Ceara's Kitchen

Eat Happy Live Happy!

Enjoying Every Bite & Sip without the Guilt #WIAW

by 776 Comments

It doesn’t take long to know that I looooooooove to enjoy food. Good Food. Basically, all food. 😉

But it seems that everywhere I look we are told we shouldn’t enjoy what we eat or at-least attach some sort of guilt to what we are putting on our plate.

And I lived like this for most of my life. I could never truly enjoy what I ate when I got caught up in all the guilt, numbers and fad diets. And with each diet I focused on eating as little as possible or cutting out a major food group. These diets never lasted, I could live off cabbage soup for one day maybe two until I gave into whatever and every food in the fridge that was calling my name. Every time I dieted I felt restricted and unable to enjoy what I was eating. And when I was off the diet, I ate everything I had deprived of myself without any thought in between. Let’s be honest, both extremes left me feeling lethargic, malnourished and not too good about myself or what I was putting in my body.

How about enjoying our food instead – nourishing our bodies the best we can while enjoying a couple sweets in between?

It’s about eating delicious and nutritious foods free of guilt. I’ve come to a place where I love to truly enjoy what I eat. I love enjoying every bite and sip knowing that I am filling my body with an abundance and variety of nourishing foods that make me feel great. Maybe that’s the real “secret” 😉

Enjoying Every Bite and Sip #WIAW Ceara's Kitchen

I love to start my day off with a warm and comforting cup of green tea and a hydrating cup of lemon water with half a lemon squeezed in. I started drinking lemon water in the mornings a couple years ago and have never looked back – it is my favorite start to the day!

Morning Drinks

My “first” breakfast was a big bowl of this comforting Cinnamon Oatmeal Porridge (from the Vegan 8) smothered in Almond Milk and topped off with some pecans. Am I the only one truly ccraaaaves pecans this time of year? I’ve been putting them on everything!

Porridge

And then there is always a second breakfast. This purple smoothie contains a scoop of chlorella and spirulina powder (getting that nutrient dense algae in!) a whole banana, some frozen strawberries and big handful of frozen raspberries.

Morning smoothies

I usually opt for a big salad at lunchtime but today I was craving a hot and satisfying meal to hold me over until dinner several hours later after my running group in the evening. Plus, there were lasagna leftovers in the fridge calling my name 😉 This healthy vegan lasagna is one I can’t wait to share with you soon! The veggies are mixed in with a bit of coconut oil and chili flakes. As always, it is all smothered in hot sauce. Do I have a hot sauce addiction? Probably 😉

Quick Frozen Veggies: And these veggies come together in a pinch. Throw a bag of veggies in a Pyrex or microwavable glass dish. Microwave for around 5 minutes until they are drefrosted and lightly steamed. Drain off the excess water. Drizzle with a touch of coconut or olive oil and sprinkle with chili flakes. It might not be the most gourmet dish but it is quick and easy fix for those busy weekdays when you want to fill up on nutritious vegetables but don’t have time to spend the time in the kitchen cutting and cooking them all up. This is a big bag of organic vegetables we got for just over a euro!

Lunch and Veggies

And then there were snacks. I looove to snack, especially during days like this when I am ate home studying. To avoid mindless snacking (something I’ve struggled with in the past) I like to put aside snacks for myself that I will enjoy and savor. These are the snacks I ate throughout the afternoon with about a couple hours in between. 

An oil-free pumpkin square from Oh She Glows, a perfectly ripe banana, trail mix made on the spot (with a dark chocolate square, some raisins, pecans, and almonds) plus some clementines. The clementines are so good this time of year! In case you’re wondering, most days I do get out of my pj’s but today I opted to stay comfy and work on my thesis all day long.

Snacks

I aim for half of all my meals to be fruit and veggies to ensure I am satisfied and feel nourished throughout the day. I ate dinner after coming back from my run later in the evening. I gobbled up two bananas when I got home (not shown – I find that the natural sugar does me good after a long run) while I warmed dinner up. Dinner was baked sweet potato fries in a bit of avocado oil, seasoned with Himalayan sea salt and chives (recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction), alongside roasted zucchini and carrots sprayed with coconut oil and sprinkled with chili flakes. and thiss yummy lentil loaf I made, portioned out and froze last week (recipe from Ambitious Kitchen).

Dinner and Sweet Potato Fries

I work up a big appetite when I run and love to fill my body with warm and nourishing foods when I get home. I felt like a little dessert after dinner tonight so I enjoyed another piece of my favorite pumpkin square with a splash of maple syrup. I finished my day off in my cupcake pajamas with a comforting cup of Fennel tea. 🙂 This might just be my favorite way to end the day!

Evening snacks

What’s your favorite nourishing snack?

Comments

  1. Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch!

    Reply

  4. If you are living in Virginia or Maryland and are considering or going through a separation or divorce, or if you are facing post-divorce issues, it is important to have a Maryland/Virginia attorney you trust to help and protect you in a way that safeguards your dignity while minimizing the damage and emotional turmoil caused by separation and divorce.
    For over 20 years the Maryland/Virginia lawyers at the Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. have been helping clients with divorce issues in NewJersey.

    Reply

  17. I’m impressed, I must say. Actually rarely do I encounter a blog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me inform you, you’ve gotten hit the nail on the head. Your thought is excellent; the problem is one thing that not enough persons are speaking intelligently about. I am very glad that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for one thing referring to this.

    Reply

  22. I’m extremely impressed with your writing abilities as neatly as with the structure in your weblog. Is this a paid subject or did you modify it your self? Either way stay up the nice high quality writing, it is rare to peer a great blog like this one these days..

    Reply

  36. I wanted to write you a very small observation to say thanks over again on the pleasant advice you’ve documented in this article. It’s so seriously open-handed with people like you to deliver extensively what a lot of folks would’ve offered for sale for an e-book to get some cash on their own, notably now that you could have done it if you ever wanted. The creative ideas as well served to become great way to realize that most people have similar fervor just as my personal own to know the truth a great deal more when it comes to this condition. I am certain there are many more fun periods in the future for individuals who see your website.

    Reply

  38. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is fantastic blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.

    Reply

  51. أكبر شركة لانتاج أنابيب البولي ايثيلين و يو بي سي ومستلزماتها للمنتجات الصناعية في عيراق

    Reply

  60. We are a bunch of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with helpful info to paintings on. You have done a formidable process and our whole neighborhood might be grateful to you.

    Reply

  85. One thing I want to touch upon is that weightloss system fast can be achieved by the correct diet and exercise. A person’s size not simply affects appearance, but also the overall quality of life. Self-esteem, depressive disorders, health risks, in addition to physical ability are impacted in excess weight. It is possible to just make everything right and still gain. In such a circumstance, a condition may be the reason. While an excessive amount of food and never enough work out are usually the culprit, common medical ailments and widespread prescriptions might greatly help to increase size. Thx for your post right here.

    Reply

  98. I’ve read some excellent stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you place to create this kind of great informative web site.

    Reply

  100. Everyone loves what you guys are usually up too. This type of clever work and reporting! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.

    Reply

  105. Hi! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any issues with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?

    Reply

  111. I carry on listening to the news bulletin speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the top site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i find some?

    Reply

  120. Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored to tears at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, very good blog!

    Reply

  121. You really make it seem really easy with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really something which I feel I would by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely extensive for me. I’m looking ahead in your next publish, I will try to get the hang of it!

    Reply

  145. Thanks for your write-up. Another issue is that being photographer consists of not only difficulties in capturing award-winning photographs but additionally hardships in establishing the best video camera suited to your requirements and most especially struggles in maintaining the quality of your camera. This is very correct and evident for those photographers that are in to capturing the particular nature’s fascinating scenes — the mountains, the actual forests, the actual wild and the seas. Going to these exciting places certainly requires a camera that can meet the wild’s unpleasant landscapes.

    Reply

  160. Hello, Neat post. There’s a problem along with your web site in internet explorer, might test this?K IE still is the marketplace chief and a large element of other people will miss your magnificent writing because of this problem.

    Reply

  169. You really make it seem really easy together with your presentation however I in finding this topic to be actually something that I believe I might never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very wide for me. I am looking ahead to your next put up, I?¦ll try to get the cling of it!

    Reply

  178. I have learned some new items from your web-site about computer systems. Another thing I’ve always assumed is that computer systems have become something that each family must have for most reasons. They supply you with convenient ways in which to organize households, pay bills, go shopping, study, tune in to music and in some cases watch television shows. An innovative approach to complete many of these tasks has been a laptop. These pcs are portable ones, small, powerful and transportable.

    Reply

  179. I have been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts in this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Reading this information So i?¦m satisfied to express that I have an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I so much for sure will make certain to do not fail to remember this site and give it a glance regularly.

    Reply

  187. I haven’t checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

    Reply

  198. An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers

    Reply

  200. I have observed that in digital camera models, special receptors help to {focus|concentrate|maintain focus|target|a**** automatically. The actual sensors involving some cameras change in contrast, while others utilize a beam associated with infra-red (IR) light, particularly in low lumination. Higher standards cameras sometimes use a mixture of both techniques and may have Face Priority AF where the video camera can ‘See’ any face while keeping focused only upon that. Thanks for sharing your notions on this website.

    Reply

  269. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really one thing that I feel I’d by no means understand. It kind of feels too complex and extremely vast for me. I’m having a look forward on your subsequent post, I?ll try to get the cling of it!

    Reply

  353. Thank you, I have just been searching for info about this subject for a long time and yours is the greatest I have came upon till now. However, what concerning the bottom line? Are you positive concerning the supply?

    Reply

  366. Wow! This can be one particular of the most useful blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Excellent. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your hard work.

    Reply

  376. I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to afamous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

    Reply

  404. Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely return.

    Reply

  407. A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I believe that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people do not discuss these subjects. To the next! All the best!!

    Reply

  409. Hi there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  417. Hello, i think that i noticed you visited my website so i came to ?go back the favor?.I am trying to in finding issues to enhance my site!I suppose its good enough to use some of your ideas!!

    Reply

  444. The left graph consists of the initial truncated regulardistribution of weights in the unpruned network.

    Reply

  453. I am extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on yourblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rareto see a nice blog like this one these days.

    Reply

  464. I like the helpful info you supply for your articles.I’ll bookmark your blog and take a look at once more here regularly.I’m reasonably sure I’ll be told plenty of new stuff right right here!Best of luck for the following!Review my blog post … 우리카지노

    Reply

  479. An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do think that you need to write more about this issue, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t speak about suchtopics. To the next! Best wishes!!

    Reply

  484. Thanks for every other fantastic article. The place elsemay just anybody get that kind of info in such an idealmethod of writing? I have a presentation subsequent week, and I’m on the look for such info.

    Reply