Healthy Donuts

My sister-in-law has a gift of listening to little things you say and popping up with the perfect gift to make you smile.  This Christmas she surprised me with a mini donut maker.  Heaven!  My kids love them and I feel great about them getting s nutritious breakfast.

This recipe is from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Heat up Babycakes donut maker or coated a mini muffin pan.

Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup pumpkin puree, 1/2 sweet potato pureed, 1/2 cup skim milk, 1 egg white, 1 Tbsp margarine (I use Brummel and Brown), and 1 tsp vanilla.  Then add 1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp cinnamon.  Combine.  Place in ziploc bag.  Cut corner and squeeze into donut maker to cook 3-5 minutes.  Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes if using mini muffin pan.

Mini Banana Muffins

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In large bowl combine 3 ripe, mashed banana, 1 egg, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup canola oil, and 1 tsp vanilla.  Combine.  Then add 3/4 cup flour, 3/4 cup wheat flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1 tsp cinnamon.  

Topping:  Combine 1/2 cup oats, 2 Tbsp melted margarine, and 1 Tbsp brown sugar.  Mix and sprinkle in top of muffins.  

Fill mini muffin pan.  Bake 20-25 minutes.

Meatloaf Cupcakes with mashed potato icing and kale.

Meatloaf:  Soak 1/4 cup breadcrumbs with 1/4 cup skim milk.  Add 1 lb organic ground sirloin meat, 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tbsp ketchup, salt, and pepper.  Combine.  Divide equally and fill 6 cup cupcake pan (coated).  Brush meatloaf cupcakes with olive oil and season.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until cooked through.  

Peel 2 potatoes.  Chop and boil for 30 minutes or until tender.  Mash potato with 1/4 cup low fat sour cream, 1/4 cup skim milk, 1 Tbsp margarine, and salt and pepper.  Place mashed potato in ziploc bag.  Cut corner of bag and pipe in top of meat loaf. 

Serve with kale steamed lightly in low sodium broth.  

This meal was a family hit!  Perfectly portioned and fun to eat.  

Word of the Week:  Persist.  When it comes to health goals, it is hard to persist and stand your ground.  With so many opinions on what is healthy, there will always be an opposing view.  Be confidant that only you know what works best for your body.  It does not mean someone else is wrong, only it is the wrong choice for you

Song of the Week:  Tom Petty I Won’t Back Down.  This is the perfect theme song to help anyone regain confidence to stand their ground.  

Song of the Week:  True Colors Cyndi Lauper.  Be yourself.  If you do not know who you are, spend some quiet time figuring it out.  It takes time, but the juice is worth the squeeze.    

Mommy found the pictures! (Actually it was Daddy who saved the day)

Not the typical morning in the Diaz house, Lucas was sick and Claire woke up immediately requesting breakfast.  Here is how the conversation went:

Claire: “Mommy I want those little noodle things with sauce.”

Me: “You mean the spaghetti Mima made you last night?”

Claire: “Yes, with four meatballs please.”

Me,: “How about one meatball and then if you are still hungry I will make you more.”

Claire: “Ok, but I want bread with butter too.”

Spaghetti and meatballs for breakfast?  I mean it is protein, carbohydrate, and technically a vegetable.  They do eat less at dinnertime and breakfast is their best meal.  I decide it sounds good and make her a bowl. Little Lucas joins in, “Pasta too please Mommy” .  I did take a picture to document the occasion, but my camera decided not to cooperate today.  Other than that disappointment, it was a fun morning.  (Photo Update)

When was the last time you ate exactly what you wanted for breakfast?  Left your ideas on what is acceptable at the door?  Do you even ask yourself what you want?  This morning I joined my kids and enjoyed some meatballs for breakfast and I was pleasantly surprised.  I loved my meal and felt great all day.  Thanks Clairebear!  Lesson learned.

Song of the Week:   Skyscraper by  Demi Lovato.  Use self awareness for positive change and to build yourself up, not tear yourself down.

Has one food ever made you gain weight? I mean if it takes 3500 calories to gain a pound of fat ABOVE what you need to maintain your weight, did the apple pie meet that criteria. If on average, people need 1800 calories a day, did you consume over 5300 calories that day? I doubt it. So ponder this scenario:

You eat cake at a party, but you struggled not to have it all night. You gave in. You were so mad you gave in, you ate it fast to get it over with. Then guilt set in. What is wrong with me? I have no willpower! I am never going to do that again. I will make up for it tomorrow. Next day, skip breakfast. Have a salad for lunch with fat free spray dressing. Dinner time comes. Why am I so hungry? I ate all that food last night. I can’t take it anymore. Here is where most people overeat dinner or graze on snacks all night.

Second scenario:

Oh, I love Aunt Susie’s chocolate cake. After dinner I will savor a piece. You taste and enjoy every bite. You feel satisfied. You wake up the next morning and get back on your daily routine. You don’t overeat at night because your hunger is controlled.

Fantasy scenario:

You do not want cake and never miss it. Better yet, cake is a necessary food group. Fantasy is nice but nothing more.

Which scenario is healthier mentally and physically? What scenario involves enjoying the cake? What is the difference? Take out the emotion. Take out the guilt. If the cake did not taste great and made you have a stomach ache, don’t have it next time. Do not punish yourself the next day for eating it. It is time to try getting off the ride instead of waiting for it to stop. It won’t.

This is Who I Am, by Rosanne Olsen, is a beautiful book that should be a staple on coffee tables around the world.  Bringing beauty to real women through nude portraits and real stories about struggles with body image.  Many stories of women journey to love their bodies and some in an effort to pass on this love of self in letter to their daughters.  These are the types of books we should be supporting and praising.  

I have faith that someday we will support each others strengths instead of judging each other on physical and material possessions.  I have faith I can teach my daughter to celebrate who she is and not judge herself by the number on a scale or the reflection in a mirror.  Thank you Rosanne for an amazing book that will be passed down to my little girl one day.  Let’s celebrate ourselves as is.  No muss, no fuss.  After all, it is in these moments that sometimes we are happiest.  

Song of the Week.  Believe by Josh Groban (from Polar Express).  “You have everything you need, if you just believe.”  This song is beautiful and appropriate for the time of year.  Happy Holidays from my family to yours.    

1.  Fancy.  Pamper yourself, do not berate yourself.  Prepare food on nice plates.  Use cloth, not paper, napkins.  Garnish plates with orange slices, fresh herbs, or a drizzle of pesto.  Pour water, sparkling water, or beverage of choice in a wine glass.  When you take time to present your meals with attention to detail, it allows you to savor and stay present at meals.

2.  Senses.   Taste is more than your tastebuds.  Allow yourself to enJOY the sight of your food.  Take in the smell and the comfort or memory it may bring.  Think about how it might taste before the first bite.  Take in the whole experience, it will increase satisfaction.

3.  Joy.  If you start to get overwhelmed by the food, take a deep breath and find your joy.  Think about the Christmas tree, family, laughs, or your child’s smile to bring yourself back to a happier state.  Your surroundings matter when you eat, so sit near people who make you happy.