. Just ask the girls I babysit! Some days, I eat more like a normal person. Other than oatmeal, I don't measure portion sizes--and that's okay. Over the years, I've found that my attempt at clean, mostly plant-based lifestyle has allowed me to skip all the portion controlling and calorie counting.

I by no means am trying to paint a picture of perfection here; and I want to sincerely apologize if I have ever portrayed myself that way. I try to be as real as possible on this little space, and the last thing I want is a reader feeling deterred and overwhelmed by my blog rather than inspired. I plan on dedicating my life to helping people like you achieve their maximum healthy potential. If you need a feel-good reminder about balance, check on Life Lessons: On Beer and Kale.

Let me assure you that just as it may be offensive to be called over-weight, it's also offensive to be called scrawny. Those words are not kind, and they are not productive.

That said, I do eat pretty "healthy" most of the time and I do work out a few times a week.

I eat apples and lentils and chickpeas and quinoa.

I eat pizza and fries and chips and cookies. No, not all the time...but sometimes.

I work hard to stay fit because it's what I'm passionate about. I wouldn't look the way I do if I didn't put the effort in. I'm not lucky and I wasn't blessed with a rocket speed metabolism. I'm simply dedicated to what I believe in.

Okay, done.  Hope that wasn't too serious for a Friday!  Onto the recipes!

Mediterranean Cauliflower Cous Cous Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing

Banana Orange Mango Power Greens Smoothie

Mushroom Walnut Chickpea Burgers

Nutty Cranberry Quinoa Granola

Spinach Pesto Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes

Blueberry Coconut Breakfast Shake

Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Quinoa Bites

Broccoli Cheddar Cornbread Muffins

Creamy Chocolate Tofu Pudding

Simply click on the link to be directed to the recipe!

For more recipes, check out my previous Simple Truth posts:

Simple Truth Recipe Reveal: Part I

Simple Truth Recipe Reveal: Part II